Shooters, how many of you reload?

CW3 Kevin Storm — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 14:22:35 -0400

I know for those of you who live in the barracks, I doubt there are too many First Sergeants who will allow this to happen. But how many of us reload our own? I do a variety of pistol and rifle rounds. I got into it when I could not find ammo for my vintage rifles. I have a sporterized Krag that I could not find .30-40 for, and an AR Rifle in .458 SOCOM which is not cheap to feed. So I am curious if any of you do?

Response by 1SG Steven Imerman made Aug 21 at 2020 2:31 PM

1SG Steven Imerman — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 14:31:55 -0400

Not I. I'm mainly a shotgunner, and reloading shotshells is comparatively easy, but it has never been something I wanted to get into.

Response by MSgt Don VandeBogert made Aug 21 at 2020 2:50 PM

MSgt Don VandeBogert — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 14:50:54 -0400

Never been much into reloading rifle or handgun but have done lots of shotgun over the years. Shot in the ATA before I enlisted and am slowly getting back into trap and skeet shooting with our local Sportsmans Club, but right now only have a 12ga reloader myself. My father recently acquired some reloading equipment dirt cheap so we plan on loading some .45, .270, and 30-06. Hope those go well.

V/R
Bogie

Response by TSgt George Rodriguez made Aug 21 at 2020 3:05 PM

TSgt George Rodriguez — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 15:05:46 -0400

I got into reloading when the wife and I became a part of a re-enactment old west and civil war group. Loading blanks was part of my learning experience. Since then I have picked up the equipment and dies to reload all of my weapons. I have a recipe for turning poop into black powder. I also have a 50 caliber flintlock that when all else runs dry I can still hunt food.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Aug 21 at 2020 3:09 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 15:09:09 -0400

I reload every time the magazine is empty.

(Actually, my rifly is single shot bolt action, so I reload after every shot, but that doesn't sound near as funny).

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made Aug 21 at 2020 3:24 PM

LCDR Joshua Gillespie — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 15:24:02 -0400

I've often looked into it... I usually end up talking myself out of it. For shotgun hulls, it's a no-brainer, and makes sense. For rifle ammunition... it seems the costs/risks sometimes outweigh the benefits. Currently, the main problem is that even if one has the gear... the components are difficult to acquire. I guess one could start casting their own, but primers are getting scarce, and I personally wouldn't want to start playing around with mixing powder.

Response by SSG Paul Headlee made Aug 21 at 2020 4:23 PM

SSG Paul Headlee — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 16:23:36 -0400

Been reloading about 43 years now for rifle and pistol. If you don't intend to use more than several boxes in a year then reloading for cost savings makes no sense. There are other reasons to do it though and I have definitely drank the Koolaid. I have learned to anticipate the political situation and buy things accordingly. Not running a business but I just don't like the idea of placing myself at the mercy of the market. Going to pick up some more lead for the smelting pile today. Made these .40 cal. 180 grainers in the last couple of weeks.

Response by MSgt John Burris made Aug 21 at 2020 4:40 PM

MSgt John Burris — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 16:40:19 -0400

I’m just getting started. Various pistol and rifle calibers. It seems like a good thing to learn and do in my retirement years.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2020 4:46 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 16:46:31 -0400

I do as well. Love shooting sports
I even get RST's to attend shooting matches in replacement of attending Drill
AR 350-66, Chapter 2, 2–1, a) Marksmanship Training/Competition

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Aug 21 at 2020 4:59 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 16:59:28 -0400

I reload .308, 9mm, 5.56mm and .45 ACP

Response by Maj John Bell made Aug 21 at 2020 5:07 PM

Maj John Bell — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 17:07:52 -0400

I don't, but for Christmas a few years ago I bought what was needed for my son-in-law to reload. Let's just say I get the "friends and family" discount.

Response by TSgt David L. made Aug 21 at 2020 5:29 PM

TSgt David L. — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 17:29:09 -0400

I'm getting my reloading kit together as we speak. I need to start getting the powder, bullets and primers as well. I also have a .458SOCOM. Big money!

Response by Maj Robert Thornton made Aug 21 at 2020 6:02 PM

Maj Robert Thornton — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 18:02:58 -0400

I started reloading a number of years ago. I got away from it, but have started reloading again. I reload .9mm, .38, .357 Mag, and .45 ACP.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Aug 21 at 2020 7:44 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 19:44:52 -0400

Reloading has done two things for me, 1) it has really taught me about ballistics and shooting and 2) taught me how much of a novice I still am.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 22 at 2020 12:05 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 12:05:54 -0400

I did while living off post, and after retirement- Spent too much time at the range for store bought.

Response by LTC Jason Carter made Aug 30 at 2020 9:56 AM

LTC Jason Carter — Sun, 30 Aug 2020 09:56:15 -0400

I started about 20 years ago reloading for .30-06 for deer rifles. Since then I got into competitive shooting so buying new cost too much so I started reloading for that too. Now, I reload all my rounds. From 9mm all the way to .577 Snider and .577/450 Martini Henry.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2020 8:12 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 20:12:41 -0400

I still reload with my old 1980's Dillon 550C, still works like a charm, had to restore it last year.

Response by LTC Jason Carter made Sep 10 at 2020 5:44 PM

LTC Jason Carter — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 17:44:19 -0400

Not only do I reload my own but I make my own too. I have a lead pot melter and I have the molds so I make them and save a lot. From 9mm to .45 to .38. The .577/450 Martini- Henry rounds are upwards of $10 each. I make them for around $2.50 and the more I reload the more savings I have.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2020 3:29 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 15:29:19 -0400

I don't have the space now, but my dad and my grandpa both do handloads. I've always preferred the handloads I have used for hunting. You can tune a load for a rifle to make much better groups than you will get with factory loads.
I've never used shotgun reloads, but I have thought about reloading for my 10ga.
My grandpa has described reloading for rifles as being like cooking and shotguns like baking. With rifle rounds, you start with a recipe and you can tweak it, raising or lowering the powder load for the bullet weight a little bit until you find the sweet spot for your specific rifle. With shotguns, you follow the recipe exactly, so you don't mess up the pressure and have bad shot spread or blow up your gun.