Do you handload/reload

[Top 'O Texas]

Some have been (possibly on here) handloading for over 40 years, so what cartridges do you reload (pistol and or rifle)? For decades I only loaded 44 Mag, 264 Win Mag and 2 years after that was 270 Winchester (for my dad). Now I'm maybe on the excessive side of things with rifle and pistol combined total of 25 and counting (possibly 10-15 more too come). With an exorbitant amount of reloading components for possible decades worth I still find something new and interesting (not necessarily a newly released cartridge). I've found on other gun forums I don't even reload half the amount some do. What if any do you reload for?

 

[LDB]

I am in the studying/learning phase and will begin reloading in some months when I am sufficiently educated and prepped to do so. I'll be loading for the .32 family, SWL, H&R MAG AND 7 FED MAG plus .22 Hornet. Maybe something else eventually depending what and how much I shoot. I am leaning toward adding .38/.357 and a nice SS Ruger (or two).

 

[Top 'O Texas]

I am in the studying/learning phase and will begin reloading in some months when I am sufficiently educated and prepped to do so. I'll be loading for the .32 family, SWL, H&R MAG AND 7 FED MAG plus .22 Hornet. Maybe something else eventually depending what and how much I shoot. I am leaning toward adding .38/.357 and a nice SS Ruger (or two).

make sure you het hands on experience with an experienced person. that's how i learned 41 years ago. no family member ever reloaded before me so i learned from out veterinarian. him and his family were and still are avid hunters from sf, nm.

 

[DonD]

Some have been (possibly on here) handloading for over 40 years, so what cartridges do you reload (pistol and or rifle)? For decades I only loaded 44 Mag, 264 Win Mag and 2 years after that was 270 Winchester (for my dad). Now I'm maybe on the excessive side of things with rifle and pistol combined total of 25 and counting (possibly 10-15 more too come). With an exorbitant amount of reloading components for possible decades worth I still find something new and interesting (not necessarily a newly released cartridge). I've found on other gun forums I don't even reload half the amount some do. What if any do you reload for?

I've been reloading for a .458 Win Mag for over 40 yrs. Now I also load for a 300 Win Mag, 500 S&W Mag, 10mm and 40 S&W. Enough to keep me busy.

 

[Wendell Reich]

Started in ‘92. here is what I can remember that I load for.

5.56
9mm
45 acp
300 blk
7.62x39
6.5 Grendel
308
260 rem
6.5 CM
270 ICL
30-06
9.3x62
375 H&H
300 win mag
7 mag
45-70
458 win mag
450 Dakota
470 NE

Probably a few more I have forgotten about.

 

[BrotherHubb]

I began in ’76, back then I loaded 38spl, 357mag, 44mag and 45LC. In ’77 I started loading for 22-250 using a Lee Target loader with a leather mallet. I shot some surprisingly good .250 groups with that at 100. As I acquired more cartridges I bought a RCBS Rockchucker which I used until a few years ago when the ram got loose and I replaced it with a Rockchucker Supreme. I started using Wilson arbor dies over 20 years ago and still use them for my most accurate loads. My 308 shoots 5 shot groups in the .14 range which ain’t bad. I’m 72 now, still hunt and shoot pretty often but no one in my family hunts or shoots so I’m going to sell what I don’t want to keep. I say that but I recently built a 7-SAW and I’m pretty close to finishing load development for it. To answer the important question, I highly recommend finding an experienced mentor who doesn’t have any BS but follows established safe loading practices. You absolutely can’t be complacent or too careful when loading ammunition, take your time and no shortcuts.

 

[Drycreek]

Right now, .357 mag, .41 mag, .44 mag, .45 Colt, .25-06, and .280 Rem. The rifles don’t shoot ten times each per year, if that much. I can load 6.8 SPC and 10mm, but again, I don’t shoot them enough and I hate chasing brass from semi-autos. I have a place at home to shoot and although I keep the grass mowed short around it, those little cases can hide in plain sight ! I don’t load for my 9mms either, ammo is too cheap.

 

[DonD]

Started in ‘92. here is what I can remember that I load for.

5.56
9mm
45 acp
300 blk
7.62x39
6.5 Grendel
308
260 rem
6.5 CM
270 ICL
30-06
9.3x62
375 H&H
300 win mag
7 mag
45-70
458 win mag
450 Dakota
470 NE

Probably a few more I have forgotten about.

AWESOME!

 

[Davek42]

I have been loading since the late 70’s
I now only load for
9mm, 38/357, 223/556, 350 legend.
I will be loading for 6mmarc soon.
I shoot cast all my pistol bullets And for the 350.
I learned to cast bullets and powder coat about 5 years ago. 99% of my pistol shooting in with cast bullets. And I shoot a lot of them.
I tell people that at interested in reloading that reloading.
It make’s you a better shooter because.
1, you can build a load your gun likes
2, you are always shooting the same ammo.
3, when you buy a box of bullet (100) you.
You’re are loading. 5 boxs of rifle ammo or
2 boxs of pistol ammo.
Again your shooing the same ammo.
That in my opinion makes you a better shooter.

 

[dennyntx]

Been reloading for about 15 years 12ga, 20ga, .357, 38, 30-06, 303 British, .223, .45 acp. 45 long colt, 30 carbine 30-30, that's about it for now don't do as much any more play with my black powder rifles more now because I make my own black powder @ $6.00 a pound it's much cheaper to play with them lol

 

[Raven]

Started in 1988 on a single stage Hollywood press that my mentor gifted to me. Its been a fun journey.

 

[Top 'O Texas]

Started in 1988 on a single stage Hollywood press that my mentor gifted to me. Its been a fun journey. The list below is mostly complete as I recall.

Rifle:
223 Rem
5.56 Nato
223 WSSM
22-250
22-250AI
243 WSSM
243 Win
240 Weatherby
25-06
25-06AI
257 Weatherby
264 Win
26 Nosler
270 Win
280 Rem
280AI
7MM-08
7MM-08AI
7MM Rem Mag
308 Win
300WIN
30 Nosler
300 RUM
300 WSM
325 WSM
338 Win

Handgun:
380 Auto
38 Special
357 Magnum
9MM
40 S&W
10MM
41 Mag
44 Mag

how many of those do you currently still load for or have the firearms for them?

 

[Blackiehawkins]

I got started in the mid-1960's when Dad got me into helping (I was about 13 then) him convert 30/06 brass into 25/06--way before Remington commercialized the round. I've gone through acquiring and reloading for a lot of calibers over the years, trading out a lot since I couldn't afford to keep 'em all. .22 Hornet through 45/70 in long guns, .32 H&R to 480 Ruger in pistol calibers. I still have a few in the safe, but my current challenge is a pawn shop rescue Marlin model 62 in 256 Win Mag. That's a 357 mag necked down to take a .257 bullet.

 

[brush_buster]

Been reloading for about 20 years. The list of calibers is long.

 

[LDB]

I just discovered Missouri Bullet Company. VERY helpful folks. Placed an order this morning after exchanging a couple of emails where they patiently and fully answered my new guy probably dumb questions. Got the confirmation email. Got an email saying my order had been shipped 16 minutes after the confirmation! My bullet source from now on. https://missouribullet.com/index.php

 

[Michael Lloyd]

Around 25 years reloading. I've got something being loaded for and shot most weekends. Right now the 6BRA, 6.5PRC, and 6.8 SPC II have my attention.

Current calibers that I load for:
.20PPC
.20 Practical
.223 (bolt and AR)
.243
6BRA
6.5PRC
6.8 SPCII
.270
7mm Rem Mag
.300 BLK
.30 Carbine but not too often
.308
8.6 BLK
.338 Edge
45-70

I have a Dillon XL650 that I do some rifle brass prep on. Mostly .223. And I load for pistol on the Dillon.

I still occasionally load the following pistol cartridges

9mm
.357 Sig
.357 Magnum
.40 S&W
10mm (yes I know, .40 cal. Different case)
.45ACP

I can load shotgun but don't do that very often.

 

[Kp321]

I started loading in 1962, 16 ga and 30-06. Since then I can’t remember how many different calibers I have loaded for. I had a class 6 FFL for several years so accumulated lots of dies and equipment. I am now just loading for what I shoot myself:

Rifle

17 Rem
22 Hornet
218 Bee
222 Rem
223/5.56
25-20
30 Carbine
300 BO
308/7.62
30-06

Pistol

32-20
38 Special
38 Super
357 Mag
9mm
44-40
45 ACP

I used single stage presses till 1980 when I bought a Dillon 450. I now load everything on a pair of 550’s.
Guess I could say, “been there, done that” concerning reloading.

 

[Top 'O Texas]

Around 25 years reloading. I've got something being loaded for and shot most weekends. Right now the 6BRA, 6.5PRC, and 6.8 SPC II have my attention.

Current calibers that I load for:
.20PPC
.20 Practical
.223 (bolt and AR)
.243
6BRA
6.5PRC
6.8 SPCII
.270
7mm Rem Mag
.300 BLK
.30 Carbine but not too often
.308
8.6 BLK
.338 Edge
45-70

I have a Dillon XL650 that I do some rifle brass prep on. Mostly .223. And I load for pistol on the Dillon.

I still occasionally load the following pistol cartridges

9mm
.357 Sig
.357 Magnum
.40 S&W
10mm (yes I know, .40 cal. Different case)
.45ACP

I can load shotgun but don't do that very often.

I started loading in 1962, 16 ga and 30-06. Since then I can’t remember how many different calibers I have loaded for. I had a class 6 FFL for several years so accumulated lots of dies and equipment. I am now just loading for what I shoot myself:

Rifle

17 Rem
22 Hornet
218 Bee
222 Rem
223/5.56
25-20
30 Carbine
300 BO
308/7.62
30-06

Pistol

32-20
38 Special
38 Super
357 Mag
9mm
44-40
45 ACP

I used single stage presses till 1980 when I bought a Dillon 450. I now load everything on a pair of 550’s.
Guess I could say, “been there, done that” concerning reloading.

Both of you have a fair amount to reload. Nice having a wide range of calibers and cartridges.

 

[Michael Lloyd]

Both of you have a fair amount to reload. Nice having a wide range of calibers and cartridges.

Speaking for myself, I enjoy reloading but it's shooting and finally finding that load that drills holes that winds my clock. My 6.5PRC got to .1MOA at 300. I'd like to improve on that. I think that's going to have to come from me (how I shoot).

Bullets have been the challenge for the 6.8SPC II. Specifically 175MKZ's. I'm starting to look for a reliable subsonic load. I found a super load that was 2100-ish fps. I don't like shooting it in the Ruger. It was born a 400 Legend and I converted it to 6.8. I don't think the bolt is strong enough for hot / heavy loads. Actually I know it's not but that's a story for another day. Maybe when I get the barrel in for the Remington 783 I'll see about testing 175gr supers again. It's hard on brass though, so maybe not.

The 6mm BRA is in the fireforming brass stage and I already got into single digit SD's in 30 rounds. It's going to be fun.