Do you handload/reload

[TXTad]

I bought factory hunting ammo for the first time in my life last week. I've been loading ammo since I learned how in my high school metal shop. We cast lead bullets, and then used a Lee Loader to load them into .30-30 rounds using a stick powder that I don't recall. The ammo was for the shop teacher. That was over 40 years ago now. A different time for sure.

I have a dozen different hunting rifles and none of them have ever fired a factory round besides what they did at the factory. The only reason I bought the hunting ammo last week is that I recently purchased my first .270 and .30-06 rifles, but most of my reloading stuff is in storage while I'm in a rental after selling my home late last year.

I even load most of my handgun ammo besides 9mm.

 

[hivel37]

That shop teacher did a great thing giving you opportunity to have such a skill.
Pass it on.

 

[Drycreek]

I load for all my revolvers and lever action carbines, plus the one bolt gun that I hunt with. All my ARs use factory stuff, but I don’t shoot them much.

 

[RF2650]

Reloaded since the late 70's. Started loading 12 gauge for skeet and trap with a plastic lee Load-All. Did not take long to wear out the Load-All and I started using MEC loaders. Worked my way up to a MEC progressive that literally allowed me to load a 5 gallon bucket of 12 gauge shells at a time.

I have loaded plenty of calibers but not as many as some here. The 45ACP was the biggest volume with 20,000 a year back when I was competing in Bullseye. I use 2 Dillon 550 progressives. One set up for large and the other small primers. With an insane number of tool heads I can switch to any of my calibers very quickly. A Redding ultramag press takes care of the heavy duty operations and an assortment of RCBS and Lee presses take care of the odd jobs that come up.

Looking back, I have reloaded very little in the last 15 years and I probably need to get busy selling off all this equipment. I am the only one in the family interested in reloading so I am the only one who knows what any of that stuff is. I would not want them to sell for pennies on the dollar to some guy who buys estate gun stuff.

 

[Mike6158]

I used the Lee handloader a very long time ago. I "loaded" .410 with it. I have a MEC now but truth be told, it's waiting for me to learn how to use it. Back when I got it (during the GEBWE, government engineered biological warfare experiment) "parts" were hard to come by.

 

[Drycreek]

I used the Lee handloader a very long time ago. I "loaded" .410 with it. I have a MEC now but truth be told, it's waiting for me to learn how to use it. Back when I got it (during the GEBWE, government engineered biological warfare experiment) "parts" were hard to come by.

When I was heavy into sporting clays I had a MEC 600 that I loaded 12 ga. with. It’s a great machine !

 

[Mike6158]

Mines a MEC 600 Jr MKIV. I may as well take it out of the box, put an Inline Fabrication base on it, and get it ready to load something. This is going to "make me" buy that double barrel .410 I've been avoiding for months.

 

[Mike6158]

Dang... shotshell loading isn't quite as simple as rifle or pistol cartridges.

 

[RF2650]

I have not used the MEC 9000 in a long time. It is dedicated to the old AA hulls and 7/8 ounce skeet loads. It crimps them perfectly so I don't want to mess with it. All of my hunting shells are made on Sizemasters and a very old 600 Jr.
With the exception of the 10 gauge, the cost of components just doesn't provide the same economic advantage it used to.

 

[Mike6158]

There's a lot of shotgun shells available now but not that long ago, 6 years goes by fast, everything was bought up. I just want to be able to make my own if I need to.

 

[jaclthr]

I've been reloading since 1979 with a RCBS JR. press and starting with 45 Colt and now I have 2 Dillon 650 Progressive presses, 3 Bonanza presses. I shoot multiple cartridges, rifles up to 50 BMG and pistol calibers as well. I mostly built my gear on specials, closeouts, and classifies. I would hate to be starting my setting up a reloading shop at these prices.