anyone reload bullets?

[MrStarnes1]

anyone here reload bullets?
i shoot a .243 for deer and some other pesky critters but have found that bullets are starting to take a toll on my wallet
looked into getting into reloading, but just can't justify the time and cost of starting that hobby
if anyone here is into reloading and is willing to take a shot at reloading some 243's for me, give me a shout and we can talk
thanks!
-Josh

[Noah Cantell]

Get a lee hand loader and do it yourself. The liability to you and the guy that might do it for you is far to great except for the very foolish.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=624416

[rebs]

anyone here reload bullets?
i shoot a .243 for deer and some other pesky critters but have found that bullets are starting to take a toll on my wallet
looked into getting into reloading, but just can't justify the time and cost of starting that hobby
if anyone here is into reloading and is willing to take a shot at reloading some 243's for me, give me a shout and we can talk
thanks!
-Josh

I have used a Lee loader for years and it is not as expensive as you may think. I believe you can get the Lee loader, RCBS scale and power dump for under 100.00 total. Then you need a set of dies for 243, the brass you already have, just add power and bullets. I used this setup for loading handgun rounds when I shot competitively, as well as for rifle rounds.
I also have a MEC progressive shotgun loader
I have saved a ton of money over the years loading my own, not to mention the accuracy you can achieve with custom loaded rounds.

[MrStarnes1]

i will have to take a look into that
thanks for the info guys

[AllenW]

Maybe spend some time on one of the reloading forums, you may find there's more to it than it seems, you'll also need a caliper to check overall lenght and case lenght, also maybe a case trimmer, primer reamer, case lube, ect...the list goes on.

Maybe look for a decent single stage press used, you can get by with the beam style scales and they are cheap, carbide dies are nice and for the little added cost probably worth it.

You may find that unless your shooting enough, reloading might not be as cheap as you think.

Have fun, and be very careful..

Al

[Phil T]

1. Don't buy more than you need when choosing reloading equipment. The sporting goods salesman will try to move you up to more expensive stuff than you, as a beginner, need. After all, he's paid on a commission basis.
2. You don't really need much. You need a powder scale, a caliper, a set of dies, a Lee case trimmer, and if you choose, a simple press. Add supplies of primers, powder and bullets, and you're set.

Assuming that you can follow instructions EXACTLY you won't get into trouble. Just don't risk your health or a multi-hundred $ firearm trying to get an extra 100 feet per second velocity. The data you need for powder charges for different bullets is easily found in the powder makers' websites.
If you choose to go the least expensive route, and buy the Lee Loader (which is designed to be used with a hammer) you'll find it works better if you use a shop vise (padded jaws) to press the parts together to size the case. I won't knock the Lee Loader, I try to have one for each caliber I reload. I also have a moderately expensive press and dies for it.
Watch out, reloading ammunition is addictive, like casting jigs or tying flies. I've been doing it since around 1967, without mishap.

[Jerryv]

Unless you are looking for a new hobby, forget about reloading. You would have to be a very high volume shooter to save any money. You are much better off buying your ammo when it goes on sale just before deer season.

If you want to look into it a little more, here is a good site to do some reading:

http://stevespages.com/page8.htm

Jerry

[The OutKast]

If you join a local shooting club, chances are that you will meet a lot of people that reload.

[Phil T]

JerryV, a similar argument could be made for buying fish at a grocery store instead of buying all the stuff it takes to catch one's own. I like fishing, I like hunting, I like killing things with ammunition I assembled myself. I have more fishing rods and lures than I use regularly, I have more "deer" rifles than I need. I have an inventory of reloaded ammunition that I could make last for years, but it won't. But I don't have time to watch someone else participate in a sporting event. Pro football doesn't exist for me, there's a fall fishing bite followed by hunting seasons.
I like it that way.

[Jerryv]

JerryV, a similar argument could be made for buying fish at a grocery store instead of buying all the stuff it takes to catch one's own. I like fishing, I like hunting, I like killing things with ammunition I assembled myself. I have more fishing rods and lures than I use regularly, I have more "deer" rifles than I need. I have an inventory of reloaded ammunition that I could make last for years, but it won't. But I don't have time to watch someone else participate in a sporting event. Pro football doesn't exist for me, there's a fall fishing bite followed by hunting seasons.
I like it that way.

I agree 100% Phil and in fact it sounds like we are very much alike. The OP sounded like he was only interested in saving money and that is not a valid reason to start reloading or hunting or fishing. I was going to recommend the Lee Anniversary kit as an economical way to get started reloading, but then I re-read his post and realized that was not what he was asking for.

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but how is the fishing on Sakakawea? I haven't been out there since the level got too low a few years back.

Jerry

[T Mac]

I reload for 3 rifles, but... I seriously doubt I save any money.
My purpose for reloading is accuracy.
A nice hobby, too.
I end up shooting a lot more, because I tried this and that and want to see the results.
So, with more practice, ...I shoot better, too.

[Wade B AKA: Ruger2506]

I reload for 3 rifles, but... I seriously doubt I save any money.
My purpose for reloading is accuracy.
A nice hobby, too.
I end up shooting a lot more, because I tried this and that and want to see the results.
So, with more practice, ...I shoot better, too.
X2. Doing the math, I need to shoot more than 1000 rounds/year to justify loading for savings.

Like T Mac. I load because I want to be able to shoot a 1 9/16" group at 300 yards. That's the current group to beat held by my dad. My best is a 1 3/4" group.

Is there a difference in a deer hunter who shoots a 1" group at 100 yards vs. those of us that shoot a 3/8" group or a 1/4" group? Not at all, other than personal pride.

I just really like the long range shooting/accuracy and factory ammo is just lacking in that dept. That and getting the right bullet in the right loading is all but impossible in factory ammo. Home loading allows you to use the right bullet for the job at the right velocities without having to settle for the bulk loadings offered on the shelf.

[Phil T]

Work schedule had me busy whenever the weather was decent. My back will no longer tolerate the surf our "big lake" develops when the prairie wind is blowing much over 10-15mph. Since the level of the reservoir is much higher(up 30-40 feet), people I work with had a lot of trouble finding fish in the reservoir. The very few days I went out, what I caught was plump, and not too difficult to locate. the fishing became good on the eastern part of the reservoir quite early this year.
This spring and early summer, the river downstream from the dam was the place to be, all the way from the tailrace to beyond Bismarck. Limits were caught in as little as a half hour, and three guys I work with quit counting after they had caught an honest hundred fish one day spent about 1/2 mile downstream of the dam. They complained they got tired, and the bite as so hot, it became boring. Now that's a problem!

[Phil T]

Savings are also possible. A number of stores (Cabela's, Midway, Graf & Sons, for example) often sell "blemished" bullets at a considerable discount. If anyone shoots handguns, there is always casting bullets from old wheel weights from the tire shop you use. The cases are reused, primer prices and availability are getting better, and powder savings are possible if bought in containers larger than the common 1lb can.

[AllenW]

Not sure, but I think some of us missed the OP ?
He (if I read right) wants someone to reload for him.

fwiw I'd be more inclined to try and find someone who reloads that would work with him using their equiptment and his labor.

I'd be more than a bit nervous using a unknown reloaders ammo.
In fact I wouldn't do it.

I'd maybe just start looking for end of season or close out sales on ammo and see if you can save money that way, also maybe asking if buying buy case lots will get a discount.
Might be easier than losing a barrel or worse to a wrongly loaded round.


2506, just curious, with what and where are you getting 3/4/ -9/16" groups at 300 yards??

Al

[Lundexp]

2506, just curious, with what and where are you getting 3/4/ -9/16" groups at 300 yards??

Al[/quote]

If you reread it he meant 1 9/16" and 1 3/4" groups not 3/4" and 9/16". I was able to get the same groups at 300 yards when I reloaded for my 300 win mag and 22-250. With the 300 I was shooting 180gr Nosler Ballistic tips and the 22-250 50gr Hornady Vmax, both are factory rifles with no work other than a lightened trigger pull. Nothing more fun than watching your custom made ammo reach out and explode the prairie dogs way out there with accuracy. The accuracy of store bought ammo doesn't even come close to that.

Unless you know and trust the person reloading your ammo and he knows what he is doing and tests the ammo himself and knows what signs to look for, I wouldn't do it there's just too many variables that can go wrong. Better off doing it yourself, it is a very expensive hobby to get started in though. Good Luck

[PackerBacker]

You can now get most ammo at WalMart for about 20 - 30% off of what the sporting goods stores sell them for. It looks like the big ammo shortage is starting to wind down.

[Wade B AKA: Ruger2506]

Shooting under 1" groups at 300 yards. That would be awesome.

We've been able to achieve that with 7MM STWs. Like LundEXP said, long range shooting is a blast.

[AllenW]

Missed that, thanks.

Al

[Lundexp]

A good forum site to check out for any of you interested in reloading is accuratereloading.com It has tons of information on reloading and even formulas and etc it is endless. As addicting for reloaders like this site is for walleye fishermen.

[CollinLeon]

With my old eyes, I would be happy to just be able to SEE the bulls-eye at 300 yds... :(

[rebs]

I started reloading 45 acp when I was shooting on the pistol team for Tonawanda Sportsman's Club. I used a colt gold cup national match in 45 acp and a 22 caliber match pistol. For competiton shooting it does pay to relaod your own ammo for accuracy and also cost.

[CollinLeon]

I started reloading 45 acp when I was shooting on the pistol team for Tonawanda Sportsman's Club. I used a colt gold cup national match in 45 acp and a 22 caliber match pistol. For competiton shooting it does pay to relaod your own ammo for accuracy and also cost.

I had been meaning to get into reloading for awhile and it took stumbling across a deal on an single stage reloading press on Craigslist before I got started in it. I then stumbled across a deal on a Dillon press on castboolits.gunloads.com and got a bit more serious about it. This was about the time of the ammo shortage a few years ago which shot the prices of ammo up quite a bit. It also caused shortages in reloading components. People want to maximize their mail order in order to minimize the effect that the HAZMAT charges has upon their per-round reloading costs, so they were ordering 20,000 or more primers at a time. I placed orders from 2 different companies due to the backorders and ended up with 40,000 primers (SPM and LPM). I'm probably going to be ordering another 20,000 pretty soon (SRM and LRM).