Posted on 06/27/2009 3:01:04 PM PDT by An Old Man
Firearm enthusiasts are a hands-on bunch; always expanding areas of interest and always in search of firearms knowledge. Shooting and firearms are more fun when it's possible to modify and tailor the function of a firearm to suit personal preferences. Handloading offers more of the same, which is probably why so many people who work on their own firearms also handload their own ammunition.
Handloading can yield improvements in accuracy that rival the results of firearm blueprinting. Handloading can be a money saver and, for those with a commercial inclination, handloading can be a money maker. Handloads can also be assemble into a unique combination of components not available from any other source.
While detailed information will follow in subsequent installments, Part I does not contain step by step handloading instructions or a definitive list of the best handloading equipment. It contains general information...a perspective on handloading gleaned from years of mistakes, missteps and minor victories on the way to assembling safe and sometimes useful ammunition.
Before machines were designing machines, thought ruled the day...
My early professional career placed me in a technical manufacturing environment. Subordinate within a group of optical, mechanical and electrical engineers, I was not permitted to ask probative questions about reported design problems without first demonstrating substantial understanding of the concepts and details of the design in question. That foundation knowledge came from researching objective spec documentation, sifting through engineering change order files and reading production problem and quality control reports. Right, about as exciting as boiling rocks.
(Excerpt) Read more at brownells.com ...
Poke yer ole browser over to Brownells and feast yer eyes of a cornucopia of parts and pieces for repairing guns and some very interesting information on how they work and why they sometimes don't.
I agree and like Ruger Blackhawks in bear country, which should say plenty. But with the continuing trend of determined apathy and shortsightedness—so many people who won’t even cook dinner from scratch or grow a garden—you know what’s going to happen. ;-)
Roll yer own PING.
bfl
all the primers, brass and other reloading components (plus loaded ammo) you could ever want at gunbroker.com. I have purchased a small fortune in components at gunbroker in the past year as supplies have dried up a bit around here, especially primers. yes, a bit more spendy (plus shipping costs) but they are at least available. the site functions sim. to ebay (without ebay’s BS and anti 2nd. am. leanings, the main reason I left them years ago)and has a tremendous amount of firearms/hunting etc. items for bid or via the ‘buy now’ option. I have had a midwayusa account for a long time but they are having availability issues also. give gunbroker.com a try if you haven’t already.
But if 0zero takes away our ammo this may be our only alternative.
your right, time is so important in the whole scheme of things when it comes to the hand jive. It is a fun hobby for me still but cost savings per round broken down are no where near what they were when I began which is the reason I started in the first place. I have always had the time but I realize others might not and like you say that has to be factored in.
There is a lot more satisfaction in dropping a trophy with a hand crafted rifle 100% of your own building and shooting loads that are not available anywhere else except your bench, than there is using the old plastic stock Remington from Walmart that every other hunter is wandering around the woods with.
Dillon 650 with auto case feed. Powder alarm, (checks the case has right amount of powder.) Competition seating dies and quick change heads. Can switch calibers in about 8 minutes. Load 5.56 NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO and 9mm parabelum
I'll be rolling my own .338 Lapua Magnum, once I can score some magnum match large rifle primers, and the match bullets I lust after. I already have 200 rounds of virgin brass, and the dies.
Everything else I have is ordinary humdrum stuff like 5.56 and 7.62mm NATO. I've had good luck getting case lots of those rounds from ammoman.com. The only trick is to jump instantly when an email arrives saying something is back in stock. I had to wait several months for 62gr non-penetrator 5.56 ammo, but finally scored some. Two days later, it was marked as "sold out".
The same thing happened with 7.62mm M118 match ammo. I had never thought about it, but when it appeared, I jumped at it, and wasn't disappointed. With good shopping, you can get common match-grade ammo for less than you could load it for yourself.
Your mileage may vary. But if you have anything exotic, reloading is the only way to go.
I just got my hands on 2k of 380 brass and almost 1k of lead. Primers are scarce, but 380 cartridges are scarcer. Now I can give our LCP a proper breakin.
I have enjoyed reloading for many, many years. I started with a small single stage press, and advanced to a multi-stage progressive press. I load .223, .38, .357, .45 and 9mm in custom configurations that have proven themselves in my personal firearms.
This is a hobby I taught to my son when he was in his early teens, and he still enjoys it, too.
Saves money, allows customization, and it’s a good way to spend some time...
As little powder goes into a .223 it is still plenty cheaper to reload. Cheaper than today’s 50cent around prices.
surely not something undertaken lightly. do not take the my word hobby as something akin to something like my shooting pool or the equivalent. RL 44 years with no accidents. well rested before each session, safety glasses 100% of the time, FE’s near the bench at all times and obviously no smoke/booze. case inspections at 4 different phases and all loads started at 10% under and usually 4 different RLM cross ref. before starting are just a few of the basic saftey steps followed, many others obviously. there are hand rollers out there that do not pay attention or give the procedures and each step in the process the care they deserve as you mention but this old timer ain’t one of em. safety first at all times, no exceptions.
I guess .380 is the hardest-to-get round out there, due to everyone making as much as they can of the more common stuff. I got an email from ammoman.com yesterday saying .380 had arrived, and now their site says "sold out in hours". As opposed to the stuff I bought from them (including commercial Colt 30rd magazines), which sold out in 2 or 3 days.
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