Who reloads for their harder to find ammo? - Page 3

Roadkill2228 · July 24, 2018, 02:39 AM

I have reloaded for the .220 swift. One can find ammo, but it’s expensive and very limited selection. Ammo, especially if loaded with anything but the basic soft points, is grotesquely expensive now (Canada, but I assume the last decade has seen it go nuts in the states too), so it just makes sense, especially for my .300 win mag. I like the 208 grain hornady elds. I will soon be trying them out with the enduron powders. The hornady ammo loaded with eld bullets in that caliber are over 3 dollars a round to buy. I can cut that in half while tailoring the load to my specific rifle. Also to consider is that a lot of cartridges are. It loaded to full potential in factory ammo, for a variety of reasons. They must be safe in all firearms so chambered, so they have to load them conservatively. I also suspect that some older cartridges have been deliberately understoked because when they’re loaded full tilt the new and improved cartridges do not appear to offer much over them. The .270 and .300 win mag are two of the most blatant examples of this. I can easily drive 140 grainers to 3050-3100 FPS out of my 22 inch barrel. Most factory ammo does not get 130s going that fast. In the 300 the factory ammo spec is typically 2960 for 180s and 3200 for 150s. I’ve had no trouble making the 150s do 3400 out of a 24” with long case life, and it’s the same story with other weights. Even if I saved no money, gained no accuracy, had no greater selection of projectiles over factory, and did not experience joy and relaxation from hand loading, easily beating factory ammo by 200 feet per second I my 2 favourite calibers would be reason enough to do it. 200 feet per second counts for more than it might seem. It’s as big a jump again as going from factory .30-06 to factory .300 win mag. It’s as big a jump as going from factory .270 to factory .270 wsm.

Road_Clam · July 24, 2018, 06:42 AM

I reload for every caliber I own. I'm also consistently stockpiling reloading components for that dark day that hopefully never comes where lead is no longer available and becomes more valuable than gold...

m&p45acp10+1 · July 24, 2018, 09:28 AM

Two calibers I reload for that are not at all common are: .221 Rem Fireball ($1.25 a shot or more for factory ammo.) Also .41 Magnum (Typical price for factory ammo is around $1.50 to $2.00 a shot.) I reload for both for cost savings, and lack of available factory ammo that is too expensive to shoot much of it.

I also load .35 WSL. I have to make the brass for that by turning the rims on .38Spcl. brass down, and forming the brass in a forming die. I rarely shoot the rifle, though I have a lot of fun with it when I do. The early semi auto is very neat.

I reload several other rounds like: .44Spcl.,.45-70 Gov't., 7.62x54R,.223 Rem, .9mm Luger, 9mm Mak, .380 ACP, .357 Mag/.38Spcl, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, and there are more.

I can say the .221 Fireball rounds loaded have saved enough to pay off the press, dies, and brass. The .41 Mag gets shot a whole lot so savings are high on it. The .45-70 paid for itself long ago. The rest is just icing on the cake.

The .35 WSL I have to reload it. Factory ammo has not been made in a long time as far as I know. If there is a source it is going to be costly. I saw obsolete ammo had some listed for $3.95 each.

Roadkill2228 · July 24, 2018, 04:49 PM

35 wsl...that’s pretty cool!

condor bravo · July 24, 2018, 06:17 PM

How many of you are familiar with the .222 Rem Mag? I still have several boxes of new unfired Remington brass. Probably no factory loads anywhere to be found.

Road_Clam · July 24, 2018, 07:13 PM

Not only do I load for my unique calibers, i'm also learning how to cast. My ultimate goal is 100% shooting independence regardless of political climate.

2wheelwander · July 24, 2018, 09:26 PM

I got into reloading mostly because of .444 Marlin. When I bought the rifle a box was $19. Now IF you find it its $40. Brass is hit and miss. Buy it when I find it. I reload for the fun, cost savings is just a cherry on top.

Wyosmith · July 24, 2018, 11:05 PM

I load my own for everything except shotgun shells, 22 LR and "AK food" (in 7.62 and 5.45.)

Nothing else in my safe ever gets factory ammo. Most of my rifles and handguns have never had a factory round fired through them since the day I got them. I have has a few of them for 45-50 years.

rodfac · July 25, 2018, 07:36 AM

Quote:

How many of you are familiar with the .222 Rem Mag?

Condor, yep... I make mine from 204 Ruger brass, neck expanded and shoulder blown out to .222 Mag dimensions. Works well, accuracy is the same as with factory brass, (even on the first 'fire-forming' firing!) and the .204 brass is AVAILABLE!!! A very big deal for my Sako 461 Mannlicher Vixen. I've never lost a case when forming the brass either...very easy to do. Rod

condor bravo · July 25, 2018, 12:38 PM

Rod
Ingenious using .204 brass. I also have plenty of that.

joeanybody · July 26, 2018, 10:37 AM

I reload for everything I own mainly to save money, but also for quality control and as a good hobby. My biggest money saver is my 45-70. I dont own anything wild and crazy (not from lack of desire) so cant answer the question about lack of availability.everything I own is available in stores. Different bullet profiles is a different matter. Finding a full power load in 45-70 in stores can be difficult considering most ammo manufacturers load to trapdoor pressures. Or finding a lead hollowpoint load in 45-70,38 special, or 357 magnum can be fun too.it is much easier to load those yourself than it is to try to find it in store or even online in some cases.

Guggmeister · July 26, 2018, 10:44 AM

I handload everything except 7.62x39 and .22LR/short

Even 7.62x54R is expensive nowadays and not every batch is reliable!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

anarcky99 · July 26, 2018, 02:13 PM

noticed some familiar ones, 221 Fireball, 220 Swift.. yep reload for them
then 30 / 357 Herrett, 256 WM, 9mm WM, 45 WM, JDJ rounds, 22 Hornet,
218 Bee, with all the Contender barrels it adds up. other rounds cheaper
to reload than factory ie: 338 LM, 375 H&H, 458 WM.

July 24, 2018, 06:42 AM	#52
Road_Clam Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2013 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 1,695	I reload for every caliber I own. I'm also consistently stockpiling reloading components for that dark day that hopefully never comes where lead is no longer available and becomes more valuable than gold... __________________ "To be old an wise you must have been young and stupid"

July 24, 2018, 09:28 AM	#53
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	Two calibers I reload for that are not at all common are: .221 Rem Fireball ($1.25 a shot or more for factory ammo.) Also .41 Magnum (Typical price for factory ammo is around $1.50 to $2.00 a shot.) I reload for both for cost savings, and lack of available factory ammo that is too expensive to shoot much of it. I also load .35 WSL. I have to make the brass for that by turning the rims on .38Spcl. brass down, and forming the brass in a forming die. I rarely shoot the rifle, though I have a lot of fun with it when I do. The early semi auto is very neat. I reload several other rounds like: .44Spcl.,.45-70 Gov't., 7.62x54R,.223 Rem, .9mm Luger, 9mm Mak, .380 ACP, .357 Mag/.38Spcl, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, and there are more. I can say the .221 Fireball rounds loaded have saved enough to pay off the press, dies, and brass. The .41 Mag gets shot a whole lot so savings are high on it. The .45-70 paid for itself long ago. The rest is just icing on the cake. The .35 WSL I have to reload it. Factory ammo has not been made in a long time as far as I know. If there is a source it is going to be costly. I saw obsolete ammo had some listed for $3.95 each. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

July 24, 2018, 06:17 PM	#55
condor bravo Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2014 Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA Posts: 1,753	How many of you are familiar with the .222 Rem Mag? I still have several boxes of new unfired Remington brass. Probably no factory loads anywhere to be found. __________________ Ouch, the dreaded "M-1 thumb", you just know it will happen eventually, so why not do it now and get it over with??

July 24, 2018, 07:13 PM	#56
Road_Clam Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2013 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 1,695	Not only do I load for my unique calibers, i'm also learning how to cast. My ultimate goal is 100% shooting independence regardless of political climate. __________________ "To be old an wise you must have been young and stupid"

July 25, 2018, 12:38 PM	#60
condor bravo Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2014 Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA Posts: 1,753	Rod Ingenious using .204 brass. I also have plenty of that. __________________ Ouch, the dreaded "M-1 thumb", you just know it will happen eventually, so why not do it now and get it over with??

July 24, 2018, 02:39 AM	#51
Roadkill2228 Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2014 Location: Nipawin, Saskatchewan Posts: 311	I have reloaded for the .220 swift. One can find ammo, but it’s expensive and very limited selection. Ammo, especially if loaded with anything but the basic soft points, is grotesquely expensive now (Canada, but I assume the last decade has seen it go nuts in the states too), so it just makes sense, especially for my .300 win mag. I like the 208 grain hornady elds. I will soon be trying them out with the enduron powders. The hornady ammo loaded with eld bullets in that caliber are over 3 dollars a round to buy. I can cut that in half while tailoring the load to my specific rifle. Also to consider is that a lot of cartridges are. It loaded to full potential in factory ammo, for a variety of reasons. They must be safe in all firearms so chambered, so they have to load them conservatively. I also suspect that some older cartridges have been deliberately understoked because when they’re loaded full tilt the new and improved cartridges do not appear to offer much over them. The .270 and .300 win mag are two of the most blatant examples of this. I can easily drive 140 grainers to 3050-3100 FPS out of my 22 inch barrel. Most factory ammo does not get 130s going that fast. In the 300 the factory ammo spec is typically 2960 for 180s and 3200 for 150s. I’ve had no trouble making the 150s do 3400 out of a 24” with long case life, and it’s the same story with other weights. Even if I saved no money, gained no accuracy, had no greater selection of projectiles over factory, and did not experience joy and relaxation from hand loading, easily beating factory ammo by 200 feet per second I my 2 favourite calibers would be reason enough to do it. 200 feet per second counts for more than it might seem. It’s as big a jump again as going from factory .30-06 to factory .300 win mag. It’s as big a jump as going from factory .270 to factory .270 wsm.

July 24, 2018, 04:49 PM	#54
Roadkill2228 Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2014 Location: Nipawin, Saskatchewan Posts: 311	35 wsl...that’s pretty cool!

July 24, 2018, 09:26 PM	#57
2wheelwander Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2018 Posts: 539	I got into reloading mostly because of .444 Marlin. When I bought the rifle a box was $19. Now IF you find it its $40. Brass is hit and miss. Buy it when I find it. I reload for the fun, cost savings is just a cherry on top.

July 24, 2018, 11:05 PM	#58
Wyosmith Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Shoshoni Wyoming Posts: 2,713	I load my own for everything except shotgun shells, 22 LR and "AK food" (in 7.62 and 5.45.) Nothing else in my safe ever gets factory ammo. Most of my rifles and handguns have never had a factory round fired through them since the day I got them. I have has a few of them for 45-50 years.

July 26, 2018, 10:37 AM	#61
joeanybody Member Join Date: July 2, 2017 Posts: 61	I reload for everything I own mainly to save money, but also for quality control and as a good hobby. My biggest money saver is my 45-70. I dont own anything wild and crazy (not from lack of desire) so cant answer the question about lack of availability.everything I own is available in stores. Different bullet profiles is a different matter. Finding a full power load in 45-70 in stores can be difficult considering most ammo manufacturers load to trapdoor pressures. Or finding a lead hollowpoint load in 45-70,38 special, or 357 magnum can be fun too.it is much easier to load those yourself than it is to try to find it in store or even online in some cases.

July 26, 2018, 10:44 AM	#62
Guggmeister Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2013 Posts: 117	I handload everything except 7.62x39 and .22LR/short Even 7.62x54R is expensive nowadays and not every batch is reliable! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

July 26, 2018, 02:13 PM	#63
anarcky99 Junior Member Join Date: July 21, 2018 Posts: 1	noticed some familiar ones, 221 Fireball, 220 Swift.. yep reload for them then 30 / 357 Herrett, 256 WM, 9mm WM, 45 WM, JDJ rounds, 22 Hornet, 218 Bee, with all the Contender barrels it adds up. other rounds cheaper to reload than factory ie: 338 LM, 375 H&H, 458 WM.