Author Topic: How to reload ammunition  (Read 388 times)

Offline Charon

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How to reload ammunition
« on: October 04, 2007, 12:57:02 PM »
I came across this insightful link that describes how to reload ammunition :)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=98I1i8Toj8E

Do you have any tips to add Lazs :)

I saw the results of such reloading at the range in March. A nice new $$$ Remchester with $$$ scope disassembled into six primary components -- some 20 yards down range. I think the owners thumb achieved the ability to bend in some new angles as well.

Charon

Offline john9001

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How to reload ammunition
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2007, 12:58:41 PM »
guns are not toys, guns are tools,do not play with them.

Offline Tiger

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How to reload ammunition
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2007, 01:17:39 PM »
Can't view youtube here at work.  Judging by your comment, I am assuming it's some clip of a guy who reloaded his own ammo the wrong way and it blew out on him.


I have several friends around here who reload their own ammo.  They use each spent factory cartridge no more than twice withtheir custom load for safety.  They do get much greater accuracy witht heir custom reloads than the factory product purchased.

Offline Airscrew

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How to reload ammunition
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2007, 01:47:21 PM »
Was that MacFarland?

Offline Charon

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How to reload ammunition
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2007, 02:29:09 PM »
Quote
Can't view youtube here at work. Judging by your comment, I am assuming it's some clip of a guy who reloaded his own ammo the wrong way and it blew out on him.


It's actually a rather well done parody -- same idea though :)

Charon

Offline lazs2

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How to reload ammunition
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2007, 02:50:31 PM »
with todays population.... I just hope that no one took the thing seriously.

oh... you can reload usable ammo with the lee tool...  

The first tool I ever used to reload was a lyman "tong" tool... looked like a nutcracker on steroids...  would full length resize and you had to use the lee dippers for powder... had a niffty little chart for charge weights of each dipper.

I musta loaded 10,000 or so 38 spls with that damn thing and they were all great loads.

I also have shot more bullets cast from wheel weights than I care to mention.  

lazs

Offline Charon

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How to reload ammunition
« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2007, 03:11:38 PM »
I wondered about the wheel weight comment. What is the alternative? I have heard about Linotype lead.

This is another area of shooting that I will get into some day. I have a bunch of "cheap" surplus right now, but I save my brass for when the day will come. I have 2000 rounds of very mixed quality .303. Some is so rough looking I will just pull the bullets. Some is also boxer primed Winchester that I can reload down the road.

It does seem to be a "measure twice cut once" type of process. What can you save compared to say cheap wally world whitebox, etc.? I could get CMP LC 30-06 for about $250/1000 which isn't great but its fine clean ammo and I have the money to spend on some bulk right now. The Greek they have now is somewhat more expensive.

Charon

Offline Hornet33

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How to reload ammunition
« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2007, 05:29:08 PM »
I reload 9mm for about $3 a box vs $9 or better at the store. I also reload 30-06, .308, .223, and 12 gage but 9mm is my most common round. I have a Lee progresive machine for 9mm and 12 gage so it goes quick. Everything else I use an RCBS rock chucker single stage loader. Need to get a progrsive for .223 though. Maybe next year.
AHII Con 2006, HiTech, "This game is all about pissing off the other guy!!"

Offline FrodeMk3

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How to reload ammunition
« Reply #8 on: October 04, 2007, 07:02:08 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Charon
I wondered about the wheel weight comment. What is the alternative? I have heard about Linotype lead.

This is another area of shooting that I will get into some day. I have a bunch of "cheap" surplus right now, but I save my brass for when the day will come. I have 2000 rounds of very mixed quality .303. Some is so rough looking I will just pull the bullets. Some is also boxer primed Winchester that I can reload down the road.

It does seem to be a "measure twice cut once" type of process. What can you save compared to say cheap wally world whitebox, etc.? I could get CMP LC 30-06 for about $250/1000 which isn't great but its fine clean ammo and I have the money to spend on some bulk right now. The Greek they have now is somewhat more expensive.

Charon


Hey Charon, I occasionally shoot surplus .303 from all over the world in my No. 4 Enfield. I've had more than a few that have split the case, in the area around the swedge-down for the neck. Be careful with that old stuff.

Offline Charon

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How to reload ammunition
« Reply #9 on: October 04, 2007, 07:17:50 PM »
Quote
Hey Charon, I occasionally shoot surplus .303 from all over the world in my No. 4 Enfield. I've had more than a few that have split the case, in the area around the swedge-down for the neck. Be careful with that old stuff.


I had some 1950s British that had small splits on the neck. The Enfield will handle it well with the gas ports and I have a broken case extractor on hand if it gets to that point.

The cleanest I have now is 1000 rounds of Indian from the late 1930s. The other 2000 rounds is a mixed bag from the 1940s, loose in x2 .50 cal ammo cans. Some looks clean, some is very rough and some is in between. Haven't shot any yet and I will cull the worst of the lot out before hand.

Charon

Offline Excel1

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How to reload ammunition
« Reply #10 on: October 04, 2007, 09:14:51 PM »
sold the rifle, but i never had a problem using 1950s vintage mk-7 .303 ball ammo in my no1 mk3 enfield and even used old tracer rounds without fuss, but you have to be carefull using hot reloads with the enfield's relativly weak rear locking bolt or you may end up wearing the bolt in your face at the worst, or have a case head speration and a face full of hot gas at the least if your unlucky. the latter nearly happened to me once when i was using someone elses reloads. i knew something was wrong as soon as i pulled the trigger on the first round because of the extra hard recoil, it kicked like a cow. the cartridge case had cracked all the way around the circumfrence but luckily for me it didnt seperate. i pulled a few  rounds apart and weighed the powder charge and they were way overloaded, found out later that the genuis who loaded the ammo was trying to duplicate 308win ballistics with his .303 loads!

i learned my lesson, never ever use someone elses reloaded ammo.
« Last Edit: October 04, 2007, 09:33:00 PM by Excel1 »

Offline lazs2

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How to reload ammunition
« Reply #11 on: October 05, 2007, 08:50:22 AM »
enfields are not strong rifles.. load to factory or below specs.

I have cast my own bullets from wheelweights and they are almost as hard as lino.. plenty hard enough.. you can add antimony or tin if you like but they work fine as is... I probly cast 50,000 of em with all kinds of scrap lead for my 44 mags.

as for cost... all ammo has gone through the roof in cost... components are very expensive.. 6 months ago I could buy 1,000 44 mag jacketed slugs for about $90.. from remington or winchester... now it is $140   lead is about the same as it was... maybe $50 a thousand.

a box of factory 44 mag is about $25 per 50 rounds...  It costs me about $4 to load em.

I load 45 auto and .223 and 30-06 for my garand.  It is a simple process but better equipment makes it simpler and... you can spend a lot of money over the years.  

I do like the fact that I can be independent of the ammo manufacurers and stores.

lazs