Thread: Keeping it Simple for New Handloaders

Interesting thread and viewpoints. I'm an avid reloader in several Pistol and Rifle calibres.

On the range I can shoot a modest group, as good with my reloads as with factory. The ammo is usually better than I am. I hunt small game and goats mostly, deer and pig this year I hope. My (as opposed to my rifle's) effective killing range is well under 250m (age and eyesight) and 90 % under 80m. I shoot for meat rather than sport or culling, not that I wouldn't but that I don't usually get such an opportunity.

I'm a fan of 1 shot at a live animal being preceeded, recently, by many shots down range, at paper. Paper tells the story without lies. And range time gives me a great excuse to reload.

I started reloading with a Lee Loader in 303 B in my twenties, scared shtless of getting it wrong and not knowing anyone who reloaded. Some decades later I have more presses and gear than I am willing to state, not because of ability but out of interest. I've collected reloading books, mags, filled notebooks, searched the internet and experimented, bought, sold, traded and swapped. Used new gear, resurrected old gear, collected now obsolete powders, carefully carefully carefully developed loads. I'm still here to tell the tale.

If you wanted to get started, without great expense or complexity, just getting to know the basics of using a press, or hand tools, various methods, powders etc I could probably help.

If you want to shoot benchrest groups at a 1000m I could get you started but all the finishing would be up to you.

If you want to shoot your own reloads in your own rifle at reasonable hunting distances, or hit the IPSC or Speed Steel course with reliable loads that don't stop your gun I could get you both started and finished.

If you're serious about researching loads across calibres, powders, projectiles, I'll push hard for your gear to include a chronograph. The rest could be done with a $65 Lee Loader, albeit slowly. A few more dollars gets you considerably more capability, without going to extremes.

However, I won't be the guy who demonstrates his reloading ability with sub 1/2 MOA groups on range day - at any distance, (unless perhaps I'm shooting my BSA CF2 in .222 from a rest).

I'm sure there are plenty of fellas around like me. I'm in Auckland and often in Taranaki and happy to help someone starting out, or to compare notes and interest with others further down the track. I'm a fan for saving dollars by buying used gear and job-lots. But you kind of need to know what you're looking for, and I can help with that too. I'm one of those strange guys who enjoy reloading as much as shooting.

I've been helped by folk on this forum just sending stuff I was after and others from elsewhere with info etc that I was looking for. I would be happy to pass that forward.

Some further observations. Reloading is rarely if ever about saving dollars - unless you shoot thousands of rounds in Pistol, hundreds in Rifle. I personally would recommend a hunter to be putting lots of rounds downrange on paper for every shot taken at an animal. Not too keen on hearing " I only shoot a doz shots a year so don't need to reload" but ok, if that's you I guess its your biz.

I think it's true that today a $1000 will buy an awful lot of (highly accurate) rifle that will happily shoot great hunting groups out of the box with factory ammo. Maybe even for target. But if you really want confidence when you finally eyeball that animal you spent a fortune in time and money getting in your sights, the last thing you need to be worrying about is your ability to access that awesome rifle's accuracy. Range time builds accuracy, and familiarity with your rifle so that using it, it becomes an extension of your mind and body. The last thing you want to be worrying about is what will happen when the bang comes. That's when reloading may save you some dollars, but, much more important, it has the potential to extract the best from the combination of rifle, load, and shooter. Reloading allows you to trial and test until you know what to expect when you caress that trigger with a fine animal in your sights. Load 100 rds, put 80 on paper, keep the remainder for your next trip knowing exactly what you can do with them. Yes you can do that with factory. Would that people did. Reloading just adds another interesting dimension if your thataway inclined.

Anyway, my coffee is finished and I have some brass to prep.