Reloading

Hovannes · #1 Jan 11, '12, 9:14 am

A few years ago during the ammunition shortage I had to put down a poor old horse who was suffering mightily. To complicate matters further, a mountian lion was prowling around the place and I wasn't about to let the poor creature be eaten alive (mountain lions do not eat carrion) but there wasn't a single box of .22LRs to be found in any of the stores (even Big 5 and Walmart!---the shortage hit my area hard) fortunately I had a few .38s left over from my SAR posse days to do the job (one is all it takes) but since that time I've been considering reloading my own ammunition---it's not that I use a lot of it---I don't---but I've noticed the prices going up and I wouldn't want to get caught in that same situation again.
It is easy enough to lay aside a 'brick" of .22lrs but when that is gone---its gone. Centerfire ammuntion can be reloaded and reused. Also the idea of having ammunition to hunt with is something I can value, even though I haven't hunted anything (other than rattlesnakes in the stock feeders) in years (well, decades,) so I'd want the capabolity of reloading shotgun shells and maybe a rifle caliber as well. Since I also have qute a stash of scrap lead, the idea of casting my own bullets is also attractive.
Any thoughts or suggestions?

donsnow · #2 Jan 11, '12, 1:00 pm

Hi, Hovannes,

A lot of people reload their brass. I think it's a good idea, but wonder if you'll run into red tape getting the gunpowder to reload with. Maybe if you check around the gun shops in your area, and talk with gunsmiths there who do their own reloading, you could get some more insights.

God loves you,
Don

Hovannes · #3 Jan 11, '12, 8:20 pm

Theres no problem with keeping less than 20 pounds of smokeless powder. Black powder and primers, which are explosives, seems to be more of a concern but the amounts permitted are more than generous for my purposes. Used presses are very reasonable($15-25) as I don't need a progressive press to load an occasional box of shells. Lee sells carbide dies at very reasonable cost and I already have a 6" dial caliper and beam scale as well as a rock tumbler which should work for cleaning brass cases and an old cast iron pot for melting lead. I think the major expense for me would be buyng a good powder measure and a bullet mould or two.
Shotgun shells are another matter---the cost of the components outwiegh much of any savings.

donsnow · #4 Jan 12, '12, 4:29 pm

Good evening, Hovannes,

Well, you've certainly thought everything out. I'd think a shotgun would be a valuable survival weapon. Because, the shells have all kinds of different loads for different occasions.

My thoughts went a different way, and I wound up with a pellet pump air rifle. I had it mostly in mind for small game to eat: squirrels, rabbits and small opossums et al. Of course, the gasket can wear out on the pump air rifle. Nothing's perfect. But, pellets and BB's are 'way cheaper ammo than bullets.

God loves you,
Don

Wynfrith77 · #5 Dec 1, '12, 9:42 pm

Depending on how you reload it may or may not save money. In fact prices have never come down since the 2008 panic, of which I could not find 5.56x45mm primers until almost 2010. Just as with ammunition if the gun owners feel anxious about future legislation the shelves get cleared. (In fact there is a gun buying panic going on right now.)

Basic reloading equipment does not even require a mounted press. One can buy the Lee classic handloading press. Purchase the carbide die of choice, primers, smokeless powder of choice, calipers, chamfer, and bullets/or caste them and presto in business.

Then there are the progressive Dillon presses that are really expensive. Where by every crank of the handle complete a specific stage of the process from sizing, powder, primer, and seating the bullet. It sounds like it simplifies the process, but the truth is the person has to pay more attention to detail to make sure they do not have a primer accident or under/over charge their rounds.

I prefer single stage because one does not need distractions or to be overwhelmed when reloading. My purposes for reloading are to have plinking rounds to cranking out a round better than factory match grade.

By the way .22 Hornet is a centerfire .22 caliber round. It has more oomph than the .22WMR/MAG, and is fully reloadable. If .22 is a specific need then acquiring a rifle in this caliber + reloading equipment may be a good idea.

Lastly remember all material supplies eventually run out. Reloading is not as good a means of having ammunition on hand as is just purchasing ammunition.