Reloading - how to start?

[DieselPower]

Nope, that's a close shot group. Keyhole is the description of a unstabalized bullet. Early in it's life the M16 had horrible problems with their bullets being unstabalized and keyholed bullets. A little work on the loads and a change in the barrel twist took care of it.

It has also been used to describe what happens to bullets when they enter a body. Some bullets may have good flight characteristics but will keyhole when they enter the body. The M16 bullet still does this to this day. A light full metal jacket bullet is very prone to the keyhole effect.

Here's a picture of what a keyholed bullet looks like on paper. This is a very unstable 6.5X54 MS fired out of a Steyr (M1903).

 

[RobertN]

I have saved money; especially when I shot 44mag.

I would say, that it is kind of like brewing your own beer. I like to reload, because I like tweaking things, adjusting etc. Same with brewing, although the price of premium beers does make it cheaper to brew again. I have modified recipes, and made some of my own. It was fun, but took time and a number of batches to tweak the recipe in.

If you don't shoot a lot, or want to, reloading does not make sense. There are no magic loads that work right out of the book, so you'll spend some time and effort to tailor the load.

Prokop,

I'm gonna disagree with everyone. I have nothing against reloading, but after spending years doing it, I've come to the conclusion that it's not for me.

You won't save any mony at it unless you are shooting competitively. The price you pay for the equipment an supplies will take years to make up the difference you pay in ammo. If you just love to shoot and shoot massive quantities of ammo, then it's a toss up between buying cheap ammo or making your own. I'd use my time shooting instead of reloading.

 

[3RRL]

I stand corrected about the keyhole description then.
I got that from the guy who taught me to shoot what...50 years ago now? Looks like I've been describing a close group all this time. And the poor guy will never know 'cause he's dead now. Too bad.
Thanks...
Rob-

 

[cp1969]

We called them cloverleafs (sp?). I learned that from the guy who taught me a lot about shooting a long time ago, too.

He's in an assisted living center now. I need to go visit him today. I can't imagine him lasting too long in there, what with them not allowing him to bring his guns, horses, or cows....

 

[czechsonofagun]

Well, I started and I like it. Cleaned up corner of my shop and built a reloading bench there; the downside is I can't find things now, but the table looks and feels nice. And yes, that's a seat from lawn tractor

Speaking of reloading, they should call the powder Diesel, not Unique. My SS Ruger looked like blued steel after about 200 rounds. The guy I buy my reloading components from told me, that it is cleaner now than it used to be - well it is kind of hard to imagine what it was like before

 

[AMR]

I have been reloading rifle, pistol and shotgun for about 20 years now. I have some series OCD at the reloading bench and it feels sometimes like I came out of a trance after loading up a run of something, it can be addicting for sure.

I used to load about everything I owned from 9 mil through 44 and then 223 through 450.

As my son and daughter where born and I started my own business I can't make the time anymore.

I still load shotgun on my progressive MEC, you can really pump out shotgun shells, and I still load Marlin 450, Remington 35, 7 MM short action ultra-mag and 300 ultra-mag as I hunt with these but I only make lots of 40 or 50 each for the hunting season and some practice. I can count on two full nights of work to make 40 as I:

1. Tumble my dirty brass
2. De-prime and re-size, clean the primer pocket
3. Tumble again
4. Measure 40 loads of powder
5. Seat 40 bullets

When you think about spending 3 or 4 hours elapsed time to load up 40 rounds it is tough to justify it but I have NEVER killed a deer with store bought ammunition, it is kind of another OCD.

My one word on reloading is that if you have the time it gets you intimate with the sport of shooting but it takes time and dedication for sure.

Reloading is all about routine, habit and repitition. If you slip up it gets messy and throws your rythm off. As I am writing I actually miss it! Go for it, you don't know till you try.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Gotta say I love to reload. I shoot more than I ever shot in my life and the production part fits me well too.

One thing I find hard is to draw a line. See the round I developed for the 270WSM shoots within 3/4" @ 100 yards. For the local deer hunting it is more than sufficient, in Virginia 50 yards is the long shot - but the engineer in me wants to go and fiddle with it till it goes 1/2" or less. Moreover, the rifle and ammo outshoots me anytime anyway

 

[toddbailey]

glad you have taken to reloading it is a wonderful and rewarding past time i love it just remember dont get carried away looking for very small groups the deer want get any deader with 1" group vs 1/4" groups instead work for dependably-reliability-performance on game it will make you a much more confident shooter-hunter that is just my 2 cents worth
have fun reloading and shooting