The Most Arrogant And Condescending Post Denouncing Reloading I Have Ever Read.

[GFK]

Interesting. I have recently started to seriously consider reloading. I have a Marlin 1894CS that seems to like .357 SWC. But, I am not finding a larger selection on the market. Remington makes a Performance WheelGun brand. But, the casing is not brass. I think it is nickel plated (does not seem to matter much with shooting). Yet, I am wondering if it matters for reloading? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Why am I considering reloading ? I would like to increase my options and not be tired to Remington.

[Mistered]

Why am I considering reloading ? I would like to increase my options and not be tired to Remington.

Well this is a good reason but there are many others and cost saving should NOT be the primary reason!
Reloading should be undertaken as an extension of your interest in shooting and to be able to tailor loads for a specific need and to get the best accuracy out of your guns (and you!) as you can.

With regard to nickle plated cases they do not affect accuracy or function but some do not like to reload them.
They have a 'funny' feel going through the resizing die so I don't reload them anymore but have plenty on hand.
If they are all you can find by all means reload them but I, as well as most, prefer brass for reloading.

[CT_Shooter]

Remington makes a Performance WheelGun brand. But, the casing is not brass. I think it is nickel plated (does not seem to matter much with shooting). Yet, I am wondering if it matters for reloading? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I've reloaded several hundred Remington .357 nickel plated brass cases during the last few years. Like all of my brass, I tumble clean, then de-cap and prime them, then store them in 50 round boxes until I'm ready to add powder and a bullet. I carefully document how many times each box of cases has been fired.

I won't be keeping any more nickel plated cases in my inventory after the already primed cases that I still have have been fired one last time. I carefully inspect each case as I de-cap and size, and found that after only two or three reloading cycles, too many of the nickel plated case tops have split after resizing. From now on, I'll stick to brass. I've only had one brass case split after reloading more than a thousand of them, some as many as seven times. This is anecdotal, for sure, but I've read the same report from several other reloaders.

[Mistered]

too many of the nickel plated case tops have split after resizing. This is anecdotal, for sure, but I've read the same report from several other reloaders.

Yep - this is true with nickle.
If it's all you have by all means reload it but keep the case mouth flaring step to a minimum with nickle cases.

[Rifletom]

That doofus has obviously never purchased any of the big African ammo!

I can load 450 Dakota, 458 Lott, 460 Weatherby etc with 500gr Barnes X-bullets for about $1 each if you amortize the cases over 6 loads or so. I have several thousand of the X-bullets that I got on-line for 22 cents each!

Buy the same ammo in a store and it is $6-$10 per round.

So a typical big bore range session of 30 rounds saves me $150 to $270. I could never afford to shoot the big guns without handloading.

Yep. Just look at the price for a box of 20 .416 Weatherby Mag rounds. That will get your attention.

[markiver54]

I totally understand and can appreciate those who reload, however I'm sure I'm not the only one who (1) cannot afford the equipment, (2) no place to do it, and (3) don't shoot as much as many of you do to justify it. Just my humble opinion.
Not really a matter of not wanting to.

[GFK]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I guess I will check out the startup cost and use brass if I decide to proceed. Space is a concern for me as well. But if I decide to proceed, I will figure something out.

[JEBar]

as with most things, when it comes to loading your own ammo, one size most certainly doesn't fit all .... further, just because it might be in the best interest of a person to load some of the calibers he/she shoots doesn't automatically mean its best to load all of their calibers .... the only new caliber I have purchased in the last 50+ years is 45-70 for which I did purchase dies and do reload for it .... we have a 30 Luger that I bought dies for in the mid 60's .... I did try to load for it but found doing so isn't worth the effort .... we fire a large number of shotgun shells and do not choose to reload them ... in short, its all a matter of personal preference .... what makes sense to us and we believe is best for us is totally up to us and no one else's opinion matters

[Mistered]

further, just because it might be in the best interest of a person to load some of the calibers he/she shoots doesn't automatically mean its best to load all of their calibers

Good point.
Many people who reload own guns they shoot infrequently or rarely - for a variety of reasons - ammo availability, value of the gun or possibly safety issues and in this case I would not support reloading for them. The cost of components or tooling might not support the little they shoot them.

Personally I do NOT own any guns that are NOT shot - a couple are not shot as often - but used to be so I already have the components for them.

[220]

too many of the nickel plated case tops have split after resizing. This is anecdotal, for sure, but I've read the same report from several other reloaders.

Yep - this is true with nickle.
If it's all you have by all means reload it but keep the case mouth flaring step to a minimum with nickle cases.

Good advice with any cases but I agree more critical with nickle plated cases.
I loaded 1000 nickle 38 cases yesterday, I honestly dont know how many times they have been reloaded. I use them for mild target loads so the flare crimp cycle is the hardest thing on them. They would have been reloaded at least 10 times so if you are gentle on them they will last a few few reloads. Was probably around the 5/6th reload I started to get a few with very small cracks starting at the case mouth.
I think I started with 1500 so have lost almost a 3rd over time but like has been said they are fine to reload.

[Rifletom]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I guess I will check out the startup cost and use brass if I decide to proceed. Space is a concern for me as well. But if I decide to proceed, I will figure something out.

This is a genuine concern for some. But, please look at "Thinking of Reloading" right here in the Reloading section by RanchRoper, post #1. That picture could steer you in the right direction. Hope that helps and you can get started.

[Mistered]

I guess I will check out the startup cost and use brass if I decide to proceed.

Well good luck with this!
Proceed cautiously, do your own research but do not ever hesitate to ask questions about any aspect of reloading.
I would like to 'warn' you to be careful of any U-Tube vids about reloading you might decide to watch.
MANY of them are made by well meaning people but unfortunately are based on what THEY use and how THEY go about reloading as opposed to an unbiased and generalized educational approach to it.

[jimbo510]

Im a new guy here but I have been reloading for about 12 years. You probably never recoup your money because you constantly upgrade equipment and buy gadgets just to try them. I have to say I get a lot of joy and satisfaction from tuning a load to specific rifle and taking deer with rounds I made. Our 9 year old daughter, who is up and down with her interest in shooting, loves making 308 hunting rounds with me. I pretty much set the press up for seating bullets and supply her with primed brass and she does it all , drops a powder charge, trickles in the last little bit, adds powder to brass and seats the bullet. I am right there the whole time and I make sure everything is done right. So with that being said I feel I have gotten my money's worth out of the equipment. The hunting rounds I make are cheaper and just as good as premium store bought ammo but are half the cost to me. But I dont think you safe any real money unless you are a competition shooter and shoot thousands of rounds a year.

[JEBar]

So with that being said I feel I have gotten my money's worth out of the equipment. The hunting rounds I make are cheaper and just as good as premium store bought ammo but are half the cost to me. But I dont think you safe any real money unless you are a competition shooter and shoot thousands of rounds a year

as several responses in this thread have noted, most of us have a positive return on our investment in several different ways .... for me, the time spent with my sons over 30 or so years, the days I've already spent loading with my grandson and two granddaughters is something that can't be equated to dollars and cents .... in addition, the fact that the bulk of our gear has been in use for pushing 60 years has brought our cost per use way, way down ..

[clovishound]

I've only been loading for about 7 or 8 years, but my equipment cost per round is now ridiculously low. I've probably spent less on reloading gear than I did on my Henry.

[Mistered]

I've only been loading for about 7 or 8 years, but my equipment cost per round is now ridiculously low. I've probably spent less on reloading gear than I did on my Henry.

Same here - and thats with about 42+ years reloading under my belt.

I think a lot of people who get into reloading go way over their head and buy the most expensive, and everything they think (or are told) they need, way more components than they will use in years and suddenly realize they do not know what they did.

On another forum I have recently seen at least two ads for reloading equipment and components for sale, never used, and itemized (one with receipts displayed) at over $2500 !

These purchases were highly unusual however and were most likely based on 'current events' at the time but I have known of many who have spent probably over twice what they needed to begin with and have a lot of unused stuff setting around!

[jimbo510]

After seeing other ideas about the savings of reloading I think I actually save money due to being able to load high quality ammo for a fraction of the cost buying ammo that would perform the same. I also say I have not saved as much as some because I bought the bare necessities to start with and slowly upgraded over time as my interest grew in the hobby.

[Mgderf]

The idea that handloading would save money was not a consideration for me.
I hoped to save a bit in the long run, but that was not the ultimate goal.
I did not start loading for more accurate than factory ammo, but that is a huge side benefit.

My biggest reason for starting to handload was ammo availability.
After Sandy Hook I had a very hard time locating certain calibers, especially locally, and prices were skyrocketing.

Price aside, I just wanted to be able to shoot, and not need to take out a mortgage to do so.
Handloading has offered me the opportunity to shoot even when there are market shortages.
I jumped on the loading bandwagon with both feet, but I stayed as frugal as I could.

I bought a Lee Classis single-stage press anniversary kit, which included most everything needed to load, with the exception of dies.
Over the next year or so I added dies to load most every major caliber that I shoot.
I also starting laying in supplies of projectiles, brass, primers, and powders, so the next market shortage will have zero effect on my ability to shoot.

I don't care if I ever see any savings.
I can build my own ammo when I want to shoot.

[Mistered]

After Sandy Hook I had a very hard time locating certain calibers, especially locally, and prices were skyrocketing.

A lot of people had to curtail shooting after Sandy Hook.
I was able to keep shooting because of reloading.
I stocked up very heavily by 2106 for 'possibilities' but that passed.

[Redthies]

I used to reload. I don’t anymore for a couple of reasons. Mainly, because I sold my gear. If I still had it, I wouldn’t have a ton of time, but could squeak a box or two in once in a while. I think you have to look on it as a “I enjoy it so I do it” type thing. There are advantages to factory ammo, and advantages to reloading. Pick what works for you.