Handloads or reloads?

[mkk41]

Tried to make this point on other forums , and replies were rather disheartening.


I've always felt the two terms are not exactly the same.

FI , the term 'reloads' has always had a 'cheap' stigma to it. Most gunshop/gunshow 'reloads' are built using the cheapest componants , using the powder that gives the most rounds per pound , with minimal or no care to case prep. Bullets can be 'blems' or seconds bought in bulk. Done fast , by gunshop hangarounds or shop owners kids , they are cheapest bang ya can get. These hucksters will often boast that their ammo has 'a lot more powder in them' , but can't tell ya how much or what kind.

Handloaders , OTOH , are meticulous in their craft.
Cases are carefully sized , trimmed to length , deburred and chamfered , sorted (brand or weight).
Primer pockets cleaned , deburred , uniformed , decrimped.
Powders are carefully selected (by burn rate) for the application.
Charges are carefully weighed to the tenth of a grain or less.
Bullets are the best ya can get , known for quality and accuracy.
Each one is individually inspected.
Some handloaders even measure and weigh each projectile.
They are proud of their products , which can put the best factory 'match' ammo to shame.

Most of my rifle ammo is done single stage , as are my magnum-level revolver rounds.

Stuff like .38 Special wadcutters and .45 ACP target stuff is run on a Dillon 550 , but I do inspect and measure my cases every so often.

The golden rule is 'Never shoot anyone elses reloads/handloads'! Unless ya trust them with yer life and limb!


Reminds me of an old adage:

A fine hand-crafted ivory or mearsham will give a wise man an aire of distinction and years of enjoyment.

And a fool something to stick in their mouth!

 

[OKFC05]

I agree there is a difference between reloaders and handloaders; I just don't buy your definitions.
Handloaders use the hand operated reloading tools to manufacture ammunition in relatively small quantities, often using new components.
A reloader recycles brass to produce quality ammunition suitable for practice or range use, as desired.

The slobs who use inferior components and slop them together to peddle to the first sucker they can find do not deserve to be called either handloaders or reloaders.

 

[Skip Sackett]

This is a great thread topic!

Dennis40x had a poll a while ago that dealt with this subject but it needs to be thought out again. Maybe he will pop in here and remind us of the question in the poll so we can revisit it.

Here is my opinion; take it and $5 to Starbucks and you can get a nice cup of coffee, nothing fancy, mind you!

A handloader is someone who knows which is which! All kidding aside; a reloader is just that, someone that uses components over to shoot and that is their main goal, shoot. A handloader is someone that uses components, whether they are top of the line or bottom of it is a secondary issue, they are going to find the best load for those components at hand, through experimentation, because that is the goal, the best round possible with whatever components are at hand. They may be homemade ones, such as cast bullets. They may be the newest thing going like the Hornady SXT but they are going to be the best rounds they can put together, period.

A reloader will stop where most books do. They will take a recipe, use all of the components listed, and make ammo that will cycle their firearm and have reasonable accuracy.

A handloader is much different. It is in fact what drives them to buy a new gun. Another cartridge to work with. Another experiment to work through.

I would like to think of myself as a handloader that knows when it is time to reload.

If you are shooting in some kind of action pistol competition, the time taken to "handload" for each event is silly. It is then that you have to turn into a "reloader" and get the 1000 rounds made for the match. Accuracy will be perfect for shooting less than 2" groups at 25 yards.


Like I said earlier, that's my opinion.

 

[MrPhil]

Handloader or reloader? A distinction that has nothing to do with me. I just load my own ammo.

I've never trimmed a piece of handgun brass.
I use 38 and 45 till it splits and inspect it for that as it goes into the Dillon.
I keep track of 44 brass length so I can properly crimp. Also keep track of the number of times 44 brass has been cycled.
I buy expensive 9mm jacketed bullets, 4000 at a time, to replicate my carry load. That is also my plinking ammo.
I buy plated SWC's or RN for 45's. They are low velocity target loads. I need the soft bullets.
I use appropriate powders for each load.
I run new loads over the chronograph.
I am getting great results in my precision 308 with 168 grain Match Kings and well used Lithuanian surplus brass.
The only primer pockets that get any attention at all are military rifle brass and brass for precision rifles. Would not waste my time for pistol.
I purchased 20 lb's of somewhat unknown rifle powder for $100. At $5/lb every rifle I own is going to get a load (or 7) worked up.

Your definitions are much too narrow.

 

[ChuckS1]

I think of handloading as the load development process that ultimately comes up (at least in my case) with the load I want for my particular gun. Most times, that load is not a factory duplication load, given that I cast my own boolits and use powders that the factory doesn't. Powder carefully measured and weighed, OAL measured and seating depth tweaked, crimp adjusted and readjusted, and finally shot for groups at 25 yards and chronographed. This is all, essentially, R&D.

Once I determine what the optimal load for my particular purpose is, then I can shift into the reloading phase for the production of the loaded rounds. Even so, in the case of rifle rounds, there is much more handloading with a single stage press and case lube than when I crank out 500 .45 ACP rounds for bullseye competition practice on my SDB.

So that's my view of it, anyways. All semantics in the long run...

 

[canoe on the yukon]

I've always been under the impression that all handloaders are also reloaders but not necessarily the other way around.My take on it is the following.....

A reloader is someone who simply brings the components together.He decaps,sizes,recaps,charges with powder according to the recipe,seats and crimps the bullet.....and that's about it.

The handloader goes farther.He either casts bullets,swages bullets,does case forming or some other task which goes beyond the act of simply bringing components together.

 

[mkk41]

I've always been under the impression that all handloaders are also reloaders but not necessarily the other way around.My take on it is the following.....

A reloader is someone who simply brings the components together.He decaps,sizes,recaps,charges with powder according to the recipe,seats and crimps the bullet.....and that's about it.

The handloader goes farther.He either casts bullets,swages bullets,does case forming or some other task which goes beyond the act of simply bringing components together.

That's what I'm getting at. Like I said , the term 'reloads' usually brings a sneer in gun discussions. But I'd put my 'reloads , or 'handloads' up against any factory ammo. Many loaders do develop a load that works in their gun and can crank them out in volume in a progressive.

I suppose what I'm getting at is the care used. I've seen some 'reloads' for sale at gunshops and shows that , just from the looks (dirty cases , uneven bullet , seat depths, uneven crimp) , I wouldn't put in my guns.

 

[tbury]

Just to throw another confusing bit into the mix. When I use unfired brass I am loading not reloading; but I am hand loading. I do not remember ever seeing "handloaded" ammo for sale in a gunshop; but I have seen "reloaded" from both commercial and individual loaded sources. These days I do not think you see much non-commercial reloads in any gun shops I visit. Liability issues make it not worth selling something you cannot pass the buck to the manufacturer. I understand the idea of connecting quality and careful development to "handloaders" but I still think it comes down to the individual doing the reloading not the tag we place on the person or product.

I have bought and shot reloads in my guns but almost never handloads that were not my own or from someone I know extremely well.

 

[Rule3]

Gee, how about the term "remanufactured"?? Is that only used for commercial reloaders who produce a lot for resale.

I make handloads via the reloading process.

 

[jbouwens]

Guilty as charged on both accounts,

I slam 38 specials and 45 acps for my revolvers and such together without much care or time involved, I shoot them until they crack and I have a few loaded 38s that have a crack in the mouth that I plan to shoot again until they will jam up my Dillon 550.

On the other hand-- I load the 38 s&w, 44 spec, 44 mag, 45 acp (for autos), 45 colt, 357 mag, 38 spec, (carry loads), 41 mag, 500 mag, 9mm, 6mm rem, 30.06 (for bolt guns) 30.06 (for Garand), 30 carbine, 45 win mag, 25.06, and 223 VERY,VERY, carefully most of which are individually clean, inspected, weighed (bullets, cases, powder charge) hand primmed (ALL FEDERALS), measured, etc. to make sure I don't creat problems. So far----knock on wood--- I have only had one problems over the year--- a 45 acp case (oned fired Fed case) blew out at the base (45 cal Spingfield 1911) and it ruined the magazine, cracked a grip panel and made a brown spot in my pants. I inspected all other cases and fired all the rest of that lot without anymore problems. I guess one round in the last 40 ish years is pretty good. Revolvers will always hold up to "misloads" but with the right conditions, three cylinder can erupt or grenade on you if you don't pay close attention to what you are doing in the reloading room.

 

[mstuhr]

Apples and apples

Howdy,
I think you are confusing apples with apples?
Thanks
Mike

 

[mkk41]

Howdy,
I think you are confusing apples with apples?
Thanks
Mike

Some would say the same about comparing S&W and Taurus.

 

[Landric]

I started out as a reloader, now I consider myself more of a handloader. I got into it to save money on ammunition (on a cost per round basis) so I could shoot more. Over the years that has progressed. I spend a lot more time at the bench now that I ever did when I was purely a reloader, and now I tinker a lot more. I still mass produce proven handgun loads (and I'm starting to do that with .223 also), but now I load small batches for testing, and when I do buy a new gun the first consideration is handloading for it.

I've gotten to the point now where I own multiple guns in which I have never fired a single round of factory ammunition.

Although one can certainly mess up as a handloader, loading unfired brass can never be accurately be called reloading.

In my mind the major difference is this: the reloader does so to shoot more, the handloader shoots so he can handload more. I seem to find myself in the second category these days.

 

[acl864]

In my mind I'm more of a handloader than a reloader. I spend much more time working up new and different loads than I do loading bulk ammo for shooting. As soon as I start getting a little bored with one caliber another seems to follow along. Starting on 30-30 Win tonite. One of my next goals is to start casting my own bullets just to add another facet to my obsession/hobby.

 

[VonFatman]

Hmmm...
I guess I'm both. Neither fish nor foul.

But since a LARGE chunk of my shooting is with handguns, at or around 25 yards & loaded with a pretty fair speed progressive...I'm going to suggest most of what I reload is "reloaded" with nary a worry about 1" groups. Range fodder! I need range fodder!

However, several other loads are more carefully managed...

My rifle loads, hunting loads, Jet reloads, "close to the envelope" loads etc. These loads are more "managed" to keep them dialed in, safe, and simply because they are bottle-neck and I use my single stage press were life is always in the "slow lane".

Just my .02

Bob

 

[smith627]

Factory Ammunition

I've gotten to the point now where I own multiple guns in which I have never fired a single round of factory ammunition.

? What's factory ammunition ?

 

[SR]

I fail to see the distinction between handloader and reloader. The only term I see a distinction with is remanufacturer (a commercial reloader/handloader).

As to care, that might be all over the place. There are some 'handloaders' that probably do not exercise much care.

There are benchrest shooters that exercise meticulous care. There are handloaders/reloaders that reload for precision shooters that probably exercise just as much care.

I purchase from commercial relaoders/handloaders. Everyone that I've dealt with told me the type of bullet, the type of powder and probably would have told me the amount of powder if I asked. They do not use cheap stuff. The last 'reloads' that I purchased were 124 gr Sierra bullets, CCI primers, and VV powder.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

I make handloads via the reloading process.

I agree with this statement 100%. The terms are synonomous most anywhere shooting is discussed. If we're going to start getting picky about terms here, we're all in trouble.

 

[VonFatman]

Gun 4 Fun,
You will never make it as a bureaucrat!

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

That is a good thing to me!