max503
Member
What a difference a year makes. Before the pandemic hardly anyone loaded 9mm. I did because of all the free brass.
What are the most frequently reloaded cartridges these days?
- Thread starter tndrfttom
- Start date
What a difference a year makes. Before the pandemic hardly anyone loaded 9mm. I did because of all the free brass.
I never stopped reloading 9mm, even when it was dirt cheap. I prefer to make my own ammo anyway and with my cast bullets it was cheaper than dirt cheap. Even buying primers today, it's about 14 bucks a hundred for 9mm, 38, 45acp, etc.
Green Frog
Member
My sentiments exactly... a “ground survey” of discarded brass is an indicator of what calibers are being shot and not retrieved the most, not of the calibers being reloaded. If anything there is a negative correlation here.
Froggie
AJ
US Veteran
Probably 90% or better of the shooters at our county run range do not reload. They usually have two to three 55 gallon drums of brass to be sold to the scrappers sitting around.
Small arms ammo of late is mostly............ 38/357 & 9mm.
90% of my ammo is for target work.
Rifle ammo loaded the most is my ........... 22-250 & 30-06,
both rifles have four (4) different weight & speeds for my use & yardage.
90% of my ammo is for target work.
Rifle ammo loaded the most is my ........... 22-250 & 30-06,
both rifles have four (4) different weight & speeds for my use & yardage.
SupportTheSecond
Member
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I did see in an article of The American Rifleman that RCBS is considering completely dropping their shotgun re-loaders. It seems that and the decline of the Cowboy calibers was high on their list.
9x19
.45 ACP
.45 Colt
.223/5.56
.45 ACP
.45 Colt
.223/5.56
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That's the way the RCBS list has always been compiled. It's hard to imagine a better way of finding out what's popular with handloaders. I doubt anyone knows or could accurately guess what the ratio of handloaders to non-handloaders is.
Based on what has been absent from shelves the longest and most difficult to find in my area, I'd guess:
.38 spl
.357
.380
9mm
.223/5.56
.44 spl
.44 mag\.45 Colt
.45 acp
10mm
.40 S&W
.300 AAC
.38 spl
.357
.380
9mm
.223/5.56
.44 spl
.44 mag\.45 Colt
.45 acp
10mm
.40 S&W
.300 AAC
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Given prices of handgun ammo, I expect the rimmed revolver cartridges would be at or near the top of actual reloading activity, if not necessarily indicated by the purchase of new equipment.
In rifles, surely the 6.5 Creedmoor is in the running somewhere. I don’t recall ever seeing the industry get behind a new cartridge and push it as hard as the 6.5 CM has been pushed.
Shotguns, logic would point toward the small gauges, since field/target grade ammo for 12s and 20s has been pretty cheap, at least until recently, but there are so few shooters that actually use the small gauges that I suspect one couldn’t necessarily rely on that theory.
All in all, in terms of rounds actually made, not die sets sold, I’d be surprised in 9mm, .45 ACP, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, and 6.5 Creedmoor weren’t somewhere near the top of the list.
In rifles, surely the 6.5 Creedmoor is in the running somewhere. I don’t recall ever seeing the industry get behind a new cartridge and push it as hard as the 6.5 CM has been pushed.
Shotguns, logic would point toward the small gauges, since field/target grade ammo for 12s and 20s has been pretty cheap, at least until recently, but there are so few shooters that actually use the small gauges that I suspect one couldn’t necessarily rely on that theory.
All in all, in terms of rounds actually made, not die sets sold, I’d be surprised in 9mm, .45 ACP, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, and 6.5 Creedmoor weren’t somewhere near the top of the list.
Depends what kind of shooter you ask. Looking at component availability I'd have to say 9x19. Also reloading videos seem to largely be 9mm. Also with huge numbers of cheap 9mm plastic guns sold and readily available (and a trend to "tactical"), again I'd say 9x19. Long guns my guess would be 5.56/223. Same reasons "tactical thnking", and availibility of AR type guns. Also looking at reloading forums you will see many, many questions on these two cartridges...
My list would be for today, probably change next month;
9mm, (mostly JHP.)
38 Special (cast lead bullets).
45ACP ( variety of loads, bullets).
Those are the most reloaded for me lately, in the past it was 38 Special 44 Magnum, 357 Magnum and 45 Colt, but times and ideas change...
My list would be for today, probably change next month;
9mm, (mostly JHP.)
38 Special (cast lead bullets).
45ACP ( variety of loads, bullets).
Those are the most reloaded for me lately, in the past it was 38 Special 44 Magnum, 357 Magnum and 45 Colt, but times and ideas change...
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Until recently, 44 spl, 357 magnum. Now, 9mm. Specifically, subsonic 147 gr loads.
Didn’t reload 9mm, as it was more financially beneficial to reload other calibers with my powder and primers.
I reload to save money.
STOP LAUGHING.
Didn’t reload 9mm, as it was more financially beneficial to reload other calibers with my powder and primers.
I reload to save money.
STOP LAUGHING.
9mmPatriot
Member
For me, 9mm is my EDC so that's my pistol reloads.
.223 cuz I enjoy shooting it.
Went to the range this past Saturday and the 2 guys next ro me were burning through 9mm and 5.56/.223. when the range was cold and I was picking up my brass I asked if they kept theirs since I didn't want to pick theirs up. They said no and I could have it if i wanted it.
600+ of 9mm and 150 or so 5.56/.223 went into my range buckets.
it was like Halloween!
.223 cuz I enjoy shooting it.
Went to the range this past Saturday and the 2 guys next ro me were burning through 9mm and 5.56/.223. when the range was cold and I was picking up my brass I asked if they kept theirs since I didn't want to pick theirs up. They said no and I could have it if i wanted it.
600+ of 9mm and 150 or so 5.56/.223 went into my range buckets.
it was like Halloween!
Ivan the Butcher
Member
My friends that reload are loading the standard Handgun rounds: 380, 9mm, 38 Special 40 S&W, 44 Spec/Mag, 45 Colt, 45ACP!
In rifle it is 223, 308, 6 & 6.5 Creedmoor, 308, and 300 Blackout.
Also lots of 45-70, and some of the 375 Win. 38-55 Win. and 350 Legend.
Personally, I crank out about 300-400 338 Lapua Mag a year, but that is sort of unusual!
With the BAN of Russian ammo, 7.62x39 is on the uptake too! and a little 7.62x54R!
Ivan
I usually load 5k to 8k 410's a year and 4k to 6k 28 gauge for sporting clays! I bought a 725 Sporting in 410 to go with my Feather XS 410 & 28, So I'll have to be shooting more! ITB
In rifle it is 223, 308, 6 & 6.5 Creedmoor, 308, and 300 Blackout.
Also lots of 45-70, and some of the 375 Win. 38-55 Win. and 350 Legend.
Personally, I crank out about 300-400 338 Lapua Mag a year, but that is sort of unusual!
With the BAN of Russian ammo, 7.62x39 is on the uptake too! and a little 7.62x54R!
Ivan
I usually load 5k to 8k 410's a year and 4k to 6k 28 gauge for sporting clays! I bought a 725 Sporting in 410 to go with my Feather XS 410 & 28, So I'll have to be shooting more! ITB
Moe Mentum
Member
A few years ago, my friends called me foolish for reloading 9mm, now they all do it.... most popular? I would guess 9mm and .223.
Green Frog
Member
Just a SWAG, but I'd guess 9MM and 38 Spl are one-two with 357 and 40 calibers somewhat behind. The 44s and 45s probably come next with 41s of in the weeds somewhere.
those of us loading the various 32s are a dedicated bunch, but there aren't that many of us so the total loaded is smaller.
Long guns? I'm pretty clueless about rifles. The 223 sells in large numbers, but is the number of reloads may not be keeping up.
As for shotguns, you'll have to ask the guys who shoot at flying pottery. From what I've heard though, they can't get primers either.
Froggie
those of us loading the various 32s are a dedicated bunch, but there aren't that many of us so the total loaded is smaller.
Long guns? I'm pretty clueless about rifles. The 223 sells in large numbers, but is the number of reloads may not be keeping up.
As for shotguns, you'll have to ask the guys who shoot at flying pottery. From what I've heard though, they can't get primers either.
Froggie
Let me muddy the water. I think an analysis of some observations is in order.
When I volunteer as a safety officer at GSSF events (which are lost brass matches), I see an abundance of 9mm. For every 30 rounds of 9mm, I may see 4 or 5 40 S&W, 2 45 ACP, and if I'm lucky, a 380 or a 10mm case. Most of the brass appears to be factory loaded (noted by crimped primers and sealant). If it were me, I'd shoot reloaded ammo in lost brass matches and not leave behind once fired brass. Very few steel and aluminum cases are present. To me, that suggests that 40s, 10mm, 357 Sig, and 45 GAP are either reloaded or not as popular as they once were in the GSSF matches.
When I take a walk through my club's pistol pits, not much spent brass can be found. What I am finding is a large quantity of spent steel and aluminum cases, 25 ACP, 32 ACP, 32 S&W Long, and a large quantity of 223 (most likely left behind by the police departments that train at our range), along with a large quantity of spent 22 brass. Rarely do I see many 38 Specials or 357 Magnums. Up until this past spring, you could spend an hour in each bay collecting 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45s, but revolver cases were scarce.
For our mid-range and long-range matches, none of our competitors leave brass behind.
Based on what I don't see, I believe that 38 Special, 357 Magnum, and some 44s have been reloaded since the scamdemic began. Of late, there appears to be an increase in reloading 9mm. I would suspect that few people are reloading the 223 that has been left behind because of the crimped primers.
Also, if you look at the sales ads for brass recyclers, revolver brass is scarce and higher priced, suggesting that while it is not a common cartridge, the brass is in high demand.
When I volunteer as a safety officer at GSSF events (which are lost brass matches), I see an abundance of 9mm. For every 30 rounds of 9mm, I may see 4 or 5 40 S&W, 2 45 ACP, and if I'm lucky, a 380 or a 10mm case. Most of the brass appears to be factory loaded (noted by crimped primers and sealant). If it were me, I'd shoot reloaded ammo in lost brass matches and not leave behind once fired brass. Very few steel and aluminum cases are present. To me, that suggests that 40s, 10mm, 357 Sig, and 45 GAP are either reloaded or not as popular as they once were in the GSSF matches.
When I take a walk through my club's pistol pits, not much spent brass can be found. What I am finding is a large quantity of spent steel and aluminum cases, 25 ACP, 32 ACP, 32 S&W Long, and a large quantity of 223 (most likely left behind by the police departments that train at our range), along with a large quantity of spent 22 brass. Rarely do I see many 38 Specials or 357 Magnums. Up until this past spring, you could spend an hour in each bay collecting 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45s, but revolver cases were scarce.
For our mid-range and long-range matches, none of our competitors leave brass behind.
Based on what I don't see, I believe that 38 Special, 357 Magnum, and some 44s have been reloaded since the scamdemic began. Of late, there appears to be an increase in reloading 9mm. I would suspect that few people are reloading the 223 that has been left behind because of the crimped primers.
Also, if you look at the sales ads for brass recyclers, revolver brass is scarce and higher priced, suggesting that while it is not a common cartridge, the brass is in high demand.
jag312
Member
Mostly 9mm, because I have a Lanchester and an Uzi SMG. Other than 9mm, I reload .44 Special and .45-70.
