For new Handloaders; Organize it or Lose it

[oddshooter]

On a related topic:
I had trouble Finding the finished rounds detailed in my spreadsheets.

I had so many stored in different containers (holding up to 20 lots); factory boxes, plastic boxes, Harbor Freight, Home Depot, Midway, Online .....
The containers were in different locations; open shelves, cabinets, racks, boxes, floor, garage, bedroom, vault, .....

It took me forever to locate the rounds I wanted.

I haven't spent the cash to get them in the same containers, but I have located them in the same area.

The answer was to add a field (a column) to my spreadsheet named "Location".

Does anyone else lose their ammo? or just can't find it?


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[SMSgt]

Nope. Magazines are another story.

 

[glenwolde]

I find load development the most tedious and boring part of reloading. Reloading is tedious and boring enough in it's own right. I'm one of those shooters that reloads but does not enjoy it.

But I know how to do it if I have too, and I have. Fortunately I haven't found it necessary very often. Not that I don't have standards. I do. But I've found what I needed quicker than exploring an excessive number of options. If it took me a year I'd give up in boredom and take up crochet and jigsaw puzzles.

I reload so I can shoot more and have a constant supply of a consistent load over decades.

 

[rockquarry]

I find load development the most tedious and boring part of reloading. Reloading is tedious and boring enough in it's own right. I'm one of those shooters that reloads but does not enjoy it.

But I know how to do it if I have too, and I have. Fortunately I haven't found it necessary very often. Not that I don't have standards. I do. But I've found what I needed quicker than exploring an excessive number of options. If it took me a year I'd give up in boredom and take up crochet and jigsaw puzzles.

I reload so I can shoot more and have a constant supply of a consistent load over decades.

Enjoying handloading and striving for the most accurate loads provides a sense of accomplishment that the impatient and "want it right now" reloaders won't ever experience. Certainly a hobby in itself, but only if you enjoy it.

But that's okay. We can't and shouldn't dictate the way others do things.

 

[Dieseltech56]

In current reality not many will drop 2000 primers into load development

I did it once with a 22-250 shilen barrel on a savage model 12. By the time I got the perfect load the barrel was almost shot out. Lesson learned

Btw Viht N550 was the ticket

 

[Sevens]

There’s absolutely a range between “I don’t like reloading but it makes sense for me” and the poster above who totally loves the chase and all the options and diversity and then makes less than a hundred of any one thing.

I definitely exist in between. I totally love the hobby, but NOT every facet of it. I’d estimate that 95% of my production is handgun ammo. The chase for the goal isn’t like what folks do in rifle ammo. I just need ammo that always works and prints a tight, slow fire bench rested group also. This isn’t tough to accomplish. And my production varies between 8,000 and 15,000 rounds annually.

Bottle neck rifle? I make what I need for a prairie dog hunt. That’s about 750 rounds a year. Full length sizing and case trimming and chamfering is not enjoyable at all. And I quit load development when I got under an inch at 100yds and no prairie dog at 400 yds or under has a chance if I am certain of the distance and the wind isn’t crazy.

We all find the sweet spot.

 

[mikerjf]

Oddshooter, thanks for the drift... sounds like an interesting time. We do indeed have much in common. I'm still hitting the boards as often as I can, some of us in the band have been playing together 50+ years now. And we still ROCK!

 

[pasound]

Now, after 40 years, I've been transferring load data to an excel file. Interesting to see which ones I keep - about 10% of all the notebooked handwritten data. Only added one powder to all the data - Universal. Dropped Bullseye and 4227 - never got a good load. Otherwise, for pistols and revolvers, 231, 296, Unique (when it absolutely has to go BOOM). Need to add a rifle powder before I run out of 223's.

 

[LostintheOzone]

You might want to break it down by cartridge instead of caliber. There are a lot of .308 caliber bullets that aren't appropriate for some cartridges. As an example a 110 grain .308 bullet for a 30 carbine isn't a good choice for a .308 Win cartridge and the same powder or primers won't work either.

 

[jag312]

Most of my handloading is 9mm. What the heck, I have a British WW2 Lanchester submachinegun and an Uzi submachinegun. I don't shoot them as much as I did, but they both used the same bullet and the same amount of HP38. Any 9mm cartridge in my gun room is machinegun food.

 

[gwpercle]

The Good Lord saw fit NOT to bless me with any organizational skills whatsoever ... I can't dance or sing either ... my organizing skills are those of a severely OCD Packrat !
... But don't let it stop you from becoming a reloader ...just do the best you can and don't put all your faith in computer technology and spread sheets to get you through .
Most important is to Load Safe and Have a Whole Mess-O-Fun .
I find casting bullets and reloading ammo a very relaxing and rewarding hobby .
I started reloading and casting bullets in 1967 ...during all this time I have never relied on computers or electronics to do it . Some gearheads love attaching all manner of expensive and complicated electronic controls to press and melting pots ... but if you don't want to go this route ... just do as I do ...simple and old school ... works for me.
Gary

 

[oddshooter]

Thanks for all the great posts, and ideas.

I particularly enjoy a Lively discussion without being butthurt at the end.
It seems we did divide into two camps, old school and new school.

Each got to emphasize their strengths and the others' weaknesses without getting nasty or character assassinations.

The very nature of freedom of speech.

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