What happens if you use and call yourself a "Ultimateloader"??
Is that then a precision oriented snob?
Ultimate Reloader Reloading Blog
Is that then a precision oriented snob?
Ultimate Reloader Reloading Blog
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Handloading vs Reloading
- Thread starter Smithhound
- Start date
So if you are into Black Powder and don't use metallic cases..........
are you just a loader ?
are you just a loader ?
Same/same. I load each cartridge by hand. Sometimes its virgin rifle brass working up a load for a new rifle/bullet combination. Sometimes its several thousand pieces of 9mm brass and bulk bullets. Either way my finished product is way ahead of the ammo you can buy at the local Walmart.
Handloader, reloader, prepper, hoarder, zombie phobe, match shooter, grumpy old man, conservative, etc. all are correct...some more than others.
When no one had ammo on the shelf, I kept on shooting at the local range. I enjoy crafting small batches of .32 wadcutters for my J frames as much as developing a load for a new .243. Equally as happy cranking out several hundred rounds on the Dillon.
I just enjoy reloading period. It helps me relax. Gladly will I learn and gladly will I teach. And when its all said and done...lets go the range to test said loads.
Handloader, reloader, prepper, hoarder, zombie phobe, match shooter, grumpy old man, conservative, etc. all are correct...some more than others.
When no one had ammo on the shelf, I kept on shooting at the local range. I enjoy crafting small batches of .32 wadcutters for my J frames as much as developing a load for a new .243. Equally as happy cranking out several hundred rounds on the Dillon.
I just enjoy reloading period. It helps me relax. Gladly will I learn and gladly will I teach. And when its all said and done...lets go the range to test said loads.
What is this section of the forum called?
When you look up on the internet for supplies under what category is it?
What are the manuals called?
Ed, you are a case re-filler
When you look up on the internet for supplies under what category is it?
What are the manuals called?
Ed, you are a case re-filler
gwpercle
Member
My Hornady Handbook of Cartridce Reloading #1 1967 and my Speer Manual For Reloading Ammunition 1970 were my first and second books purchased. Both say Reloading ammunition. But all my Handloader's Digest purchased through out the years call it Handloading. I just don't know.
I reload ammo and use my hands to do it, or so I thought....I'm soooo confused ...just what have I been doing all this time????
Let's just go fishing, a nice can of worms has been opened.
Gary
I reload ammo and use my hands to do it, or so I thought....I'm soooo confused ...just what have I been doing all this time????
Let's just go fishing, a nice can of worms has been opened.
Gary
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Owen49
Member
novalty
Member
I reload my handloads.
I reckon I'm a cartridge/shell remanufacturer/handloader/reloader. I started loading & casting back in 1972. Through testing/trial&error I established what my guns like. I have stuck with most of the same recipes over the years. They work! I have no desire or $ for retesting everytime a new powder or bullet hits the market.
Or simply........Who cares as long as it gets the job done.
Or simply........Who cares as long as it gets the job done.
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Bkreutz
US Veteran
Like I said in an earlier post, handloading and reloading have become a common term for the same thing for most people. The difficulty comes in when using those terms in some of the action shooting sports (USPSA,IDPA, 3 Gun). All of them define "reloading" as (quoting USPSA Handgun Rules Appendix A-3) "The replenishment or the insertion of additional ammunition into a firearm."
I didn't think much about the difference until one time I was giving a course of fire description to a bunch of brand new USPSA shooters and part of the instruction was a "mandatory reload" at one point. I got a puzzled look from one guy so I asked him if he had any questions. He said "Does this mean I can't shoot my store bought ammo?, I don't reload yet." I'm just glad this wasn't an IDPA briefing and I had said "reload with retention, or tactical reload." His head may have popped.
Personally I don't think there is any implied distinction between handload and reload, at least I've never thought of it that way. Even though I shoot thousands of rounds a month, I still make sure they are the most accurate and dependable that can be made. I put too much time, effort, and money into my shooting to have it spoiled by a substandard round.
I didn't think much about the difference until one time I was giving a course of fire description to a bunch of brand new USPSA shooters and part of the instruction was a "mandatory reload" at one point. I got a puzzled look from one guy so I asked him if he had any questions. He said "Does this mean I can't shoot my store bought ammo?, I don't reload yet." I'm just glad this wasn't an IDPA briefing and I had said "reload with retention, or tactical reload." His head may have popped.
Personally I don't think there is any implied distinction between handload and reload, at least I've never thought of it that way. Even though I shoot thousands of rounds a month, I still make sure they are the most accurate and dependable that can be made. I put too much time, effort, and money into my shooting to have it spoiled by a substandard round.
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fredj338
Member
I consider myself a handloader. Loading now 25 calibers, including 3 wildcats & several old commercial carts that have no data. i cast my own bullets, swage jacketed bullets, i had a chronograph when they were foil screens. Yes I am a Handloader first & reloader 2nd.
Having said that, the misconception you can't make high quality ammo on a progressive just gets old. Today's equip is certainly capable of match grade ammo, rifle & certainly pistol. It is the 21st century, th days of arbor presses & painfully slow handloading can be behind you.
Having said that, the misconception you can't make high quality ammo on a progressive just gets old. Today's equip is certainly capable of match grade ammo, rifle & certainly pistol. It is the 21st century, th days of arbor presses & painfully slow handloading can be behind you.
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Twoboxer
Member
"Reload" is a verb needing an object. It doesn't mean anything by itself. You can reload your old mechanical lead pencil, your old Pez dispenser, your 50cal, or your brass cases.
Handload is a verb needing an object . . . etc.
Frankly, neither of them mean anything more (or less) without either an object or a context.
But the term "handloading" means even less because, well, its certainly not done to a meaningful degree of excellence without a great deal of equipment.
Handload is a verb needing an object . . . etc.
Frankly, neither of them mean anything more (or less) without either an object or a context.
But the term "handloading" means even less because, well, its certainly not done to a meaningful degree of excellence without a great deal of equipment.
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I'm not sure "precision and attention to detail" is what most people think of with respect to wildcatters. In fact, there have been a few reloaders I've known where the phrase that comes to mind is "dangerous".
Having known a few benchresters, OCD comes to mind. Bless their hearts.
quneur
Member
How about handloading shotshells? I can see it now. Meticulous inspection of each shot to make sure they're perfectly round with no indentations; each shot is weigh, checked for size with a caliper and then counted. Each are individually placed within the shell for that perfect pattern. Adjust the placement if the pattern doesn't suit you.
Now that I've gotten to the bottom of thirty-four posts, my coffee cup is empty. Is this refill, reload, or handload a cup? The dead horses are here, let the beating begin.
I like Smithhound's original definitions. I'm just a slob reloader with 30 pounds of Accurate Arms powder in handgun and rifle formulations. Who needs Bullseye, Unique, 2400, IMR 4895, W296, or any of the other Unobtainium powders?
Where's my coffee pot?
I like Smithhound's original definitions. I'm just a slob reloader with 30 pounds of Accurate Arms powder in handgun and rifle formulations. Who needs Bullseye, Unique, 2400, IMR 4895, W296, or any of the other Unobtainium powders?
Where's my coffee pot?
I agree that handloading implies a higher degree of selection than reloading, but not sure that it is always defined by the quest for accuracy. It may be that you want a particular bullet or weight for a big game hunt and that combination is not available in factory form. Gilt edge accuracy may give way to velocity/power in such a load. I tend to think of handloading as the attempt to make something that is not readily available in factory ammo.
smokindog
Member
So is it then unloading or shooting? I'm so confused I need to go disassemble some ammunition.
gwpercle
Member
I like that term! We could call it assembling ammo, reassembling ammo and disassembling ammo....
No that's just another can of worm's!
I'm going fishing. I think it's still called fishing.
Gary
fredj338
Member
Exactly right. Accuracy is not the only reason to become a handloader & not handle puller. The guy with a 650, loading one caliber for min PF, not a handloader IMO.
ironhead7544
Member
We are discussing two different things. People and ammunition.
A reload is a fired case that has been remade into a completed round, either by a factory or person.
A handload is by a person using a new case, never loaded before. Not from a factory.
A reloader, as applied to a person, is some who makes ammunition from fired cases, might be commercial or personal.
In reality, handload and reload is almost interchangeable as terms except when the cases are new. So, if you are using fired cases then you are reloading, like it or not.
A reload is a fired case that has been remade into a completed round, either by a factory or person.
A handload is by a person using a new case, never loaded before. Not from a factory.
A reloader, as applied to a person, is some who makes ammunition from fired cases, might be commercial or personal.
In reality, handload and reload is almost interchangeable as terms except when the cases are new. So, if you are using fired cases then you are reloading, like it or not.
