Handloading vs Reloading

[Twoboxer]

"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.

 

[WR Moore]

That made me not only a handloader, but a wildcatter, which in most people's minds follows only benchrest shooters with regard to precision and attention to detail.

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]

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.

 

[gaijin]

I'd love to debate this fascinating topic, but I have a lot of reloading to do...

 

[Engineer1911]

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?

 

[MN2944]

Handloading is different from reloading. To me, it entails a level of excellence above reloading. Handloading is a quest for the ultimate accuracy of a load for a specific firearm, you want to get the utmost out of your load, and try many different components in that quest. If you have to sacrifice a bit of velocity for utmost accuracy, so be it. RD

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]

So is it then unloading or shooting? I'm so confused I need to go disassemble some ammunition.

I'd love to debate this fascinating topic, but I have a lot of reloading to do...

 

[gwpercle]

So is it then unloading or shooting? I'm so confused I need to go disassemble some ammunition.

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]

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.

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]

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.

 

[Smithhound]

Well, after all that, I think I'm confused!

I'll just live here in my happy world and handload, or reload and enjoy it.

RD

 

[glowe]

. . . and here I thought this was handloading!

 

[Rule3]

. . . and here I thought this was handloading!

Only if done with attention to detail and talking your time!

Otherwise you would just be a common reloader.

 

[Jellybean]

Reading Twoboxer's post above gave me the idea to look them up in the dictionary. Using the 1921 edition of Webster's New International Dictionary...

They didn't have the word "handloading", so I went to "Reloading" and it referred to the second definition under "re-", which meant "again" and so "reload" would mean to "load again".

So, based on that, I went to the different verbal meanings of "hand", and found a couple that could fit. "1) to manage, or manipulate, with the hands: to seize: to lay hands on: to deal with." and "2) To lead, guide, or assist with the hand: to conduct...".

My guess is that someone decided that "reloading" meant to "load again", and that wasn't a good enough description to cover loading ammunition with new brass.

 

[Rule3]

Sooooo, where does re-manufactured fit in?

 

[scooter123]

So, how does a Handloader measure his Split Times.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
With an Hour Glass
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
How does a Handloader measure his powder charge?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, . . . . . . . . 102, 103, 104, 105. Just perfect.

 

[Rule3]

Just to further muddy the water, the NRA refers to it as Reloading.

Reloading Bench

Reloading Instructor

Reloading class

It's the Forest Gump of reloading!

 

[soldsco]

Using the OP's definitions, I think you can be both depending upon your intended usage of the ammo. For example, I mass produce .45s on a progressive press as I shoot a LOT of .45. It is a very good load that I worked up first on a single stage in small increments but now that I have it dialed in, I am produce this in terms of hundreds per hour. Now for some of my rifle loads or more niche pistol loads (i.e. .460 S&W Mag) I would consider myself a handloader supreme, especially with my long range ammo.

 

[Jellybean]

Just to further muddy the water, the NRA refers to it as Reloading...

But not always, in 1981 they published a book titled "Handloading", edited by William C. Davis.

 

[LostintheOzone]

OK, the guys with the progressives are reloaders. The guys with the SS presses are hand loaders. I was thinking about buying a progressive but I don't want to be associated with a group who just reloads. I have an image to maintain.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Sooooo, where does re-manufactured fit in?

Those are reloaders on steroids.

 

[LostintheOzone]

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?

That's why I like it here, lots of dead horses. Anyway, I'm not a handloader I guess. I like reloading but not to the point of running my loads through one of those machines with the ears. I have one but I've never used it. Maybe someday when I get really bored and decide to measure something else. I see pictures of many different powders on some of the "lets see your reloading bench" threads. I guess that would be a handloaders bench. I only have two which takes care of 2 pistol cartridges, 1 shotgun and 1 rifle. I got tired of chasing powder a year or so ago so bought large quantities of what I could find and what I knew would work.

 

[fredj338]

That's why I like it here, lots of dead horses. Anyway, I'm not a handloader I guess. I like reloading but not to the point of running my loads through one of those machines with the ears. I have one but I've never used it. Maybe someday when I get really bored and decide to measure something else. I see pictures of many different powders on some of the "lets see your reloading bench" threads. I guess that would be a handloaders bench. I only have two which takes care of 2 pistol cartridges, 1 shotgun and 1 rifle. I got tired of chasing powder a year or so ago so bought large quantities of what I could find and what I knew would work.

Pretty much defines the reloader; 1 or two calibers, 1 or two powders. Little experimenting & quite a bit of guessing, but nothing wrong with that.

 

[fredj338]

Just to further muddy the water, the NRA refers to it as Reloading.

Reloading Bench

Reloading Instructor

Reloading class

It's the Forest Gump of reloading!

Only because you can't really teach handloading, far too much to learn & experience. It may be semantics, meaning little really, but there certainly is a diff between the progressive handle pullers, loading 1 or two calibers to go bang, & the guy making precision 600yd rifle loads or the wildcatter forming brass & working off the books. So however one wants t label it, at least you aren't buying factory fodder.

 

[Rule3]

That's why I like it here, lots of dead horses. Anyway, I'm not a handloader I guess. I like reloading but not to the point of running my loads through one of those machines with the ears. I have one but I've never used it. Maybe someday when I get really bored and decide to measure something else. I see pictures of many different powders on some of the "lets see your reloading bench" threads. I guess that would be a handloaders bench. I only have two which takes care of 2 pistol cartridges, 1 shotgun and 1 rifle. I got tired of chasing powder a year or so ago so bought large quantities of what I could find and what I knew would work.

Oh that's for sure! Dead Ones everywhere!! I always wondered if we needed a corral for them horses?

Maybe some of the guys with horses can chime in and discuss that finer point of horsemanship?

 

[m657]

re: "there's a difference between those two approaches to the hobby . . . but the definition of those two words depends solely on the context or what the listener chooses to hear."

Ample evidence one can either talk about it.....or DO it.....

'scuse me, I gots ta go reload some of my recently fired handloads....