muddocktor
Member
I guess for me it would be trimming cases to length. Mostly bottleneck cases, but I occasionally will trim my 357 and 44 brass to get more even OAL, which tend to vary a bit over the course of many firing cycles.
What is the most unpleasant part of reloading for you?
- Thread starter GB
- Start date
Trimming brass is the most laborious task but I find that with moderate loads the case stretch is minimal so its not often that I do that.
Workarounds for other unfavorite tasks,
Lubing cases - Hornady Spray lube
Powder trickling - Spherical powders. I find they meter accurately out of my RCBS Uniflow.
I reload mostly to save money on the expensive ammo - centerfire rifle and the magnum pistol cartridges. 9 mm I don't shoot enough of to make reloading it worthwhile, just use commercial hardball for that.
Workarounds for other unfavorite tasks,
Lubing cases - Hornady Spray lube
Powder trickling - Spherical powders. I find they meter accurately out of my RCBS Uniflow.
I reload mostly to save money on the expensive ammo - centerfire rifle and the magnum pistol cartridges. 9 mm I don't shoot enough of to make reloading it worthwhile, just use commercial hardball for that.
hdwhit
Member
I've been reloading since 1977 and last of the primers from that time (which I just used up) had a price sticker of $1.45.
hdwhit
Member
Same here. Over the years I have accumulated enough experience about how much the cases stretch on each firing and the probability it will be lost in the weeds to know that if I trim my 223 brass to 1.753 (trim-to length in the manual is 1.750), I will save time along with wear and tear on my trimmer and can be confident the brass will be lost before it again reaches 1.760.
hdwhit
Member
Agreed.
I shoot to support my reloading habit.
muddocktor
Member
Too bad the OP didn't make a poll for this thread. I bet trimming cases would be winning by a substantial margin. 
For me its sizing/lubing the 1000's of bullets I cast.
Honey....
Honey, would you push down this lever for me. That's it, now if you'll just slide one of those cases into the holder thingy there. Now keep doing that while I grab a sandwich.....
Or convince my wife............
Honey, would you push down this lever for me. That's it, now if you'll just slide one of those cases into the holder thingy there. Now keep doing that while I grab a sandwich.....
I LOVE cleaning cases....
I LOVE cleaning cases with my new tumbler. Just drop them in and go shooting for a while. When you come back...
Powder charging is almost a blast because I use my new RCBS measure.
Sizing used to be difficult but with the wax stuff it's really easy.
I sit in my chair and do priming and watch TV so that's at least not 'boring'.
Even though I have a really fast trimmer set up for my drill press, I still find trimming to be something I want to get over with. Thank goodness I don't do that much.
Now, the least favorite parts. I have to say I enjoy doing all of the operations, but I get more big screw ups seating bullets.
Though ABSOLUTELY necessary, I find plunk testing to be boring and it feels like a waste of time.
I LOVE cleaning cases with my new tumbler. Just drop them in and go shooting for a while. When you come back...
Powder charging is almost a blast because I use my new RCBS measure.
Sizing used to be difficult but with the wax stuff it's really easy.
I sit in my chair and do priming and watch TV so that's at least not 'boring'.
Even though I have a really fast trimmer set up for my drill press, I still find trimming to be something I want to get over with. Thank goodness I don't do that much.
Now, the least favorite parts. I have to say I enjoy doing all of the operations, but I get more big screw ups seating bullets.
Though ABSOLUTELY necessary, I find plunk testing to be boring and it feels like a waste of time.
Using a wet tumbler, waiting for the brass to dry. Since the FART (Franklin Armory Reloading Tools), has a high capacity, I have to separate the brass.
Since I am shooting mainly revolvers, the other aspect of reloading that I hate is trying to gather up spent cases from semiautomatics, such as 45ACP. I can't find all of the brass.
NOTE: I only reload handguns. I have the dies for rifles but I have not started (.223, 300 AAC, 6.5 Grendel, 308, 7 mm-08).
I single stage 454 Casull, 460, and 500 S&W. I use progressive presses (Dillon) for 357, 44 Magnum and 45 ACP).
Instagram: MuzzleblastMD
Since I am shooting mainly revolvers, the other aspect of reloading that I hate is trying to gather up spent cases from semiautomatics, such as 45ACP. I can't find all of the brass.
NOTE: I only reload handguns. I have the dies for rifles but I have not started (.223, 300 AAC, 6.5 Grendel, 308, 7 mm-08).
I single stage 454 Casull, 460, and 500 S&W. I use progressive presses (Dillon) for 357, 44 Magnum and 45 ACP).
Instagram: MuzzleblastMD
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It depends on your perspective.
I started reloading to feed my then new S&W M29. The day I got it, I bought a Lee Loader, a Lee Auto Prime, and a set of Lee Powder dippers. For supplies, a pound of Unique, some CCI primers and some cast SWCs from a LGS. I also bought the only box of factory ammo I ever put through it, WW 240 gr SWCs.... I shot just to get the empty brass.
Every step of the process was a joy for me: sizing the cases with the Lee tool and a wooden mallet, dipping the Unique with the 1.0 cc dipper, etc. Heck, all these years later and, with the right cast bullet, it's still an awesome load!
As I added things like a powder scale, RCBS press, carbide dies, and (a couple decades later) a Dillon 650, I cherished the advantages gained.
Over the years, I've enjoyed resurrecting old obsolete arms, done some wildcatting, etc....
But, there's still nothing like sitting in the back yard on a nice sunny day knocking cases through a Lee Loader.
But, if I had to gripe, trimming brass with one of those Lee hand held case trimmers is a little rough on my fingers.
Jim
I started reloading to feed my then new S&W M29. The day I got it, I bought a Lee Loader, a Lee Auto Prime, and a set of Lee Powder dippers. For supplies, a pound of Unique, some CCI primers and some cast SWCs from a LGS. I also bought the only box of factory ammo I ever put through it, WW 240 gr SWCs.... I shot just to get the empty brass.
Every step of the process was a joy for me: sizing the cases with the Lee tool and a wooden mallet, dipping the Unique with the 1.0 cc dipper, etc. Heck, all these years later and, with the right cast bullet, it's still an awesome load!
As I added things like a powder scale, RCBS press, carbide dies, and (a couple decades later) a Dillon 650, I cherished the advantages gained.
Over the years, I've enjoyed resurrecting old obsolete arms, done some wildcatting, etc....
But, there's still nothing like sitting in the back yard on a nice sunny day knocking cases through a Lee Loader.
But, if I had to gripe, trimming brass with one of those Lee hand held case trimmers is a little rough on my fingers.
Jim
keith44spl
Member
I too have been 'rollin my own' for neigh on a half century.
I only cast pistol bullets and sizing/lubing is a chore.
I also, shoot the Roberts, 264 Winchester and the 300 Win Mag.
The most enjoyable part of handloading for me, now'n'days anyhow,
is teaching my grandson sons the safe and correct way to load.
Attention to every detail....Quality control is paramount if you want
good cartridges. Ammunition that one can shoot those tight groups with.
I always tell em, Boys, build every cartridge so you can be proud of it.
.
I only cast pistol bullets and sizing/lubing is a chore.
I also, shoot the Roberts, 264 Winchester and the 300 Win Mag.
The most enjoyable part of handloading for me, now'n'days anyhow,
is teaching my grandson sons the safe and correct way to load.
Attention to every detail....Quality control is paramount if you want
good cartridges. Ammunition that one can shoot those tight groups with.
I always tell em, Boys, build every cartridge so you can be proud of it.
.
StakeOut
US Veteran
When I had the equipment and a free source of lead I did a lot of casting in H&G molds.Now cheap enough to buy hard cast bullets from Summers Enterprises and buy my 9mm ammo.
Repetition for any length of time tends to getting boring so frequent breaks solves most of it.
I like to reload in the early AM before the day's cobwebs form.
I asked my better half if she'd like to learn reloading....the silence was deafening.
Repetition for any length of time tends to getting boring so frequent breaks solves most of it.
I like to reload in the early AM before the day's cobwebs form.
I asked my better half if she'd like to learn reloading....the silence was deafening.
Wee Hooker
Member
My favorite part of reloading (by far) is load development with a new caliber, bullet and/or powder. Guess it's the engineer in me but the systematic application of knowledge, theory and process to eat away at the unknowns cranks me up.
Once I have my "go to" loads, cranking out 500-1000 of them can get mundane. Still better than cleaning the garage but mundane.
Once I have my "go to" loads, cranking out 500-1000 of them can get mundane. Still better than cleaning the garage but mundane.
Confederate Tyrant
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2013
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Getting enough time where I can load at my own pace and not be disturbed by anyone for any reason.
oneounceload
Member
pjames32
Member
Been reloading and casting since the 1960's. Case trimming is boring to me. Really enjoy casting probably because you can see the production. I do have a TV in my reloading room that I mostly listen to. It's not on when I'm assembling components. Since I've retired I spent more time in my loading room piddling and not worrying about production. I load my pistol on a Dillon, but do deprime and clean cases first. Never took the time to do that before.
Granddad
Member
223/5.56 brass processing: sizing, primer crimp swaging, and trimming. It all makes reloading straight-walled handgun rounds seem like a "walk in the park."
Bkreutz
US Veteran
Definitely picking up the brass.
I shot one comp this year on a range that "ate up" .45 ACP brass. Out of 300 fired I got back less than 200 cases. As my squad followed a squad with an open division shooter making 9mm major, no-one else was interested in claiming back their brass either.
And then I shot our North Island IPSC Champs on a range which was not up to standard after a week of rain. On two stages you had to wade through above ankle deep mud to reach the targets to patch. Again, I lost so many 45 cases that weekend!
novalty
Member
Lubesizing bullets used to be right up there as one of my least favorite reloading activities, until I got my Star with heated base and air pressure lube. I used to use a RCBS LAM2, it was tedious and killed my wrists. Now my least favorite reloading chore would be removing military crimps.
Instead of throwing your SPP .45 brass in the garbage where it belongs, load it up and keep a couple boxes in your bag.
When you arrive at a high-loss situation, bust out the SPPs. I especially like dumping them in irrational "no reload" situations where the hacks and meatheads that invented the rule are there to glom all the brass.
RGVshooter
Member
The only part about reloading that I don't like is having to reach in my wallet & pay for the stuff. 
Used to be sizing/lubing. Since I bought a Heater plate for the sizer/luber that has changed. I don't like trimming rifle brass, or all the case prep I go through, but I do like watching group sizes shrink with each new prep step. Loading primer tubes comes in a close second.
