What makes reloads so much better than factory?

[alphabrace]

Hello,
I am slooooowly getting into reloading and I have read many times that reloads are more accurate than factory loads. I shoot manily WWB when I can get it in my 9mm. I am involved in manufacturing, not ammo but another product, and unless the quality control is poor, I don't understand how the factory loads can be inferior. Is it the components perhaps ie bullet consisency, poweder etc? Help me understand this, thanks!

 

[n4zov]

Handloads are not always superior to factory loaded ammunition. It depends on the components and equipment used and the skill of the handloader. When I first began loading back in the 50's, it was easy to produce handloads that were far superior to anything being turned out by the factories simply because the bullets that were available to handloaders were superior to what most commercial loaders were using in their ammunition. In addition, the handloader could tailor his loads to the individual gun whereas the factory had to produce a product that functioned reliably in a wide range of firearms. However in recent years, the gap between factory and handloaded ammunition has narrowed and some factories are producing ammunition of a very high quality.

 

[flat top]

I would put it this way: Not all guns are the same. By reloading you can custom tailor your ammunition to your particular firearm and needs. Many years ago, the Lyman Reloading Manuals used to list an accuracy load, and for the most part it was accurate to one degree or another in many firearms. If the load would shoot in "your" firearm, and to the accuracy level that you wanted, that was great, but, what if your gun just would not shoot that load...or, the velocity and bullet weight that you were seeking accuracy for, did not suit your need. Shooting factory ammo is about the same thing. The factories offer what their testing shows to be accurate and within the realm of what most shooters would consider ballistically useful. If nothing the factory offers meets "your" needs, or your accuracy requirements, then your only alternative is to reload.............As far as factory loads being "inferior"...I dont think so. I know many reloaders that for different reasons carry factory ammo in their CCW's, so, if you are going to "bet your life" on ammunition, why would you use an inferior product, if you are a handloader? I have never bought a box of factory ammo, and have never found a need to do so, but many, including handloaders do use factory ammo from time to time. Beyond what I have stated above, there are many other benefits to handloading beyond performance, and reliability and I am sure others will chime in here and give you their opinions.

 

[deanodog]

Someone like me does not reload better than factory. I use range brass with all different head stamps and I buy bulk bullets. I call mine blasting ammo for the backyard range I have and it serves me well but it doesn't compare with factory.
I think it takes a dedicated and skilled reloader to beat factory nowadays. Just an old man's view.

 

[mkk41]

Carefully assembled handloads , by an experienced operator , CAN BE more accurate and cleaner burning than many factory loads and most lower quality commercial reloads. Generally after a bit of experimenting , you can find a bullet/powder combination that your gun will like better than others.

I've witnessed low-volume gunshop/backroom 'reloads' that were absolute garbage. Slopped together with only LOW COST , max profit in mind. Poorly selected powders/charges , lead bullets cast from poorly blended alloy , inconsistant seating depths and crimps.

Since you say you're in manufacturing , you know that even the best hi-speed automated machinery takes a dump now and then. And bad parts get by even the best operator/inspector.

It all comes with experience and attention to detail. I'm a toolmaker by trade going on 30 yrs so 'attention to detail' is my daily mantra. I've also been loading my own ammo just as long. I'd put my handloads up against any factory ammo for quality consistancy and accuracy.

 

[flat top]

I would like to add one more thing to what mkk41 said: I have "always" reloaded, and dont reload any massive volumes of ammuntion, so, for me its not about cost, versus time, versus quantity. I like to think of what I do as "hand tailoring" ammuntion for "my" specific needs. I never get in a hurry, and I go well beyond what most folks do when I handload, and feel that there is no better, or no safer ammunition
than what I assemble for my needs. I am confident that the ammuntion I put together is well beyond the quality of what any factory can produce, but, only because I put so much into it, but, I would not be adverse to using factory ammo if I "had" to. I just would not expect the same quality, and accuracy in my guns, as what I reload. One more thing to keep in mind is, that the components that we use in reloading are "factory manufactured" as well, so a component failure, regardless of how fastidious anyone is as they reload, is always possible. I have never had that problem in 50 years of reloading, but like everything else in life, Murphy's Law applies.

 

[mkk41]

PS;
I have had many 'dud' factory rounds. Rounds with no powder that only the primer fired and lodged the bullet in the barrel.

Only about 7yrs ago did I buy my first progressive press , a Dillon 550 , which I use for hi volume .38 special , .41 mag and .45 ACP. All rifle and several other handgun calibers still get done on my old Pacific 007 single stage press. Still I inspect each casing , trim those that are too long , as a consistant crimp , crucial to accuracy , needs consistant case length. I toss those that show any signs of having outlived their safe use. I use very high quality commercial jacketed or custom cast bullets and pick my powders with more in mind than maximum shots per pound.

Awhile ago , I posted a thread about my theory of the difference between "reloads" and handloads.

 

[jkc]

Time was, you had to custom craft centerfire hunting ammo to get esoteric bullets, and cartridges tailored to an individual rifle. Those were the bad old days --- now you can get a broad choice of bullets in hard-to beat factory ammo, obviating the tinkering of handloading. On the other hand, lately, ammo has gotten so expensive that I've returned to reloading calibers that I consume in fairly large quantities --- .223, .45ACP, .44Mag, etc., in fiscal self-defense, even though I find the work tedious.

 

[cmort666]

Time was, you had to custom craft centerfire hunting ammo to get esoteric bullets, and cartridges tailored to an individual rifle. Those were the bad old days --- now you can get a broad choice of bullets in hard-to beat factory ammo, obviating the tinkering of handloading.

...if you're a hunter or want the lowest common denominator in "target" ammunition.

NO name brand company makes my .30-06 load, at least that I or anybody I know are aware of. I load a 200gr. Sierra Matchking over IMR4350. If there's even a similar commercial load, I've never heard of it. Most commercial .30-06 target ammunition uses the obsolescent 168gr. BTHP.

Of course that leaves aside OAL tailored to the individual gun, etc.

If you want to go deer hunting or bang away at old refrigerators at 100 yards, there's not much reason to reload rifle ammunition... as long as it's cheap enough.

If you're going to shoot at 1,000 yards or practice a LOT, you're going to reload.

 

[cmort666]

1. Factory ammunition, even expensive "target" ammunition, is tailored to the "average" consumer. It's designed to work well in the "average" gun for the "average" use. Different guns, even different examples of the same gun often shoot better with different ammunition.

2. Factory ammunition, by virtue of basic economics, MUST be salable to the broadest consumer base. Winchester and Remington are ALWAYS going to sell more .30-06s loaded with 150gr. FMJs or jacketed softpoints over fast powder than 200gr. BTHPs over an IMR4350 equivalent. WAY more people hunt deer or shoot surplus rifles at junk than shoot NRA long range at 600 and 1,000 yards.

Much of the ammunition which I handload is either commercially unavailable where I live, or ANYWHERE. I don't know a store in the Cleveland area which sells .30-06 200gr. BTHP, .38 Special wadcutter, .45acp 200gr. LSWC, or 9x19mm 145gr. LSWC ammunition. If they did, it'd be ridiculously overpriced.

I have the choice of handloading or shooting what's not appropriate or just not what I want.

 

[Superflywimpy]

You all forgot to mention...CHEAPER!

Ok , with 44 ammo right now around 46-50 bucks a box of 50. I reload and use red dot which uses less powder. I can get 50 shots off for around 5 bucks. DUH! And I use hard cast I do my own and can get some real good groups at 100-200 ft,Also ringing that gong at 100 yrds. In these times its all about more bang for the buck. So I would say price makes reloads better.

 

[Dale53]

I shoot a lOT of pistol ammo. I have cast bullets, reloaded, and shot competitively for nearly sixty years.

I shoot cast bullets exclusively. I have little need for jacketed bullets. Cast bullets serve my needs better than jacketed whether light target loads, medium "service" loads or heavy hunting loads. I can tailor my cast bullets to my need.

I no longer shoot competition but will run 5000-7500 rounds this year and factory ammo would be prohibitively expensive. I can load match grade loads at any velocity level I need with VERY low cost (under $2.00 per box). I sure can't do that with factory ammo. Couple that with VERY long barrel life with cast bullets and for me, it's a no brainer.

When I shoot a good score (yeah, I can still do that) I get double enjoyment knowing that I did it with MY ammo...

Dale53

 

[mkk41]

And these days , any ammo is getting hard to find. All I'm seeing when I do find ammo on the shelves is military-style FMJ or some super-duper $1 a shot hi-tech tactical self-defense hollow points.

Can't recall the last time I saw a box of .38 Special 148gr target wadcutters or .45 ACP 185gr SWC.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Cmort666 stated a good case that applies to all ammo. However, in fairly recent years, availability of factory ammo has increased considerably (only to decrease drastically in the last year or so).

The general rule that I follow is that the factories make better handgun ammo than I do, and I make better rifle ammo than they do. There are several little things that I do that probably improve on the factory's efforts, but my main advantage is simply that I use cases already fired in my rifle.

I think that that one sentence constitutes MY answer to your question. For anything else, the factory can do it at least as well as I can. Sometimes they don't, and, as cmort says, sometimes they just don't make what you want.

P.S. Lee Target Loader is also part of my answer, as is neck-sizing only. Still, sometimes the big factories make pretty good ammo, too. If I had known how good Hornady's 7mm-08 139gr loads were, I wouldn't have bought Wilson dies for that cartridge. However, now that ammo has gotten expensive/scarce, I'm just as happy that I did.

 

[pownal55]

cost, attention to detail, hand assembled one by one.

 

[fredj338]

cost, attention to detail, hand assembled one by one.

Not to mention better components. WWB, WOlf, Blazer, cheap Federal or UMC all use low grade powders & probably the seconds on bullets that are not used in their regular line of ammo. It's pretty tough to match the accuracy of the higher dolaar PD ammo or target ammo, but the cheap range stuf, pure crap compared to even a modestly prepared handload. My worst lead bullet 45acp shoots twice as accurate s Blazer FMJ.

 

[jkc]

"The general rule that I follow is that the factories make better handgun ammo than I do, and I make better rifle rifle ammo than they do."

That about expresses my attitude, and, as cmort666 said, if you want something special, you'll need to roll-your-own. There are good arguments, as often articulately expressed by Mas Ayoob, against carrying homemade ammo for self-defense. There are great arguments in favor of tailoring loads to your particular gun and desired ballistic performance, especially for very inherently accurate rifles.

Still, there is a broad variety of very high quality factory rifle hunting ammo upon which the casual handloader would be hard-pressed to improve. I've got some Federal '06 ammo that suits my Winchester M70 Featherweight well enough that I've never even considered reloading for it. This is not a round that I shoot much of, a shot here or there at an elk or deer, and so never an "economy" issue. I'm guessing that when the current supply runs out, I'll find similar results from some readily available factory offering --- if not, I'll consider handloading.