gamestalker
Regular Member
imported post
I was sitting, or rather laying in bed and was thinking about a friend that called me this afternoon about contemplating reloading. As with most people I've discussed this topic with, and I've discussed it with a good many as I have taught reloading classes over the years off and on, it always seems the primary inspiration to engage in this activity is related to economics and in most cases the sole reason. Even in today's increasing cost of components the economic advantage ishard to over look.Now there is mush to be said about the economic advantages of loading your own and shouldn't be over looked as one of the benefits, but all to often it has set the stage for some considerable issues including dangerous results. I've engage din numerous discussions with avid longtime reloaders over the years and can't help but notice that the topic is most often focused on reducing their costs by purchasing the fastest burning powders, cheapest bullets which are often the SWC or other non jacketed bullets, and that is just regrading the components not the overall process involved. Many don't even consider monitoring the condition of their brass or trimming it if so observed of its necessity to do so. I'll be the first to admit that loading only jacketed bullets and using slow burning powders will increase the cost of producing ammo expedentially but all the while reducing the cost to shoot factory by at least 50% or more. But now some of you might ask what does that have to do with safety right? I mean if it goes bang than everything must be doing what it is supposed to do so where is the problem. I'm getting to that right now. First of all, most econo loaders won't weight their charges but will instead use scoops or other volumetric methods of measuring their powder charges. That process probably wouldn't be as much of an issues if some precautions were taken to prevent mishaps that are sure to happen as I've personally seen happen on many occasions. First of all using the slow powders though they require 2 to 3 times as much product per load are much safer to use with volumetric measuring devices for reason being most are tolerant to greater variationswithout any serious results and some will even perform better when compressed. Also of note is that nearly all top performing loads are charged with slow burning powders due to their consistent burn characteristics and lower pressures. Second is the fact that the slow burning powders will eliminate the possibility of accidental double or even triple powder charges because they take up most of the case capacity which means if you accidentally double charge with them you will have a huge powder spill that is not going to go unnoticed, not the case with faster burning powders.In most of the reloading accidents I've observed were caused by accidental double or triple charged cases. Also just as hazardous is the case that doesn't get a powder charge and isn't noticed because it contains the charge at the bottom of the case making it much easier to miss. now you have to worry about a primed only round lodging a projectile in the barrel unnoticed and them firing the next round with charge into that stuck bullet which of course is likely to damage the gun or worse yet injuring the shooter. And from performance stand point the slower burn rate powders will always deliver higher velocity, better accuracy, and dependable self defense capability that can not be argues by anyone.
Whenseconds count, the police are only minutes away!
I was sitting, or rather laying in bed and was thinking about a friend that called me this afternoon about contemplating reloading. As with most people I've discussed this topic with, and I've discussed it with a good many as I have taught reloading classes over the years off and on, it always seems the primary inspiration to engage in this activity is related to economics and in most cases the sole reason. Even in today's increasing cost of components the economic advantage ishard to over look.Now there is mush to be said about the economic advantages of loading your own and shouldn't be over looked as one of the benefits, but all to often it has set the stage for some considerable issues including dangerous results. I've engage din numerous discussions with avid longtime reloaders over the years and can't help but notice that the topic is most often focused on reducing their costs by purchasing the fastest burning powders, cheapest bullets which are often the SWC or other non jacketed bullets, and that is just regrading the components not the overall process involved. Many don't even consider monitoring the condition of their brass or trimming it if so observed of its necessity to do so. I'll be the first to admit that loading only jacketed bullets and using slow burning powders will increase the cost of producing ammo expedentially but all the while reducing the cost to shoot factory by at least 50% or more. But now some of you might ask what does that have to do with safety right? I mean if it goes bang than everything must be doing what it is supposed to do so where is the problem. I'm getting to that right now. First of all, most econo loaders won't weight their charges but will instead use scoops or other volumetric methods of measuring their powder charges. That process probably wouldn't be as much of an issues if some precautions were taken to prevent mishaps that are sure to happen as I've personally seen happen on many occasions. First of all using the slow powders though they require 2 to 3 times as much product per load are much safer to use with volumetric measuring devices for reason being most are tolerant to greater variationswithout any serious results and some will even perform better when compressed. Also of note is that nearly all top performing loads are charged with slow burning powders due to their consistent burn characteristics and lower pressures. Second is the fact that the slow burning powders will eliminate the possibility of accidental double or even triple powder charges because they take up most of the case capacity which means if you accidentally double charge with them you will have a huge powder spill that is not going to go unnoticed, not the case with faster burning powders.In most of the reloading accidents I've observed were caused by accidental double or triple charged cases. Also just as hazardous is the case that doesn't get a powder charge and isn't noticed because it contains the charge at the bottom of the case making it much easier to miss. now you have to worry about a primed only round lodging a projectile in the barrel unnoticed and them firing the next round with charge into that stuck bullet which of course is likely to damage the gun or worse yet injuring the shooter. And from performance stand point the slower burn rate powders will always deliver higher velocity, better accuracy, and dependable self defense capability that can not be argues by anyone.
Whenseconds count, the police are only minutes away!