So I talk to a few people who reload. Seems like they wait months or even do it only twice a year.  Like they wait and do plenty at once. So:

1) Is it not beneficial to reload like 100 every week.  Like little at a time, but more often
2) How long would it take to reload from start (tumbling) to finish 100rds
3) How much do you do in 1 sitting and how long does it take from start to finish
4) Or in the end, is it just lazyness


I've never actually reloaded, but only watched a few vids on YT on the process. Which are like 5-30 min vids.  I was going to get into it, but with my limited square footage and an enclosed area, decided against it.

Depends. . .

For me and what my shooting buddies do are all different.  But in general, it depends on a coupe of things, at least to me.  First is pistol or rifle.  Second is "banger ammo" or for more precision or specific use. 

Depends. . .

For me and what my shooting buddies do are all different.  But in general, it depends on a coupe of things, at least to me.  First is pistol or rifle.  Second is "banger ammo" or for more precision or specific use.

Banger ammo since I don't got precision stuff.  And either pistol or rifle. 

I have a single stage Lee press, so I can only do a little at a time.  50-100 rounds per week if I have time for it
I usually do a few steps per day, not all at once.  break it into a 2 day reloading process.  that way I don't get overwhelmed or feel rushed, that way better QC

When I was in a condo I had my presses mounted on old cast iron dining table stands. This is OK if they are single stage presses but with progressives you'll need a more solid foundation.
Processing rifle has more steps so I'd do a batch in one process.  Decap a batch then move on to next process. Assembly line. You can do these steps watching TV.  The most critical part - powder charging should be done in one sitting and have the most attention to it. Have just one powder out and be aware of the amount and type of powder you are charging with. In addition, be aware of lead dust contamination. I prefer a decapping tool that captures primers like the Lee Classic Cast that has a primer through the ram and catches it in a bottle. Id also suggest wet tumbling to decrease dust.
In summary: Rifle brass gets decapped, wet tumbled, lubed for resizing, resized, wet tumbled again to get rid of lube, trim, primer pocket swaged (if need), primed, powder charge, seat bullet. 100 rounds would take me 3-4 hours not including drying the wet brass - get a food dehydrator to speed up, makes a difference.
Pistol is a bit shorter as straight walled cases don't need to get trimmed. Maybe 3 hours to get 100 rounds.
This is all assuming you have a single stage press.

So I talk to a few people who reload. Seems like they wait months or even do it only twice a year.  Like they wait and do plenty at once. So:

1) Is it not beneficial to reload like 100 every week.  Like little at a time, but more often
2) How long would it take to reload from start (tumbling) to finish 100rds
3) How much do you do in 1 sitting and how long does it take from start to finish
4) Or in the end, is it just lazyness


I've never actually reloaded, but only watched a few vids on YT on the process. Which are like 5-30 min vids.  I was going to get into it, but with my limited square footage and an enclosed area, decided against it.

Some people hate reloading but do it anyway for whatever reason they have. Some find it quite boring. I find it therapeutic, a challenge and part of my hobby. I get a kick out of rolling my own and smoking them. I also take great pride in my reloads. Now to answer your questions:

1. When I was working I only reloaded on the weekends and days off. For the most part I reloaded on Saturday and shot on Sunday. I tried to reload 2x more than what I planned to shoot every week. So if I planned to shoot 200 rounds I reloaded 400. Eventually I got to the point that almost every piece of brass I had was loaded. So I reloaded on Saturday for what I planned to shoot on Sunday. Since I reload for 19 different cartridges it takes time to set up for different cartridges. I found the planning as fun as the reloading and then shooting. Now that I am retired I try to reload about 1,000 rounds of 9mm a week. If I am practicing live holster draw I am shooting 300-400 rounds of 9mm a week. I’m also at a point where I have pretty much every piece of brass loaded. So sometimes I will shoot 357 and/or 38 in a week. I may or may not reload those cases right away since I have 1,000’s of rounds of each loaded. I will prep the brass and make it ready to be reloaded. When I get 500 or more pieces of brass of one caliber I will set up and take 2 or 3 days to complete them. I find it too much like work these days to reload more than approximately 200-300 rounds a day. Sometimes I might only load 50 rounds or so in a day just to test something out. And when every piece of brass is loaded I may not reload for a 2 or 3 weeks or even a month.

2. For pistol I reload on a Lee turret press. Assuming all brass is prepped and I want to reload 100 rounds of the same load for pistol then it would take me less than an hour to set up, prime, reload 100 rounds and then an hour in the tumbler. If I am developing different loads for pistol it can take as much as 2 hours to reload 100 rounds. I can reload 200+ rounds an hour for pistol on the turret press if everything is already set up and all cases primed. I use a single stage to reload rifle. It takes about an hour or less to reload 100 rounds if the load is the same. Case prep is different for every one. I prefer to deprime first, then wash the brass in a little soapy water, let dry, then size, then put through my ultrasonic cleaner to get off sizing lube, deep clean the brass and clean most primer pockets, let dry, then to the case prep machine to clean out any remaining primer pockets. For rifle cartridges I add case length measurements and case trimming if necessary along with chamfering inside and out. To me case prep is key to consistency. I don’t usually trim pistol cases but I have had to on rare occasions or for a specific reason.

3. I sit for most reloading activities. When I plan to do some reloading I write out what I plan to load and how many. Then I plan to load usually 200 or 300 at a time. Usually 200. I get out my loading blocks and container of prepped brass and set out my 200 rounds. Then I sit in front of the TV or listen to a podcast and handprime the cases. Then I set up my press for the run if it is not already set up. I double check I am using the correct powder and I grab the bullets I need and before I start I double check what I wrote down to do another check I have the right powder and bullets. I set up for my podcast and I get into the zone. When I complete the batch I put each round through my gauge if they are for semi auto use and then to the tumbler for an hour or two. I sort them from the media and hit them with a little compressed air and then they are placed into an ammo box.

4. No laziness here as far as I am concerned. It is too easy to fuck something up and have a squib or worse a double charge. Knock on wood.

There is a lot more to reloading like checking that every charge in every case appears correct. And weighing a charge every so many rounds to make sure my equipment is working as set. Measuring and checking all dimensions is a part of reloading. Clean up is also important when I’m done. I have lots of brushes and air to keep stuff clean. Being well organized and keeping things labeled and well documented is also a big part. I have an app that allows me to keep track of all the ammo I have and how it is loaded. There is a lot more to it.

i own no reloading equipment nor components...

Undertand? (Thread title )

Buckwheat ?
(Not racial, just Little Rascal reference.)

“Darla, you don’t undertand. Keep the muzzle down range !”

I reload at a buddy’s shop, so I do things in batches.  For loading for .308, I have brass at various stages.  Fired and ready to start brass prep to ready to load.  The wet tumbling takes some time, so I want to be doing other stuff while the brass is tumbling and drying. 

For pistol ammo, will be loading on a progressive.  So want to do them in bunches.  To me, I would say 100 minimum.  Maybe less when doing powder tests.  Once I get the load I want, then it’s as much as I can in one sitting.

Again, depends why you’re reloading.  For .308, and eventually 6.5 CM, I want to be able to work up a load to what I want, which is hopefully more precision.  For 9 mm, I consider it another option for ammo.  To not depend on factory ammo.  Prior to the latest craziness in pricing, loading for 9 mm wouldn’t have saved me much, especially since I usually have a bunch of brass and I found good deals on bullets. 

I just started reloading about two months ago (still learning), but I have shot a batch that I made two weeks old.  They all fried and did not show any issues on the gun and on the brass.  Loaded 30-06 (M1 Garand) and 308 win.  Reloading for me is therapeutic and its my alone time for me.  I usually reload on the weekends, first week clean de prime, resize, and trim.  Then the next week prime, charge, and set the bullet.  Usually make 50 rounds in a 2 week period, but also depends on work and family stuff.   

I would load about 100 a day 4 days a week. That is 1 tray of primers. My son and i would shoot about 400 rounds every weekend, so that worked for me. Of course i'm sure how much people load depend on how much care they want to put into accuracy, and what equipment the load on. I use a Hornady LNL progressive, I only load pistol loads(for now). Also the speed you load should never exceed your ability to check the powder in EVERY case. A squib is just as dangerous as a double load.

So I talk to a few people who reload. Seems like they wait months or even do it only twice a year.  Like they wait and do plenty at once. So:

1) Is it not beneficial to reload like 100 every week.  Like little at a time, but more often
2) How long would it take to reload from start (tumbling) to finish 100rds
3) How much do you do in 1 sitting and how long does it take from start to finish
4) Or in the end, is it just lazyness


I've never actually reloaded, but only watched a few vids on YT on the process. Which are like 5-30 min vids.  I was going to get into it, but with my limited square footage and an enclosed area, decided against it.

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the short answer to all your questions is "depends on what you are trying to accomplish"

So I ask you what do you REALLY want to do?
Hunting? Self-defense? Competition? Rifle? Pistol? Shotgun?
Each different activity has a different answer.

Also the speed you load should never exceed your ability to check the powder in EVERY case. A squib is just as dangerous as a double load.

When you refer to checking the load, do you mean by visual inspection or test firing?

I would like to get into reloading just due to the scarcity of rounds like the 6.5 Creedmoor. Assuming I can even get 500 rounds into the state, is collecting the brass cases the preferred way to reload vs. handloading from scratch with new brass?

When you refer to checking the load, do you mean by visual inspection or test firing?

I would like to get into reloading just due to the scarcity of rounds like the 6.5 Creedmoor. Assuming I can even get 500 rounds into the state, is collecting the brass cases the preferred way to reload vs. handloading from scratch with new brass?

I can’t speak for the other user but visually checking to make sure the correct amount of powder dropped into each case will help prevent squib loads or double charges. I take the time to do that for every cartridge I load. I have a friend who felt that not visually checking each load was necessary and almost always had squib loads every time we went out shooting and twice suffered an exploding firearm from a double charge. Anything worth doing is worth taking the time to do it right and safely. Especially when it comes to the safety of the shooters around you and your safety.

Your other question is just a matter of preference. I buy ammo and keep the brass after shooting to reload again. As well as buy new or even once fired range brass to reload. Just be aware that brass preparation is very important to the success of your reloads.

Banger ammo since I don't got precision stuff.  And either pistol or rifle.

==========
ok
bang bang ammo

What caliber would you want to shoot the most of?
Learn to do the happiest caliber first .

(I'm guessing you will say 9mm, 223 or 45acp)
If 45acp, I can put together a mixed plate sampler of components that you can buy at my cost. It won't be much.

I can’t speak for the other user but visually checking to make sure the correct amount of powder dropped into each case will help prevent squib loads or double charges. I take the time to do that for every cartridge I load. I have a friend who felt that not visually checking each load was necessary and almost always had squib loads every time we went out shooting and twice suffered an exploding firearm from a double charge. Anything worth doing is worth taking the time to do it right and safely. Especially when it comes to the safety of the shooters around you and your safety.

Your other question is just a matter of preference. I buy ammo and keep the brass after shooting to reload again. As well as buy new or even once fired range brass to reload. Just be aware that brass preparation is very important to the success of your reloads.

This is why most experienced gun owners don't put other people's reloads in their guns.  It's kind of like packing your own parachute.  You need to be confident the ammo is safe, accurately produced, and that any failures will only affect you and your guns.

Know what you're using in your firearms.

Sorry for the late reply. For me I use a powder cop die, and also a cheap USB microscope as a camera to look into the case. Don't let the picture fool you, this is a 9mm with CFE pistol. The case is only half full, but the angle of the microscope makea it look full when you angle it to see the powder. Haven't had a issue since I set that up.

Sorry for the late reply. For me I use a powder cop die, and also a cheap USB microscope as a camera to look into the case. Don't let the picture fool you, this is a 9mm with CFE pistol. The case is only half full, but the angle of the microscope makea it look full when you angle it to see the powder. Haven't had a issue since I set that up.

That’s a great idea using a USB microscope. Can you post of pic of your setup so I can get some ideas? I have lights to help me see down in there but sometimes even light is not enough. Thanks! 

Here is where I got the idea.

I use my phone for a screen. Also I ordered the 1000 times one. You can just pop off the clear plastic and turn the lens to adjust it to work

I can’t speak for the other user but visually checking to make sure the correct amount of powder dropped into each case will help prevent squib loads or double charges. I take the time to do that for every cartridge I load. I have a friend who felt that not visually checking each load was necessary and almost always had squib loads every time we went out shooting and twice suffered an exploding firearm from a double charge. Anything worth doing is worth taking the time to do it right and safely. Especially when it comes to the safety of the shooters around you and your safety.

Your other question is just a matter of preference. I buy ammo and keep the brass after shooting to reload again. As well as buy new or even once fired range brass to reload. Just be aware that brass preparation is very important to the success of your reloads.

Consider myself still green on reloading, but I visually check each cartridge as I load.  Easy to do now as I only reload for .308 (soon 6.5 CM).  For .308, double charges will overflow, so messy indicator there.  No charge?  As long as I'm paying attention and following my checks, it hasn't happened or I catch it.  When is start loading for 9 mm, will have to reassess practices. 

On brass, i've found it depends on the brass.  I started reloading FGMM once fired brass, but quickly learned and was warned by many here that that's not sustainable.  I've seen a lot of problems from Federal brass, even after as little as 1-2 firings.  I've been sticking to new Lapua brass for .308 and 6.5 cm.  Had been planning to try some Remington brass for 30-06 eventually.  However, I do have shooting buddies that have never bought new brass.  They will shoot mixed brass in any given batch.  Seems to work ok for them, so rock on.