lyle2231
Well-Known Member
I shoot Hi-power across the course matches and reload short line on a progressive press. The 600 yard stuff is on a single stage. Just my
Worth reloading for gas guns?
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Argon Glen
Well-Known Member
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- Feb 6, 2018
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I do, but I like to try to hit small targets are further distances than maybe most people will traditionally. Also, I have so much in consumables from cheap pricing years back. I guess my savings [based on current pricing] will some day go to buying expensive consumables. Maybe I'll at least break even but have had great ammo all along.
Update:
I load on a single stage.
Update:
I load on a single stage.
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lyle2231
Well-Known Member
Some years ago the Palma guys brought out the srp .308 match brass. At the time it was the hot setup.
geeck
Member
I was one of the last in our club XTC matches to switch to the mouse gun. The Regional Match course is 80 rounds plus 8 sighters 2 per stage. The M14 is hard on brass, I'd usually do 4-5 reloads on virgin brass. I had a 650 Dillon dedicated to turning out 7.52x51mm/.308win for short line ammo. The Long Line ammo was done on a single stage.
Once fired milsurp brass was often not worth the effort if it was run through a Pig (M60 MG). It was a lot of extra work to swage primer pockets. Not to mention the higher probability of case head separations, bad for your chamber, and not fun when it happens during a match.
When unfired milsurp ammo was plentiful and cheap "Mexican Match" (swap Ball projo with a Match projo) was used by many. Berdan primed cases were, one and done, boxer were put into rotation for 4 more reloadings.
I have that 650 turning out 5.56/.233 ammo now, it's still far cheaper to reload, The typical range fodder it's hard to be competitive, although I'll see the occasional shooter with 62 Green tip at the 200yd Walk & Paste matches. People who don't reload, the 77gr. IMI ammo seems to be popular.
I still have a gaggle if M14's and one Rat gun (AR10) that need to be fed. Along with the M1 Garands (yeah remember those are gas guns too) all that is done on a Turret or Single stage presses. I don't shoot near the volume but enough to make it cost effective, for those matches I still shoot with the old guns.
Once fired milsurp brass was often not worth the effort if it was run through a Pig (M60 MG). It was a lot of extra work to swage primer pockets. Not to mention the higher probability of case head separations, bad for your chamber, and not fun when it happens during a match.
When unfired milsurp ammo was plentiful and cheap "Mexican Match" (swap Ball projo with a Match projo) was used by many. Berdan primed cases were, one and done, boxer were put into rotation for 4 more reloadings.
I have that 650 turning out 5.56/.233 ammo now, it's still far cheaper to reload, The typical range fodder it's hard to be competitive, although I'll see the occasional shooter with 62 Green tip at the 200yd Walk & Paste matches. People who don't reload, the 77gr. IMI ammo seems to be popular.
I still have a gaggle if M14's and one Rat gun (AR10) that need to be fed. Along with the M1 Garands (yeah remember those are gas guns too) all that is done on a Turret or Single stage presses. I don't shoot near the volume but enough to make it cost effective, for those matches I still shoot with the old guns.
Allen Lone wolf
Well-Known Member
Take 2 cases of ammo and call me in the morning lol
Allen Lone wolf
Well-Known Member
I reload for all my hunting weapons but shoot factory ammo in the fun guns. Can't have as much fun as I used to due to the high prices of even run and gun ammo.
Buffalobwana
Well-Known Member
I reload for all my ARs. I use seconds and once fired brass. My SRP, brass and bullet stock is healthy. I use a Dillon 1100 for 9's and 5.56.
Factory ammo isn't an option after sinking K's into my "operation".
It will take many rounds to break even on my shooting. That just means I need to shoot more.
Factory ammo isn't an option after sinking K's into my "operation".
It will take many rounds to break even on my shooting. That just means I need to shoot more.
308plinkerVT
Well-Known Member
Got the budget? Buy it.
Got the time for a hobby? Roll it.
There's plenty of inexpensive components and the resultant ammo is usually more accurate, comparing apples to apples anyway.
I'd suggest delving into annealing if you start rolling them if yours beats up brass. Gas system fine tuning may help here, too.
Got the time for a hobby? Roll it.
There's plenty of inexpensive components and the resultant ammo is usually more accurate, comparing apples to apples anyway.
I'd suggest delving into annealing if you start rolling them if yours beats up brass. Gas system fine tuning may help here, too.
flatlande01
Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2015
- Messages
- 5
I used to buy surplus 5.56 & 7.62 FMJ bullets for use in plinking gas gun ammo, but that was 30+yrs ago when I didn't know any better. With primer shortages and insane powder prices today, if I'm going to load ammo for a gas gun, it's going to be with good bullets - and with any of my large-frame gas guns in 6XC, 6.5x47, 6.5 CM, or 7-08 Improved 30*, I have no choice anyway. Even when I was still shooting a lot of 223 during practice for XTC Hi Power & Leg matches, if I wasn't loading first quality match bullets, if I could find a good lot of factory 2nds that shot good enough to be worthwhile, I'd load them for 200yd offhand & RF practice ammo.
It's getting close to time where the club I shoot at will start running precision rifle matches, which I typically shoot with 6 Dasher or 6XC. As much as I'm looking forward to getting together with old buds to shoot, I'm not that crazy about dipping into my small stash of Berger 6mm 105 Hybrids - I need them for the occasional 600yd prone match that I get to shoot with the Dasher. OTOH, I'm looking forward very much to shooting some of the PRS-style 22RF rifle matches with my Vudoo V22 repeaters, especially since I've managed to put aside a fair supply of SK & Lapua 22RF ammo that shoots good enough to take advantage of the accuracy potential of these Krieger bbl'd precision RF rifles.
It's getting close to time where the club I shoot at will start running precision rifle matches, which I typically shoot with 6 Dasher or 6XC. As much as I'm looking forward to getting together with old buds to shoot, I'm not that crazy about dipping into my small stash of Berger 6mm 105 Hybrids - I need them for the occasional 600yd prone match that I get to shoot with the Dasher. OTOH, I'm looking forward very much to shooting some of the PRS-style 22RF rifle matches with my Vudoo V22 repeaters, especially since I've managed to put aside a fair supply of SK & Lapua 22RF ammo that shoots good enough to take advantage of the accuracy potential of these Krieger bbl'd precision RF rifles.
ntsqd
Well-Known Member
Without a progressive press I won't consider it. When you realize how long it took you to load those rounds on a single stage press that were just expelled in a mag dump it cures you of that desire.
Leaf Litter
Well-Known Member
Reloading has gotten too expensive to waste my time reloading for my AR. I don't have a precision AR, so the standard cheap 223 or 556 ammo I find is PLENTY good enough for me to save hours of my time that's best spent with my family.
I don't buy factory ammo from my bolt guns, but you can guarantee I do for my gas gun.
I don't buy factory ammo from my bolt guns, but you can guarantee I do for my gas gun.
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I think it's worth doing, particularly for shooting at smaller targets out past 400 yards. I've been able to get a .5 to .6 MOA improvement over factory stuff with my gas guns. Nothing to write home about but what the heck? It keeps your skills up and it's fun.
That's kinda how I am, little cheaper to keep getting reps in so I try to maximize accuracy in that aspect. I've ran 55gr ball to 900 yards but it's easier to do with a better load haha
