Am I nuts? My Friends think so.

As many above have mentioned, you may be at the overkill level for the type of shooting that you are doing. But, again, as many have noted -- if it makes you happy, then continue.
But, if you are posting this in hopes of getting feedback on what level of consistency is truly necessary and which area of the process may have the most impact in developing accurate/consistent loads, then that is a different train of thought. Luzyfuerza mentioned some suggestions for changes that you can try and see which will result in changes on your target.

OP, you mentioned that you are "not a very good shot and require tons of practice".

I quote your comment on skill above as a precursor to commenting, that while you are producing the most consistent ammo you can, based on your process, you may not be able to notice or realize the fruits of your labors -- yet.

So, lastly, I ask -- are you seeking any guidance or thoughts on your process? Are you seeking information on which factors you should dedicate your efforts to produce suitable ammo?
Or do you have a question of how some of us craft our loads compared to yours?

Whose ammo are you reloading? Is anyone putting a time limit or quota on your ammo production? You reloading for your guns, with your time, and your money? So, I think all those telling you that your methods are overkill should take a hike.

I believe, just like any hobby, if one wants to go to great lengths to satisfy his wants/needs in reloading, do it! Who is to judge? Personally I like handloading (as a matter of fact I have a dozen or so .44 Magnum cartridges on my desk that I pounded out with a Lee Loader the other day. Slow? Only if I have a time limit. Labor intensive? Only if someone else is in charge of my labor). If I can only produce 12 rounds per hour, so what? If I want to be precise with my 9mm powder charges, so what? Who determines to what lengths I should go for my reloads? If I'm reloading handgun ammo, who says I can't be more accurate with my powder charges than .5 grain? What is the variation for bullet weight I'm allowed? 1 grain? 2 grains? Or for my reloads for my 2" .38 Specials, 4 grains?

I don't think you're nuts, you just like what you are doing and take a bit more time/effort doing it than the average reloader...

Owen said:

Well, I'm pretty sure that .3 gr is less precision than most powder scales.

I also think you will find that most competitive benchrest rest shooters don't weight their charges...

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Every bench rest shooter I know does. They throw a charge and then trickle it to the exact weight.

ugh, today must not be my day.

Of course it is overkill! Of course you are wasting a lot of time! Of course there are faster ways!

But who cares? I don't reload with any kind of proficiency standard or quota. I just like doing it. It keeps me calm, reduces my stress and makes me happy.

Now, if you feel like it is taking too much of your time and would like it to go faster, that is another story.

HOBBY
NOUN
1.an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure.

Is doing it that way bringing you pleasure?

ljnowell said:

Every bench rest shooter I know does. They throw a charge and then trickle it to the exact weight.

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I just attended the Super Shoot and none of the guys were weighing charges. All I saw was bench after bench of guys loading using the Harrells Powder Throws or similar. Never once did I see a scale.



Each registered shooter has a position (bench space) off the range to load and work. Nobody in this bench rest competition uses a scale. Most of the guys laugh about it as they can't tell you their charge weight but can tell you exactly what their micrometer settings are.

Walkalong said:

Maybe these days, but we never did when I was actively shooting it. It made no difference at the 100 and 200 yards we shot at.

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The guys I know are shooting at 600 yards and further.

Reloadron said:

I just attended the Super Shoot and none of the guys were weighing charges. All I saw was bench after bench of guys loading using the Harrells Powder Throws or similar. Never once did I see a scale.



Each registered shooter has a position (bench space) off the range to load and work. Nobody in this bench rest competition uses a scale. Most of the guys laugh about it as they can't tell you their charge weight but can tell you exactly what their micrometer settings are.

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I know lots of guys that are shooting 600-1000 yard matches. They all trickle every charge.

"I think all those telling you that your methods are overkill should take a hike."

And here I thought that we were simply answering the question the OP asked?

"Here is the question, is this just too much?"

The question DOES kinda seem to me like a request for our various opinions and I haven't read a single one that came off as rude, in fact most of us affirmed that if it made the OP happy, go for it.

Enter the difference. Benchrest can be of the 100 and 200 yard flavors which I am most familiar with and what I posted. However, I neglected to give thought to the 550 and 910 meter shoots (600 and 1,000 yards). I can see where they may be weighing their charges for the long range shooting. Heck, that is how I loaded, throw a light charge then trickle to nominal weight. Now I just program the RCBS Chargemaster which I have come to really like.

Ron

I don't think you're nuts, (well at least concerning reloading....) I hand weigh every charge, then immediately seat the bullet. Never had a squib from any of my reloads.....I just had one firing someone else'e reloads. (I usually don't shoot other peoples reloads (Black Hills excepted ), but I figured they were .38 wadcutters, how can you mess that up? ) Had two squibs that cleared the barrel (all 1 7/8's" of it) , but the third didn't. I will take all 150 rounds of those down, dump the powder and re-do them.

So the general consensus is the OP is not nuts and only the OP can decide if it is worth his time.

I do have one opinion. Imagine what you could do if you purchased a long distance rifle and optic. You could apply your rare patience to perfecting not only ammunition, but the rifle, shooting technique and whole process and witness the results.

The OP should of course continue doing as he pleases with his time.

Swanee

Agree with others, probably overkill but whatever makes YOU happy

RandyP said:

"I think all those telling you that your methods are overkill should take a hike."

And here I thought that we were simply answering the question the OP asked?

"Here is the question, is this just too much?"

The question DOES kinda seem to me like a request for our various opinions and I haven't read a single one that came off as rude, in fact most of us affirmed that if it made the OP happy, go for it.

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In the contents of my post I inferred that anyone's opinion on the OP's reloading methods had no merit ("...take a hike".). I do understand the OP's post was in the form of a question, but my reply was intended to say it really means nothing what others think, just that it suits the OP's needs...

The Reloading Police aren't going to kick down his door and confiscate his reloads because he used "too many, too precise" methods...

Walkalong said:

That's different. The long range guys (F Class, High Power) do weigh charges because of the distance and travel time of the bullet. A low ES is very critical.

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Reloadron said:

Enter the difference. Benchrest can be of the 100 and 200 yard flavors which I am most familiar with and what I posted. However, I neglected to give thought to the 550 and 910 meter shoots (600 and 1,000 yards). I can see where they may be weighing their charges for the long range shooting. Heck, that is how I loaded, throw a light charge then trickle to nominal weight. Now I just program the RCBS Chargemaster which I have come to really like.

Ron

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I think we were all just using the same phrase to describe different levels of shooting.

My caveat - the only competition shooting I have done was back at Ft Bragg, pre-Vietnam trip, on the Army pistol team there - strictly timed bullseye stuff - using Arms Room 1911s and stock ball ammo.

I remain convinced that the ammo used is near the bottom of the list of factors that contribute to what is considered 'accuracy' by most shooters.

Am I nuts?

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No.

In my opinion, you are enjoying the process of doing something... not only in a way that you might consider "the right way" (or you wouldn't be doing it), but doing it well. Listen to what the folks shooting your product have said.

Some reloaders do their jobs well, but may not enjoy going to the lengths that you do. What you have achieved is known as "excellence".

Imho.

I too use a single stage and a Gem scale for over 10 years and I do hand-weight any competition rounds. Except I zero the case empty, dump powder and check. If its off, it goes back in the hopper for another dump. More time efficient.

I load for 10 different pistol calibers. I also use a single stage press and I also weigh each load. I do not weigh my brass, bullets or primers, though. I am not a high volume or competitive shooter. I reload and shoot for fun and relaxation.

So, if it works for you it works for you. That's all that counts.

Am I nuts? My Friends think so.

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No, you are not nuts.

You may be making ammunition with greater precision and consistency than you currently have the skill to exploit, but that just means you have an opportunity to get better knowing that your "tools" won't let you down.

As far as your friends go, people often don't understand or appreciate craftsmanship.

I was really impressed when I read about the jeweler's scale. I found myself wishing I had thought about it.

If you're weighing primers, I'd have to agree with your friends.

However, do whatever snaps your cap. I'm sure there are steps in my loading practices that others don't think important. But I do them because I want to.

Load on friend and do it however you like. It's your time and your shop.

If you are taking time away from reloading more volume for yourself the things that you are doing *could* be considered excessive. However if you want to spend the time to do all that and want your handloads to reflect this---continue on. I am not quite as OCD about my reloading for range shooting as you. But I am not trying to shoot a .223 at 1000 YDS either. I temper the steps I use with the formula that is dictated by diminishing returns on time spent. I am happy with the end result and how long it takes me. That you are asking is my thought that you might want to try to lighten up a bit. YMMV