Anybody else picky like me?

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Waywatcher

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I've been reloading now for about 3 years, and the more I get into it, the more I enjoy it. I love learning about brass, primers, powders, bullets, and how they work together with a firearm in a system.

I am creating this thread because I find myself more and more reluctant to buy factory ammo and I was wondering if anyone else feels the same way?!

The reasons are many; I like to know if the powder held within is tempearture sensitive, or if the primers are ideal, or if the crimp was necessary or adequate, etc. I have opened some .357 JHP at a store and was shocked to see no crimp at all one time! I have also seen poorly seated primers, with obvious marks on them from the equipment. I have also seen bullets with the seating so varied, that some rounds you could see the cannelure, some rounds you couldn't. (All on American made ammo!)

I currently have 0 boxes of factory ammo for my .223 rifle, and 2 partial boxes for my revolvers. (When those partial boxes are gone, I think that will be the last of factory ammo for them.) The only gun that I have a substantial qty of factory ammo for, which I don't reload for yet, is my Glock 23. (I think I have about 15 boxes for it; but half the reason I have that ammo is to save the brass!)
 
I started reloading three weeks after I started shooting and haven't bought factory ammo since. I have many guns that have never seen factory ammo.
 
I haven't been loading to long, but I understand your plight. I do like to keep at least some ammo on hand for all my weapons though, so I do keep a little factory ammo around that doesn't get touched for range plinking. That's mostly hotter self-defense or hunting ammo. Since I'm still new to reloading I don't have everything dialed in quite yet, so I like having some ammo of a more "known quantity" on hand if I need it in a pinch.
 
What would happen, God forbid, that you get into a SD situation and had to use your "home made" man killer ammo. Going to trial, how could you defend your position because you used reloaded/handloads? :neener:
 
I started handloading about a year ago, and I find it to be very rewarding as a hobby itself and the ideal bad weather compliment to shooting.

I still browse and occasionally buy factory ammo, but now that I'm reloading every centerfire caliber I shoot, I buy factory stuff primarily to try out rental guns (at my range handloaded ammo or even ammo bought elsewhere is not allowed).

Like El Guero, I have a stock of factory ammo that I'm holding on to, preferring to shoot mostly handloads. The factory stuff is useful for testing and comparison, for an opportunity to hunt with a caliber I haven't got fully sorted out, and in a worst case scenario for barter.

I used to buy really cheap steel and aluminum cased ammo for plinking, but now if I buy factory ammo it's gotta be brass cased so I can reload it.

I'm looking into reloading 12ga next. If I start playing trap this year, I almost certainly will. I'll have to.
 
If you want to really want see something shocking, try weighing the powder charges on factory ammunition. I pulled bullets on .357 mag., 9mm, .40 cal, .270win, and 7mm RM and was absolutely shocked to find the powder weight varrying by as much as 18%. And primers seated so shallow it's no wonder I experienced mis-fires back in the day when I bought factory, but have yet to have one single MF in 30+ yrs. of hand loading. And yes, seating depths visually inconsistent.

But on the understanding side of things, I realize factory is loaded on machines that produce thousands as fast as can be done. Ammunition is going to vary just because of mass production, which is the primary factor that lead me to reloading several decades ago, consistent quality.
Good post Sir!
 
I've been relading since 1974. I have no idea how many guns in what calibers have come and gone in that time. However, I have never owned a gun that didn't shoot better with handloads than with factory ammo. With handloads you can find the combo that shoots best in your particular gun. With factory ammo, one size fits all.
 
When I get a new gun, I'll run some factory ammo through it to see if everything works as per manufacturer's specs. The last factory ammo I bought (about 8 years ago) was 45 ACP 'cause I hadn't reloaded that cartridge nor owned a gun in that caliber (I still have about 20 left). So, I know if my gun works with factory ammo, any failures are my fault, well most of the time anyway. For my other guns, mebbe 17 or 18 years ago...
 
I shoot 257 Roberts and now 260 Remington, for the most part. The only way to really have accurate ammo for those calibers is to create it.

In the last couple of months, I've put more rounds downrange than the avg hunter will shoot in their rifle over 5 years.
 
Generally, I shoot only my hand loads. But, when I purchase a new firearm, I buy a box or so of factory ammunition to shoot over a chronograph to "calibrate" the new firearm It gives me another data point to consider for working up loads. I also get some cases.

I purchase new shot shells for the hulls. When I shot competitive skeet, I shot factory ammunition in matches to generate hulls for practice ammunition and to avoid any ammunition inspection issue.

I have three firearms that reloads are the only choice, two wildcats and an obsolete cartridge.
 
Lol!..picky? hell yeah.



I look at the roll crimps of my magnum rounds and the tapers on my auto's under a magnifying glass!

seriously!
 
I've bought some 223, just because it was dirt cheap.
(Tulammo & Federal American Eagle)

It reminded me why I started reloading in the first place.
That stuff was all over the target. :what:
 
I've bought some 223, just because it was dirt cheap.
(Tulammo & Federal American Eagle)

It reminded me why I started reloading in the first place.
That stuff was all over the target
Click to expand...

I thought about buying a case of Remington UMC .223 55 grain FMJ, because it is dirt cheap ($5.19 per 20 or so) but I kind of figured I wouldn't even enjoy shooting it! Bought unfired LC Brass on sale at Midwayusa instead. :D
 
What would happen, God forbid, that you get into a SD situation and had to use your "home made" man killer ammo. Going to trial, how could you defend your position because you used reloaded/handloads?
Click to expand...

How is the po po going to know unless you build super duper bad guy killers and boast about it. Besides if it's a good shoot who cares?
 
Please start your own thread if you feel you must discuss this aspect.

Metal Tiger said:
What would happen, God forbid, that you get into a SD situation and had to use your "home made" man killer ammo. Going to trial, how could you defend your position because you used reloaded/handloads? :neener:
Click to expand...
Please don't go there. There are several other threads on that question and they usually are a distraction to any other discussion, which is what this thread started as.

A good shoot is a good shoot and what the shootee was shot with is very seldom a factor in the prosecution (criminal or civil).

Lost Sheep
 
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