what's the difference between handloading & reloading? Are they not one and the same?
Technically:
- Reloading - Reusing case and new/used components like pulled bullets
- Handloading - Using new case with all new components
Yes for most, terms "reloading" and "handloading" are interchangable.
But for some, term "handloading" means producing more consistent rounds than "reloading" either through use of better quality/sorted components and/or more consistent practice to reduce reloading variables.
Those potty trained at gunpoint will undoubtedly point out the difference.
Dang near. Those drill sergeants during boot camp sure were uptight about us grouping consistently to hit our targets. And my unit commander absolutely wanted all the firearms combat ready and reliable so we took new out-of-the-box 1911s and worked them over until they were buttery smooth like our well broken-in M16s and M60s.
And fortunately or unfortunately, my reloading mentor for USPSA matches was a seasoned bullseye/PPC match shooter who produced small groups at 25/50 yards with all of his revolvers/semi-autos and expected utmost reloading consistency like shaving bottom of FMJ bullets to weigh exactly same.
So starting out, I just thought such "handloading" practice was normal (Because I didn't know any better never having reloaded) and worked to produce my match rounds with consistent powder charge variance and finished round dimensions from the start.
And when my 45ACP/9mm then later 40S&W match rounds produced tighter double-taps consistently, other match shooters got curious while taping up my target holes. When they shot my match rounds out of their match pistols and got smaller groups, they were surprised that I loaded them on Pro 1000s (I had dedicated setup for each caliber).
So group of us took calipers, micrometers and scales to different match shooters' houses to measure consistency of powder charge variance and finished round dimensions. They found out my powder charge variance to be consistent without drifting (I told them that's why I used Pro Auto Disk as fixed volumetric disks couldn't drift) and finished round dimensions were comparable if not better than loaded on their different color presses (I exclusively used Montana Gold FMJ/JHP and Berry's plated for practice).
I did deprime, inspect primer pockets and hand primed separately (As taught by my reloading mentor) but I did not sort bullets by weight or cases by headstamp because "action pistol" matches did not demand utmost accuracy that of "bullseye" matches but I could have if I needed to improve reducing reloading variables further.
Over the decades, I learned finished OAL consistency didn't matter to accuracy if "chambered OAL" varied significantly to affect chamber pressure. So now I focus on reloading variables that affect neck tension to produce least amount or no bullet setback which is the result of case wall thickness, bullet diameter, how much bullet base is seated inside case neck as wall thickness increases (Hence why I seat 115 gr FMJ/RN shorter at 1.110" instead of 1.130" if enhanced accuracy is desired ... Like
Atlanta Arms 115 gr FMJ Elite Match AMU who also decreased OAL from 1.130" down to 1.110" for their most accurate match round).
So for me, I consider myself "reloader" who utilize varying aspects of "handloading" from loading general purpose range blasting plinking ammo to firearm/barrel specific "match grade" rounds to produce smallest groups.