reality check on reloading

[Kosmos]

Would like a bit of a reality check on hand loading and what can be expected. What I mean is - looking at this 5 shot group below which is
of a 6.5 Creedmoor using factory Hornady 120gr (stock surgeon scalpel) at 100yards. If I take the plunge and invest time to relearn reloading (did it about 15yrs ago
but sold off all the tools/etc)and make an investment in the proper tools and equipment - what can I expect as far increased performance and grouping
assuming all other factors remain about the same. Most of my reloading in the past was for pistol 45/9mm/44mag/357 etc. I did a little .308 but not a lot.
My research and impression is I can tighten up that group but I am on the fence and wondering how much more?

 

[Huskerhunter]

I'd like to ask what your goal is for the rifle? What you have there, if it holds at longer ranges is going to be hard to beat. Sure, if you want to win a 1000 yd. benchrest competition you have a little work to do. But if that were my gun I'd run, not walk, to buy 1000 rounds of that ammo. It'd be hard to see what practical value you'd get from hand loading other than the satisfaction of doing it or needing unique bullets that are not typically available in factory ammo. If that load maintains that grouping as measured in MOA at 300 or 400 yards I can't imagine needing more, and the equipment and learning curve to get there, IMHO, will be significant.

PM me if you want to sell that rig!

 

[slm9s]

You can expect to enjoy making the ammo and enjoy shooting for less $$$ per trigger pull.

 

[ballistic1]

Why bother reloading when your gun likes that factory load, which can be found
at times for $20 a box.. PSA had it on sale shipped at $20 for several weeks.
I personally would be ecstatic that it loves the factory loading, what more could
you really ask for of it?

Unless you plan to load for other cartridges as well, your costs to buy all
the necessary equipment and the components, plus your time doing the
loading, would not be worth it to me, if your gun produces consistent
groupings like that. Not to mention, H4350 is hard to find in most places
right now.

 

[bigedp51]

If you would use a smaller size dime your group size would decrease.

Reloading will make your dime go further.

 

[AIAW]

I'd like to ask what your goal is for the rifle? What you have there, if it holds at longer ranges is going to be hard to beat. Sure, if you want to win a 1000 yd. benchrest competition you have a little work to do. But if that were my gun I'd run, not walk, to buy 1000 rounds of that ammo. It'd be hard to see what practical value you'd get from hand loading other than the satisfaction of doing it or needing unique bullets that are not typically available in factory ammo. If that load maintains that grouping as measured in MOA at 300 or 400 yards I can't imagine needing more, and the equipment and learning curve to get there, IMHO, will be significant.

PM me if you want to sell that rig!

Exactly what Husker said!

Chrono those loads and take detailed notes and measurements of the "before and after" brass, OAL, bullet type, etc. If you do decide to reload in the future, that might be a good contender to start with.

Tighter is always better, but there comes a point where benchrest, railgun-style accuracy is reserved for exactly that arena.

 

[Temp9]

If you and your rifle can do that consistently with that ammo, then I'd say you shouldn't expect to see a huge accuracy gain from reloading, but you shouldn't get any worse, either. With reloading, though, you can choose what bullets you want to shoot and at what velocities. You have greater control over minute aspects of your ammo, along with self-reliance for availability. With a factory load that shoots that well, it really comes down to you. Are you the kind of person that loves to tinker in the little aspects of precision shooting? Do you enjoy learning about what makes ammo accurate and what makes it perform better/worse? Or do you just want the immediate satisfaction of having an accurate factory load that you don't have to spend hours working on? Life is too short to reload if you're not going to enjoy it. Reloading should be another part of the hobby, otherwise, you're just wasting your time.

 

[Chanonry]

It isn't going to get a whole lot better than that in reality. There are some very good factory loads.

I think the point of reloading with such good quality ammo out there is to a) shoot more for less and b) load stuff you can't buy.

308 is a great calibre to reload, huge range of heads, 155gr hybrids target or 185gr Classic Hunters stretch performance beyond what factory loads can provide, or you can buy cheap as chips fmj heads and shoot on the cheap. If that is of no value then don't bother.

Was in a gunshop on Saturday and he didn't have any 308 !!! Reloading is not a choice at the moment for me

 

[Rattler56]

Reloading is kinda like that pic of your jeep, it cost a butt load to get things the way you want it however if you like tuning things to to your
liking its the only way to go.

PS it helps if you are a little OCD

 

[Aimsmall55]

If they're 120 amaxs are anything like the 140 amaxs....... Buy all of that lot# you can find like someone mentioned. Generally speaking, Hornady manufactured 140 amaxs have sucked Donkey balls here lately.
I did pull some newer 120's and they were still using varget which is good.
If you plan on shooting past 5 or 600 yards I'd DEFINETLY RELOAD

 

[rw496]

I started reloading because I thought I was going to save money and be more accurate, but I've found that I actually enjoy the reloading part, and understanding what's going on at a higher level, at least as much as shooting. It's a whole other related hobby.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Reality check. Right.

I started handloading to save money. I did, and I didn't, and other experienced handloaders can easily explain my meaning.

I then changed my goal and went for ultimate accuracy. That may have happened, it's hard to tell when you're 'there', and this is when handloading starts to become ridiculously expensive and overly time consuming.

I then moved my aim over to where I am now. These days, handloading is a necessary evil, to be accomplished in the minimum number of proven absolutely necessary steps, with some of that time I saved being reinvested into taking my time and doing those minimal steps with genuine consistency. My goal is to achieve adequate accuracy and consistency with those components I can reasonably expect to be most readily available over time. I'd like a consistent 1/2MOA at 100yd, but I'd just as easily be happy with 1MOA. If I can achieve a consistent 2MOA (21") at 1000yd (the diameter of the F Class '10' ring), I'm ready to get serious about playing the wind game. Being honest, getting all my rounds into the '10' Ring results in a perfect score. For me, my equipment, and my skills, that would still take a whopping portion of luck.

I know, I know, I'm giving up a relatively significant degree of accuracy, but I really see little point to bending over backwards and kissing the accuracy gods' asses, when somewhat less than ultimate accuracy is plenty good enough.

Let's face it, if you're depending on the economy and supply situation to provide you with factory ammunition, you must also like playing chicken with trains. It's not a viable plan.

Greg

 

[Twoboxer]

Greg has made what seems a full tour of the reloading journey. He may retrace some steps, he may not, you may choose to stay at a different spot.

 

[Kosmos]

This is exactly what I was looking for!! Thank you all for the level set. I took the advice got some more of that factory on order.
I hadn't really considered the bigger economic side of things and the availability of factory rounds and reloading - but it would really suck if for what ever reason
the supply dried up and there was NO factory ammo and no means to obtain any. My thinking was factory at 1.10 a round -resell the spent brass recoup/recover some of that and the rest is the cost of the hobby...
Now having a choice of bullets is also appealing to me with 6.5 factory I think there is only 1 choice.... I did see some 6.5 loads while I was at the range that were using these long thin-looking berger bullets, and I do like to "tinker".....

 

[culater]

Its a good way to look at it if their is a super major ammo shortage you have something in the bank to shoot and not have to look at a $3000 paperweight.