Everything seems to be going up in price. Ammunition prices have increased along with the prices for guns and everything associated with it. Practice makes people better at anything that they may attempt. To be proficient at hand gunning or rifle shooting takes a lot of practice. Some say that you can do a lot of your practicing with smaller arms like the 22 rim fire and the pellet or BB gun in place of shooting the larger firearms To become adept and know your favorite firearm you have to spend a great amount of time with that firearm. You have to memorize the trigger squeeze and become knowledgeable with every aspect of your firearm. Shooting from different angles and positions requires knowledge about that firearm. Reloading is not for everyone. It requires strict adherence to safety procedures and rules that will make your loaded ammunition safe and accurate. Those that are drawn to reloading will find that it is very rewarding. Shooting sessions can be longer because your ammunition prices are less expensive due to the hand loading process. You can fine tune loads for your particular firearm. Most guns will shoot one particular type of ammo better than others. If you can fine tune and narrow your search for ammo components that will fit your gun your rewards will result in better accuracy and pride in the knowledge that you have helped create loads for your guns. Pride exists from the fact that you have created a load that has helped you hit your target with better results. The load that you have created for a hunting trip which enables you to bring a hunt to a quick closure can bring an immense sense of pride. All steps to reloading in reloading manuals must be strictly followed. Any short cuts or missed steps can result in dangerous ammunition or ammo that will not load or function in your firearm. A clean and safe work place is the first starting point. Lee sells adequate loading supplies that are relatively inexpensive and do quite a good job. Pay attention to powders listed in the manuals and don't interchange them. The choice of primers and bullet types should also be followed according to the manuals. Maximum and minimum powder charges are listed for a particular load. Usually the larger weight bullets used in a particular case require a reduced amount of powder. Don't try to load ammo hot with more powder than is required in the manuals. You will be asking for trouble. Stuck cases and blown primers are some of the results of this practice. It is a good practice to weigh each and every load in the process. Volume powder dispensers have a tendency to be inaccurate when large volume cases are being loaded. Single stage presses are the best choice for those just starting out. They are also a good choice for experienced hand loaders. Keep your powder and primers in a cool dry place. Heat tends to increase pressures in specific loads. African hunters have realized for years that high temperatures can increase pressures inside of their loads which might result in ammo failure. The best policy is to obtain several hand loading manuals and taylor your loads carefully and safely to your specific firearm and ammunition needs. Some guns are inherently weaker than others and need to be operated at lower pressures in order to remain safe for the shooter. Gun failures are not uncommon if correct reloading information is not followed. Be safe and have fun enjoying a hobby that can be both financially beneficial and rewarding. Some pistol bullets can be used safely in rifle reloading. You can create loads that might be hard to obtain in your area. Brass should last the course of several reloading sessions Always check all components before the final loading process. If any component is found wanting discard it and replace it with a new or better functioning item. Adherence to reloading instructions in manuals and books will be rewarded with loads that are comparable to the ammunition created by the large ammunition companies. In some cases the hand loads may be better. The better hand loading equipment can last for years and can give you that much time in enjoyment. Be safe and revel in a hobby that can reward you with hours and years of positive entertainment |
