Reloading to factory like specs?

T

Tory

New member
I am just curious as I want to get into reloading as more of a hobby than a need, but I want to know what I would have to do to develop loads that would be safe to put into any gun?

Is this just a matter of not making to hot of a load and full length resizing the brass or using only virgin never fired brass? Or is this something that is never safe to do?

I don't really target shoot so super accurate loads are not what I am looking for just good hunting rounds that I could load up for me and my friends with out having to go through a bunch of testing on different rifles.
 
just use a load well below max for a given cartridge. you may encounter brass from some not going into others. once you start and gain experience. it is art. science. and myth. mystery.
 
If you are going to load rounds that will be used in different rifles, plan to Full Length size all of the brass...as most chambers will exhibit some differences...

Please check on the liability issues you may be running into when loading for others...any malfunction involving them and your loads could place you in a situation of losing a bunch..and your Homeowner's Insurance may not cover it..

I equally cautious about using loads that have been produced by someone else...I've already lost half a finger and want to keep my eyes, etc...

Always load lighter than those listed as "Max" loads...what one rifle chamber can withstand, may rupture another...
 
Reloading 101 - Always work up each load for each gun. Just because one load is safe in your rifle does not mean it's safe in ALL rifles.

Also I personally would never trust somebody else's loads in my gun unless I watched them load it. People that are willing to give/accept untested ammo don't share the same safety percautions as I do. Using an untested load in several rifles is taking a major shortcut, and if you're willing to do that, then what other safety shortcuts are you going to take?

Not for me, no thanks.
 
"but I want to know what I would have to do to develop loads that would be safe to put into any gun?"
You would have to test then in all guns, clearly impossible.

Jack
 
What makes it so risky? Are factory loads loaded that light? Why are they safe?

Are factory loads truly safe for all rifles then?

From everything I have read factory loads have way less quality control than what some one that reloads would have in the process.

Also do you guys feel the same way about shot gun shell reloading?
 
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In general factory loads are light, the problem comes when someone over charges, double charges, wrong powder etc.

Im not an expert, but if a modern rifle is not safe to shoot with factory loads, its just not safe to shoot.
 
I have always heard that factory rounds are suppose to be the hottest and safest load. that is just what i have heard. could be wrong but i am not sure.
 
Originally Posted By: ToryI don't really target shoot so super accurate loads are not what I am looking for just good hunting rounds that I could load up for me and my friends with out having to go through a bunch of testing on different rifles. Doesn't sound like you're a good candidate for reloading in the same way that a flight student isn't interested in learning how to take off or land. You're destined to hurt yourself or someone else.
 
Personally I don't reload for anyone but me and for my firearms ONLY. I have been asked several times buy several different people to reload for them. I tell them I'm not comfortable doing it for liability reasons.

If a gun blows up on someone with one of your reloads you are at fault. You will never be able to convince a jury that your reload was safe for the gun that blew up.

If you like your way of life right now don't reload for anyone else. If you do then you may end up living in a cardboard box while your ex-best buddy (with half of a face left) enjoys what you have worked all your life for.
 
so if i am wrong or heard a moron talk why is it that with the hornady 204 32gr bullet that goes 4225fps there isnt a powder that can duplicate that speed? explain that
 
Originally Posted By: markleyI have always heard that factory rounds are suppose to be the hottest and safest load. that is just what i have heard. could be wrong but i am not sure.

"Hottest" and "safest" are 2 words that don't show up in the same sentence very often in a conversation about reloading.
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Good luck.
 
Don't believe the manufacturers estimate, run the Hornady 32 grain ammo over your own chrono and see the true velocity before you try to match it. To be fair to Hornady and other factories, their data is collected in a controlled environment, to try and match it with given variables would be difficult.
 
Markley, A bunch of us got together when the .204 first came out with their published speeds. We've tried several factory loadings out of various brands of rifles for the cartridge and were unable to achieve the level of speed that they advertised... In most cases, they were way under, on an average..

At best, the 32gr Hornady was pumping a hair of over 4,000 fps, instead of the 4,100 fps and the 40gr was doing good to reach 3850 fps...While I'm sure you can load to achieve faster velocities with careful monitoring, the factory test barrels probably were of finer quality. I'm pretty sure that their chrono's were much better than we were using..

Each rifle has enough individual characteristics in both metallurgy factors, as well as production factors, that developing loads that will work in all of them safely, is why it is done by people that have engineering backgrounds and lots of test equipment to be used in the process...

Due to liability and general safety factors, they can't just throw a bunch of components together and send the finished product out on the general shooting community....Some reloaders, don't take that kind of attitude about their own loads, much less for rounds that will be used by someone else...

There are very few things that I will ever say "Can't be done.", but there are several that I will say "Shouldn't be done,"
 
Originally Posted By: DiRTY DOGDoesn't sound like you're a good candidate for reloading in the same way that a flight student isn't interested in learning how to take off or land. You're destined to hurt yourself or someone else.

I guess you are misunderstanding what I am asking....I don't have a problem developing a safe load to use in my rifle and testing is not the problem, I was simply asking if there is a way to develop a load that would be safe to use in many rifles with out the need to go out and buy 100 rifles to test them on. I understand that with building up a load there is a given amount of testing that HAS to be done, thats not a problem.

As far as liability I understand that concern. This was a hypothetical question. I do not currently reload nor do I know if I will, I am interested in the reloading hobby itself not because I have a need to for money or accuracy reasons. I simply believe that developing loads to shoot and use in my rifles would be fun and rewarding in the same way it is when you build anything for yourself. But at the same time I don't see a point in buying all the equipment to reload only a few hundred rounds a year for my self.
 
Start shooting more. I started reloading because I didn't want to pay for all the shells that I went through. And the different rifles of the same caliber would not shoot the same factory loads that were available. But with reloading I have found some loads that are good in any of MY RIFLES. But I can tweek the loads and get them shooting really well in each gun. Or I may have to change powder or bullets to accomplish what I am after. It also got me out shooting more. If you are going to shoot a couple of hundered rounds a year it probably is not worth starting to reload. I only go through a couple of hundred rounds of shotgun ammo a year. It is cheaper for me to go to wally world and buy the $22.00 box of 100 than I can reload them. Just my thoughts.
 
Originally Posted By: markleyI have always heard that factory rounds are suppose to be the hottest and safest load. that is just what i have heard. could be wrong but i am not sure.

And you believe every TV commercial you hear too right ?

hottest - not even close

safest - 99 % of gun safety issues have more to do with the operator than the ammo

accuracy - although the best factory ammo is pretty [beeep] good I personally believe that ammo I make for my gun using my brass and my data is more accurate overall than any factory ammo.
 
Originally Posted By: markleyI have always heard that factory rounds are suppose to be the hottest and safest load. that is just what i have heard. could be wrong but i am not sure.

You've heard....from whom?

Now, if you "could be wrong but...am not sure" then why are you arguing about it?

Factory loads aren't the fastest. And they're meant to be safe in any gun but aren't necessarily any more safe in your gun than what you load yourself.
 


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