reloading and accuracy/consistency - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

snakeboy · 09-20-2006, 06:26 PM

I have been thinking about starting reloading 9mm and 40cal and I am wondering if it helps accuracy and consistency versus walmart stuff (white box). I am new to shooting (a year) and jumped into IDPA matches. Although I am not classified yet, I am shooting in the expert range. I know practice makes better but if the stuff I buy at walmart is less accurate/consistent than what I could make, I would like to go that route.

wJAKE19 · 09-20-2006, 08:07 PM

ofcourse:

you can customize your load to what you and your gun likes.. and its a lot cheaper.. good luck and have fun.

Tomcat088 · 09-20-2006, 08:56 PM

Jake is correct, you have control over everything. Although intially it won't be cheaper, but if you practice as much as I would think you had to, to shoot expert class, and in competitions; you'll make it up in no time. You can tune a load so that it's lighter and doesn't have as much recoil, but still cycles and shoots reliably. Load a particular type of bullet that you like but might not be able to find easily or for very cheap. Best of luck to ya, be safe and enjoy.

RTMCAS · 09-21-2006, 03:53 AM

I noticed the Wally world ammo went up a little. Get into reloading NOW you'll love it. in the long haul you will shoot better ammo and save $$.. I load for the 40 auto. Nice loads and accurate for about $10/100. Some loads i make are more, but they would way up there if i were to buy them.

Steel1212 · 09-21-2006, 05:14 PM

It always impresses the hell out of me to see experts and masters using WWB stuff. Its not bad ammo but I need all the help I can get....with reloads!

Good Job man!

vafish · 09-21-2006, 06:54 PM

The accuracy of your reloads will depend upon how much you have tested them to make sure they are the right combination for your gun. And how much attention you pay to details when you load them.

If you just grab some powder off the shelf, some random bullets of about the right diameter, some primers and a bunch of empty cases you just dug out of the dirt at the range you probably will be disappointed in your results.

At least where 9MM is concerned I don't think you'll save much money. You also have to consider the time you are taking to make the ammo.

JD McDorce · 09-21-2006, 07:58 PM

There is, of course, a downside to rolling your own ammo tuned for a specific gun - one less excuse when the shooter blows a stage or a match...

nunnya · 09-22-2006, 08:57 PM

I reload because I enjoy it. I'm using a Lee Anniversary kit which has everthing you'll need and can be purchased for around 70$. It's slow because it's a single stage but yields excellant results. Using Precision Plus
molly coated bullets, Unique powder and CCI primers I can drive a 200gr.
.45ACP over 900fps with great accuracy for under $5.00 per 50rds. There
is no leading of the barrel or smoke and the standard deviation is in the single digits which is much better than most factory rounds.

nunnya

snakeboy · 09-23-2006, 05:52 AM

Thanks to all who replyed. I think I will try out reloading. I did a quick price check and it might not save me much money compaired to wally world. But the price increase is worth it if the accuracy is better. Maybe just use them mainly for matches.

My next question is on a reloader. Is RCBS any good. I am looking at a turret type. I have a gander mountain 30 min from me and it would be easier to get it from there. Plus they are opening a Cabelas and a Bass Pro Shop real close too. I live in Northwest Indiana. Or I may order from midwayusa. But even if I do that, I will still probably go to Gander/Cabelas/Bass for a few things.

JD McDorce · 09-23-2006, 08:29 AM

Since all of my reloading equipment is RCBS with the exception of my tumbler, I certainly have no complaints with RCBS. IMHO for reloading pistol rounds, a Turret is better than a Rock Chucker (since you can install and set multiple dies in the turret head), however, you may find yourself wishing down the road that you had bought a progressive press. I reloaded 9mm, 40S&W, and 45Auto on a RCBS Turret for over a year before adding a Pro 2000 to my reloading bench (I still use the Turret for rifle rounds). With the Pro 2000 it takes me longer to reset the powder measure than it does to change calibers, although manually indexing the shell plate (via star wheel) also starts getting old.

Most of the serious reloaders for pistol cartridges eventually end up with a Dillon. Do I have regrets going "Green" instead of "Blue"? Not really. However, I can also appreciate why the Blue Press is so popular.

09-20-2006, 06:26 PM	#1
snakeboy XDTalk Newbie Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lowell, Indiana Posts: 12	reloading and accuracy/consistency I have been thinking about starting reloading 9mm and 40cal and I am wondering if it helps accuracy and consistency versus walmart stuff (white box). I am new to shooting (a year) and jumped into IDPA matches. Although I am not classified yet, I am shooting in the expert range. I know practice makes better but if the stuff I buy at walmart is less accurate/consistent than what I could make, I would like to go that route.

09-20-2006, 08:07 PM	#2
wJAKE19 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Belding, Michigan Posts: 520	ofcourse: you can customize your load to what you and your gun likes.. and its a lot cheaper.. good luck and have fun. __________________ ~JAKE

09-21-2006, 06:54 PM	#6
vafish XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,169	The accuracy of your reloads will depend upon how much you have tested them to make sure they are the right combination for your gun. And how much attention you pay to details when you load them. If you just grab some powder off the shelf, some random bullets of about the right diameter, some primers and a bunch of empty cases you just dug out of the dirt at the range you probably will be disappointed in your results. At least where 9MM is concerned I don't think you'll save much money. You also have to consider the time you are taking to make the ammo. __________________ \"If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for ten years, plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years, educate children.\" -- Confucius

09-21-2006, 07:58 PM	#7
JD McDorce XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Westland, MI Posts: 1,267	There is, of course, a downside to rolling your own ammo tuned for a specific gun - one less excuse when the shooter blows a stage or a match... __________________ XD9 Service/XD9 Tactical/XD40 Tactical/XD45ACP Service Colt Series 80 GCNM/Springfield Black Stainless/Browning Hi-Power Practical/SIG P220

09-23-2006, 08:29 AM	#10
JD McDorce XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Westland, MI Posts: 1,267	Since all of my reloading equipment is RCBS with the exception of my tumbler, I certainly have no complaints with RCBS. IMHO for reloading pistol rounds, a Turret is better than a Rock Chucker (since you can install and set multiple dies in the turret head), however, you may find yourself wishing down the road that you had bought a progressive press. I reloaded 9mm, 40S&W, and 45Auto on a RCBS Turret for over a year before adding a Pro 2000 to my reloading bench (I still use the Turret for rifle rounds). With the Pro 2000 it takes me longer to reset the powder measure than it does to change calibers, although manually indexing the shell plate (via star wheel) also starts getting old. Most of the serious reloaders for pistol cartridges eventually end up with a Dillon. Do I have regrets going "Green" instead of "Blue"? Not really. However, I can also appreciate why the Blue Press is so popular. __________________ XD9 Service/XD9 Tactical/XD40 Tactical/XD45ACP Service Colt Series 80 GCNM/Springfield Black Stainless/Browning Hi-Power Practical/SIG P220

09-20-2006, 08:56 PM	#3
Tomcat088 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lubbock, Tx Posts: 688	Jake is correct, you have control over everything. Although intially it won't be cheaper, but if you practice as much as I would think you had to, to shoot expert class, and in competitions; you'll make it up in no time. You can tune a load so that it's lighter and doesn't have as much recoil, but still cycles and shoots reliably. Load a particular type of bullet that you like but might not be able to find easily or for very cheap. Best of luck to ya, be safe and enjoy.

09-21-2006, 03:53 AM	#4
RTMCAS XDTalk Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 49	I noticed the Wally world ammo went up a little. Get into reloading NOW you'll love it. in the long haul you will shoot better ammo and save $$.. I load for the 40 auto. Nice loads and accurate for about $10/100. Some loads i make are more, but they would way up there if i were to buy them.

09-21-2006, 05:14 PM	#5
Steel1212 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 566	It always impresses the hell out of me to see experts and masters using WWB stuff. Its not bad ammo but I need all the help I can get....with reloads! Good Job man!

09-22-2006, 08:57 PM	#8
nunnya XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 218	I reload because I enjoy it. I'm using a Lee Anniversary kit which has everthing you'll need and can be purchased for around 70$. It's slow because it's a single stage but yields excellant results. Using Precision Plus molly coated bullets, Unique powder and CCI primers I can drive a 200gr. .45ACP over 900fps with great accuracy for under $5.00 per 50rds. There is no leading of the barrel or smoke and the standard deviation is in the single digits which is much better than most factory rounds. nunnya

09-23-2006, 05:52 AM	#9
snakeboy XDTalk Newbie Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lowell, Indiana Posts: 12	Thanks to all who replyed. I think I will try out reloading. I did a quick price check and it might not save me much money compaired to wally world. But the price increase is worth it if the accuracy is better. Maybe just use them mainly for matches. My next question is on a reloader. Is RCBS any good. I am looking at a turret type. I have a gander mountain 30 min from me and it would be easier to get it from there. Plus they are opening a Cabelas and a Bass Pro Shop real close too. I live in Northwest Indiana. Or I may order from midwayusa. But even if I do that, I will still probably go to Gander/Cabelas/Bass for a few things.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode