The Economics of Reloading

I have been an avid reloader for many years, you can see that my loading bench is rather busy most of the time. In all this clutter, I do turn out very accurate ammunition.

To the economics of reloading, we all say that it is cheaper to reload, in most cases it is, some it is not. Over on Ammoguide.com is an Excel Spread Sheet that does the comparison of factory versus reloads.

http://ammoguide.com/

Sign in with the Demo Button, go to the section that says Articles and Downloads. Then go down the page until you see the section that is titled Dwonloads, then click on ReloadingCostAnalysis.xls, you will have the spread sheet.

Hope this helps someone out there,

Jerry

Gun Shows - Februrary 08, 2009

Today, I went to the Gun Show in Cambridge Ohio, It was a small show, not sure of how many tables.

I noticed the lack of case lots or battle packs of ammo. I asked one "dealer" and he said that stuff sold out early and he didn't know how much more he could purchase in the future.

What ammo I could find that I wanted, I just remembered the prices, then I ran into Cambridge to the Walmarts. Walmarts was cheaper for the stuff I was looking for. If you are wondering, I was looking for 12 gauge shot shells, deer slugs and 22 Shorts. I can use them around my farm.

This surprises me greatly, we have traditionally looked to the gunshows for bargains and hard to get stuff. I think that era maybe becoming to a close with what the current administration is pushing.

During the Clinton era, with the ban on rifles like the AR-15 coming close, I was in a gunshop in New Albany, and the owner had just gotten in probably the last batch of Colt AR-15 HBAR in before the Clinton Ban went into effect. The owner was not quoging the customers, so I bought one as did my brother.

I bought mine for serious shooting, not for resale at a higher price. I still have it today and it does shoot very well.


Jerry

Arm Supports

I am getting in the age group that holding a rifle up in a free hand position is becoming more and more difficult. I have a "tennis elbow" that required surgery, so an arm support is something really nice to have when doing free hand shooring.

While cruising the Internet, I found this product:

http://www.kenmarproducts.com/armsupportsystem.htm

For me it seems to work extremely well. I will probably put a leather belt on mine.

Jerry
5 Year ORPA Member
NRA Benefactor Life Member

The 308 Cartridge

Way back when, I went thru boot camp on the M14 rifle. I did very well with it, but later I had to qualify on the M16.

Back to the M14, I have shot many of the Springfield M1A, which we all know that the M1A's roots is the time tested M14. For a while I owned a Chinese PolyTech M14s, it shot at least as well as the one I had in boot camp.

But the cartridge is what I have explored over the years. I have loaded my own with IMR 4064 and with IMR 4895, both have given me excellent results with used with the Sierra Match King 168 HPBT bullets.

I stumbled across this website that has some good information on it, so I thought I would share it with everyone.

http://www.6mmbr.com/308Win.html

Good Shooting,

Jerry Smith
NRA Benefactor Member

Tumble Lube and Alox

I enjoy shooting my lever action Marlins, I have several and there is a good following for these rifles, a hunter, down in Texas developed molds for bullets that are designed for the Marlin Lever Guns, http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/, he produces some amazing bullets. He is also a wealth of information on many bullet casting methods. Here is his link to "How to Use Alox for Tumble Lubing Bullets"

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,27078.0.html

This is an interesting process for lubing bullets, and it does work. I have cast several thousand bullets and lube them in this fashion.


Jerry
OPRA 5 Year Member
NRA Benefactor Member

For those who build 1911s

My brother passed this along to me, it has how to build a decent 1911 and dealing with 1911 mags. I found it very information.

http://how-i-did-it.org/articles/


Jerry