My reloading speed

[sjb269]

I was curious and decided to find out how long it takes me to reload 50 .308 rounds from start to finish.
Total time was 1 hour and 18 minutes.
The cases were once fired and had basic prep already done previously.
The 1:18 was for set up, de-prime/full length re-size, check OAL... no trimming needed, clean case by hand, charge with powder and seat bullet. How does this compare to some of you all?

FYI, I weigh every powder charge on a balance scale and that takes a bunch of time.

 

[fireEMT5]

Re: My reloading speed

IMHO I'd say you are doing ok. Weighing out each charge takes time as you stated. It's more important to know that you are covering each necessary step in a methodical, thorough manner and not cutting corners in an effort to shave time.

I usually do 100 round batches, starting with tumbled brass. I deprime, resize, then clean primer pocket and check for flash hole burrs. Next step, trim and clean up the mouth inside and out. Finally, prime, charge - weighing each charge, seat bullet. Inspect each round, wipe down and then seal primer and bullet. This whole exercise usually runs 3 - 4 hours for me.

Finish up by documenting my load on a label and in my note book. Clean up work space so it's ready for another day. Put everything back in it's place.

 

[Temp9]

Re: My reloading speed

Takes me longer than that for .223, but I'm thorough. Here's my approximate schedule:

1)Get home and toss the brass in the tumbler. Take it out in a couple hours. -5min
2)Anneal (every other time). -20min
3)FL size and decap. -30min
4)Clean primer pockets. -10min
5)Back into tumbler. -5min
6)Trim, chamfer, deburr in one step. -10min
7)Prime cases. -15min
8)Add powder charge (weigh each one). -45min
9)Seat bullets. -15min

Total time: 2 hours, 35 minutes

I'll have to actually time myself next time, but I don't think I'm any faster than 2 hours.

 

[targaflorio]

Re: My reloading speed

I think just powdering and seating bullets in a minute per round or two is doing well.

The biggest time investment, and the aspect that varies the most between shooters, is the case prep.

I'm afraid to measure how long each cartridge takes to load start to finish. Longer than I would like to admit, I'm sure.

 

[Paladin2147]

Re: My reloading speed

You guys in a Union or what? I didn't know it was a race.

 

[sjb269]

Re: My reloading speed


I enjoy reloading, and if I am not careful, I could spend way too much time in one sitting doing it. I always rationalize, just a few more rounds, next thing I know, 3 hours went by and my shoulder and back are tied in a knot from not getting up.
I am using a real primitive system, but it works for me. I found a way to speed it up a bit, not because I think Im too slow, It's just that I want to be more efficient. I now seat a bullet with the arbor press while the scale is settling in with a new powder charge.
Also, it goes a bit faster now that I am more willing to accept a +/- .1 grain variation on my powder charge on the balance scale than I was when I first started. I found some premium factory ammo has more variation than that and it's not likely I can tell the difference in my shooting.
I don't tumble my brass. I chuck up a case holder in a cordless drill and wipe them down with aero kroil and a rag while they spin. then brush the inside of the case neck as well. I then chuck up a primer pocket cleaner in the drill and clean the pockets that way.

 

[MALLARD]

Re: My reloading speed

i take allot longer then 1 hour and 30 minutes.

 

[aloreman]

Re: My reloading speed

I dont care how long it takes to make good ammo

 

[Clark]

Re: My reloading speed

Once I got set up with a single stage press clamped in front of my computer [that has a TV receiver in it and windows media center to record hundreds of TV shows] then reloading keeps me from eating while watching TV.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: My reloading speed

I loaded 50 rounds the other day in 50 minutes, starting with clean brass
FL sized the cases
Trimmed all the cases on my Giraud
Brushed the necks out
Cleaned primer pockets and primed
43.8 grains dispensed out of my Gen 2 Prometheus every 8-9 seconds
Seated bullets while the Gen 2 did its thing
Checked seating by ojive, 3-4 had to be adjusted
Checked runout, 2 had more than .002 and were used as foulers

I could easily shave 10 to 15 minutes off, there was a piss break and a phone call in there

 

[DubGunner]

Re: My reloading speed

Biggest time consumer for me is the trimming/chamfer/debur. Granted that all the brass I'm loading now is first time reloads, so I'm expecting I won't have to do it again. But with hundreds of cases I've collected over the last couple of years it takes me hours to trim.

 

[rockn30809]

Re: My reloading speed

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: aloreman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I dont care how long it takes to make good ammo </div></div>

This^^^^^

I don't time myself. I head to the war room in the basement, turn on some tunes and work till I finish or start getting tired.

 

[littlecalm]

Re: My reloading speed

That's fine. A lot depends on how much case prep you do. Everyone has their own amount of time they put into that. Once that work is done, it only takes about 10 minutes to prime 100 cases and then 40 minutes or so to charge and seat the bullet if you have an autocharge scale like the Chargemaster. I keep my Chargemaster and my press on different benches so I can seat while the Chargemaster measures the next charge. The Chargemaster is fast. I measue every 4-5 rounds to ensure my ogive measurement is correct and consistent.