Hello everyone,
Long time listener, first time caller.
Question...where does a guy stop reaching for more stuff to buy, more equipment to try etc ect. I started reloading in an effort to try to create better ammo than the factory **** on the shelves. I consider myself an intermediate reloader who shoots factory rem/win/brn rifles...nothing fancy- certainly not a target or bench guy.
Where do you draw the line for a hunter/plinker? I started out adding a digital scale, then a bullet comparitor to up my odds for improvement. Now I'm waiting on bushing dies, micrometer seater dies, shoulder comparitors and am about to dive into more stuff to measure concentricity....having not fully mastered the bench full of items I currently own!
Where's a decent stopping point for a hunter and casual shooter? I feel like a crack whore jonesing for her next hit.....I can barely find enough components to complete a cartridge let alone think about getting into serious reloading.
Thinking I should have taken the blue pill...
Your question references " hunter/plinker and hunter and casual shooter" If you are already, and with confidence and repeatably, shooting 1MOA or less, then you can likely and humanely harvest game at distances allowable, per the energy produced by a chosen cartidge. For example, a "big elk" has a kill zone of approx 15"or more. At 600 yds - 1 moa = 6+". 2 moa = 12+". Know your equipment, hold over & drift, how to correctly read wind, and personal capacity, and you have the making's of an ethical successful hunter.
Plinker & casual shooter, are in the eye of the beholder. But I get the "crack whore" thing. And have plenty of "gadgets" that I do not use, cluttering up my reloading bench!!! I think 3 things make for a better shooter, good practice, good practice and ahhh, oh yes, Good Practice. For me, satisfaction around shooting comes from making, by tweeking, modifying,,,, good quality factory rilfes shoot "accuratley". I have some factory rifles that started out shooting 1" - 2" moa, now shooting .375" moa or less. It was not the relaoding gadgets that got those rilfes to shoot, it was what I was able to do, by understanding the dynamics of loading, what I could improve - correct on the rifle itself, correctly reading wind,,,,, and my ability to put it all together. Including my effect on the shot. Breathing, muscle control, trigger squeeze,,,,,,,,on and on. Good luck! Good discussion topic!