Favorite round to reload

[Iwsbull]

I am sure it may have been asked before, but what is your favorite to reload. It doesn’t mean favorite to hunt, shoot or personal protection but favorite to load. Some are just more enjoyable and satisfying to load.

[d4xycrq]

My first caliber... 38Special.

[358429]

For me it's a tie.

But be forewarned at any time or place, for any reason or no reason I might change my mind...

On one hand I really like 357 Magnum, it's easy to cast and hand load for, a huge variety of components/load data and power levels. There's a lot of experimentation possible between the goalposts. I have a lot of enjoyment reloading 357 Magnum.

On the other hand I recently started 308 Winchester and it's really not that much more work and I got these huge cartridges that I am shooting from a heavy barreled single-shot rifle and it is accurate and Powerful. I have a lot of enjoyment reloading 308 Winchester.

As far as shooting more on the same shoestring it is kind of a tie also. The savings per round compared to factory is significantly greater with 308, the volume of munitions loaded and shot, is far greater with 357, for me. So it evens out.

To be honest right now , if I did not enjoy handloading right now, I would not be enjoying shooting right now.

All of these are different facets of the same diamond, as to which is my favorite caliber or chambering to reload.

[emoji41]

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[zarrinvz24]

For me it’s .30-06.

[stubshaft]

45/70!

[recumbent]

357 magnum and 327 Federal Magnum

[Texas by God]

Another from the Class of 1873- the .44 WCF(AKA 44-40). Almost as fun to load as it is to shoot.

[brass410]

There's none that I don't enjoy to reload, the whole process is enjoyable, from the sizzle of the smelter right to snap of the ammo box each sound is a sweet whisper of things to come.

[Winger Ed.]

I lean towards the .45ACP on the progressive.

No tiny little component pieces, and I can look down into the cases as they come past the powder measure
to be sure they have more or less a proper charge.

[OS OK]

I would go with the 45ACP on the progressive also but on the Lyman T-Mag II, I like all the pistol cartridges except .380ACP. The slick lill' 95 gn. PC'd Pills jump out of my paws like Mexican Jumping beans!

:bigsmyl2:

[357Mag]

IWS -

Howdy !

.35 Remington, mostly for use in my M-336 XLR.


With regards,
357Mag

[charlie b]

Easy. .45acp. Big bullets and cases to hold on to. Case volume is tolerant of differences in powder measure thrown charges. Chamber is tolerant of different bullet shapes. The cases go through the progressive nicely and I could even make the bullet feeder work with it. I just don't shoot a lot of pistol anymore.

Second? .357/.45LC/.44Mag/etc. Basically any of the straight wall rimmed pistol cases.

What do I load most? .308Win with cast bullets. More steps just because I am looking for much better accuracy.

[badguybuster]

357 and 10mm

[Rapier]

Right now I am reloading and shooting the 6mm Mongoose while I recover from heart surgery. Light weight, AR-15, light recoil, very effective.

[Walks]

I think the .30-06 and .38Spl, the first cartridges I loaded away from home.
No Dad looking over My shoulder, breathing down My neck.

[Helka]

I would have to say the first I ever reloaded which was 308. Although I do enjoy 6.5 Arisaka as well


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[OS OK]

I think the .30-06 and .38Spl, the first cartridges I loaded away from home.
No Dad looking over My shoulder, breathing down My neck.

Dad wasn't really breathing down your neck, take that from a Grampa who did the same thing several times.
He was trying to keep you from 'Blowing Yer Face Off' ... prolly cause he loves'Ya?
Call him sometime and tell him ... "Thanks Dad!"

[Rug480]

480 Ruger - got me into reloading and will always be the fav.

[r80rt]

.45 acp

[GhostHawk]

That's a tough one, there are darn few that I don't enjoy.

For some reason there is something very satisfying about loading .32sw long rounds for me. Not sure how to define it. Thrifty on lead, thrifty on powder.
And they are so fun to shoot.

[richhodg66]

Lately, it's been .38-55, but probably over the years, .45 Colt or .30-06. 7x57 is up there too.

[bimus]

Some time back it was the 45-70 strong actions to the weaker actions black powder or smokeless and even duplex heavy or light cast or jacketed bullets or round ball .

[Pete44mag]

.45 ACP, .38 spcl, .357 magnum, 9mm, .41 magnum, .44 magnum, 223, 25/06, 30/06, guess I just like reloading a whole lot. It keeps me away from the nightly news. My wife said she would rather see me making freedom seeds than watching the news because after I'm done I have a smile on my face instead of a scowl.

[clearwater]

For Boolits its 375 Ruger. Love those big heavy rounds. My friend named his Howie the howitzer for the trajectory, altho I find at 100 yards I am shooting within 2 inches of the full power round.

[Rodfac]

At 75 yrs old, I value any cartridge that's easy to manipulate through the press...for handguns on my pair of Dillon 550B's, it's the .44 Spl. (short for caliber brass so it doesn't tip around, relatively thick case mouth that makes flaring easy to feel and doesn't buckle when crimped (like a 32-20), fat bullets that I can easily place on the flared case mouth, large size primer that's easy to see if it pops out on the floor, and enough loaded cartridge weight that it makes a satisfying 'plunk' when it drops into the load bin.

Add to that...damned near any reasonable load with a good LSWC will produce sub-2" groups in my .44's with holes big enough that you can poke a fore finger in 'em on good target stock. What's not to like...every time I stuff six into my guns, I give a nod to old Elmer and Skeeter for their tutoring on what a grand old cartridge it really is.

Best Regards Rod

[quilbilly]

Toss up. 7mmTCU or 250 Sav

[Sig556r]

35Rem, 9x39 & 300BLK, all narrow shoulders

[Minerat]

.300 Weatherby mag and 41 mag.

[MT Gianni]

1] Straight wall case, easy to see powder levels
2] Bullets wide enough to hold easily
3] Short enough for fast strokes, light pressure needed to seat the bullet so it is all easy on the arms.
38 Special with swc or wfn and a minimum 5 gr powder charge.

[sukivel]

.45-70!

Or really any rimmed, straight wall case...


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[2A-Jay]

For me all the ammo I reload are my Favorites, if I have choose a particular cartridge it is still a toss up 30-06 and .45ACP.

[curiousgeorge]

For me .38 Special. Started at the kitchen table with a Lyman tong tool.

2nd place is .44 Magnum. Easy to handle.

[toallmy]

That's a tricky question , I can't think of a single cartridge I don't enjoy loading .

[sharps4590]

Hmmm. That is a question that has never crossed my mind. Honestly, I would have to say the one I am currently loading. 4 days ago that was brass, 16 bore shotshells with BP and traditional column. The next day it was plastic hulls cut for 2 1/2 in. chambers on my Lee Load All. Today it might be 10.5 X 47R or 45-90 SS....or any of a couple dozen others. They're all favorites.

[Shanghai Jack]

30 Badger -small bullet that saves lead, miniscule powder charge (4000 rounds to a pound of powder), no recoil, cheap brass, easy to form, most any soft alloy, works in rifles and pistols - at the height of the ammunition madness cheaper than a 22 if you cast your own.

[georgerkahn]

Like others, the ubiquitous Smith & Wesson .38 Special! Getting over three thousand rounds from but one pound of Bullseye; its almost always-forgiving using cast bullets which, well, might be culled in other calibres; its ability to use cases over and over (albeit some, mostly for me many nickel ones will crack/split after three or four uses -- but other cases -- well, I have some I've used *over* a dozen times), and overall general ease of reloading on my Dillon 550B: Hey, imho, this calibre can not be beaten!
geo

[Daekar]

357 magnum, easily. No case lube, lots of different boolit weights and powders to choose from, the cases don't get dirty because they never hit the ground, components of a size easy to handle, doesn't take much lead or powder to make fun loads, and the cases last forever. I have stopped counting how many times I have reloaded my brass, I have literally never had one crack or anything. I bought 1000pcs of Starline brass a while back and I don't think I'll ever have to buy more.

[anothernewb]

as with others .45 acp also 223.

[Budzilla 19]

Hard to choose a favorite, I’m like many others here, I enjoy reloading all of them. But.......... having said that, the only one I will load thousands of, is the .38 special. Just something about a button nose wad cutter, and some Bullseye, that is kinda soothing, I feel sure you guys know what I mean. Just my opinion. Be safe.

[Jack Stanley]

30-06 , with rimmed revolver cartridges being a close second .

Jack

[OS OK]

Hard to choose a favorite, I’m like many others here, I enjoy reloading all of them. But.......... having said that, the only one I will load thousands of, is the .38 special. Just something about a button nose wad cutter, and some Bullseye, that is kinda soothing, I feel sure you guys know what I mean. Just my opinion. Be safe.

That's a great combination for an accurate .38S and when I load it on my old Green machine, dedicated to only that round...it's a real pleasure.

https://i.imgur.com/ZeybYIH.jpg

[Savvy Jack]

That's a great combination for an accurate .38S and when I load it on my old Green machine, dedicated to only that round...it's a real pleasure.

https://i.imgur.com/ZeybYIH.jpg


How about 44-40? I love doing what folks say can't be done.

Modified for use with the 44-40

288184

[veeman]

All of them that I reload for. .45 ACP is the easiest, 44-40 is the most as far as quantity, 45/75 and 50/95 are the most challenging.

[bluejay75]

44 Magnum. I enjoyed the challenge of loading this round. SAAMI is all over the map when it comes to chamberings in 44 mag. Those size differences makes a unique puzzle that was fun to crack. Thanks to the skilled and creative shooters and designers that helped through this process. But I think I have it figured out. You can have boolits that are TOO big. Cases need to be Lyman M Die type expanded. Jam them into the lands if you can. Dont go too light on boolits. Put the boolits deeper on the case if you must. Lube well or coat well.

[rintinglen]

38 spl for me. I have loaded somewhere in excess of 70,000 in the last 54 years, and it is far and away my number one.

[ShooterAZ]

My favorite fun round to both cast and load for is also the 38 Special. The RCBS 38-140CM has become my all time favorite mold for the 38 Special, with 3.2 grains of Bullseye it will rival any wadcutter boolit I've ever used.

[Randy Bohannon]

.41 Mag. .308 for sheer joy of easy to get super accurate loads,smokeless ,then either 45-70 or 44-40 WCF and B/P leaning on the 44-40 WCF currently. I want to kill a big Whitetail that I have been chasing for two years, only a giant three/six pointer that needs killing with a 230 gr. Accurate bullet and black powder .

[bedbugbilly]

I enjoy them all - probably my favorite is the 38 Colt Long loaded with a .375 heeled boolit to use in a 36 cap and ball revolver with a conversion cylinder. I enjoy casting the heeled boolits because they are different from the run of the mill internal lubed boolits for 38s/357 and the crimping process is different - requires a special shell holder and crimp die - smokeless or BP - it's all fun.

[1hole]

I am sure it may have been asked before, but what is your favorite to reload... Some are just more enjoyable and satisfying to load.

Maybe I'm not doing it right. I've been happily reloading for most everything that goes BOOM since 1965 and have never found any one to be more or less enjoyable than any others. Welll ... I do hope I never need to load another round of .25 Auto. :)

[Char-Gar]

38 Special followed closely by the 45 ACP.

BTW: The early lime green RCBS carboard die boxes had printed on the end, "Reloading Is Fun". I believed it then and still believe it now.

[Hootmix]

I will step up,, I think the 45-60 WCF ( Chaparral ) is very easy to load & of course the 44-40 WCF .


coffee's ready ,, Hootmix.

[jakharath]

I love everything about reloading except for case prep on necked cases. Not sure why, but I just don't like sizing/trimming/deburing.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

.44 mag or special. Easy to handle. Least favorite is 9mm and I have 200 124 gr. XTP's sitting on the bench.....

[Traffer]

By Far...22 Long Rifle. More of a challenge. Had to make molds, swaging dies, research to figure out powder, develop priming compound. and more...bought a lathe just for the project.

[Shuz]

.44 mag loaded on my Dillon Square Deal B with powder coated cast boolits from 190 to 300g!

[Targa]

.44mag here as well

[beefyz]

I get a "bang" when i reload for cartridges that are no longer readily available. I not only enjoy the reloading aspect of it, but also the satisfaction of knowing that I'm saving money because some of the these cartridge's, even if they can be found, come with a premium. Additionally by reloading them, i'm able to keep them from "retiring"; 25-35 & 32-20 come to mind immediately, as does, albeit to a lesser extent, Rem 6mm. The 25-35 is challenging as the neck brass is thin and often wear's prematurely if not sized & flared properly but i'm always able to reload for it.
Sometimes there are problems obtaining .30 carbine, NOT if you reload them. If you shoot John C, reloading is just about a must nowadays.
.45 acp is enjoyable

[samari46]

30-06 with j-words and 7.62x54r with cast. Have a rebarreled Finn M39 that I have to slug the barrel on and that will be my 3rd Moisin rifle. Frank

[GregLaROCHE]

For me it’s 45/70. Easy to load straight wall cases, that seem to last longer than my bottle neck cases.
A big plus is the large diameter boolits are easy to PC because they don’t fall over as easily as other smaller diameter boolits in the oven. And of course I enjoy shooting them in my Marlin lever gun I bought in the eighties.

[uscra112]

Coming in to this party late, but I say it's a tossup between the .38/.357 and the .25-20 Stevens (.25-20 Single Shot). The derivative .22-3000 Lovell wildcat falls in there somewhere. But as I age out, I'm paying more attention to the little "boys' rifles" that I can shoot in the yard, so I've loaded more .32 Long Colt than anything over the past 18 months.

[JoeJames]

At 75 yrs old, I value any cartridge that's easy to manipulate through the press...for handguns on my pair of Dillon 550B's, it's the .44 Spl. (short for caliber brass so it doesn't tip around, relatively thick case mouth that makes flaring easy to feel and doesn't buckle when crimped (like a 32-20), fat bullets that I can easily place on the flared case mouth, large size primer that's easy to see if it pops out on the floor, and enough loaded cartridge weight that it makes a satisfying 'plunk' when it drops into the load bin.

Add to that...damned near any reasonable load with a good LSWC will produce sub-2" groups in my .44's with holes big enough that you can poke a fore finger in 'em on good target stock. What's not to like...every time I stuff six into my guns, I give a nod to old Elmer and Skeeter for their tutoring on what a grand old cartridge it really is.

Best Regards Rod

I am 70 and I agree completely. Although I am still using my old RCBS single stage after 40 something years. And any good LSWC of at least .430" will do a great job with the 44 Special. Ain't anything else to add.

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

.45 Colt

[dverna]

.38 Spl on the Dillon 1050. 700+ per hour without any heroics.

[15meter]

470 Nitro Express, just because every thing about it is just silly.

Certainly don't have the issues of the 204 Ruger and those tiny bullets.

[tdoor4570]

My favorite to load for is all that I load for.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Like others, the ubiquitous Smith & Wesson .38 Special! Getting over three thousand rounds from but one pound of Bullseye; its almost always-forgiving using cast bullets which, well, might be culled in other calibres; its ability to use cases over and over (albeit some, mostly for me many nickel ones will crack/split after three or four uses -- but other cases -- well, I have some I've used *over* a dozen times), and overall general ease of reloading on my Dillon 550B: Hey, imho, this calibre can not be beaten!
geo

Yep, just loaded a bunch of 160 gr. over 3.2 of BE. Got nice groups from my 4" 1956 vintage K38.

[jonp]

I think the first round I reloaded was a 41Mag using the dreaded Blue Dot on a Lee Whack A Mole. I think...

Favorite is either the 38sp or the 45LC. Easy to load, uses little powder for target loads although I'm getting more used to my 32H&R's. Have enough powder for about 1,000yrs for those

[waylonrocks]

My favorite to reload is a whole class of cartridges. My sons and I have guns in 480 Ruger, 460 S&W, 500 S&W, 375 H&H, and 458 Win. Mag. If it wasn't for cast bullets and for the most part, Trailboss powder, we would not be able to affordably shoot these guns. The very important added bonus of much reduced recoil sweetens the deal even more. Very pleasing looking at a 100 round MTM box full of handloaded 460 S&W! Until recently, I avoided reloading the 223 since decent ammo was available and affordable but now I reload for it as well. It is my least favorite to handload since the little bullets don't play nice with my sausage fingers!

[Wag]

Another one for .45 ACP.

--Wag--

[bbs70]

Yup, another one for 45acp & 45 Colt
For rifle 308 win & 6.8 spc

[15meter]

I think the first round I reloaded was a 41Mag using the dreaded Blue Dot on a Lee Whack A Mole. I think...

Favorite is either the 38sp or the 45LC. Easy to load, uses little powder for target loads although I'm getting more used to my 32H&R's. Have enough powder for about 1,000yrs for those

It would be interesting to know what percentage of the denizens of the forum started with a Lee Whack-A-Mole.

Potential poll?

I started 12 gauge with a DELUXE 12 gauge in 1975. First rifle caliber also the Whack-A-Mole in 308, circa 1989.

Still have the 12.

Now I have enough reloading "stuff" I wish I would have put in 6" concrete floors instead of the 4".

[Ithaca Gunner]

Without a doubt it's the .30-06. No other cartridge is easier to get excellent accuracy and hard hitting performance with than the plain old boring .30-06. It's a pleasure to get top performance with using a wide choice of powders and components, and as a cast boolit rifle cartridge, I look to the .30-06 first. It pleases, performs, and gives a sense of accomplishment and confidence with each round out of the press. No other cartridge inspires like the grand old .30-Gov't-06 does for me.

[ddixie884]

I like to load .45acp for use in my moon clip revolvers with heavy for caliber cast lead swc bullets and .45Colt like ballistics........

I also like to load .38spl with full weight cast swc lead bullets at +P level ballistics........

[robg]

357mag is my favourite ,but 45-70 is very satisfying to reload as its not fiddly to load compared to .223 .

[Buckeyeguy]

For me it’s 38 and 44 special, easy to handle and also easy to find accurate loads with about any powder in either

[Plate plinker]

45ACP all day long. It is so easy. Although duplicating expensive rifle rounds gives much gratification.

[trails4u]

11.15X58R for the Werndl.... It's a process, but one that I immensely enjoy. And not as difficult as some think. It's easily fireformed (compared to some) from 348 Win and an absolute blast to shoot! I particularly enjoy the fact that you can't buy it off the shelf.

[Iwsbull]

Guess I can also answer my own question, I like all the straight wall rounds but I have to say loading the 500 Linebaugh just feels awesome.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

I tried out a new 250 gr. hp boolit yesterday in my .44 special 24-3. 9 grains HS-6 gives about 1,000 fps. while staying under 15,000 psi. It also shot a 50' group under 2" off hand. I then proceeded to roll rocks on a hillside out about 50 yds. All this with a load that is powerful enough for close range deer hunting and very easy to shoot.289055

[slohunter]

.44 Mag and Special then .45 ACP.

[onelight]

Another 44 special with 45 acp the runner up :)

[chuckerbird]

Another vote for the 44-40, with the 357 second.

[Soundguy]

38/357 mag

[ulav8r]

The 10.6x25mmR German Ordnance cartridge, also called the 10.6mm Reichsrevolver, the 10.6mm Service Ordnance, or the 10.55mm German cartridge. Easy to load and tremendous fun to shoot. The first time I shot it, I shot at a can about 30 yards away. Had a hit or two and several near misses. Every shot ricocheted and when the bullets hit the trees about 100 yards away, it sounded like an axe swung hard and sideways hitting the trunks. Loaded with Lee 214 gr SWC over a few grains of Unique. I had written to PO Ackley and used a load he recommended.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

The big pumpkin roller - 577 snider besides a 'killer' at both ends it is very accurate!

https://i.imgur.com/0b7mFCpl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7Rj84YX.jpg

[Jedman]

For me about any strait wall with carbide dies, probably 45 ACP is the most loaded. I load on a old turret press and don’t load large amounts at any one time.
I do have die sets for 34 cartridges, but change bullets often so for many I haven’t stopped experimenting.
Jedman

[rockrat]

Like Jedan, about any straight wall cartridge with carbide dies but the 9mm luger is in there 'cause of the carbide dies I can use. 38/357 and 44sp/44mag are tied at the top of the list with the 45acp a bumper back at the lights

[Divil]

Used to be .45acp but I no longer own one. Eventually 9x19 will be #1 as I get more comfortable with it. For the moment though I would say .38 Special gets the gold medal for me.

[stinjie]

38 special ,and 357 magnum.Both are classic and sexy!

[hickfu]

45-70 all day

[pworley1]

45-70 Government