Make your own ammo Vs Buying Ammo | Prepper | Tactical Rifleman

Reloading your own ammo can be a very rewarding hobby. For accuracy, properly hand-loaded ammo will usually perform better than most commercially available match-grade ammo. Sometimes, it’s even cheaper to reload. However, it isn’t really a skill/trade to hang your family’s survival on.
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[@jake9705]

Dad said the best part about reloading was that it gave him an excuse to hide in the garage away from my mom

[@TacticalRifleman]

Agreed

[@bowlofrice8]

Lol that's the only reason I do half of the stuff I do

[@sniperbuddydex6970]

XDDDD

[@numberlover8181]

Probably cheaper and more fun than a divorce too. But that's not a great sign for the quality of the marriage.

[@Junior_Jackson]

Cheaper to keep her.

[@fernandoaispuro1819]

Lol who's here after the crazy ammo prices, espically after the election.

[@alanbradwell5835]

"Raises hand"

[@rozenplummer1711]

No I'm here because 7.92x57 is rare the only ammo I find are 100 year old surplus ammo

[@bigyea50]

Ammo prices are high because of of scalpers hoarding ammo and reselling on the secondary market. It has absolutely nothing to do with any election.

[@mastershake156]

@@bigyea50 🤣😂🤣😂

[@KillerAceUSAF]

Crazy ammo prices? I can't even find ammo for my M1 Garand, or my 9mm pistol...

[@crispynachos92]

The one thing no one takes into account: time. Reloading takes up a lot of time, which for me and many others is more valuable than the money you would save reloading.

[@metallicsilver]

Well said!

[@nicklausbooks1593]

Cristian Navarro you a lawyer or a doctor?

[@phillcollins6901]

Why are you watching this video? If reloading makes no sense to you, why watch and comment.

[@stephennixon6600]

Time is all relative, for some, reloading may be an enjoyable hobby that is relaxing and therapeutic in terms of the stress reduction doing something they enjoy. So, for them the cost savings goes beyond just the savings on the ammo, but also into the savings of doctor bills.

[@ForceMultiplier]

1200 rounds an hour saves me $65. That's a pretty lucrative savings. Dillon 1050 is legit. I've loaded 10's of thousands of 9mm. so easy, and it's literally minimal effort for me. Not for everyone though.

[@vitomccartney]

4 years later...... reloading ammo seems like a good idea.

[@sidgarrison9023]

Exactly. I thought his mockery of “society “ crumbling was foolish. We are stupid if we think we can’t crumble.

[@catash7247]

22 here, most popular elected representative in history is doing amazing. Social media says fake laptop real, misinformation.

[@reasonerenlightened2456]

The best thing to do is to purchase 3 fully automated bullet factories. It takes as input iron ore, pigs, etc and on the output you have bullets. If one factory breaks down you have two more as a back up.

[@Sentient.A.I.]

The best idea is buying and stockpiling ammo. keep 100 boxes of 100 for each weapon size in a cool dry place preferably not known to anyone. If you have 2 or 3 different weapons it will last you well into the Apocalypse.

[@imrobbinganyonewhotalkstom4881]

@@reasonerenlightened2456 literally Factorio lol.

[@Meinan4370]

I’m a chemical engineer. Completely making ammo from scratch is a good challenge for me

[@danobd1355]

Is it that difficult? Do you have a book that you can recommend to me or some online resources, here in Europe we do not have guns and with the current situation, i think a war might start in the near future.

[@spencer6104]

An astronaut could have trouble changing an oil filter on a car. Not sure how chemical engineering plays into casting metal. You would probably have far less trouble if you worked in a foundry or as a black smith.

[@ivant5054]

@@spencer6104 how about you know, making the gun powder?

[@neeraj.a7461]

@@ivant5054 I know how to make gunpowder use sulphur, potassium nitrate and charcoal. And @Spencer is right, chemistry does not include metal casting.

[@mehulchadda8178]

Casting is basically physical chemistry - I’m a materials engineer and know that it’s briefly covered in Chem eng. courses as well.

[@dylanmassengill]

Reloading is just a fun hobby for me, and can sometimes save on the cost per round, but if you are saving money per round you’ll just shoot more to reload more and therefore spend more money

[@hosoiarchives4858]

That’s the point

[@itzpotater8418]

UPDATE THIS FOR 2021 WITH RIDICULOUS AMMO PRICES

[@lcanton9146]

I came here to say this!

[@JosephDiveley]

Thanks to Corona I can't buy ammo anywhere where I live. Seems like being able to make ammo is a great survival skills to me.

[@ptaylor4923]

Yeah... not holding up well with the times.

[@tripz9912]

.

[@deaconwest]

I bought a pellet gun and BB gun to teach my wife to shoot so we don't waste ammo training.

[@JosephDiveley]

@@deaconwest That's a great start mate and much cheaper. I've used both for my daughters to learn on too. They have more kick than a .22 though lol! Still you have shoot real ammo on the main gun your going to use to actually get used to it and be accurate on it.

[@Shinobubu]

Well this is about reloading not manufacturing your ammo ( extruding shell casing, making primer, making the gunpowder and finally making the slug ). better of making bows and arrows in a survival situation.

[@CrisTooR]

Best make your own ammo video ever! Thank you for not going into the apocalypse talk venue. Down to earth, love it!

[@valkry007]

Well said, " YOU ARE NOT MAKING IT, YOU ARE ASSEMBLING IT " when the components run out, you are SOL !

[@PlayingWithFireOutdoors]

By that time I'm still doing better than most everyone around me

[@tearex8688]

@@PlayingWithFireOutdoors either you go to traps and bows. Or some society forms running manufacturing

[@PlayingWithFireOutdoors]

@@tearex8688 that's once you run out of everything, for me that will probably be about 30 +years😀

[@interplanetaryexpeditionsa1229]

you didnt hear blacksmiths talking about lack of steel in medieval times. When they ran out they killed for it. That is the point.

[@Jordan-mn2ty]

Sissy 5.56 guns, please tell that to the media😂

[@impactodelsurenterprise2440]

Sissy low 556

[@rednew8222]

One year later and they still don't get what the problem is

[@keenanwalker6597]

Funny because I watched a video where this guy showed all these rounds to the media and told them what to pick out they thought was an acceptable round for civilians they all picked the 5.56 and said the 30-06 round was too big. It’s funny they have no idea what there talking about they just think the “guns” are scary.

[@gavbag1234]

Or all the dead people they're reporting on.

[@greymajickjedi]

They just make shit up about the "shootings" and the Mediaganda slaves parrot it back without thinking about it.

[@tsafa]

I agree with everything you said. That's why I still practice with my Flint Lock too. I can actually make all the components 😁

[@wolfpacsecuritygroup2474]

Thanks Ranger Buddy! This was Hella Helpful, and thank you for your honest advice on the absolute need to reload vs buy... you're right, knowledge is power!

[@SavageVoyageur]

I learned how to reload 15 years ago for custom loads for my .308 pistol. I needed to load a fast burning powder, and 125gr bullets. Now that there is starting to get components back on the shelves I’m reloading 9mm too. I don’t reload for a future survival situation, I reload for my ammo needs and so it gets me through the times of ammo shortages. I buy reloading supplies and save for the next ammo shortage. And the next shortage is just a election, riot, social unrest, gun law restriction or disaster away. Oh and yes, I save a ton of money reloading 9mm, $.25 a round, or $12.5 a box of 50. For .308 it is $.58 a round or $11.60 for a 20 box.

[@judeabrigo278]

I went here to know how to make my own ammo, instead I was given an preaching 😂 amen to you my good sir!

[@RangerOfTheOrder]

Just for shits and giggles, I'm currently teaching my self how to MAKE ammo. Make the propellant, cast the bullets, reload the primers, etc. Because I've got too much time on my hands.

[@TacticalRifleman]

Poor guy. I'd take up making whiskey.

[@rednew8222]

Don’t shoot you’re eye out kid

[@HoofPrintsDR]

You need a girl friend

[@silvadossantos6803]

Primers are rhe real issue specifically when using Hg stufd

[@daltonpeewee2179]

Sounds good but I wouldn’t skimp on primers depending on how you make your mix it can go off prematurely

[@MrBirdonawire]

Well put my friend. All this crazy end of the world crap, and someone thinks if he can make ammo he will be untouchable. I was thinking primers the whole time. So, I’m happy you brought that up. Very good video.

[@MrBirdonawire]

And don’t get me wrong. I have my own setup and can make superior rounds to what I can buy (my Grandfather taught me well before he passed). So I’m not half bad. But pumping these out in some type of Zombie-Chinese-Russian-Water Turning to Blood-Vampires-Werewolves or whatever other end of days scenario someone can think up... I would rather stock up. And This won’t save you in the long run or keep you valuable, unless you plan on using muskets. Haha. Keep up the work guys!

[@christopherflynn6743]

The Red Frost it's not just primers look at all the shit u would have to carry everyone likes to forget about weight so not even talking size the weight of carrying all that shit will get your ass killed hahaha

[@DragonMoth34]

You call it crazy until it happens. Then you were the crazy one all along.

[@GaryRobinson1991]

Who is here because of the coronavirus? Oh just me guess they are to worried about hoarding toilet paper

[@supercomputer0448]

Hard to belive it's been 9 months.

[@metalboy27]

Who needs toilet paper when you can wipe with a 5.56 round...

[@jordansilver4629]

I’ll take ammo over toilet paper any day. LOTS of leafs out there. Shirts/ socks/ sky’s the limit lol

[@supercomputer0448]

@@jordansilver4629 till you grab a poison ivy leaf in the dark.

[@andrewboos-hartig6206]

@@supercomputer0448 don't use leafs on foliage you don't know. Play it safe and use a tree.

[@metallicsilver]

I agree with you 100%. I go to war with my dad on this topic of reloading at least once a month. Stock up on cheap ammo in common calibers.

[@maror5267]

You can never know when u need to make bullets....or remake them to another wepon you got ...but yeah why not just have them already made ...both dont hurt

[@tommysaulter9248]

Karl... I've been reloading for at least 40 years now. Where the big savings comes from is in the use of primers that I only paid $10.00/1000 and using powder that only costs 14-16 bucks per pound (when it was purchased. My philosophy is to shoot factory ammo when it's readily available and moderately-to-low priced. I shoot reloads when circumstances make factory ammo hard to find or uber-expensive (like currently). If one stores their components "properly", the reloaded ammo is just as good as factory ammo, despite components age... I train a lot and would not be able to maintain my regimen given current shortage/prices...!!!

[@TacticalRifleman]

Agree 100 %

[@michaelthemadsoldiertist]

I’m actually trying to learn how to make primers. I already have the recipe for black powder although I’m curious as to the performance difference in say an uzi or stamp metal grease gun with bp instead of rp or pp. I’m sure the cleaning situation would be a nightmare but I am currently trying to make myself completely self reliant and able to stay armed in spite of the limit of available bullets and supplies to make them.

[@theodurnayne3874]

Probably wouldn't be able to get semi autos or fully autos to cycle. Black powder is nowhere near smokeless in energy. I've only seen BP hold up well in bolt guns (which was ironically the peak of black powder right before smokeless took over)

[@PlayingWithFireOutdoors]

Will not get the performance out of BP vs smokeless, then fouling needs to be thought about.

[@alna2530]

30-30 lever was black powder before it was smokeless. Just some FFT.

[@PlayingWithFireOutdoors]

@Al N/A and there was a gain in performance when switching to smokeless. But yea 30 grains of BP was it's charge weight.

[@alna2530]

@@PlayingWithFireOutdoors yup, Faster than a bolt action and no gas ports to foul. You still need to clean them but even though they're an old design they're a very well thought out design. A bullet mould and some gas checks will keep it fed for a long time as well as long as you can source or stock up on components.👍

[@ikeu6433]

This is the EXACT information I was looking for and I did not need to sift through bs. Straight to the point. Thank you.

[@sarys73]

Something tells me you are telling us this so that you end up being the only post-apocalypse ammo merchant. lol

[@jmac4674]

I mean in a post-apocalyptic society berdan primedammunition and steel cased ammunition would be loaded as well. They do that in afganistan and other poor countries. Also, Black powder can be made at home, and as you said you could cast slugs. So you could just re use primers and such in combination with manufacturing new brass. This would all work with manual action firearms. So pump-shotguns, leverguns, revolvers, etc.

[@fabiogonzalez3848]

Reloading it’s a great therapy. Being a cop either reloading or getting drunk! I miss the older days

[@edwardwells5864]

You make some good points in your arguement. However reloading has gotten me through the last several ammo shortages since Y2K. Of course I didnt wait for the shortage to hit to go and buy my components, I got them when there was ammo on the shelf still and availability of reloading components were good knowing the day would come when there is another shortage. I bought in bulk and stacked it deep cuz I know the next shortage is just around the corner and it seems to take longer before ammo comes back on line each time!!!

[@survivingchicago5797]

My question is..... when did Christopher Walken start reloading?

[@shutthegate8232]

haha, I reckon he'd do a great "Christopher Walken, Lion speech"? kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZercpx_ppKMm9E

[@smokeusmvmc8058]

You're a douche.

[@johnnywalker7350]

Need more cowbells

[@walkerdarin2003]

Smoke USMVMC 🐮 🔔

[@KingCobraofMeta4]

🤣😂🤣

[@Theonlyoneleft1000]

I personally want to reload so I can make custom loads. I'll buy like a box of federal FMJ 9mm for target practice and then take the brass home to use in my custom loads

[@TacticalRifleman]

Me too.

[@exchatche5823]

I'm dumb af cause I didn't realize by "reloading" he meant reusing brass. Was wondering why you don't use a speed loader lmao

[@frankdomestico1167]

I love reloading, my father and grandfather were great teachers. When its cold and snowing in the middle of winter my son and I sit at the bench and make bullets all day. It gives me a chance to talk to him and spend some quality time with him. I was lucky to have my reloading equipment given to me. I also found an old Dillon 450 RL and a Lyman American with dies at tag sales for under 50.00 so stop and look you never know what you will find. Ebay has some good deals for people who are just starting out also.

[@lamarrrrr]

Get on my level: I'm hand-loading ammo because I can't buy it legally.

[@stefanodogg280]

It all depends on who is doing the reloading and what their procedures are. 32 years so far. I trust my precision handloads for self defense but I've seen a lot of handloading stupidity. And BTW with bullet casting you can load pistol ammo for pennies a round. All you need is brass, primers and powder and scrap lead plus tooling. Primers can be remanufactured if you have the raw chemicals, and blackpowder can be used for revolvers. Percussion caps can be remanufactured with toy cap gun caps, which are super cheap. It's all about being prepared

[@jonathansalinas7191]

Do have any books or links to learn more about making bullets.

[@im9930]

Yeah bro..where did you get this knowledge. I need 1-on-1 counseling with you bra

[@easy506th2]

im stickin w this guy when all hell breaks loose

[@ceoatcrystalsoft4942]

Thank you for helping me save my money and, even more importantly, my time. I will stick with store-bought for now.

[@TacticalRifleman]

Good choice!

[@uuulaalaa]

wish I could take some classes on this as a skill sounds wonderful

[@vmark78]

Fastforward to 2020 in California where you now have to pay a dollar for a background check so you can buy a 50 round box of 9mm.

[@AimHere]

yeah and the ammo is $1/round.

[@raymccumstie1439]

I don't expect to be able to reload for long after SHTF but I stock up on factory ammo and my Reloads plus buy bulk components to get them cheaper. Here in Australia it's been hard to get some things but not impossible.

[@IncognitoSprax]

Zombie apocalypse is what brought me here 🤣

[@DobleWhiteAndStabley]

You can reuse anvils, and make primer cups, but you need machining skills. You can punch out brass cases, and make old French smokeless powder with basic chemistry, but you NEED to figure out how to source the machines, raw materials, and many other factors. You can, but it's probably not worth the hassle for most people.

[@eddie2480671]

That is unless something happens and it is the only option

[@shadowcat3163]

Been reloading on a DIllon RL550B for over 25 years. Reloading is great for accuracy, also good for relaxing. Trick is, reload your empty brass and keep the store bought stuff for emergencies. As long as you have stocked up on powder and primers and cast your own heads, shortages (Like now) are not a issue. Sort of fun listening to guys gripe about lack of 45 or 38 ammo then going home and reloading a few hundred from old brass and comps on hand. Brass can be recycled to an extent, using molds you can cast your own pistol heads (and rifle if you have a supply of gas checks on hand). SO all you really need to have stockpiled is powder and primers and if you plan right they can be used for more then one caliber. Getting into reloading during a shortage is a exercise in frustration, you need to have gotten your stock built during good times.

[@1AbominAble1]

Do you feel like sharing your recipe for subsonic .308/7.62 ? I have a 14.5 inch barrel .308 match barreled AR (PWS MK214) that I'm running a Griffin Armament Recce 7 can on and I just started reloading. I'm loading 44 mag for another rifle but haven't started loading "rifle" ammo yet, any advice or recipes would be appreciated. Thanks.

[@emburgess7186]

1AbominAble1 There is a recipe for trail boss on line somewhere.

[@DaveSmith-cp5kj]

Any pistol powder will work. Here is a quick run down on pressure and burn rate. [copied most from an article in a small time mag I wrote a long time ago, so if some terms are outdated or don't make sense, they were intended to make sense to that viewership] When powder is lit, it is converted from a solid to a gas. Gases are bulkier than solids and so they press against the inside of the case causing pressure. Fast burning powder convert that solid to a gas faster, while slow burning powders convert slower. There are a few general burn rates of powders: pistol (green/red dot, trail boss, bullseye etc), magnum pistol (2400, H110), Rifle (H335, Reloader 7), magnum rifle (US869, H50). Generally you want to pair the burn rate to your cartridge and this is done with the help of load data. However, lets say you use too slow of a powder. The powder will expand, pushing out the bullet, but due to the slow rate of the powder burn, it will continue burning in the barrel. In many cases, the powder burn is so slow that unburnt powder will be shoved out of the barrel and kicked out the ejection port with the case. Not using all the potential energy in the powder means low pressures and low velocities. Totally safe, but wasteful. This is why you will occasionally hear experienced reloaders talking about how they could dip the case full and seat a bullet (not advised under any circumstances, just a hypothetical). Now lets consider using a faster burning powder than normal which is different. Cartridges have different case capacities which determine the max amount of powder that could be held. Using a too fast burning powder means that nearly all of it will burn up a short distance inside the case or down the barrel. This quick and sudden shove means that it will produce high sudden pressures but since the pressure is developed fast, it shoves the bullet briefly, rather than pushing it throughout the barrel. So you get low velocities, but high pressures. Because of this, when we use faster burning powder than normal we want to be careful not to use too much in order not to exceed the pressure limits of our firearm's barrel. In general, using as small of a charge as possible when starting load development is safe. The worse that will happen is a stuck bullet which you can kick out with a rod. Whether your powder is fast or slow, it will not cause any higher pressure than a higher charged load. The only exception is the phenomenon called ringing. Imagine the case laid on its side. If you fill powder up to where the flash hole is covered, the flame will only touch a small portion of the powder and as the gasses push the rest of the powder to the bullet, you get a nice progressive burn down the barrel. Contrast it to a situation where the primer hole is exposed to let the spark arc over the entire surface of the powder. Multiple grains are lit at once increasing the burn rate (similar to how a fire starts faster when you light at multiple points than one) and very high pressures are achieved. However, once the powder is channeled past the chamber, the burn rate returns back to normal (since the area of available unburnt powder is constricted). This leaves a ringed indent in the chamber as damage. The lesson here is to start out with a small powder charge (since 308 has a headstamp of 45 diameter, a case capacity greater than a 45 acp, and you are shooting a bullet of equal or lower weight than the 45's 230 grains, start out with a 45 ACP powder charge (which is usually around 4-5 grains), and tilt the rifle up just before shooting to ensure the powder is covering the flash hole. Work the load data up until you reach your desired velocity (for subsonics that will stay subsonic in nearly any situation, aim for 950FPS) OR if you reach pressure signs. If you reach pressure signs before you add enough powder to occupy over 50% (I would aim for 60% for safety) case capacity, then dial back the powder charge a grain or half and add a filler such as polyfil (stuffing found in dog toys and pillows). You want to fluff it up before you put it in the case, and you only want to use enough to keep the powder down. generally half a grain of poly fill will do the job for most rifle calibers. Since you are using 308, somewhere around 8-10 grains of a pistol powder like green dot is probably what you will end up with (using a 230 grain bullet), and you shouldn't need a filler, but you got to work it up and see for yourself.

[@tonytiger75]

The only reason I started reloading was because I have one antique rifle you can't find ammo for but you can find or reform brass from a parent cartridge. Then I branched out to about 8 other calibers and I make my own BP. It's all fun but it rarely saves any money.

I cast, reload etc and I do it because I enjoy the hobby of it and also for lr shooting. But as this video says, if shit hits the fan you better already have your stuff.

[@TacticalRifleman]

Thanks for watching. Most miss the point of this video. As you said, reloading is great for accuracy and some cost savings (and because it is fun). However, as a post-grid down trade, better to stick to farming.

[@battfieldsniper1]

do as my buddy did (and i call him crazy for it) his bought him self a dillion xl650 with a autodrive. and is currently cranking out 1500rnd an hr and he does that watch tv and drink beer if he ever runs out he just makes more.. hes up to i think 150k rounds of 9mm and 60k of 5.56

[@coreyzimmerman1741]

You did an amazing job describing everything and I will definitely subscribe

[@deniseandmarkfirestine7443]

I reload and I have stashed a lot of ammo for my firearms. I think it is a good thing to learn my 2cents

[@TacticalRifleman]

I agree

[@nanetbalein4477]

how should I buy my reloading press and my reloading materials considering that im in the Philippines?

[@inshasha6217]

I know its a bit late but would you do a turtorial on how to reload your bullet / what's important if you do this for long range shooting?

[@jimreese2012]

love reloading , or ammo making! I load for my guns only and I do it as a hobby. Now for 25 years , I have been doing this , I have spent a bit of time reaching and doing my thing with many calibers via rifle or pistol, and have found it to be Rewarding . every gun I have has ammo for it tailored for that gun. best shooting , cleanest burning powder and best bullet. my latest project, was my black hawk in 44 spl it shoots like no gun I have ever had, but it took a month to develop a round just for this gun. shoots flat clean and point of aim out to 100 , and then some. be it cast or jacketed. no leading or copper fouling anymore. 240 gr hp at 1100 fps Is a good load for this gun , with pressures just over published pressures of 15500 at 16300 brass falls out of the cylinder with no assistance. no factory ammo can do this . I have pushed it to just under mag pressures and still had no problem but it shoots best where it is at 16300. and my hand and arm lilkes it also .

[@tonyvanderboon2564]

Reloading is therapeutic for me.

[@Jrocka7x]

I'm new to this, but I found the shade against 5.56 right off the bat funny. That's all I know. haha

[@Question-Log]

This guy read my mind because the reason I’m here is to figure out how to make ammo for the apocalypse.

[@MrBlack0950]

that point about the supplies issue is why i personally think modern guns are gonna fall out of use quickly if something kills the supply lines like in most projected SHTF scenarios. Your best option for actual firearms is to go back to things like flintlock if theres not going to ever be a restock on manufactured components. You can make everything you need to fire a flintlock shot right in the woods, from the powder (pioneers often used powedered charcoal which was less powerful but still did the job well enough for hunting), to the paper (making paper is alot easier than people think it is if you actually know what the process is), to the rounds themselves which can be anything spherical and hard enough to withstand the blast. Theoretically you might even be able to make traditional pointed slugs for a flintlock, though i havent seen anything on the practical aspects of such a thing. And given how few people know how to operate a flintlock rifle, let alone where to get one, bows and crossbows become far more obvious of a solution to the long term issue of ammunition, as its fairly straight forward to make bolts and arrows with a bit of time and common materials found in the woods, and making a bow is likewise not the hardest thing to make if you have the time to do it right. Still in a situation where you think the breakdown is only going to last say... a few years, then reloading might be a great solution if you stock up on components ahead of time. I can definitely see advantages to it if you plan ahead with supplies and are just trying to wait it out rather than survive independently for the longhaul. At the end of the day every prep plan has its advantages and disadvantages depending on what scenario you apply it to, as none are truly universal to all scenarios and one that might work for one scenario might be utterly useless against another. The best plans are ones with either lots of diverse supplies so that you have at least something for everything, or they are plans built around you getting supplies after the fact based on what the scenario is, such as buggout bags with planned resource spots like warehouses and such.

[@brianlong2079]

Good video from a fellow patriot and reloaded.

[@user-td1zo3tv9p]

When times are good and components available, creating your own loads can be an enjoyable experience and pastime but there are limitations. Addressing the part about a Zombie Apocalypse or external (or even internal) invasion or government upheaval, one must consider several important aspects. One is your location. Zombie Apocalypse notwithstanding, you must address if you'll be able to stay static in ONE place where you can set up all the gear required to construct your ammo. Two, if you are forced to relocate for any reason, will you have transportation to get there as well as packing up all the equipment you'll NEED? Chances are the answer is no. But not always, so you can't discount those possibilities. In that case, having ammo already constructed beats the other options hands down. But even if you DO have a LOT of ammo, how much can you realistically expect to haul on your back or even in some means of conveyance? It's all relative and not to be taken lightly. As I said, you MUST be realistic in your expectations. All that aside, IF you have a place to hunker down (we all HOPE we will have that option) then a HUGE stockpile would be of great importance. And along those same lines, even if you DO have a home base that is secure (and is it REALLY secure after all??) having an appropriate place to set your gear up will take up valuable real estate, too. But either pre-made ammo or components aren't going to be something that you just leave laying about without appropriate security and safe storage. So as has been previously discussed, rolling your own ammo CAN be cost effective once you amoratize the equipment factor but when it is all boiled down, crafting rounds to optimize your shooting platform for the accuracy and end result, needs must be factored in. It's a case of Chevy vs Ford. Glock vs Colt, etc. You either LOVE one or you LOVE the other, so reloading is more about personal choice, need and expectations. As for ME, I bought a LOT of supplies years ago when prices were MUCH cheaper than the same materials are priced in today's environment. To that end, MY pre-made ammo in virtually EVERY caliber is a LOT cheaper than if I had to buy ammo at current prices. One example is loading generic AP rounds for my .50BMG rifle. When I was buying components, I could get AP projo's much cheaper than Ball projo's so I stocked up. Using my stockpiled components allows me to create one loaded AP .50BMG round for right st $0.85 each. I couldn't (CAN'T!) achieve that price for ONE of my .300 Win Mag rounds with a decent projo for either hunting or "target" shooting. Try to source factory ammo of similar parts for those and you'll be broke before long. One last item before I shut up: When it comes to reloading, one of the most important parts to have is the expended (new?) cartridge case. If you don't stop to pick up every expended case, your supply will dwindle very quickly. And who amongst us is going to be standing around and scrounging up fired brass if you should have the misfortune to engage in a protracted battle with some unknown adversary? Not THIS guy! Those expended rounds, and more importantly, the brass is gone FOREVER. That is unless you plan to return to the scene at a later time to pick up all the brass you can find. Just my $0.02 worth on the subject. And, Karl, as always, THANK YOU for your videos, time and expense in bringing us your insight in some very valuable subject matter. God Bless and Keep Your Powder Dry!!

[@celaeno919]

>If you don't stop to pick up every expended case, your supply will dwindle very quickly. >the brass is gone FOREVER. That is unless you plan to return to the scene at a later time to pick up all the brass you can find. Not if you attach a brass catcher and/or invest in a metal detector... >>But even if you DO have a LOT of ammo, how much can you realistically expect to haul on your back or even in some means of conveyance? One could stockpile ammo and strategically hide/bury it in various bugout locations in the vicinity or throughout the country...

[@ncchemist]

If it happens, all of us will eventually run out of ammo. What do you think of having something like a crossbow as a backup weapon? Making a crude arrow would be easier than trying to manufacture primers.

[@TacticalRifleman]

Actually, a modern crossbow fires with so much force that it will shatter wooden bolts/arrows. So, making them isn’t as easy as it sounds. In the space a crossbow takes, you could store about 10,000 rounds of 22lr.

[@hammerheartoutdoors9146]

Get into reloading for 338WM or 338 Lapua, the expensive stuff. But get dies, primers and powder for ammo shortages like were in now

[@iseehowitis9382]

I'll tell you who has more ammo than any of us. Did you guess it?.. yup the government. Military, the police. All I can say is be safe out there. We are in some crazy times brother.

[@MrBirdonawire]

Sorry Karl, I have one more question for you. I like your vid’s a lot. You explain everything very well. Is there any point to placing a laser sight on AR system, if you are not using NVG’s. It seems like it is just dead weight. And at night if you are trying to remain stealthy (again with out NVG’s) it’s just a flag that might as well read “enemy in the AO.” I know there is video that is probably best to ask this on but I’m struggling to find a reason to keep this attachment on my Armalite. With back up irons and EOtech optics. I don’t think I need a third back up.

[@TacticalRifleman]

There are many reasons to run laser/Illuminators. However, it doesn't sound like you are in those situations that warrant their use. So, I would recommend that you dump the weight. Don't sell it. Your situation might change down the road, and you might need it again; but for now, save the weight. TR

[@Democrats_are_a_disease]

Very good point bringing up assembling ammunition vs making it from scratch. The hardest part is going to be making the casings from melted brass and steel above all. But none of this is rocket science. Learn how to smelt, learn how to metal mold/copycat brass etc. learn how to make primary and secondary explosives. Improvising with stuff like tinfoil for blasting caps does work. There are plenty of videos online on how to do this. Black powder does work. Not the best but it's easy to make. But this is why I like the shotgun... Much easier to work with...

[@josephcruz2950]

Eh buy ammo and keep it on hand but having the ability to reload your ammo helps a lot of you can’t find it.

[@jacobharrod6912]

I'd like that supersonic .308 recipe for when I start reloading .308

[@Jimi-Funkycold-Molina]

Sissy 5.56? Lol I feel attacked

[@springer-qb4dv]

Yes I completely agree - it will be difficult to find primers and gun powder after SHTF/apocalypse. However, it will still be very easy to cast bullets/pellets for powerful air gun. So good air gun has it all over powder burners after SHTF.

[@TacticalRifleman]

Solid plan but you better source .22 and .177 bullet casts now. Thanks for watching, TR

[@WTF-vv8ic]

I was hoping that you where going to go into which reloading set up you had. If people want reloading equipment for after SHTF. Then they should get it. They’ll have a lot of free time on their hands for trial & error and looking for alternative resources for reloading. Personally I am going to get some soon. For one reason. Everything always goes up in price.

[@twoscoops5197]

Reloading CAN save you money on ammo, depending on the cartridge. After running the numbers, for .45acp here in Canada I can save about 40% by reloading brass instead of buying cheap aluminum case ammo. More precisely it was 44% savings, but I did not consider the "cost" of sourcing brass in my calculations (I generally buy cheap brass case ammo and reload it after). Given that you can reload brass many many times, rounding down to 40% savings is a conservative number to settle on. If you cast your own projectiles, reloading can be significantly cheaper even for something like 9mm. I project over 50% savings by reloading cast bullets instead of buying aluminum case ammo. Of course, what seems to happen to most people is that they don't really "save" money... they just shoot way more than they used to for the same expense. Take your pick, it's a win/win if you enjoy the process.

[@cox3362]

You can get the sodium nitrate from the farmer

[@joelperillotempra9324]

In making an amo especially when you are served to the military the best is the ionized carbon steel coated with brass sledge to achieved it's penetrating application

[@sgtspaulding9461]

I buy ammo and I reload, best of both worlds.

[@interplanetaryexpeditionsa1229]

You are a good guy. Thanks for the video. End to end the survivalists are talking about the entire engineering process. Also worthwhile adventures are complex and hard. You are right you are just an assembler but that is not the point they made. It does hold water.

[@EricKPoorManPrepper]

LMAO,... finger tips,.. I am sooo glad I got to do a 1000 rnds of military primed brass, de-burring it by hand and de crimping it by hand with both a super swagger and a multi stage bit rotary tool,.. before I sank a grand+ into a D650,... I used my buddies and concluded when it comes to plinkin ,.. Ill buy it,.. when it comes to precision... I'll put in some work or give my buddy something in return to let me in on a run....saves us both a little cash,... But,.. my buddy ya he has a connection who works in a projectile manufac. co... he literally has access too 10's of 1000' of seconds for cheap... not many ppl have those connections

[@HoofPrintsDR]

Reloading has been much cheaper for me. I buy components on sale making it cheaper than buying in large bulk.

[@Katsuki1031]

Who else here cause of corona?😂

[@KingCobraofMeta4]

😅

[@domtron8873]

Sound off

[@twd_rickgrimesfan3602]

Look up the Georgia guidestones there a stone with instructions on how to rebuild society after an apocalypse no joke I’m serious it’s creepy af look it up

[@everywherecat9824]

Here

[@Jimi-Funkycold-Molina]

Negative

[@CombativeLlama]

Glad you took a much more realistic look at reloading rather than being one of those “reloading is the best and if you don’t do it you’re an idiot” or “why would you ever do that it’s so convenient to just buy it” people. Good call on that, I got a similar lesson/lecture from my buddy whose been into guns much longer than I. Still seems like it will be useful to have the ability to do so to avoid falling victim to future ammo shortages/logistics upsets, but still purchase by the box when able to do so. Diversify your supply chains, even on an individual basis.

[@celaeno919]

*who's (= who is/has) been, not whose (possessive)

[@JCam151]

Where can the components be found?

[@garyquail2347]

Tumi reloading is very therapeutic I'll spend sometimes up to 8 hours every couple of days reloading the different types of calibers especially Oddball calibers that you cannot find such as the old 45 110 or 8 mm Mauser or my favorite big game round is the Winchester 405 but other than that I do reload modern calibers and I have been doing this and never look back for about 50 years when you start out it gets a little hard but after awhile it just gets easier and easier so you people out there who are complaining about the high cost of ammunition all I can say is listen to what this gentleman says in the video and let the fun begin. PS here's an important message to you beginner reloaderz out there if you smoke now is the time to give it up.

[@jsfkmm]

What would u suggest for a 223 bullet for targer practice and kind of powder do u use and ar tip brand,caliber grain,diameter and brass looking to start doing this myself instead of buying them

[@TacticalRifleman]

If you are just looking for cheap plinking ammo, hunt for cheap projectiles; then match your load to that projectile.

[@okay8632]

Stock up in ammunition while you still can, if you wish to survive what may be beyond the horison Or under your feet for that matter

[@charleshanna2089]

Very informative ! another great video Thanks for all that you do !

[@TacticalRifleman]

Thanks for watching, TR

[@maknusagr8agn330]

got a question.....instead of buying ammo at the gunshop and besides buying all the equip to make my own ammo(i really dont have the room or patience to make it myself).......do you have any tips on good suppliers/places to buy ?? for now i'm really just using 9 and 45

[@TacticalRifleman]

No magic here; just shop the best deals on the internet and late on the last day of large gun shows. You can find great deals when you are not in a hurry.

[@NerdFestMediaGroup]

PCP Large Bore Air rifles is where its at in a survival situation. All you need in a air compressor that can get up to 3000-4500 psi and a molded slug/pellet. .357, 45, 50 cal

[@shingydingy152]

This is more for like emergencies. I guess I’d buy ammo as long as it’s available but since corona lockdown ammo is sold out. Reloading components I have not checked out. That’s y I’m here.

[@twd_rickgrimesfan3602]

Can you do a tutorial on how to make a 9mm bullet easy. as well as a glock from easy home materials or as close to home as possible

[@MenacingRabbit]

I have years stash of ammo located in Area J, I'm the only one with keys as well.

[@baugwan1]

The problem I have when I clean the brass, is that there is always some corn cob stuck in the flash hole. How do you deal with that problem? Why don’t you do a video about what happens when you reload a rifle round and tumbling media remains/lodged in the brass. How it effects pressure, accuracy, and how likely it is to blow up the gun. You make awesome videos and I'm most grateful for all the work you do.

[@TacticalRifleman]

I’ll add it to the video idea list.

[@jmelcher1849]

Well that's why you learn all aspects of reloading and have manuals. 200g speer fmjs 45acp bullet will work with all 200g 45acp fmj data regardless of manufacturing.

[@Southernguitar74]

A better way to acquire ammo after SHTF is to be proficient at attacking supply lines of your enemies. Says me, a real life tacticool internet ninja warrior commando.

[@Indianahillclimber]

Good wisdom, thanks for sharing

[@pmorin313]

I started reloading because I was all about .357 SIG....These days I can't for the life of me find 125gr flat point projectiles. I've tried using round nose to no avail, just can't get a good crimp and set back is a real issue 😁😢

[@PlayingWithFireOutdoors]

I use a Dillon 550, and I churn out ammo when ever I need it. I get bored I can produce 200+ rounds in 1/2 hour including setup.

[@mikeknight3786]

Love this guy.

[@erikmckaygunsmithing6470]

Trailboss is the shit for subsonic rounds or to blow cases out in fire forming wildcat cases. I told my wife I wanted to reload to cut costs on ammo as well. But it didn't go down that way. Berger's, Eldx before long im making $60 a box 3006ai ammo. But like you said you will never find anything on the shelf that can run with what you can make and tune to your rifle.

[@jayfiverridesusa]

This video is a little dated because of the circumstances in August 2020. Can you please make an updated video? The ammo shortage is making availability rare. Making our own ammo from used shells is now a necessity. Maybe review the most cost effective way? Or maybe review a few different methods? GG🇺🇸🙌

[@bryanbivens2381]

What barrel length do you use for 300 blackout I was thinking a 20 in what do you think

[@TacticalRifleman]

I run a 10.5" and a 14" barrel in my 300 blk. Longer would be better for Supersonic rounds. I was more concerned with a subsonic package. So, shorter is better when you have to run a Can.

[@Flemdragon]

20 inches?! You are crazy. If you want faster get a Grendel, x39, or 308. 300 blk is for short barrels.

[@robertrutherford7794]

I carried one of those "sissy" 5.56 in combat. I would bet my life on it.

[@spukduk5632]

ur a lil sissy

[@RockHudrock]

I think he was kidding - and more specifically referring to dudes in 3-gun competition who compete using the “lighter” 5.56 vs. his .308. I didn’t take his comment as denigrating the 5.56 caliber itself as far as being an ineffective combat round. He was more commenting about recoil - and how he lightens his .308 to the point that his recoil is almost like 5.56. 🤔 I don’t think that guy served - thus, has never had to carry a load-out of 7.62 vs. 5.56

[@floriansmulders2003]

Justbootstuff

[@americanpatriot6918]

Wow dude! Some of your best videos live way back on your channel!!!!!!!100%.🤜🤛🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@TacticalRifleman]

I try

[@robertjackson1407]

Thank you 😊

[@ChristmasEve777]

ha! My brother does this and he refers to it as "making", not "reloading". He's not creating his own gunpowder from scratch, slugs, primers. None of that... For the quantity of ammo he goes thru in the training he does, it pays off but, as you said, it won't help him a bit in an apocalypse situation. You can either stock up on all the components or the assembled ammo itself.

[@ElessarEstel]

I'm considering buying a black powder arsenal and casting my own ammunition. I just want to shoot again but I can't afford or find ammo anymore haha

[@tjmooremusic]

I have plenty of factory ammo. What's plenty? Good question...I doubt that I will ever need 1000 per caliber rounds for self defense. I reload for the joy of working with my hands, comparative studies regarding loads that vary, Just trying to have fun trying to find the better round ( combinations of components) to get the most accurate shots on paper at different distances...its a little science for an old guy to have as a hobby. I'm not a high precision benchrest shooter...I shoot leverguns and single action revolvers... You want to " survive?" Store water, food, medical supplies, know how to use them...find trustworthy neighbors. Pray alot... Lots of skill sets to simply survive outside of reloading..keep a decent shotgun and a store of ammo for it and that's practically all that you will need in that regard.... Thanks for the video.. God bless.

[@TacticalRifleman]

Amen. Thanks for sharing. Strength and Honor, TR