In
an earlier page, a suggestion was made to allow 200 plus rounds
per practice session, and to practice frequently. It
should come as no surprise that (dry-fire notwithstanding)
the rate of skill improvement can relate to the amount of ammo
expended, and paying full retail for ammo can quickly impact
the finances. The
inexpensive types of factory ammo may also be less than optimum
for your gun, or
it may be more powerful than you need to make your chosen power
factor.
Most
experienced shooters reload their own ammo so they can shoot
more for less, and can completely control the ammunition side
of the success equation. Reloading
requires attention, but can be safely done
if you are organized and use reasonable care.
When
using reloads (or shooting with people who are), beware of the
rare “squib” load.
A squib load consists of a primed case and a bullet, but no powder
charge; they go “pop” instead of “bang,” and usually leave a bullet
stuck in the barrel. It's not dangerous at that point, but don't
try to fire the next round - if the gun goes POP, STOP! If this
happens to you, it's time to re-evaluate your reloading process.
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During
times past, the standard advice given to beginners
was to start with a single-stage press and to take it slowly
and be careful. This still isn't bad advice, particularly the
slow and careful part, but to generate the quantities of ammo
you will want during your pursuit of the practical shooting skills,
you will want a progressive press that lets you be much more
efficient with your time. The initial cost is a little higher,
but you won't be sorry later.
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The
author tries to resist the temptation to endorse a certain
brand of equipment for this sport, but when it comes to reloading,
experienced practical shooters will almost invariably tell you
that the choice of brand is simple, only the model must be decided.
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Dillon
presses are the first choice among IPSC shooters for progressive
machines. The
choice is usually between the models: 550, 650, or 1050, which
trade initial investment for more rounds-per-hour. Unless
you plan to quickly reach the ranks of Master or above, your
ammunition needs are likely to be entirely satisfied with the
less expensive 550.
Before
we close this introduction, there is one tip that cannot go unmentioned.
A very highly-regarded resource for practical shooting knowledge is
the forum
section of the Brian Enos website.
Please consider joining the IPSC organization for the USA: the United
States Practical Shooting Association.
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