Kinetic Ammo... reloading without a press

[Intercooler]

   This Summer I'm going to try the 9mm ammo. What's the take from the reloading crowd?

http://kineticammo.com/products/components-reloads

[Intercooler]

[The_Shadow]

Those who are established handloaders and cast their own bullets (like myself), it will be tough to beat their price per shot...

While they are pushing very light for caliber projectiles, they are a machined piece so I would expect them to be expensive per bullet.  The cases being reuseable for the system means you are locked into the system for their projectiles ONLY...

Casings for many cartridges (9mm, 40S&W, 45ACP, 5.56, 308) are readily available and reusable for several loadings if someone has the equipment to handload...so this is where they are playing on those that do not already handload...

To the persons already rolling their own ammo, it would be a costly novelty...

[tommac919]

For 9mm (80gr) it's $13.50 per 50....

That's double my cost as all my rounds cost .135 each. I'm not locked into their bullets either(as mentioned).

[Intercooler]

  That's true. For new 9mm ammo that isn't far off of shelf price. I'm wondering what the cost per round will be if you have ample supply of their materials to put them together? I guess you save some on reloading equipment cost and space.

[bjw0007]

They're going back to heeled bullets.  At least there isnt any lube to worry about this time, but I wonder how their cases headspace with that heeled bullet.  Maybe their cases have much thicker walls so there can still be a lip on the case mouth?

[sqlbullet]

Yeah...Healed bullet but still and exposed lip on the case mouth.

Speaking as a guy who doesn't think much of light for caliber bullets most of the time anyway, I am not super impressed.  I expect there will be lots of challenges with this type of ammo. 

And, as Shadow mentions, if you cast you are already WAY below that price point.  And while many guys certainly have the perception that it takes "hundreds of dollars" of reloading equipment to get started, in reality you can assemble a perfectly serviceable "kit" on the Lee website for for about $85 (Lee Reloader Press: $35, Lee Carbide 3-die Set: $29.96, Lee XR Hand Prime: $18.69, prices from factory sales website).  It isn't a Cadillac, but will make reloads just fine.

This is a bit cheaper.  By my math using their numbers they work out to $130/K after you buy the casing.  With careful shopping I can match those component rates with cast bullets being purchased.  Roll your own and you get down around $40/k.

[Taterhead]

Wow that would take a long time to reload enough rounds for a match! With this setup, the first thing I'd want is a de-capping die. Then a powder throw (no I don't want to just dump powder into a case!), then I'd want a bullet seater to speed that process.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I don't predict that this will be a successful venture.

I would be concerned with neck tension. I would love to see them put it in a mag let the slide return home, and then eject the case. Would the bullet be dislodged into the lands or securely fixed into the "case".

[macc283]

Thats the coolest thing ive ever seen. But im not sure about the accuracy of that reloading technique.

[The_Shadow]

Taterhead, makes some valid points with respect to projectiles being dislodged, as cases take a beating from heat cycles and physical use.  I'd like to study the powder they were using, to see just what it is, how much is being used and how fast a burn range it is.  I would suspect this stuff to be like RamShot Silhouette, but could be much faster burn rate.

As far as the projectiles, they would gain their stability from the front heavy center of gravity, much like that of a hollow base slug.  As for light weight projectiles I have actually thought about molding bullets from recycled 2 liter type plastic bottles, light for caliber with plenty ZIP!  These could even be powdered poly paint treated with lower temp products.

Also as mentioned this "Kinetic Ammo" may not pan out as a viable long term venture, but my find a niche for SFTF preppers.