Why you finally started reloading (or why you never will)

[Alan]

I did the math and realized I'd have to reload 10,000 rounds just to break even on equipment costs. For my shooting volume, buying factory ammo is actually cheaper when you factor in time. Reloading makes sense for high-volume shooters or precision reloader but not everyone needs to do it. Know your situation..

 

[Relooaad]

That’s the reality for a lot of people. Reloading only really pays off if you shoot enough to justify the time.

 

[GreyFox]

In the early '80s, our daughter decided that I was going to take her (instead of our sons) to the range. First day she shot almost 2 boxes of 22LR and 1 shot each of .270 and 30-30. The next week, she shot about a box of .22LR, half box each of .270 and 30-30. The next week, about 10-12 .22 LR, 1 box of .270 and 1 1/2 boxes of 30-30. On the way home from the latter trip, I said, "Jennifer, you are getting expensive." I asked her whether she wanted to continue to shoot, and she said that she did. And I asked her whether, if I bought reloading equipment, she'd help with reloading. She gladly agreed. I bought used RCBS stuff, Speer bullets, some powder, primers, etc. and we set about "reloading." On our first session, she recapped and resized 50 rounds. That also was the last time. Our older son never became interested, and our younger son became interested only much later. BUT, if I were down the basement at my reloading bench, and the kids came home from school shouting, "Where's dad? Where's dad?" and my wife said, "He's down the basement at his reloading bench," I was safe; they never came down. That was a win. But it also saved money per round back then. I say, "per round," because - as the salesman told me, even though you may reload at half the cost per round, you won't be saving any $$ overall because you'll shoot twice as much. Still doing it.

 

[pat i]

I shoot a lot so reloading and casting both for handguns and rifles is the only way I can afford to do it. I haven't shot a jacketed bullet or a factory round in probably 40 years.

 

[GreyFox]

I shoot a lot so reloading and casting both for handguns and rifles is the only way I can afford to do it. I haven't shot a jacketed bullet or a factory round in probably 40 years.

What do you shoot - in which you don't use jacketed bullets? I shoot a couple of "modern" rifles using lead only, but am just beginning an adventure with muzzle loaders and black powder.

 

[pat i]

I shot cast bullet benchrest for years and used 30 br, 30x47, 6.5 ppc, and 30 ppc plus a couple of wildcats. Non br cartridges I cast for and shoot 45/70, 50/70, 6.5 Swede, 32/20, 308, 44 mag, 30/06. Lately I've been playing with powder coated plain base bullets in the 06.

When I slowed down shooting benchrest because of age and the travel involved I started playing with blackpowder rifles. I cast balls for the 36, 50, and 62 for my smoothbores. I'm spending about equal time shooting modern and blackpowder guns now with modern getting a bit more time.

In pistols it's 44 mag, 38 spec, 9mm Makarov, 32 S&W, 32 HR magnum.

 

[Popeye1959]

I did the math and realized I'd have to reload 10,000 rounds just to break even on equipment costs. For my shooting volume, buying factory ammo is actually cheaper when you factor in time. Reloading makes sense for high-volume shooters or precision reloader but not everyone needs to do it. Know your situation..

That all kind of depends on what kind of equipment you want to use and how many calibers you want to reload for. A single stage press, a set of dies and either a balance beam, or inexpensive digital scale will get you going for less than $200.

 

[Singha]

I did the math and realized I'd have to reload 10,000 rounds just to break even on equipment costs. For my shooting volume, buying factory ammo is actually cheaper when you factor in time. Reloading makes sense for high-volume shooters or precision reloader but not everyone needs to do it. Know your situation..

Crunching the numbers hits you hard. I thought I’d save money but in the end, I just shot more and spent about the same.

 

[Moda]

Reloading started out as a money-saver for me, but it quickly became its own thing. Time spent at the bench turned into part of my routine not just a way to cut costs.

 

[Popeye1959]

Crunching the numbers hits you hard. I thought I’d save money but in the end, I just shot more and spent about the same.

But isn't that saving money in and of itself?

 

[gemihur]

Wildcat cartridges don't offer other options
Ya gotta pay to play

... just plain fun!

 

[smitty_bs]

What got me into reloading was being influenced by several gunrag writers, primarily Bob Milek, Bob Hagel, John Wooters, Jack O'Connor, and Finn Aagaard (all deceased). I absolutely soaked up everything they wrote and preached. I started with a $15 Lee load all for my 30/06 and progressed up from there. Saving money was always in the background, but I think if we're all honest with ourselves, we spend more because we shoot more and then occasionally add new equipment. I just like it because I like to try different combination of loads etc. It's my hobby. My current writer I follow, and he's semi-retired, is John Barsness.