Do you shoot factory or load your own ammo?

[MNBill]

Reloader. It’s a good, relaxing way to spend the time between hunting seasons.

 

[RocketRob16]

Factory here. Mostly due to time and space limitations. Would probably do it if I had a good space for it.

 

[mitchellmountain]

Early on I experienced the inconsistancies of factory ammo. Once I started reloading I learned I could fine tune each rifle and attain predictable performance. I load a batch about every three years and keep about 300 -400 on hand for each gun.

Holy crap you make me look like a part time slacker.

 

[CHWine]

A guy who owned a gun shop in our town got me into reloading over 30 years ago. Great results happened right away and I never looked back. 22-250, 7mm08, 7mag, .375H&H. I do shoot factory .40 cal handgun as I'm not really a high volume shooter. Oh and 12 GA shotgun reloader too.

 

[S-3 ranch]

I mainly use factory these days, I habitually keep all my brass from when my uncle and I did reload .
my new reload partner likes loading very mild loads for his wife , me I am a 61gr of 4831 in my 270win ( hot)
so the debate is fun

 

[mtwarden]

I reloaded decades ago when the only way to get Partitions, was hand loading. When companies started coming out with Partitions (and now Accubonds) in factory loads, I gave up hand loading.

Kind of miss it a little to be honest.

 

[BradArnett]

I handload for all my rifles and some pistols. I've cut down on what I shoot and stick to just 223/223ai, 22-250ai, 243ai, 6.5cm and 308. I don't enjoy reloading at all like some guys do, i just like to shoot. If money was no object I would only shoot factory ammo, or have a company like unknown munitions load up all my ammo.

 

[mthayr]

Reload for rifle. Factory for pistol.

Same.

 

[Lytro]

I reload, but I don't really think the accuracy gain is worth it for most people. Myself included since I limit myself to 500 yard shots on game, with most ending up sub 200. I started pretty much for a hobby and having the flexibility to try different bullets without having to buy an entire box of ammo at $60+ per 20. The biggest gain I've had from reloading is being able to shoot bullets/weights that are not available in factory loads.

 

[Mag_7s]

I started reloading to save money just out of high school on .300 wby. Then as my passion for reloading evolved I was reloading for precision on my first long range capable rifle...saving money soon went out the window as I dove down the accuracy/precision rabbit hole. I never intended to load for pistol or .223 but during the ammo shortage i was once again reloading to save money and just to have ammo on hand.

 

[TRD1911]

Reloading for about a decade now. I enjoy everything about it

 

[f16jack]

I only reload / handload (except for rimfire .22's).

I started many years back when I had a couple of 6.5x55 Swedish Mausers. Shells were only available from Norma in Sweden. They were $1/round from Norma, but it was only $0.10/round to hand load. So I was saving $19/box to load. In addition, the Norma rounds were hard to find, and no one else at the time loaded for that caliber.

When I went down that path I then became more aware of how to tune a round for greater accuracy from a rifle and I've been doing it since. I only tune the loads for my 7mm Rem Mag, because that's the round I hunt with. I'll also handload some hard cast for my 44 Mag, as a anti-bear round. Don't really care about accuracy with that, but just want a large hard bullet with energy.

I will load some oddball for my friends, like a buddy who's grandfather brought back an Japanese Ariska 7.7 x 58 rifle from the pacific in WWII. My buddy wanted to deer hunt with it but couldn't find any ammo anywhere. He figured that the rifle would just sit unused in his safe because he had no bullets. So I bought the dies, brass and bullets and put together a middle of the road load for him to use. I surprised him with 6 boxes as a gift. 2 boxes of 125 grain Sierra Pro's for antelope, 2 boxes of 150 grain Barnes TSX for deer, and 2 boxes of 180 grain Sierra Spitzer's for elk.

My original factory Norma's.

 

[Laramie]

I get a pretty good deal on factory ammo so haven't had any motivation to reload. My rifles are all MOA to sub MOA with their chosen loads and I limit to 500 yards on game. I buy by the case and typically am about 50% of the cost to reload due to a unique relationship I have with a manufacturer. I keep 100-200 rounds for all of my rifles on hand at all times. If my deal ever goes away, I will definitely reload.

 

[Bluefish]

Reload except for 9mm and 223. Usually it’s because I am shooting something that I can’t buy. 7-30 water, 358 jdj, 358 yeti, 6.5 jdj, 445 sm. Also it was nice when supplies and ammo dried up, I had what I needed on hand.

 

[packer58]

I grew up watching and helping my father reload for his .264 WM and my mom's .270, that was back in the late 60's. Iv'e been hand loading ever since for just about everything. Equipment and components sure have changed since then.

 

[Cameron.25]

Another reloader here

 

[CCooper]

Roll my own for guns I hunt and shoot LR with. Factory for pistol and plinkers.

 

[DAOutfitters208]

Reload. It is an extremely valuable skill to have. What we saw with ammo shortages during covid, I was glad to have the resources to make my own.

 

[Curmudgeon]

I do both. Factory for 223, 9mm, and 45 and a couple of rifles. Reload for my long range guns.

 

[OverInfinite]

I reload, but sometimes pick up factory loads when I see deals. I usually use it as my excuse to buy it for the brass. I've noticed the Hornady "Black" ammo brass just as long as new Hornady brass, and I can find it EVERYWHERE.
The only benefit to reloading in my opinion is the idea that I can make loads that I cant normally find (specific bullets with a specific speed) I shot my Javelina this year with a 95Vmax only moving 2,900FPS out of a 6.5 CM. But then I loaded up some 140gr Elite's @2750FPS for deer.