Why do you reload?

[Rob5589]

Make a trip down to San Diego...a local store down here has everything you need in stock, just $$. I picked up more ADG brass in 6.5 PRC, 215M's, RL26, H1000, bullets, etc this morning.

He actually has quite a bit of 6.5 SAUM, 7SAUM, 300 PRC, 28 NOS ADG brass.

Damn dude, that's like hitting the lottery numbers!

 

[Rob5589]

I started because I got in basically for free. My wife's uncle passed away and left all kinds of stuff behind. Then I started shooting PRS type matches and that's when I really started loading out of necessity. There was no 7RM or .284 Win match ammo. 308 was available but I was already set up to go so no need to buy FGGM.
In the current climate, I would hold onto everything for a while. Unless you really need the dough then it my be a great time to sell. People are buying everything reloading-wise at an insane pace, and price.

 

[Gorp2007]

I got into it because it seemed like a handy skill to have, I started with 9mm just to learn the ropes but I really got into it playing around with 45-70 loads to hunt deer in Ohio. I saved money when I was reloading for the 45-70 because I was saving $1+ per shot, but then I moved to South Dakota and bought a 30-06 and a fancy RCBS ChargeMaster and now I'm probably back into the red because I also started having kids and now I shoot less. But the kids will get older and want to shoot and I'll start saving money again some day.

I got into it in my 20s because I was cheap, I stick with it now because even if I can afford the factory ammo I like the process and experimenting and I don't like going to stores and looking at empty shelves.

 

[Stillkickin]

I got into reloading due to being gifted a .257 Roberts when I was in college.

Factory loads were hard to find locally and they were relatively expensive especially for a starving student. A buddies father let me use all of their equipment all I had to buy were the raw materials.

After learning the ropes, I bought my own equipment and been reloading for forty years

As I have a room full of dies, brass, etc. I’m not sure I ever saved a cent but would do it again!

 

[Jeff_Gibbons]

My dad reloaded as a hobby. Got my brother and i into it and we both carried on the activity as adults. Reloading isn't a $ saver for me and the accuracy difference to factory has decreased a lot in last 10 years. However, it still has the original allure. You get to roll your own, experiment with your rifle and ammo and find the combo that your gun likes. all of that deepens your connection with the sport.

 

[Muley Buck]

Damn dude, that's like hitting the lottery numbers!

No shit! Go figure, SoCal has all the goods. SMH...

 

[Rknight]

My father in law got me into it. He’s been reloading for 30+ years and has so much gear that the two presses I have were his “extra” back ups. I didn’t save money until this year but it’s fun to work up loads and see how accurate I can get my rifles and spin up plinking rounds cheaper than they’ll probably be for a while. When 300bo subs go for $3-$4/round and I make them for about $1 it’s finally paying off. I like that I have to focus on just the one task at hand. I think in normal market conditions you can still make high quality factory ammo cheaper than off the shelf but pistol and plinking rounds aren’t much cheaper because if I have ammo tubs full I end up shooting more so I go through more

 

[AK_Skeeter]

I've been handloading for over 30 years.
I enjoy handloading for the same reason I enjoy fly tying.
I still use a single stage 1972 RCBS JR2 press for resizing.
I can reload plinker loads using Red Dot shotgun powder for
my .44 magnum revolver and practice is inexpensive.

I reload mostly to see how precise I can get my rifles shooting.
It a long winter in Alaska so plenty of time for handloading.
Plus .300 H & H premium factory cost is over $75 per 20 cartridges,
while I can get a box of 50 premium bullets for ~$30-$40 to hand load.

 

[HuntnPack]

I got in to reloading because I enjoyed assembling arrows for compound & recurve bows as well as fly tying. Reloading rifle ammo gives me the same enjoyment.
I have taken time off from each to focus on the other, but still enjoy all.

 

[AKDoc]

I'm sure my reasons for handloading are similar with many of you...

I've been reloading for about twenty-five years. Got into it primarily because I like to have the personal control to manipulate the variables to produce customized loads for each rifle with the end product of the best accuracy possible, hopefully with a preferred bullet for a specific hunt. About fifteen years ago I also added a progressive press for reloading hand-gun ammunition.

From a totally objective perspective, reloading is ironic in many ways for me: I'm sure I haven't saved money. I'm really into accuracy, but I'm not a long-range hunter, e.g., a big part of the joy of hunting for me is calling animals as close as possible, spot and stalking, etc. I'm also not a guy who heads down to the range to blast away a box of ammunition...I'm a controlled practice guy to develop and keep good shooting habits (rifle and hand-gun).

That said, there are many, many collateral positive benefits that I enjoy from reloading: First and foremost, I find the reloading process truly relaxing...I'm totally focused on what I am doing and not thinking about anything else (priceless for me and my work). My adult son and I reload his ammunition together (again, priceless for me). I've head-shot the majority of the moose that I've taken over the years, and drop them on solid/dry ground after calling them as close as I can (makes field dressing a way better experience). I once put a finishing shot on an escaping black bear climbing a snow-slide at well over 500yds after my friend wounded it on a hundred-yard shot (a wounded bear was retrieved), etc., etc., etc....

Lastly, as I sit here right now, I don't have to worry about ammo shortages whatsoever. I'm good to go...well into the future...and I like having that control. Oh, and that Alaska long winter thing that AKskeeter mentioned!

 

[MrSunday]

I reload to be self-sufficient. I cant currently buy ammunition but thankfully I can still make it. The accuracy and velocity I get is also much improved over factory ammunition in most cases.

 

[Marble]

I reload because I like it, I control it and it's accurate.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[hodgeman]

I started reloading when I did a lot of competitive pistol shooting in the 90s. I couldn't afford to shoot .45s at volume on what a broke college kid made, but I could load my own for a fraction of the cost.

I later started to load for rifles, and while I'm not driven by the economics of it anymore...I consider time at the bench, time well spent. If you're just loading high quality hunting ammunition with premium bullets- the ROI is pretty short. You won't save money, but you'll shoot a whole lot more...and that's a win.

If you've got the equipment, just hang on to it. It'll never cost less than it did last year.

 

[onetohunt]

I started because I love to bowhunt. Let me explain. I have been bowhunting for about 40 years. I always built my own arrows, cut, fletched, inserted and nocked them. I really enjoyed the feeling that i got when i would shoot an animal knowing that i done just about everything i could to put that animal down. Well, that rolled over to reloading, which i have been doing it for about 30 years. I enjoy know that the techniques and procedures that i do helped put that animal down. There is just a self satisfaction to me know i put everything thing in place to accomplish this. The accuracy and consistency pays off and I do save some money at it. especially now days. Just glad i had some inventory to be able to save a little coin.

 

[kroskanyon]

Like others have said I originally started to save money. Now for accuracy and I enjoy it. Can't see myself shooting factory ammo again.

 

[Nimpkish]

I started reloading with the intention of saving money. Premium ammunition is very expensive here in Canada. That said, I have not saved any money at all!

It is however, a great hobby. If you have a slight ocd and a high attention to detail it is very rewarding.

 

[Ratbeetle]

Two reasons for me. One as a hedge against future ammo shortages. Invest in some components and you shouldn't have to scramble when pickings are slim.

Two, I can make exactly what I want, with better quality control and accuracy than factory offerings. Or at the very least, equal quality to the best factory stuff at a much lower cost.

I also enjoy the process of making quality rifle rounds. Loading large volumes on a single stage blows though. I need a progressive.

 

[RyanT26]

Just really started this year. I was interested for quite some time, just never spent the money to start. Definitely haven’t saved any money getting started. I wanted to learn a new skill and I do enjoy. I did make a load my .223 that is impressive, but I still can’t top ELD-X in my .308.
I am unhappy with my current scale so I will be upgrading that sometime soon$$$.

Off topic: @coyotecreek very nice of you to donate a bow for the Big creek banquet!

 

[roadrunner]

I reload because my local stores are not reliable enough to carry what cartridges and bullet type I want when I need them.

I just reload using published data, nothing custom.

 

[Stalker69]

I got into reloading just because I try and do as much as I can my self. Then I got into shooting a 45-110 sharps and reloading is the only way you can really shoot one. I don’t and never have shot enough to save money, I just enjoy doing it. Shot guns, same thing. I’ve been pretty much just archery for years now, so I hardly ever shoot rifles or pistols. Don’t know if it’s worth hanging onto to stuff in case my boys decide to get “ into it” or not. The way things are looking guns may become a thing of the past in the future.