[KJS]

I posted the same poll in the revolver section. I wanted to see if there would be a different response. I suspected there might well be, as reloading is harder when your brass is flying all over the place and there would seem less potential cost savings for those who often fire 9mm as opposed to most costly revolver ammo like .38s.

I was surprised the other month when I saw a poll by American Handgunner magazine that produced results of 60% not reloading. I didn't think it would be that high given the crowd taking such a poll.

[loadedround]

See reply in Revolver section.

[ku4hx]

Interesting poll; I've reloaded metallic cartridges for over forty years. I do disagree with your suggestion it's harder to reload for autoloaders. You do have to pick up your brass but that's not a big deal. You can even buy inexpensive devices to pick up the brass fairly easily without bending over. Since most of my shooting is on a concrete slab at my local club, I just use the push broom provided to corral them and then pick them up.

As to loading for revolvers being more versatile, I'm agree to a certain point. You do have certain power levels that must be maintained to operate an autoloader's action, but prudent use of bullet weight and propellant burn rate can get you a fairly wide range of power that works the action properly. Case in point the 10mm Auto. I own two: S&W 1006 and Gen2 Glock 20. For both I load down to 38 special velocities or up to max 10mm with 100% reliability. Just depends on what bullet and powder I choose and the weight of the recoil spring in certain cases. I always follow published data from known reputable sources.

There's a trade off for me: I find autos are a lot more fun but revolvers are simpler when it comes to brass recovery. But then, the last time I shot IDPA with a revolver, I still had to pick up a lot of brass that was scattered around. But for an old time scrounger, pickin' and grinnin' was always just part of the process. And considering the cost of even once-fired brass now days, the pickin' part always means a lot of the grinnin' part ... at least on the inside.

I load for:
300 Win Mag
.30-'06
7.62x39
9mm Parabellum
40 S&W
10mm Auto
.38 Special
.357 Magnum
357 Sig
.357 Maximum
.44 Special
.44 Russian
.44 Magnum
.45 ACP

I [hard]cast for:
.30-'06 / 300 Win Mag
9mm Parabellum / 357 Sig
40 S&W / 10mm Auto
.357 Mag/Max / .38 Spcl
.44 Spcl/Rus/Mag
.45 ACP

[nitesite]

I reload everything except for rimfire .22LR and would try that if I could!

Rifle, handgun (revolver and semi-auto), plus shotgun....

[silverking]

Just got started in reloading and lovin' every part of it.

[Redneck with a 40]

I'm currently set up to load and have loaded several thousand rounds in .308, .223, 40 S&W, 357 mag, and 38 spl. I'm debating getting into 9mm because the cost savings is much smaller, only about $80/1000 rounds.

[billybob44]

In semi-auto calibers-.32acp,.380acp,9X19,.40S&W,10MM,.45acp.--I load/shoot 95%+ of my own handloads.
Factory Loads (High $) are only shot by me for function-for carry SD. The 1$+ per load of the factory makes my rear pucker a little:eek::uhoh::eek:..Bill.

[carbuncle]

I have to vote "No" because I don't reload yet, but I plan to start in the next couple of years and am currently building up a stockpile of brass to get started with.

[Effigy]

I don't currently, since I live in an apartment and don't have any real workbench to speak of. I have to do all my "gunsmithing" tasks on the kitchen table, a counter top, or the floor. I'm hoping to get into handloading at some point, though, so I can afford to shoot more .45 ACP and .308 Win.

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

At first reloading was for cost savings, but quickly became a passion of it own. As far as savings go, even though I'm still shooting factory 9mm, I, am trying to work up a load for my 17. Also I'm putting away bullets, and cases. Because these items are cheaper now then, it will be later.

[Capt. Ct.]

Reloading is half the fun.:D

[ColtPythonElite]

Reloading is a waste of your time. Buy new factory rounds....and send you empties to me....LOL.

[DAdams]

I don't yet....so I voted no, but it is something I will do when I have more free time. Still working 50 hours a week and then recreationally I'm usually boating.

I bought all the gear, loader, dies, scale, brass, powder, primer, boolits etc when the O Man was elected and the world as we knew it was going to end. :D

Everything is set up and ready to roll .38, .357, .45, .223.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m22/dadams111/P1010022.jpg

The man cave loading zone.

[SmokeJensen]

I don't reload but I will eventually when I can afford to get all the gear I want. Right now I shoot alot. Almost too much. I live in a just big enough house and don't really have the room for a comfortable set up. But being the smart fella I am I have been collecting brass for about 4 1/2 - 5 years. I have almost 3 Rubbermaid trash cans full of everything from .32 to .45 and a huge rifle selection. Between me and my grandpa and father, we will be just fine with brass. I plan on collecting until I start to reload which is soon. Hopefully.

[dusty14u]

I load for

9mm Mak
9mm Luger
38 Special
357 Magnum
45 Colt
45 ACP

For rifles I load another 5 or 6 calibers. I enjoy reloading and the cost savings makes it even more satisfying.

[esheato]

I reload for both. 9, 40 and 45 for autos. 38, 45 Colt for revolvers.

[0311]

I currently do not, but I did years ago with a hammer and die. .44 special and .38-40, couldn't find the loads easily so a friend and I would spend an evening reloading. Talk about a PITA, but it made one very aware of what one would do with those rounds.

[Snowdog]

Yup, but not yet for all the cartridges I'd like. I've reloaded a few thousand 9mm, .38 special and (especially) .45acp.

Now that I've purchased my 2nd pistol chambered in .40S&W, I'm guessing it's time I start reloading for it as well.

I also have dies for 7.62x25/.30 Mauser and .460 S&W, but load those in very limited numbers.

I've been tossing around the idea of casting my own 200gr SWC for .45acp, but I'm not sold on it yet.

[hAkron]

I reload for .380, 9mm Mak, 9mm Luger, 38 special, .40 S&W, 357 magnum, 357 Sig, and 45 ACP. I've only been reloading since December but I think it's a great activity.

[M2 Carbine]

I've been reloading since 1961 or 2. I reload everything but 22 and .17, even reload 7.62x39 and FN 5.7.

I like to shoot a lot and even during the ammo shortage and high cost I was shooting such as .380, 45ACP and .223 with no thought about cost or availability.

While shooters are concerned about spending $10 and more for a box of ammo I just fill up a couple Mayonnaise jars and head for the range.:D

http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x464/Bell-helicopter-407/45and38reloads.jpg

http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x464/Bell-helicopter-407/45incans.jpg

http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x464/Bell-helicopter-407/reloadsinjars.jpg

[Frankl03]

I have been handloading for a couple of years. I load 9mm, 40, 45, 223, 308 and 7,62x39. I enjoy it and save money on ammo.

[Dogguy]

I started reloading in the 1980s. Then I stopped. Gave away all my equipment. I really don't miss it. It was time consuming, took up space I needed for other projects and, most of all, I never enjoyed the activity very much to begin with. If it's something a person enjoys doing, that's great.

[mgmorden]

Yes I reload - even for 9mm (which is what I shoot the most). The cost savings might be smaller, but it IS there, and the thing about brass is that handgun brass lasts a long time, and there's a virtually infinite supply of 9mm brass left at my local range. I just go there every now and then at the end of the day with a bucket and pickup whats left on the ground (and they have no issue with it - it's a state owned public range that technically wants everyone to pickup their brass and throw it away anyways, so anything you pickup off the ground is basically seen as helping keep the range clean).

[Arkansas Paul]

We load for every centerfire we shoot. That includes rifle, revolver and autoloaders.


reloading is harder when your brass is flying all over the place


It's really not that bad. It works out in my favor most of the time. I usually end up getting my brass and 50 or so pieces that others have left behind.

[possum]

Dadams,

That is a very nice set up you have there.

M2 Carbine,
Talk about reloading in bulk, that is outstanding!

I do not reload anymore, but i did for years. so my answer to the poll is no.

[jhansman]

I do, for all my guns (except rimfire), but I find myself shooting my XD45 less these days, not wanting to pick up the brass. Aging back and all.

[M2 Carbine]

M2 Carbine,
Talk about reloading in bulk, that is outstanding!

Some people use the excuse, "I don't have time to reload".

I don't especially like reloading, so I don't take time from other things to reload.
My press is set up all the time so at any time I can start turning out ammo as soon as I sit down. So, instead of wasting time doing something like watching the liberal talking heads on the TV news, I use the time to reload a few boxes of ammo.

Add to this I buy reloading components in bulk on sale, when I can find it, I build up a lot of inexpensive ammo. Mostly my reloads run about $4.00 a box.

[slowbutsure]

M2 Carbine.... Good thing you don't live in California. They have a law that would put you in jail. I also reload in great quantity. So, I would be in the cell next to you.

.380/9MM/.38 SPL
.308/.300 Sav./6mm Rem/7Rem Mag/M1 carbine
sbs

[PO2Hammer]

Nice cave DAdams!

[ErikO]

I voted yes as I am going to be starting very shortly. I pick up all brass and now that I'm tempted to start swaging I'll be scrounging my wife's .22lr empties, too. lol

[Mr. Happy]

I have to vote "No" because I don't reload yet, but I plan to start in the next couple of years and am currently building up a stockpile of brass to get started with.
Ditto!

[mljdeckard]

I am currently reloading:
9mm
.45 ACP
22-250
.30 carbine
.257 Roberts
.270 Win
30-06
.308 and 243 starting soon

I have come to realize a couple of things. How cartridges are made and tested is really half the hobby here. If you don't at least know how, you are really missing out. The other thing can be summed up with the realization that I just bought a bunch of bulk once-fired .45 brass from Midway, and it's about $.11 a case. Yep those are DIMES you are leaving on the ground. Does it STILL seem like a good idea to leave them there for someone else? If it does, thank you in advance. :)

[mljdeckard]

Seriously guys, a Lee hand press is $32 from Midway. We all started somewhere.

[mgmorden]

Seriously guys, a Lee hand press is $32 from Midway. We all started somewhere.

Indeed. With the startup costs for handloading being well under $100 I don't see price as a factor in people not starting up. It pays for itself within a dozen boxes of ammo.

Space, effort, or just plain fear, then sure, but if you claim price as a reason to not reload then you're either not being honest with yourself or you're grossly mistaken on the actual startup cost.

[GLOOB]

I posted the same poll in the revolver section. I wanted to see if there would be a different response. I suspected there might well be, as reloading is harder when your brass is flying all over the place and there would seem less potential cost savings for those who often fire 9mm as opposed to most costly revolver ammo like .38s.
For sure this is true. But it also is harder to shoot mounds of ammo through a revolver. I reload for both, and I probably save about the same for 9mm as .357, just because of volume of shooting. Yeah, the 9mm flies everywhere, but after I'm done shooting my Glock 19, I can practically shovel a whole tumbler full of brass into my range bag. :)

This poll is probably useless. 9 out of 10 reloaders might take the time to click on this poll to answer "yes." But 9 out of 10 who don't reload might ignore the thread, altogether.

[Paul7]

I don't reload and don't plan to. Doesn't sound fun to go on your hands and knees trying to find empty cases.

[Certaindeaf]

I don't reload and don't plan to. Doesn't sound fun to go on your hands and knees trying to find empty cases.
Yea, reloading is all about being on your knees. Have fun bending over at the checkout counter.

[Paul7]

Delete

[Paul7]

Yea, reloading is all about being on your knees. Have fun bending over at the checkout counter.
I believe in the principle 'never do anything yourself you can get someone else to do better than you can.'

There are lots of good internet deals on ammo.

[Deaf Smith]

Of course I reload. Been doing that since I was 15 and that's a mighty long time ago!

Deaf

[TennJed]

I don't reload and don't plan to. Doesn't sound fun to go on your hands and knees trying to find empty cases.

That is a very very small part of reloading. I hope that is not actually part of the equation for someone when they are deciding about reloading. I can get anyone here a good deal on a blue tarp. The gold and blue colors contrast nicely

[bogon48]

To each his own. For me it's just another facet of the shooting sport with its own body of knowledge.

On the plus side, a lot of us just enjoy reloading, especially for different purposes, such as hunting vs paper punching. I've reloaded for pistol (including semis), rifle and shotgun. You can usually save a good bit of money over time...and then find an excuse to spend it on newer equipment. It's also useful for those odd calibers that you can't buy, like .357 Remington Maximum. It's now hard to get brass for this caliber.

On the minus side, it costs money (not necessarily a lot of money) to get started reloading and, like shooting, requires your full attention. Apart from potential injuries to yourself and others, the gun manufacturers' warranties typically won't be honored if they find that your firearm was damaged by a reload. I wouldn't let that deter someone from learning to reload, but it's one more reason for those who aren't interested in it.

[shootniron]

Yes...it is the only way that I can afford my son.

[mgmorden]

I believe in the principle 'never do anything yourself you can get someone else to do better than you can.'

While there is a cost savings with reloading that I love (and honestly is the primary reason I do reload), I actually consider my reloads better than factory ammo. For one factory ammo in certain configs is very sparse on selection (ie, in 9mm I shoot 147gr pretty much exclusively). For another though, I can test my loads of various powder types at various power levels. For competition that allows me to drop down to the lowest power level that makes the minimum while providing the least recoil, as well as picking a powder that produces an accurate load.

Compared to something that tailored factory ammo is like rolling dice.

[mljdeckard]

I just bought a pile of once-fired brass from Midway. The .45s are about $.11 a round. So, I understand if you can't be bothered to bend over to pick those thick dimes up. You know what? It's ok. I got it. Don't strain yourself. :)

[GLOOB]

Doesn't sound fun to go on your hands and knees trying to find empty cases.
Easy:
1. Shoot revolvers and profit.
2. Shoot so much semiauto ammo that you can just scoop it up by the shovel full. Then think of all the money you just "saved" by shooting 300 rds of reloads. :)

When I shot store bought ammo, I tried to conserve ammo and bring some home. Since I started reloading, my goal is to shoot up all the ammo I lugged there. I'm slowly building my stamina. One of these days, I'll make it. :)

[fox3]

Yes I reload but am fairly new at it. Just bought some Speer lead 45 acp bullets and trying to find info on reloading those rounds

[mljdeckard]

Do you have the Speer reloading manual? I bet Amazon has a used one for a few bucks.

[Robbins290]

i messed the vote, but yes. i reload.

[smalls]

I've been saving brass for the past two years, and I plan on starting soon. I'm kind of broke right now, so if I buy anything, it'd probably be a lee hand press, so I think I may wait for christmas and ask for a nicer press.

[horsemen61]

Yes I do reload i like it and I can make a better product for less.

[Blackstone]

When I start shooting more than 500 rounds a year, then I'll start reloading. Otherwise it's not worth the equipment cost...

[sfed]

I have been reloading for a few years, sure you can buy cheap ammo and get by with that if that is what you choose. Once you get the reloading bench set up you can then turn out the high end ammo for the price of the cheap stuff. I find it satisfying to make very accurate ammo, and I am always looking to improve with every batch. After the initial cost of the set up and dies, powder, primers, projectiles and all the other necessities. I find it enjoyable to build quality ammo at a reasonable price. Then again if it is something you look upon as a chore, it is not for you.

[Voodoochile]

I'm a cheepie, I only have hand loaders for the calibers that I shoot because of the modern stuff I don't shoot enough to justify me buying the full bench gear.

[ApacheCoTodd]

Yup, but only for relaxation or particular loads. I get bulk ammo cheaper than paying myself to reload and I don't currently care to re-invest in automated/progressive outfits - yet - so the economic motivation is generally lost on me.

[skiking]

I reload, for the most part if it comes out of one of my guns I reloaded it