[sig220mw]

This question may have already been asked. Does anyone know approximately how many of us there are in the US that handload? I did a search on this site and couldn't find any info. I have also tried the web again to no avail. This is information that I am sure someone has.

[helotaxi]

Probably impossible to determine. You couldn't judge by sales of presses because many reloaders have several or have been using the same one for decades. Powder and primer sales wouldn't tell the whole story because lots of loaders buy in bulk and only place an order every several years. Same with bullets.

Possibly the best source of a number, though it would be on the low side, would be to check the membership statistics of one of the big reloading forums on the net. It would be a fairly safe assumption that every member is a reloader, but not every reloader is a member.

I would offer that it's a pretty big number. There a numerous companies that exist and profit solely based on reloading and reloaders.

[Constrictor]

how many blades of grass in my yard? pretty useless info.

[helotaxi]

Most info is useless to most people. Some is even useless to all people. Doesn't keep curiosity from asking the question.

[sig220mw]

Like Helotaxi said probably hard to pin down anything definite. More joining our ranks daily and others quitting. As far as being useless info that's up to each person.

If there are several million of us, and I think that there are, we would be a force to reckon with if we made ourselves heard. The same can be said about all gun owners but unfortunately many gun owners are strangely silent but I am thinking that people into shooting enough to load their own may not be so silent. I am speaking now of this business with our secretary of state trying to sign us on with this UN small arms treaty. One of the provisions it contains would ban all handloading. It would certainly do more than that but we could possibly be the group to raise the biggest ruckus.

I may have started this in the wrong venue now that I think about it but we are after all "handloaders".

[1SOW]

AS sig220mw pointed out, this could be a useful number to know.
On the other hand, I'd prefer not to be on a list.

Come to think of it, companies like POWDER VALLEY, Bullet manufacturers, etc, etc; would know how many addresses they service.

[Clark]

I feel like am a handloader, even on the days I do not handload.

[Jeff H]

310,000,000 people in the US. 45% own guns. so there are about 140,000,000 gun owners. What percent reload? I don't know, but I'd toss out a guess and say 10% so that works out to be 14,000,000 reloaders.

[ranger335v]

"This is information that I am sure someone has. "

This is 'wild azz guess' information that no one can possibly have.

[Elkins45]

"This is information that I am sure someone has. "

This is 'wild azz guess' information that no one can possibly have.
Probably true, but we might be able to make some educated guesses based on component sales to retailers (not commercial loaders) measured over a few years.

One thing to consider is than not every reloader is currently active. If a guy has the tools, knowledge and components I consider him a reloader, even though he might be very low volume. This guy might only buy a box of primers or bullets every couple of years, so he would hardly show up in the sales figures.

Watching the percentage of shooters who pick up their brass might also be interesting.

[FROGO207]

Every firearms owner should be a handloader and belong to the NRA IMHO. With that said, way too many when I go to the local store to try and purchase some supplies.:banghead::D I agree that it would be difficult to get a hard number on a yearly basis due in large to volume buying practices.

[x_wrench]

ENOUGH to make our government UNEASY! and that is a GOOD thing!

[Sport45]

A fair number of gun owners have a firearm forgotten in the back of a sock drawer or somewhere like that. I wonder how many "reloaders" have a press but haven't used it in decades?

[cougar1717]

Sounds like it's time to petition our federal government for a question on the 2020 census. :rolleyes:

[Waldog]

310,000,000 people in the US. 45% own guns. so there are about 140,000,000 gun owners. What percent reload? I don't know, but I'd toss out a guess and say 10% so that works out to be 14,000,000 reloaders.

I'd say that is a good guess. I volunteer as a Rango Officer at our club and I am amazed at what people shoot that discard their brass. I ask if they reload and only about 1 in 10 say yes.

[RustyFN]

how many blades of grass in my yard? pretty useless info.

24,947,836 what did I win. :D


I would also be curious to know how many of us there are.

[kainronin]

Does not seem to be many around here, and I am in Alabama. The few places I buy components from are a drive. Closest one is 15 miles and they are too expensive.

[x_wrench]

Sounds like it's time to petition our federal government for a question on the 2020 census.

if the govt finds this out, they will somehow figure out a tax to put on it!

[exbrit49]

interesting question and one that the answer can only be guessed at.
I asked my LGS thats been in business over 25 years. He carries a good line of reloading supplies, he said in his experience, about 10 to 12% of customers reload.
Thats a little higher than I would have expected.
We might have a bigger voice than we thought we did~!
Rgger

[SlowFuse]

kainronin we may have the same place in mind! I'm from the Birmingham area, not the easiest place to find components. I know of only 3.

[Hondo 60]

The guvermint knows too much all ready.
They don't need to know if I reload or not.


The nearest "decent" place to buy components for me is 50 miles away on a 2 lane "highway". :(

There is one closer - 40 miles away on a freeway, but their prices are gastronomical.
(and I won't shop there).

[Renigeid]

Anyone posting here is already on a list! Jim

[Redneckly33]

I live in Mississippi, my drive for components is about 25 miles. I know several guys in my Town that reload. It is a small Town of about 1500 people. I think there are 8 reloaders here. The place I buy components is expensive, but I guess by the time you pay Hazmat fees and shipping, it works it self out.

[kainronin]

I am from the same area Slowfuse. Pat's Archery in Jasper has a nice selection, but they are very high on components. Simmon's Sporting Goods has about the best prices I have seen for components.

[atonguis]

Sounds like it's time to petition our federal government for a question on the 2020 census.

if the govt finds this out, they will somehow figure out a tax to put on it!
Among other things:fire:

But I don't have to tell you that they already scan, key word search email and any data traveling through the pipes!:what:

[Naterater]

Well, the government already knows part of the number from all of us that visit this forum. I believe they can so easily monitor the internet, and they think they're doing it without us knowing. Watch what you post or look up on the internet. The ATF may come knocking on your door someday, and who knows, with the current legislation they may be inside your home without a warrant.

Just some thoughts.
~Nate (a 15 year old)

[atonguis]

They have a database with key words that they look for or phrases, and every packet flows through these banks of servers all over looking for those keywords or phrases. Once they find it, everything is recorded and flagged for inspection. Its pretty easy to do, if you think about it.

[mboylan]

I think that the number is closer to 1 or 2 percent of gun owners. The percentage of gun owners who shoot more than once a month is low. The percentage of the more than monthly shooters who reload is also very low.. The person who said there are 8 reloaders in his town of 2500 is probably spot on.

[GT1]

A fair number of gun owners have a firearm forgotten in the back of a sock drawer or somewhere like that. I wonder how many "reloaders" have a press but haven't used it in decades?

Yeah, and the average number of rounds shot in a gun owned in the U.S. is 4, that is for the lifetime of the gun. This is some NRA number or some other study, heard from my NRA instructor, anyway.

A lot of gun owners, not near as many shooters, and reloaders are probably quite a bit less. Still a significant number, I'm sure.