Just to start a conversation on ammo used

I have bought .45acp (Win. White Box) to try out possible carry guns, but the vast majority of my shooting is my reloads. I have guns like my Kimber Stainless Target II in 10mm that has never seen a factory round. I have not loaded carry ammo - I bought 500 rds of Winchester Ranger .45acp long ago and it's lasted since I've never needed it but just shot some off at the range now and then.

I shoot steel case 9mm in my semi's for practice and buy ammo for matches but otherwise its handloads. I have a single stage so rifle rounds and .38s/357 are all handloads. Probably been 2 years now.

RunninLate said:

For your reloaders out there. When was the last time you shot factory rounds at the range? Or when was the last time you bought factory rounds besides 22?

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With the cost of lead shot these days, all of my 12ga ammo is store bought. I remember when I could cut the price in half, minimum. Not anymore.
I reload for two .308 win bolts, .38/357's, .44 mag and one 8mm mauser. All on a single stage press. These being my favorite guns, I reload for precision and since I prefer to shoot them the most, cost savings is simply an added benefit. I own a plethora of other calibers that I shoot a few times per year so to reload for them would be unjustified for me. And some, like 9mm and .45 acp, I don't mind paying the $15 per 50. So to answer your question, I'm a reloader who shoots factory rounds when the time/cost doesn't add up for me on certain firearms I own.

I can think of buying loaded ammo once in the past 25 years. I bought 50 commercial reloads at a gunshow to test out a new gun on the way home.

Shooting factory ammo, for me, is a rarity. I reload everything I shoot, and general shoot home cast powder coated bullets as well...but last range trip I ran 5 rounds of old Wolf Classic through my CZ 527M for grins and giggles.

RunninLate said:

Mn Fats, I am a little backwards in thinking. If the factory rounds are cheap, why not buy them a stick them in the Conner so when the price of ammo goes sky high again you have factory ammo to shoot or sell. But I would prefer to buy more reloading components and store them away for when that time comes.

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I have reloads to last me a looong time. I simply meant SOME calibers are cheap enough to not justify reloading for me (9mm .45acp in my case) due to infrequent shooting. Im a revolver man and bolt man so that's what I shoot/reload most.
I understand buying reloading components and storing away ammo but alot aren't cost/time effective for me to load for. Example: Reminington model 8 .35 Rem, my brush gun. I shoot 2 rounds per year sight in for irons and one round if I come across a deer. If I was lucky and shot a whitetail every year while on a push, one box would last me 7 years. Factor in reloading components for that one example and I'd never come out on top. I have many others with a similar outcome.

This depends so much on the caliber I'm shooting, and what I'm doing with it.

My precision rifles have been fed a pretty steady diet of hand loaded ammo ever since they were new (save for a box of factory ammo to test function when brand new -- better to have a problem on factory ammo than hand loads).

For other guns it really depends. My defensive handgun ammo is factory loaded... and issued by the agency I work for. When I'm plinking I'll often shoot hand loads through my pistols, and sometimes through my AR-15 variants. The thing is, factory ammo can often be found at a good price for some of these rifles, and it saves me the time of loading. So, when I'm shooting AR's and whatnot, factory ammo is often the ticket for plinking use.

My son bought a 243 a little over a year ago. We bought some factory for it so that we have the brass. Before that, 4 or 5 years ago a guy at the gun club had a box of 38's and a box of 357's. The price was less than I could reload them for, so I bought them.

Haven't bought any center fire ammo in years though I still have some. If I were to buy a new carry gun I would by a box of Defensive labeled ammo for it to test and keep in the gun when carried. But haven't done that in years.

I have equipment to reload every cartridge that I have a firearm for and I shoot reloads regardless of the potential cost of commercial ammunition. I have alot less money tied up in components that covers more ammunition than I would have in inventorying commercial range ammunition.

While I my cost per round is less than the cost of commercial ammunition, I reload to obtain hand crafted ammunition that is more accurate than what I could find commercially. I like to reload as a hobby unto itself so my time is charged off to entertainment.

I do buy some factory ammunition. I like to chronograph my guns with factory ammunition to see if they shoot fast or slow. It helps me when developing accurate reloads.

Also, I go back and forth on using factory ammunition for defense

Only factory ammo I've bought has been WinchesterPDX1 45acp. And the only reason I buy it is because I can't find these bullets for sale as reloading components. And that really sucks because that ammo is expensive.

Got a bunch of steel cased Wolf and Tula 9mm ammo for practice with the Glock. A few years ago I bought a couple hundred rounds of Prvi Partizan 7.62x54R 150 gr. SP's because they shoot so well in my Mosin 91/30 rifle and they come in high quality, reloadable brass cases so now I will have a long lasting supply of reloadable brass. Only other factory rounds (besides 22) that I purchase would be 12 ga. sabot slugs for the slug gun in shotgun zones and I stocked up on those several years ago. All my other pistol/ rifle ammo is handloaded.

I haven't shot a 223 or 44mag factory round since i became a member here about 2-3yrs ago. I also load for 9mm, 45-70 and 38spl but recently been shooting factory 9mm i got a great deal on at amature IDPA competitions just for the fact I'm new to doing 9mm and don't want a malfunction with being on the clock.

I have ran factory American eagle varmint through my 223 bolt gun just to get rid of it and it shot on par with my hand loads so i will be buying a box or 2 of them for quick woodchuck hunts. I've mostly shot factory 45-70 since i started reloading because i had a lot of it left and wasn't setup for that caliber at the time. Now that i have dies and stuff for it i will be reloading for it and probably wont buy factory ammo unless my hand loads suck and i have to use factory to hunt with.

So for you reloaders, when you need fresh brass, do you buy once-fired brass or unfired brass? I've only been reloading for 6 months, and it's only one caliber so far, but I figured when my brass needed replaced I'd just buy another 500 or so rounds of factory ammo.

bassjam said:

So for you reloaders, when you need fresh brass, do you buy once-fired brass or unfired brass? I've only been reloading for 6 months, and it's only one caliber so far, but I figured when my brass needed replaced I'd just buy another 500 or so rounds of factory ammo.

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IMO,If you are shooting rifle buy new. If shooting revolver you can get away with used brass as long as you inspect and prep it carefully. I personally buy all new. However I try not to let my brass get away from me. I go through the effort to pick it up if shooting an auto. Once people at a range see you are picking up your brass most of them help. I try to load for accuracy not volume , so as far as the brass I use it is important to know it's history and it's only been fired in my guns. I got lucky a while back and won 1000 cases of my choice from Starline. Got to hunt down the deals.

bassjam said:

So for you reloaders, when you need fresh brass, do you buy once-fired brass or unfired brass? I've only been reloading for 6 months, and it's only one caliber so far, but I figured when my brass needed replaced I'd just buy another 500 or so rounds of factory ammo.

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what are you reloading? I had a few hundred 223rem pieces from factory but purchased 500pc of once fired military brass from brassbombers.com. the price was pretty good for swaged brass and being lake city made it better. 9mm i pickup from the range and when that gets losts i will order from RMR bullets.com. 44mag, 38spl, 45-70 was all ordered new from midway and is starline brass. 9mm is about the only thing ill shoot from range pickups. I started picking up 223rem but noticed that the pieces left in the buckets were all old and couldn't be reloaded. this turned me off from picking up rifle range brass. I will tell you this if your loading 223rem buy from brassbombers because Winchester brass is like $25-100. i paid $50-500 at brassbombers.

A few months ago I acquired a Ruger Blackhawk in .357 magnum. I couldn't wait for my brass and bullet mold to be delivered, so I picked up a box of factory ammo so I could put some magnum rounds through it.

Before that, it had been a few years since I'd fired a factory loaded centerfire round.

bassjam said:

So for you reloaders, when you need fresh brass, do you buy once-fired brass or unfired brass? I've only been reloading for 6 months, and it's only one caliber so far, but I figured when my brass needed replaced I'd just buy another 500 or so rounds of factory ammo.

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Rifles I buy new Lapua brass. Revolvers are once fired factory stuff that I get free from non reloaders.

I reload most of my rifle and revolver cartridges. I don't reload 9mm, and just ordered another case. I do buy the occasional box of factory ammo for my carry guns.

Most of my rifle brass is once-fired (by me) match or hunting quality, and I saved my .357 and .44 magnum brass for years before I got into reloading. I bought my .44 special brass new.

ohihunter2014 said:

what are you reloading? I had a few hundred 223rem pieces from factory but purchased 500pc of once fired military brass from brassbombers.com. the price was pretty good for swaged brass and being lake city made it better. 9mm i pickup from the range and when that gets losts i will order from RMR bullets.com. 44mag, 38spl, 45-70 was all ordered new from midway and is starline brass. 9mm is about the only thing ill shoot from range pickups. I started picking up 223rem but noticed that the pieces left in the buckets were all old and couldn't be reloaded. this turned me off from picking up rifle range brass. I will tell you this if your loading 223rem buy from brassbombers because Winchester brass is like $25-100. i paid $50-500 at brassbombers.

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For now, just .38 sp and .357 mag. I also have dies for 9mm but haven't set them up yet.

It'll be awhile until I try my hand at .223. I don't have access to a rifle range, so there's not really a point in reloading that round yet.

For many years, like 15+, I didn't buy any factory new ammo, had plenty of components for all the riffles and handguns I shoot with exception of rim fire. Then I bought a 3D target from rubberdummies.com and created a new problem. The rubber target needs fMJ projectiles to get the most out of its life and I primarily load hollow point or semi-wad cutter bullets. Just so happens, huge sales on 9mm/40S&W factory ammo in FMJ late last year so I stocked up. I thought I would feel dirty cheating on my reloads....turns out I have no conscience!! Nothing wrong with factory ammo boys.

I do a combination of both. When things are on sale or some places have clearances or you find the rare deal at the gun shows, I take advantage. I guess I try to be cost-effective which is why I still haven't set up to load 12 gauge. I priced everything out and found it's cheaper to buy 100 rd packs at Wal-Mart. For center-fire cartridges, I never lament buying factory ammo since I can keep the brass. Also, it's just nice to have some stashed away.

That said, I bought factory 44 mag once, maybe twice in the last 10 years. Hard to justify $50 a box or more for 50 rounds when I can make 100 for half that. I use Remington Copper Solids for deer slugs, but a box ought to last 2-3 seasons.

I will never pay full price for 45 colt or 357 magnum at the stores. I can never understand the $10-15 increase over 38 specials, especially when they are loaded with the same bullet. I make my own for all of those, but do pick up deals now and again. Found Federal American Eagle 158gn JSP's for $20 a box once, so I grabbed several. I shoot my reloads and can sit on the factory stuff forever.