Do you reload everything, or not?

If you're debating on whether or not it's worth it, it probably isn't.

I reload because I like to and I get better accuracy that way. I don't think cost savings enters in much when you consider aquisition of more dies, more components and shooting more but don't tell your wife that.

I load for most everything I shoot. Not the rimfires, of course. And I have not loaded for .30-06 or .30-30, or 20 ga. (yet). Pretty much everything else I do load for. The list includes .223/5.56, .22TCM, .32 auto, .32 Long, .32 H&R Magnum, .327 Federal Magnum, .380 auto, .38 spl., .357 mag., .357 Sig, 9mm, .40 S&W, .41 Mag, .44 spl., .44 mag., .45 auto, .45 Colt and 12 gauge. 9mm and 12 gauge are not particularly economical to reload, but I do it because I enjoy it and can load to my preferences.

That's a decision only you can make.

You can always go low cost on dies, no need to spend top dollar if cost is a concern. But in some cases keeping up with the volume is hard unless your running a AP.

I load for everything I've ever owned. Have dies for guns I no longer have. Which has come in handy when someone is wanting to learn how to handload for a caliber I don't currently shoot.

All except my 12 gauge & the one I just bought.

I also load for everything I shoot, both handgun and rifle. I load for well over a dozen cartridges and see no reason to pay for ammo.

I will throw my newbie answer in.

I started to reload because upon figuring the cost of just primers, powder and bullet as I saved thousands of cases I had from factory that it would save me a little money seeing how 50rds of hornady v max which is about the only cheaper priced stuff my rifle will shoot well was $35-40 per 50rds and would shoot about 5 shots in a baseball at 200yards. with 250 v max bullets being about $35 1lbs powder being $24 and 1k primers being $32 IMO just paying the $35 for the 250 bullets it made sense to reload it. I didn't factor die cost because it was just the startup. now my groups got way tighter, I don't have to drive to 3 different stores to find the ammo I can run downstairs and load up 100rds and go shoot some woodchucks.

I began reloading 44mag because I can do it for about $20/maybe cheaper-50rds with jacketed bullets and Wal-Mart wants $50 for 50rds.

my 9mm cases were mostly free and I figured just components I'm around $8-50.

I have 2 calibers I don't load for but eventually will just to be able to have more ammo and something to do and maybe save $10-20

Everything except shotgun and .22, and I do have the press for shotgun if I really wanted to....

I load for everything I have and .222 Rem for a buddy. I don't have any rimfires anymore but still have a couple hundred 22 mag ammo in case a S&W 48 comes my way.

I reload everything I shoot, other than .22 and 12 gauge. That's 9mm, 10mm, .45ACP, .223/5.56, and 30.06

I have a LOT of stockpiled ammo, most of it milsurp, so I am not actively reloading many of the calibers that I shoot.

I do, however, already have on-hand the components & equipment to load all of those.

I reload everything but shotgun and 22lr.

I suppose if I had a firearm that was going to get extremely low use and wouldn't be for competition then I might not...but I enjoy reloading.

Hi...
I can't find an economic reason to reload 12ga shotgun even though I shoot hundreds of rounds some weekends.
The cost of shells for breaking clay birds is so low that buying a press for reloading shotguns would take a long long time to break even.
I am tooled up for every handgun caliber I shoot and nearly every rifle caliber I shoot and a couple I don't.
Only ones I don't load for is 7.62x39 and .223... I am stocked up on components but ammo is so cheap I just choose not to reload those calibers.
I am in the same position with 9mm...ready to go just isn't economically feasible right now.

Closer to the "all" than the "nothing". That said, it is easier if you are able to consolidate components. OP needs a wide range of components to load everything - at least seven different bullets, at least four powders, and four different primers. Part of that is because 30/06 and 30/30 bullets aren't usually compatible and although you could shoot the 6.8 bullets in the 270WSM, the inverse isn't true. It would be easy to add a 308win or a 270win without much expense. Sometimes, it is cheaper to just buy ammo for something that does not get shot very often.

I reload all my rifle and my pistol, so 12 in all....keep thinking bout getting into shotgun, got an old mec 20 gauge loader....but i shoot 12s

I am about 50/50
I reload: 38Spl, 357Mag, 44Mag, 45ACP, 45Colt, 454Casull, 460S&W Mag, 223Rem, 308Win, 50AE
I do not reload: 25ACP, 380ACP, 9x19, 40S&W, 7.62x39, 50BMG, 410, 12Ga, 17HMR and 22LR

I maybe missing 1 or two.

I load for 31 metallic calibers and 12 gauge shotgun. I also keep at least a 4 year supply of components on hand at all times to get me through the shortages. I've been reloading for a long, long time, and remember the shortages of 1968, 1994, 2008 and 2012. I'm not a "prepper", but I don't run out of ammunition, either. When everyone was lamenting the fast they couldn't shoot due to the lack of ammunition, I just quietly kept reloading and shooting..

For loading shotgun ammunition, I bought a ton of reclaimed shot that had been graded, washed, regraphited and bagged into 25 pound bags for half the price of new shot. That gives me a lot of shotgun shooting for less than factory ammunition, and my MEC 9000E makes it easy.

The only caliber I shoot that I don't load is .22 Rimfire and .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire. There is a kit available to reload .22 RF too, but I've got enough to do as it is..........

Hope this helps.

Fred

Oops
I lied. I forgot I had a 7.62x39.I don't load those ether. I do have 270 dies & have never owned one. I loaded for a friend of mine when he was able to shot.

I load everything I'm concerned about the accuracy of or the price of.

I buy cheap plinking 9mm and 5.56 because it's so cheap.

My .308 win, 44mag/spcl, 38spcl, 357mag, 500mag and 45acp I load for as well as my accurate 5.56 loads.

I reload 9mm, 38spl, 357 mag, 40S&W, 45ACP, 223, 300blk 30-06, 7.62x54R

I do not reload 7.62x39
I do not reload yet 380ACP.

There are calibers I don't load for, Comm bloc like 7.65 Tokarev and 7.62x39, none of the shotgun guages; 12ga, 20ga and 410ga.

The only rifle caliber that isn't loaded is the 7.5x55 Swiss, but I do have the ability to bump up the 300WSM to 375WSM, a wildcat caliber looking forward to a new receiver.

The handgun calibers I shoot and load the most are 38Super, 357mag and 10mm, but there are the service calibers and 44mag to load for.

badkarmamib said:

Would I be in the minority if I load half of my caliber footprint, and buy factory for the other half?

I currently reload .45ACP, .40 S&W, .30/06, and .270WSM (for my father). I also shoot 6.8SPC, .30/30, and .223, but don't currently load for these. Am debating on whether or not it is worth it for the last calibers. I get good groups from factory ammo at .30/30 ranges, .223 will never be cost-effective, especially on my single-stage press (which I have no desire to graduate from), and 6.8SPC doesn't get shot very often, I bought it so my kids can have an adjustable LOP rifle for deer hunting when they start. My next, if there is a next, would be .30/30, but I am still on the fence.

I am just wondering, for the sake of curiosity, if the majority of reloaders are all-or-nothing. Do you who have been in it longer reload every caliber you shoot, or do you still buy only factory ammo for some of your centerfire calibers?

*Edited to clarify the true question I am looking to answer*

Click to expand...

I am prepared to load for some cartridges even though I haven't loaded them so far (my rifles). I load 14 cartridges for my handguns. I was thinking what I might have to do if ammo wasn't available or even legal. Perhaps I would choose not to comply with having to undergo commie background checks to buy commercial ammo, with imposed quotas not far behind. Some of my rifles are just-in-case. I do use small rifle primers in my 327 Federal Magnum loading, but otherwise I would have the necessary primers reserved as well. I do have powder for the rifles, bullets, and brass, all just sitting there as an investment. "Be prepared" is the motto.

I forgot to mention that I also have a reloading machine still in the sealed box for my .410 shot shells. I have the reloading supplies to support it but no real interest in reloading, as long as ammo is available for sale at prices that make sense, relatively speaking.

i load everything cept the 22 mags and my remmy 700 sps 223.... it gives 1/3 inch @100 yards with cheap factory rem green box 55 grn .... one day i will take the time to work up some rounds but with an off the shelf rifle it is hard to beat what is doing..... and i am getting older and lazier.....