Hunters are one of the groups of shooters - outside of casual shooters - who generally benefit least from handloading. Accuracy/performance requirements for most rifle hunting are modest enough that it doesn't take a large number of practice rounds to stay sufficiently proficient to accomplish the task, and it's not difficult at all to find ammo that is up to it, either. So if your starting population of "shooters" is composed of people whose shooting is oriented primarily towards hunting (particularly rifle hunting of north american game), the percentage of handloaders is likely to be low.
Poll:do you handload or reload ammo?
- Thread starter rpenmanparker
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Hunters are one of the groups of shooters - outside of casual shooters - who generally benefit least from handloading. Accuracy/performance requirements for most rifle hunting are modest enough that it doesn't take a large number of practice rounds to stay sufficiently proficient to accomplish the task, and it's not difficult at all to find ammo that is up to it, either. So if your starting population of "shooters" is composed of people whose shooting is oriented primarily towards hunting (particularly rifle hunting of north american game), the percentage of handloaders is likely to be low.
To be honest, I don't think much about store bought vs. handloads price wise anymore. Handloading is more of learning and enjoyment, okay, sometimes frustration.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
I rarely shoot my semi-autos; less than a couple hundred rounds through them each year. So for those, I buy bulk 5.56 and 9mm, both of which are very inexpensive. On the other hand, .357 and .44 magnum ammo is expensive, most quality bottle-neck rifle cartridges in the cartridges I shoot run anywhere from 75 cents to $1.75 per round, so the savings in hand loading is dramatic. While I don't reload 5.56, I do hand load .223 Remington. And shooting my .243 and .260 Ackleys requires hand loading.
herrwalther
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I have handloaded about 100 rounds for rifles in 2 chamberings. The savings were incredible. Going off just the .35Rem rounds I have made (about 85% of the total) the reloading press and kit paid for itself. Once I am stabilized in my rifle/handgun/shotgun sizes I would like to handload target ammo for everything.
illinoisburt
Member
I used to reload a lot more when I was shooting competitively. For the past 15 years or so, not much other than some rifle hunting ammo, 45, 44, and 12 gauge slugs. Range ammo for recreational shooting in common calibers is just too cheap to bother plus I had laid in multiple cases of pretty much everything we shoot regularly & I'm not afraid of steel cased ammo.
Based on ammo sales versus components at the store where my son works and the general lack of supplies at most outlets around here, reloading is very small.
Based on ammo sales versus components at the store where my son works and the general lack of supplies at most outlets around here, reloading is very small.
cheygriz
member
I started reloading/hand loading in 1965. By 1967, I was casting all of my handgun bullets.
(except duty ammo, of course) and several rifle calibres.(My G-D, I do love Hensley and Gibbs ten cavity bullet molds, and Star lubrisizers.
)
(except duty ammo, of course) and several rifle calibres.(My G-D, I do love Hensley and Gibbs ten cavity bullet molds, and Star lubrisizers.
)That is the mindset that causes a lot of wounded game.
Hunters should be trying to be as good at shooting as competition shooters. The animals deserve it.
I do agree that a lot of hunters are lacking in the accuracy department.
Bfh, I'm certainly not going to argue against that, and would be ill-equipped to do so if I were inclined. I merely meant that, for someone shooting whitetail deer in, say, the southeast, accuracy rarely seems to be a big impediment to them getting meat for the freezer. Most of the people who are primarily hunters don't shoot hundreds or thousands of rounds a month to shrink their groups, nor do they generally sweat (nor need to sweat) the difference between a 2.5 MOA and 1.3 MOA group when shooting from their stand at a buck 65 yards away.
So the substantial up-front investment of money, time, and (most importantly) mental energy to learn to reload doesn't seem attractive to most of them.
So the substantial up-front investment of money, time, and (most importantly) mental energy to learn to reload doesn't seem attractive to most of them.
I can't speak for others but its not the cost savings for me(I haven't the slightest idea what a box of ammo cost) it's the quality and accuracy of the ammo I produce. Plus I do reload some fairly obscure calibers and different bullet weights and I like to experiment with different components. At times I don't think I'm saving money just having a bunch of fun and shooting when ever and as much as I want.
glc24
Member
Man, that would really be nuts to leave that brass for someone else to enjoy! My once fired 40 nickel won't get picked up.
Some of my Starline has been loaded 15 times, and still in excellent condition!
If you're just talking about "blasting ammo," it's pretty hard to save any material amount of money with 9mm, unless you really focus on efficiency and have large numbers of rounds to make tiny savings worthwhile. But - and this is particularly true with the .223 - if you're trying to shoot something better than "blasting ammo," then it's easy to make high-quality ammo yourself.
I wouldn't tell anyone who is mainly shooting 9mm or .223 to get into reloading to save money specifically. In fact, I wouldn't tell anyone who had to be talked into reloading for purely utilitarian reasons to do it. It's a sufficiently demanding exercise that, IMO, only people who find it affirmatively interesting should do it. People who aren't interested in it often seem to stay at just a surface level of understanding - which can lead to frustration, or even unsafe events.
Zendude
Member
I started reloading when I purchased a 32 H&R mag revolver about 4 years ago.
Nanook
Member
I reload for handguns and rifles, and handload for benchrest rifles. I don't do much shotgunning, and don't even own a loading press for shotguns. I just buy anything I need for shotguns.
Some rounds you have to load for because ammo is so expensive. .45 Colt comes to mind
Some rounds you have to load for because ammo is so expensive. .45 Colt comes to mind
D Rudd
Member
I reload for all my handguns. Eleven calibers. I enjoy creating fresh ammo as much as shooting it.
Dana
Dana
I think it depends on how you define a "shooting enthusiast".
Most of the folks on THR could probably be described as shooting enthusiasts. We consider firearms to be a hobby and we immerse ourselves in various firearms activities, including hand loading ammo.
Someone who owns one or a few guns mainly for self defense or hunting may or may not be a shooting enthusiast, and they get by fine with factory ammo.
Based on the OP's use of words, I would guess that many shooting enthusiasts hand load their ammo. Many not most of them, but I would guess more than 20%.
Most of the folks on THR could probably be described as shooting enthusiasts. We consider firearms to be a hobby and we immerse ourselves in various firearms activities, including hand loading ammo.
Someone who owns one or a few guns mainly for self defense or hunting may or may not be a shooting enthusiast, and they get by fine with factory ammo.
Based on the OP's use of words, I would guess that many shooting enthusiasts hand load their ammo. Many not most of them, but I would guess more than 20%.
I just get a little wound up this time of year by all the it was way out there so I took a hail Mary and the I wounded deer stories I hear.
I agree that most shots are easily done by 2.5 moa which is covered by factory ammo.
Snowdog
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I've been reloading straight walled handgun ammunition for about 15 or so years now, though I've recently begun casting and coating my own bullets as well (for .380acp, 9mm, .40/10mm, .38/.357mag and .45acp).
I still purchase ammunition on occasion if the sale is good, but only with the plan on reclaiming the spent brass to reload.
I still purchase ammunition on occasion if the sale is good, but only with the plan on reclaiming the spent brass to reload.
wankerjake
Member
Haha I admit I’m surprised by these numbers
I’d have far less interest in shooting if I didn’t handload
I can’t stand factory ammunition, by and large. I’m so spoiled that if I haven’t made it exactly the way I want it, I don’t even care to shoot it
I’d have far less interest in shooting if I didn’t handload
I can’t stand factory ammunition, by and large. I’m so spoiled that if I haven’t made it exactly the way I want it, I don’t even care to shoot it
bannockburn
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Started with a Lee Loader kit in .38 Special. Got to tell you that was tedious to do but I was hooked. Got a RCBS Rock Chucker kit after that and I have been happily reloading ever since. Mostly 9mm. and .45 ACP and looking to add .44 Special to the mix.
TheSquire
Member
I would say that most of the shooters I know (other than those who just shoot .22lr or .17HMR) reload. It all adds to the fun! Lots seem to be getting into casting now too.
Active participants on THR should really be considered enthusiasts, so I would expect there to be a greater proportion of reloaders/handloaders than in the population at large. With respect to the population at large, I suspect your opinion is probably correct.
The church I attend has a men's group. The men's group comprises about 75% of the men in the congregation. Essentially everyone in the men's group is a shooter. I am, however, the only one that reloads/handloads.
Speedo66
Member
I got back into reloading after an almost 40 year hiatus because I wound up with a gun whose cartridges cost $40-80 a box, depending on manufacturer, or if they were reloads. So I reload .38-40 for that old Winchester '73.
When I got a Uberti SAA in .357 a year or so ago, I reloaded for that because it was so easy. Had everything else, just needed a set of dies and some boolits, as they say on another site.
When I got a Uberti SAA in .357 a year or so ago, I reloaded for that because it was so easy. Had everything else, just needed a set of dies and some boolits, as they say on another site.
I will also add that the first cartridge I reloaded for was the .30 Carbine. I got into reloading it because it was considered a pistol cartridge (thanks to the Ruger Blackhawk chambered in .30 Carbine), so I couldn't buy ammunition on my own. There was, however, no restriction on buying the components to assemble rounds.
I got the reloading/handloading fever and am proud to say that other than .22 LR or the first box of cartridges shot from a new gun (in case there's a problem with the gun, I don't want the manufacturer - or their attorney if it was a major problem - to be able to blame my reloads), I have reloaded every cartridge I have shot for the last 42 years. That's why I can say, "I shoot to support my reloading habit".
I got the reloading/handloading fever and am proud to say that other than .22 LR or the first box of cartridges shot from a new gun (in case there's a problem with the gun, I don't want the manufacturer - or their attorney if it was a major problem - to be able to blame my reloads), I have reloaded every cartridge I have shot for the last 42 years. That's why I can say, "I shoot to support my reloading habit".
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