Has reloading paid off?

It has paid off to me in the enjoyment I have gotten from it.
Money wise, hell no. There's always something else I'm wanting.

Yes and no, I can load rifle rounds for about half of the price of factory ammunition, the big payoff is that my rounds are tailored to my rifles and quite accurate. I get to shoot more for the same money with better ammo, it's relaxing sitting at the bench, and satisfying taking game with my own ammo.

Absolutely. I started in the tail end of the Sandy Hook shortage. Learned how to do the basics, learned from the last run, and stocked up. Took up casting. So now I don't sweat shortages, I can load and cast for just about anything, I can tune loads for my specific guns, and the act of casting and reloading keeps my hands busy so I am not tempted to strangle idiots.

Its paid off for me in the enjoyment and relaxation it brings. I reload a lot in cold months but not so much in the summer. Have enough supplies for 4 or 5 years. Told the wife that when supplies become available, I will be buying a lifetime supply of primers.

When I got my first center fire I was taught reloading is just part of owning a gun. Factory ammo has its place but owning a firearm without knowing how to load for it is like owning a car and not knowing how to pump gas.

I’ve had to give it up at times, chosen to once or twice over the years for a variety of reasons - and that’s when factory had to be good enough - but I always had the most basic tools and the know how never goes away.

Has it paid off? Sure. I suppose. Never thought about it one way or the other. Hand loading and reloading is just part of owning a gun.

Started 12 gauge in the late 70s to save money but soon learned I could put a better shell together, cheaper. Then Steel was required in the 80s but I had gotten into tailoring a load for my rifles by then. Don’t really know if I was saving money since I rarely looked at ammo prices except.223. Haven’t shot an animal in 30 years with factory ammo.

Last March I saw this coming. I bought everything I could get my hands on, poring over my manuals learning what powders I’d need. I’m in a good place now.

Just yesterday I did an informal inventory of my factory ammo I have and was amazed what I had accumulated for handguns and .223. Even changed the order of what I’m reloading now.

There’s an ammo shortage?

When I could have saved a lot of money reloading I didn’t. I shot high quality factory ammo by the bucket full. Now I reload but don’t shoot nearly as much. Oh well that’s how it goes sometimes. I have enough supplies to hold out most likely for the next ten years. When things level back out I’ll re-up my supplies hopefully. At $3 plus a round I’m loading my own for less than half that with quality components. Lapua brass Berger bullets imr and fed primers

Reloading is probably good for taking 10 points off of my blood pressure. There is something soothing about the routine of turning out quality ammo at a fraction of the price of store bought.

mmm, probably not dollar for dollar, but - I pretty much like tumbling brass and sizing it - etc, as much as I do shooting. So, I'm not sure if I shoot so I can reload, or if I reload so I can shoot ... anyway, it is another skill in the arsenal of skills. probably, one that is not needed - but, like carrying - it doens't matter until it matters.

No, it hasn't paid off for me...at least in terms of saving money. I don't suspect it ever will in reality.

Most of my equipment was purchased used in garage and estate sales. Even bought stuff when I wasn't reloading for a few years.

Dies for calibers I don't own- check
Bullets for calibers I don't own- check
Brass for calibers I don't own- check

"Hey, there's a .xxx rifle. I think I have everything to load for that. How much are you asking?"
"Sweet, I'll take it"

Nope, not saving any money like that.

Reloading just gives us more chance to shoot than most folks.

I don't say it's paid off. But I went to the range a couple weeks ago and shot a better of 200 rds. I ran out of time or it would have been more. But I didn't fret about how much lead went down range.

As others have noted there is no 'savings' per se. My ammo budget just went a lot further is all.

I started reloading as a teen so I could afford to shoot in hi-power matches (plus in the small town I lived match 30-06 was rare as hens teeth). For the past couple decades my reloading is hunting ammunition and any plinking ammo for more expensive rounds like 44 mag, but don't bother for cheap items I could get in bulk or surplus. (I'm not at all scared of steel for volume plinking so when loaded ammo costs less than the components that's the route I take). I got dies for most everything I own, however I've got enough loaded on hand that I haven't felt compelled to run the presses lately.

Totally paid off for me. I bought 3 budget rifles and inherited another rifle. I’ve been able to tailor loads to all 3 and get better accuracy than factory ammo. In one case it was much better. The loads are cheaper than factory equivalents by about half or even more. I’ve saved enough at normal prices to pay for my equipment. I don’t count my time as it’s enjoyable and I would have otherwise just been watching TV or playing video games. I load for my pistols too, though with my pistol shooting it’s more difficult to tell the difference between loads in terms of accuracy.

Virginia Jim said:

I used to spend money on boats, motorcycles, cars, etc.
Reloading is a much cheaper hobby.

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Yes, I buy a new set of slicks for my SCCA H Production Honda each race weekend. I do not think I spend that much on reloading in a year.

Arkansas Paul said:

It has paid off to me in the enjoyment I have gotten from it.
Money wise, hell no. There's always something else I'm wanting.

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Part of the fun of reloading for me is trying new gizmos. Some work well, some not so well but I have fun playing with them.

Reloading has paid off for me and my family. I have a great hobby that ties me to something my Dad did back in the day. My family would rather shoot my reloads than factory ammo, and it gives me something to do when the 3-foot blizzards come.
I have been reloading for 7 years now, and I enjoy it as much or more than shooting at the range. I can put $ estimates on the payoff versus buying factory ammo, but the other benefits mean more to me.

I enjoy reloading as a hobby that feeds into another hobby. Not sure if I have saved any money yet as there is always something I "need".
I reload more in the winter. I go to the range more in the summer. It balances things out a bit.

My handguns are mostly guns no longer manufactured and mostly in magnum calibers. Older Colt Pythons. Three screw Rugers. And more P&R S&Ws than I can think of without counting.

I don't shoot full charge magnum loads in my magnums because of the wear and tear on the gun and on the shooter, moi. So, for ~40 years, reloading has allowed me to load 38 special loads in 357 magnum cases; and 44 special loads in 44 magnum cases. That's been a major benefit, for me, for handloading.

Another benefit has been in times like these, viz. I have components for ammunition which is currently hard to locate.

And someday, if freedom loving Americans do not Storm the Bastille, I'll likely have to start casting my own bullets. And that sounds a lot like work.

I shoot so I can have something to reload. Each round is cheaper than store bough, but I'm sure I've not started saving money yet. I just find it enjoyable.

Yes... for my sanity, for having great ammo and not overprices blaster ammo, and for always having ammo “in stock!”

Howland937 said:

No, it hasn't paid off for me...at least in terms of saving money. I don't suspect it ever will in reality.

Most of my equipment was purchased used in garage and estate sales. Even bought stuff when I wasn't reloading for a few years.

Dies for calibers I don't own- check
Bullets for calibers I don't own- check
Brass for calibers I don't own- check

"Hey, there's a .xxx rifle. I think I have everything to load for that. How much are you asking?"
"Sweet, I'll take it"

Nope, not saving any money like that.

Click to expand...

same! I sometimes get the cartridge components then buy the gun. My current, gun I’m looking for is .375 HH, should have picked up the Ruger #1 years ago, going for $950 new

Without reloading - and knowing how to reshape cartridge cases from one size and shape to another - I would not be able to shoot my 6.5x53.5Rmm Dutch (designed by Mannlicher) rifles. Live ammunition for this rifle has not be produced - to my knowledge - since the 2nd World War.

And the 'tailored' concept mentioned prior.

I started reloading during the Sandy Hook Panic. Much like now you couldn't find a thing. A friend helped out with limited supplies and I loaded for a couple years before I could find stuff readily on shelves or online. I now have not made a purchase other than bullets in over a year, and probably will not have to for another year. This too shall pass they always do. When it does prices will come down, but will they be where they were ? No one knows.

Has it paid off ? I guess the answer is it depends. Have I saved enough on the ammo I have produced to pay for my investment ? The answer is yea, and probably many time over. The big catch is I have shot the difference so I am no further ahead. I would have never shot as much in the past 8 years if I had to buy factory ammo. Buying bulk components and making your own is the way to go for availability and the ability to customize.

-Jeff