Does reloading actually save you money?

It definitely did for reloading and shooting my 30-06. Especially for just some cheapo plinking ammo. Then again my press setup was free.

I wouldn't say it has saved me money that I have put somewhere else but it has allowed me to shoot a lot more with the money I spend.

I reload .44 mag for about $12.00 per box (on the high side) and would have to buy it for $25.00+.
9mm runs me about $5.00 per box.
Yes it's definitely worth it.

What all these other guys have said. I shoot more for the same budget.

Which is a heckuva deal, if you ask me.

Yes and no. It can, but we tend to spend just as much to shoot more. Then there are the guns in a new caliber we buy so we can reload for it too.

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I don't think I could of said it any better.

There's no "one size fits all" answer. I've been shooting rifle matches for a couple of years now but started shooting USPSA matches last year so reloading definitely saves me money. To be honest, if I didn't reload, I probably wouldn't have even considered shooting USPSA matches. Our matches typically require 100 to 150 rounds but I shot a steel match in December and entered three classes with three different pistols for a total of around 375 rounds!! It gets expensive REAL fast. Our rifle matches are either 58 or 88 round ordeals so if you're shooting a .308 Win as I do, it really adds up. I generally have two pistol matches and one rifle match each month, but sometimes more than that. Reloading isn't a choice for me ... it's a necessity.

It's just a matter of numbers. If you only shoot 500 rounds a year, the payback time on the cost of the equipment and supplies can be quite a while. On the other hand, as others have stated, reloading allows you to put miore rounds downrange at a smaller per round cost. In the long run, you will save money, even at 500 rounds per year. Reloading can allow for more shooting at the same base cost of less shooting with commercially produced ammo.

I started reloading again last year. In 2009 I shot about 500 rounds. I had ammo in the vault, but didn't want to have to replace it due to the price. In 2010 I fired 3,444 reloads. So I'm spending more, wearing the guns more, and having more fun.

And I didn't tell my wife that reloading would save me money. She's smart enough she wouldn't have believed it.

Does reloading save you money??? Maybe...maybe not!

You can save a third to half the cost of factory ammo by reloading. I can make adjustments in components that substantially improve the performance of my rifle, pistol and shotgun. Here's the catch...YOU WILL SHOOT MORE. Worse than that, its damn addictive! I enjoy reloading. I've been doing it for better than 40 years. At this point, I have a spare bedroom in my house that is dedicated to reloading. Between the dies, the presses, the powder measures, powder scales, case trimmers, bullet molds, lead furnace, bullet sizer and vibratory brass cleaner I've probably got $5000 to $6,000 in reloading equipment alone. At any given time, I have between 10,000 and 15,000 rounds of loaded ammo sitting around the house and I wouldn't even want to hazard a guess at the quantity of components I have stored. Did I mention that you will shoot more? Have I saved money here? If anyone figures it out would someone please let me know?

Nope, I just shoot a lot more as has been stated. But I guess you can argue that it is more valuable, but not any cheaper.

Damian

the payback time on the cost of the equipment

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I dont understand why people always try to figure that out! If you buy good equipment and shop around you hardly lose anything when you sell it. I can probably sell all my equipment without trying hard and make 10 to 20% on it.
Yes I do save a lot on reloading! If I didnt reload I'd be doing other things like chasing women and drinking in bars!

Heck no it hasn't saved me money, but it lets me have a lot more fun with each dollar I spend!

I now have 2 hobbies that support each other!

Reloading, my most expensive money-saving hobby! On the plus side I get to do about 10X more shooting and shoot guns that I couldn't buy ammo for.

The money is spent differently. Let me echo that I don't save money, but I shoot a hell of a lot more for the same money. Its fun too.

I just get to shoot more and tailor my loads. I can reload .500 S&W for 30 to 70 cents a round; factory is at least $2.00 a round. However, I had to get a bigger press (Dillon 550), dies, shellplate, stand, and buy supplies. I'll have to shoot it a lot to make up for that expense. However, my other hobby brings in cash so overall I'm still ahead a little.

Reloading, my most expensive money-saving hobby!

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That's it.
Per round, it's absolutely cheaper. I spend way more than I used to though, because handloading becomes just as much a hobby as shooting to some, including me.

I spend the same amount of money as when I was buying ammo but now I shoot a heck of a lot more for the same money spent. So, do I save money, NO but reloading is for sure the way to go if you like to shoot as much as I do!

For example, a box of .38 Special will cost you between $17 and $20 to buy. I can reload 4 boxes of .38 Special for just over $16 so when I go to the range I can shoot 200 rounds instead of only 50. Same price, lots more shooting!

Save money?

I don't care!

I voted no because as the OP said I just shoot more... Now that I cast my own .45 bullets and reload at $60 per 1000, I shoot A LOT more!!

My cost per round has decreased greatly. However, I tend to end up buying more components (generally bullets and powder) in my constant search for the mythical "perfect" load for each caliber I load for. And I load ALOT. I currently load for 204, 223, 22-250, 22-250AI, 243, 260, 270, 280, 30 carbine, and 308...and thats just the rifles! One of these days I'll get around to liquidating the numerous 2/3 full boxes of bullets I tried and decided not to use...or not!

Nope, hasn't saved me a single penny. Actually, it may have cost me more money since I took up reloading. Let me explain:

I shoot Highpower competition, which I probably never would have stayed with if I didn't reload. The ammo costs me less, but there are match fees, gas for driving, money for food, replacement costs for the equipment, etc... Somedays I wish I was one of those guys who is happy with a box of ammo making noise in a sandpit! :banghead:

Oh, and I've always felt the ammo costs come out to a wash. If you were going to spend $100 on ammo, you're going to spend it anyway, right? So you get 500 rounds of factory 9mm or 1000 rounds of reloads.

90% of my reloading time goes into 10mm, .45 ACP & .357 Mag, even though I load for other calibers. Just loading the 3 I listed saves me a ton of money.

I voted No. Can't save money when you are spending it. I started loading many years ago. The tools owe me nothing, but I still spend money..................

The thing is, you shoot more for the buck.