Should I or SHOULDN'T I ???
- Thread starter C5rider
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
That right there is a good reason to reload. Now nothing is out of the question...Overall, it's been fun, it gets me out in the shed for a little "alone time" and, it's opened up some new avenues for me. I no longer look at those 45 Colt guns wondering how I'd ever feed them!
I'm glad everything worked out for you. Sounds like you are well on your way. I'm sure picking your dad's brain helped a lot too...
gamestalker
member
Since I reload for reasons not related to economics, for me the choice is simple. But even if economics were my primary cause, there is a significant amount of savings to be realized when loading for bottle neck cartridges and some pistol cartridges, .357 mag included.
Your just going to have to decide if the time and effort to reload is worth your while. If you know someone that has a single stage set up that would take you through the entire reloading process for bottle neck cartridge, it would give you a much better idea of whether this is something for you. It's not a hobby that everyone enjoys.
GS
Your just going to have to decide if the time and effort to reload is worth your while. If you know someone that has a single stage set up that would take you through the entire reloading process for bottle neck cartridge, it would give you a much better idea of whether this is something for you. It's not a hobby that everyone enjoys.
GS
Lost Sheep
Member
You have only been at it for a year. You'll get over it.On the down side. I've noticed that I walk around the local ranges with my head down-- looking for brass! I feel like the kid in the lunch room --- "uh, you gonna eat that?"
Besides, it allows you to practice your "people skills".
The people you approach are most likely shooting something you have in your stable, so you could load up some "exotic" loads and offer to let them shoot your gun with 1) ultra-light loads (example: My friend has a 500 S&W, but the first loads we created for it were 350 grain rounds that clocked 700 fps using Trail Boss powder-a hoot to shoot and you could watch them go downrange if you have quick eyes) 2) tracer rounds (I have never done this, but only because I don't know were to get any tracer bullets.) 3) shotshell rounds. etc
You get the idea.
"Hi, I'm C5Rider. I notice you are shooting xx out of your xxxxxxx. Nice gun. Nice grouping. I reload for that cartridge. You want to try one of THESE out of my gun? By the way, do you keep your brass?
Or you could invest in a chronograph and offer to let them clock their factory ammo. If you do this, make sure your chronograph is armored. Nothing douses a potential friendship like putting a bullet into the other's chronograph.
You'll get over the shyness.
Lost Sheep
Lost Sheep
Member
Congratulations on taking the plunge.
For me, when loading batch process (on a single stage press), the secret to keeping my algorithm orderly is the use of two loading blocks set on either side of the press (or powder measure or inspection light, whatever).
All the brass that has passed the process is in the block on the "Finished" side
All the brass that is yet to be done is on the "Unfinished" side.
"Finished" and "Unfinished" can be as simple as left and right or using a spring clips with the words engraved on them.
When charging cases with powder, they all go in the "Unfinished" block, primer-end up.
Good idea you have, putting thought into designing your process (loading algorithm). I hope my hint helps.
Lost Sheep
BADUNAME37
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I agree with everyone's statements.
I reloaded for many years, even went from single stage to progressive, shooting several nights a week, loading 600 .357 Mag and .44 Mag (an hour per 600 batch, once everything was set up and the cases all trimmed).
I kind of lost interest in guns, hunting, shooting, reloading, et al, around 1995. I took up a totally different hobby, one which meant I needed to sell most of my guns, ammo, and all of my reloading equipment.
Fast forward about twelve years, and around 2007, I realized I wanted to shoot again. I still had my extremely accurate rifle and saw that I would need to start loading ammo again, IF I wanted to maintain the tack-driving load I originally worked up nearly 25 years prior! The pills were still available, as were all the components.
So, I decided that I would get back into reloading, not progressive, just single stage. I ended up basically duplicating the first setup I had, all RCBS Components and all Forster Trim Products. Since I had been around the block with this a couple of times already, all I needed to do was open an account at MidwayUSA and start ordering things. First I got the main components, then I slowly built up my bench to the point where I finally needed a bunch of small components (pilots, dedicated crimp dies for everything I load, nice Frankford Arsenal Reloading Trays (four for each of the calibers I load). I think the last thing which was the "finishing-touch" was the RCBS Small Micrometer Adjustment for my RCBS Powder Measure.
Funny thing, when I look back at what my Micrometer settings were before for a given load, this one happened to be set up exactly the same! I found that "mic powder at 289" threw the exact same charge than it did over 20 years ago, with a different measure and different micrometer!
Anymore, I don't shoot often, so I don't need to reload often. I keep my basement dry and heated in the winter, and a dehumidifier runs all summer at the first sign of dripping condensation on my main copper 3/4" incoming water pipe from my 220' submersible well pump (which means that is cold water coming in).
I will most likely have all this reloading stuff now until I die. I don't plan to buy any more guns, and am happy as a clam at the guns I do have!
I guess I am saying all this to illustrate that one does not need to be at the range every week (or every month, for that matter) to enjoy reloading, be a good reloader, and save money whenever you do shoot! Hey, you just might also make a friend who might want to get into reloading, then you can be his/her mentor in showing them all the nice things about "rolling your own!"
I reloaded for many years, even went from single stage to progressive, shooting several nights a week, loading 600 .357 Mag and .44 Mag (an hour per 600 batch, once everything was set up and the cases all trimmed).
I kind of lost interest in guns, hunting, shooting, reloading, et al, around 1995. I took up a totally different hobby, one which meant I needed to sell most of my guns, ammo, and all of my reloading equipment.
Fast forward about twelve years, and around 2007, I realized I wanted to shoot again. I still had my extremely accurate rifle and saw that I would need to start loading ammo again, IF I wanted to maintain the tack-driving load I originally worked up nearly 25 years prior! The pills were still available, as were all the components.
So, I decided that I would get back into reloading, not progressive, just single stage. I ended up basically duplicating the first setup I had, all RCBS Components and all Forster Trim Products. Since I had been around the block with this a couple of times already, all I needed to do was open an account at MidwayUSA and start ordering things. First I got the main components, then I slowly built up my bench to the point where I finally needed a bunch of small components (pilots, dedicated crimp dies for everything I load, nice Frankford Arsenal Reloading Trays (four for each of the calibers I load). I think the last thing which was the "finishing-touch" was the RCBS Small Micrometer Adjustment for my RCBS Powder Measure.
Funny thing, when I look back at what my Micrometer settings were before for a given load, this one happened to be set up exactly the same! I found that "mic powder at 289" threw the exact same charge than it did over 20 years ago, with a different measure and different micrometer!
Anymore, I don't shoot often, so I don't need to reload often. I keep my basement dry and heated in the winter, and a dehumidifier runs all summer at the first sign of dripping condensation on my main copper 3/4" incoming water pipe from my 220' submersible well pump (which means that is cold water coming in).
I will most likely have all this reloading stuff now until I die. I don't plan to buy any more guns, and am happy as a clam at the guns I do have!
I guess I am saying all this to illustrate that one does not need to be at the range every week (or every month, for that matter) to enjoy reloading, be a good reloader, and save money whenever you do shoot! Hey, you just might also make a friend who might want to get into reloading, then you can be his/her mentor in showing them all the nice things about "rolling your own!"
ranger335v
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- Dec 3, 2006
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- 3,797
"Should I or SHOULDN'T I ??? "
Yes.
Yes.
As someone else said, a standard box of 100 factory rounds will cost $30 or more. I can load 100 rounds for $9 using LSWC so it doesn't take too long to recover your investment. Plus, reloading is a great hobby and allows you to make better ammo for less money.
Lost Sheep
Member
Since the thread has revived...
Since the thread has been revived, I submit these thoughts for anyone debating with themselves over the question:
Why reload?
Let me count the ways:
Economy: Depending on what cartridges you are reloading (and whether or not you want to count your time and the up-front equipment costs) you can save anywhere from just a little to 80% or more of your ammo costs. (9mm is very close to no savings. 500 S&W, my friend's ammo costs are $0.75 per round, factory loaded ammo is $3.00 each for comparable ammo. More exotic calibers (especially rifle calibers) can save even more. Some rounds are not even available on a regular basis at any price.
Quality: Ammo you craft yourself can be tuned to your firearms particular characteristics. Handloaders for rifles quite often find some individual guns have quite striking differences in group size when shooting tuned ammunition.
Knowledge: As you study reloading, you will, perforce, also study internal ballistics. The study of internal ballistics leads into the study of how your firearm works.
Customization: Ammo you load yourself can be tuned to your particular needs. My friend with the 500 S&W loads full power loads and "powder puff" loads that clock 350 grain slugs a little under 800 feet per second. I know that's more than a G.I. 45 ACP's power and momentum, but they shoot like 22 rimfire in that big, heavy gun. Great for fun, familiarization, training and letting the curious bystander go for a "test drive" with a super-light load, a medium load, a heavy load and, if they are still game one of the big boomers. This tends to avoid the "rear sight in the forehead" mark.
Satisfaction: Punching small bunches of small, medium or large holes in paper or bringing down a game or food animal with ammunition you crafted yourself has a good deal of satisfaction. Same reason I prefer to make my own biscuits instead of store-bought.
Smug satisfaction: When the ammo shelves are bare during a market or political scare, loaders are demonstrably less affected by the shortages. A couple of pounds of powder, a thousand primers and bullets (or few pounds of lead) and a hundred cartridge cases wouldn't fill a small book carton, but lets the loader know he can shoot while price-gougers take advantage of non-loaders.
Self-satisfaction: The repetitive, calm, attentive concentration of the reloading activities is often found to be so much fun as to bring to the shooter's mind the question, "Do I reload so I can shoot shoot or do I shoot so I can reload?". Some find loading to be as satisfying a hobby as shooting or fly-tying or many other hobbies.
The more fanatical among us combine a couple of the features I have mentioned and, instead of shooting for bullseye accuracy at the range, reload in a search for the "magic load" that achieves perfection in a given rifle. Then, they move on to the next target, which is another rifle and another tuned load. But you do have to be at least a little fanatical to even get it. It is the hunt they seek, for they enjoy the quest more than the goal.
I am sure there are many other reasons, but these are the main ones I can think of.
Lost Sheep
Since the thread has been revived, I submit these thoughts for anyone debating with themselves over the question:
Why reload?
Let me count the ways:
Economy: Depending on what cartridges you are reloading (and whether or not you want to count your time and the up-front equipment costs) you can save anywhere from just a little to 80% or more of your ammo costs. (9mm is very close to no savings. 500 S&W, my friend's ammo costs are $0.75 per round, factory loaded ammo is $3.00 each for comparable ammo. More exotic calibers (especially rifle calibers) can save even more. Some rounds are not even available on a regular basis at any price.
Quality: Ammo you craft yourself can be tuned to your firearms particular characteristics. Handloaders for rifles quite often find some individual guns have quite striking differences in group size when shooting tuned ammunition.
Knowledge: As you study reloading, you will, perforce, also study internal ballistics. The study of internal ballistics leads into the study of how your firearm works.
Customization: Ammo you load yourself can be tuned to your particular needs. My friend with the 500 S&W loads full power loads and "powder puff" loads that clock 350 grain slugs a little under 800 feet per second. I know that's more than a G.I. 45 ACP's power and momentum, but they shoot like 22 rimfire in that big, heavy gun. Great for fun, familiarization, training and letting the curious bystander go for a "test drive" with a super-light load, a medium load, a heavy load and, if they are still game one of the big boomers. This tends to avoid the "rear sight in the forehead" mark.
Satisfaction: Punching small bunches of small, medium or large holes in paper or bringing down a game or food animal with ammunition you crafted yourself has a good deal of satisfaction. Same reason I prefer to make my own biscuits instead of store-bought.
Smug satisfaction: When the ammo shelves are bare during a market or political scare, loaders are demonstrably less affected by the shortages. A couple of pounds of powder, a thousand primers and bullets (or few pounds of lead) and a hundred cartridge cases wouldn't fill a small book carton, but lets the loader know he can shoot while price-gougers take advantage of non-loaders.
Self-satisfaction: The repetitive, calm, attentive concentration of the reloading activities is often found to be so much fun as to bring to the shooter's mind the question, "Do I reload so I can shoot shoot or do I shoot so I can reload?". Some find loading to be as satisfying a hobby as shooting or fly-tying or many other hobbies.
The more fanatical among us combine a couple of the features I have mentioned and, instead of shooting for bullseye accuracy at the range, reload in a search for the "magic load" that achieves perfection in a given rifle. Then, they move on to the next target, which is another rifle and another tuned load. But you do have to be at least a little fanatical to even get it. It is the hunt they seek, for they enjoy the quest more than the goal.
I am sure there are many other reasons, but these are the main ones I can think of.
Lost Sheep
OP
OP
C5rider
Member
Thanks for the responses!
It has been a good ride so far. One thing that it has also helped me with is a better understanding of different cartridges and performance (pressures, grains of bullet, etc. )
i've even had fun delving into the various loads and getting my auto-feeders to be reliable. Since getting into shooting again (first started VERY young and then got out of it for a while) I've been more in depth in gun design and reloading. I had relatives reload for me (dad, uncle, etc) in the past. Now, I'm goin deep into my own guns and loads. Just another aspect of knowledge that also helps keep the costs down. Just this year, I've learned more about reloading, revolvers and tweaking my 1911s than I had all the years before. And now, my oldest son is going to the range with me.
In that aspect, it's been a good year.
It has been a good ride so far. One thing that it has also helped me with is a better understanding of different cartridges and performance (pressures, grains of bullet, etc. )
i've even had fun delving into the various loads and getting my auto-feeders to be reliable. Since getting into shooting again (first started VERY young and then got out of it for a while) I've been more in depth in gun design and reloading. I had relatives reload for me (dad, uncle, etc) in the past. Now, I'm goin deep into my own guns and loads. Just another aspect of knowledge that also helps keep the costs down. Just this year, I've learned more about reloading, revolvers and tweaking my 1911s than I had all the years before. And now, my oldest son is going to the range with me.
In that aspect, it's been a good year.
4895
Member
I love it, shoot a lot more, and have improved my shooting ability because of the extra "trigger time" offered by reloading.
Mac Sidewinder
Member
It's pretty cool that you got back into reloading after that long of a break. But I'm more impressed that you were able to find a thread that you started almost a year ago! I can't seem to find my keys most days.
Mac
Mac
James2
Member
Good for you! I think you will enjoy it. I know I sure have. I started loading in 1957. I was a junior in high school. This hobby has allowed me to do a lot of shooting that I could not have afforded otherwise. I also cast bullets for handguns. It has been a great hobby. I hope you enjoy it for as many years as I have.
OP
OP
C5rider
Member
I LOL on that one. You're not alone, trust me.
Gtimothy
Member
Never sell your reloading equipment!!!!
Friendly, Don't Fire! did pretty much what I did...I also switched hobbies and now I'm in the middle of replacing all of the reloading equipment I sold to fund it! At least I didn't sell off my guns!
I'm back to reloading for all of the guns I have in my safe and will never sell my presses or dies again! I have a progressive press that I use for cranking out bulk pistol rounds and a turret press for rifle loads. I highly recommend the turret press with a disk for each set of dies. Once your dies are adjusted properly, all you have to do is change the disc to change to a different caliber. No more time spent fiddling with things to get back to your pet load!
Friendly, Don't Fire! did pretty much what I did...I also switched hobbies and now I'm in the middle of replacing all of the reloading equipment I sold to fund it! At least I didn't sell off my guns!
I'm back to reloading for all of the guns I have in my safe and will never sell my presses or dies again! I have a progressive press that I use for cranking out bulk pistol rounds and a turret press for rifle loads. I highly recommend the turret press with a disk for each set of dies. Once your dies are adjusted properly, all you have to do is change the disc to change to a different caliber. No more time spent fiddling with things to get back to your pet load!
A Pause for the Coz
Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2009
- Messages
- 339
Yup I agree with that.
If your not carefull you will go from this:
To this:
But it is a fun addiction. I cant say I have saved a dime yet.
But you will be amazed at how your 50 round trip to the range turns into a 500 round trip to the range.
Last edited:
Bowfishrp
Member
I started out reloading to save money....yeah it does save money because I reload for myself, my wife, 2 kids, and my brother...oh and occasionally my Dad. I am amazed at how much ammo we go through at the range but with all of us there for a few hours it certainly goes fast!
If you figure up how much the press is (and I recommend a hornady or dillon) and dies and scale and all the other little things that you really do need, it can add up to a lot. Then figure up how much it would cost to reload 1000 rounds of something and compare that to buying 1000 factory rounds. Figure the savings and then how many rounds it would take to at least break even.
Say .45 acp....$25 primers, $25 powder (titegroup will load about 5000 rounds per pound), brass at ~$60 for range pickups (which can be reused over and over), then bullets at about $120 depending on style brand and type. You might be looking around $230 for your first load. Take off the brass and powder for the next 1000 and it might be closer to $150/1000.
I just found ammo man had 45acp for $389 per 1000. Saving half or better per thousand.
Rifle rounds are going to be a lot higher so I would think in terms of per 100 or maybe per 200 because powder wont go very far with .308 or 30-06.
The point of my rambling is that yes, you CAN save money. I did not mention TIME because you will need a lot of it and if you value your time then forget reloading until you have a lot more free time. Its not something you can do quickly unless you have been doing it a long time. I did not get into reloading for anything other than saving money and it became a hobby for me. Didnt plan it that way just really enjoy it. Even had thoughts of selling my airboat so I can buy more guns and reload more....WTH is wrong with me!
Good luck either way.
If you figure up how much the press is (and I recommend a hornady or dillon) and dies and scale and all the other little things that you really do need, it can add up to a lot. Then figure up how much it would cost to reload 1000 rounds of something and compare that to buying 1000 factory rounds. Figure the savings and then how many rounds it would take to at least break even.
Say .45 acp....$25 primers, $25 powder (titegroup will load about 5000 rounds per pound), brass at ~$60 for range pickups (which can be reused over and over), then bullets at about $120 depending on style brand and type. You might be looking around $230 for your first load. Take off the brass and powder for the next 1000 and it might be closer to $150/1000.
I just found ammo man had 45acp for $389 per 1000. Saving half or better per thousand.
Rifle rounds are going to be a lot higher so I would think in terms of per 100 or maybe per 200 because powder wont go very far with .308 or 30-06.
The point of my rambling is that yes, you CAN save money. I did not mention TIME because you will need a lot of it and if you value your time then forget reloading until you have a lot more free time. Its not something you can do quickly unless you have been doing it a long time. I did not get into reloading for anything other than saving money and it became a hobby for me. Didnt plan it that way just really enjoy it. Even had thoughts of selling my airboat so I can buy more guns and reload more....WTH is wrong with me!
Good luck either way.
dmazur
Member
Happy to hear it worked for you.
I'm in the "It's satisfying to make your own" camp, kind of like tying flies.
I'm finally getting to the point where the flies I tie look about the same as factory flies. And they last a lot longer than the cheap ones.
The "learning curve" for reloading wasn't as steep, so I felt there was some kind of payoff almost immediately, in terms of making ammo that suited my rifles / pistols.
It's not just about saving money.
I'm in the "It's satisfying to make your own" camp, kind of like tying flies.
I'm finally getting to the point where the flies I tie look about the same as factory flies. And they last a lot longer than the cheap ones.
The "learning curve" for reloading wasn't as steep, so I felt there was some kind of payoff almost immediately, in terms of making ammo that suited my rifles / pistols.
It's not just about saving money.
JLDickmon
Member
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