Addition to "how much ammo" threads-reloading change the numbers?

[madd0c]

There is an enormous thread below with people arguing the pros and cons of ammunition storage. I have a different question:

Does the ability to reload change your numbers?

I have found it somewhat easier to stock up on reloading supplies than live ammunition. That is not saying stocking live rounds is a bad thing, just that I find I don't feel the need to store thousands of rounds when I know I have the supplies to reload that many.
madd0c

 

[youngda9]

Agreed 100%. However I find myself re-loading all of my pistol brass up every chance that I get if I have the components.

 

[MichaelK]

Since I cast my own bullets and pick up used brass off the ground at the range, my reloading costs are very low. Realisticly, my variable cost of making 9mm through .45 ACP is just 2.50-3.00$ per box.

I've stocked several thousand loaded rounds, about 1K per caliber, for about the same amount of money that others pay at the shop for a few boxes of store-bought. Add to that the stored powder, lead, and primers; and I have to capacity to double or triple that.

 

[Claude Clay]

i make ammo (barely) on a need to shoot time basis
i am loading for 3 people about 1k per week the 5 common calibers
plus a few hundred others--32-20, 38 S&W, 32 acp plus rifle.

those times i manage to 'stockpile' 600 or so of a caliber; it never lasts.
though i do hold back 1 or 2 hundred of each caliber and that ain't for
casual consumption.

 

[BruceB]

My concealed-carry ammo is the ONLY commercial ammunition I buy. That amounts to a couple hundred rounds at most.

However, there are also a few thousand reloads on hand, in .45 ACP, 9mm and a few others in handgun loads. These are mostly for fun and practice, but could be used for "other purposes".

For rifle, I keep at least several hundred rounds ready-to-go in each of my "service" cartridges.... 5.56 and 7.62 NATO. Other calibers will vary all over the map for totals-on-hand.

I do have the makings for at least 50,000 rounds, though....

 

[redneck2]

If you're actually a shooter instead of a talker, most likely you reload (unless you shoot .22, 9mm or .223). The average guy can't afford to buy factory stuff in any quantity.

There are two kinds of gun owners. Those that talk about guns and those that shoot.

 

[chbrow10]

I've been reloading for a year, and my numbers have not changed on a monthly basis. This is mainly caused by the lack of time to get to the range, not the cost issue.

For what it is worth, I just recalculated my economics, and I am saving 70% over the cost of Wal Mart plinking ammo. I buy everything (powder, primers, bullets) in bulk and 100% of my brass is range pick ups.

 

[Rokman]

Since I have become a reloader, I have only purchased .22 rimfire and some buckshot and slugs. I would purchase concealed carry ammo if neaded and tend to stockpile rifle reloading components since I load all of my rifle ammo.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I agree, I have at least 1000 rounds for every caliber on hand, 90% of it is reloaded. I have enough components on hand to load at least 2000 more rounds per caliber, so I don't feel the need to continually stockpile.