Do you handload?

[blackops]

I do for the accuracy and knowledge. Honestly I could care less about the money, but I won't complain it saves me some.

 

[Safetychain]

I load .380, 9mm, 38/357, 40, 44 mag, 45 acp, and occasionally 3 different rifle calibers. I don't shoot but maybe 500-1000 rnds a year including the wife and children. I cast 30-30 and 45 acp. I still save money. Reloading is enjoyable. My process is to reload around 1000 rnds of each caliber and then put away the equipment. It'll stay stored away (at no cost) for a couple of years and when a caliber gets low, bring it back out and bring up the supplies again. I use a Lee progressive and a RCBS turrent press. You find what works best and cheapest in the gun and set the dies up each in it's own turrent where no adjusting is necessary when it come back out. Good records are necessary though.

 

[Erik M]

no but its time instead of funds that im not willing to invest.

 

[wvstriper]

Yes, well sort of. I know how, but since it's my father's number one hobby I keep him busy! I supply all the components and he keeps me stocked up I'm sure I'll be loading for my 3 boys someday too. (probably with dad's equipment)

 

[jglcolosprgs]

Have for 35 years...

 

[blaisenguns]

Yes. I have several Lee-Loader kits for different calibers, but I need.45ACP's so a press is in my not so distant future. Not to mention, that the ability to load your own ammo is a necisary skill if the world goes "Mad Max", unless you realy like crossbows.

 

[FROGO207]

Yes I reload. Some 26 different calibers from 22 Hornet to 500 S&W Magnum and lots in between. The only thing I purchase finished now is rimfire ammo. If I could reload that I am sure I could make it work better than store bought.:banghead:

 

[zombieoutfitters]

As long as I'm paying less per box to load than at Wally World, I'll continue to load 9mm. It's also about availability and self-reliance. If I want 500 rounds, I just make 'em.

 

[ny32182]

I don't get the "self reliance" thing; unless you are manufacturing powder, primers, and brass, you are "reliant" on buying a supply of those instead of loaded ammo. If anything, you are "more reliant", seeing as you need at least 3 separate components available instead of one. Make it four if you are loading anything other than hand cast pistol bullets.

 

[KJS]

i dotn reload cuz its a pain in the ass and it cost almost as much as buying the factory ammo since all the materials and the brass prices went up, i think the factory ammo shoots tighter groups and wont damage the rifle or void warranties.

I did notice that Cabela's sells brass from Remington, though at 22 cents per case for .357 (sold in 100 pack bags) I can't figure out who buys it. I bought some .357 ammo a few weeks back for 36 cents a round, so for an extra 14 cents I got primer, powder, and bullet all nicely assembled for me and delivered to my door.

It's obvious that the only way to save money is to reuse brass. I know brass wears out eventually, but seems cheaper just to buy some factory ammo to obtain more brass as needed given the ridiculous price I've seen on new unloaded factory brass. Even those who don't like revolvers, must give them credit for being very tidy.

I gather many don't reload since a local gun shop with indoor range sells big bags that much contain several hundred cases swept from their range floor. A big bag of .38 or .357 cases go for $20 there. I know none of those cases are mine as I dump my cylinder into paper lunch bag to collect my brass. Seems like it would be harder with a semi-auto that sprays brass all over the darn place.

 

[Zach S]

Nope. Although I may start after the first of the year. I now have space. I'm almost caught up on bills, just in time for Christmas to break me...

Been saving my brass for a while now.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

I don't get the "self reliance" thing; unless you are manufacturing powder, primers, and brass, you are "reliant" on buying a supply of those instead of loaded ammo. If anything, you are "more reliant", seeing as you need at least 3 separate components available instead of one. Make it four if you are loading anything other than hand cast pistol bullets.

Simple, I load for at least four calibers that use .30 cal bullets. I can buy bullets, primers, and propellants in bulk and then use them to load any one of those four calibers. This makes me much more self reliant than having to buy whatever load I can find in those calibers at the store.

It is just like cooking if you have things like flour, salt, sugar, milk, etc, and the skills you can use these ingredients to prepare a variety of different foodstuffs. This makes you more self reliant than someone who has to buy only what the grocery store offers.

 

[ny32182]

You still need all that stuff available, and you can also buy loaded ammo in bulk anyway... I don't consider that to be a valid advantage to handloading.

Actually, at this moment I'm not shooting 357sig because there are no bullets available, I don't have any, and I don't want to pay the price for factory ammo; though loaded ammo *is* available.

 

[KJS]

I can buy bullets, primers, and propellants in bulk and then use them to load any one of those four calibers. This makes me much more self reliant than having to buy whatever load I can find in those calibers at the store.

I'm not sure how much more self-reliant that makes one. After all, one could have bought thousands of rounds of each caliber they wanted when it was widely available & reasonably priced before anybody knew who Obama was, for example. This makes me think of a guy I know who has 25,000 rounds of .22LR in stock which he bought several years back.

After all, loaded ammo has an indefinite shelf life as I proved to myself firing off what remained in a box of .38 from my late father. I'm guessing them to be up to 40-years old, and they still fired like new. I assume they had to be before about 1975 due to the lack of a UPC on the box and the box did look quite aged. And then I see the endless ads for military surplus ammo, regularly dating back the 1970s, with the absolute oldest I've seen advertised being from 1953-1956 production!

 

[KJS]

Actually, at this moment I'm not shooting 357sig because there are no bullets available, I don't have any, and I don't want to pay the price for factory ammo; though loaded ammo *is* available.

I bet somebody is going to tell you to cast your own bullets.

This is the first complaint I've heard about a lack of bullets, though I'm new to gun forums. I've read about lack of primers a few times and a friend told me about how his favorite store was limiting primers (and I saw a sign in another location of that store that pointed out that they reserve the right to limit the amount of handloading supplies, just as they can limit ammo).

Seems you're at the mercy of supply to some degree no matter what you do. The only way to seriously limit supply problems is to have a gigantic supply on hand.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'm not sure how much more self-reliant that makes one. After all, one could have bought thousands of rounds of each caliber they wanted when it was widely available & reasonably priced

The self-reliance comes in because no matter how much ammo you buy, you have more if you can reload it. And, as someone pointed out, you can cast your own bullets for many cartridges.