Do you reload everything, or not?

[alientrainwreck]

I am able to reload for every center fire rifle and pistol that I own, it's not saving me a lot of money it's just something that I enjoy. I really like taking game with my own loads. I got lots of time now, I was a Cherokee marshal ended up getting shot twice in my left hip and thigh with a 9mm shooting federal Hydrashock bullets they recovered both bullets I've got them they expanded perfectly and did a lot of damage but that retired me at 30 yrs old so now I spend lots of time reloading anyway I like shooting my own ammo that I made but to save money haha I believe it's cost me money. 58 calibers but because I like to do it and like I say got the extra time.

 

[RandyP]

I reload for all my centerfire pistol calibers and now .223. I don't reload for my Mosin Nagant rifle or 12ga.

I use only two powders - all pistol done with Win 231/HP-38 and for AR fodder I use H335. Keeps things simple.

 

[Mauser69]

If I shoot it, I reload it. It is something I like to do, and I like to save money, even in small amounts. The only exceptions are the rimfires, and I really don't shoot much of those now. .38 poppers are generally a better choice to me than .22LR, and my .22-250 beats the snot out of any other rimfire option!

 

[RealGun]

Would I be in the minority if I load half of my caliber footprint, and buy factory for the other half?

I currently reload .45ACP, .40 S&W, .30/06, and .270WSM (for my father). I also shoot 6.8SPC, .30/30, and .223, but don't currently load for these. Am debating on whether or not it is worth it for the last calibers. I get good groups from factory ammo at .30/30 ranges, .223 will never be cost-effective, especially on my single-stage press (which I have no desire to graduate from), and 6.8SPC doesn't get shot very often, I bought it so my kids can have an adjustable LOP rifle for deer hunting when they start. My next, if there is a next, would be .30/30, but I am still on the fence.

I am just wondering, for the sake of curiosity, if the majority of reloaders are all-or-nothing. Do you who have been in it longer reload every caliber you shoot, or do you still buy only factory ammo for some of your centerfire calibers?

*Edited to clarify the true question I am looking to answer*

While I am certainly influenced by knowledge of what others are doing, I do whatever makes sense to me, as should you, without feeling a need for validation from others.

Just a comment about 30-30. I found availability of brass to be quite seasonal, so plan ahead. For a tube feed lever gun I chose the semi-jacketed, round nose, Hornady bullet, which also will take some research and planning ahead.

 

[badkarmamib]

While I am certainly influenced by knowledge of what others are doing, I do whatever makes sense to me, as should you, without feeling a need for validation from others.

Just a comment about 30-30. I found availability of brass to be quite seasonal, so plan ahead. For a tube feed lever gun I chose the semi-jacketed, round nose, Hornady bullet, which also will take some research and planning ahead.

Thanks. I am mostly just curious if most reloaders load for everything, just their favorite calibers, just what is cost-effective, etc. Looks like there are a lot of different opinions, but I truly enjoy making my own. My. 30/06, while not a tack-driver, has seen an amazing increase in precision with (relatively) cheap SST hunting bullets. My pistol plinking costs 1/4 of what it used to, since I now use lead. I took the plunge, and ordered the dies for .30-30. I am looking forward to learning how to properly crimp for a tubular magazine. I have been saving brass for a while now, as I have for all calibers I own, even the one(s) I still have no interest in loading for (YET).

 

[Hondo 60]

I reload because I like to and I get better accuracy that way. I don't think cost savings enters in much when you consider aquisition of more dies, more components and shooting more but don't tell your wife that.

Yup, +1

The only calibers I don't reload are the rimfires - .22lr & .22wmr

I currently reload for 12 calibers.
And I don't have a .40 S&W, so I may add that, although I don't like having to bend over to pick up the brass.
(which is why I don't own one.)

Maybe a revolver in .40 S&W???

 

[Buckeye357]

I reload everything except shotshells . I load 38 Special,357mag,44 mag, 45 ACP,and 9mm for my pistols and 280 Remington, 22-250 Remington and 30-30 for rifle. I reload for the enjoyment and challenge not so much for cost savings. I started loading 22-250 in the mid eighties and enjoyed the time spent building my reloading bench and learning to reload with my uncle and watching the groups shrink at the range. I was hooked!

 

[pert near]

I'm not totally paranoid (I don't think) but it just seems right that for every pistol or rifle I own I also have the equipment to load for it, come what may. That about 4 or 5 handgun cartridges & a dozen rifles cartridges. Additionally, I swage .22 RF cases into .224 bullets. I can load AR ammo for about $.08 a shot, BUT I'll never recover the equipment investment cost!!...LOL

 

[bob40caliber]

I reload 10 different calibers.
Everything I shoot except Shotgun, which I rarely shoot.

 

[mstreddy]

OP, I'm closer to all than to some. I have dies and components to load all the centerfire rifle and handgun and cartridges I own. Even though there are a few that I haven't loaded yet. For some cartridges, reloading allows me to shoot rifles that would be almost impossible, or very expensive, to find ammo for - 30-40 Krag, 6.5 Jap, 7.7 Jap and now 10.4x47. 9MM is the one I load the most of, as it's what I shoot the most of. It accounts for 1/2 of all the rounds I've reloaded.

Handgun
32 ACP
9MM
38 Spcl
357 Mag
38 Super
380 ACP
40 S&W
45 ACP
45 GAP
45 Colt
7.62x25 *
5.7x28 * (both pistol/rifle)

Rifle
223 Rem
6.5x55 Swede
6.8 SPC for buddy
6.5x50 Jap
30 Carbine
300 Blackout
30-30
30-40 Krag
308 Win
30-06
7.62x39
7.62x54R *
7.5x55 Swiss *
7.7x58 Jap
.303 Brit
8MM Mauser *
10.4x47 Vetterli *

* have not loaded yet.

I think you'll enjoy reloading the 30-30. It's a good round to load for, easy to get working right.

 

[mstreddy]

BUT I'll never recover the equipment investment cost!!...LOL

Pert, if you run some numbers, you'll find that the reloading equipment costs are actually quick to recoup, particularly, if you shoot any decent volume.

Wait, you're talking about the swaging equipment costs - right? Yeah, those are pretty steep. ... never mind...

 

[DM~]

Last time I counted my die sets, I had something over 50 different sets... BUT, I no longer load, using all of them.

DM

 

[clearcut]

I reload for every thing I shoot but .25 acp. I don't have dies yet .22 rimfire is on order .22 wrm will be next, I also cast for most all cal. powder coat and gas check too.

CC

 

[pert near]

Pert, if you run some numbers, you'll find that the reloading equipment costs are actually quick to recoup, particularly, if you shoot any decent volume.

Wait, you're talking about the swaging equipment costs - right? Yeah, those are pretty steep. ... never mind...

I agree, I've paid for my reloading equipment many times over with savings over factory ammo.

Yes, I was talking about the swaging which cost me about a $1000. to set-up. A grand will buy a lot of .224 bullets! But I really enjoy it & I love the look on peoples face when I hand them a bullet with a rim fire logo on it's base. The usual reply is "How'd you do that?".

 

[gojuice101]

I shoot about 12 different calibers. I cast and reload for everything I shoot, except 7.62x39 and 7.62x54R (except for hunting rounds). Bulk ammo is cheap enough for those that it isn't really worth it to me to reload. They don't get shot very much anyway, unlike the handguns and ARs.

 

[SARuger]

I reload everything I shoot except .22LR and 20guage. .380ACP, 9mm, .38spcl, .357mag, 45ACP, .44mag, .223, .243, 30-30 and 30-06

 

[WelshShooter]

Being in the UK, it is cost effective to pretty much handload every centrefire calibre. In addition, a lot of factory ammunition (where available) does not suit my needs. For example, I shoot .357 and .30 carbine indoors at a gallery rifle range. Due to energy limitations of the back stop we are limited to certain loads. All factory .357 and .30 carbine loads exceed these limitations therefore I need to use reduced handloads using fast pistol powder.

It's also the only way I can afford to shoot milsurps. Factory .303 and 8x57IS is around £80 per hundred rounds (over a dollar a round) but when I handload it costs me £50 per hundred rounds which is a great cost saving exercise.

I also handload for precision calibres (i.e. 6.5x47) to ensure I squeeze as much performance as possible out of the rifle and calibre.

 

[KW-HD Rider]

I too reload for almost all of my rifles, pistols, and revolvers except .22 and .17hmr. I do have an old 7.65 arg mauser I bought 40 years ago that I do not reload for but the others; .223, .243, .308, 30-06, .300 Savage, 38/.357, .44, and even 9mm get fed a steady diet of handloads. I enjoy precision rifle reloading and even the old Savage 99 EG will group nicely with handloads specifically for that rifle. Like most others I enjoy the challenge of reloading and the 100% concentration on reloading clears my mind of other things.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I reload every metallic center fire round I shoot.

In fact when I purchase a new rifle or handgun, I figure the price of dies, brass and bullet mold (if its handgun) into the price.

 

[morcey2]

I have the capability to reload every centerfire cartridge I shoot although I don't load all of them. My 257 Roberts has never seen a factory round. One of my 7x57s, on the other hand, shoots extremely well with 139 gr Prvi Partizan factory loads and I haven't been able to find a handload (yet) that shoots as well. I do load quite a bit of 12 ga simply to have 7/8 and 1 oz light loads to be a little easier on my shoulder.

Matt

 

[GRIZ22]

I have dies for 17 calibers. Haven't loaded 9mm in years and stock up when it's $10-12 a box. Its hard to beat that price reloading unless you cast bullets from free lead. Don't reload for 25 acp, 303, 8x57, or 7.62x54r. Don't shoot 25 that much and have sufficient supply of surplus ammo for the three rifle calibers. Never loaded a shotgun she'll on my life. Someone gave me a shotgun press. When I found out what shot, primers, and wads cost it wasn't worth my effort.

 

[Walkalong]

I reload everything but shotgun, and also buy some steel cased 7.62X39 even though I load it as well.

 

[dh1633pm]

I can reload for everything that I own. Some I don't or don't very much due to low cost of ammo. Example never reloaded 30 carbine, but I have brass, bullets, and even dies.

 

[horsemen61]

If I have it I load for it I love doing it

 

[readyeddy]

I load for all except 7.62x39. That comes out to about a dozen cartridges, including .223. It's mostly for cost savings, but also for quality. All ammo related rifle malfunctions I've seen have been with factory ammo, inlcuding premium factory ammo.