Do you reload everything, or not?

[Devilfrog]

I reload for all my range needs with the exception of .22 Rimfire, 7.62x39 & 54 and shotgun.

 

[DM~]

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?".

I have been casting bullets since the 60's and started "swaging" in the 70's... I still have 5 or 6 swage press', and several swage die sets, including 22's from rim fire cases.

In another life , I designed/swaged and sold "bonded core" copper jacketed bullets, so I got into it pretty deep, but I haven't swaged a bullet in a LONG time. It became a job! lol

SR

 

[pert near]

IMHO, handloading is a hobby in itself that enhances the shooting sports. I realize the minutia is not for everyone. Today's factory ammo is better than ever & can match a good handload, something that wasn't always true. I got into casting & swaging, that complimented my handloading, that complimented my shooting. But to each his own...

During the last presidential administration & fearing even a worse continued administration, I decided to spend the money to swage RF cases into bullets. It is fun & without being too paranoid, I like that I can make as many .224 as I want at almost no cost. Used swaging presses & dies are hard to find & the used cost reflects the scarcity. I have no doubt that I could recover most if not all my investment if I ever chose - at least that is my rationale.

 

[mahansm]

I reload all my handgun calibers (except .22lr) but have several rifles that I don't load for. I do load .223 (both bulk and special target/long range) and have dies for .308. However, the .243, the .270, the 7.62x39, the .30-30, and the Garands make do on factory fodder. The .243, the .270, and one of the .308's (Steyr Scout) are hunting pieces and only get a few rounds a year. The 7.62x39 rifles just don't seem to make it to the range (one is still in cosmoline). The .30-30 is an heirloom from my grandfather, serial number puts it as manufactured in 1928, and it hasn't been fired in at least 20 years.

 

[joed]

I have some guns that I don't reload, 9mm, .30-30, .35 Remington and .40 S&W. I don't shoot enough .30-30 to make it practical, 9mm is to easy to just buy ammo and .40 S&W is a new one to me. I do have dies for .35 Rem as that one may soon be obsolete.

 

[Swampman]

I have weapons in the following chamberings:

.22 S/L & LR
5.56x45/.223 Rem.
.25 ACP
.257 Roberts
.257 Roberts Ackley Imp.
6.5x55 SKAN
7x57mm Mauser
7.62x25 Tok
.30 US Carbine
300 Blackout
30-30 Winchester
7.62x51/.308 Winchester
7.5x55 Swiss
30-06
7.62x39 Russian
7.62x54R Russian
.303 British
8x57mm Mauser
.338 Winchester Magnum
9x19mm Parabellum
.357 SIG
9mm Makarov
.375 H&H
.44 Special
.44 Magnum
.45 ACP
20 Gauge
12 Gauge

I reload for all of the centerfires except the .25 ACP and 20 Gauge. I shoot them so rarely that it just isn't worth it to me to buy the equipment and components to do so.

I cast and reload for buckshot and slugs in 12 Gauge, but I buy most of my field loads.

I have the capability of loading the following chamberings, but I don't currently have weapons to shoot them in.

.222 Remington
.270 Winchester
.300 Savage
30-40 Krag
.300 H&H Magnum
.38 Special
.357 Magnum
.44 Automag
.460 Rowland

 

[kcofohio]

I reload for all our center fired cartridges. 6 in handguns and 3 in rifles.
I'm like many have said. I do it mainly because I enjoy doing it. Some cartridges I may save on. Some, probably not. You can RYO to custom. So many options to choose from

 

[P5 Guy]

I just added a 5.56x45 but as yet no dies for reloading, I do have cases, primers and bullets.
38/357 revolvers I cannot remember the last time I bought ammunition, same goes for the 44SPL.
I have loaded .30'06 but I rarely do handload because I have thousands of rounds still.
9mm same as .30'06 and the pricing is competitive to reloading.
I do not reload 7.62x39 mostly because I have little or no brass and have only been shooting the iron cased stuff over the past decade or so.
Reloading is a major part of the shooting hobby for me.

 

[lightman]

I load for everything that I shoot except for 22 rim fire and shot shell. I just don't shoot enough shotgun anymore.

 

[Capybara]

I reload:

Pistol
9x18 Mak
9mm
.45 ACP

Rifle
.223
7.62x39
.303 British
7.5mm Swiss
.30-06
.30-30

I don't reload 7.62x54r yet for the Mosins. Mosins, other than my Finn M39 are not accurate enough to see much benefit to reloading and .312/.313 bullets are expensive. I have quite a few spam cans of Bulgarian Silvertip, Ukranian ammo that I paid about .14 per round for years ago put away, even a few thousand of the Czech low recoil training ammo so I am fine as far as ammo to shoot, I just can't see the logic to reloading Mosin food that is two or three times as expensive as milsurp. I like reloading 7.62x39 but my AK throws the brass so far, it is frustrating trying to keep track of expensive and hard to find 7.62x39 brass. Same story with my Tokarev, 7.62x25 would be a great caliber to reload but the pistol flings the brass really far so I am on the fence on reloading for it so far. I sold off my 8mm Mausers for the same reason, have you ever priced out .323 bullets? Ridiculous and 8mm ammo in general is pretty difficult to find at reasonable costs, even for Romanian surplus.

I am thinking about buying my first distance rifle, a Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 Creedmore, that would be my first attempt at loading precision, long range ammo, which could be fun. Shotgun, I shoot clays, there is basically no savings over reloading compared to cheap Walmart shotgun ammo. If I hunted or had gauges other than 12 and 20, I would reload shotgun but all I do with shotguns in shoot clays so it's just not worth it. Sure, you can make slightly more accurate loads but at the same price as you pay for Winchester Super Targets from Walmart. If I am realizing no cost savings, my time is too valuable.

So in a nutshell, I reload most of my calibers, but not all.

 

[1KPerDay]

I reload all handguns except .25 ACP but I'm saving brass for that. Kinda rare to shoot it so haven't sprung for the dies yet. I haven't reloaded .223, .30-30, .270, or 8mm Mauser yet but I have dies and am saving brass. When I run out of factory I'll start reloading. I do load .30-06 for Garands and .308 for M1A, and M1 Carbine for carbines. Not a big game hunter so I don't shoot rifles a lot outside of 3-gun and the occasional trip to the desert. I'd love to hunt but my dad wasn't around to teach me much and seems like everyone else doesn't want to share their secrets. Which I understand.

I also have dies for .25-35 and .32-40 if ever manage to get my dad's old 1894s up and running again.

 

[mstreddy]

1K, if you would like it, I have a bunch of 25 ACP brass I can send your way. It's around 100 pieces, once fired, picked up at indoor range. PM me your info and I'll send it.

 

[RunninLate]

I have a bunch of dies for different calibers but never though of looking for 25 ACP dies. I have about 10 boxes of ammo for the past 15 years and I think the last time I shot a 25 ACP was 30 years ago. With that said, if I found a used set of dies I would buy them just to have and still probably not shoot that caliber.

 

[WestKentucky]

Anymore I just buy dies for calibers i know I will end up with...sometimes long before I consider buying the gun. Perfect example...my gear box includes 2 en bloc clips, 30-06 dies, and a big empty hole where a garand belongs.

Only thing I don't load for yet is .380 (I dislike the caliber but my wife has a glock 42) although I'm actively looking to change this problem into 1 more reloaded caliber. I was hoping to find dies on Cyber Monday sales.