Do you reload?
- Thread starter KJS
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M2 Carbine
member
Some people use the excuse, "I don't have time to reload".
I don't especially like reloading, so I don't take time from other things to reload.
My press is set up all the time so at any time I can start turning out ammo as soon as I sit down. So, instead of wasting time doing something like watching the liberal talking heads on the TV news, I use the time to reload a few boxes of ammo.
Add to this I buy reloading components in bulk on sale, when I can find it, I build up a lot of inexpensive ammo. Mostly my reloads run about $4.00 a box.
slowbutsure
Member
M2 Carbine.... Good thing you don't live in California. They have a law that would put you in jail. I also reload in great quantity. So, I would be in the cell next to you.
.380/9MM/.38 SPL
.308/.300 Sav./6mm Rem/7Rem Mag/M1 carbine
sbs
.380/9MM/.38 SPL
.308/.300 Sav./6mm Rem/7Rem Mag/M1 carbine
sbs
ErikO
Member
I voted yes as I am going to be starting very shortly. I pick up all brass and now that I'm tempted to start swaging I'll be scrounging my wife's .22lr empties, too. lol
Ditto!
mljdeckard
Member
I am currently reloading:
9mm
.45 ACP
22-250
.30 carbine
.257 Roberts
.270 Win
30-06
.308 and 243 starting soon
I have come to realize a couple of things. How cartridges are made and tested is really half the hobby here. If you don't at least know how, you are really missing out. The other thing can be summed up with the realization that I just bought a bunch of bulk once-fired .45 brass from Midway, and it's about $.11 a case. Yep those are DIMES you are leaving on the ground. Does it STILL seem like a good idea to leave them there for someone else? If it does, thank you in advance.
9mm
.45 ACP
22-250
.30 carbine
.257 Roberts
.270 Win
30-06
.308 and 243 starting soon
I have come to realize a couple of things. How cartridges are made and tested is really half the hobby here. If you don't at least know how, you are really missing out. The other thing can be summed up with the realization that I just bought a bunch of bulk once-fired .45 brass from Midway, and it's about $.11 a case. Yep those are DIMES you are leaving on the ground. Does it STILL seem like a good idea to leave them there for someone else? If it does, thank you in advance.
mljdeckard
Member
Seriously guys, a Lee hand press is $32 from Midway. We all started somewhere.
mgmorden
Member
Indeed. With the startup costs for handloading being well under $100 I don't see price as a factor in people not starting up. It pays for itself within a dozen boxes of ammo.
Space, effort, or just plain fear, then sure, but if you claim price as a reason to not reload then you're either not being honest with yourself or you're grossly mistaken on the actual startup cost.
For sure this is true. But it also is harder to shoot mounds of ammo through a revolver. I reload for both, and I probably save about the same for 9mm as .357, just because of volume of shooting. Yeah, the 9mm flies everywhere, but after I'm done shooting my Glock 19, I can practically shovel a whole tumbler full of brass into my range bag.
This poll is probably useless. 9 out of 10 reloaders might take the time to click on this poll to answer "yes." But 9 out of 10 who don't reload might ignore the thread, altogether.
Certaindeaf
member
Yea, reloading is all about being on your knees. Have fun bending over at the checkout counter.
I believe in the principle 'never do anything yourself you can get someone else to do better than you can.'
There are lots of good internet deals on ammo.
Deaf Smith
Member
Of course I reload. Been doing that since I was 15 and that's a mighty long time ago!
Deaf
Deaf
That is a very very small part of reloading. I hope that is not actually part of the equation for someone when they are deciding about reloading. I can get anyone here a good deal on a blue tarp. The gold and blue colors contrast nicely
To each his own. For me it's just another facet of the shooting sport with its own body of knowledge.
On the plus side, a lot of us just enjoy reloading, especially for different purposes, such as hunting vs paper punching. I've reloaded for pistol (including semis), rifle and shotgun. You can usually save a good bit of money over time...and then find an excuse to spend it on newer equipment. It's also useful for those odd calibers that you can't buy, like .357 Remington Maximum. It's now hard to get brass for this caliber.
On the minus side, it costs money (not necessarily a lot of money) to get started reloading and, like shooting, requires your full attention. Apart from potential injuries to yourself and others, the gun manufacturers' warranties typically won't be honored if they find that your firearm was damaged by a reload. I wouldn't let that deter someone from learning to reload, but it's one more reason for those who aren't interested in it.
On the plus side, a lot of us just enjoy reloading, especially for different purposes, such as hunting vs paper punching. I've reloaded for pistol (including semis), rifle and shotgun. You can usually save a good bit of money over time...and then find an excuse to spend it on newer equipment. It's also useful for those odd calibers that you can't buy, like .357 Remington Maximum. It's now hard to get brass for this caliber.
On the minus side, it costs money (not necessarily a lot of money) to get started reloading and, like shooting, requires your full attention. Apart from potential injuries to yourself and others, the gun manufacturers' warranties typically won't be honored if they find that your firearm was damaged by a reload. I wouldn't let that deter someone from learning to reload, but it's one more reason for those who aren't interested in it.
shootniron
Member
Yes...it is the only way that I can afford my son.
mgmorden
Member
While there is a cost savings with reloading that I love (and honestly is the primary reason I do reload), I actually consider my reloads better than factory ammo. For one factory ammo in certain configs is very sparse on selection (ie, in 9mm I shoot 147gr pretty much exclusively). For another though, I can test my loads of various powder types at various power levels. For competition that allows me to drop down to the lowest power level that makes the minimum while providing the least recoil, as well as picking a powder that produces an accurate load.
Compared to something that tailored factory ammo is like rolling dice.
mljdeckard
Member
I just bought a pile of once-fired brass from Midway. The .45s are about $.11 a round. So, I understand if you can't be bothered to bend over to pick those thick dimes up. You know what? It's ok. I got it. Don't strain yourself.
Easy:
1. Shoot revolvers and profit.
2. Shoot so much semiauto ammo that you can just scoop it up by the shovel full. Then think of all the money you just "saved" by shooting 300 rds of reloads.
When I shot store bought ammo, I tried to conserve ammo and bring some home. Since I started reloading, my goal is to shoot up all the ammo I lugged there. I'm slowly building my stamina. One of these days, I'll make it.
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fox3
Member
reloader
Yes I reload but am fairly new at it. Just bought some Speer lead 45 acp bullets and trying to find info on reloading those rounds
Yes I reload but am fairly new at it. Just bought some Speer lead 45 acp bullets and trying to find info on reloading those rounds
mljdeckard
Member
Do you have the Speer reloading manual? I bet Amazon has a used one for a few bucks.
Robbins290
Member
i messed the vote, but yes. i reload.
smalls
Member
I've been saving brass for the past two years, and I plan on starting soon. I'm kind of broke right now, so if I buy anything, it'd probably be a lee hand press, so I think I may wait for christmas and ask for a nicer press.
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