Do you still buy factory ammo?

[LeonCarr]

The only factory I buy is:

.22LR when available
Birdshot
Buckshot
Slugs
Defensive Pistol Ammo
Defensive Rifle Ammo

All practice pistol ammo, practice rifle ammo, and hunting rifle ammo is LeonCarr Custom .

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Jlr2267]

Not really, I load it for half price.

I wish I could. I can buy 124gr plated factory ammo for about $10/50...

for me, loading 250 plated rounds costs approximately:

bullets - $25
powder - $3
primers - $7

That comes to ~$15 savings on 250 rounds. I do enjoy reloading, but I get the same enjoyment loading 357 or 44, where I really can save $.

 

[CZ9shooter]

22 and shotshells, yes. Centerfire metalic cartridges, no. Or at least very rarely. Like when aquiring a new cartridge to load I might buy one box of factory ammo just to get a baseline for comparison.

 

[ljnowell]

I wish I could. I can buy 124gr plated factory ammo for about $10/50...

for me, loading 250 plated rounds costs approximately:

bullets - $25
powder - $3
primers - $7

That comes to ~$15 savings on 250 rounds. I do enjoy reloading, but I get the same enjoyment loading 357 or 44, where I really can save $.

I'm currently loading 9mm 115 grain plated(though they are the RMR hardcore match that are more like jacketed) for about 5.25/50.

 

[AABEN]

Yes very little I trying so new ammo on my AR. I reload for all of the guns that I have. I do not reload for my shot guns for I have not shot one for over 20+ years not in to them.

 

[Robert101]

I handload the vast majority of my ammo. Only select SD rounds are purchased.

 

[CraigC]

I do enjoy reloading, but I get the same enjoyment loading 357 or 44, where I really can save $.

I agree. I don't have a whole lot of time to spend reloading, nor do I really want to spend more time than I have to doing such a chore. So loading 9mm to save $5/50rds doesn't really appeal to me. Not when I can save $20-$40/50rds handloading for my revolvers and NOT have to chase brass.

 

[ljnowell]

I agree. I don't have a whole lot of time to spend reloading, nor do I really want to spend more time than I have to doing such a chore. So loading 9mm to save $5/50rds doesn't really appeal to me. Not when I can save $20-$40/50rds handloading for my revolvers and NOT have to chase brass.

It all depends on budget I guess. To me being able to shoot twice as much is always a deal. I don't shoot as much 9mm just because I don't like chasing brass. I still won't toss away money on factory ammo.

 

[CraigC]

We're all on a budget. It's just a matter of prioritizing, balancing time and money. Sometimes you have to spend time to save money, sometimes it's the other way around. Personally, I'd rather spend an hour shooting .44's than reloading 9mm's.

 

[maxxhavoc]

I agree. I don't have a whole lot of time to spend reloading, nor do I really want to spend more time than I have to doing such a chore. So loading 9mm to save $5/50rds doesn't really appeal to me. Not when I can save $20-$40/50rds handloading for my revolvers and NOT have to chase brass.

9mm is my "new .22LR". With the Pro 1k, I can reload 50 rounds in 10 minutes for about $5.00. It's fast and easy, no reason not to save $.

I load the .357/.454 more slowly on a single stage...feels more therapeutic both to load and fire.

And yes, I still buy SD ammo, 7.5x55 and 6.5x55 PPU for the brass, and $10 for 40 7.62x39 FMJ is hard to beat by reloading. Also, I keep a few factory rounds to fire when trying a new recipe so I can establish "normal." Especially with .454 and .357 with 125gr pills, I tend to think I have loaded too hot unless I have a sample round.

 

[ljnowell]

We're all on a budget. It's just a matter of prioritizing, balancing time and money. Sometimes you have to spend time to save money, sometimes it's the other way around. Personally, I'd rather spend an hour shooting .44's than reloading 9mm's.

I'm in a situation where my money is worth more than my time. Not everyone is the same.

 

[FROGO207]

I also buy rimfire and that is about it. Casting your own and reloading it can really lower the cost IMHO. 38 SPL or 9MM for around 5-6 cents each is just what I like to do. Reloading is fun as well so I win both ways. YMMV

 

[Damon555]

Only 22 lr....Never anything else....that's why I reload.

 

[Average Joe]

Not at today's prices.

 

[Hondo 60]

Rarely, yes, but it's to get the brass.

Most recent factory ammo purchase was 2 boxes of 44 Special.
Man that brass is expensive!!!

I was able to easily find cheaper 44 Magnum.

 

[fields]

For friends to shoot.

 

[Wis-Harpo]

Cheap Ammo

On Black Friday in Greenville S.C. Palmetto Armory was selling Winchester 230 grain FMJ "SERVICE GRADE" ammo in a brown box for a few cents under $14. So a little over $14 including tax. So I shot the factory loads, and have 400 Winchester empties. So it was a Win.-win.

 

[Candyman87]

If I get a REALLY good deal, yes.

I just bought a case of Blazer Brass 124 grain 9mm for $190. A little before that I bought 600 rounds of Winchester Service Grade 230 grain .45 ACP for $0.27/round. When I'm at those prices, it's not worth my time to load those calibers.

Instead, I'll focus my time on the rifle calibers and the more cost saving calibers like .38 Special.

I'm not really reloading shotgun shells right now either... last batch of target loads I got for $52/flat or $0.21/round. That's what I'm paying to load them!

If I get the right price, I'll load up on factory... I'll save the brass, and reload it when I'm done.

 

[Shaq]

Yes, mostly for defensive ammo.

Not a good idea to use handloads in a defensive situation, legally speaking.

 

[Sapper771]

Yes. Mainly because I dont have a lot of free time to reload right now. I usually buy the cheapest stuff I can get like Tula or Perfecta.

Just picked up a Winchester Forged 150 round brick of 9mm for $32. Its steel cased. Looked interesting. I am hoping to be able to try it out this weekend.

 

[ZWCoffindaffer]

Yes, mostly for defensive ammo.

Not a good idea to use handloads in a defensive situation, legally speaking.

I know this isnt what my thread was about, but I'm glad you mentioned it. I keep seeing this over and over and over. What's the logic behind this statement? How would anyone even know its a handload once its already spent? I know people, including some cop friends, that couldnt walk into my loading room and tell me the difference in my stuff and the factory stuff laying around. How and the world would they figure it out once the bullet and powder are gone and the primer is burnt on the inside?

 

[RandyP]

Rimfire and my SD ammo, also when teaching newbies and renting a gun of interest, my local indoor ranges require buying their ammo to use in their rentals.

 

[blue32]

I still buy a few boxes of 32 auto even though I reload everything I shoot. I haven't been able to duplicate one of Remington's 185 gr JHP load (RTP45AP2) and even though I don't use it for carry, it makes a satisfying thump and muzzle flash. I still buy lower end hollow point loads every now and then should my preferred load be discontinued or out of stock.

 

[Muddydogs]

I know this isnt what my thread was about, but I'm glad you mentioned it. I keep seeing this over and over and over. What's the logic behind this statement? How would anyone even know its a handload once its already spent? I know people, including some cop friends, that couldnt walk into my loading room and tell me the difference in my stuff and the factory stuff laying around. How and the world would they figure it out once the bullet and powder are gone and the primer is burnt on the inside?

This has been hashed out on the web for years. What it comes down to is no one can produce any specific case law where a good shoot turned bad for the shooter because they used hand loads. Hand loads have been brought up a few times in court and the don't use hand loads deal was started. Last time I followed a thread pertaining to this subject the general censuses was the no hand load deal was hog wash.

Personally I trust myself and hand loads more then I trust a mass produced ammunition so I carry hand loads. I only load carry ammo on my single stage press where I scrutinize every step and weight out every powder charge so the load is the best it can be. I got luck with my .40 ammo as Rocky Mountain Reloading had pulled Speer Gold Dot bullets at one time which I picked up 1000 of. I set the progressive press up to load my carry load and cranked out 1000 practice carry loads so I have plenty of practice rounds and don't waist my good carry ammo.

To answer the original question I don't even look at factory ammo in the store as I load for everything including shotguns. Most of my firearms have only seen 20 or so factory rounds that were purchased when the firearm was purchased.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I bought a box of 22 TCM when I bought the gun. With little data available I needed something for comparison.

Before that, I bought my kid a can of 9mm, PCM reloads. I had just given him a P-38. This was at the beginning of the huge ammo panic, and was the last 9mm I saw on store shelves for some 3 years.

That is all the factory ammo I have purchased since I started reloading this last time, in 2009.