You really don't sound like you want to do it. If you don't love it you probably won't. I enjoy doing it with my family but being to I don't have much free time I don't loads often. It will cut into your shooting time if you didn't have free time to start with. If you watch allot of TV your shooting time may increase since the ammo doesn't cost add much or you "have to test this load".
Is now the time to start reloading?
- Thread starter Highland Ranger
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I got into it this year. Always wanted to, but something else always got in the way or demanded the money. For me, it serves as a study break on the weekends. I can go out to the garage and load a couple rounds to relax. I guess I've been under a lot of tension lately - reloaded about 400 9mm in the past 3 weekends.
Centurian22
Member
I'll join the "no better time than the present" crowd. I got lucky and ordered all my stuff in early Dec before things went crazy. Definitely do you research and find what you can for deals. If the prices bother you too much, watch for them to come down. Components are harder to find but still possible. Kingmt makes a good point about needing to want to do it. Otherwise you will waste time money and space.
USSR
Member
LOL, the eternal optimist. Once you start reloading and figure out you can make better ammo for less than half what store bought ammo costs even when/if it returns to pre-panic prices, you won't be selling your reloading gear.
Don
DeadFlies
Member
Today is a good day to start reloading. Yesterday is better, but tomorrow may be too late.
silicosys4
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LOL, the eternal optimist. Once you start reloading and figure out you can make better ammo for less than half what store bought ammo costs even when/if it returns to pre-panic prices, you won't be selling your reloading gear.
Don
We've been here before. 2009 was a GREAT time to be buying used reloading gear.
four months ago .308 was $250/500. You could reload 1k .308 rounds for about $250. Now you can barely reload it for $250/500. Components to reload .308 have tripled, when you can find them. Maybe things have changed, but last I saw, Dillon Progressive presses are running a 6 month backorder. In six months you'll be able to get components again for MUCH cheaper than it is now. To gear up now is to be sitting on a bunch of overpriced components and reloading gear six months from now.
There will be plenty of reloading gear for sale, from people who thought reloading would be the only way to shoot, and then realized that ammo is available again, and want to do something with their time other than reload each saturday to go shooting on sunday.
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I've decided that now is a great time for me to get a class 6 license and start selling my ammo. I haven't had much trouble finding components. Have about 80k primers, bunch of powder, picking up 10k 9mm cases next Tuesday @ about $.03 each.
I believe I can easily make a couple-thousand bucks monthly with my little 650. Ordered a bullet feeder for it last night.
I believe I can easily make a couple-thousand bucks monthly with my little 650. Ordered a bullet feeder for it last night.
There's no reason to wait to buy equipment -- those prices aren't ridiculously high right now and availability is decent.
Components, as others have said, are overpriced and tough to come by.
I second other peoples' recommendations that you also start setting money aside to either buy components as they come available or factory ammo once prices and supply stabilize.
Components, as others have said, are overpriced and tough to come by.
I second other peoples' recommendations that you also start setting money aside to either buy components as they come available or factory ammo once prices and supply stabilize.
Component prices haven't changed much, for the folks that are smart and patient.
Can't do much about the panicky types who pay crazy prices. Some people are willfully dumb, though it is a poor way to go through life.
Now is definitely the time to get into reloading, just not the easiest for finding supplies.
There are a couple options, pay for factory ammo and kill your wallet. Start gathering the gear and components so you can keep shooting without breaking the bank. Or take up fishing or tennis or some such.
Fishing ain't bad, as long as it ain't ice fishing. Ice fishing sucks, worse than tennis.
Can't do much about the panicky types who pay crazy prices. Some people are willfully dumb, though it is a poor way to go through life.
Now is definitely the time to get into reloading, just not the easiest for finding supplies.
There are a couple options, pay for factory ammo and kill your wallet. Start gathering the gear and components so you can keep shooting without breaking the bank. Or take up fishing or tennis or some such.
Fishing ain't bad, as long as it ain't ice fishing. Ice fishing sucks, worse than tennis.
cowtownup
Member
Be careful getting into reloading... Its addicting and can cause a large spike in the amount of ammo you have on hand..
silicosys4
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lightman
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I guess it boils down to being a judgement call, start now or wait. Both sides have valid arguments. I personally would wait a few months and see if prices come down any or availability gets better. But, I've been set up to reload forever, and have enough ammo/components to last a while, thus the reason behind my opinion. Good Luck in your choice, whichever way you decide to go. Lightman
splattergun
Member
I did the same thing, collected brass and let the idea bounce around for years. I managed to get into the hobby while tools and supplies were abundant. Since then, I've reconsidered the 'economic viability' aspect. Sure, most of the ammo I load is less expensive than (normal price) retail, but where I find the "value" is in the hobby itself.
I take a lot of pleasure in rolling my own. I like learning. I like concentrating on the details. I like building up my stockpile with what works best in my guns.
I like to se how my efforts perform with real-time feedback. Nothing like blowing the guts out of a line of water jugs or knocking a buck over with your own build!
I can't tell you if now is the right time to begin buying tools and supplies, but I can tell you that it is the time to start learning about it.
Step One; get The ABCs of Reloading, most any volume will do. Buy a new hard copy or download a free (old) edition. A search will find lots of sources. Get another loading manual or three and study those as well.
Step Two; Decide what calibers you want to load for, and for what purpose. Read and study the stickies on this forum. That will help you decide what tools and components you will want to get.
Step Three; Watch for availability, Supplies will be returning eventually. Weeks, months, I can't say. But I do see some stores with somewhat less naked shelves. You don't have to pay gouge prices if you're patient.
If you put a Want to Buy post in the for sale forum here, you just might find decent used gear at decent prices.
Step Four; Load, shoot, repeat.
788Ham
Member
Start getting things ordered tonight ! You'd mentioned you have some factory ammo, save that. Getting started soon will help you in the long run, not next week mind you, but starting now will be better than say June! As I was telling you, the door bell just rang, some bullets I'd ordered 5 months ago just arrived, don't give up hope.
Get what you can now, store it until you can get to pumping out some rounds, it'll be worth it in the long run!
Get what you can now, store it until you can get to pumping out some rounds, it'll be worth it in the long run!
USSR
Member
For those of you who think the current drought is like the one in 2009, there are some MAJOR differences. First, the election of a Democrat in 2008 without any promise or threat of anti-gun legislation was enough to cause a drought that primarily affected primers and other reloading components. Virtually untouched were firearms and other shooting supplies, and it basically lasted for about a year and a half. Now let's look at the basis of the current drought. The president and his party and several states have come out after a shooting tragedy promoting extensive anti-gun legislation, and the media is doing it's best to support/promote this legislation. Now you have a direct threat to the 2nd Amendment as most of us perceive it, and not only reloading component shelves are bare, but ammo and guns are not to be found as well. In 2009, you could find and buy rimfire ammo, but not this time. For those of you who believe this will all go away in 6 months time, please tell us what is going to make the current administration and liberal politicians change their mind about gun control, which after all is the impetus behind the fear which is manifesting itself as a run on all things related to the shooting sports? This ain't 2009, guys.
Don
Don
I've been seeing ammo on the shelf. Guns have been back for a while. ARs are selling as fast as they come in yet.
Thing is if you don't like it then it isn't worth the money. I pumped my septic last year. I bought a pump for about half what it would cost me to have it done. After the third time of cleaning wipes out of the pump I was wishing I'd had it done.
Thing is if you don't like it then it isn't worth the money. I pumped my septic last year. I bought a pump for about half what it would cost me to have it done. After the third time of cleaning wipes out of the pump I was wishing I'd had it done.
Speedster00
Member
Im one of those guys that decided to just get now get into reloading. Its taken about 6 weeks to obtain everything I need and I didnt get robbed on any of it. I found a shop in Nashville outside my parents that had everything just sitting there...
I was on a 3 month wait for the Lee turret press and they had one on the shelf for standard prices. Along with thousands of primers and pounds of powder..So it took me some time but you know what? I can build 45ACP with my brass 100 rnds for $15. And thats at the prices currently on powder/primers etc. So to anyone that says prices are too high and you'll "pay obamathon prices" is not true. I just did it in the last few weeks. The cost of my press, tumbler, etc is a cost of the gun hobby. At that price for reloading my ammo, Ill make it up in a year or so easily.
I was on a 3 month wait for the Lee turret press and they had one on the shelf for standard prices. Along with thousands of primers and pounds of powder..So it took me some time but you know what? I can build 45ACP with my brass 100 rnds for $15. And thats at the prices currently on powder/primers etc. So to anyone that says prices are too high and you'll "pay obamathon prices" is not true. I just did it in the last few weeks. The cost of my press, tumbler, etc is a cost of the gun hobby. At that price for reloading my ammo, Ill make it up in a year or so easily.
johnandersonoutdoors
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I would go ahead and get started now. I am pretty new to reloading as well, and purchased much of my equipment starting in early fall 2012.
Even though components can be hard to find at this time, there is so much to learn so if you pick up some primers/powder/bullets for the caliber you want to load now you will be good to go for a while anyway. You will probably be reloading slowly at first. By the time components become easier to find you will have probably figured out a couple of "recipes" and then you can kick it into high gear.
Even though components can be hard to find at this time, there is so much to learn so if you pick up some primers/powder/bullets for the caliber you want to load now you will be good to go for a while anyway. You will probably be reloading slowly at first. By the time components become easier to find you will have probably figured out a couple of "recipes" and then you can kick it into high gear.
witchhunter
Member
I agree with the Queen, now is as good a time as any. But, since the component shortage is upon us, you can spend some time researching which press, etc. You should have plenty of time to figure out exactly what you are going to buy, maybe have time to save up for it too.
FROGO207
Member
If you reload there is always the option to change components around and thus use what is available allowing you to be much more flexible. Or make a custom/obsolete load that nobody makes for any amount money. I always find I can load more accuracy into my finished ammo without really trying that hard. Yes there is some effort involved to reload and as such the time invested has to be worth it to you first and foremost. If you plan to just throw some ammo together until the factory ammo is available again I question the decision.
It can be a large commitment, at least up front with components/time spent but in a few months (learning curve) you will most likely be very glad you did. Presently the reloading equipment is more available than the component parts of the ammo but that should ease in the near future IMHO. If you can find a local mentor he already has the necessary equipment to teach you now so that when you eventually find and buy the needed stuff you can make cost saving informed choices.
Yes there is some effort involved to reload and as such the time invested has to be worth it to you first and foremost. If you plan to just throw some ammo together until the factory ammo is available again I question the decision. It can be a large commitment, at least up front with components/time spent but in a few months (learning curve) you will most likely be very glad you did. Presently the reloading equipment is more available than the component parts of the ammo but that should ease in the near future IMHO. If you can find a local mentor he already has the necessary equipment to teach you now so that when you eventually find and buy the needed stuff you can make cost saving informed choices.kyhunter
Member
Get started as soon as you can. Components havent been targeted and once a week or so some company will have primers, powders, and projo's in stock. The presses can still be found for pre panic prices. Youll enjoy it and its a good way to spend otherwise wasted tv time away from the tv and the rest of the world. Read your manuals, take it slow and before you know it youll be shooting more and saving more. Especially with the prices and scarcity of ammo lately. Happy Shooting
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