Is reloading really worth it

[Remllez]

I gave up league shooting and reloading in 1976 when my youngest was born and packed up all the gear, then when he got his own place and started shooting he asked if he could "borrow the reloading stuff in the basement".

Long story short he's now in the position I was in in 1976 and he asked me if I wanted my stuff back. My question is. Should I get back into reloading at this stage of my life?

I still try to shoot at least once a week and my monthly round count is under 500 rounds or so. I've been buying factory loaded ammo in bulk for a long time now but it seems to be getting very expensive. Or is it just me?

I forgot to mention I would be reloading revolver rounds....(.357/.38 and 9mm.)

 

[MADDOG]

Yes---I did the same thing years ago. I was to busy with work and raising kids and put my reloading equipment away for many years. As I got closer to retirement I started thinking about starting up again. Over the years I bought powder, primers, cases and bullets whenever I found them cheap. I got it all out and I am reloading again and shooting more. Even though my press is an old 3 hole Lee Turret Press it is working just fine for me again. I say get it out and get loading.

 

[RugerBob]

Well, if you already have the tools, why not. Got brass if you saved yours. Just need powder and primers right?
Calibers would help. Some ammo is not as money saving as others. Since I cast I load a box of 50 count 45acp for about 3 bucks. Thats figuring 3 cents each for primers and powder per round.
If you buy jacketed, about 6-7 bucks a box I believe.
the wife and I go through about 4000 rounds each of 45LC and 38spl.
just my 2 cents.

 

[SaxonPig]

Depends.

It is cheaper than buying ammo, but what is your time worth? My wife's boss in a big shot lawyer who charges $250 an hour... will he save money by spending an hour reloading a box of 38s? No. What is your time worth?

Some calibers require loading your own, like the 38 S&W for example. hard to find and pricey when you do. I have a couple of rifles in obsolete calibers so no factory fodder is even available. I have one wildcat caliber rifle and that's the same situation.

Loading your own is sometimes economically logical. Required for some calibers, and advisable for others where high performance factory ammo is not available.

 

[blarby]

Heck ya !

Why not ?

While shooting isn't exactly like riding a bike, it will come back to you with a quickness.

I'm guessing you are at or nearing retirement age by the story lifespan here, and reloading would be even better then. Both an abundance of free time, and a desire to save wherever you can are great motivators.

 

[gpb]

Is reloading worth it?

The OP doesn’t state what is being reloaded, but since league shooting is referenced I’ll assume it refers to shotgun reloading.

The major driver in the cost of shotgun reloading is the cost of shot. Therefore, from a purely economic view and assuming you don’t include your time in the cost the following is a quick summary.

12 gauge 1 oz and above: Not worth it

12 gauge 7/8 oz and below: Marginal, do it if you like it

20 gauge 7/8 oz and below: Marginal, do it if you like it

28 gauge: Worth while

.410: Worth while

I reload 12 gauge 7/8 and below. A very slight savings, but I enjoy it and have plenty of time and light loads like these are difficult to buy.

 

[Reloadron]

Is reloading really worth it?

I guess that really depends on why some people choose to roll their own. Most of what I load I load to tailor for specific guns, especially high power rifle loadings. There are time when I can buy a cartridge in a specific caliber for less or the same as what it cost me to make one. The big gain for me in making my own is I can load ammunition that gives those nice tight little groups we look for when shooting off a bench. Benchrest shooters being a good example.

As to what one's time may or may not be worth? Really matters not if you would not be working during your loading hours anyway.

Ron

 

[Sav .250]

Re-loading is the only way to go if you (anybody) really burns up the ammo. Kind of like a shotgunner. They seem to shoot till the barrel gets so hot ....it droops. If you live for the range.......... re-load. JMO.

 

[Remllez]

I sent most of the brass to him over the years but I still got a nice pile of once fired Starline brass I forgot to send him. But like Saxon says my time is worth something as well.

Blarby you made me laugh about the riding the bicycle thing because I have tried that recently but i wasnt very good at that i can tell you....lol..... I've got RCBS and Lee gear that we both used hard for a number of years but still runs good he says.

I shoot mainly .357/.38 which seems to be getting more expensive everytime I order it. But 9mm I still find for good prices all the time. I do appreciate the responses, so far I'm leaning towards just .357 and maybe .38's since the dies are the same.

Thanks again for the replies guys it helps knowing that I'm not the only one in the boat.

 

[SSN Vet]

Did you enjoy reloading? Or just do it for economy?

I personally enjoy reloading.... so saving money is like gravy.

Since you already have the set up available to you, getting back into it sounds like a no brainer to me.

 

[Zeke/PA]

Yes,Reloading is worth it.
Except for some handgun calibers, I reload EVERYTHING.
Shot a bunch of deer in my lifetime and only one, my first, with a factory round, a .22 Hornet.

 

[303tom]

In a word...............Yes !

 

[Drail]

It absolutely is if you want quality ammo. I wouldn't buy any factory ammo these days even if it was cheaper than my handloads. QC is a forgotten concept now.

 

[JustinJ]

A huge cost of reloading is time. The only person who knows if the time is worth it is the person reloading. I've just gotten into it but eventually i plan on moving up to a progressive to maximize my bullet to time ratio. Obviously the setup cost will also be higher but i think it worthwhile.

 

[Il Duca]

I don't do a lot of target shooting outside rimfire so I really only reload when I have a caliber that's hard to find. I've done .375 H&H and Win, .358 Win, .303 Brit, stuff like that. It saves money on the .375 for sure- that's my main round I reload for atm and .303 is hard to find good hunting ammo so I reload that as well.

For target work it wouldn't be worth it for me but add it up and see if it saves you money. If it doesn't I wouldn't do it unless you enjoy it. If you enjoy it, do it either way.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

It is cheaper than buying ammo, but what is your time worth? My wife's boss in a big shot lawyer who charges $250 an hour... will he save money by spending an hour reloading a box of 38s? No. What is your time worth?

If you're loading strictly to save money, then I can see this being a valid argument. For most though, loading is a hobby within itself. I don't calculate my time when I go play golf, or fish, so why would I with a different hobby?
That attorney who bills at $250/hr, doesn't calculate his time when he's on the golf course or at home sipping scotch and smoking a cigar. Though he prolly does bill time on the golf course from time to time.
As far as saving money, I sure haven't. I pay less per round, no doubt, but I spend 3x what I used to. Sounds like our situations may be a little different though.

 

[beatledog7]

Worth it in monetary or time spent terms? Only you can decide. I like reloading and would do it if it saved me nada. It's a great way to enhance the shooting hobby and engage in it when I can't get to the range.

 

[Remllez]

Drail, I agree with you about quality loading. I've tried to buy small sample lots from ammo companies to find the most consistent I could. I don't shoot for score or competitions anymore but still don't like shooting junk.

If we shoot at my place there's steel dingers, bowling pins, torso boards, and paper targets for serious bragging and betting shots but it's all for fun and mainly to keep me sharp. The youngsters really like reactive targets so it's a fun learning experience for them.

When I did reload it was mainly for the money savings but I still made good shooting rounds. It was never Zen like for me then but it may be now I guess I won't know unless I try.

 

[FullEffect1911]

I reload for everything but shotgun. I think it is worth it even for 9mm practice ammo mainly because I can have more accurate ammo, with the power level and weight I want, for about half the cost of say 115 grain 9mm WWB.

I don't count my time spent at the bench because I considered it hobby.

 

[tyeo098]

I can make a box of 50 9mm for 6.25

Wally world want 12 (now).

Almost 50% discount and I get to listen to dubstep while I do it.

Shooting and reloading, one hobby feeds the other!

 

[SuperNaut]

Cost effective? Not really

The real value is in having ammo when it is scarce or expensive, and it's fun!

 

[Owen Sparks]

Here is the bottom line.

If you start reloading you are NOT going to save any money.

Uou are just going to shoot a whole heck of a lot more!

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I was discussing this with another THR member, fallout mike, just yesterday. Reloading can save you some money in terms of cost per round.
However, if you really want to tap into some incredible savings, casting is where it's at.
Since I began casting, I can load:

1,000 rounds of .45 Colt for just under $75.00.
1,000 rounds of .38 Special for about $68.00, give or take.

I've never loaded .357 mag or 9mm, but the savings would still be great on bullets. For instance you could cast 115 grain 9mm bullets for less than $17.00 per thousand. That's at the prices I'm paying right now for wheel weights.

I know you didn't ask about casting, but you did ask whether it's worth it. The real money savings come with casting in my experience.

 

[crazyjennyblack]

I like to look at it this way -

I do save money reloading for my common calibers, but not enough to justify my time. Basic reloading is simply good practice for doing what I really like with the equipment: custom ammunition. I can try sabot rounds, different bullets, brass bullets, whatever I fancy. I recently took surplus .30 AP bullets and loaded a handful of special rounds for a friend's Remington Ultra-Mag. This is stuff you just can't buy anywhere, so it's more of a fun/exploration factor for me. Plus, by measuring correctly and double checking and being careful, you can turn out higher quality match ammo tailored to the gun you're shooting. It's not so much about the dollars and cents as it is about the satisfaction of doing it yourself and doing it well.

 

[chhodge69]

Yes it's worth it - especially if you don't have to purchase the equipment.

That's assuming you'd actually enjoy it. If it's just a chore to you then no, not worth it.