Is reloading really worth it

[jmr40]

I handload for most of my centerfire rifles, 308, 30-06 etc. Not that I save all that much money, but for much improved velocity and accuracy. To do it right is time cosuming and good bullets aren't cheap. I do save some money, but when I factor in my time, not much.

I can buy 223, and 9mm ammo cheap enough that it is not worth my time. I do pick up my brass and sell it, which gets the cost of buying in bulk not much more expensve than reloading it. If I handgun hunted or shot at long range targets where I wanted to customize loads for accuracy and performance I'd probably do it, but for punching paper at 10-15 yards any old cheap loads work just fine.

I also shoot a lot of 22 to keep costs down.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Some people shoot box to box and some people live paycheck to paycheck. Kinda like the chicken and the egg? It's nice to have a little something squirreled away, at least when it comes to ammo/fixins.

 

[readyeddy]

This is a no brainer. You have both the equipment and experience to start reloading again immediately. All you need are the components and you will save at least 50% on your ammo cost. Time is a non-issue in this case. You either have the spare time to reload or you don't, and you say you have it.

 

[CraigC]

Have you ever tried it?

No and I have no plans or desire to. I understand that some folks enjoy handloading and casting and that is fine. I wish I did but I don't. At this point, spare time is at a premium and like I said, I'd rather use it in other ways.

Since cases are reusable I do carefully police my brass using drop cloths and brass catchers as aids.

I shoot on my own property, not at a "range" so keeping up with brass for guns I hardly shoot hardly seems worthwhile.

 

[Sniper66]

Loading is a good hobby for me...you have to decide if you want a hobby. I load only rifle ammo to shoot p-dogs and for occasional range shooting. I do save some money if I add up the per-round amount, but mostly it is an engaging hobby and enables me to shoot more. If I did not shoot a lot, I would not reload. Certain rounds, like my 22 Hornet and .204, loading is a good deal cheaper than factory, but .223 not so much. My rifle ammo loads are also more accurate than factory.

 

[GLOOB]

No and I have no plans or desire to. I understand that some folks enjoy handloading and casting and that is fine. I wish I did but I don't.

I was just curious. From what you might hear, some people make it sound complicated and labor intensive. Sure, you need to work up a load differently. And you could come across leading problems. But if you already reload with commercial cast bullets, you have already faced the same problems. The actual casting/lubing part is very easy and requires very little additional space and equipment.

I don't enjoy reloading, either. Casting is one of the least tiresome parts, and in the right calibers, it is one of the most financially rewarding. Casting bullets is probably as time intensive as trimming cases, unless you have a Girouard, and it is much less like work. When you hear people cast a year's worth of bullets at a time, it's not cuz it's a pain to do. It's cuz once you start, you can easily churn out that many before becoming bored.

 

[CraigC]

It takes time and right now that's one chore I'd rather pay somebody else to do. Like I said, I don't find any enjoyment in reloading and I know I wouldn't find any in casting. Reloading saves me a lot of money and allows me to shoot loads I otherwise couldn't, for varying reasons. Casting would save me very little, if any, and take up time I'd rather spend on something else. Like I said, some folks enjoy it and that's great. I don't.

What I do enjoy doing is leatherwork and I'd much rather spend my spare time doing that than casting. Or shooting.

 

[GLOOB]

Totally understand. I'm just saying that if you value your time and just want to save money, you might be better paying someone to do the chores of making complete ammo (buying factory ammo) in some calibers, but in others it might make sense to cast bullets, especially if you do not like reloading! Cuz it will save you so much more money for your time spent reloading. It depends on what you shoot. If it isn't worth it for you, then that's that.

People might assume that casters are being cheap and trying to work the skin off their fingers to save the last penny. But in some calibers, it's the biggest reward on the table (for the time and effort), and one that's very easy to tap. If you dismiss casting as a tedium born by extremists, then you might be reaching for the slim pickings while the ripe fruit is hanging right in front of your nose.

 

[James2]

Not much to add to this discussion except to add my YES!

 

[Remllez]

Thanks for all the responses guys.....food for thought! The Rock Chucker has quite a few miles on it but still works like a top, he did buy a Lee 4 turret and likes it, but I'd rather prime off the press.

Heck I'll give it a whirl, if it don't float my boat I'm not out anything. Probably just load .357 at first. I buy Fiocchi 115 grain 9's on sale at Sportsmans Guide when they have sales and like the ammo.

Again thanks for all the responses.

 

[cfullgraf]

No and I have no plans or desire to. I understand that some folks enjoy handloading and casting and that is fine. I wish I did but I don't. At this point, spare time is at a premium and like I said, I'd rather use it in other ways.



I shoot on my own property, not at a "range" so keeping up with brass for guns I hardly shoot hardly seems worthwhile.

I understand. I used to do all my own auto repairs, now i repair my cars with my check book, even some of the more major repairs to the race car.

Gives me more time for reloading.

I also shoot at home, but cases are too valuable to leave on the ground especially the ones I do not shoot much of. They tend to be the more expensive cases and harder to find new, empty cases or factory ammunition.

Plus I shoot a couple wildcats or obsolete cartridges. The factory for those cases is in my reloading room. I enjoy forming cases to a point.

 

[cfullgraf]

but I'd rather prime off the press.
/QUOTE]

Is there any other way to prime?

If properly cared for, the Rock Chucker will last forever.

 

[stavman11]

Just buy a lb or so of Powder... Some lead and Primers... Maybe $100


and try it out.........

I sure like playing with mine.... gunna prep a few hundred .223 brass tonight.....

I just enjoy the time with my gear... from Loading.... Cleaning... Shooting.... Figuring out new Games to Play in the Desert when shooting



Worst case ya waste some time and $100.... But I think youll like it just like ya did back in 1976



..............

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

First of all I enjoy the time spent reloading as it is very relaxing to me. Second, if you have oddball rifles like me such as 7.35 Carcano, 6.5 Jap, 7.7 Jap, 6.5 Swedish Mauser, 8mm Mauser, .303 British, along with several others reloading does save you money vs buying cartridges when you can find them.

 

[BearGriz]

I read some of the responses from reloaders here on THR (in all of the forums) and they make me laugh. I don't think there are many religious people out there that are more zealous and evangelical than some of you who reload.

I'm glad many of you have found a hobby that benefits you, seriously I am. But I do tire of constantly reading that I absolutely have to start reloading!!! At this point in my life, I'd rather pay a company/factory worker to do it for me.

And yes, I think it is perfectly valid to question what my time is worth (isn't that part of what the OP was asking?). If I (at this point in my life) view reloading more as work than as a fun pastime, of course I can compare reloading time to time spent on other work that I perform.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

And yes, I think it is perfectly valid to question what my time is worth (isn't that part of what the OP was asking?). If I (at this point in my life) view reloading more as work than as a fun pastime, of course I can compare reloading time to time spent on other work that I perform.

I think we all agree from a standpoint of what you would prefer to spend your time doing. The point we usually try to make is that you can't say, "Well I loaded for an hour today, so I have to add an hours wages to my cost for loading."
This is silly. Some people act like they get paid every second of every day.
That's what most of us are saying.
If you would rather be doing something else, by all means do that. It's a perfectly legit part of it from that point of view.
And handloading certainly isn't for everyone.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I read some of the responses from reloaders here on THR (in all of the forums) and they make me laugh. I don't think there are many religious people out there that are more zealous and evangelical than some of you who reload.

I'm glad many of you have found a hobby that benefits you, seriously I am. But I do tire of constantly reading that I absolutely have to start reloading!!! At this point in my life, I'd rather pay a company/factory worker to do it for me.

And yes, I think it is perfectly valid to question what my time is worth (isn't that part of what the OP was asking?). If I (at this point in my life) view reloading more as work than as a fun pastime, of course I can compare reloading time to time spent on other work that I perform.

For the price of a set of dies, about $25, one becomes essentially independent/able to craft an item that may well prove extremely valuable under some circumstances. You are not nor ever will you be assured of being able to stroll up to your Malwart and laying hands upon your preciouses. It's not about money at all.

 

[CraigC]

I'm glad many of you have found a hobby that benefits you, seriously I am. But I do tire of constantly reading that I absolutely have to start reloading!!! At this point in my life, I'd rather pay a company/factory worker to do it for me.

For most people, even those who make $354/hr and don't enjoy handloading, if you want to do much shooting, it is pretty much mandatory. It also depends on your level of commitment. Some folks are fine with blasting a couple boxes of 9mm or .22LR at the range once a month. Others are not satisfied unless they're trying to find the best load for their 100yr old Westley-Richards .450/.400 or their .300Sherwood rook rifle. Most are somewhere in-between. For me, I am trying to master the single action revolver and there is no way I'd do as much shooting as I do if I did not handload. There might be some discussion if all you have is a Glock 17 but when you have a few dozen revolvers and factory ammo costs $30 or more a box, handloading is the only answer.

So the question is, how much shooting do you do?

 

[GLOOB]

Of course, if you were really rich, you'd probably buy a Camdex ammo factory and hire someone to run it.

 

[Certaindeaf]

And have Jeeves do all your shooting for you.

 

[HOWARD J]

I started reloading about 40 years ago----we had bullet eaters like our USI & some others the kids liked to shoot all day----it saved me a lot of money over buying factory ammo.
Today it is just a hobby I enjoy---no need to rush anymore---the Dillons are silent.

 

[Magnum Shooter]

I consider reloading to be my physiotherapy, it relaxes me and the cost of my time is a lot less than paying a therapist. There is no greater sense of accomplishment than when you are out scoring a factory ammo shooter at the range with ammo you made yourself. Even if the ammo cost more it would be worth it, but it cost less, thus allowing you to shoot more and become an even better marksmen.

 

[guyfromohio]

This discussion comes at a great time for me as I'm considering starting. I have plans and $$ to get something shooting related next month.... about $1000. Initially, I was thinking if a 1911 or a benelli M2. But a friend is talking me into a Dillon 650. By the time I load my first 9mm (9 and 223) are my most used rounds), I'll have an easy $1200 invested. I could by just short of 6000 rounds of either calibre by that point..... today. But will I be able to get $9 boxes of 9mm a year from now? Does this allow me to stock up on defensive ammo instead of 115gr ball? I think I'm sold on reloading. I'm sure I don't need a $600 progressive for my first run at reloading, but it's probably what I'll do. To the OP .... you have the stuff, go for it!

 

[Rod4277]

I’m getting back into reloading after about 20 years too. I never stopped getting Handloader Annual and have about 30 years of issues too. I’m not getting back into it for the economics. Instead it is almost a necessity if you shooting “wildcat” calibers or loading specialized loads for a custom rifle.

I do have a question for all you guys getting back into it. When I moved to Florida from PA about 15 years ago I carefully packed up all my reloading equipment and supplies. They have been stored in a dry attic all these years.

I unpacked and set up my new reloading bench last weekend. I was delighted to find everything in good condition. When I inventoried my supplies I was also delighted at the amount of reloading supplies I have on hand. My concern is with the storage of the gunpowder and primers in less than ideal conditions. Can any of you guys shed some light on this?

 

[Rod4277]

I’m getting back into reloading after about 20 years too. I never stopped getting Handloader Annual and have about 30 years of issues too. I’m not getting back into it for the economics. Instead it is almost a necessity if you shooting “wildcat” calibers or loading specialized loads for a custom rifle.

I do have a question for all you guys getting back into it. When I moved to Florida from PA about 15 years ago I carefully packed up all my reloading equipment and supplies. They have been stored in a dry attic all these years.

I unpacked and set up my new reloading bench last weekend. I was delighted to find everything in good condition. When I inventoried my supplies I was also delighted at the amount of reloading supplies I have on hand. My concern is with the storage of the gunpowder and primers in less than ideal conditions. Can any of you guys shed some light on this?