Losing Interest in Reloading

[BBarn]

For the last several years I've enjoyed reloading and spent a good deal of time with the hobby. But that enjoyment has waned due to the lack of component availability.

I have enough reloading components to last a few years at my current pace of shooting, but I just don't have the desire to reload (and shoot) when I see the components dwindling and no clear path for replenishment. And at this point I have no interest in paying premium prices for components just to keep the hobby at the previous level.

I've been through these type of panic driven shortages before and I'm not wishing to blame anybody, just stating my current mindset. Hopefully it will be a self correcting issue and the desire to reload will return when components are readily available once again.

 

[Charlie98]

I hate having to fight for components, but I love reloading, and I love shooting... so I'll keep fighting the good fight for as long as I can.

Most of the firearms I shoot, I can't afford factory ammo (.41MAG, .348WCF, .45-70, etc...) so reloading is the only thing keeping them from becoming wall hangers. Since I made it through the last Dark Age, I stacked everything pretty deep, but there are components I've had to find... including bullets. I ordered some yesterday... they are out there, you just have to go a'hunting sometimes, and be patient.

 

[Zendude]

Do a little fishing in the meantime until things get back to normal. I have the same issue and am digging my rods and reels out of the back of the closet.

 

[rfwobbly]

What I see is that reloaders are the type of people who are creative and very interested in the world. This means that they (we) usually enjoy multiple hobbies, which means when reloading (or "unloading") isn't available, we're just as happy to transition to one of our many other areas of interest. The depressing part of this is that, unlike the Obama crunch, this time around the lack of components is coupled with the need to quarantine. So whereas reloading (the perfect quarantine hobby) was available last spring, for many it's now out of the picture... along with all the activities we used to do with friends and family.

So it's not simply one hobby that's out of reach. This time it's a whole host of personal interests that are crossed off the list.

 

[whughett]

Switch to black powder. Just as much fun and most of the stuff can be home fabricated. Caps are iffy but a few flint locks addresses that issue also.
Reloading on the fly.......

 

[jmorris]

I understand I get an idea to cook something then go look in the cabinets to see that my non cooking wife has gotten rid of all our “old” spices. I loose interest too.

If you have enough to last you a few years, you are likely good to go at your pace. If you quit completely and die with a few years worth someday, what good did they do you?

Right before Clinton signed the AWB in ‘94 we stocked up and I have always squirreled away more when things are plentiful and cheap, shot hundreds of thousands of rounds since then and still have some components left over from back then.

Don’t let them scare you into living your life without any enjoyment. I am happy to see more people joining in, means I will have more friends when they want to further constrict our rights. Then again, I have what I need to carry on as normal.

 

[mmb617]

Switch to black powder. Just as much fun and most of the stuff can be home fabricated. Caps are iffy but a few flint locks addresses that issue also.
Reloading on the fly.......

I know very little about that aspect of the shooting hobby but if the current component shortage goes on long enough I may very well want to go in that direction. Assuming that stuff doesn't wind up in short supply also. I'm assuming it hasn't yet?

 

[stevebla]

Fear no evil. Live you life as a free man.

 

[DukeConnor]

Do a little fishing in the meantime until things get back to normal. I have the same issue and am digging my rods and reels out of the back of the closet.

I told my son the same thing. I'll shoot less and fish more.

I'm tired of the endless panics and shortages

 

[bersaguy]

My interest in reloading has ebbed and flowed at times. Funny thing is, its the shortages that get me fired up about it...well the beginning of a shortage anyway. I was pretty young at the time of the '94 AWB, just getting into handguns by the first Obama drought, and had just gotten into reloading just after Sandy Hook happened. I've kept a good supply of factory ammo, completed reloads and components on hand ever since. I had just geared up for a lot of reloading at the first of the year...i finally built out a reloading room in the garage, finished just before covid started getting serious back in March, and then stocked up more because I thought I may have quite a bit of down time if we got locked down. I must say, i knew a shortage would be coming, just due to it being an election year, didn't see the scale of this drought coming though. Of course, that's the whole impetus for stocking up...never know when the tap will get shut off, just know that it happens from time to time

 

[hdbiker]

I just pugged in my tumbler 15 minutes ago, full of .45 acp brass. I scored a brick ( 1000 ) of CCI Large pistol primers yesterday 40 bucks. I don't think that was a bad price considering the shortages today. Scheels All Sports hdbiker

 

[Alex Clayton]

For the last several years I've enjoyed reloading and spent a good deal of time with the hobby. But that enjoyment has waned due to the lack of component availability.

I have enough reloading components to last a few years at my current pace of shooting, but I just don't have the desire to reload (and shoot) when I see the components dwindling and no clear path for replenishment. And at this point I have no interest in paying premium prices for components just to keep the hobby at the previous level.

I've been through these type of panic driven shortages before and I'm not wishing to blame anybody, just stating my current mindset. Hopefully it will be a self correcting issue and the desire to reload will return when components are readily available once again.

If you have enough to last for years there will be plenty to buy LONG before you run out. An amazing number of people seem to act like this has never happened before. These panic shortages were happening long before the net came along. The net made them last longer as they feed on themselves but, they all have one thing in common, they end. Then when the stuff is on sale every week people ignore it. Before this last one hit some online places were selling the stuff with them waving the Haz-Mat fee, which means they were willing to eat the fee to make the sales. Anyone who has years worth of components should just ignore it for a while. Why get mad searching for the stuff in the midst of a panic while you have plenty for years?

 

[crestoncowboy]

Hopefully it will be a self correcting issue and the desire to reload will return when components are readily available once again.

I've went years at a time with no interest. Im one who reloads to shoot. Not one who enjoys it or shoots to get the brass to load. Lol

non cooking wife

I feel you.

My interest in reloading has ebbed and flowed at times.

Very much my case. I work up a load to get it sufficient and I keep it there. I don't experiment. I dont worry so much. The exception being my varmint guns (223 and 220 swift) and competition guns (223 and 338). And really with the varmint guns when they are touching over 5 shots at 100 I don't even go farther than that on my load.

I used to burn out barrels chasing .001 inch but now I just don't care enough to do so. May go back someday idk.

And as far as panics ive never been caught short on supplies. So thats not a factor in my lost interest.

And ammo has been so cheap for the past few years I just bought that rather than supplies and load. Ive plinked with gold dots/HSt/rangers for a couple years now. 11-13 bucks a box. I keep my brass but I don't like reloading enough to do it when I can shoot great factory stuff for just 2x the price. The prices were as low as I recall other than 22. And I did buy that at 15/500 so it wasn't terrible.

 

[BreechFace]

One was probably not that into reloading if it took a few scarcities to push them out of it. Maybe it isn’t for you.

It’s like anything in this world, if you want/enjoy it enough one will find a way. Maybe your disdain for the current situation is a sign that you need to reevaluate hobbies.

I have several hobbies that vie for my time, my dedication to each ebbs and flows. But a primary hobby is anything gun related, and I will find a way to have Ammo and components because even during my times of dabbling in another of my hobbies there is still a tertiary focus on looking for deals on components and ammunition. That is such the life of someone interested in firearms, patience and stockpiling some discretionary income to have when good deals present themselves.

Right now kids sports are a big hobby of mine, such is the stage of life. But it was easy for me the past 10 years to sit in the couch at the end of the day scouring for deals on components and ammunition and start accumulating a stash that can be used when the kids activities don’t demand so much time.

If you truly are interested in reloading you would be saying to yourself, “Self, we’ll never let this situation happen again,” and start saving money for when the time comes of full supply and cheap costs.

 

[brewer12345]

My interest in casting and reloading burned hot initially but now varies. I haven't been able to hit the range nearby due to the pandemic, so my pistol shooting is way down. I spent much of the summer burning black powder in the forest as an escape. So the need to reload has been modest lately. I already have my pet loads for most things, so reloading lately has been more about keeping in stock of my favorites. That said, I will be working on a project involving a subsonic cast load in 350 Legend and then come up with one or more accurate loads for a 223 single shot. I am in no particular hurry with these since it is hunting season, but I am looking forward to trying them out and experimenting.

 

[forty_caliber]

Over the last 30+ years my interest has waxed and waned with the times. At times, there was a surfeit of funds and no time and other times we were short on funds but had plenty of time. Other roles in life, marriage, kids, relocating for work, other hobbies, and such caused the river to change course yet again.

At this late stage of the journey, I find myself flush with components and a shop full of best in class tooling. These days, I tend to focus on one facet of reloading and ignore others. Lately it's been about making the best possible precision match grade rifle rounds.

It's ok to loose interest but this is like riding a bike. Later you will remember how and then remember how much fun it was. Keep your tools stored well so that they can serve you down the road. I have a feeling you will get back to it.

.40

 

[buck460XVR]

I first got into reloading to feed handguns with inexpensive range ammo and accurate hunting ammo, for both my two boys and myself. It became a routine to shoot one weekend and then reload the next week in preparation for the next. Got into finding the best load for each gun and each scenario. After a while I settled on several loads that seem to work the best for each gun/caliber. Found myself buying supplies whenever I found them for a good price and made it thru several of the "panic shortages" thanks to having a lot of stock on hand. Still got the stock on hand, but the boys are grown up with kids of their own and our range visits together have dwindled. Grandkids are into shooting, but more of .22 rimfire at this point. At 67 years of age, the drive to go shoot by myself just for ships and giggles has slowed. Since I still have a ton of reloaded ammo on the shelves(slowly but surely using it up), the need to reload has all but disappeared. Add to this the inability to find supplies to restock for now, and conserving for the future, even tho I still have plenty. means the time spent at the reloading bench is small.

Hopefully the lust will return at some point, but if not, it's been a good run and I am happy to have had it.

 

[crestoncowboy]

My interest in casting

I actually have a shop. More for my own use and hobby as a "car guy". I recently ordered a tire changer and balancer. Going to use it for a side deal. Maybe make a bit. I may look into casting.

I first got into reloading to feed handguns with inexpensive range ammo and accurate hunting ammo

My 460 fired a couple of the 200 gr hornady rounds. The rest have all been handloads. I never fired a factory 500 round. Id say my 44s have fired 1000 to 1 ratio of handloads.

If you want to shoot some of the stuff I do then reloading is very economical. 30-378. 7mm rum. 338 lapua. 460. 500.

Also 10mm back in the day. The only way to get decent ammo was to load it. The Silvertip was the only real commercial round loaded close to 10mm spec for a while after norma quit.

 

[Armored farmer]

BP
Archery
Fishing
Cap n ball (thats a good idea )
Air rifles.
I dont like depleting my stocks either.

 

[buck460XVR]

My 460 fired a couple of the 200 gr hornady rounds. The rest have all been handloads.

If you want to shoot some of the stuff I do then reloading is very economical. 30-378. 7mm rum. 338 lapua. 460. 500.

Oh, I agree, as does the amount of rounds I send downrange when I do shoot. That still does not make reloading the enjoyable hobby it once was, back when I couldn't wait for empty brass to stuff. It's gotten more like mowing the yard. Something not necessarily unpleasant, but something that has to be done unless I want to pay someone else to do it.

 

[WestKentucky]

I have had the opposite experience. I admit I am loading less, but I have enjoyed going back to the basics and finding new vendors to use and new products to try. It looks like I might be better stocked coming out of the pandemic than I was going in... at least in bullets.

 

[crestoncowboy]

It's gotten more like mowing the yard

That's how I feel as well. Im glad some enjoy it the way they do. Really it's a cheap hobby compared to bikes or cars or golf or many others. And not one that you have to be young and healthy to enjoy like many sports.

 

[whughett]

I know very little about that aspect of the shooting hobby but if the current component shortage goes on long enough I may very well want to go in that direction. Assuming that stuff doesn't wind up in short supply also. I'm assuming it hasn't yet?

Unfortunately percussion cap are getting scarce, why is any bodies guess. Black powder seems in good supply and lead can be had for the scrounging. Caps are the Achilles heel. No spark no boom. Which is why it’s good to have a flint lock or two.

 

[mdi]

I have taken the current panic induced shortage as a challenge. While I have lots of components, I shop for some. I recently found some 124 XTPs so I bought 200. I found some powder at my local box store so I bought 1 pound. I found some rimfire; 22 lr at CMP, and some 22 Magnums but I don't need any so I didn't purchase. Shopping keeps me in touch with the current status, and even when I don't purchase, I enjoy shopping. I really like reloading and have many, many handloads just waiting to be fired and evaluated and a bunch of my "Just in Case Ammo". Perhaps I'd feel different if I were hurting for ammo and/or components, but I learned long ago to stay prepared...

 

[brewer12345]

Unfortunately percussion cap are getting scarce, why is any bodies guess. Black powder seems in good supply and lead can be had for the scrounging. Caps are the Achilles heel. No spark no boom. Which is why it’s good to have a flint lock or two.

Looks like you can still buy the cap maker and priming compou d. I tried mine out this summer. A little tedious, but not hard to do and the caps worked great.