Reloading as a Hobby

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I started reloading when I started shooting prairie dogs. Consistent accuracy is essential for long distance shooting and reloading is the best way to achieve that when shooting several different calibers or 2-3 rifles of the same caliber. Dogging can also consume 100s of rounds so cost becomes an issue. I recently took up deer hunting and will only shoot a few .270 rounds per year. But, I still plan to reload the brass because it's a great hobby. At the moment I'm behind in my reloading, which, to me, means I enjoy shooting more than reloading. But, I love both and will continue for the foreseeable future.
 
I have a hard time determining if I reload to shoot or shoot to reload. I started reloading mostly out of curiosity and being cheap didn't like leaving brass at the range. "Hmmm, I wonder if I could use these things again?". So I did a little reading and bought a Lee Loader, 1 lb. of Bullseye, 100 CCI primers, and a box of generic lead bullets. After the first reloads were fired, I was hooked and that was summer of 1969. I reloaded for about a year using the Lee Loader and soon bought a scale and then other reloading equipment came home with me after each visit to the gun shop. I do not know how much my reloads cost (and I don't wanna know). To get an accurate cost I'd have to figger the cost of the components when I bought them as I have some 15 year old powders, some 15-18 year old primers, and some 30 year old brass (lots of it). And then there's my reloading room utilities; electricity for lighting, heating, coffee pot and stereo, bottled water for drinking and residential water for tumbling (plus soap and Lemoshine). Mebbe I would add the CDs at average $12.00 each for my Willie and Do-Wop background music. All of that is waaaaay too much to figger, and I never heard of anyone comparing the cost of rods/reels, baits, etc., etc., to the Salmon in the market.:rolleyes:

So, reloading is my hobby and it is one of the most satisfying pastimes I know of, second only to bullet casting...
 
I really enjoy reloading for the pure relaxation part of it. It takes me away from the rest of reality for a while. I have just started reloading again after about a 15 year span.
 
I just got back into shooting after 20+ years of not doing it. I used to hunt & shoot skeet with a model 12. I got my first pistol a while back and started reloading shortly after. I shoot 9mm so I can't save much reloading but it's not about the savings for me. It is a part of the experience and the fun of the process.

Pete
 
I have a hard time determining if I reload to shoot or shoot to reload. I started reloading mostly out of curiosity and being cheap didn't like leaving brass at the range. "Hmmm, I wonder if I could use these things again?". So I did a little reading and bought a Lee Loader, 1 lb. of Bullseye, 100 CCI primers, and a box of generic lead bullets. After the first reloads were fired, I was hooked and that was summer of 1969. I reloaded for about a year using the Lee Loader and soon bought a scale and then other reloading equipment came home with me after each visit to the gun shop. I do not know how much my reloads cost (and I don't wanna know).
Click to expand...

You might have just described the last 3 weeks of my life. LOL!

Glad to know I'm not alone.
 
Shooting used to be my hobby. Then I started reloading, and reloading became my hobby. Then I started wet tumbling w/ SS pins, and making dirty brass shine became my hobby. Shooting and reloading are just a means to that end. LOL.

Seriously, I got into reloading when the last big scare started and you couldn't find ammo. Just as I got my press, primers became scarce and then powder became hard to find. Figures. Luckily, I started saving brass long before I started reloading, so I had a pretty good stash of that to start with.

Yeah, a lot of people say they do it to cut costs, but eventually they all say they just shoot more. That would describe me. :D I figure I will break even and start saving money sometime in 2032.

I am an engineering type, have been since I was a little kid. Once I started reloading I had to buy a chrono so I could measure my results. I started buying different powders (as I could find them) and different bullets, looking for good shooting pistol loads.

So, for me, it did not start out as a hobby, but turned into one. I enjoy reloading and working up new loads more than I do shooting, which is saying a lot because I REALLY enjoy shooting!
 
Plus 1 for all the above comments.
Reloading is therapy to me. Like said before, it is my time to unwind.
 
I just started reloading. Strictly as a hobby. I am reloading 22 rimfire. I make my own tools with the exception of the mold. I use a .223 55 grain mold and cut down the bullets. For me shooting is just to test my loads. Very gratifying to do it. Especially making my tools as well.
 
Have to agree with all of the above: economy, accuracy, therapeutic value, quiet time, etc. Plus there is a satisfaction in working with your hands, especially after a career of desk work where little is physical and nothing is permanent. A box of gleaming ammo that you have produced is important for use and as an example of skill. That's why I enjoy tying my own flies for fishing and doing wood carving with hand tools only.

Jeff
 
Yes great way to relax. It feels good when you make the ammo that you take hunting and luck up and take a deer with it. Plus I find it fun to make your own ammo not stuck buying what the store has.
 
Looks like this thread could use some balance, so I'll be the outlier. ;)

I reload because it's cheaper than factory, and because I can tune loads to my gun and for a specific purpose. But if the Ammo Fairy started dropping cases of the same ammo at my front door, I'd happily exchange time at the bench for more trigger time. :cool:
 
I'm fairly new to reloading. A year or 18 months ago, a friend of mine bought a LEE single stage press and she and I decided to teach ourselves the hobby. For us it was about shooting cheaper, and being more "self reliant" but I do enjoy it. It's definitely fun. Don't know if I'd call it a change, it's always been fun... :)
 
I originally started reloading in early seventy,s.
Rockchucker, RCBS Powder measure, case trimmers and other tools. All for rifle.
6mm 243 7mm 270 and even 221 Fireball in an XP 100.
Stopped in early 80's after moving around, accelerating career, kids, sports etc.
All my rifles stolen in 85.

Skip to forced retirement in 2010, and then buying my first pistol.
Joining gun club in 2012. More pistols, enter a few competitions. Time to reload.

This is where it gets interesting. After exhaustive research, both internet and shooters, decided on drinking the blue Koolaid.

All my shooting buddys, said get the 550. while developing an order for a 550, I found an XL650 with case feeder, conversions and dies for 9 40 and 45 ACP for $1050. With all the other paraphernalia included I figured about $1800 worth of equipment. Never regretted the purchase.

Fat forward a year, now have bullet feeder for all calibers. Added 380 ACP. Built my own SS needle wet cleaner. have 10K 9mm brass 6K 40, and 5K 45ACp cleaned, sorted and ready to go.
About 5k in bullets in various calibers, 20K primers, 20+ pounds of powder I think I'm committed.

Can I load excellent rounds for plinking are actual competiton. I can load any of hem for a significant savings over factory. That is as long as I don't amortize my equipment.

But, boy do I enjoy it. I even helped my oldest daughter load up 500 124 gr 9mm for her hubbie's new G17.

I don't think I will break even in my lifetime. But if there is another shortage, I can keep on reloading and shooting while others stand in line at Walmart at 5 AM on Tuesday and Thursday.
 
Nope, hobby from the get go..

Is it weird to really really like shiny brass and pretty bullets by the way?

Also, did someone say break even? ROTFLMAO
 
I got into reloading back in the '60's while stationed in Montana (Great Falls). After moving back to N.C., I got out of reloading to focus on a career and raising a family. In the past couple of years I've gotten back into reloading and even though there has been sticker shock regarding the cost of doing that, the enjoyment has come with the multiple items now offered to make reloading faster and better than anything I experienced in the '60's. Target shooting every week now with .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special and .45 ACP., doesn't get better than that! Looking forward to my next acquisition of a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Long Colt and reloading for that.
 
Milt1 said:
I got into reloading back in the '60's while stationed in Montana (Great Falls). After moving back to N.C., I got out of reloading to focus on a career and raising a family. In the past couple of years I've gotten back into reloading and even though there has been sticker shock regarding the cost of doing that, the enjoyment has come with the multiple items now offered to make reloading faster and better than anything I experienced in the '60's. Target shooting every week now with .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special and .45 ACP., doesn't get better than that! Looking forward to my next acquisition of a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Long Colt and reloading for that.
Click to expand...
"Looking forward to my next acquisition of a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Long Colt and reloading for that. "

Check out the model 0472 Blackhawk convertible with .45C plus .45ACP cylinders- one of my gun of choice to tie my two .45 "systems" together.
 
Like most I originally started loading so I could shoot more for the same money.

Now I find myself shooting so I'll have brass to load.

I also cast, which is just as much a hobby as loading and shooting.

It's all therapy for me. My time at the bench is quiet alone time that I can clear my mind, focus on one thing and tune everything else out. The fact that it is productive is a bonus.
 
I started loading in 1975 to save money, and it looked like a fun thing to do. RCBS Jr press and basic necessary equipment to roll my own, thanks to my then girlfriend's folks. One thing about this hobby is one can get into it as little or as deep as they like, and still get the satisfaction of making their own ammo.
To those who started reloading to save money, can you tell me when I should start seeing the savings? I've been loading for a long time, so I figure sometime soon I will be rolling in money. It does work that way, doesn't it???
 
I started reloading before plastic shotgun shells came on the market to be able to hunt more. Used the little Lee tool. Later on I started reloading centerfire to get better accuracy than was available with factory ammo. Being able to shoot more had something to do with it too. I'm still doing it and have several firearms that have never fired a factory round.

To be honest I regard reloading as work although it's interesting work. I can't say it is relaxing at all as I pay very close attention to what I'm doing when reloading. The Lee tool is long gone as I modernized a little and gave it away when I did.
 
I still enjoy shooting more, but it's almost winter.
I enjoy reloading A LOT MORE at this time of year.

There are no indoor ranges within 40 miles or so.
I keep bugging a LGS to build an indoor range.

So, T&L Tactical - "Build it & they will come"
 
I absolutely hate reloading, but it's the only way I can shoot as much as I do. I would agree with MrBorland that I would rather trade it for trigger time.
 
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