Reloading really is becoming a labor of love

Lennyjoe said:
When I first started reloading, there was a cost benefit savings in buying components and spending time on the bench. That was in the last 90’s when primers and powder prices were decent, but now I’m wondering if it’s just a labor of love.

Here’s why I say that. I’m currently in winter mode in Ohio and I do the majority of my mass reloading while the weather is ugly out. Currently loading 1,000 strings of .223 using 55gr Hornady FMJ, H335 and CCI 450 SRM primers. The current cost breakdown sits as follows:

Hornady 55 gr bullets, x1000 $120
Hodgdon H-335 X 4 lbs. $176
.223 use brass x1000. $90
CCI #450 primers X 1000. $95
Total cost $481

I found the following available online for $418 plus shipping and wonder why I even spend hours prepping brass, loading and QC Inspection when I can just order online and be done. Yes, I do get better accuracy with my reloads but is it really worth it in the end?
View attachment 1191384

This doesn’t apply to hunting loads and precision shooting, only to mass reloading to increase my ammo stock for ‘“just in case”

Anyone else feeling the same way?
Click to expand...
It IS a labor of love.

Handloaders want to "put their fingers on the brass" and thus know what they are shooting and where it came from.
 
Lennyjoe said:
When I first started reloading, there was a cost benefit savings in buying components and spending time on the bench. That was in the last 90’s when primers and powder prices were decent, but now I’m wondering if it’s just a labor of love.

Here’s why I say that. I’m currently in winter mode in Ohio and I do the majority of my mass reloading while the weather is ugly out. Currently loading 1,000 strings of .223 using 55gr Hornady FMJ, H335 and CCI 450 SRM primers. The current cost breakdown sits as follows:

Hornady 55 gr bullets, x1000 $120
Hodgdon H-335 X 4 lbs. $176
.223 use brass x1000. $90
CCI #450 primers X 1000. $95
Total cost $481

I found the following available online for $418 plus shipping and wonder why I even spend hours prepping brass, loading and QC Inspection when I can just order online and be done. Yes, I do get better accuracy with my reloads but is it really worth it in the end?
View attachment 1191384

This doesn’t apply to hunting loads and precision shooting, only to mass reloading to increase my ammo stock for ‘“just in case”

Anyone else feeling the same way?
Click to expand...
Not worth it in this instance. I think you're wasting a fair amount when you buy brass, even used brass, because the whole premise behind reloading is re-using the fired case repeatedly. Where it really saves is when you're able to use home cast bullets, light charges of pistol powder, and scrounged brass, or when you reload some of the more expensive high power rifle rounds, and you can use blem/2nds bullets for casual shooting.

A mild increase in accuracy isn't worth the effort for me, but huge cost savings when using cast bullets and supply of a caliber not easily found are my motivators.
 
Bazoo said:
Where it really saves is when you're able to use home cast bullets, light charges of pistol powder, and scrounged brass, or when you reload some of the more expensive high power rifle rounds, and you can use blem/2nds bullets for casual shooting.
Click to expand...
This is how I operate. I'm casting and reloading for six rifle calibers. I've reached satisfactory loads/groups with jacketed bullets. I've been casting for handgun calibers for a few years and I got to thinking about casting for rifles. My groups aren't where I need them yet, but they are getting better. It's still a work in progress. Showing good results with Reloder 7 and AA5744. Scored both powders from an estate sale (4lbs RL7 and 11lbs AA5744) which worked out to just over $14.00/lb.
 
It’s never been about cost to me. My reasons for reloading are the same now as they were 30 years ago, among them being availability. I can load what I want when I want it and not depend on whatever happens to be available at the time at retailers. There have been more than one occasion that nothing was available! I can load bulk plinking ammo with well-used cases or fine precision ammo in different weights, charges and quality.
I admit I don’t load .223/5.56 anymore because it’s currently cheap, but I can if I need too. I do load 7.62x39 because it isn’t cheap or widely available.
What if that great bargain wasn’t available or what if it were $800 instead of $400?
 
ballman6711 said:
a progressive I could easily load a couple hundred rounds an hour
Click to expand...
I use my progressive to load all the pistol calibers I shoot. I could start tonight and end up loading 2-3k 9mm before I'd run out of clean brass...but I bought 500 rounds of 9mm ammo for $100 a couple months ago. The $100 vs a couple hours worth of time at the bench, on the weekend, was an easy decision. In fact, I haven't loaded any 9mm since it could be found for .25¢/round or less.
 
Lennyjoe said:
When I first started reloading, there was a cost benefit savings in buying components and spending time on the bench. That was in the last 90’s when primers and powder prices were decent, but now I’m wondering if it’s just a labor of love.

Here’s why I say that. I’m currently in winter mode in Ohio and I do the majority of my mass reloading while the weather is ugly out. Currently loading 1,000 strings of .223 using 55gr Hornady FMJ, H335 and CCI 450 SRM primers. The current cost breakdown sits as follows:

Hornady 55 gr bullets, x1000 $120
Hodgdon H-335 X 4 lbs. $176
.223 use brass x1000. $90
CCI #450 primers X 1000. $95
Total cost $481

I found the following available online for $418 plus shipping and wonder why I even spend hours prepping brass, loading and QC Inspection when I can just order online and be done. Yes, I do get better accuracy with my reloads but is it really worth it in the end?
View attachment 1191384

This doesn’t apply to hunting loads and precision shooting, only to mass reloading to increase my ammo stock for ‘“just in case”

Anyone else feeling the same way?
Click to expand...
Yes. I quit “mass reloading” about a decade ago. I only reload for my precision rifles and my revolvers. It’s cheaper and saves a ton of time if I buy my 9/40/45/223 in bulk.
 
Bill M said:
I had this discussion with an old friend a few weeks ago, he and I used to go together, (with others), to buy bulk purchases of components. His son, (who shoots with us now), calls him crazy for casting, and reloading, when ammo is cheap. We still enjoy the "hobby"!
Click to expand...
I've never seen the good prices last long enough for powder or primers to go bad....
 
My last 223 loads were 69gr, not your everyday cheap blaster ammo that everybody is referencing. I just loaded 400 30-06 to refill my stock of Garand ammo, I think that is worth an afternoon of listening to good music. I still have a few 50cal ammo boxes full of 9mm so I don't think I will need to reload that for a while. This year I can see loading 6.5cm, 6.5x50, 6.5gr, more 30-06, for rifles and 357m, 44m, and 45acp for pistols all I feel can be reloaded for a savings.
 
For common calibers that tend to benefit greatly from high supply, it’s really not worth reloading now except for the fact that you enjoy it and it gets you tailored loads for your own rifle for hunting, target shooting, etc.

That will change a lot in a panic when the common calibers are suddenly unobtainable and you can continue loading them for the same cost as always (provided you laid in a good supply of components of course.)

For more obscure calibers, reloading is the difference between shooting and not shooting.
 
My cost for 62gr fmj hornady reloads at today prices is .333 cent per round, its better ammo than bulk NATO, brass free. Purchase components when hazmat is free and in bulk. Some calibers are a lot cheaper to reload, 45LC, 38 super are 2 calibers that got me into reloading.
 
Frulk said:
For myself I wouldn’t call it exactly a labor of love. It’s a hobby. I LIKE it…a lot.

I have a dedicated room for it and some nice equipment I’ve put together over the years that I enjoy using.

It’s relaxing to go turn on a mix of Cash, Marty Robbin’s, Charlie Pride and set up a run of whatever caliber. It’s also a space to just get away for some quiet time. I don’t crank through the process for max rounds per hour and take my time as I find the whole process calming.

Like you I spend time during the cold and snowy winter months producing ammo that will be shot throughout the summer/fall. I would reload even if the cost was the same or higher than store bought ammo for no other reason than the self sufficiency aspect of it.

However, over 90% of the shooting I do is straight walled pistol cartridges in revolvers and lever action rifles. You mentioned .223 in your post. That brass requires a lot more prep. Prep that I find tedious and is one reason I don’t reload for it. I buy all .223 off the shelf to negate that aspect of the process. I do have dies and components for the caliber just in case (that self-sufficiency thing again).

I might just make some time this weekend to do a run of mid level .32 H&R mag for the wife to shoot. No doubt at one point during that session Marty will be in the background singing ‘Big Iron’ through the speakers.

Taking the dogs for a walk in a couple of hours and afterwards heading to the range to shoot some store bought .223 through a new Ruger M77 International needing to be sighted in.
Click to expand...
You are a man after my heart. I think we are "Brothers from another Mother". For my 10th birthday my Mom bought me a used record player and the Marty Robbins album with Big Iron on it.
It wasn't gunfighter ballad album but the one with "White sport coat and "Don't worry" along with westen songs. That was my only record for quite a while. Plum wore it out. I remember Dad yelling up the stairs to give that record a rest. He got tired of hearing it over and over. I never did. We lost Marty Robbins way too young.
Best to you
 
Lennyjoe said:
Marty Robbins? Hell if it ain’t Metallica, Lamb of God or Motioness in White (or other metal bands), it ain’t on my list….lol
Click to expand...
That's why reloading is becoming a task. All those aggressive guitar riffs gets you in the wrong frame of mind. Try some Kenny G or Englebert Humperdinck. It'll either mellow you out or you'll load faster just to get the hell out of there. Either way...
 
Bill M said:
Now that was my dad's music!
Click to expand...
To be honest, when I’m reloading my favorite music is the sound of the wind through the oaks and maples, the birds chirping and the slight rustle of cats hunting in the thickets. There aren’t that many days anymore when I can pull the stool around back and load under the shade of the big oak. It’s been too busy lately, too many people demanding my time and too many hours online. Maybe when I retire.
 
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