depends how much you shoot and how frugal you are in collecting equipment. only advice would be start kind of small and get basic equipment and supplies to load a cartrdige you think you want to shoot the most, and learn how to do it. It can be rewarding, just for the experience of knowing how to do it, but it takes time, and the components aren't free. unless you are a volume shooter, it isn't a way to really save $$, expecially if you consider your time as $. I consider it an equal hobby to shooting, if I have time that is uninterrupted, I'd just assume reload - and enjoy the repetitive and kind of tedious work of it. if you don't kind of like tedious and meticulous work, you might not like it, but only one way to find out.
Should I consider reloading?
- Thread starter Gus_McCrae
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lightman
Member
Lots of good information in this thread!
My biggest suggestion is to get with your reloader friend and load a few. Some people love it while others hate it and some suffer through it because of the benefits.
I suggest you buy a loading manual and read through it. One of my favorites is the Lyman.
As far as safety goes, its as safe or as dangerous as you make it. When starting to load, check and double check the bullet weight, powder type and charge weight. Then check it again! My personal rule about powder is that I always empty the measure when I'm finished and I only have one type of powder on the bench at a time. I never deviate from that rule! Never!
Savings? Most reloaders really don't save any money, they just get to shoot more. Last year before Deer Season I bought my BIL 2 boxes of 270 ammo. (he couldn't find any where he lived) I got very little change back from a $100 bill. I figure I can load 100 for a little less than that amount at current prices. As the others have said, the savings depends on the caliber. Its hard to save much on 223 or 9mm. But the savings on something like loading for one of the Weatherbys or say a 7mm Shooting Times Westerner can be huge!
FROGO207
Member
Lots of opinions supporting both positions OP.
Personally I love to custom load the most accurate ammo I possibly can. At the same time I might save some money and if I have the componants stored away I can make whatever I want even if the store shelves are completly devoid of any ammo.
As suggested start with one set of dies, a single stage press, manuals, and a scale of some sort that measures in grains.
Ask your friend if he can show you how to reload one cartridge and explain the steps as you go. He might even use his tools and componants to show you how to load ammo for his firearm before you buy anything. Having a mentor is a BIG plus. Saying all this assuming you still want to reload.
Personally I love to custom load the most accurate ammo I possibly can. At the same time I might save some money and if I have the componants stored away I can make whatever I want even if the store shelves are completly devoid of any ammo.
As suggested start with one set of dies, a single stage press, manuals, and a scale of some sort that measures in grains.
Ask your friend if he can show you how to reload one cartridge and explain the steps as you go. He might even use his tools and componants to show you how to load ammo for his firearm before you buy anything. Having a mentor is a BIG plus. Saying all this assuming you still want to reload.
barnfrog
Member
I will add one other thought: I'm still pretty new at reloading and am still in the stage of working up loads for my guns. The tinkering is one of the fun parts of it for me. And as @Nature Boy said, there's always something new to learn. I hope I don't get to the point where I have standard loads for all my guns and all I do is assemble rounds. That might truly be drudgery for me. I suspect I'll always be trying a new powder or bullet just to see if I can find that "perfect" load for one gun or another. Or better yet, buying a new gun to load for. 
Of course, there go your cost savings.
Not sure exactly what my point is. Maybe that the reason you decide to try reloading and end up liking it might be somewhat temporary.
Of course, there go your cost savings.Not sure exactly what my point is. Maybe that the reason you decide to try reloading and end up liking it might be somewhat temporary.
You didn't know when a storm comes over a lake, you are suppose to go a shore and get out of the boat??? or that stamps are fragile and flammable? Or birds will attack you if you disturb their nests???
Maybe I just had good teachers, like learning how to cook. I never poisoned anyone.
Outside of my response, SIT Down With Your Friend and ask for instructions and information on how he reloads. Ask why he buys the stuff he does. It is addictive. It is a lot of fun, like building your own fishing rod. It can save you lots of money after you depreciate your equipment and you can build better ammo than what's sold commercially because it will shoot better than anything else IN YOUR GUN. It is a good investment. The down side is equipment and supplies. I started out by buying good used equipment, usually 1/2 price and due to political and economic problems some supplies are still scarce. Rifle and pistol supplies are coming back. Shotgun powders and some rifle primers are still hard to find. Prices have gone up, ... what hasn't? But it is still cheaper than buying ammo from a store and you will appreciate your "odd" friend more as well as.
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bullseye308
Member
You are already aware of the fun of trying to locate components, and you can't do much without them. That being said, if you can get primers and powder the rest is not that hard. Buy in bulk at every opportunity, stockpile what you can every chance you can. The last few years have taught many of us the importance of having components on hand in quantity. Not getting political, but traditionally every 4 years there is some ort of component shortage and having components to load simplifies these shortages. Remember folks clamoring about trying to get their 2 box limit just go practice? Remember the shelves being bare and not even finding ammo at all for a while? Reloading eases or removes that as a concern. Looking ahead at whatever uncertainty may come, having the ability to reload, and having components to do so will keep you shooting when many others are not able. That has tremendous value in and of itself. Having the knowledge and skill to do it, even if it isn't your most favorite thing to do, could at some point be a great thing.
Having a mentor is a tremendous advantage most of us didn't have. Ask if he will let you come by and see the process, explain it, and maybe try it out. Get a manual and read the first part, that explains the process and will no doubt generate more questions. Like anything else new to you, you don't know what you don't know. That means there is so much more to this that you are not aware of yet that you don't even know you need to know it. There will be many questions you will need to ask that you are not even aware of yet. That's completely normal and to be expected so don't feel bad about asking. I'd much rather ask a silly question and get a better understanding of what I'm doing and how things work together than risk something possibly going wrong and damaging a gun or worse.
It is possible to save money, even today by reloading. It may not be much, or you may never save a dime. I load 9mm, 223, 38, and 357(by quantity) and I load a lot of them. I saved tremendous amounts of money over the years by buying in bulk, catching sales, scrounging brass at the range, even trading stuff at times. I have a simple setup that works for me and
I don't keep buying new gadgets that will have to pay for themselves later on. You may decide to frequently upgrade this or that, add new hardware to make things easier, who knows what may happen. Whatever you decide, get a decent quality press, god dies, some manuals, a solid bench with good lighting, and use your mentor if he is willing, to explain the process and workflow at the bench and maybe even split orders for components with you.
Having a mentor is a tremendous advantage most of us didn't have. Ask if he will let you come by and see the process, explain it, and maybe try it out. Get a manual and read the first part, that explains the process and will no doubt generate more questions. Like anything else new to you, you don't know what you don't know. That means there is so much more to this that you are not aware of yet that you don't even know you need to know it. There will be many questions you will need to ask that you are not even aware of yet. That's completely normal and to be expected so don't feel bad about asking. I'd much rather ask a silly question and get a better understanding of what I'm doing and how things work together than risk something possibly going wrong and damaging a gun or worse.
It is possible to save money, even today by reloading. It may not be much, or you may never save a dime. I load 9mm, 223, 38, and 357(by quantity) and I load a lot of them. I saved tremendous amounts of money over the years by buying in bulk, catching sales, scrounging brass at the range, even trading stuff at times. I have a simple setup that works for me and
I don't keep buying new gadgets that will have to pay for themselves later on. You may decide to frequently upgrade this or that, add new hardware to make things easier, who knows what may happen. Whatever you decide, get a decent quality press, god dies, some manuals, a solid bench with good lighting, and use your mentor if he is willing, to explain the process and workflow at the bench and maybe even split orders for components with you.
doubleh
Member
Probably not but you can shoot twice as much
There you go. However this is a rather poor time to get into it because of the availability and cost of supplies. That said, history shows that once high prices are in place they never go back to what they were before inflation set in so why not now? I look at reloading as work but work that allows me to shoot more and with more accuracy than with factory ammo. I have been reloading for many years and that was the reason I started and continue to do so. You might as well be searching for supplies as for factory ammo.
barnfrog
Member
To be fair, stockpiling factory ammo when it's available accomplishes this just as well. One doesn't necessarily need to reload in order to ride out shortages.
GeoDudeFlorida
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Hmmmm… buzz kill time.
I see lots of talk about buying in bulk and the joys of riding out shortages; I see almost nothing about proper storage, increased insurance, the lifespan limitations of nitro powders, or the possibility of local regulations limiting what can be stockpiled.
It’s a bigger question than just, “How much do I save?”
I see lots of talk about buying in bulk and the joys of riding out shortages; I see almost nothing about proper storage, increased insurance, the lifespan limitations of nitro powders, or the possibility of local regulations limiting what can be stockpiled.
It’s a bigger question than just, “How much do I save?”
OP
OP
Gus_McCrae
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We don't rent pigs!
RikSors
Member
Yes if you have the time, effort, consistency, attention to details and safety in mind.
Considering the current supply, one can still save. Finding components is another fun part.
I agree, it’s therapeutic. World stops and I get to focus on reloading only.
Considering the current supply, one can still save. Finding components is another fun part.
I agree, it’s therapeutic. World stops and I get to focus on reloading only.
Varminterror
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I mentioned this thread to my wife this morning, specifically this sentiment that, for some folks, reloading itself is the hobby they enjoy, almost to the point of only shooting so they have their cases back to play again…
Her response:
do they like laying brick in the hot sun too? Or manually entering accounting data for the bank for fun?I assume you can interpret her enjoyment from the “hobby” of reloading.
CQB45ACP
Member
Yep people are differentI mentioned this thread to my wife this morning, specifically this sentiment that, for some folks, reloading itself is the hobby they enjoy, almost to the point of only shooting so they have their cases back to play again…
Her response:
I assume you can interpret her enjoyment from the “hobby” of reloading.
I shot 22LR & 9mm at range on Monday vs. my usual 9mm & 45acp. And, yes, I thought to my self later, shucks don’t have any 45 cases to mess with.
Did you ever think of going to the "Buy, Sell Reloading" of t.h.r. and asking if anyone has some .45 ACP to sell?
Highland Lofts
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A friend has several thousand LPP 45acp for $40 a thousand plus shipping.
He does have some SPP 45acp as well.
He does have some SPP 45acp as well.
GeoDudeFlorida
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Is it free range or indoor harvest? Don’t want to import any of that west coast range grunge. It would infect the whole crop and next thing you know we’ll all be driving Priuses and reloading pistol brass with rifle dies.
Varminterror
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This is generally how I recoup my blasting ammo brass. I buy it by the case or multiple cases (used to buy by the pallet load), then sell the brass as once fired thereafter.
Gus, if you look over the responses you will see a few trends.
1) Reloading for cartridges that are rare/expensive. You don't have any of those.
2) Reloading as a hobby and/or for enjoyment. That is an unknown for you at this time.
3) Reloading for accuracy. The .308 and 6.5 are capable. Are you? Do you care about accuracy? How many rounds of them are you currently shooting per given period of time?
IMHO if accuracy appeals to you I'd say you also need to add .38 special revolver and a 1911 in .45 acp.
1) Reloading for cartridges that are rare/expensive. You don't have any of those.
2) Reloading as a hobby and/or for enjoyment. That is an unknown for you at this time.
3) Reloading for accuracy. The .308 and 6.5 are capable. Are you? Do you care about accuracy? How many rounds of them are you currently shooting per given period of time?
IMHO if accuracy appeals to you I'd say you also need to add .38 special revolver and a 1911 in .45 acp.
BushMaster-15
member
Reloading is a commitment both of time as well as money . I suggest YOU determine exactly how much YOU shoot and currently allocate for ammunition . Based on that figure , add up current cost of reloading equipment plus components ,as opposed to ammunition purchases .
I've had My stuff for better than half a century ( many up grades along the road ) ,so I'm Not the $$$$ comparison one should use or reference cost wise . I'm sure others here will have current pricing .
CQB45ACP
Member
Dont need any just wanted to play with mine
Bottom Gun
Member
After over a half century of shooting, I consider reloading to be one of the most valuable shooting related skills I've acquired.
The gains are increased knowledge of ballistics, better accuracy and a much broader variety of choice.
It won't take long to recoup your initial investment and you will see considerable cost savings in the long run.
The gains are increased knowledge of ballistics, better accuracy and a much broader variety of choice.
It won't take long to recoup your initial investment and you will see considerable cost savings in the long run.
I enjoy reloading as a hobby. Yes, I enjoy shooting and am not quite in the "I shoot so I can reload" camp, but I'm sympathetic to that mindset. I like to tinker with loads. It's pretty personal on whether the hobby appeals to one in this way or not. If it doesn't, as others have said, it will be dangerous drudgery. As my then-LGS owner told me when he sold me my first reloading components: "This is a hobby. If it ever gets to the point where it feels like a chore that you don't enjoy, just don't do it. You can buy really good factory ammo these days." That was 20 years ago and the statement is more true now than it was then, unless you're shooting something exotic/rare or shooting precision competitions.
That said, I highly encourage folks to try reloading if they are inclined. I have learned a lot about firearms, bullets, cartridges, and related things as a result of my reloading journey. There's no reason you have to reload to learn those things, but reloading is what piqued my interest in the nuances and details and lead me to research and learn. I enjoy shooting more because I reload, and I shoot more because I reload. YMMV.
That said, I highly encourage folks to try reloading if they are inclined. I have learned a lot about firearms, bullets, cartridges, and related things as a result of my reloading journey. There's no reason you have to reload to learn those things, but reloading is what piqued my interest in the nuances and details and lead me to research and learn. I enjoy shooting more because I reload, and I shoot more because I reload. YMMV.
doubleh
Member
I mentioned this thread to my wife this morning, specifically this sentiment that, for some folks, reloading itself is the hobby they enjoy, almost to the point of only shooting so they have their cases back to play again…
Her response:
I assume you can interpret her enjoyment from the “hobby” of reloading.
I love your wife's response. Reloading is work I do to get better accuracy and the ability to have that ammo when I want it. It is NOT a hobby for me, just that dirty word, work. I will admit I would rather do that than chop cotton under the hot Texas sun, something I did a lot of as a kid and hated every minute of. One difference is that I could daydream of images in the clouds when shuffling along instead of having to pay very close attention while reloading. I remain capable of focusing closely on what I am doing even if it is repetative and boring and that has kept me of ever having a ker-boom.
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