what got you into reloading?

[Thirties]

Paco Kelly!

What got me into reloading (which I will actually start when I get my work area built) can be said just in two words:

Paco Kelly


Check out this link:

http://www.sixgunner.com/paco/Default.htm


At the site go to the "Obsolete" link:

http://www.sixgunner.com/paco/38special.htm


There you will see what got me into reloading, or so far what got me to buy some reloading gear and embark upon a building project in my basement.

I think you'll enjoy his writings . . .

 

[Loach]

I bought a rifle in .260 remington while I lived in Minnesota within relatively easy driving distance of a Cabela's which carried 5 or 6 different loads in that caliber. When I moved to South Carolina, I found the nearest store that carried any kind of ammo in .260 rem was in Charlotte 90+ miles north, I decided to give reloading a try.

Now, I've found I can handload ammo much more accurate than any factory load, with one exception. Hornady Custom 165gr 30-06 just about matches the best handloads I can muster in my 700ADL.

loach

 

[vulcan]

I started reloading because of forums like this Had to see what the other half of shooting was about. I found it to be relaxing & gives me the chance to try different loads. I find most of the savings in the .357 & .44 special caliber, The 9mms were mostly to experiment. I even enjoy using a tong tool or lee loaders for variety

 

[coonan357]

I am a packrat and had to something with all that brass I picked up along the way ... no actually it was to save money I was shooting a case of shells a week at $200+ a case (1000rds) , I have gotten it down to $80 a case of better stuff (higher power and more accurate ) when I use the better bullets the cost goes up but being able to adjust the power levels are more of my liking , and to be able to make show off rounds ( 2400 or bluedot flamethrower reloads ) but I also like knowing that I can actually do something that alot of people are afraid to do . and its my out from the stress of the world

 

[hubel458]

I reloaded 458 Win for to save money--

And to have lighter spitzer bullets for target and deer hunting.
Wanting more power and notoriety I developed my wildcat
458 Hubel Express, that I reload, two of which are shown in
the picture flanking a 458 Win...Ed

 

[Grampa]

I really don't remember what got me started. My wife bought me my first press, a Rockchucker, as either a birthday or Christmas present. My Dad quickly pitched in, wanting me to load 8MM Mauser, 303 British, .401 Herters PowerMag and 30-40 Krag ammo for him. He kept me well supplied with tools, dies and supplies. My first rifle was a 30-06, and I have brass I will never get around to reloading for it. First handgun was a .357, and had lots of brass for it, too.

That's it! Back in high school I was involved in a law enforcement career organization, and we reloaded thousands of rounds of 38 Special for pistol training. I remember enjoying it, and decided to get back into it when I graduated from college. My wife took the idea from there.

Can't say which motivates me more, now. I suppose I save some money, but mostly shoot more. Like others have said, I like to escape out to the reloading bench and tinker away for an hour or two. It's relaxing, and pays off with more ammo to shoot!

 

[Calanctus]

How else am I supposed to feed a rifle that shoots .219 Ackley Improved Zipper?

 

[swifter]

Right to start, economics. Then I found my loads were better than anything I could buy... Now, I have rifles that don't digest stuff I can buy...
Tom

 

[41mag M&P]

.41 magnum

I started reloading to shoot the .41 magnum. My choices were limited at the local gun stores (usually just silvertips). It was either mail order ammo or reload if I wanted to shoot it much.

 

[John Galt]

I shoot 45ACP with 200grn Lead SWC.
- It costs 1/3 as much or better to reload.
- I can't buy a reduced power LSWC for target practice.

I'm about to start shooting .223 bolt action. I'll reload mostly for accuracy, but also to save $$$. You'd be very lucky to just happen to find a rifle round that is the right velocity, etc for your exact rifle. I've read that you can often cut your groups to 1/3 by raising or lowering your velocity 100fps.

 

[Bruce H]

Creativity mostly. With so many different manufactures of bullets, brass, powder, primers, ect it all needs tried. If something doesn't work out we all know someone else we can trade with for something we havent tried. It is also real hard to find factory ammo that changes a tenth of a grain. Probably spend more than using factory but the knowledge gained is a cheap education.

 

[uglymofo]

All these guys with all these reasons.

Me, I'm cheap- "A cut-rate person in a coupon land".

 

[achadwick]

Started off reloading many years ago to save money. Used a Lee Loader for my .30-30. Shortly moved up to the RCBS Rock Chucker press and recently to the Pro2000 progressive press. Still have the Lee Loader but haven't used it for over 20 years.

 

[admiral]

i wanted bruises on my shoulder that factory 45-70 ammo wouldn't provide.

 

[atek3]

I started shooting High-Power. and at 50-75 cents around there was no way in hell I could afford match grade ammo. So I started rolling my own, 69 gr. moly SMK over 23.4 Gr. Varget in a mass-sorted LC 01 brass.

atek3