What Got You Into Reloading?

[CavalierLeif]

Hi all - I've been reloading for about 5 years now. I initially got into it as a curiosity, to better understand ammunition, enjoy greater control over performance and save money.

The adage is true - you don't necessarily save money with reloading, but you shoot a lot more.

Soon after, I bought a Mauser 1895 in 7x57. It's not a particularly difficult round to find, but it's not always readily available, either. And it's pretty easy to reload, for much cheaper than factory bought. Then, having plenty of 7mm bullets, I acquired a Rem 700 in 7mm Remington Magnum and started reloading for that. Reloading for 7mm mag is MUCH cheaper than factory bought.

But the process is meditative to me, and as one who aspires to embrace a "farm to table" philosophy with my cooking, another passion, it's very connecting to harvest game with a load that you created yourself, and have a full meal with vegetables from the garden. Kind of a "full circle" immersion in the process.


For fellow reloaders: what got you into reloading? Did you discover it through a mentor or find it on your own? What "itch" did it scratch, and where have you found the most value in the process?



Having some fun rolling a few .357 Magnum rounds to find the perfect fit for my Rossi R92.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I had been saving brass for several years, from shooting 9mm and 223, but one day I decided to buy a Blackhawk in 45 Colt. Lacking proper research on ammo cost, I went to purchase some and had sticker shock.

A month later I had a Lee Challenger kit and started loading for it. When I started loading for 9mm, the realization hit me that loading for an auto on a single stage was very time consuming. Not long after I picked up a Dillon 550.

 

[mdi]

In the mid 80s I was shooting my first handgun, a 38 Special,h up in the hills above LA. As I emptied the cyinder of my gun I thought "I wonder if I can reuse these?". I knew no one who reloaded so I went to the library and researched. Bought a Lee Loader and have been reloadig since...

 

[74man]

My Brother in Law (BIL) and I had discussed reloading, when we ran into an ex LEO who was a gun nut and reloaded and had been a reloader for some 30 years. I bought the RCBS complete unit and our LEO friend started me out loading 40 S&W. Then I just kept going with reloading all I could, I understood the technical terms and the why's. My BIL has yet to reload any thing but he did split the cost for the RCBS unit but I bought all my own dies and Lee primer and quite a few other reloading stuff, Calipers, scales, Auto Trim kits and the like. I love to sit in the garage and reload. Prepare all the cleaned brass cause I can quit anytime I want. Now when it gets to loading powder and bullets I do about 200 at a time. I am retired with really nothing else to do, can't walk very far do to medical reasons but with reloading I can sit for hours and I still feel find. Love to reload.

 

[JohnMc]

My Dad.
He had Lee Loaders for every center-fire caliber he owned. I remember whacking them while watching the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman and MASH.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'd been saving brass for 30+ years, but didn't want to start reloading because of the mess I read about...this was when everyone was using steel dies and spray on lubes were unknown. I even saved all my .38Spl brass from years of PPC competition...that took up a lot of room.

What finally got me into reloading was shooting Action Pistol competition and being too lazy to keep a stock of loaded ammo on hand. It is much easier to order several pounds of powder, and several thousand primers and bullets to have on hand to make ammo whenever it is needed...plus I could shop for them on sale

I was lucky that I had a couple of friends who were willing to show me how to reload their presses (Dillon 550 and Lee Classic Turret) and I found it wasn't as onerous as I'd thought. What tipped me over the edge was winning a used Hornady LNL AP in a contest on a local forum. Learning to load on a progressive isn't too steep a learning curve as long as you aren't impatient. Never regretted starting on a progressive press...I didn't get a single stage press until years later

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

I got into reloading in 2020 when ammo was very expensive and hard to find but components were somewhat still available and I started off loading 270 Win. I then got dad to start reloading 300 Win Mag then it just took off from there. I no longer have a 270 but now load for 5.56, 25-06, 30-06, and 45 Auto and dad loads 300WM 300Blk and 9mm. Started with a LEE APP and now have a Redding Big Boss with Inline Fabrication stuff.
Dad loaded 357 Mag in the late 80s/early 90s when he was a reserve deputy with Oklahoma County before getting on with OKC PD in the early 90s. So he knew a little bit but not nearly what we know now. Sadly he had to sell a bunch of cool stuff like a Desert Eagle in 357 due to more important things like having me lol.

 

[41 Mag]

I got started young back in the 70's helping my pop out pulling '06 ball ammo, neck sizing, and seating a 150gr Sierra Spitzer. We also did the full regime on fired cases as well. By the time I was 8 I was pulling the handle on my own loads under his watchful eye.

We didn't do much handgun ammo but I changed all that when I purchased my first 41 magnum in the mid 80's. After that was a 44, then a 10mm, 357s and it went from there.

I remember when handgun ammo went from a 50rd box to 25, then 20, but the prices didn't reflect the change. By then I had plenty of brass, and a RCBS 4x4 progressive and rocked on. I'm still using that press and have added another, as well as a 550 and several single stages. I've also gotten into casting for both rifle and handguns, and now venturing into shotgun. I'm not new to the latter just the buckshot loads. I got my first shotshell press at 12 because my pop said I was gonna put him in tha poor house buying me shells.

 

[Pottimus]

It is really not that hard, and I had a .280 Remington to feed. Calling it 7mm Express didn't make it any more available. I had no idea anyone sold new empty carriage cases back then. The concept of new empty brass just seemed out of this world.

 

[livetoshoot82]

I bought a 38 on GunBroker back in '06 that came with a set of Lee dies. Bought a pro1000 press and down the rabbit hole I went. Now I load for every caliber I have except for rimfire, and have 5 different presses from shotgun to turret to progressive to single stage. Insanity at it's finest

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Hi all - I've been reloading for about 5 years now. I initially got into it as a curiosity, to better understand ammunition, enjoy greater control over performance and save money.

The adage is true - you don't necessarily save money with reloading, but you shoot a lot more.

Soon after, I bought a Mauser 1895 in 7x57. It's not a particularly difficult round to find, but it's not always readily available, either. And it's pretty easy to reload, for much cheaper than factory bought. Then, having plenty of 7mm bullets, I acquired a Rem 700 in 7mm Remington Magnum and started reloading for that. Reloading for 7mm mag is MUCH cheaper than factory bought.

But the process is meditative to me, and as one who aspires to embrace a "farm to table" philosophy with my cooking, another passion, it's very connecting to harvest game with a load that you created yourself, and have a full meal with vegetables from the garden. Kind of a "full circle" immersion in the process.


For fellow reloaders: what got you into reloading? Did you discover it through a mentor or find it on your own? What "itch" did it scratch, and where have you found the most value in the process?



Having some fun rolling a few .357 Magnum rounds to find the perfect fit for my Rossi R92.

View attachment 1191085

I went on a camping/hunting trip with my maternal uncle when I was 8. That got me thinking about hunting, hunting got me learning to shoot and shooting required learning how to handload. I got my first lesson around 1970. There just wasn’t a choice. If I wanted my own gun, I had to load for it, or at least know how. Been doing it ever since.

 

[JmacD]

I’d helped Grandpa a bit when I was younger (think 10-15) and very much enjoyed it. That’s been closer to 30 years ago than I want to admit… I shot (and still shoot) a cartridge that factory offerings are becoming more limited and harder than ever to find! Couple that with the 2021 shortages, and trying to do something to cope with a very much not my idea divorce and the empty house during the times my kiddo is with mom and reloading looked like the right step. I had been given a Lee press(it’s an o frame. Don’t remember the model) by a very nice elderly gentleman whose name I don’t recall. My dad and my brother went in with me to get set up, we went with a Hornady classic kit, and it’s went on from there. I load a lot for the family. A progressive (probably a LnL) is in the works for this year. And possibly adding 7PRC and 6gt to the lineups as well. let me add, it has rapidly become one of my favorite hobbies! I can honestly say that I enjoy my time at the reloading bench as much as the time I spend at the shooting bench. I also very much enjoy the much better accuracy I can get out of my firearms with my hand loads than I can with factory ammo.

 

[kerreckt]

I was 15 (1969) years old. I had my father's model12 in 16ga. I had a friend (we hunted) who had a Lee loader and plenty of powder and shot he would share. I bought a 16 ga Lee Loader and wads. I now have 7 presses. I reload 12 handgun and rifle cartridges. I enjoy reloading as much as I enjoy shooting. Best wishes!

 

[Bartojc]

Growing up friends of my father reloaded, but my dad was not much of a hunter. He had firearms around but they were a tool for varmints and small game much like a hammer or pliers in a tool box. Firearms and shooting were definately not a hobby or entertainment to him. I always knew reloading was an option. Up until about 10 years ago I was primarily a deer hunter and owned a half dozen firearms or less. I got rid of a couple of my motorized hobbies and had some time on my hands and started shooting more. Ammo availability became and issue and I liked the reloading option. I started loading 9mm only, but that quickly expanded to laoding every caliber I owned. THen I started buying rifles/pistols just so I could reload for them or because I could reload for them

-Jeff

 

[dh1633pm]

My dad taught me in the 80's.

 

[Walkalong]

It was cool and my poor self was going to be able to shoot more.

That was back when getting into it was relatively cheap.

Savings were more dramatic and equipment paid for its self very quickly.

 

[JEBruns]

I had an uncle that was big time into hunting and reloading. We didn't live close to them, but anytime we'd go to visit, even as a child, I was star struck by all of it. Big drums of powder, racks of nice guns, etc. So I kind of always had an interest. But what got me to buy my first loader was trap shooting/hunting pheasants. I was shooting over 10k rounds a year at trap, mostly as a way to keep sharp for bird season, and also some winter leagues. Bought a Mec progressive press and the rest is history.

 

[Twisted Chemist]

Hi all - I've been reloading for about 5 years now. I initially got into it as a curiosity, to better understand ammunition, enjoy greater control over performance and save money.

The adage is true - you don't necessarily save money with reloading, but you shoot a lot more.

Soon after, I bought a Mauser 1895 in 7x57. It's not a particularly difficult round to find, but it's not always readily available, either. And it's pretty easy to reload, for much cheaper than factory bought. Then, having plenty of 7mm bullets, I acquired a Rem 700 in 7mm Remington Magnum and started reloading for that. Reloading for 7mm mag is MUCH cheaper than factory bought.

But the process is meditative to me, and as one who aspires to embrace a "farm to table" philosophy with my cooking, another passion, it's very connecting to harvest game with a load that you created yourself, and have a full meal with vegetables from the garden. Kind of a "full circle" immersion in the process.


For fellow reloaders: what got you into reloading? Did you discover it through a mentor or find it on your own? What "itch" did it scratch, and where have you found the most value in the process?



Having some fun rolling a few .357 Magnum rounds to find the perfect fit for my Rossi R92.

"Reloading for 7mm mag is MUCH cheaper than factory "
This is what got me started in reloading WAY back in the 80's. My first big game rifle was a Rem 700 ADL in 7mm Mag and so reloading was (way) cheaper than factory ammo. Man do I miss that rifle. Then bought my first AR-15 CAR a few years later and started reloading for it as well. In all honesty, I enjoy the reloading process, even tumbling and case prep. Performing all the steps by hand on a single stage Rockchucker gives me a sense of deep satisfaction. A feeling of pride in ownership. That is still the case today, however reloading for 9mm with Titegroup is getting a bit tedious.
Edit: There were no mentors available to me at the time so I bought manuals for Nosler, Hodgdon and Sierra bullets and taught myself.
At this point I reload for 5.56x45, 7.62x51, 7mm BR, 9mm, .38/.357 and hope to add .45 acp, .32 Win Sp, and .243 Win in the near future. Eventually I'd like to move full circle and go back to 7mm mag, but it will have to be a wooden stocked model (I prefer metal and wood) with a muzzle break. After 30 years I'm still fighting the damn flinch my original 7 mag bequeathed to me.

 

[ballman6711]

I started about five years ago out of curiosity, I wanted to learn how and see if maybe I would enjoy it.

Fast forward and I load for everything in the house except rimfire.

FWIW, my first reloads sucked, they functioned fine but had no accuracy. I don't use Longshot in 45acp anymore.

chris

 

[tightgroup tiger]

We were poor and my father reloaded so made me learn it if I wanted to shoot.
That was back in 1970 when he started me loading on his presses.

 

[bigpower491]

Well going back over 30 yrs, I think I wanted to increase the accuracy of the 300 Winchester I had back then, and save money. But.......only the former came true. The latter well let's just say I realized real quick that I could shoot 60 rounds for the price of 20, and although that looks like I was saving a ton of $$, in reality I did heaps more shooting.
The upside.....Im pretty darn good with a rifle in my hand, not benchrest good, but a heck of alot better than the average goober

 

[Armored farmer]

I grew up reloading.
The son of an avid trapshooter, he had a mec 400 set up on and old table on our basement. He reloaded paper trap loads. Federal Champions and Winchester Super Target.
Soon I was manning the reloader. You couldn't screw up or the shell would clearly tell you. We didn't deviate our loads.....red dot under 1⅛ Oz of 7½s.

50 years later I still have the old mec 400. Also mec 600jr in 410, 20. 28. And a 650 in 12ga.
Lee equipment in 380 9mm 38 357 45acp 45colt 223 7mm-08 30-06 30-30 45-70.
Casting bullets for those caliber also.

What got me started was the lack of a sporting goods store nearby to supply our needs. We had to travel an hour to Terre Haute Indiana to buy ammo. We could also buy components there to make our own....so that's what we did.

Shooting and reloading have always gone together for me.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Lack of readily available ammo (Walmart stopped selling handgun in northern Virginia) and I retired.

 

[small town life]

None of my relatives reloaded or were hunters (excluding turkey & quail). When my parents had a horse breading farm our veterinarian was (and his whole family from Santa Fe, NM) are avid hunters that reload. He had taught me when I was 18 ('84) and been reloading ever since.

 

[Ethan Verity]

I originally got into reloading just for the reduction is ammo cost... after recovering from those initial pains of buying all the needed equipment, I now appreciate being able to load up a box of ammo for roughly half the cost of similar factory ammo.