Why do you reload ammunition?

[hdwhit]

Why do I reload?

It started as a necessity. My father gave me a Universal M1 Carbine when I was 16. Since Ruger chambered the Blackhawk in 30 Carbine, ATF classified it as a pistol cartridge and you had to be 21 to buy the ammunition. My father did not want me to be profligate with the money I made from my part-time job, so he would only buy 20 rounds at a time.

But I wanted to shoot more.

That's when I discovered I could reload for about half the cost of new (those economics have since changed) and the man behind the counter at Wal-Mart didn't ask my age when I bought power and primers.

There's not a lot you can do to "tweak" 30 Carbine, but a whole world of loading possibilities opened up to me when I bought my first Mini-14 and started loading .223 Remington.

But the "hook was set" when I discovered the 5.7 mm Johnson cartridge (I.e. 30 Carbine case necked down to 223/224) which married my first love of 30 Carbine with my developing familiarity with 22 caliber bullets.

I have spent the last 37 years trying to get die settings and a load developed for this rifle and it has eluded me. I have even gone so far as to contact NASA contractors about how to "chemically mill" the necks of my brass to the proper dimension.

So, why do I reload?

Well, it has become an obsession; but not one, I think, that has advanced to the point of being a problem.

 

[MauriceSam]

Factories simply don’t make what I want to shoot. Especially so now. When was the last time anyone saw a box of 38 wad cutters or 45 Auto with SWC in them for sale?

And even when they did, mine are more accurate, higher performance and much more consistent.


(I had to remove and reinstall a glass sliding door for my ex-father in law way back when. It seems his dream of building a Harley Davison sportster turned into a great deal on a wide glide basket case. Upon completion it wouldn’t fit!
You ever hear a stage one Screaming Eagle fire up in a kitchen?)

Yes I have heard one. Had a riding friend who built a rigid shovelhead in back bedroom. Got it in hallway and let her rip. Ripped up carpet and rolled it up under rear tire. When the smoke cleared, found burnt rubber on concrete all the way out to the living room.
This was a "normal" occurrence back in the day.

 

[GaryL]

I started reloading for cost savings and ammo availability, but ended up also enjoying the reloading process. and variety of loads I could make.

Same here. Doing the math on reloading 44mag, 45acp, and 45colt showed me the cost of reloading equipment could be amortized in about 1 year (at the time I got started). After that, each caliber only needed to cover the cost of dies and caliber conversions to be worth adding. I added 9mm when many were saying it wasn't worth the time to do it. But the ammo I made was more accurate for me, and after going through several periods where 9mm simply couldn't be found, it was the right thing to do.

 

[higgite]

I reload, therefore I am. - René Descartridges

 

[tominboise]

Because it's fun and interesting. Also, able to weather times of short supply of ammunition.

 

[Twisted Chemist]

Reloading....
Yes, like so any hobbies it is an expression of manual dexterity and self gratification. For instance, scratch building all of my rockets, doing a bit of woodworking, around the house fix-ups, welding, candle making and fletching arrows. Of course economics does play a small role, after the initial investment, as well as the ability to tailor loads for specific uses.
Or does it? Need to do the math on that and see how the prices compare.
In conclusion, I reload mainly because I enjoy the process. Even with a single stage Rock Chucker.

 

[Twisted Chemist]

To anyone who doesn’t think you can save money by casting…. I don’t think your doing it right hahahaha. I’m loading a box of 41 mag for less than $2.70 using free range scrap. When I do have to buy lead for casting it adds $1.91 so $4.61/box if I can’t get free lead. That’s literally 10x less per box based on pre-pandemic prices. So that 1200rnds I shot last year cost me about $65.
Not bad for a ~$80 investment in equipment ($40 Lee lead pot,$20 lee mold,$20 sizing die.

Now I’m rambling. Long story short, go reload.

Haven't tried casting yet. Sounds right up my alley. Already use lead as nose ballast for larger rockets so just need the remainder of the supplies. Another hobby? The wife will not be pleased...

 

[packetloss]

When I started it was before there were mail order places and surprisingly the best price I could get 9mm locally at the time was $13 for a box of 50. Primers back then were around $8 per 1000 and projectiles were around .05 for 9mm and only slightly more for the various rifle calibers I reloaded. So it was a no brainer back then. $3 to reload, vs $13+ to buy.

 

[.308 Norma]

Also, able to weather times of short supply of ammunition.

Speaking of "weather," it's not suppose to get above the single digits here today, and the snow outside has melted and re-froze - making it flat-out dangerous to walk on without crampons. Today is a great day to stay inside, build some ammunition, and spend time on THR.

 

[blackd24]

To save money.. look at all the money I saved:


I like tinkering and DIY. It was something to keep me busy during the beginning of the pandemic and I’ve enjoyed it. Trying new calibers, powders, continuing to shoot. It’s a good feeling finding a combination that works.

 

[rainmaker2]

More of a hobby for me. We've always had a Mec 600Jr around the place and I got initiated on that. A while ago a buddy brought me a "complete" metallic reloading set. I have a dose of OCD and find it extremely satisfying to produce quality loads. Now that I fairly established (if that is a thing), it is a great thing to fill up inclement days or days when work is slow.