Why do you reload ammunition?

[tachelberry]

I reload obsolete cartridge's that you can't normally find at the corner store.
I also like to load standard cartridges in bulk.

 

[jmr40]

I initially got into handloading because I owned a 280 and 338/06. Factory loads for 280 were out there, but in limited choices. But 338/06 was handload or pay $100 for $20 rounds.

I no longer own rifles in either cartridge and can find factory ammo easy enough for what I do own. But since I have the tools and components I still load for my big game cartridges. I've found that I can get a bit better accuracy, using premium bullets, and usually get a bit more speed out of my handloads. For about the same cost as buying budget factory loads.

I don't enjoy reloading for the sake of reloading. It is a means to an end and I don't shoot those cartridges in high volume. But certainly more than I would if buying factory loads. For rounds that I shoot in higher volume such as 223 or 9mm I'd rather buy factory loads. I can still buy them cheap enough to be hard to justify the time to reload. Yes, loaded ammo has gone up in price, but so have components.

 

[AgPilot]

I pose this prompt just to have something to talk about.

I feel the only reason I reload is to have the ability to posses ammo on hand in the quanites I feel I need for a given period of time. I started loading when I was 13 and found out grass cutting money didn't buy many Aguila 38 specials at 4.99 a box in 2005 let alone 357 magnum. So I bought a lee loader and ordered bullets and supplies through a local shop. I quickly had a mountain of the weakest 38 special loaded with unique I ever seen, I stuck I don't how many bullets in a colt commando(I didn't know lee made more than the dipper in the set). With that said a Smith and wesson 10-5 never stuck a bullet idk why.

My dad was a Vietnam veteran and a weekend warrior, we went camping and he showed me how to set ambushes in the woods for foot patrols.... Normal childhood activities

He provided financial support for the big stuff, I think in his mind of y2k type events 1000 38 specials or a few hundred 270 winchesters would be ballistic wampun for his own betterment.

To sum it up I load simply because it's what I always have done and I half way like it on poor weather days.

Because I can))
Sarc

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

Why do I reload?

Answered in many of the previous posts!

 

[AzShooter1]

I don't remember if I shoot to reload or reload to shoot. I enjoy both activities the same. As a competitive shooter I was firing over 1000 rounds a week. Reloading components are much cheaper than buying factory ammo so I gave it a shot some 50 years ago.

l started with the Lee Load All. Using a hammer to seat primers was exciting and my dog learned not to be in the reloading area with me.

I upgraded equipment time and time again mostly using Dillon Progressive Presses, Starting with a 300 , 450, 550 and finally a 650 with all the bells and whistles. I can reload over 800 rounds an hour using the automatic case and bullet feeders.

First it was to save money. Later it became a contest of getting the best accuracy I could. I added casting my bullets to the combination and came up with some outrageous loads. Best of which was for my 627 revolver for ICORE competitions. I found a die that let me cast 185 grain LRN bullets. With 4.5 grains of Unique this load gives 1 inch groups from a sandbag at 15 yards.

I figure 2 hours on the press a week is good therapy. Now I'm shooting .22s because components are just too high right now.

 

[Gone Hiking]

I reload for the cheaper cost (or at least I can shoot more for the same cost), the ability to tailor precision loads to particular guns, and/or the ability to load difficult to find ammo and custom hunting loads. Stocking up on components is also a hedge against ammo droughts for whatever I may want to load in the future. The later is paying dividends as I'm still reloading 9mm for 12 cpr and .45 Auto for 16 cpr from components I bought before the drought. It's also something I enjoy.

 

[Legionnaire]

Lots of reasons. Started with .44 Mag to save money. Learned I could build custom loads from mild to wild. Started tuning rifle loads for accuracy. Then got into cartridges that are hand loads only: .22-250 Ackley, .243 Ackley, etc. I doubt my new MPA in 6mm GT will ever see a factory load.

On top of all that, I find it relaxing … almost therapeutic.

 

[Armored farmer]

I started on my dads mec 400 loading paper 12ga trap loads like federal champions and Winchester super target...for trapshooting.
Trapshooting fueled my reloading .
Naturally I began loading centerfire handgun ammo when I started buying handguns.
Now I need to learn about centerfire rifle.

 

[Average Joe]

Because it's fun.

 

[1eyeedshooter]

My dad told me back in the 60's you need to start reloading for your guns, the day may come you can't buy it well the day has come, thanks dad !!!

 

[nick22]

I reload because it's a way I can get up early go to my little reloading room in the barn and spend an hour doing gun nut things while everyone else sleeps. I get to shoot more for less, I take a lot of satisfaction in successfully taking game with reloaded ammunition. I can customize my .44 magnums so that an 8 year old can shoot my 1894 and enjoy it. The other day my brother was shelling corn close to our house I stopped to watch for a bit and I saw this coyote and one of his friends come out of the standing corn. I knew they were in rifle range so to the safe I went to retrieve my Ruger M77 in .220 swift and a box of 50 grain silvertips that were sitting on top of 41 grains of H380. I guessed the shot at 380 and held over his back about 4". The shot rang out and he rolled and flopped but it was over. I drove the quad over to where he was standing and had my son range me turned out the coyote was 420 yards out, the longest shot I've taken on an animal far as I can recall.

 

[Axis II]

Here was my reason. Purchased a new, Savage target/varmint rifle and Hornady V max factory ammo was about .75ct a round. I had always found reloading interesting and wanted to shoot my rifle more. I barrowed a single stage, lee c press, purchased dies and found this awesome forum. I then thought about how cheap I could reload 9mm and 38spl. Then Ohio allowed straight wall rifles for deer hunting and came along the 44mag and 45-70. Right now, if you can find it, 45-70 ammo is $50-70 per 20rds. I just bought 50 bullets for $30 and 2lbs of powder that should get me close to 300rds for $90. I also enjoy reloading.

 

[Slamfire]

I reload because I live a pointless existence and therefore don't mind doing pointless work.

 

[Bazoo]

I don't drink, or go bar hopping, I don't put together model trains, and I don't work on hotrod cars.... I make bullets.

 

[entropy]

But do you load cartridges with them?

 

[AK Hunter]

I'm retired so that means fixed income, so I can't afford to buy enough of quality ammo to do the kinds of shooting I like to do. I like to hunt & even before the panic hunting rounds were over $1 per round.
I like target shooting & because I stocked up I can reload .223 for 8 to 10 cents her round, they are more accurate than factory.
Right now there are a few calibers you just can't buy, at any price.
The number 1 reason, I like to reload.

 

[gwpercle]

It's my Hobby and I enjoy doing it ... I also cast bullets and enjoy sitting with my pots and moulds and taking all that dirty scrap metal and making beautiful glistening orbs of death that you pay dearly for when purchased . The ability to manufacture all the ammunition you want and to do so for every handgun , rifle and shotgun you own ... is a very impowering feeling . Other's I know have no idea how to even begin to reload ammunition ... if they can't buy it ... they go without .
Makes me feel good to know I'm an ammo maker and do it well !
Golf , walking , tennis and pickle ball ... all suck rocks ... I would rather go shooting and reload !
Gary
doing it since 1967

 

[cfullgraf]

I started reloading to be able to shoot more on less money. I found that I liked it.

Reloading allows me to shoot a rifle chambered in an obsolete cartridge that was my paternal grandfathers (6.5x54 Kurz Mauser) and a rifle chambered in 22 BR.

Reloading allows me to shoot a number of wildcat cartridges (7mm Int Rimmed, 38/45 Clerke, 22x6.8, 6x45).

I always have ammunition for the various other firearms that I have without worrying about finding commercial ammunition. Since I enjoy reloading so my time is free and the component cost is always less than the cost of factory ammunition.

I get to tailor ammunition to my firearms and get the best accuracy from them.

Besides, it beats the heck out of daily pub crawls.

 

[Bazoo]

But do you load cartridges with them?

Some of them. Some I just store in a coffee can appropriately marked for the mould and caliber.

 

[Bazoo]

My buddy doesn't reload. He has paid $60 for a box of 38 specials. He has paid over $40 for a box of 45 automatic.

I've offered many times to teach him. He only is interested in what might be considered common calibers. 30-30, 9mm, 22rimfire, 45,38,357. Not that they are all that common now.

 

[AJC1]

My buddy doesn't reload. He has paid $60 for a box of 38 specials. He has paid over $40 for a box of 45 automatic.

I've offered many times to teach him. He only is interested in what might be considered common calibers. 30-30, 9mm, 22rimfire, 45,38,357. Not that they are all that common now.

Finding 357 is very difficult and when I found a box it was 50 dollars.... no thanks. 38 seems easy comparatively

 

[P Flados]

I started reloading in my teens back in the mid 1970s.

My first handgun was a TC Contender in 357 mag. I have never purchased a factory 38 Sp or 357 mag.

The 30 Herrett was probably my third Contender barrel (22 lr was the second). The 30 Herrett would never have been an option without handloading.

 

[BJung]

I reload for accuracy. My first high power rifle was a sporterized Lee Enfield. It shot 3/4" groups at 100 yards and cost a lot less than factory loads. During this time, another friend had a rebarreled Interams 7RM. With reloads, that rifle shot cloverleafs at 100 yards. I'm loading for a 7.7 Arisaka now. One youtube video claimed that it shot 3-1/2" at yards. I'm getting this group at 200 yards. Components cost a lot too now. So, I started casting. Again, I reload and save money and have accurate loads as well. I shy away from buying factory loads because the cost is too much for me. At most, I might acquire some factory loads from someone at the shooting range so I have some home defense loads.

 

[cfullgraf]

My first handgun was a TC Contender in 357 mag. I have never purchased a factory 38 Sp or 357 mag.

The 30 Herrett was probably my third Contender barrel (22 lr was the second). The 30 Herrett would never have been an option without handloading.

I started shooting production class IHMSA silhouette with a 10" 357 Magnum Contender. They worked well. I shot my reloads for the most part in competition.

But, I Iike to shoot some factory ammunition to "calibrate" the barrel for ammunition of known pressure levels.

I moved to Unlimited class with a Super 14" 7mm Int Rimmed Contender barrel. No factory cases were available so they had to be made from factory 30-30 cases. Similar to P Flados and 30 Herrett, without reloading, I would not have been able to shoot the gun.

An aside, 7-30 Waters is similar to 7mm Int Rimmed. I'm not sure of the actual differences in the case design but both are 30-30 cases necked down to 7mm caliber. The 7-30 Waters got a little traction in the commercial ammunition market while 7mm Int Rimmed remained a wildcat developed by IHMSA.

As an inexpensive unlimited class gun, the 14" 7mm Int Rimmed Contender was a good starter gun for the unlimited class.

 

[horsemen61]

I do it because I enjoy it and I want
To make the best Ammo possible!