Why do you reload?

Why do you reload?

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I'll start...

The reasons I reload is that buying powder, .308 bullets and WLR primers and brass for the .300WSM is cheaper than buying factory loaded rounds, hence cost effective.

I can set my accuracy based on my shooting methods.

And finally, quality time. I've met my family.

Berek
 
I load for rifle calibers .223, .243 Win, 25-06 Rem, 6.5-284 and .308 Win for my own rifles and .260 Rem, 7mm-08 and 30-06 for others. On average, I find that my handloads cost me 60% of factory at the local Wallyworld or Cabelas and less than 50% at the gun shops. My best estimate puts the break even on supplies, reloading equipment and tools at about 300 - 325 rounds for 1 caliber and progressively less for added calibers - dies & tools are relatively inexpensive. I find the least cost savings with the .223 and would not load if it were the only caliber nor do I shoot enough handgun ammo to justify the cost.

I enjoy developing best accuracy loads for my rifles and have helped others find that sweet load for their huntings and practice needs. I'll be getting calls in the next few weeks from my hunting friends looking for some new ammo or help with their new rifles for the upcoming season.

I'm not a trophy collector and have given up taking game for meat but still enjoy shooting and working with guns.

I appreciate my wife leaving me alone to work in my shop after dinner and the weekends. I suppose if it I ever gave up guns and ammo, I would have to start watching TV, chasing women or knitting or something equally productive.
 
I reload for the first four reasons. I don't escape from social or domestic time as both of my step kids have taken up reloading.
 
I reload for all of the reasons in the poll.

When I started, it was primarily for cost concerns. Lately, it is more because I enjoy reloading.

Do you reload to shoot? or shoot to reload?

Ed
 
I reload for cost and accuracy. Also, my wife and I both work. She deals face to face with the public all day and I have a fairly high stress job. We both get home about 3:30 pm. She tapes her favorite soap opera and watches it when she gets home. I head out to the reloading shed for an hour or so. Afterwards, we both are more relaxed and civil to each other. Also, I don't drink and I hate golf.
 
My reloading is a combinatiom of all of the above. Accuracy, custom loadings for each weapon. Cost, the cost of the supplies is less than either buying custom loads or factory ammo. I ENJOY IT!! :evil:

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas
 
I reload three of the most common and cheap calibers - 9mm, 7.62x39mm, and 7.62x54R, so it certainly isn't for saving money! I do, slightly, but I have a lot of fun tweaking for accuracy, and the whole thing is just way too much fun! :D
 
I voted "other" because I genuinely enjoy it. Also I can load for obsolete calibers like the 357 Maximum. (That were never loaded correctly from the factory!)
 
I voted "other" although the accuracy and cost effectiveness of it rate highly also. My "other", like other respondents', is that I find it fun and relaxing. It's puttering with a purpose.
 
i reload because i can't stand running factory garbage thru my guns.

reloading for my guns gives me far greater accuracy, a lot more velocity, and does it for very little cash - certainly less expensive than quality factory loads (bha, hornady).

i also reload because when i first got into guns, i ran out of ammo once. since i started reloading, that thought has never entered my mind again, and if i ever feel like i need to keep more on hand, it doesn't take much for me to increase my 'reserves' by a few hundred rounds per cartridge.
 
It's just plain fun. Although I love being able to tune my accuracy to the weapon the ammo will be used in, there's no denying that reloading is a hobbby to me. When you try way more powder just to see how they do in your gun will respond (when you've already worked out a 1/4 MOA load) you're tinkering, for sure.

That's the beauty of it. I'll likely NEVER recoup the cost of all of my materials, because I try way more than I need to. I wouldn't change that for anything.
 
Cost: How else could I afford to shoot my K31?

Relaxation: Reloading is meditation for people that don't like to chant.

Pride: Lookie there. That's my cartridge that made that there hole in the target!
 
Compared to what even practice ammo costs for a box .45 ACP, I can reload for about $4.00 a box, depending on how many times I reuse brass, or use picked-up brass from a CCW student.

Also, there is something fundamentally satisfying about whomping a steel target, or splattering a jug full of water with a round that I put together with my own hands.

Yee-haw!

hillbilly
 
Number 1 is accuracy. I have this thing about used bolt guns following me home from gunshops. I enjoy twicking with them to see what kind of accuracy can be wrung out of them and handloading is a huge part of this process..........Essex
 
I went with cost effective. I don't shoot anything real exotic, but some of the calibers I load for are not cheap. Cartridges such as .45-70, .44 Mag, 357 Mag, .45 Colt .243, .444 Marlin, etc. get expensive really fast if you do not load it yourself.

It is also a fun hobby. The only things I really hate are hazmat shipping fees and trimming cases.
 
It's relaxing and I enjoy the many chalenges and triumphs at the bench, both loading and range. Not to mention the satisfaction downing game with your own creation...
 
All of them apply but you left out by far the most important reason for me.

SELF SUFFICIENCY!!!
INDEPENDENCE!!!
RUGGED IDIVIDUALISM!!!
I am beholding to no man nor organization for my ammunition supply for 135 different cartridges. I can shoot for decades with the components on hand currently.
 
All of the above.
My first gun was a .41 mag.
As you know, it's not feasible to shoot that caliber without reloading, at least not when I started out in school.
 
Wil Terry. You are still beholdin' to a few people. :rolleyes: ..The ones that manufactured your components. I doubt that you can manufacture brass cases as yet. You are beloldin' to those that have pioneered the load data you use. I'm afraid you still need all of us. Are you able to manufacture your own firearms? :p And the list could go forever. :D

I am as self sufficient, independent and at 5'7" 155 lbs 62 years I am as rugged an individual as you can get. Junkyard dogs give way to me. But I still haven't mastered the skill to manufacture many of the things that I must have. :) Soooo...Back to the real world..... ;)
 
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You Are Right Mr. Bushmaster. But There Is Much That Can Be Made.

In any case I can keep the guns I have shooting until I'm too damned old to care anymore and that to me is a most satisfying feeling.
 
I reload for several reasons:
1) cost
2) to get the most out of my firearms for accuracy
3) yet another facet of my life where I can be a little more self sufficient or get better quality for my buck
4) to learn more about my firearms
5) when I get the urge do do something gun related when I can't get to the range due to time of day etc
6) my wife and I reload together so we spend more time together.

-Jim
 
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