LiveLife
Member
I was posting a response to another thread and decided to do another polling thread.
I reload for several reasons but the primary reason is because it is one of my many hobbies. I don't factor in my time to the cost of reloading because it allows me time to relax and clear my head from work/world - I tell my doctor it sure is cheaper than therapy!
In the past 16 years, I have reloaded well over 300,000 rounds. If you average $10-$20 per box of 50 (say $15), factory ammo cost would come out to about $30,000. Shooting mostly FMJ (Montana Gold) with some plated and lead bullets, my cost of reloading comes quite a bit below $15,000 (or less than $1000 per year). It is true that I have shot more because I reload, but I don't see this as a problem but a benefit.
Compared to my other hobbies, shooting/reloading is more "economical" hobby as riding quads/toy trailers cost several times more and even grilling/BBQ easily run over $200-$300 per month (you could say we gotta eat, but you could always grill hot dogs/burgers instead ). It certainly saves money when compared to taking the family to the steak/BBQ house and I don't mind spending several hours and a lot of work to see the satisfying smiles on everyone's faces - and I get a lot of leftovers for lunch for the following week.
I think the cost of reloading is relative. I have covered the cost of my reloading equipment a loooong time ago and just about covered the cost of every firearm I ever bought by reloading. Accuracy of reloads and being able to reload milder rounds for wife/daughter is something you cannot do with factory ammo.
So, why do you reload?
These are two opposite responses to reloading and both are right, from their perspectives.goon said:I don't know if it's worth it to reload for 9mm once you factor your time in.
However, 9mm was one of the first cartridges I reloaded for and I learned a lot about reloading by practicing on the 9mm. The experience gained from it served me well as I went on to reload other rounds, so I think you should reload for it even if you don't save any money.
Furncliff said:No... buy your ammo.
It is not about money, working up a load for your gun and producing accurate reliable consistent ammo is time consuming and tedious. The machinery is aggravatingly finicky and the number of variables associated with the components and how they go together is mind numbing.
I reload for several reasons but the primary reason is because it is one of my many hobbies. I don't factor in my time to the cost of reloading because it allows me time to relax and clear my head from work/world - I tell my doctor it sure is cheaper than therapy!
In the past 16 years, I have reloaded well over 300,000 rounds. If you average $10-$20 per box of 50 (say $15), factory ammo cost would come out to about $30,000. Shooting mostly FMJ (Montana Gold) with some plated and lead bullets, my cost of reloading comes quite a bit below $15,000 (or less than $1000 per year). It is true that I have shot more because I reload, but I don't see this as a problem but a benefit.
Compared to my other hobbies, shooting/reloading is more "economical" hobby as riding quads/toy trailers cost several times more and even grilling/BBQ easily run over $200-$300 per month (you could say we gotta eat, but you could always grill hot dogs/burgers instead ). It certainly saves money when compared to taking the family to the steak/BBQ house and I don't mind spending several hours and a lot of work to see the satisfying smiles on everyone's faces - and I get a lot of leftovers for lunch for the following week.
I think the cost of reloading is relative. I have covered the cost of my reloading equipment a loooong time ago and just about covered the cost of every firearm I ever bought by reloading. Accuracy of reloads and being able to reload milder rounds for wife/daughter is something you cannot do with factory ammo.
So, why do you reload?