Why DON'T you reload......

[jmorris]

I have reloaded for over 35 years and I still buy factory ammunition. I have also reloaded ammunition that cost me more than if I were to just buy decent factory ammunition because it gave me a competitive advantage over others not willing to go the extra step.

Non reloaders scoff, laugh or just shake their heads at a guy that will reload 9mm or .223, at least until they can’t find any, except at some auction site with prices only a desperate fool would pay.

Then they decide they need to start and that’s how we got all of the “where’s the primers/powder” threads.

If your not going to reload you need to stock at least one term, two would be better, worth of ammunition. If you are you need enough components to get you through. If you have both, you don’t start those kinds of threads or get taken to the cleaners buying stuff when it’s at historically high prices.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I started out with cap-and-ball revolvers, so reloading seemed a natural step.
I haven't been shooting much lately so I haven't been reloading much lately.
The loaded ammo started straining the floor in my man cave so I backed off and started storing my unprimed brass and poured bullets in my storage building.
I have been accumulating a lot of components and brass, though, so when I do start shooting again this fall I'll have something to work with... .

 

[Remington1911]

It seems reloading is the "black magic" of shooting sports. I know of several that bought reloading kits during the recent ammo crisis that never opened the box. When they ask for advice on getting started I say read a book, watch a CD then ask questions but they never get that far.
Reloading opens up a new world of shooting, allows me to customize my firearms accuracy and operations to my standards, let's me shoot more for less and allowes me to do something firearms related during cold winter nights.
I consider reloading a family thing too. Admittedly I'm a scrounger and used to pay my kids a penny for each piece of brass they picked up at the range but they eventually got older and wiser. Now I've got grandkids and this inflation rate will prob kill me however Wife came home the other day and handed me two lead wheelweights she picked up in the parking lot at work. Brings a family together.
People don't know what their missing.

Back when my boy was young and at home mom told him that reloading was my special time and not to bug me unless it was something real crazy going on, after he hit roughly 10 we started reloading together. His interest came and went like it does with most kids, but he is still a shooter to this day, and his first CMP match he shot my AR with his own hand loads.

I agree it gets people to work together.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

Hand gun cartridges and cartridges like the 9 are poster children for not reloading. But when talking about rifle cartridges it changes big time.

I think this is definitely a big thing. I never got into reloading, but only in the last couple years have I had centerfire rifles at all, and one of them is a .223. The other is .30 Carbine. And I mainly shoot handgun or PCC in 9mm. Between the setup and ongoing costs, I don't know that I'd really be saving much.

But even with a single-stage press, if I had a small stash of brass already, I could save a fair bit if I were shooting more expensive centerfire rifle rounds. Some of those are a couple dollars a round, even for fairly common rifle calibers.

 

[allisd17]

It's my hobby and I enjoy it. A buddy introduced me to handloading back in 1978; for years, all I did was .38 Special and .357 magnum. In those days, I was into silhouette shoots and I could customize my loads the way I wanted to. I didn't get into rifle handloading until about 20 years ago. I don't shoot a lot but when I do shoot, I enjoy experimenting with bullets and powders. Handloading allows me to do that.

 

[jak67429]

And some people should not be allowed to reload. One of my best fiends is one of those people, when I saw him trying to reload 223 for high-power competition I told him I would do it for him so we both lived longer happier lives.

 

[Remington1911]

It didn’t take me long to realize I “could” save money by reloading my own ammo. Even with increased component pricing, I can beat commercial ammo costs if I look at cost-per-round economics.
The thing is— and all reloaders probably do this— I shoot way more than I would if I bought commercial ammunition. So yeah, it doesn’t save me money— but I have an affordable way to go shooting whenever I choose to do so. For me, it’s a quality of life point. I enjoy shooting a lot. And now, I enjoy reloading a lot. I just doubled my enjoyment of the shooting hobby. That’s not a downside!

That is the standard answer we all give, when asked that is generally the first question. How much money do you save, and most of us answer none, it costs more because we shoot more.

The last time the buddy came out and I asked why he did not bring his AR, and he said it was cost of ammo. We went down the reloading road again. With that question about saving money being at the top of the list. And the normal answer being none.....but this time I went into well I live in the country and can walk out my back door and shoot whatever. The price per round goes way down. We that day shot some old odd things I had, being beaten up and old I can't shoot like I once did and do get enjoyment seeing others shoot and have fun. We shot an old Krag, a repro of the JFK/LHO rifle including scope, and that Model 8 in 30 remington. Costs on that ammo would be insane, I bought some 7.7 jap about 7 years ago and by the sticker on the box back then it was well over $2 per bang. Loaded it is under a buck. This is the info I gave him that outing....we also shoot clays when he comes out and we talked about shotgun reloading.....something I don't do yet, because I have just gotten really into shotgun sports.....and 16G is quite pricy.

 

[Remington1911]

I started out with cap-and-ball revolvers, so reloading seemed a natural step.
I haven't been shooting much lately so I haven't been reloading much lately.
The loaded ammo started straining the floor in my man cave so I backed off and started storing my unprimed brass and poured bullets in my storage building.
I have been accumulating a lot of components and brass, though, so when I do start shooting again this fall I'll have something to work with... .

I have never done black and smoky but really interested in that. If caps ever come back in stock where I can get lucky and grab some I am going to snag myself a revolver.

Remington 1858 naturally. Pale rider hooked me, but wanting guns because of a movie is another thread.

 

[Remington1911]

And some people should not be allowed to reload. One of my best fiends is one of those people, when I saw him trying to reload 223 for high-power competition I told him I would do it for him so we both lived longer happier lives.

The guy that lives behind me is this way, everything is loaded to max level and if there are no over pressure signs.....well that is just lawyers covering someone tush.

Oddly enough for some reason he tends to shoot better using my loads in my rifle....but it is not his ammo, it has to be his guns.

 

[gifbohane]

Inertia kept me from it for about five years.

If I remember right depriming Venom was just about impossible.

 

[tubeshooter]

Now if you can afford to pay $40+ for a box of 3006, and that is all the shooting you are going to do....well ok, but if the costs of current ammo is holding you back there is another way.

All true and fair enough.

If I had something in an obscure and tough-to-feed caliber, that would change the equation for me quite a bit.

My short answer is that the obscure and hard-to-find caliber thing does not apply to me, and I mostly shoot .22 rimfire anyway what little I get to shoot. So reloading doesn't hold the appeal for me that it may for some.

Maybe that's a more "High Road" answer to the question. So there you go.


It's not because I can't read, it's not because I can't follow directions and it's not because I can't measure something. I am sure I could bake a cake successfully if I wanted to.

 

[buck460XVR]

I walked away from that thread thinking why don't these folk reload? It ain't that hard, if you can read directions and know how to measure you can do it. It is not far off from baking a cake.

Lazy.

For the most part, I don't think "Lazy" has anything to do with it. Does everyone here change their own oil, change their own tires, and all but the most difficult of repairs on any of their vehicles? How about raising/growing all their own food, harvesting and processing it? How about sewing their own clothes? Does everyone here ride their bicycle to the store instead of taking their car? If not, they must be lazy. It's easy to do, and saves tons of money. Same mindset.

Calling folks lazy just because they do not reload their own ammo is BS. So is belittling them. Could be a myriad of reasons, but I'd bet being lazy has nuttin' to do with it. I reload most all of my ammo, but I do not reload for shotgun( I did at one time tho). At one time I used to lake all my own Arrows and crossbow bolts from their basic components similar to reloading. My reloading process for what I do produce takes the spare room. It's space my wife and I can afford to give up. My reloading process for what I do takes time, which again I have to give up. The reason for not reloading shotgun is because I don't want to invest in another press(sold mine years ago). Nor do I want to have 200# of various shot sizes and multiple types of wads/hulls sitting around(since I hunt many different species with shotgun). Now, if all I did was shoot trap using the same size shot, wads and hulls, it may be different. With archery, it came down to, it's just easier to buy the arrows and bolts complete, as I very sledom go thru more than 2 or three during a year. I do tho, replace damaged or missing vanes.

Some folks don't have time. Many folks have more money than time. Some folks don't have the space, nor do they want/need another hobby. Some folks fell that reloading is a tad bit intimidating. I have friends that do not reload because they don't want to be the reason they destroy a nice gun. Those same folks work full time, have kids and grandkids, have several other hobbies that take a lot of time. To them, reloading is just not "worth it". Ain't because they don't want to get off their butts, it's because it's not the priority it is to some of us others.

Seems some gun folks feel the need to impress by trashing others. Why they feel the need to trash fellow responsible gun owners is beside me.

 

[Remington1911]

All true and fair enough.

If I had something in an obscure and tough-to-feed caliber, that would change the equation for me quite a bit.

My short answer is that the obscure and hard-to-find caliber thing does not apply to me, and I mostly shoot .22 rimfire anyway what little I get to shoot. So reloading doesn't hold the appeal for me that it may for some.

Maybe that's a more "High Road" answer to the question. So there you go.


It's not because I can't read, it's not because I can't follow directions and it's not because I can't measure something. I am sure I could bake a cake successfully if I wanted to.

And this is very cool, it really just does not fit with where you sit in this "gun" hobby.

 

[GNP]

I have too many hobbies as it is, just really don't have time. I'm actually procrastinating as I type this on some stuff I'm supposed to be doing lol. I've got good stockpiles of most of what I need, a few years ago I caught a local sporting goods store that was going out of business at the right time and managed to get enough of most of what I will need for a very long time. I didn't consider it a great deal on the stuff (mainly because I remember what it used to cost), but it was a good deal so I jumped on it. He had already gotten rid of most of the 9mm, ,38, and .357, and I've have liked to have gotten more of that but it is what it is. The recent scarcity of .38sp was annoying but I really don't shoot it that much, so I just cut back until I could replenish.

 

[Mark_Mark]

You're absolutely right on your remark I bolded. I started with a Lee Loader whack-a mole set. A couple of years later I bought a used Bonanza single stage with scale, and Lee dippers. I used that single stage for 38 years before I bought a Dillon 550C two years ago. I have no idea how many rounds that Bonanza press loaded.

I still use Lee Loaders to this day. Was family traving, and we packed a few .45’s and I brought my Lee .45 ACP Loader to sit around and load some ammo.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I also like reloading because of odd & expensive calibers like .45 LC, 460 mag, .357, 7STW, 45/70, 458 SC, 50BW, 450 BM…and 10mm!!!

Reloader 4 Life Dog!!!

 

[Remington1911]

I also like reloading because of odd & expensive calibers like .45 LC, 460 mag, .357, 7STW, 45/70, 458 SC, 50BW, 450 BM…and 10mm!!!

Reloader 4 Life Dog!!!

I am the same way, you don't walk into many shops and find sitting on the shelf 30-40 Krag, 7.5 French and 6.5 Jap sitting on the shelf.

Reloading the military cartridges is what brought me to reloading. After that I played some pistol games, and that saved me some money, plus I could load to my likes to knock those bowling pins off the table.

 

[jar]

For the most part, I don't think "Lazy" has anything to do with it. Does everyone here change their own oil, change their own tires, and all but the most difficult of repairs on any of their vehicles? How about raising/growing all their own food, harvesting and processing it? How about sewing their own clothes? Does everyone here ride their bicycle to the store instead of taking their car? If not, they must be lazy. It's easy to do, and saves tons of money. Same mindset.

Calling folks lazy just because they do not reload their own ammo is BS. So is belittling them. Could be a myriad of reasons, but I'd bet being lazy has nuttin' to do with it. I reload most all of my ammo, but I do not reload for shotgun( I did at one time tho). At one time I used to lake all my own Arrows and crossbow bolts from their basic components similar to reloading. My reloading process for what I do produce takes the spare room. It's space my wife and I can afford to give up. My reloading process for what I do takes time, which again I have to give up. The reason for not reloading shotgun is because I don't want to invest in another press(sold mine years ago). Nor do I want to have 200# of various shot sizes and multiple types of wads/hulls sitting around(since I hunt many different species with shotgun). Now, if all I did was shoot trap using the same size shot, wads and hulls, it may be different. With archery, it came down to, it's just easier to buy the arrows and bolts complete, as I very sledom go thru more than 2 or three during a year. I do tho, replace damaged or missing vanes.

Some folks don't have time. Many folks have more money than time. Some folks don't have the space, nor do they want/need another hobby. Some folks fell that reloading is a tad bit intimidating. I have friends that do not reload because they don't want to be the reason they destroy a nice gun. Those same folks work full time, have kids and grandkids, have several other hobbies that take a lot of time. To them, reloading is just not "worth it". Ain't because they don't want to get off their butts, it's because it's not the priority it is to some of us others.

Seems some gun folks feel the need to impress by trashing others. Why they feel the need to trash fellow responsible gun owners is beside me.

I was explaining why I don't reload.

 

[Targa]

I can’t imagine not reloading, if I didn’t half of my gun collection would be close to useless. My main reloading is for big bore, heavy hitters. A 50 round box of .44mag, .44 spl and 45 Colt run about $50, a 50 round box of .454 Casull $60, a 20 round box of 500 S&W as well as 475 Linebaugh $70 to $80, 20 round box of 45-70 $60, .357 mag $30.

The amount of rounds I have loaded for the above has paid for the up front cost of all my reloading equipment to include the couple dozen bullet molds I have multiple times over and I can shoot absolutely anything I want, as much as my wrist can tolerate without giving cost a second thought. Unless you are very well off financially and assuming you can readily and consistently find the ammo you just can’t shoot these heavy hitters in such a way.

 

[robin banks]

Reloading isn't that much cheaper than buying ammo these days. I haven't seen any LR primers in a long time. When you can find primers they've doubled in price in the last few years. Same with powder and brass. Most of the folks that reload these days are still using components they purchased years ago.

When ammo prices go up so do component prices. I've never saved any money loading my own ammo anyway. I just shoot a lot more.

guys make me laugh when they say during ammo shortage you just reload. the reason for hardly any ammo is a shortage of components. so how do you find them to reload? and if you do powder is $40-50 a pound without haz mat fee plain hunting bullets $50 a 100. primers real expensive and almost impossible to find

 

[Cayle]

1. I have enough hobbies.
2. Not enough room left in my garage. (see #1)
3. I don't want to endanger my firearm's warranty.
4. I sometimes have the attention span of a knat.
5. I like my evening beer. Alcohol and reloading don't mix.
6. I work two jobs and don't have the time.
7. I have no interest in the "science" of it. I don't want to reload for more accuracy. I don't want to reload because it's cheaper because now I'm spending more time reloading and less time shooting.
8. I don't want to be "that guy". Having been a Remington Authorized Repair Center, dealing with some handloaders is a nightmare. Look, if your rifle doesn't chamber your reloads but it does factory loads, the problem isn't the rifle.

 

[PWC]

Why don't you cook all your own food? It's not rocket science. It's so much cheaper, and you know exactly what you are getting. Plus other reasons.

Why don't you change your own oil? It's not rocket science. It's so much cheaper and you know exactly what's going into your car. Nobody to fail to put your drain plug back - besides yourself.

Why don't you cut your own hair? It's certainly possible. Think of all the money you could save...


Outside of some atrociously bad cooking, none of these things will hospitalize or kill you if you make a mistake. Reloading most certainly can and has done these things. Maybe a bit extreme, but there is definitely a safety element that I can respect others not wanting to take chances with when it comes to reloading.

Ahhhh....but you sound like a reloader thinking why others don't reload.

His question was, why don't YOU reload?

 

[Mark_Mark]

1. I have enough hobbies.
2. Not enough room left in my garage. (see #1)
3. I don't want to endanger my firearm's warranty.
4. I sometimes have the attention span of a knat.
5. I like my evening beer. Alcohol and reloading don't mix.
6. I work two jobs and don't have the time.
7. I have no interest in the "science" of it. I don't want to reload for more accuracy. I don't want to reload because it's cheaper because now I'm spending more time reloading and less time shooting.
8. I don't want to be "that guy". Having been a Remington Authorized Repair Center, dealing with some handloaders is a nightmare. Look, if your rifle doesn't chamber your reloads but it does factory loads, the problem isn't the rifle.

AGREE! I wish less people would reload… Sucking up all my components I’m trying to hoard!

 

[.38 Special]

One of my shooting buddies has more quite a bit more money than time, and is primarily interested in common handgun cartridges. He is happy to buy expensive factory ammo whenever he finds it. He has no desire to handload, and I don't blame him - there really isn't any reason why he should.

 

[__steve__]

I don’t reload at the moment. It’s because I can’t find LRM primers. Will they return when biden is in the past?