Why You Reload...

[gahunter12]

I started reloading to save money on handgun ammo, but have since changed my goals to shoot more and load better ammo. I load rifle to load better rounds. I would like to load shot shell, but I can't find the savings in shot shell.

 

[nyc71]

I reload handgun to shoot more & rifle mainly better ammo.


"Real liberty is never found in despotism or in the extremes of democracy"- Alexander Hamilton

 

[kutter]

I started because of economics. I wanted to take several pistol and rifle classes and I knew that I was going to expend about 1000 rounds of .223 and 357 SIG for each class. When I did the math, I could pay for the equipment and components by the time I had taken 2 pistol and 2 rifle classes compared to store bought ammunition.

This was especially true in reference to the 357 SIG. I do not know too many people that shoot it, but everyone I have met that does reloads for it.

Now it is mainly about keeping myself in ammunition and not having to worry about whether or not I can find it to shoot.

Oh, and since I have recently taken up aspirations of IDPA, looks like I will be saving even MORE money.

 

[Uncle Richard]

Reload for a hobby, self satisfaction, cost effective, and sustainablility. Only reload shotgun when I can get lead for a decent price.

 

[mdi]

This poll left off the most important reason for reloading (IMHO); reloading because you enjoy doing so. Reloading is fun and VERY satisfying! It's a hobby in itself. At least that's why I reload (I actually started out of curiosity, "I wunner if I can do that...").

I think it's silly to count pennies when you are talking about a hobby; does the fly fisherman tie flys because it's cheaper? Or is it fun to tie flys? Does a hobby photographer develope his pics because it's cheaper or because he likes to?

 

[Jonzer77]

I reload for all calibers I shoot but I mainly shoot 45 and 38 super. If I didn't reload then I wouldn't be able to afford to shoot steel challenge and IDPA at my local club.

 

[Et tu Bluto]

I reload...for better shotgun field loads than I can buy, at least at a that price, pistol and some rifle to shoot more and accurately, hopefully. And I reload .300 Win Mag. So I can afford to check the zero on my scope before the season. Actually have spent a fortune, by my standards, on reloading stuff...but get a lot of satisfaction from it too!

 

[howlnmad]

One option that wasn't listed but why I reload is therapy. I find it very relaxing to sit at the bench and work on some loads. My other choices were quality for brass and economics for shotgun.

 

[Furncliff]

Because my shrink said I should.

 

[PapaGeno21]

I reload because I make better ammo than the factory does, and it costs 1/4 the price.

However, I don't actually save money. I just shoot a TON more than I normally would if I had to buy ammo. I haven't bought factory ammo other than .22LR in a LONG time!

The only time I will buy something from the store, is if I am starting a new caliber. That way I can get the feel for how it shoots, and to also compare my reloads to something.

 

[sublimaze41]

I started reloading after buying my first handgun, a .357. After paying for the gun I barely had enough for .38 bullets. I wanted to shoot .357 but it cost more than I could afford. Enter Mr. Dillon and his blue press, everything was well in the world again.

 

[David4516]

I reload because it allows me to shoot some of the more "interesting" firearms that would be otherwise very difficult (or impossible) to locate ammo for.

Personally I find the stardard calibers boring. I don't own a 9mm, a .45ACP, or a .223

I do own and shoot 9mm Largo, 9mm Makarov, .280 Remington, 30-40 Krag, etc

You can't just walk into a sporting goods store and buy 30-40 off the shelf...

As a secondary reason I also load to save $$$, the biggest money saver is .25ACP. For some reason factory .25 is very expensive. I have a Beretta 950, as does my wife. She also has a colt vest pocket pistol that was handed down from her grandparents. We can't afford to feed these pistols without handloading...

 

[exbrit49]

I reload for several reasons, one is the much reduced cost by using my own labor to produce high quality ammo, tailored to each of my firearms.
Second, this matching of ammunition to a particlular gun has really improved the accuracy of each of my pistols and rifles.
Last but not least! I love to reload and find it an extension of the main hobby. I have already reloaded over 1600 rounds of mixed calibers since January. Dont laugh but I still use a single stage Rock Chucker that I purchased in the 1980s!!
I have looked at the progressives but don't like the fact that there is a lack of feel with the progressives. With the single stage I can feel how the brass is forming and also detect issues or problems by feel.

I have been reloading for over 25 years and still love to sit down at the loading bench and watch a nice new shiny batch of reloads come out of the Rock Chucker, and yes each round is polished and tumbled till they shine.

Calibers loaded..380
9mm
38 Special
.357 Magnum
40 SW
45 ACP
30/30
7.62x39
Thats enough to keep me busy

 

[rdhood]

I reload pistol and rifle to save money. My 1911 has never shot a retail round. I reload rifle to save money... when the price of ammo is high enough to warrant it. It usually costs about 25-30 cents a round to reload .223 or 7.62x39, so right now I am buying commercial ammo. But when the price rises to 40 cents a round, I reload.

 

[Bovice]

Most of my pistol shooting is in .40 S&W. I started reloading it, and because I had a gift card to the sporting goods store and nothing else I wanted, I got some factory .40 S&W a few weeks ago. It was Winchester 180 grain, white box.

The cases were filthy, like somebody kicked them around in a dirt pile before they got boxed.

The mouths were roll crimped, visibly pressing into the jacketing.

The accuracy was non-existent., In fact, I have no idea how it even functioned. The extractor must have been holding the shell in place, because there's no way it could've headspaced on the mouth. I shot it back-to back with my reloaded ammo and the difference was huge. So yes, I reload pistol ammo to make better ammo. Mine is clean and doesn't group like a shotgun pattern. It just so happens to be cheaper and a hobby in itself.

 

[Samari Jack]

Hi ya, you forgot one i reload because i just plane like too.. Get to go off alone and not think about anything else for a little while. I tell the wife that i have to be alone and have to focus. Quite me time!

Oh, i shoot 357 MAG and 44 MAG so i do save alot over factory loads too lol

Tony

Same here. It is somewhat of a skill unto itself. Having a chronograph adds to the pleasure factor.

 

[lil dragon]

I reload .45 for a better round. I reload .303 because I can't find them anywhere for the price I want to pay. I reload my other calibers to save money. So its a combination of things for me.

 

[RMc]

Shotshell Handloading for...

...specialty ammo and superior performance.

Note: Handloading with new hulls for the most consistent performance.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I've found that the money I save reloading, just goes right back into more components, lol. So I pretty much reload to create better ammo for my pistols and rifles.

A factory box of .308 match loads runs about $25/20.
My reloads with Nosler custom comp bullets run me about $9/20 and they shoot better.

A factory box of 40 S&W runs about $15/50.
My reloads cost $6/50 and they shoot better.

An added bonus, I'll always have ammo when they're are "shortages".

 

[Para Cassatt]

When I started reloading, 45 Colt and 8x57 ammo was quite expensive. It wasn't easily found or was downloaded with lighter bullets than I desired.

 

[SRH78]

Years ago, when I bought my 454, I also bought 3 boxes of ammo to take to the range. That was 60 rounds for $150. I decided right then that I was a handloader. After that, I started reloading for all my centerfire calibers. Now, I load for better accuracy in my rifles and economy and the level of performance I choose in my rifles and handguns and to save money in both. In some calibers, the savings per round is huge.

 

[blarby]

Still think there needs to be a " Because I can, and I just feel like it" tab !

Or just something that addresses more than accuracy and cost.

 

[jack44]

Cause I like it.

 

[jwrowland77]

Well I'm fairly new to the reloading world, but I originally got into it to help save a little money. The more I reload though....I just plain enjoy it. Working up a load with a new powder, making a special load for my daughter. Which when she smiles and I can see the enjoyment she is having, it's makes it all worth while, no matter what. Even if it cost me more, just to see her enjoyment, I would still do it.

 

[cvo]

You can't save by reloading, it only cuts your cost down.