Remember the ammo shortages that seem to happen every 4 years or so? I don't because I've been reloading since the early 70's. To me factory ammo is simply a source of brass. I reload some odd stuff, 8x56R for example, and some stuff others don't bother with, 38 Special and 9x19 for example. For me it's as much a much a matter of having the ammo available when I want it as it is about cost. Plus, I reload or cast when the weather or time does not justify going to the range. I predict that if you start reloading, within a year your shooting will go from 300 rds per year to twice that.