To Reload Or Not Reload. Help!!

[oddshooter]

My first caliber to handload was the 357 Maximum. I love that caliber for shooting silhouette. it's expensive.

The 357 maximum costs well over $2 per round. I make it for $.10 with older components. That was easy math to calculate savings. 20 to 1.

A few years ago, I got hooked on .32, all 7 of them; 32 ACP, 32 S&W, 32 S&W long, 32-20 WCF, TC 30-20, 32 H&Rmag, and the 327fedmag. Handloading equipment required very few changes to load 7 calibers. That's great when those calibers are not often seen on shelves.

Savings is not what I search for. The best accuracy on every firearm, and enjoyment in the task is what I seek.

But NOW, I handload because I totally enjoy the entire experience. At 74, handloading keeps my mind active and alert. You need to do due diligence before using a new recipe and that means verifying your homework several times. The calculations and lab testing environment (shooting) keeps me sharp. I can't go shooting every day, but I can head to garage and enjoy handloading.

You wouldn't believe my spreadsheets on every recipe I have made. I love switching powders (and weights) as well as bullets. I always save samples of every lot that I make for my library. My library of handloaded cartridges using hundreds of different recipes, on 14 different calibers, contains several thousand rounds now.
The library means I can quickly find the right load for a new gun and try it immediately.

Reloading is making hundreds or thousands of rounds with the exact same recipe; like the factory. Handloading is making small lots of custom rounds for each different firearm. I'm a handloader.

Fun, fun, fun.

Prescut

 

[BRL40]

My play area,

OK, you seem to be rather serious!

Because my local gun shop doesn't stock powder, and might have primers once in a blue moon for about 20 minutes, I've had to pay hazmat fees when ordering online. (or burn up a lot of gas)
Hard to save money that way, so I've decided to just order remanufactured .223 from an online vender when I use up the rest of those components.

Handgun calibers like the .41 Magnum & .38/.357 are an entirely different story.
Powders like Bullseye and Unique go a long way so I don't have to order very often.

And what's with the sideways pictures, is there an easy way to fix that?
I have to turn my phone sideways to compensate and that doesn't
Always work.

 

[rosewood]

A few years ago, I got hooked on .32, all 7 of them; 32 ACP, 32 S&W, 32 S&W long, 32-20 WCF, TC 30-20, 32 H&Rmag, and the 327fedmag. Handloading equipment required very few changes to load 7 calibers.

Where is the 30 SC?

 

[rosewood]

And what's with the sideways pictures, is there an easy way to fix that?
I have to turn my phone sideways to compensate and that doesn't
Always work.

For the techno challenged..

Strange, the preview still shows sideways, but when you mouseover, it turns upright.

I didn't realize it is the new Lee APP press until I turned it.. Love mine, use for brass sizing in bulk and sizing some cast boolits also.

Rosewood

 

[max503]

Cost is not the main reason I reload. Grab that gear from your brother and give it a go.

 

[AJ]

Cost is not the main reason I reload. Grab that gear from your brother and give it a go.

Try it, you might like it!

 

[Autonomous]

My pre-plandemic shortages and price explosions, not counting the price of brass because it is reusable, reloaded .45ACP coated lead cartridges cost 13¢ each and factory ball was 35¢ each. Don't know current prices.

If space is a concern,
Frankford Arsenal has a folding loading stand that is surprisingly adequate for a single stage press.[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Frankford-Arsenal-Reloading-Adjustable-Construction/dp/B00HTN98X6?th=1&psc=1[/ame]

 

[Rpg]

The Black & Decker workmate (WM-425-A) from Amazon for $119.99 works well for a single stage press.

I’ve used mine for the last 30 years without a problem. Very sturdy, folds up for easy storage, easy to use.

 

[AlHunt]

LOL I think he would give me the equipment for free. So the equipment is not a factor in the cost. So what I am hearing is reloading saves about 50% is that correct?

More, if you cast your own projectiles. 2 to 5 cents for the bullet, 5 to 7 for the primer, maybe a dime for the powder. For the rounds you mention, that's a huge savings.

 

[glenwolde]

And what's with the sideways pictures, is there an easy way to fix that?
I have to turn my phone sideways to compensate and that doesn't
Always work.

Google "EXIF data". The way I fix it is to open the picture in Paint. It will display right side up, due to the EXIF data. Even though it looks to be the correct orientation, rotate it, then rotate it back to upright, and save it. This will store it in the correct orientation so when you upload the picture it's not sideways.

 

[tmd17]

I see hand loading as another branch of my shooting life. My time at the loading bench is a peaceful distraction free experience, and the sound and feel of the process is something I look forward to. It is art/science/and craftsmanship all rolled into one.

As for the money involved, I am like others here. I don't save any money whatsoever by hand loading. But by casting my own projectiles and buying primers and powders judiciously, I can shoot a whole lot more than if I was trying to shoot sub par factory ammo. Over the last 3 or 4 years, I probably averaged 1k pistol rounds per month down range. No way I could afford to do that if I was buying factory ammo at today's prices.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I've been reloading metal cartridges for about 12 years. I've seen the price of components creep up right along with ammo. I used to reload for my shotguns but lead doubled in price over about a 5 year period. When I started shooting less I sold all of my gear and opted to buy commercial ammo. For some reason target ammo has stayed relatively inexpensive compared to powder and shot.

Moving on to metal cartridges, I would say a good rule of thump is a savings of about 50% after the gear is paid for. $1000 will buy some good gear. Now figure out how long it will take to pay for that loading half price ammo. That depends on how much you shoot. It might take a year or two to pay for that gear. Once it's paid for by reduced ammo costs then you truly are building ammo for half price. There are other benefits also. You can make ammo when none is available commercially.

I'm also retired, have been for 10 years, so I can load a day and shoot a day for less. That works out well if you have more time than money which is my situation. My income is only about half of what it was when I was working. Granted, I'm not on a budget because I have no debt and a decent income but the time vs cost is a good trade off for me. I'm doing something I enjoy and saving a few bucks while I do it. I shoot less than 5K a year yet I still load.

Some who load won't bother with loading 9x19 now because prices are comparable to buying components, but commercial ammo prices fluctuate widely depending on supply and demand.

The cartridges you mentioned are all good candidates for a loader as the commercial ammo prices stay relatively high all of the time. Probably due to low volume sales.

One drawback is component availability. It's been hard to find powder and primers the last few years. That situation has changed so if you jump in, now is a good time. Buy enough powder and primers to keep you going for a few years once you get your loads worked up.

Once you get started you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

 

[BRL40]

]

For the techno challenged..

Oh, I'm not techno challenged, I'm techno DEFEATED!
Have been ever since they invented computers.
Until I figure this stuff out I guess you'll just have to turn head sideways if you're actually that interested at all.

 

[old tanker]

I don't save any money. Reloading just lets me shoot more on the same budget.

 

[rosewood]

If u take the pic with your phone, u can flip it in the gallery app. Same trick might work flip and back if needed.

I edited it with my phone. Copied pic, rotated and uploaded again.

 

[BRL40]

I may figure it out someday...oh great, I have no idea how I just did that. HA!
Thanks for the advice.

ETA: Well the picture is thinner but at least it's upright.
I'll call that a step in the right direction.

 

[lrrifleman]

Allow me to add my two cents. I reload because:
a) I can still shoot when ammo isn't available.
b) I can tailor my ammo to my rifles and pistols to enhance accuracy.
c) I can compete more often.
d) I don't like to have to register my ammo purchases.

I have recently returned to reloading a few years ago after I was forced away from shooting as a result of an accident which left me disabled.

I started reloading almost 50 years ago, and started with an RCBS single stage press around 1976. I bought my Dillon SDB around 1984, and upgraded to a 550B about 1990. I bought a lubrisizer about 2000, I've had it all long enough that I think that it is safe to say that my equipment has more than paid for itself. I also cast (and now powder coat) my own bullets which can keep me supplied with bullets and reduces costs, especially with 9mm. Getting into powder coating set me back maybe $50.

Honestly, I haven't done the math after my return to reloading after the accident, but I'm certain that the savings are still impressive. Before my accident, I could load a box of 38 Special wadcutters for about $0.75 a box of 50. Forty-five SWCs would cost about a $1.00 a box. Even at $10 a box of 50 for either cartridge, I'm ahead of the game compared to current prices, especially for revolver ammo!

For my 9mm, 40, and 45 ammo (using powder coated bullets). I suspect that my per round cost is about $0.15-0.17 a round. For 38 Special and 44 Special, I would suspect that I am looking at the same per round cost, when I've seen revolver ammo reaching past $30 a box. I figure that my 357s (Magnum and Sig) might be closer to $0.20 per round. It helps having close to 600# of wheelweights and almost 10K gaschecks on hand!

That was just the handgun side of the equation. I now shoot F class, since I can no longer shoot a service rifle "across the course". My "match grade" ammo can be put together for about $0.70 a round, no matter which cartridge: 223 Rem, 224 Valkyrie, 6.5 Creedmoor, 270 Winchester, 7mm Rem Mag, 30-06, or 308 Winchester. Additional, I just picked up a Rossi R92 as a fun gun in 38 Special/357 Magnum.

Brass is rarely an issue ... I am still loading 38s and 45s which I've used since the 1980s! Semi-auto brass is picked up when I work GSSF matches, since they are "lost brass" matches! The 9mms just replenish themselves!

Powder and primers are purchased when I have the extra money and I can find them at a price that doesn't make me sick. Eight pounds of powder can produce over 10K 38s, maybe 9K 45s or 9mms.

The important point to note is that while others are starving for ammo, you will still have some!

 

[orionengnr]

When I owned a .41 Mag, I did plenty of handloading for it. Now it is gone, but I still handload for .38/357, .45LC, and more recently added .44Spl/44Mag.

Paid $63/500 LSWC (.44) then $50 for 100 cases and 1000 primers and a can of Trail Boss (yes, it was a good deal ) Didn't use the Trail Boss (yet) but using Green Dot I made 250 rds of .44Spl and 50 of .44 Mag.
Just for the Magnums, I'm figuring .10/each for cases (next round of loads will be free cases), .12/bullet, call it .10/primer (today's prices, not what I paid) and about .04/powder. So that's .36/rd this time, and .26/round each time thereafter (cases will be re-used).

My friend was paying almost $50/50 rds of .44 Mag (when he could find them). So, a buck a round, or .26/rd?

Savings are similar for .41Mag and .45LC, almost as good with .38/357, and pretty good with .45acp, even .380 and 9mm net me some significant savings.

And I always have ammo.

I recently bought a .38/44 Heavy Duty and am about to load up some ammo for that. When was the last time you saw some of those rounds for sale? (Hint; they aren't, but I can make all I want.)

 

[oneoff]

Just do it!
I, like I suspect of the OP, think I have to come up with a practical reason for everything I do, and all too often that must translate to finances somehow. I think others have established here that there are "a lot" of other practical reasons to reload. I do it 'cause I love it! Way, way more than a trip to the beach. Which is enough to pay for most of my kit and a years worth of supplies!
Truly, for me, reloading has not cost me anything at all, rather it saves me money. I have a Redding T7 hidden in a nice cedar entertainment center that I got cheap, and reinforced the daylights out of. I keep it near where my wife likes to sew, and we just hang out and do what we do.
Some have commented that it's fun to go for accuracy on rifles, not so much on pistols. Please let me offer the "opposite" experience! I have probably found rifles slightly more challenging to dial in a "perfect" load for, but once it's found, well, it tends to be more expensive to keep playing. Not so with pistols! Mind, I'm a bullseye shooter, but I love nothing more that loading up 100 rounds across a powder load spectrum, then shoot 4 targets of 5 shots for each load range, discard a flyer or two and average the groups, and I "very rarely" cannot find the potential sweet-spot, then just keep dialing it in that way to the exact tenth of a grain. Sometimes you lose your reference and have to start weighing each bullet and brass, and if you get there, you know you're over the top. Pretty sure there's no practical use for that kind of accuracy from a gun fired at arms length, but man do I enjoy it!
Just do it! If you don't like it, it's one less thing you have to wonder about as you enjoy your retirement, and you will not have lost much if anything for your trouble.

 

[Dave Lively]

I reloaded for about 30 years but quit when it became a tedious chore instead of an enjoyable hobby. Like all hobbies some people like it and others do not. And your interest in it may come and go.

As the other posters said it is cheaper on a per round basis but most reloaders will shoot more so the total cost is about the same. Not counting equipment the 50% less expensive number seems about right for the calibers you mentioned if you are shooting jacketed bullets but you will save more than that if you are shooting cast bullets.

You will also find yourself going to the range more. For me reloading was a quest to find the best load for a specific gun and that required more trips to the range. This was part of what I enjoyed about reloading. In particular I enjoyed trying to squeeze every last possible bit of accuracy out of my rifles.

If you can borrow your brother's equipment or buy it cheap give reloading a try. If you don't shoot much and don't enjoy it just quit and go back to buying factory, that's what I did with no regrets.