Reload?

[Milanfire2]

Been shooting for over 40 years ,my brother and I use to reload shotshell when we were kids(11 -16). That was last time. Question is is it worth it for me to get back into reloading again. I shoot mostly 9mm and 38 or 357mag. It seems if iam correct its almost not worth it for 9mm even if I already had all reloading equipment ,which I dont. So a little help please on if I should and is it worth it and how much will it cost to get all presses and dies and all thats needed to start. Iam retired so I have soom time. Little help please. Thanks Stay Safe All

[DEG]

Using lead cast bullets it costs me ~$5 per 50 to load 38 or 357 loads and a little less to load 9mm. If you want to load jacketed bullets you may not save much over factory for the 38 and 9mil, but you will still save considerably loading 357.

Can't really tell you if it's worth reloading for you. Depends on how much you shoot, how much you will enjoy reloading vs the value of your time and how much you choose to spend on equipment. I've purchased a lot of reloading equipment for pennies on the dollar from folks who were looking to save money, but discovered they didn't really enjoy reloading.

At a minimum you will need scales, press, powder measure, dies for each caliber, and a set of dial calipers.

You can probably get a Lee single stage press, dies, powder measure and scales for around $200, but you will spend the most time at the bench with a single stage. The next step up will be a turret press then a progressive press. A new progressive setup with all accessories will likely run $600 plus.

I started out with a Lee single-stage kit that includes everything you need to get started except for dies and dial caliper. They still sell the kit and it runs around $150. It worked fine and made good shells. Today I load on a Hornady LnL AP.

[Nevada Ed]

This year in my area rifle ammo starts at $20, 12ga is $8.00 for trap loads and 9mm is $14 a box.

Two years ago Rifle was $16, 12Ga was $4.99 and 9mm was $11.99.

Reloading might be a good thing,still...............

[oberon]

Yes.
Shoot twice as much for the same money.

[k53]

You will save a ton on the 357!! 38 will be a savings also. 9mm is a bit of a wash, but as was said... prices are not going down any. get your tools, and start it going. You will make your money back quick on the 357/38, and save all your 9mm brass, and buy and stash a set of dies for it, and you will be ready when the prices go eaven higher!!! Its win win realy. Unless you hardly shoot, or unless you drop a huge wad on top end gear right off the rip... you should make your invesment back soon.

[Skip Sackett]

"Every shooter should be a reloader. Every reloader should be a bullet caster" ~ Skip

[Cdog]

I can't imagine not loading. The brass is the most expensive component and it can be reused many times. Each load is less costly than the previous one.

I got into loading for the precision, so any savings is gravy for me.

Yea, it's worth it! CD

[LittleCooner]

Reloading is a great hobby and I too got into reloading for improved accuracy in my rifles. I enjoy spending time prepping loaded rounds for my firearms. Save your brass, even if you decide not to reload. With all the uncertainty about new rules coming from Washington, it is nice to know I have bullets, primers and powder in the reloading room. If you like to shoot, I would recommend you give it a try. You will spend several hundred dollars obtaining the necessary tools, but ebay and craigslist, etc is a great source for old presses, scales, etc from estates and those who decided reloading in not for them. Most of the pistol shoots want and use a progressive press. I have both a progressive and an old single stage and find myself doing most of my "work" on the single stage, as I am not pushed for time. That is the key to producing good ammo, do not ever get in a hurry. Give it a try, you will save money and never be in a panic when you can not find ammo down the street at your local gun shop.

[Pigirondan]

Since starting to reload, I shoot more often. Since shooting more often, my shooting has improved.

That said, I still don't shoot as often as I would like, but, reloading allows me to keep my head in the game and away from the Interwebs.

I just reload .38 Special and .45 ACP, and it will be a long time before I recover my investment in equipment and materials.(if ever) But, the value of all of this has exceeded my expectations and in my opinion has made it all worthwhile.

[LittleCooner]

If you just want to try this to see how it fits in your life and shooting, you can get into basics for under $ 200. First off, obtain a couple of published catalogs so you can see everything at one time. Midsouth shooting supplies is a great place to do business, along with others out there.

Basic, get started kit that will work for your 38 and 357 :
Lee 4 die carbide set for 38/357 $ 40
Lee set of power Dippers $ 10
Smart Reloader Digital scale w trickler$ 40

I am now at $ 90 invested less a press, cheapest way in, is a Lee single stage for $ 30, but I would recommend the Lee Challenger for $ 50 or the RCBS Partner for $ 75. So your are reloading for a min of $ 120 to $ 165. Add a good reloading manual of your choice or surf the net at the bullet makers web sites. You will find that the ammo you produce will be just as good as ammo produce on a $ 1000 + progressive, just not as fast. Need to clean brass - go by the local Wallwork or auto store and buy a $ 7 can of "Never Dull". It will last for years cleaning brass and I rarely use the motorize cleaner here, just sit in front of the TV at night and use the Never Dull and a paper towel. Get going and post back on how your loads work.

[loc n load]

I started reloading 38's and 357's back in 75. I was starting my LE career then and had the handgun bug really bad (still do). I was shooting cast bullets and shot 500 rds a week. There was no way I could afford to buy ammo in that quanity back then, and certainly could not now. Over the decades my loading bench has grown to a loading room with several progressive presses and gear, but I still have that RCBS RC that I started with....reloading has always been an integral part of my shooting, always will be.

[SMSgt]

If you've got time on your hands you need something to do . . . reload!

And it's not all about the money.

[fredj338]

Of course it is worth it for any caliber! Consider I Can relaod FMJ 9mm for 50% of the cost of cheap factory, how is that not worth it? Even if that was all I shot, if I shot enough, it's worth it. Now reloading for any service pistol is about the same, 50% savings over CHEAP factory. When you load magnums or rifles, your savings is even great.
With cast bullets, I can reload a 50box of 44mag for little more than the cost of 9mm. The nest part of relaoding, if you buy components in some kind of bulk, requried to get to the 50% mark, you will always have ammo, regardless of the shortages of panic buying. While many are running all over town, spending time & $$ trying to score a few 100 9mm, I can crank that out in the reloading room in less than 30min.
A little math problem. I can reload 700rds/hr of 9mm FMJ on my 650. My cost is just over $10/100, we'll call it $11. Right now, 9mm, if you can find it, is about $21/100. So I save $10/100 or $70 NET for an hours worth of reloading. COnsider I would have to make $120/hr gross to make the $70 net diff of reloading, I am paying myself to make ammo.
Yes that requires the investment in high end quality gear like the Dillon 650, but if time is the reason you don't reload, time is negated by better gear. SO go all out, buy a 650 w/ everything for just 9mm & it's say $1200. Over a 20yr reloading acreer, that is $5/month! Who does NOT have $5/month? Time is never a reason to not reload. For most of us, we don't make $120/hr to offset the time used to make 700rds/hr.

[dentkimterry]

I enjoy reloading ALMOST as much as shooting. I started with a Lee Challenger press and dippers about two years ago. Last October I bit the bullet and got a new Dillon press. I am very happy and can make most ammo any time I want because I stocked up on supplies before the current crunch. Been picking up fired brass at the range although it is becoming more scarce. I reload 5 different handgun calibers.

[Engineer1911]

Ways to save money:

1) Fishing is cheaper than the grocery story.

2) Reloading your ammo saves money.

3) Casting bullets saves even more money.

4) Give up golf.

[iouri]

I've started reloading couple months ago. A box of 9mm at that time was about $12.99 in Wallmart, now I've seen them once (only couple boxes) for $17.99 and mine still come out below $6 per box ( I don't cast yet )

[ArchAngelCD]

9mm
Reloads - $5.16 Lead
Reloads - $7.26 FMJ
Factory - $12.99 and up

38 Special
Reloads - $5.09 Lead
Reloads - $7.21 JSP
Factory - $16.99 and up

357 Magnum
Reloads - $7.24 Lead
Reloads - $8.98 JSP
Factory - $23.99 and up

I'm just sayin...

[dwpmusic]

I guess I have a way of looking at things a little differently than most. I agonized about getting into reloading for a good while and decided to look at it the way I've looked at a lot of things in life as far as cost vs return on investment goes. I went pretty well all out when I finally decided to take the plunge. I bought a Dillon 550B press with all the bells and whistles, accessories, and what nots. With powder, primers, bullets, and on and on and on I probably spent 2K. I'd have to figure it up. Now, will I ever get my money back? Probably not but who cares. I don't. It's a fun extension of the hobby. I love to shoot and I'm loving learning about reloading. Let's just say I've got 2K invested in various different things to support my reloading hobby. I keep it 5 years and sell it for 1K. It cost me 1K divided by 5 equals $200 a year. I figure I had $200 a year worth of fun out of it. Arguably, my method is flawed and not completely realistic but it satisfies me. Go for it and enjoy it. Anybody that's completely strapped for cash should probably not be shooting anyway. Not being a smart***, but just sayin'.

[edprof]

I am getting back into reloading after about a ten year hiatus. In a foolish moment, I gave away a perfect reloading setup. Looks like it will cost me about $800 to get back into reloading with dies and a basic shotgun press as well. This doesn't buy much components,just hardware for seven calibers of metallic plus 12 gauge.

[mtgianni]

If you never shot enough to reload then it makes no sense to now. I assume if you shot 50 rds per month it would pay off when 38's were $5 a box or $25.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by mtgianni

If you never shot enough to reload then it makes no sense to now. I assume if you shot 50 rds per month it would pay off when 38's were $5 a box or $25.

You would never get your investment back on an expensive piece of equip loading only 50rds of 38s / m. For me, when you get to 500/m of anything, you really need to be reloading to extend your shooting & you'll pay for even a high end setup in 2-3yrs, depending on caliber.

[rwsmith]

...it's definitely worth my while to reload. I load all my .38s too. The problem right now is that components are very scarce, but I would anticipate that it won't last forever.

[CScott]

Cost savings is only one of the benefits of reloading. One of the benefits I like the most is that you can shoot the same load as much as you like. Buying factory ammo, you get a different load every time (or so it seems) because the LGS will never seem to have the same brand, bullet weight, or power level, not to mention bullet diameters best suited to your gun. You have to constantly readjust your shooting. With reloading you can settle on a load you like and shoot it forever while still experimenting with other loads. I've loaded many, many thousands of rounds over nearly 40 years on a single stage press and each round is a source of great satisfaction.

Get started and enjoy!

CScott

[ArchAngelCD]

Reloading doesn't have to be a $2000 expense or even $1000.

For handgun reloading a Lee Classic 4 hole turret press will cost you ~$!00. A Classic kit will run ~$220. Add another $100 or so and you can be fairly well set up for under $400.

If you look at the numbers in Post #17 you will see you can save more than you might think loading your own ammo. Saving $16.75/box on .357 Magnum ammo even shooting only 1 box a month will just about cover the cost of setting up in less than 2 years. But I have found most people who reload tend to shoot more because they have the ammo available. When I set up I was able to make back the money in only 4 month because of the savings on factory ammo. That was when ammo wasn't so inflated, right now I would probably cover the cost in 2 months or so. (I shoot 300 or more rounds per trip at least once a week 10 months of the year)