Do you re-load?

[Black_Sheep]

Yep! Been reloading for several years. It has become an enjoyable hobby that dovetails nicely with accumulating S&W's and shooting. The savings aspect is arguable though as I tend to shoot more since I began reloading.

 

[Road Rat]

I have re-loaded for myself and my family for some 40 years. I re-load 11 different calibers.

No telling how much money I have saved over the years.

DO YOU RE-LOAD?

You actually "saved money" by reloading???

Fantastic..........most of us just shoot way too much and really end up spending "more money" in the end!!!

 

[Goldstar225]

I've been reloading for 35 years and casting my own for 28. I doubt that I've saved a penny but I have certainly shot a lot more than I would have if I didn't cast/reload.

I do 4 handgun calibers and three rifle. I'm still using a bonanza single stage press that I bought used over thirty years ago.

I have helped others reload. If a friend asks me to load for them, I politely decline but offer to help them by letting them use my equipment under my supervision and them providing the components. Some have taken me up on it, others have passed. Of those who took me up on the offer, some became reloaders themselves after getting some hands on experience.

 

[oberon]

40 years in various calibers.

 

[MikeyB]

Been reloading since the mid 1970's.

 

[blujax01]

...Knowing I won't be stuck with not being able to find ammo or having to pay insane prices like $1 per round has caused me to explore various calibers. A perfect example is .45-70 Govt. I now have three rifles in this caliber, and I shoot them very often and very inexpensively.

Heard that! I purchased exactly one box of Remingtons for my 45/70 then drove to the LGS (several actually) and got dies, bullets, powder and primers.

Same for my 25 acp. $20 a box for that pipsqueek? Pffft...

 

[blujax01]

... but buying things from a country run by a crazy midget just bugs me.

Now that's funny right there, I don't care who you are!

 

[rwsmith]

handloading has indeed......

Handloading has saved money over the years. At first it was great because I loaded the simplest way possible and it was cheap as dirt. Since I decided to stop being bogus and am reloading the 'right' way, my savings are reduced because I always need some new tool/device. Even at reduced savings I still shoot a lot more than I would be able to afford buying store-bought ammo.

 

[fredj338]

But as time went on I found I didn't really care for reloading and still consider it a necessary evil sometimes. Its a time consuming pain in the ***. You only save money if your time isn't worth anything. Some people enjoy it and that's fine. There's no argument with that. I still load a lot of ammunition but I shoot a lot of commercial and surplus military also.

Well, unless you make something like $200/hr, your time isn't worth enough to NOT reload. Just buy better gear. I can easily do 700rds/hr on my 650. In 45acp, that saves me a min of $20/100 or $140 per hr NET. I would have to make more than $200/hr to net $150, so yes, even adding time, reloading is worth it. BTW, I don't enjoy it all that much anymore either. The fun dims after you pass the 200K rd mark.

 

[LaVistaBill]

I started reloading handgun ammo when in my late teens as I was embarassed to have my mom buy me ammo at the hardware store, plus it was too expensive anyway, even back in 1969!

 

[Maximumbob54]

No telling how much money I have saved over the years.

DO YOU RE-LOAD?

Do I reload?

YES

Money I have saved so far?

Oh my... I'm supposed to be saving money being a gear collecting junky addict and you haven't even mentioned bullet casting bullet mold accumulator addict… I cannot answer this question.

 

[Rickkster]

Yes I do. I started in 1976 with Lee Loader and one caliber. Now one single stage press and one progressive press. I am handloading for 10 pistol calibers and 5 rifle calibers. I'm not sure how much money I have saved, but I do get to shoot more. I also cast so I have multiple ways to enjoy myself.

Cheers,

Rick

 

[old&slow]

Yes, I do reload my own ammunition. But only for my own use. I reload something North of 30 different calibers but respectfully decline when asked to reload for friends or fellow shooters. That may sound callous but that's just me. It's a personal thing. I'm happy to discuss loads and experiences with different calibers but it ends there.

A lesson learned long ago.. I only reload for myself or family.

OP, don't know how you save money? When I started reloading on my single stage RCBS, I would buy components by the hundred. In the late 80's, I purchased a Dillon 550 and I started getting components by the thousand & ten thousand.

( I think I reload for about 14 different calibers. now ,, )

 

[djh1765]

I think I see some doubters when it comes to saving money by re-loading.
I can only say this. When it comes to the 9mm, 38 spec. 357 cals I am loading in the .15 to .17 cent range per cartridge. The 45ACP, 30-30, 32-40, 38-55 and 30-06 it goes up in the range of .28 to .30 cents and the big boys 45-70 and 45-90's it leaps to .48 to .52 cents per cartridge.

Granted I am using components that I have had for several years but someone tell me where they can buy factory ammo at these prices?

I do realize that at today's market prices those figures will rise somewhat but I can't believe they will go up to the factory ammo pricing.

Just thought I would throw that in for some of you to think about. Besides it's fun re-loading.

 

[RussellD]

I reload therefore I am. Been reloading for about 30 years. Very relaxing and rewarding hobby. Enjoy the independance of loading my own bullets.nothing is more rewarding than to see a small group on the target from rounds I reloaded.

 

[sps282]

Been reloading since 1967. I reload for everything I shoot except .380 caliber. Can't say reloading ever saved me much money, just was able to shoot a lot more!

 

[old&slow]

I think I see some doubters when it comes to saving money by re-loading.

Besides it's fun re-loading.

djh,
re: don't know how you save money, ( I should have used a )
I was referring to when I was young, a box or two of ammo would last all year. Then I started reloading on a single stage, I would buy a 100 primers, 100 bullets, and a pound of powder.
Then I got a progressive press and I would buy primers by the ten thousand, powder by the 8 lb. jug, and bullets by the thousands. Heck do they still sale primers by the 100 ?

I'm not sure that I know anybody that I shoot with on a regular basis that doesn't reload. A few years ago when 9mm were on sale for $5.50 a box. I knew a few people that were buying 9's rather than reloading. But now with prices at 3 or 4 times that, no one I know is that rich.

Don't know how many tens of thousands of rounds I have reloaded and shot. Sure as heck couldn't have afforded it if I had to buy factory. Even with the price of components sky rocketing, it's still cheaper to reload..

Plus you can taylor your loads to the game you are playing. And there's the fun factor too..

Oh, Just pick up another progressive press last week.. More money I didn't save...

 

[Bkreutz]

I reload because if I had to buy factory ammo, I couldn't shoot the quantity that I do now. I have a Dillon 650 and only reload 9mm on it. I shoot an average of 1000 to 1200 a week (5 range trips per week and usually 1 match on the weekend). So If I didn't reload that regimen would be much different. I also reload .270 and M1 Carbine on my trusty Lee turret press (30 years old). I don't shoot the .270 much so I haven't reloaded any rounds in years so the Lee only gets used for Carbine loads. We have 4 different 9mm pistols in the family so the Dillon gets a workout. I usually reload what I shoot every day, takes less than an hour. Then Sat or Sun (depending on matches) is reserved for brass processing. I find that it takes more time to process the brass (sorting and inspecting, ultrasonic cleaning, baking, and polishing) than it does to reload them (actual A-Z time, not the time I handle them which is a lot less). My pistols and Dillon are getting a rest this past 2 weeks, I took a Colorado Jeep vacation and dislocated the ring finger on my right hand which has cut my shooting in half and stopped my hand loading for the time being. I still have 4k (or so) rounds stocked up so that should cover me until I can pull the press handle again.

 

[jfp357]

I have been having fun and saving about half price of the shelf ammo. 9mm, 38spl, .45 auto. I have a good supply and don't have to depend on Walmart and LGS. About once a week we get to the range and use it.

 

[rwsmith]

A whole $5 bill.......

I started reloading handgun ammo when in my late teens as I was embarassed to have my mom buy me ammo at the hardware store, plus it was too expensive anyway, even back in 1969!

Five bucks and some change could get a box of 50 .38 specials in 1969. That kind of money was hard to come by.