Does loading .38 spl make sense for me?

[reddog81]

If all you're shooting is 300 rounds per year you could probably find someone who has a progressive press and is willing to show you the ropes and you can knock out that many rounds in 2 hours. I wouldn't waste money on reloading equipment if you're shoooting that little.

If you want to start shooting a lot more than go for it.

 

[olskool]

I have been handloading since I was 10 years old 1967 and casting since about 81 I have no idea how much I have saved but I bet it has been a lot. I really do not know how much ammo cost other than 32acp as I do not load for them. I figure if I shoot conservatively I have enough for the rest of my life,,,,,,,

 

[rockquarry]

There are a couple of ways to look at this question that comes up frequently, maybe several times a month.
If you have to ask yourself or others if it's worth it to "reload" a particular cartridge, it's not, simply because of the misery involved in doing so. I can't see how any potential cost saving would obviate the unpleasant work.

"Handloading", however, is a hobby in itself. One can make ammo considerably more accurate than factory ammunition, but it takes load development (experimentation), something that requires both a curious mind and time.

It's understandable that some people don't have the time or the interest in load development. Nothing wrong with that.

If you're not going to enjoy the advantages of handloading, then it seems there is little point in reloading, unless you just want ammo that always fires with little or no concern for accuracy. That's easy to do as long as you have read a loading manual (as opposed to a YouTube video) and are aware of safety practices. There may also be some money saving in there somewhere.

The AR15 people probably ask the "reloading or not" question more frequently than others, and it's far from a stupid question. It's certainly a legitimate one.

 

[MichiganScott]

If all you're shooting is 300 rounds per year you could probably find someone who has a progressive press and is willing to show you the ropes and you can knock out that many rounds in 2 hours. I wouldn't waste money on reloading equipment if you're shoooting that little.

If you want to start shooting a lot more than go for it.

Once you find out how cheap you can shoot on a per round basis, those 300 rounds will become 500, which will become 750.............

The next thing you know you will buying new guns and loading for them. It simply progresses.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

I buy most of my components when I find a better than usual price on them. I can also load up ammo that offers something different than what I can buy. I bought my reloading equipment years or decades ago and don't really care if it pays for itself or not (it probably has). Sometimes it's just relaxing to load up a quantity of ammo.

 

[kbm6893]

$43 for 100 rounds of Winchester white box factory loads of $13 for your reloads? Not even a choice is it?

Not to mention stockpiling powder and components occupies much less space and keeps you immune from the next shortage. Which might be the last shortage before a total ban.

 

[RGVshooter]

I shoot on average 300-400 rounds a week of mostly 357 magnum and for me at least it has been very cost effective to reload at home. Commercial 357 sold at stores cost anywhere from $29-39 bux for a box of 50. But that's mostly full power loads. I just want to plink & do bowling pin matches. Pay attention to online sales & local prices on supplies and you'll spend considerably less and get more bang for your buck.

 

[Nevada Ed]

With a box of fifty Winchester 148gr wc bullets at around $34.....

Ten boxes is $340 plus tax!!

How much was that loading press?

 

[RGVshooter]

With a box of fifty Winchester 148gr wc bullets at around $34.....

Ten boxes is $340 plus tax!!

How much was that loading press?

I shoot 2X that much a month. Press cost me $269.

Choice is yours to make and no one else's. You can spend up to $500 initially for a press and supplies or you can spend 500 bucks on ammo. But you're always going to be buying ammo because bullets don't grow back after you shoot 'em.

reloading pays for itself in time.

 

[JayFramer]

Without reading the first post, YES! RELOADING ALWAYS MAKES SENSE!

No excuse not to do it. I see the other people at the range flushing money down the toilet (i.e. shooting factory ammo) and laugh and point!!

 

[Engineer1911]

I'm retired and have reloaded ammo since 1974. I have no problem shooting 300 rounds of 38 spl WC in 1 hour.

I also cast bullets. My original equipment was bought and paid for in 1974 to 1979. I now have 2 Dillon 550 presses, six Lee 6-cavity and a dozen Lyman 2- and 4-cavity bullet molds, all paid for after ONE casting session based on the current price of purchased cast bullets.

All my ammo: 38 spl, 9 MM, 40 S&W, 45 ACP ammo costs less than cheap 22 LR based on 50 round boxes. 357 mag cost $4.30 and 44 mag cost is $5.50 because of heavier powder charges for 50 rounds.

I don't save money reloading because I shoot a lot because reloaded bullets are cheap. I buy primers and powder whenever I find it on sale; primers $20 per thousand and powder $20 per pound. It doesn't happen often but I buy all the cheap stuff I find at gun shows, yard sales, or gun shop sales. Now I have a 5+ year inventory of powder and primers.

Start reloading now, it will not get cheaper!

 

[TomkinsSP]

Once you find out how cheap you can shoot on a per round basis, those 300 rounds will become 500, which will become 750.............

The next thing you know you will buying new guns and loading for them. It simply progresses.

Yes, you save big money by reloading, with the same amount of money expended, you get to shoot four, five maybe six times as much.

If you don't think that is 'saving money' ask your wife (replace the word cartridges with shoes, and reloading with sale).

 

[rwsmith]

IF...

IF:

You shoot a lot.

You show control over not buying every gadget or just what will do the job well w/o spending more.

YES, it save me money. 9mm is not economical to reload but when you don't have any money and want to shoot, reloading is great. Any cartridge that isn't 'common as dirt' is going to cost more. If you think you may shoot more or get into another caliber, I'd say certainly go for it.

OK, I don't save much money on 9mm. Except that I do shoot more with my 9mm carbine so it saves a little more.

But I do save on...

.38/.357
.44Spec/.44 mag
30-06 ( and Garand for not shooting with a gas cap)
7.7 Arisaka
.223/5.56 Nato
I will be loading 5.56x54R when I get the dies.
If I get into my old break open Colt I'll do .38 S&W which you don't find and is expensive when you do.

PS: When you find out that it's gangs of fun, let yourself loose and buy all the reloading stuff you want.

 

[Babysitr]

Thank You all for the kind replies, about what I thought,as I've shotgun loaded for years. I'm gonna do it. I would love to find a decent setup used, e-bay ,estate sale ect. I will be patient on this one. single stage is perfect. My 28,19,10,15,trooper are wanting more farm time, and I'm retiring.

 

[BE Mike]

Without reading the first post, YES! RELOADING ALWAYS MAKES SENSE!

No excuse not to do it. I see the other people at the range flushing money down the toilet (i.e. shooting factory ammo) and laugh and point!!

I just pick up their once fired empty brass and smile!

 

[BE Mike]

OK, I don't save much money on 9mm. Except that I do shoot more with my 9mm carbine so it saves a little more.

I load mostly 115 gr. FMJ bullets for 9mm. It costs me around $5.65 per box of 50. How is that not saving $4.00 or better per box of factory ammo?

 

[bananaman]

I don't mind reloading at all. Something to do when the mood strikes me. I have 44 magnum components on my table now.
I use Handloads.com calculator to figure out my cost of ammo. With (quality) components and deals have loaded .38 Special @ $3.48 a box of 50. The local gun store ran in Nov. & Dec. all of their cast bullets at half off. Coated included. Bought 4 boxes.
Is it right for you???? The decision is yours! Regardless, enjoy shooting. Bob

 

[BE Mike]

Having been one who started out with a Lee Loader, I don't recommend them unless that is all you can afford and since you are buying factory ammo, I'd say that you can afford better. I won't get into the argument as to which equipment brand is better. After I got tired of the tedious and time consuming process of reloading with the Lee Loader kit (it didn't take long), I upgraded to a Lyman kit. That worked great and saved me a lot of time. Later on when I began shooting competition and therefore shooting quite a bit more, I got my first Dillon. It was a 450 at the time and since has been upgraded to a 550. This is to point out that your decision really boils down to how much you shoot or want to shoot. I retired from pistol competition years ago, but still shoot a couple hundred rounds of pistol ammo per week for fun.

 

[rkittine]

For me, I just like reloading. I have 5 shotgun presses, 4 bench rest type specialty press's for precision rifle reloading and a turret press for pistols. I wish I still had the Star Press's that I used to own.

If you shoot a lot, you will certainly save money eventually. For me, I have had a hard time finding .38 Wad Cutters other than Ultra-Match for about $35 to $45 per box depending on the brand, or remanufactured ones that I do not like using. Similar issue with 45 ACP SWC. So another reason to reload.

Bob

 

[nachogrande]

IF RELOADING ANY CALIBER.

38 Special would get my vote for the best. An easy to load, straight walled case, & 2.7 gr's of powder goes a VERY long way. Accurate & pleasant to shoot. The cost for cast boolits is reasonable. Retired with the time, close to a range, planning on shooting 1+ times a week? A no brainer, AND figure on shooting 200 rounds per visit EASY. It's NOT REALLY about the $, but at that volume, YES you will save $ in the not so long run. JMO.