Ever get tired of reloading?

[federali]

Since the early 60s

I've been reloading more than 50 years. I too find it boring cranking out load after load on my Dillon 550. I also have an RCBS Rockchucker for rifle ammo.

However, I do enjoy problem solving such as learning to wash and tumble brass or discovering the primer pocket uniformer which makes seating primers a breeze.

I've thought of upgrading to a Dillon with an automatic case feed but I don't shoot enough to warrant the investment. I too am satisfied to crank out 100 rounds at a sitting.

 

[bananaman]

I reload when I feel like it. I make sure that there is plenty ready to shoot. So when I am in the mood, do my thing & load. Bob

 

[BB57]

I started reloading 38 years ago on an RCBS junior press to hand load ammo for my .243. Back then 40 rounds was a lot.

Over the years as I added calibers, started shooting competitively in High Power rifle, tactical rifle, bullseye and practical pistol, as well as some trap, it got tedious.

The solution for me was to:

1) switch to a progressive press; and
2) load large runs at a time, which limits the set up time.

Over the years I've also added multiple tool heads and quick change kits for my Dillon press, so that I can swap calibers in 3 to 5 minutes and then start cranking out my standard loads with basically no adjustment of the press, measure, etc. Even for new loads, the only adjustments are usually powder charge, seating depth, and crimp (if applicable). In rare cases, I'll neck size for one rifle and FL size for another so I'l have to swap out a die out of a tool head now and then, but there is no adjustment involved.

It's a little cash intensive, but it doesn't hurt much when spread over a few years, and it lets me quickly produce the ammo I need when I need it without the tedium of setting up and adjusting dies, powder measures, etc.

In short, I shoot more than ever, and had load more rounds than ever but spend less time doing it than ever before.

 

[johngalt]

I load on a Hornady LNLAP, which is a decent press.

One issue is I live in an apartment, so I don't have a dedicated bench where I can leave everything all set up and ready to go. Every time I load, I have to unpack and assemble everything, since there is so much prep time involved, I need to do a bunch to make it worthwhile. Yesterday I did 500 .45 hardball, by the time I was done I was definitely tired of working at it. The most I've done at once was about 1400 spread across 3 different loads, including a primer size change. I definitely get burnt out trying to do that much.

 

[calmex]

I started reloading 38 years ago on an RCBS junior press to hand load ammo for my .243. Back then 40 rounds was a lot.

Over the years as I added calibers, started shooting competitively in High Power rifle, tactical rifle, bullseye and practical pistol, as well as some trap, it got tedious.

The solution for me was to:

1) switch to a progressive press; and
2) load large runs at a time, which limits the set up time.

Over the years I've also added multiple tool heads and quick change kits for my Dillon press, so that I can swap calibers in 3 to 5 minutes and then start cranking out my standard loads with basically no adjustment of the press, measure, etc. Even for new loads, the only adjustments are usually powder charge, seating depth, and crimp (if applicable). In rare cases, I'll neck size for one rifle and FL size for another so I'l have to swap out a die out of a tool head now and then, but there is no adjustment involved.

It's a little cash intensive, but it doesn't hurt much when spread over a few years, and it lets me quickly produce the ammo I need when I need it without the tedium of setting up and adjusting dies, powder measures, etc.

In short, I shoot more than ever, and had load more rounds than ever but spend less time doing it than ever before.

Excellent points. I shoot a lot too, and I live in a place where everything I need to reload has to go through a myriad of smoke-and-mirror movements to get to me. But I enjoy reloading.

Not too long ago, a rich Mexican boy offered to pay me to reload shells for him. Never mind that the Mexican Army wants reloading to be illegal and runs around acting as though it were (although the Mexican Firearms Law says differently), but reloading for somebody else definitely is illegal down here. I told him "no".

He told me that he had heard me tell some other people that I liked reloading.

"I do like reloading!" I answered without hesitation. "I love reloading and casting bullets and trimming rifle brass so that me and my family can shoot as much as we want to. We have a 365 day shooting season here, and I want to take advantage of that. But I mean, me and my family. I don't give a rat's behind if you don't get to shoot because you don't reload. And there's no way on God's Green Earth I'm loading for you whether you pay me or not."

If you're going to shoot a lot, you practically need to reload unless somebody sponsors you or you are fabulously wealthy. And like most things in life, it helps if you like it.

 

[joeintexas]

I do enjoy shooting so reloading just falls in place. If memory serves I got into reloading to save money, I quickly found that I was shooting 5 times more often so that wasn't really a savings but the therapeutic aspect sure is. When I go to the bench to load I am in my own little world, nice and peaceful, no bills to pay, no traffic, no problems except which powder to use today. I don't shoot as much these days so I don't load as much but I still never get tired of it, I probably would if I did it every day though. I am tired of mowing the yard though, I may consider giving that up.

 

[damienph]

I also enjoy reloading. I find it relaxing and actually fun. I would have to count to be sure but I currently load for no less than 28 cartridges and have dies for at least 35.
I have been reloading since 1976 and have five presses on my bench.

 

[AlHunt]

Reloading is just part of shooting. As a kid in the 60's and 70's, when I learned to shoot, I learned to reload.

As an adult I was surprised to meet people who didn't reload. Kind of like they're missing out on part of it.

But, yeah, it can get a little tedious.

 

[SMSgt]

Here's how I break up the tedium of reloading pistol ammo. I use a lee hand press to do all my resizing/flaring and a hand primer to seat all my primers. This I do while relaxing in my Laziboy recliner in front of the TV. I also keep a small magnifying glass handy to inspect the cases while I'm at it. Before I know it, NCIS is over and I have a pile of primed cases redy for stuffing when I get around to it.

 

[imakmst]

To sum it up:

NO

same for me

 

[johngalt]

What first got me started was wanting target rounds for my .357. After shooting lots of .38 and then the subsequent scrubbing out the chambers, I began thinking "doesn't anyone make target ammo in .357 brass?" Couldn't find any, so I decided to make my own. Then there was the difficulty in finding full wad cutter ammo for my .38. Next I thought "well, might as well load for the .45 also..."

Part of it is I don't really enjoy shooting as much as I did either.

 

[garbler]

Like many of previous responders I started loading for my self around the 63-64 and helped an uncle load shot shells for trap matches before that. I have pared down my inventory to six presses now and a lot of other parts. Always been a sucker for a new gizmo, a nice press or a cartridge that looks interesting. That is where the juice is for me. Experimenting and testing at the range other than some light match shooting and putting game in the freezer.

But years ago I bit off big on IPSC then plates and pins all the while still competing in Bullseye. They don't don't go together believe me. But reloading buckets enough to shoot IPSC ruined it for me for a couple of years. I was shooting easily 5-600+ rounds of major power 45ACP a week or more and another 250 Rds or more pin loads, 38 wad cutters, etc. Every spare minute I had was feeding and cranking on my Star presses and worrying if a shipment of bullets, brass or gun cleaners and parts had shown up in time to be ready for a match-- none of which were nearby. Dumping and cleaning brass, loading primer tubes, cleaning and repairing guns, the whole rhythm and cycle just ruined it for me. I started making mistakes not only ordering but loading too. I recall one day having two squibs in a match both forcing the bullet into the rifling and locking up the gun. I just walked off sold my two race guns and it was almost two years before I could set down and talk to my presses again. It was so bad that I actually looked forward to mowing the yard !!

 

[LittleCooner]

I've been reloading since 2007, I find I don't really enjoy it all that much. It has its benefits - I've been able to shoot through all the recent shortages and panics, I have the ability to customize for my preferred bullet style and power level. It does give you a certain amount of freedom.

But I find it tedious, even more so lately. Plus I have to store all this stuff, which takes up space. Powder, primers, bullets, brass, tools, etc. I moved all this stuff once, and will probably do so again.

I sometimes wish I could find someone local who I could trust to load ammo the way I want, give him all my stuff, on the condition that he load my ammo for me until the components are used up.

Got your problem solved. Sell all your guns and reloading gear on ebay, various web sites, etc. Take the money and go buy a set of golf clubs.

I still have and still use the Herters single press purchased in 1965. Reloading is just a part of shooting. I consider that a simple fact of gun ownership. At times, it is a burden when I was pressed for time, but other times, an enjoyable part of the gun ownership, shooting hobby. I use to shoot 8,000 to 12,000 rounds a year, keeping the barrel manufactures happy. Probably have not shot 500 rounds of factory stuff in the past 40+ years. I am serious, if you do not like reloading, sell the guns and go buy a set of golf clubs or a play station with a big screen TV, you are in the wrong hobby to enjoy and wind down after all the other stresses of life.

 

[M1A]

No. Forty + years now. I load carefully on my Dillon 450. Always something knew to reload. It's relaxing and productive.
Not that much time is required.

 

[Magload]

I don't particularly like loading, but I like shooting competition so I really have no choice. Part of it is the the cost (around $0.12 per round) but the main reason is that I shoot 9mm major power factor and that isn't a factory load in any stretch of the imagination. (124gr bullet at 1400fps). I made a few thousand to stock up in case of something happening to my press, since then I just load up what I'll need the next day, or what I'll need for the next road trip match. This coming weekend is the USPSA Area 1 Championship in Idaho Falls and I just finished making my 600 rounds and am packing up the car to leave tomorrow morning early.

Good shooting there let us know how it went. I might want to talk with you about the Major loads for my 9 Pro. Don

 

[serger]

I started reloading when I was about 4. My father and I would watch the TV series Combat! and then the Friday Night Fights while doing it. We reloaded with a Lyman 310 tool. We'd load a box of 308's for his Model 70. On Saturday we'd go and shoot that 20 rounds and then he'd let me look for lead slugs to use as fishing weights. On Sunday after church we'd go fishing.

Over the years I've reloaded everything I shoot with the exception of the 50BMG.

I do most of my loading on the Dillon 550.

No I never get tired of reloading. The thing I hate is picking up brass. And lubing/sizing cast bullets.

 

[Bugkiller99]

No. One thing I will not do is load against a hard deadline. Then I feEL "forced" to reload.
I reload until I WANT to stop. Sometimes I go for a few minutes, sometimes hours.
It's relaxing. If it's not, DON'T.

 

[tomf52]

The reloading I can tolerate, but casting, sizing, and lubing bullets is soon to be a thing of the past with me.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

In a word no! I've been hand loading since 1970 or so and still love it. I find the reloading process the second half of the fun of shooting, heck I even like cleaning the firearms. I think this is why I do not shoot a lot of .22lr, nothing to load after shooting! But one of the perks is that when my wife is watching a "chick flick" I can retire to the man cave and load em up with no bleeding through the nose and ears.

 

[rwsmith]

Never say never.....

I've eaten my own words too many times and said that I would always do certain things that were part of my life and ended up where I never thought I would be. Well, life changes things drastically sometimes and I don't want to say I'll always be reloading as long as I can shoot. For now though, I'm happy to load up a batch of anything. Right now I'm out of my house due to a fire waiting for the power in my house to be restored so I can do some reloading.