Ever get tired of reloading?

[johngalt]

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.

 

[sellersm]

I totally understand what you're saying. I think it's like most things in life, after a while, we get tired of it.

I reload so that I can afford to shoot. I cannot afford factory ammo so I load my own. I don't compete, so I don't need huge volumes, just enough to stay proficient and have some fun with the kids & others.

One way to kind of rekindle the interest, is to get a new little gadget! Maybe a new case gauge, or a new LED lamp, or some new little doo-dad to "play with". Or maybe start a new workup of a new load. Or maybe shoot for a new reason: competition, style, etc.

I sure don't look forward to moving all the stuff I've got stored up, so I can understand that point!

 

[eb07]

To sum it up:

NO

 

[Rocket3]

John,
I started in 85. I have had times when it seemed a little laborious. But I still enjoy it as long as I don’t to have rush. I have found Sunday before church has become a good time.

I have in the past let it all set and gone with factory ammo for up to a year. Good break and helps you appreciate your own stuff.

Finding someone to do it for you is an interesting Idea if you could find a retired guy that wanted to make a little extra cash on the side.
Jay

 

[kbm6893]

I reload in small quantities at a time. No more than 100 rounds. So I don't spend any more than an hour at the bench at a time. I don't love reloading, but I do love shooting for less money, so I do it and will continue to, even if it's only a few hundred rounds a year. At this point, with the amount of ammo I have already loaded, I have already paid for my equipment and components.

 

[venomballistics]

yes and no ... if I am looking at a 100 round run. no problem.
Load development, love it.
1500 rounds to keep an auto fed ..... yeah buddy, that gets old.
For this, I developed a coated cast load that'll tolerate a reasonable amount of COAL run out and a reasonable range of powder charge float and dedicated it to a progressive.
in this equation, you could load perfectly safe ammo while stone drunk, just keep the powder measure reasonably full.

A little forethought going into it and all the tedium can be eliminated.

 

[gwpercle]

I've been reloading and casting bullets since 1967, geeez that's 48 years! Time sure flies...Anyway I enjoy it, I find the tedious little steps sort of therapeutic, me , alone at my bench, no outside world, I guess it's my form of meditation.
And I find great satisfaction when everything comes together and I develop a load that groups in one ragged hole....Sweet!
I also like to be the master of my ammo supply. Not being dependent on political winds, and shortages is also very satisfying .
I would take you up on your offer, but I've got way too much reloading equipment now . 48 years of buying "must have" stuff does that.

 

[MichiganScott]

I started in 1974 with a Lee Loader. Today I have an 8x12 room dedicated to reloading with over 20 different caliber die sets and 27 different powders. Sometimes I'm positive I shoot just simply so I have some empty brass to reload.

 

[venomballistics]

I started in 1974 with a Lee Loader. Today I have an 8x12 room dedicated to reloading with over 20 different caliber die sets and 27 different powders. Sometimes I'm positive I shoot just simply so I have some empty brass to reload.

that represents a good portion of my loading, so I try to keep some clear brass to play with.

Its just that goto standard ball for the sake of keeping certain heavily used guns fed that gets a little annoying with a single stage.

 

[Twoboxer]

Only been reloading for 3 years, but I can see the OP's point.

For me . . . rifle is fun, a craft . . . pistol is more of a task to be done.

I find that if I can get my pistol reloading done beginning a month ahead of need . . . ie, making 1,000 rounds while I still have 400 or so in the cabinet . . . I actually look forward to pistol reloading too.

If I have to squeeze a pistol reloading session in because I am out of ammo . . . not as much fun.

 

[RobertJ.]

I rarely load more than 100 at a time. I've been reloading since 1979, and I use a RCBS Rockchucker single stage press. I enjoy the loading process, and especially load development, but there are certain procedures like trimming that I'm not too wild about.

 

[snowman]

I reload so that I can afford to shoot. I cannot afford factory ammo so I load my own. I don't compete, so I don't need huge volumes, just enough to stay proficient and have some fun with the kids & others.

This describes me also. More power to all those who enjoy it, find it relaxing, do it as a hobby, etc. But to me reloading is a necessary chore -like doing the dishes so one repeatedly has something clean to use for the next meal. It's a chore that I gladly accept in order to afford practicing shooting, but I never find it fun.

Regards,
Andy

 

[rockquarry]

Very different perspectives on this topic. I've been handloading since late 1964 and the overall process quickly became a hobby in itself. I don't know how many rifle and handgun cartridges I currently load for, but it's several. I'll not get into the bullet casting aspect.

Handloading to "save money" is a legitimate reason, I guess, to engage in the process. If one looks at it strictly in that economic way, it's probably possible to save money. But then, that outlook pretty much negates any experimental projects that have made the hobby so enjoyable for me and many others. From a "save money" standpoint only, I would have tired of handloading decades ago. But that's okay and not meant as criticism directed at anyone. We all have different interests.

As with most hobbies, there is no limit on the amount of money one can spend on equipment, but handloading needn't be expensive. Many gadgets of questionable worth have been developed for handloaders. I've bought a few over the years but stopped doing so. Just didn't have a need.

 

[Vortec MAX]

I find it therapeutic. If I have had a stressfull day, I will go downstairs and pull the handle a few hundred times. Pop some primers, size some brass, throw a load in the tumbler and go watch some TV with the wife. Ahhh. I feel much better now.

Mike

 

[JBnTx]

I shoot so I can reload, not the other way around.
I'll never tire of reloading.

 

[mikld]

I have never "gotten tired" of reloading for more than a few days, mebbe a couple weeks. There have been a few times where I just cleaned up my tools and put them away because I was "tired" of reloading and I noticed it was becoming a job. When that happens, I know that concentration will soon wander, and shortcuts may be attempted, so I quit, temporarily, while I'm ahead and before I make a drastic mistake...

 

[SMSgt]

What would you do with all that "space' if you didn't reload? Fill it up with other junk I suppose.

 

[Magload]

I started loading 12ga trap and hunting loads back in 1961 when my dad and uncle bought a MEC 400 as a 50% deal. You get it one week I get it the next. Everyone said that will never work and it didn't I ended you doing all the loading for the 3 of us. Now a 15 year old don't have a car so I had lots of time. Now days I load for my handguns and just what I am needing. I shoot 2 to 4 times a week and the range but never many rounds just enough to get out of the house so I load a 100 rounds. My girlfriend ask me if I will get tired of loading and shooting and I tell her yes as soon as I can shoot one hole groups at a 1000yds with my 40 CORE. Don

 

[Bkreutz]

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.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

Been reloading 42 years. I enjoy it. It is my therapy to get away from the world, while adding to my ammo stock pile, all at the same time. I enjoy shopping for components. I enjoy shooting my own ammo. I enjoy seeing prairie dogs splattered at 300+ yards with loads I worked up so my rifles will shoot that well.
I don't know if like to reload so I can shoot more or if I like to shoot so I can reload