It's getting harder for me to justify reloading for handguns I don't cast bullets for

[SMSgt]

I don't reload because I don't want to reload.

And I get that. I got into reloading because I was a poor airman who couldn't afford to shoot otherwise. I found it to be as much of a hobby as the shooting.

But for some, time is money. My son is that way, often complaining he doesn't have time for whatever. I tell him his day has 24 hours just like everyone else. Manage it better.

Alas, staring into his iPhone searching for ammo deals is better than sitting at the bench making it, at least to him. But he'll ask me to reload rounds for him sometimes. Kids...

 

[s1mp13m4n]

And I get that. I got into reloading because I was a poor airman who couldn't afford to shoot otherwise. I found it to be as much of a hobby as the shooting.

But for some, time is money. My son is that way, often complaining he doesn't have time for whatever. I tell him his day has 24 hours just like everyone else. Manage it better.

Alas, staring into his iPhone searching for ammo deals is better than sitting at the bench making it, at least to him. But he'll ask me to reload rounds for him sometimes. Kids...

Your comment here is another reason that I am interested in reloading. I live on a fixed income and can not afford to shoot at $20 a box. I would rather learn a new skill, learn the who, what, when, where, and why of reloading inexspensively.....than to hope for a bargin on mainstream ammo. Thanks to the folks here for helping me learn and getting me started.

 

[fredj338]

I shoot a lot so casting makes shooting more economical. I cast for all my handguns but still buy coated when I am being lazy or actually don't have time to cast, coat & size. Free bullets are nice though & I enjoy casting more than reloading.

 

[rockquarry]

I handload everything, rifle and handgun. I've never found any handgun factory ammo that was nearly as accurate as a well-tested cast bullet load that "fits" a gun.

I can understand someone choosing not to handload. It takes time and if you don't enjoy it, it would certainly be a miserable chore. As for saving money, one may save a little, but I've never really figured cost per round as some do. I'd quit handloading if it got to the point of saving a dollar or two as being the only incentive to do it.

 

[bigggbbruce]

I am not trying to hijack the thread or anything. As someone who is new to this reloading thing, are you saying that reloading 38 special is a good thing? I mean cost effective and such? I mention it because I have notice that some on Youtube claim you do not save much reloading. However, it seems that on paper at least you can realistically reload 38 special for $0.14 per round. Is that not true for 9mm?

Reloading is less per round . As mentioned the greatest savings are in calibers that are less common and not readily available.

I shoot an old Colt Auto in 38ACP.. it's low power 38 Super..go find some.. costly.. but I load it for .$012 $.014 if you factor cost of brass over 10 reloads.

38spl can be found pretty cheap.. but 357mag can jump in price quite a bit. The difference is a slightly longer case and a couple grains more powder..Not worth the cost difference in my mind.. so reloading can make sense. Shoot some 44Mag..$$ reload..

 

[joeintexas]

For one, I just enjoy the solitary time I get when reloading. It does save a few bucks over shelf bought ammo and as a rule performs as good or better, but I really like the feeling that if the shelves dry up again as they did a few years back I can still head for the range and shoot to my hearts content. Savings on .357 mag, 38 spec, 45 acp and 44 spec, 308 Win and 222 Rem are significant, 9 mm and 40 s&w not as much but still cheaper. Truth be told I've never heard a valid reason for not reloading other than "I just don't have a desire to do that", which I consider a valid reason. After many moons reloading I still have that desire.

 

[Hasbeen1945]

When I first started, I reloaded to save money. Soon realized I spent the same as I always did. I shot all I could afford.
It became a hobby that I enjoy doing. I enjoyed tailoring loads to specific firearms.

 

[gwpercle]

As someone who is new to reloading, I like what you said here. I can see a value in making your own projectiles for lets say 38/357. If one has the equipment and space, you have an endless supply of 158 grain plinking rounds as long as you can find something to melt down and mold. I have a really cool to me Lee Loader and some boolets. More and more of the hobby is being opened up by learning more about it and it is pretty cool.

In 1967 I started with a Lee Classic Loader in 38/357 , for a Ruger Blackhawk. The fun of shooting quickly ate up what my meager allowance in store bought bullets allowed , the next week I bought a single cavity mould , iron pot and dipper.
That started a life long enjoyable hobby that I still get a great deal of satisfaction from.
Not only suitable for putting together plinking and target ammo , I've taken big game , deer and hogs with cast bullets in 30-30 , 30-06 and 303 British . When cast of the correct alloy they mushroom to a surprising degree .
The whole process can be done simply and with little space .
There are reloaders who tend to overly complicate the business but it doesn't have to be so.
The internet makes finding help and answers to questions easier but just remember to keep things simple at first.
Good luck,
Gary

 

[mtgianni]

I reload and cast for almost everything I own and shoot. I have no idea what happened in Game of Thrones, who hosts late night TV since Leno and most of the rest of the tube. I chose to spend time with my spouse and my hobbies.

 

[AZretired]

I reload because I enjoy it, it's fun and because finding loaded 38 WC and SWC at a decent price, if they even stock it is darn near impossible nowadays. So I buy cast bullets in bulk and I do save money.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I've never made my own bullets, always purchased those. I still load 9x19 and probably always will. I do however use coated cast bullets. If I were to coat those myself that would add an additional process that I'm just not willing to undertake. I don't like working with lead anyway so that's out of the question for me.

I can understand why people cast though. It brings the cost of ammo down another tier. So if that's your goal then buying ammo doesn't make any sense. Most people don't even save or scrounge 9x19 brass so I think reloading 9x19 is becoming unpopular even with people who reload but don't cast.

I scrounge brass for everything I reload. Used to be one could sell 9x19 brass but hardly anyone sells OF 9x19 brass anymore. I sell some excess brass from time to time but I don't bother with 9x19 because nobody wants it. It's market price has gone to zero. Factory bullets have also dropped considerably which is why I still reload 9x19. Keeps me out of the taverns.

Save your brass. You may need it someday when the price of ammo gets stupid again, and it will.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

I cast my own(and sell some to friends)and while for calibers like the 9 the savings are not that great,they are still there.Nonetheless,I must confess that I like reloading;but just for the sheer fun of it,let's compare.
I live in Canada so be aware that these prices are in Mickey Mouse...sorry,canadian money.
One of my good friends shoots aprox 25K rds/year.He does not reload(and has a much fatter bank account than I).
He buys 9 mm rds for aprox $24/100.He also got ahold of some 38Spl 148gr HBWC for $330/1000.Now let's compare supposing you have the brass ready to reload and you have to buy your lead projectiles;

9mm
primers...4$/100
powder...at $40/pound and 4.5gr per shell;$2.60/100
bullet if bought at $90/1000:9.00
total/100:$15.60/100 or a saving of $8.40/100

.38 Spl
no need to go through the whole shebang,cost is aprox the same exept a little less powder
Savings:$17.40/100

Even for the 9,there are some savings and if you cast your own,the savings are even much better.But the best part of it is that when I have found a special load one of my guns likes,all I have to do is take it down in note in a book so I always have a tailored accurate load for this gun...and I won't develop an ulcer at wondering if the next lot of storebought ammo will perform differently.

 

[Ackley1952]

When I get my reload point of impact match where my fixed sighted revolver is pointed it’s not that hard to justify reloading . Just think on that .

 

[ChuckS1]

I cast bullets for all my pistols, including my 9mms (Lyman 358242, sized to .357). My cost to reload .45 ACP is right around a nickel a round, using my brass and bullets cast from range lead. But in most cases, it's not for cost savings, but because I can recreate those great old loads from Elmer Keith and Skeeter Skelton, using bullets they used cast from my molds and in revolvers from the same era. Other than my Rugers, all my S&W revolvers are all 5 screw models. So if I want to get a feel for what Elmer was doing with his .38/44 loads, I can get out my Ideal 358429 mold, a can of 2400 and my Outdoorsman and go back time for an afternoon. It's more than just shooting to save a little money, sometimes it's just reliving a piece of history.

 

[fredj338]

Yeah you guys saying you dont save money reloading either buy wrong or you dont shoot much. Even lowly 9mm with comm coated is 11c at todays cost. While $50-$60 per 1000 isnt a big savings, I get the ammo I want & save $500 a year for very little time reloading it. I can easily do 700rds an hour on my 650, so what, 12hrs work for $500 net? Not a bad pay scale.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I am not trying to hijack the thread or anything. As someone who is new to this reloading thing, are you saying that reloading 38 special is a good thing? I mean cost effective and such? I mention it because I have notice that some on Youtube claim you do not save much reloading. However, it seems that on paper at least you can realistically reload 38 special for $0.14 per round. Is that not true for 9mm?

With home-cast bullets of salvaged lead alloy I regularly produce .38 Special and 9X19 ammo for about $3.00 per box (50 rounds, so about $0.06 each). .45ACP, .44 Special, .44-40, etc, cost me about $3.50 per box to reload.

For those not doing their own bullet casting there are several good commercial cast bullet companies offering standard designs for most handgun calibers at or about $70 per 1000 delivered to your doorstep. That adds about $0.07 per round so most finished ammo will be around $0.11 to $0.13 per round ($5.50 to $6.50 per box).

Stepping up to the top of the ammo scale, producing premium quality handgun ammunition with excellent factory bullets in new cartridge cases can still be done in the neighborhood of $0.30 to $0.40 per round. More expensive than bulk-pack range ammo, but considerably less than premium factory ammo (at or about $0.80 to $1.00 per round these days).

Those who argue that there is little or no savings in reloading handgun ammo are probably purchasing factory-made bullets (and small lots rather than bulk purchases), running the total costs up to the level of popular range ammo.

I enjoy reloading, and I'd rather spend a few hours at the loading bench than watching stupid TV shows. The economy is real, but the typical benefits are (1) more shooting for the same budget dollar, and (2) independence from ammo supply channels.

 

[Daver7]

I'm in the reloading and casting are "hobbies" camp.
I prefer light loads so I'm also developing loads not only for the firearm but also me. My days of hard hitting magnums is long past.

 

[max503]

Reloading is kind of like shooting when you can't go shooting.

 

[max503]

Half the fun of reloading/casting is scrounging lead. Heck. I've stepped out in traffic in St. Louis in order to scrape a big truck wheel weight off the pavement with a screw driver.

 

[fredj338]

I don't reload because I don't want to reload.

For people that do not shoot much, reloading makes little sense, unless you just like being self sufficient. Which for us here in Kommifornia is becoming more important. New ammo laws will soon restrict how much ammo we can buy. Cost will skyrocket because of that & reloading for now is unaffected.