My experience & opinion as to costs of reloading now days.

[sigp220.45]

I reloaded off and on for 50 years. A couple of years ago I realized I never liked it.

I have all my gear in the basement. Its too heavy to bother with selling and shipping. My kids are shooters, but not interested in reloading. I’m pretty sure it is a dying hobby. I don’t know any younger folks who reload.

I shoot every week. Hell, I shot today. I just buy ammo.

 

[GypsmJim]

I reloaded off and on for 50 years. A couple of years ago I realized I never liked it.

I have all my gear in the basement. Its too heavy to bother with selling and shipping. My kids are shooters, but not interested in reloading. I’m pretty sure it is a dying hobby. I don’t know any younger folks who reload.

I shoot every week. Hell, I shot today. I just buy ammo.

You might be right. As we Boomers die out there will probably not be much need for the equipment, and of course revolvers will be door stops.

But all I know is that now when a LGS or Cabellas gets in a stock of primers they sell out in 2 days, and there is zero inventory of the powders that we like the most.

When I retired I started shooting more than ever, and thus reloading became necessary.

 

[Dave Workman]

I have been reloading for about 50 years, for three basic reasons. It saves money (usually), in varying amounts depending on market forces. I can get exactly what I want rather than what is available. Also, I find it to be therapeutic.

I've been at it at least 40 years, and there is one other B-I-G reason I've continued: I have NEVER worried about having ammunition during an ammunition shortage. I got so fed up with hoarders who would descend on gun shops and gun shows to buy up all the ammunition they could only to store it in their basements waiting for the world to collapse. They were self-fulfilling boobs who worried about the ammunition shortage when they, themselves, were a big part of the problem.
Yet there I sat at the reloading bench or in the front yard, smiling ear to ear that I could grab a box of cartridges, head for the range, make some noise, come back home, throw the empties in a tumbler and do it all over again. In the long run, I've saved some money, and I've had a heck of a good time. Good on ya, Robert.

 

[freight_train]

You might be right. As we Boomers die out there will probably not be much need for the equipment, and of course revolvers will be door stops.

But all I know is that now when a LGS or Cabellas gets in a stock of primers they sell out in 2 days, and there is zero inventory of the powders that we like the most.

When I retired I started shooting more than ever, and thus reloading became necessary.

Gen X here. I love my revolvers and reloading for them! With crazy price swings and the threat of future laws, I feel a lot of pressure to lay in my components now for the rest of my shooting life. I feel like it's "enjoy it while it lasts."

 

[Wyo]

I reloaded off and on for 50 years. A couple of years ago I realized I never liked it.

I have all my gear in the basement. Its too heavy to bother with selling and shipping. My kids are shooters, but not interested in reloading. I’m pretty sure it is a dying hobby. I don’t know any younger folks who reload.

I shoot every week. Hell, I shot today. I just buy ammo.

I started reloading in about 1971 and stayed with it, in varying degrees, through today. Putting pencil to paper, though, I find that I can buy 9mm and 5.56 for less than it costs to reload them especially if I count my time for anything. So I don't load a lot of the high volume stuff any more. However, I also like to shoot some of the really old cartridges and you really don't have any choice but to reload for some of them. For example, I load for the 40/70 Sharps Necked and the 50/90 Sharps, sometimes with holy black and sometimes with smokeless. I guess you can buy those through places like Buffalo Arms but at well over $100/20 I think I"ll just stick with the reloading. I load the 33 Winchester for an old 1886. Again, not an easy one to come by. Even the 257 Ackley Improved in my old Model 70 would be pretty much out of business if I didn't load for it. So for me the reloading has become less and less about saving money and more about keeping some of the old guns going. I reckon that's a good enough reason.

 

[sunpadre]

I started reloading 20 years ago with a single stage press a friend gave me. I learned on that for a bit, then purchased a Dillon 550. I don't shoot a lot compared to others, but the equipment still paid for itself pretty quick reloading for 10mm, 300rum, .45acp, and occasionally .38sp. I reload a years supply during the winter and enjoy doing it. It's comforting to know I can just produce my own ammo as needed.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I've been at it at least 40 years, and there is one other B-I-G reason I've continued: I have NEVER worried about having ammunition during an ammunition shortage. I got so fed up with hoarders who would descend on gun shops and gun shows to buy up all the ammunition they could only to store it in their basements waiting for the world to collapse. They were self-fulfilling boobs who worried about the ammunition shortage when they, themselves, were a big part of the problem.
Yet there I sat at the reloading bench or in the front yard, smiling ear to ear that I could grab a box of cartridges, head for the range, make some noise, come back home, throw the empties in a tumbler and do it all over again. In the long run, I've saved some money, and I've had a heck of a good time. Good on ya, Robert.

X10!!!!!!!!!!!...................

 

[Petrov]

I don't mean to sound arrogant but at my height of shooting ability in my 30's I was a pretty darn good shot so I made my own ammo because I COULD shoot better than the factory ammo. My coated bullets didnt lead up my revolver and didnt foul it up and overheat it like factory ammo.
I let my shooting skill fall apart and working it back up. I have my wadcutter load for my PPC/N frame target gun. I have my 38 short colt loads for my fun plate rack 686 speed shooting gun.
Nothing feels better than getting exactly the thing that you want.

 

[H Richard]

I've been reloading for well over 40 years. I played most of the games, High Power, Bullseye, USPSA, I enjoyed Prairie Dog hunting, etc. I always loaded for Accuracy, and ignored the cost. As I aged I shoot a lot less, I haven't loaded a pistol round for over a year. A rifle round for over three years. I still do load my 12 Ga for trap/skeet, but the cost of shot, powder and primers has reached the point where it almost costs more to load than buy by the case on sale. I know within the next couple yars I will have three loaders for sale.

I always liked the time to developing loads, especially for the 22-250 and .223 for "dog" shooting. My rule was 1/2" at 100 yds, as you may need to make that 500+ yd shot. I've sold off my Remington 700"s with custom barrels, and only have 1 rifle caliber (other than 22RF) and have enough ammo loaded for it to do a 5 day hunt. But, doubt if I ever make that last hunt.

 

[rwsmith]

Another reason to handload is to have ammo with the ballistics of days gone by. Skeeter’s 38spl, Linebaugh’s 45Colt, Elmer’s 44spl and, Speer #8 38spl loads. I know many today that Pooh-pooh those types of loads, but, I only shoot them in modern, good condition, heavy for caliber revolvers.

I LIKE old reloading data and have no problem with it as long as it wasn't known to cause problems. I'm really glad to have the 1970 Sierra manual (HOT hunting loads). I don't often indulge in really hot loads but I've experimented with some loads and found them VERY satisfying. I remember the old days when a +P was noticeably more powerful than standard loads. I was at the outdoor range shooting .38 standard loads and switched to +P. Two guys were leaving and I heard one of them say, "He's shooting +Ps now!" Like I said, NOTICEABLE difference.

 

[Always Faithful Holsters]

I LIKE old reloading data and have no problem with it as long as it wasn't known to cause problems. I'm really glad to have the 1970 Sierra manual (HOT hunting loads). I don't often indulge in really hot loads but I've experimented with some loads and found them VERY satisfying. I remember the old days when a +P was noticeably more powerful than standard loads. I was at the outdoor range shooting .38 standard loads and switched to +P. Two guys were leaving and I heard one of them say, "He's shooting +Ps now!" Like I said, NOTICEABLE difference.

Old reloading data: Think Speer #8 38Spl loads….

 

[rwsmith]

Old reloading data: Think Speer #8 38Spl loads….

Yeah, I wasn't going to name names.

 

[duke2002]

I agree with all. The days of cheap primers and powder are gone. My buddy and i lay in a stockpile when times are good. We like to go shoot until we decide its a day. Not the "i shot my 50" then go home. Same with .22's my girls will shoot a brick in an afternoon. When things are not stupid i stock up.

 

[Rudi2]

My kids are shooters, but not interested in reloading. I’m pretty sure it is a dying hobby. I don’t know any younger folks who reload.

I have to laugh when people say reloading is a dying hobby, or younger folks don't reload anymore. Stores that sell reloading supplies are pretty much sold out shortly after getting a shipment in. Even vendors at gun shows are sold out within a short time, if the prices are decent. Somebody is buying this stuff, and it's not just us old guys "stocking up". The only time I see stock sitting on the shelf is when it is grossly overpriced - well everything is overpriced today - but you know what I mean. Not everyone can afford to stockpile ammo when then prices are down, I think there wills always be reloaders, and it just plain feels good to be able to "roll your own".