Why I reload...

[NotObvious]

Well, even though some ammo is starting to trickle into retailers, it's still slim pickings and at prices.

So, my bud who newly acquired both a gp100 and an M&P9 asked for some relief.

We sat down with the single stage and did 200 rds of 357 and the another 300 of 9mm.

Took a few hours but we were listening to the Vikings lose to the Browns.

Boxed it all up and just got back from the range. He is hooked. He got it all for under $50 off when he bought powder and primers. Bullets were all cast lead.

 

[rwsmith]

Another convert

Great! I'm working on becoming independent of the supply line, myself. Won't happen overnight but it will give me something to work toward for the next few years. I just made 50 .357 cartidges.

 

[novalty]

NotObvious congrats on showing your friend the way. Too many people just want you to make the ammo for them cheap.

 

[GypsmJim]

Good idea....Kudos to you. But just remember that the supply line has affected more than just loaded ammo.

I have been reloading for 40+ years. I haven't bought ammo since I was a teenager and a box cost $3.

I cast my own boolits and have a lifetime supply of lead, so that's no problem. I have thousands of brass cases on hand, and that will last my lifetime as well. I picked up a whole lot of powder, and have about a 10 year supply on hand right now. The problem is primers. They have been non-existant for 6 months now. The supply has just started to arrive, but at prices that I'm not yet willing to pay. My current supply is about 4 years, so I have time to wait.

Get the supplies you need and hold on to them. Don't hoard stuff (the rest of us need it too), just be proactive.

 

[shield]

...Don't hoard stuff (the rest of us need it too), just be proactive.

No disrespect, but so says the guy that has a 10 year supply of powder . I wish I had that much.

 

[dickttx]

No disrespect, but so says the guy that has a 10 year supply of power . I wish I had that much.

Like most things, you don't get it by wishing. You get it by doing.

 

[SMSgt]

I wish I was doing...

 

[H Richard]

I've been reloading for over 30 years, originally to just save money, but then I learned I could make better ammo than I could buy. Discovered a chronograph, and Sinclair precision tools. I get great satisfaction shooting one hole groups at a considerable amount less than any factory ammo. I enjoy 1/4" rifle groups at 100 yds. I haven't been bothered by the recent problems with ammo, but I am down to my last 50 lbs of shot for my trap/skeet guns. With the price of shot and primers, I will have to calculate if it still be economical enough to reload for the shotgun. I only have enough loaded rounds and supplies to last another 1 1/2 to 2 years. I am disturbed by the price of rifle bullets and the availability and price of the Nosler .22 BT 55 gr., which are my favorite Prairie Dog rounds in the 22-250. I've only got enough for about one more good hunt and I'll be needing some. Hopefully availability will be better by then.

 

[Bkreutz]

I hand load for cost and reliability reasons. I can reload 9mm in the $0.09 to $0.11 range. I shoot 1000 to 1200 rounds per week. I've had a couple of failures in competition with factory ammo. Never had one with my home rolled version. I couldn't (or wouldn't) shoot this much if I had to buy "store bought" ammo.

 

[ILLWIND]

I too spent the afternoon listening to the Vikes Lose while casting bullets for my reloading friends. Hoarding? Yes I have. After the great primer scare of the early 90's Clinton era, I bought 10 bricks at the huge sum of $12.50/1000. I cast my own bullets, the only thing I need to do is obtain powder. Not counting time, I can load & shoot most of my pistol cartridges for $.07-.09 ea.
I dread buying primers for $45.00/1000 and powder for $32.00 lb. Even then, its still better than buying factory loads for $.55-1.00 a shot.

 

[AveragEd]

Just this morning, I bought CCI large and small pistol primers for $33.95/1,000 and AutoComp powder for $24.95/pound. It sounds like you need to change suppliers!

Ed

 

[blujax01]

HA! CCI primers @$26.99 and HP38@$15/lb (8 lb for $120)!

I reload because I had all these empty brass cases and didn't know what else to do with them.

 

[JonF]

Sharon and I have pretty much settled into a "every 10 days" range visit. I reload for our .38spl revolvers. Retirement means cutting way back on EVERYTHING, so buying readymade ammo is out of the question for that kind of schedule.
Cast 148gr BBWC on top of 2.4 grains of Bullseye runs about 9-11cents a round. Don't smoke/ drink anymore so things working OK.

 

[scott1970]

I started reloading in 2006 to save money. I saved lots of money and learned to make quality ammo. Two years later I started casting my own bullets, and my ammo costs really plummeted. I have my own range and this allows me to shoot a lot and often. I've loaded enough in the last seven years to more than pay for all my equipment.

I hustled wheel weights until I got around 4,000 pounds. And as soon as Obama won his first election I pounced on primers and powder with a vengeance.

One avenue to consider is acquiring a C&R. My C&R allows me to have dealer accounts and dealer pricing with various companies. I buy in bulk and save a ton of cash.

 

[10 Spot Terminator]

I originally started reloadind after buying a ton of stuff at a yard sale for $50.00 . After a few years I gave up on the idea I would ever save any money because there were just too many new tools, new powders, new bullets etc., etc., I had to have . I came close to breaking even a few times and now that I cast alot of my own bullets I may actually slide into the black before I die ( maybe ) .

I have become quite content to load for accuracy and having an old run of the mill firearm shoot nearly as accurate as match grade rifles costing far more than I will ever spend for one unless the lottery fairy decides to smile on me .

10 Spot

 

[blujax01]

Sharon and I have pretty much settled into a "every 10 days" range visit. I reload for our .38spl revolvers. Retirement means cutting way back on EVERYTHING, so buying readymade ammo is out of the question for that kind of schedule.
Cast 148gr BBWC on top of 2.4 grains of Bullseye runs about 9-11cents a round. Don't smoke/ drink anymore so things working OK.

Jon, if you need it, PM your address and I'll send some range brass your way. It's on me.

~ Alan

 

[rwsmith]

I'm not 'buying up' stuff

Get the supplies you need and hold on to them. Don't hoard stuff (the rest of us need it too), just be proactive.

If I have to buy loaded ammo, i can afford to go to the range about once a year.

But anytime I buy supplies I try to get more than what I need at that time. I was in pretty good shape for this last shortage but I'm starting to feel the squeeze. Over time I'd like to have several years worth of supplies laid in.

 

[chief38]

Today, unless a serious and frequent shooter is financially well off, it is almost a requirement to reload. Yes there are bulk boxes of ammo that are not so unreasonably priced, but you are restricted to what the ammo Companies decide to load for their bulk packs. Another thing is that all the indoor Ranges I belong to will NOT let us shoot anything except lead. All of the bulk packed ammo I have seen are NOT lead bullets.

Secondly, there are many many times I will work up a special load for a particular gun or a particular purpose and do load the bullets to my own specifications. Factory ammo does not offer that luxury.

Third, is the availability of ammo. As long as you have components the supply is endless and you can load away anytime you need to.

Last but not least, even though some of the bulk packed stuff is somewhat reasonable, lots of ammo is still hard to find in configurations and loadings you want, and expensive. .38 Special wad cutter or semi wad cutter ammo is well over $25 bucks a box in my neck of the woods and I shoot 3 - 4 boxes a week of just that caliber. Reloading a box of 50 runs about 5.50 - 6.00 a box (assuming you have the cases) or about 1/4 the price.

I also shoot a .38-55 Rifle........... go try and find those in a LGS. I have not seen Factory .38-55's on a shelf in years and don't even know if they make it anymore. I do!

 

[stavman11]

I started reloading 2yrs ago to basically be able to shoot more for less $$

Then found out i Like Loading alot.. and have the time to do it..

Now I load every Caliber I shoot... and try to shoot 4-6x a month.. I live 1 mile from Cabela's so stop by there way too many times a week..

I am always looking for something NEW to Play with but mostly look for additional supplies for what I already have and like to stock..

Fun Fun Fun...

 

[AveragEd]

Chief, MidwayUSA often has Fiocchi 148-grain hollow-base wadcutter ammo for $19.95 a 50-round box. The brass is very reloadable, too.

Ed