Reloading

[Benchshooter]

Just was wanting to know if most of you out there reload and if you think it is a good idea to get into it to save money and get better loads for each gun? I have been reloading for 1 yr. and it seem to be just breaking even. Is this about right?
Thanks for your input.

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Benchman

[msiebers]

I dont think we save any money. My dad and I do it more for finding a more accurate round for some of our rifles. Also there are some combinations you wont find very often in a factory round. The 150gn. Flat nose bullet for my .308, for instance, is deadly accurate and fast. A super whitetail round.
You will never find this load on the shelves. ;)

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Mike

[This message has been edited by msiebers (edited 03-14-2000).]

[Cobra]

Don't plan on saving any money, but in the course of developing the best load you will spend more time getting a feel for your rifle and in return will become a much better shot.

[Allen Glore]

Would those that say they are not saving money by reloading please explain why. 100 pieces of $35.00 av, 50 premium bullets $20.00, 1000 primers $19.00, and a pound of powder $15.00. So for $35.00 I can load 50 rounds of 30-06 ammo with premium bullets. For that same cost you could not buy 2 boxes of premium ammo with good controlled expansion bullets. So I would say that I could save about half the cost of factory ammo if I was to buy the premium quality ammo sold at sporting goods stores. Now if you just wanted any old factory ammo, no you would not save much.

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AlleninAlaska

[msiebers]

I guess i've never really added up all the costs of the componants before Allen. Your right of course, with your combination you probably do save money.
My Dad and I are always trying different Powders or bullet sizes and styles, so we dont save much I would imagine.

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Mike

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I think if you compare apples to apples, you will find that you are saving money. Premium bullets, hard or plated shot, better shotshell cases, ect, if you compare these components to what is reloaded in the stuff on the shelves at Wal-mart or Meirers, no; you wont save money. But if you compare them to factory loads loaded with the same components, yes, you will find that you save money. Also, the case is usually the most expensive part of the reload, so if you get several reloads from one case, you will get more bang for the buck. I usually use a case once or twice for a hunting load, and then reserve it for strictly target use. Also, there are several loads out there that the ammo companies wont produce. You can improve your firearms ability 100% by reloading some cartridges. For example, there are no 100 grain factory loads for the 6.5x55 Swedish, but when handloaded, this is a fine varmint round. Also, if you like copper plated #5 shot in a 16 gauge for pheasants, you are out of luck unless you reload. Then there are the specialty loads like fast (1650 fps) steel and bismuth. Reloading can really expand your shooting, not to mention it gives you something to do on a rainy day when hunting season is closed and the fish aren't biting.

[Cobra]

I probably should have said in my previous reply that a handloader will not save money. There are some differences between reloaders and handloaders. Reloaders look to save money and will accept preformance equal to what most factory rounds are capable of. Handloaders develop loads for their specific guns attempting to get the most accuracy that they possible can, multiple combinations of bullet types, weights, primers, powders and seating lengths are tried under varing conditions. Nothing wrong with either approach.

[boehr]

You are forgeting one thing in the costs. It isn't just the supplies but what your time is worth too. Time will vary depending what kind of set up you have.

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[This message has been edited by boehr (edited 03-15-2000).]

[Allen Glore]

Actually my time was taken into consideration. It takes those that have to go to the Wally Mart to buy a box of ammo on the average one hour, I can load 50 rounds in that time and never leave my house.

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AlleninAlaska

[Cobra]

The time spent developing handloads isn't an expense, it's entertainment, every bit as enjoyable as any other hobby one may have.

[Maverick]

Right on Cobra. I handload for the enjoyment and the control - and as a T/C shooter it will give me the ability to shoot non-mainstream calibers (although I don't really have any yet - .250 Savage would be closest). If you're not hunting or shooting, you might as well be fooling around with equipment (handloading, gunsmithing, bow maintenance, arrow fletching, etc.)

[Steve]

Cobra, welcome back to the forums. I'm glad your connect has improved. I am moving this discussion to the reloading forum.

[Ricciardelli]

"Rolling your own" is not really about saving money, regardless if you call it "handloading" or "reloading".

Building your own automobile is not about saving money.

Growing your own garden is not about saving money.

Processing your own photography is not about saving money.

These are hobbies. These are enjoyable pastimes. These will allow you to totally customize the final product to be ideally suited for your personal preferences.

[Curdog]

O.K. handloading is not abbout saving money, but...

For a couple of years back in my early twenties, a good friend of mine and I kept track of how much we shot. For two years, we shot over 10,000 rifle and 10,000 pistol cartridges each. All we did is shoot and reload and shoot. We had to save money to do this.

We bought everything in bulk, and cast salvaged alloy into rifle and pistol bullets. Accurate Arms powders, CCI primers, military contract FMJ and Speer pistol and Jacketed rifle bullets were all available very cheap in bulk locally (AA powders $8 a lb.) and we took advantage.

We sure learned a lot thos years. Like Shooting Community College.

[Ricciardelli]

Curdog...

Sure I went through those days also, back in the 1960's...scrounging lead wherever and whenever I could, picking up brass every time I saw a glitter in the mud or grass, borrowing a friend's press and dies.

But today, when you can buy "white box" ammo for a song, whereas UPS is charging $15 a box for "hazzardous material" and $1,000 per pound to ship stuff, reloading is not cheaper.

You buy 5000 primers and then add on around $25 to the cost for UPS.

You buy a case of powder, and add on another $45 to the cost for UPS.

Have you ever seen the shipping charges on a ton of lead shot?

Buy a case of AA white wads and add $26 per case for shipping.

Or order 500 bullets for your .45ACP, .44 Mag, .25-06, 7mm Mag., etc.

Sure, I love saving money...but reloading is not that beneficial in that aspect.

However, I have yet to find a box of factory ammo, regardless of the make or caliber, which will consistantly deliver < 0.5 MOA accuracy, for 5-shot groups, at 200 yards.

And besides, how can you listen to a complete Wagner opera while opening a box of factory ammo? You can do it while sitting at the reloading bench...

[757]

I reload to see if I can create a more accurate load. I also do it as a hobby so I'm not trying to save money.-757

[Steve]

757 welcome, I spend a lot of time in Grand Haven in the summer using it as my base for many fishing trips.

[Budweiser]

Benchshooter
I also reload to get more accuarate loads for my rifles.It is a great hobby for me too.The reason that I probably don't save much money. Is that I now shoot twice as much,but no complaints here.


Straight Shooting

Budweiser

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Budweiser

[Benchshooter]

Thanks to all that put in about the same way I think about reloading.....I really do enjoy the time of reloading..My son and I have fun doing this..I hope that all that reload do enjoy the out come too.
Happy shooting

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Benchman

[dogjaw]

Hey now,
If your not saving money, something's not right. I reload .357 mag lead target loads for $4 per box of 50 compared to $15 for factory. Full load .357 with Hornady XTP for $10 per box of 50 compared to $20 + for factory. 30-06 costs $6.50 per 20 rounds loaded with Hornady Interlocks vs. $15 for factory. Add the fact that you can tune a round to shoot better in your gun. I've got a 250 Savage that shoots 3/8" groups at 100 yds with reloads. I've paid for my Dillon press many times over. Skip the "premium" bullets. I've yet to see where an over priced premium bullet was needed for deer or black bear.

[Hunter333]

I like the comment about reloading as a hobby, just like gardening...... I have a veggie garden because i like knowing that the food I am eating was grown by me. I reload because it is a hoot to shoot 400 yards with rounds that I have made myself. Only a few days from now, i hope to harvest a deer with my own rounds, that will be cool!

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Live to hunt, hunt to live!!
Take your kids hunting so you
dont have to hunt for them!

[Hunter333]

Well, they worked!! I harvested 3 deer with rounds that I made myself and it felt great!! Making my own rounds led to me practice more which lead to me taking some very accurate shots. I was very confidant in my shooting ability and that is from reloading!!

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ONE shot, ONE kill..No excuses, no exceptions EVER!!

[K-DOGG]

I have been reloading for about 25-27 year's now,I got into it through my Dad,we use to load all of our shotgun shells for duck,squirrel,rabbit and now we load our own varmit load's.I can't think of the last time I bought any factory loaded shell's.It's a great learning expierence and you can get alot of satisfaction out of taking an anomal or target with something you put together.Good luck and remember safety when reloading any type of ammo.