Pros and Cons of Reloading

[biker_bill]

@reganr6 - I helped a guy get started out your way in Augusta, I'm sure he would return the favor and show you the ropes. I spent sometime on the phone with him as well.
Paging Mr. @Eglock86 .
Mr. @Eglock86 - you've just been asked to return a favor

Edited to add OOps! Wrong guy @Duce4trey
Swapped to ReganR6

 

[biker_bill]

I learned off of YouTube........ it is worth it to me...... if another ammo shortage hits again...I am covered.....

Have you started casting your own bullets yet?
(That's a blast and the last step in the process of being self sufficient....)

 

[kuduman]

If you don't shoot a lot, don't bother unless you really want to control everything. I do-- so I handload.

I think the other suggestions are right-- to save money, you need to be shooting at least 100 a week, and not in 9mm/.223. Bigger.

Otherwise, it will take you many years just to break even. Frankly, if I can find 9mm for less that about $9/50, I just buy it. Same for .223 under $300/case. It's not even remotely worth my time to make blasting ammo at those prices.

Now .308, 6.5 whatever, .45 ACP, .44 Mag... the story is quite different. Never mind .375 H&H, .458 whatever, .300 RUM, and so on. There you save dollars per round. Perhaps $5 or more.

As for learning... I'm 24 years in and I still learn stuff all the time.

 

[moosensquirrel]

Start with a reloading manual and a good single stage press. Try to understand what is being done at each stage, so if you do decide to go progressive, you will achieve better and safer results. The devil is in the details. Learn to take off and land before you try barrel rolls.

 

[Jackie Graham]

If you don't shoot a lot, don't bother unless you really want to control everything. I do-- so I handload.

I think the other suggestions are right-- to save money, you need to be shooting at least 100 a week, and not in 9mm/.223. Bigger.

Otherwise, it will take you many years just to break even. Frankly, if I can find 9mm for less that about $9/50, I just buy it. Same for .223 under $300/case. It's not even remotely worth my time to make blasting ammo at those prices.

Now .308, 6.5 whatever, .45 ACP, .44 Mag... the story is quite different. Never mind .375 H&H, .458 whatever, .300 RUM, and so on. There you save dollars per round. Perhaps $5 or more.

As for learning... I'm 24 years in and I still learn stuff all the time.

I agree the big savings is in the rifle calibers. However, once you start and have a press, adding a caliber is as simple as picking up another set of dies unless you have a progressive press where you will need a caliber conversion. It is quit addicting. Especially if you like to customize you loads for rifle or even pistols.

 

[Bushwhacker]

I do it for the interest honestly. It's relaxing to me as well. I'll get in my "bullet room" for a couple hours at a time and just prep brass or load or whatever. It's theraputic. I'm a bit of a control freak as well so there's that. I save enough money to shoot more. I don't have more expendable $$ for ammo, but I have more ammo,shoot more and my rifle rounds are dialed in. If there are any cost savings it goes into upgrading and expanding my setup.

I started loading all rifle rounds (deer hunting stuff for the most part). I was ale to work up loads and tighten groups, but that isn't what I mostly shoot so I started loading common pistol calibers and .223. Immediately had to upgrade to a turret (should have went Progressive) and started pumping out noticeable quantities. Projectiles, powder, which goes a lot longer way in pistol calibers, and I'm steadily churning out ammo. Then bought rotary tumbler and etc etc...

I love it, just wish I would have followed the "buy once, cry once" mentality. I do still use a single stage press to deprime and to load my hunting calibers.

 

[RiverBend]

Reloading is a hobby just lke shooting, only pone that saves $ and you know the quality of your bullets.
I use the less expensive Lee Pro 100 setup and have 4 setup on one table, 9, 40, 45 and 223/556, so at any time I just roll my stool to the one I want to use and crank out about 300 an hour and that is with quality checks on power weight, OAL, primer seating, etc about every 50 and run every one thru a chamber die to verify they'll chamber with no issues, that takes another 15 min for 300 but well worth the time. And I use the same powder for 9, 40 & 45 rounds.
I bought mine when they were $110 per set and it included your choice of caliber, now they are about $160 per caliber or buy one and change out sghell plate and dies for different calibers. These are not the quality of a Dillon and are about 1/4 the cost but after 25 years and probably 10K rounds, I can testify t the quality as plenty good enough for rounds no longer than the 223, 7.62x39, 300 BO, about their capacity. (and this is coming from a retired Quality Manager of 35 years)
https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/7...+Reloading+Presses-_-Lee-_-730947&sdc_id=eBay

 

[ReganR6]

I guess you guys answered my question!

I am not a very patient man and do not care to read lol

Bulk ammo it is

 

[jeep78]

It is not so much about cost as it is getting ammo that is unobtainable on the retail market.

Want some hunting loads for that Garand? Little to none available retail, reloading is super easy, many loads to choose from.

Want full power wadcutter loads for your revolver? Buffalo Bore ($$$$$) is the only retail supplier. Whatever you want is waiting for you in your reloading room.

30-30 subsonics? LOL! Nada available anywhere retail, easy to do on a press.

32 S&W longs for your K frame S&W? You can actually load up to SAAMI specs, but retail stuff is nowhere near that.

But for 9mm and 223 blasting stuff, hard to beat retail.

 

[Flashover16]

MY cost (I use plated projectiles for all range ammo) is
9 MM -6-6.50 bucks , 380 -6-6.50 bucks, 38 Super -6-6.50 bucks, 10 MM 9.50-10 bucks, 45 acp 10.50-11 bucks, thats for boxes of 50 rounds by the way.
these are not full max loads but not powder puff loads either.
also you can load a better round for your weapons than you can buy.
additionally you can save quite a bit on self defense ammo , although you normally don't load near as much of that as range ammo but it does allow you to test a lot more self defense ammo in your weapons.
the cons are time, and depending on how much you pay attention and safety check you can have a Boo-Boo!