Who reloads.....and why?

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Just curious. Which of AH's members reload, and why do you reload?

I mean....you probably don't shoot that many .375 Ruger, 416 Remington, .300 weatherby, etc. to make it fiscally viable (or maybe you do?).....at least, not in today's climate.

When I first started reloading, back in the late 70's, I did it to "save money".....or so I convinced myself. I started with the LEE "whack-a-mole" kit in .30/30 Winchester and a MEC 600 jr in 12 gauge. I thought I was saving money, but the fact is.....I was just shooting more. Which isn't a bad thing.

When I started loading for the .30-06 a few years later, it was because I couldn't get factory ammo that was loaded with 165 grain bullets; now EVERYBODY makes 165 grain loads for the 06, but I'm still reloading them.

I started reloading nontoxic and 16 gauge shells because the steel shells I was using were ineffective, and the only 16 gauge shells that I could find were the cheap "promo" loads......using 1 oz of hard or copper plated shot dropped pheasants a lot more efficiently!

But I guess nowadays the main reason I reload is that it's just a relaxing hobby, and gives me something to do while I'm 'on call' for the hospitals and can't get out hunting/shooting/or fishing.......it's sorta the "next best thing". I also cast bullets for some of my cartridges (mostly handgun, but a few rifle).

Things are certainly better today, in some respects. You can order bullets/powder on line, so you don't have to "settle" for what your local gun store has in stock (a big problem when I first started handloading). However, my biggest gripe is that you spend countless amounts of money, time, and effort into working up a good, accurate handload for your rifle, and then the bullet company or powder maker decides to D/C the product you need because they've come out with something "better".

So.......whose reloading?

 

[JWB300]

Accuracy, choice of projies and the satisfaction of doing it yourself! I certainly didn't do it to save money!

Cheers,
JWB300

 

[Warbird782]

Accuracy and consistency are the number 1 reason. Paying $120/box is reason 2, and no factories make 243AI ammo.

 

[bluey]

times 2
I don't shoot any where near enough shots to save money reloading .....
but when I/we do a reload ,I know the 22-250 will poke the eyes out of a crow at 250
I also know as long as l don't put anymore than 47 .4 grains in to the 3006 , regardless if the projectile is an SST or a barness ttsx the old ruger will perform flawlessly
the 300 rum , when l go with 89.7 grn with barnes ttsx or vlds she will be pushing them out at 3380 plus and flat as a tack out 300 metres.
its just peace of mind , and I find making my own ammo therapeutic.........

 

[Amon458]

Wider selection of bullet choice and I am getting more into wildcats so thats kind of my only option for those guns

 

[BRICKBURN]

Accuracy with the rifles.
Choice of projectile.

Pattern and Power with the shotgun.
....and damned corporate take overs discontinuing my favourite shotgun powder. Now I have to start over, if I can ever find powder.

 

[larry4831]

I do it because I like it

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

....and damned corporate take overs discontinuing my favourite shotgun powder. Now I have to start over, if I can ever find powder.

Hmmm......let me guess; is it PB, 7625, or 4756?

 

[Amon458]

Dont you guys buy powder in bulk depending on what it is used for but I try to have enough of any givin powder to make 10,000 of what ever round it will be used for?

 

[8x68]

When you have enough firepower to start a small war one reloads. I shoot everything I have. I have several large calibres that I would have to mortgage my wife for (LOL) if I bought factory ammo for them. I can reload them for a fraction of the price and still live in married bliss (shudder...sudden cold sensations through the body).
One of the calibres I shoot is 300 Weatherby. Since it is such a flat shooting, accurate cartridge it's fun to "tinker" with reloads to get that "just right" load (which I have found using Hornady 180gr SST bullets).
I also shoot 450 Rigby. If I bought factory ammo for it I would have to rent myself out as a stud.....er......sudden silence.....followed by horrendous laughter.....shut up all you in Africa Hunting website land! If she was drunk enough I might be able to make a few cents. Seriously though I can reload for around $4 a shot as opposed to $15-$20 per shot using factory ammo.
If I were just going to the range to blast off a bunch of lead I would take something along the lines of my 7.62 x 39 or .223 calibre rifles and buy cheap military ammo.
If I did a lot of shotgunning, or IPSC shooting, etc then I might want to consider purchasing bulk ammo as it may be cost prohibitive to reload.
I just find reloading fun (yes there are those times when it's tedious, but that's the nature of the game).
I find it really gives you satisfaction when you find that "just right recipe" for the particular firearm your shooting.
If I was a weekend deer hunter then I would probably go with factory ammo since volume of shooting and accuracy expectations may not be that high. In general terms most people who fit this category go to the range, blast off a couple rounds, hit the paper somewhere near the middle, or not, and say that' s good enough.

 

[nztimb]

I sometimes have to ask myself whether I reload so I can shoot or as sometimes happens, I go shooting so I have something to reload.
I haven't bought a factory cartridge since the late 70's when I started reloading for 22-250, 22 hornet and 7x57
With the 20 VarTarg being my rabbit rifle it gets lots or work and there is not factory ammo anyway.
The 6.5 Grendel Max is my own eildcat and again there is no factory ammo.
I couldn't afford to shoot my 577-450 if I had to buy factory ammo so loading is necessary and as for the rest, well the pure pleasure of forming cases, casting bullets, loading cartridges, shooting and hunting , with meat use and tinkering with my guns is all part of the same addictive lifestyle.

 

[Cornelius 1]

Man you guys just making me even more excited about reloading. ...cant wait for my rifle licence. ..lol

 

[greyfox]

Reloading is a skill and art that must be honed then practiced, just in case, ....
The 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, it does not mention ammunition....

 

[Timt]

Well, for me it is the satisfaction of doing it myself, the price aspect(10 rnds of 470NE for 150$ anyone?) and that some of the calibers I shoot you don't have that many choices of bullets if you stick to factory loads.
And it is always a way to get out of the house and shoot some more

 

[Pheroze]

I have discovered a very enjoyable hobby. Just started with the help of folks on AH and I am now painfully close to completing my load for my 06. Right from the first shot the accuracy beat any factory bullet I put down range. Watching the groups tighten up, and not having to pick up pieces of my rifle, is really quite fun. I am sure it is cheaper per bullet but the up front costs will take a while to amortize out. But, what I find most satisfying is the knowledge you gain about your rifle. I am sure the process is making me a better informed and accurate shooter.

 

[Spooksar]

I started out to save money. Now it's to keep some of my oddball and old calibers running. I also find it relaxing and I like to experiment with things.

 

[petrusg]

For my larger calibers it to save on costs.

Smaller is for the accuracy I get.

 

[brushmore]

Can any of you recommend any books or starter kits for someone to get started with reloading?

 

[Diamondhitch]

The 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, it does not mention ammunition....

Very interesting thought, cut the head off the snake and the rest will die.

 

[bassasdaindia]

• accuracy
• developing your desired load and function

some of my rifles shoot sub MOA with factory ammo , I don't bother re-loading for these rifles.
it is the rifles that I was not satisfied with the accuracy and the rifles that I use for specific purposes that I wanted a specific load for that I re-load for.