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Is reloading worth it?

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3006hollowpoint

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May 3, 2011
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Nashville Basin
I have considered reloading ammo for a while now. The main thing that keeps me from jumping into it is the only strange-ish round my family has is the 7.7 Jap that my grampa ... long story. anyway my main rifle is a 30-06 and so will the one i buy for next season. my pistol is a charter arms off duty .38 special that can handle +p and my dad's rifle is a 308 winchester. Being that I use a 30-06 and many different bullet weights and styles are available, what would be a pro for me reloading? heightened velocity maybe?
 
The days of reloading because of cost are far behind us at the current times, will it ever go back.........highly unlikely. With that being said, you basically have two main rifles of the same bullet family. If you could get lucky enough to have both of them like the same bullet, then cost just came down, but that is an if.
The initial cost to set up, really out weighs everything, unless you can't get ammo for the 7.7 jap anymore other than reloading yourself, then the question is............how often do you shoot it. I have been reloading for over 20 yrs., if I didn't already have all the equip. I probably would not get started into it at this time, due to the costs.
On the other hand, I was able to custom load a round for my 30-30 this yr. that brought it from a 2" group gun to a 1/2" grouper by handloading my own rounds, something that was not do able over the counter.

FDXX75
 
If a person is a casual shooter it's probably cheaper just to stock up well on ammo. The education that reloading gives is hard to put a price on and it's nice to be able to load up a box or two when you need them.

Like was said earlier, getting past the initial investment is a little pricey, but the enjoyment more than makes up for it. There are several obscure cartridges that are hard to find ammo for and reloading takes care of that.
 
Your initial cost will be below $500.00
Decent press: 140.00
Dies: 35.00 each set
New Brass: 50.00 prices are irrational now.
Primers: 40.00 per thousand (also irrational)
Powder; 30.00 a pound (irrational)
Scale: 100.00 can get for much less
Manual 30.00 available for less
Bullets: 30.00 for 50 you can do much better
Micrometer: 30.00 available for much less

total is $485 and I would wager 60 minutes of web shopping could cut that by over 100.00 easy.

Hand loading is a long term hobby. My press, micrometer, scale,and some dies were purchased in mid 1980's and are still in perfect shape and are still being sold today. Over time, you will save money, have premium ammo, and never sweat a shortage. If you have multiple rifles and multiple shooters your savings goes up dramatically. I load for 7 calibers.

Last time I checked, I have over a 2-year stash of components, most acquuired when an opportunity presented itself. The current prices and shortages will eventually return (some already have) to pre-panic levels as they are the result of our current political environment. Many will disagree but I can show you some prices that are definitely at pre-panic levels. The law of supply and demand will kick in once we get a change at 1600 PA
 
There is a very strong sense, a feeling, of satisfaction when you kill a deer or other animal with a bullet you made yourself. Creating your own recipe for brass, powder, bullet, length, and primer and turning an average rifle into a MOA shooter is very pleasing. Just like skinning and butchering your own deer is a part of being a hunter, making that bullet is the a part of the process.

If you don't shoot much or have few calibers to reload for, reloading can still be a great hobby.
 
What all above said. I enjoy reloading and shooting. If you don't think you will do much of either then I would think not doing it. I shot my big deer this year as most years with my own load and that was almost the thrill of it all. But again if you don't shoot a lot give some thought.
 
look at 338 LM prices,,60-80$ a box of TEN,,if you prorate the Lapua brass at 250$ per 100 over ten cycles I can load the 300 Bergers for around 1.25 per round,,so I can and have loaded over 1,000 rounds for maybe 1,175-1,225 $$ that would have been 6,000$$$ for Lapua factory ammo,,

about all I do now is setup the press, dies and powder dump and JW,my 10 year old son,loads nearly all my ammo,,his QC is probably better than mine as he will run every powder charge across the scales where I might check one out of 15-20,,
 
I been reloading since I was 12 and am now 60 and have never shot a big game animal with a factory round. As far as center fire rifle and pistol rounds go it will always be cheaper to reload once the equipment is purchased. The equipment will last you a life time so it is a one time up front cost.
Then add in the fact you can tailor the ammo to fit your rifle or handgun.

Yes, brass can be expensive but unless you are hot rodding brass can easily last you 5-7 reloads, double or triple that for handgun rounds.
Want to save even more? Get into bullet casting.

Buy components when the prices are low, stock up, and be ready for any and all shortages in the market.
 
Two different answers to that question:
1) from strictly a dollars and cents aspect. If it takes you three years to go through a box of ammunition, it will be hard to justify purchasing all that is needed to start reloading. There is a break-even point but unless you're loading 338 lapua like mr. big, or something similar, it will be a ways down the road.
2) sentimental aspect. Like the other guys have commented, this is one of the main reasons I do it. Taking an average sporter rifle and turning it into a sub MOA gives you a true feeling of accomplishment. But there is nothing like ending a hunt with the front end of a bullet that you reloaded. A lot goes into my hunts; food plots, scouting, stand placement, scent elimination, hunting the right stand on the right wind and shooting a deer with my hand loads is the icing on the cake. When you squeeze your trigger, who would you rather be responsible for the end result? Some guy waiting on five o' clock or you.
 
Its worth it to me, the best I can figure I'm saving about $5-$12/ per box and getting premium ammo on about 7 calibers and 10 different rifles.
 
if you only shoot a few boxes a year its not worth it imo,I mostly shoot rim fire to stay in the game but not so much anymore as the hoarding has taken over ,it would take a lot of years/rounds loaded to recoup $ to get started unless you shoot a lot
 
If you just shoot a little then no. Unless you just have the extra money and want another hobby . For me its great, me and my family will shoot around 10,000 9mm each summer so it makes a lot of since for me to load.
 
Throw cost out... It's more expensive to reload. I reload for rifles with hard to find ammo and also to maximize what my rifles can do. I get to pick and choose my bullets and their weights. If I want to drive a 100g TSX in a 257wby at 3600fps, i can, no factory ammo will give you that velocity. Any shelf box ammo will kill deer, but when I start dialing in at 500-800yds at the range, reloading becomes even more valuable due to the consistency I achieve rolling my own.

I reload for:
223rem
223AI
6mm Rem
.257RoyWby
6.5x55
7mm Rem
7STW
 
i shoot alot but i've never tried to calculate the cost. for me it's just a hobby during the winter months. I received the starter kit for Christmas one year when i was alot younger and have just added to it over the years.
 
I wish I could justify getting into it for .308 and .300 win mag, but I just can't. I reload shotshells because I already had the equipment. It barely pays off.
 
Infoman and others, you have to think long term. You Pay 600 for a rifle and plan on handing it down, not throwing it out after one or two years. Most handloading hardware is pretty rugged. The press, dies, trimmer, reloading blocks are over 25 years old
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I'm using components that are 30+ years old. If stored properly primers and powder will not go bad. And as stated above the equipment will last longer than any of us unless you're hard on it
 
Reloading is one of those things that once started I never heard of anyone saying they wished they would of never started. Shooters who start out reloading for one caliber always expand and start reloading for other calibers as well.
 
The other guys have pretty much said it all. I've been loading for 27 years and like it but, it can be expensive getting started. Some of the equipment could be found on ebay or somewhere like that and might be cheaper. It would be great if you had a friend that handloaded and would show you the ropes and help out.
 

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