Thinking about getting into reloading... does it save money?

if you do A LoT of shooting, reloading WILL payoff even though the equipment is expensive. It's like financing a cnc mill...once the total cost of the mill is payed off everything after is pretty much profit(saving $$)....and the benefit of having accurate ammo/reliable ammo and enjoying your fruits of labor
 
I look at it being not always about the money, it's about quality shooting. If you shoot or compare cheap or express ammo then you won't be saving much to bother. If you like tight groups, accuracy or working to improve your shots then reloading is the way to go, unless you want to pay for premium ammo. There's quite alot of good factory ammo out there these days, which is fine. But I kinda like creating my own custom ammo. I do save a few bucks - if you discount the cost of the equipment. But again it's not just aboout the money to me.
To good shooting'

imbuckshot; btw 70gr. blitzkings in the .243 - smokin`
 
There are a few calibers that I have that 'require' handloading. "can't go into Walmart and find those" so beyond saving money there is that aspect that says make'em or don't shoot it. So I must be saving money right ?
 
PD Buster: Here's my experience: I got into reloading about 5 years ago. It fascinated me in concept, and I did not get into it from the outset to save money, but I did imagine at that time that it might be a fringe benifit to a great hobby. I shoot about once a week, usually about 200 or so rounds through a variety of rifles (I shoot and reload pistols, too, but not that much anymore), Anyway, long story short, the deeper I eagerly explore the hobby, the more expensive it gets. The actual bullets, cases, and powders are just the beginning of the expense. Suffice to say, there are a wide, expensive range of tools, guages, devices that make this an ever deeping money pit (all happily plunged into). The last thing this hobby as brought me is a savings of money. I can imagine a shooter, reloading for one or two calibers for his or her hunting rifle, buying the minimum of equipment just to get the job done, might save money. This isn't remotely the situation I happily find myself in. --Mykal
 
you don't find factory loads like I make for the K-Hornet, the 375 H&H nor the 45-70's... shooting standard 280's are ok but I like the versatility of the 280AI over the standard stuff anyday... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif the only reason I load 22 Hornet, 22-250, 243, and 270 is because I have all the stuff to reload for all the other calibers...

just nothing like hearing that secondary pop from a good hit with your own home rolled ammo... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

save money?... maybe, but with all the enjoyment derived from rolling your own... who cares...
 
I wouldn't be looking at getting into it if I didn't think it sounded like fun... as I said, I do reload my own shotshells and thats fun to me....

I went to Sportsmans Warehouse today and looked at the reloading equipment. They had a 'Lee Aniversary' reloading kit that includes everything but dies and a shell holder. I don't know what either of those things are, but the kit was $90 and the dies and shell holder came to about $31. I've looked on eBay for the kit and there's a few on there at slightly better prices. Probably go that route.

There are many more choices with reloading rifles than shotguns. With shotguns your choice is between the different size shot. There was a whole shelf just for 22-250 bullets! I can see how this is almost a seperate hobby from shooting! I think I will jump into reloading when I get a little extra $$$ scraped up. Thanks for all of the input!
 
I think my ex ex wife still believes that I got into it to save money....at least that was what I told her. She's gone now but the reloading stuff is still there.
Just look at it this way..everytime you spend more money on it you are saving something. Kinda like buying things that are on sale, not because you need them but simply because they are on sale. Now even my ex ex wife can understand that.......
 
...save money...????

Probably not, because you will do more shooting, once you start reloading. But, that, in turn will make you a better shot.

If you shoot more, you will almost always become more familiar with your rifle, its trajectory, ballistics, etc. This will enable you to make more humane kills.

For me and my son, the cost of a new rifle includes the cost of a set of dies, and components to load the first batch of ammo. Once you have the basic equipment, adding a new caliber is a very small expense.

I don't know how long it has been since I have taken any game with factory ammo, except for turkeys. I have taken several very nice whitetail bucks, more "meat"-deer than I can count, and a bunch of coyotes and bobcats with my reloads, not to mention prairie dogs. I have been reloading for about 10 or 11 years, now, and can't imagine using factory fodder.

The satisfaction I get from taking a coyote or buck with one of my handloads is just icing on the cake.
 
Quote:
Is getting into reloading going to save me enough $$$ to make it worth it?



The short answer:

You won't save any money reloading but you will shoot a lot more.
 
I'd be very surprised if you saved any money by reloading. Oh you'll save a little per rounds fired. But, it's an interesting hobby, you'll be tempted to try new bullets, new powders, new reloading equipment and periodic updates. I had 3 rifles when I started this reloading nonsense, I now have 17 and feel like I'm heading for the poor house. Sooner or later the accuracy bug will really hit you. It'll call for the latest and best equipment. At some point in time you'll sit down and figure how many rounds you're currently shooting and probably be shocked. I honestly don't figure I've saved one damned cent, but it is a delightful hobby, and I love it so who cares how much it cost me? Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal
 
Quote:

They had a 'Lee Aniversary' reloading kit that includes everything but dies and a shell holder. but the kit was $90 and the dies and shell holder came to about $31. I've looked on eBay for the kit and there's a few on there at slightly better prices. Probably go that route.



you may want to rethink that also... the press is awful heavy... paying shipping on that may out weigh a couple dollars saved on the upfront price... the other thing to think about is dealer support if there are any missing/broken parts...

I can understand wanting to get the most bang for your buck, just a couple things to consider... good luck with it...
 
Either with factory ammo or reloaded ammo, you will shoot up your available ammo budget, period (I mean, why wouldn't you? heheh). With reloading (after you cough up the $$ for the equipment) you'll just be getting roughly 3 times the bangs per buck.

Unless, of course, you have the manly self-discipline to only shoot the same 40 rounds every p-dog trip. Now why would you do that when you can shoot 120 reloads for the same money spent on 40 factory rounds??? Just think of all those p-dogs that need to be disciplined...

Don't think of it as saving money, think of it as getting 3 times the fun for your money.
 
Save Money Reloading? Not a chance,you'll shoot 4 times more, become a better shot make more hits, them want more bullets so you can make even more hits. Tailor your ammo, lets see 22-250, 40gr. bltz-kings, 50gr. bltz-kings, 50 gr spire point, 52 gr a-max, 55 gr. bltz-king, 55 spire point, 55 gr match, you get the idea. With just one cal. you can spend hours and hours developng loads. Before you know it you'll have 5 different drop charts taped to the scope of your gun.
Its a disease I tell ya! Avoid reloading at all costs, don't take up the hobby or you'll be doomed to spend your off time in persuit of an unattainable goal. 1st its the 1 " barrier. Then its the 3/4" barrier. Then the 1/2" barrier. Just when you think you've reached the holy grail of hunting rifles the .250 barrier, you reach for the powder can and its "empty". Oh no, a new lot number. Save yourself now before its too late.
But then again it sure beats squatting at the local black eye factory,perched on a stool, pounding down brewskies, ogaling the local beauties and swapping lies with the village idiot.
Its a great hobby.
JS
 
Colorado Pete, you think exactly how I do...

JSweet, that's exactly how I reason spending so much $$$ on killing these prairie rats: I don't spend $$ on drinking, smoking, cars, chicks (for now...), etc... so I deserve to be able to spend $$ on this... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
It is just easy math. Savings will depend entirely on rounds fired vs. investment. Less expensive loading setup vs. high volume shooting equals much savings. Dumping a ton of $$ into equipment and shooting 25 rounds a year equals no savings. I got into reloading because I got into high power shooting where a match is 88 rounds of .233. I load over 1000 rounds of match ammo a year and I don't really shoot alot compared to hard core high power guys. Once I bought the equipment, I started loading for all the other rifles I have and haven't purchased factory ammo in 4 years. There is nothing like shooting your first deer or shooting that first "clean" target of 10 in the 10 ring with ammo you loaded yourself.

Fast Ed
 
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