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How many of us (Americans) reload?

Thor357

So I was thinkin', I'm relatively new to the hobby of target shooting and reloading. Many of the folks here have been through the "tough times" when it comes to the drama of finding supplies to keep reloading. I got started just before the SHTF this go around. Thankfully, on the advice of the guy who got me started in this, I was advised to buy in bulk everything I would need to keep shooting and I've shot A LOT and still shoot just not as much as I was. Most of that bulk is...not as bulky as I'd like.
So my question is how many folks here in the US own guns and how many of them actually do their own reloading?
I've done a Google search to my question as far as gun owners but it seems that you really can't get a true answer because supposedly there isn't registry of guns here (yeah, riiiight!!!) I'm primarily interested in the percentage of folks who do their own reloading. Any good guesses?
 
I have a hunch the percentage is very small. Think about all the people that own a belly gun and will never fire it. Now, numbers wise the number of reloaders is large enough to support an entire industry of reloading items and components. Hodgdons sells tons of powder to the reloader in the field . Some reloaders shoot a lot and some just collect the stuff like the old ladies used to collect salt and pepper shakers.

I know that didn't answer your question but I don't think there is a close estimate.
 
I also know numerous folks that have equipment to reload, but don’t. They will collect gear with intentions to reload and don’t. What they consider shooting a lot and what others consider a lot, are two very different things.

You may glean more info from component manufacturers.
 
Is there room at the bottom of the list our government keeps?
Guns in America,
ARs
Glocks
Ghost Guns
Bumpstocks and bumptriggers,
and now AMMO components ?

How many pounds of powder are stored in homes?
 
Iowa Fox said:
I have a hunch the percentage is very small. Think about all the people that own a belly gun and will never fire it. Now, numbers wise the number of reloaders is large enough to support an entire industry of reloading items and components. Hodgdons sells tons of powder to the reloader in the field . Some reloaders shoot a lot and some just collect the stuff like the old ladies used to collect salt and pepper shakers.

I know that didn't answer your question but I don't think there is a close estimate.
Click to expand...
No argument from me.
I have friends and family that buy guns and either never shoot them or rarely shoot them. Only two friends of mine reload and they reload when the whimsy hits them. I'm doing something reloading related almost every day. I shoot a lot, or actually I used to shoot a lot. Up until about a year ago I was shooting 500 rounds every week at the least. Now it's down to about 500 a month.
 
I think that a lot of "gun owners" should be eliminated from that list and if they are, the percentage would be much higher. There are collectors & investors who never shoot their guns because it would devalue their pieces. There are the people that have "wall hangers" for nostalgic decorations which are sometimes unsafe to shoot. Then there are people that have one self defense gun in the house but they aren't interested in practicing, pleasure shooting, hunting, or competition. All the people in these groups are gun owners, but I would never consider them shooters. The list should be of GUN SHOOTERS, not owners. There is so much reloading equipment and gear made that it is hard for me to believe that the percentage of "shooters" who reload is very small.
 
mongo chicago said:
I think that a lot of "gun owners" should be eliminated from that list and if they are, the percentage would be much higher. There are collectors & investors who never shoot their guns because it would devalue their pieces. There are the people that have "wall hangers" for nostalgic decorations which are sometimes unsafe to shoot. Then there are people that have one self defense gun in the house but they aren't interested in practicing, pleasure shooting, hunting, or competition. All the people in these groups are gun owners, but I would never consider them shooters. The list should be of GUN SHOOTERS, not owners.
Click to expand...
I agree.
I'm really just curious about those that actually shoot their guns on a fairly regular basis, at least more than once every hunting season. And they reload!
 
Just did a quick search and it looks like the stocks of some of the companies is all over the place!
Thought it would be better than what I found.:(
 
JSH said:
I also know numerous folks that have equipment to reload, but don’t. They will collect gear with intentions to reload and don’t. What they consider shooting a lot and what others consider a lot, are two very different things.

You may glean more info from component manufacturers.
Click to expand...
That’s odd that they would by the reloading equipment and not use it! I have never thought of that situation.
 
Thor357 said:
So I was thinkin', I'm relatively new to the hobby of target shooting and reloading. Many of the folks here have been through the "tough times" when it comes to the drama of finding supplies to keep reloading. I got started just before the SHTF this go around. Thankfully, on the advice of the guy who got me started in this, I was advised to buy in bulk everything I would need to keep shooting and I've shot A LOT and still shoot just not as much as I was. Most of that bulk is...not as bulky as I'd like.
So my question is how many folks here in the US own guns and how many of them actually do their own reloading?
I've done a Google search to my question as far as gun owners but it seems that you really can't get a true answer because supposedly there isn't registry of guns here (yeah, riiiight!!!) I'm primarily interested in the percentage of folks who do their own reloading. Any good guesses?
Click to expand...
As a percentage of gun owners there's no way to know.
 
I have always owned guns--mostly inherited pieces and carry hand gun or two--always loved to shoot but when grandparents were dead and gone so was the farm--and an easy place to go--but during the pandemic I discovered a local range very close to me--we started shooting rim fire and I was brought back to the joy of marksmanship--we decided to go from North Carolina and do a prairie dog trip--that meant we needed a bolt gun--so next thing you know I am shooting a 223 Savage and loving it! Then I stumbled into a PILE of reloading equipment from older guy that had quit--so now I am a reloading junkie--
I am late to the joy of reloading--never had a chance to stock up when things were available--so...$90 per 1K on primers? Is the only price I have ever seen--The conclusion is yep I did not buy 65 Mustangs when they were $800 and I did not get powder and primers when they were cheap But...I have discovered a great new hobby and I will buy the supplies I need and just keep on smiling--
I am having a ball chasing those one hole groups and improving my skills so the prices are what they are--I intend to keep on loading and shooting until it ain't fun anymore.
FWIW I have found lots of equipment available as older folks just up and quit so I am paying out the yang for supplies but got top quality tools cheaper than dirt--It is a wash for me
 
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