why do you reload/handload?

[rkittine]

I have always enjoyed handloading. Another Hobby, if you will.

I load for rifles for accuracy, for pistols for cost and for some calibers, because you can't get factory rounds.

For shotgun in 16 gauge it is to get what you can't buy in shot weight and size with a good savings, but even load 12 gauge, which costs as much as normal on sale non-premium shells like AA and STS. I have convinced myself that my 12 gauge and 20 gauge reloads are equivalent to AA and STS, while 28 and .410 are much less expensive.

If I added my labor into the equation and amoratized all the equipment costs, there for sure would not be any savings.

Bob

 

[Bill Norris]

Actually, I enjoy handloading for all my rifles and shooting something accurate that I created. It is enjoyable and entertaining for me. But, seriously if I could not handload then I doubt if I would even shoot at all. Factory loads simply don't cut it for me.

 

[Sandstorm]

Cant buy anything that will work competitively at the1000 yd line...man its great when it works well...it will keep you plantin them freedom seeds.

 

[Dave Zander]

Started over 25 years ago. First rifle, then pistol, then shotgun. I like to shoot, now that i'm retired I shot and load more. Started long range Rifle shooting about a year ago. I enjoy making my own rounds. Its a two part thing, shooting, then reloading. Something to do when I'm done shooting. At the price of ammo I wouldn't shoot nearly as much if I was buying commercial ammo. Reloading and testing for accuracy for rifle ammo is fun and rewarding.

 

[K22]

After 50 years of dropping powder into a case and seating a bullet this has long lost it's allure. With that said, I haven't shot factory ammo (except 22 rimfire) in over 40 years.

However, to the question at hand, the reason I reload is to produce cartridges tailored to my specific rifles to improve precision. With reloads, I'm able to have a continuous supply of consistent ammo and not have to depend on the whims of factory ammo changes or availability.

 

[mongo chicago]

First started to save money. Actually you don't save any money, you just shoot a lot more. Decades later when I got into High Power Rifle competition, better accuracy came into the mix.

 

[Chiquita]

For the fun of it. And I like to tinker with stuff. I also love troubleshooting why something does not work or why it works.

 

[justpassinthru]

I shoot so I can reload. It's just something I have always really enjoyed.

 

[Culater]

Not to worry about ammo during these crazy times. Plus I find it fun during my off time during the winter months.

 

[jelenko]

I reload so I can practice with live ammo more than if I had to buy the ammo and to get acceptable accuracy when I need to change powder or bullets.

 

[chromatica]

Many of us admit that we don't really save money by reloading; it just allows us to shoot more. I have shot in a few F-Class matches and nearly everyone on the line is using reloads/handloads. I would be at a distinct disadvantage if I were running factory ammo.

 

[Old Tanker]

Great hobby for retirement. Had to learn something new and continue to learn something new everyday. I enjoy shooting small groups with a cartridge I put together. It’s a more complete shooting experience. Just reading posts, in this forum, and I realized I wouldn’t be saving any money.

 

[Mouse-Gunner]

I reload for many of the same reasons others have described above, but I also reload for rifles whose ammunition has not been produced in over half a century. While you can buy components for 8x50R and 11mm Mauser, you cannot buy complete ammunition. So I either load my own or do without.

 

[brokeasajoke]

Duh, to save money only that didn't work out so well. You only need one press right? One scale? No need for comp dies of any kind either. Chamber type seater, well thats just silly no need for those. Multiple beam scales so why an FX120i? Who knows. Odd brass for a gun you dont have? Rules are rules by the gun right? Powder? Hey 4895 works well but lets get varget, tac, 8208, h322 and who knows what else is in that mix. Opps, we thought primers would be readily available always and only got what I needed then. Oh well I'm saving money though, right? I am saving money aren't I?

 

[Ned Ludd]

Reloading allows you to do two major things that you can't do with commercial ammunition. First, it allows you to load the best, highest BC bullets available. Second, it allows you to optimally tune loads with those bullets to your specific setup. I compete to win, and reloading is an essential part of that process.

 

[D Coots]

My wife wouldn't do it for me....

 

[Twicepop]

When I started doing it, there really was a financial advantage to it. Home loaded ammo could be done for around 35-50% of the cost of factory ammo once the cost of your equipment was amortized. More often than not the ammo you made yourself was more accurate also. Then as the years rolled by, factory ammo started becoming less expensive, and the quality of it improved also. I really enjoy loading my own ammo, even when no money was saved, I still made my own. Many of my guns have never seen factory ammo, the few that have it was done to procure brass to be able to re-load it. It's an enjoyable past time that insures that my kids won't be burdened with "what to do with dad's money" after I'm gone. Another way to look at it is, it's one of those things that you go crazy over to keep from going nuts.

 

[PopCharlie]

I've been shooting all my life. Been reloading since the early 80s. I don't do it to save money. I reload because I love the hobby. In the early 90s I got bitten by the accuracy bug. And so it began......
I still love it as a hobby. I love shooting 1-hole groups with bullets I made.

PopCharlie

 

[msinc]

Been reloading for 44 years. Actually started immediately after I started shooting. I started out to be able to shoot and afford it. I have added several other good reasons over the years, so the current list looks like this:

1. So I can afford to shoot more {was the first and main reason, not any more}
2. Accuracy
3. Better ballistics
4. Ability to better match the bullet to the shooting or hunting {game}
5. Choice of components
6. Allows a larger inventory of loaded rounds and components
7, Entertainment
8. Always more to learn and accomplish {challenge??}
9. Constructive use of time during bad weather or off season
10. Good way to fight boredom
11. Something else to discuss and learn about at my cabin
12. Make new friends that also shoot/hunt/reload
13. Causes an occasional trip to the gun shop
14. Created another use for my rock polisher
15. Satisfaction of having some control and the accomplishment of "doing it yourself"
16. Has been a great thing to keep me out of trouble

I will say that I hope I am not done adding to this list..........good luck and good shooting!!!!

 

[wkdickinson]

Unlike many of you, I don't enjoy reloading, I don't think I ever really did, but there is really no alternative. That said, there is great satisfaction in being able to load truly high quality ammo. But it is a love/hate situation.

I started reloading in the early 80's for three reasons, 1) I bought a TC Contender with a 30 Herrit barrel, no one sold ammo for it, 2) at that time you couldn't buy ammo loaded with good bullets, and 3) I couldn't afford to shoot much if I had to buy loaded ammo. Over the years the reasons have changed some. Today I reload mostly to be able to taylor my ammo to what my rifles shoot best. But there is still a serious economic factor. Today you can buy high-quality "target" ammo and no doubt it shoots well in many rifles. But at $38/20 rds. - $2 everytime you pull the trigger. As I have said many times, this is not a sport for the economically timid, but I knew few shooters who could afford to shoot much at that cost.