why do you reload/handload?

[NorCalMikie]

It sure wasn't to save money. Load for a M1A or a Mini 14 and see how much money you save!
Data powder from Accurate Arms (back in the day) at around $84.00 for 8 pounds? Bet you can't buy just one. Think I went thru 5 or 6 before it wasn't available anymore. Switched to AA 2230.
Build rifles, and SPs that will only shoot custom made ammo. No store bought ammo for me. None of my rigs (except the gas guns) would chamber factory loaded ammo anyway.
It's down hill or is it up hill from there?
No more going shopping for factory ammo. (except rim fire) The price + not in stock? No problems.
When you can load custom ammo that will produce a 5 shot group that can be covered with a dime? PRICELESS!!
And besides, rolling your own keeps you out of the bars and home.

 

[JayHHI6818]

I got into Thompson Contender pistols in 1980. First barrel I purchased was a 7 TCU so I had to reload the ammunition. Then I went off the deep end and started buying wildcat barrels from SSK Industries.
257 JDJ, 6.5 JDJ, 6.5 Mini Dreadnought , 309JDJ, 338 Wisper, 338 JDJ, 375 JDJ, 35-06 JDJ, 375-06 JDJ. Two years ago finally bought my first real rifle a Kelbly Atlas in 6 BR and I’m shooting local 100 & 200 BR matches.

 

[lhsako]

For economy when I began at 15. Now I'm chasing perfection.....

 

[scope eye]

When you reload the common calibers it is no big deal, but when you start to load larger calibers RUMs or Weatherby's for example it becomes a big deal. they can be as much as $3.00 $4.00 $5.00 a round, 338 Lapua Mag I have seen as much as $10.00 a round and that is before the madness. Lets take 257 WBY for example I buy those Speer value packs 75gr 650 ct for $100.00 in round numbers, then I would buy a 5 lbs jug of RL17 for $150.00 1000 primers $30.00 My load is 70 gr, so with one 5lbs I can load 500 rounds so 500 rounds of 257 WBY Mag for $250.00 equals 50 cents a round. If you already have the brass and in the begining I use to use necked down 264 WinMag and 7mm RemMag which are abundant. That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Dean

 

[ebb]

I reload cause no one will do it for me.

 

[Hoot]

I shoot because I reload. I enjoy the science of reloading. A formula of many variables. I enjoy shooting but mostly as a metric for my reloading experiments. I know that's a little weird but its how I'm wired. When I resolve a good recipe, it gets tabled and I change a variable.

Hoot

 

[Huntersuave]

Read and study Accurate Shooter to find more projects and new ways to better my craft.

i spend quite a bit of time on this site, (i have a direct link on my desktop) i know there are alot of other shooting forums and sites out there but i find this one the most informative and easiest to navigate.

 

[FNSafari]

Kind of new(ish) to reloading...have had my RCBS set up for about 7 years, shortly after i bought it and got started i did it more as a hobby than anything. I love to shoot but i honestly cant justify it from a financial perspective. i just dont shoot that many rounds. since then ive sold my house, started a new business and build my family a smaller house so i have had my stuff in storage boxes for about 3 years or so as i dont have room to set it up at this point. really....really looking forward to getting my stuff set up and getting back into it...again, more for the hobby aspect and something to do. My question is why are you guys reloading? do you do it because you like the sheer joy of it? is it challenging? do you need to to save money on ammo? do you need the accuracy of tailored handloads for your competition rifles? im really just curious. i read and research anything firearms daily, im kind of addicted. i love how much even the slightest change in a cartridge from case to bullet to primer can make a difference at great distances down range. I am set to load for my 223, 308 and 6.5cm(all bolt action tikkas, the 6.5 is a heavy barrel stainless). im addicted to this stuff. but it pains me to see this stuff sit and im trying to think of a way to set it up in our smaller house without taking up too much room.

IMO, why let someone else do something you can do for yourself, often better and cheaper.

 

[Red Khon]

Everyone has a hobby or two. Hand loading is one of mine. I enjoy the process of finding a load and loading ammo as accurate and precise as I can.

 

[wb30378]

The biggest reasons I load my own is bullet selection , price , and ammo tailored to your rifle. I load from a 204 Ruger to 460 WBY. I have 3 big Weatherbys (30-378,416,460) and an 338 Lapua this is where the price factor really comes in , I couldn’t afford to shoot these on a regular basis with commercial ammo.

 

[JFrank]

Mr Guffey told me a few short years ago that I may not be cut out to be a re loader," im not" a re loader although I do reload for a few rifles until I get to full re loader status im always learning.

Maybe someday..

 

[big john 5394]

Because i stink a golf.

 

[jackieschmidt]

The endless quest for precision and accuracy.

^^^^^^
it’s even morphed into making my own bullets.

 

[Pyscodog]

Because i stink a golf.

And not much better at fishing.

 

[skeeljc]

I have been reloading rifle for over fifty years. The equipment and components are so much better today. The rifles are better too. I love reloading almost as much as shooting.