Buying mail order vs. make your own ammo

[BrassCase]

If you were happy buying on-line then why not continue?
The process isn't very hard, apply to the feds for a C & R FFL(03) and then to the state DOJ for a COE. Done. Ammo to your door again. You have plenty of time to get it done before your current stockpile is gone. I would do it ASAP actually before the state puts a total end to it and ammo prices are still low.

[Barbarosa]

I reload for everything I shoot except for 9mm. It is still so inexpensive as to not be worth my time/effort to reload.

[Jimmy's]

Great basic reloading equipment can be bought second hand, a more than complete outfits are available for as little as $150 average $300. Most serious shooters, hunters load their own.

[cudakidd]

I reload and cast everything but shotgun shot. My savings are considerable. I buy in bulk from on line discounters like Graf and sons, wideners, etc.

Lead from recycling centers, reuse brass and hulls. Miwall has primers at gun show to avoid hazmat and shipping charges.

[codypaint77]

Reload

The only ammo I reload are larger caliber, e.g., 45-70, 270wsm, 338-06, 300wm, 338wm.

5.56, and others are just to plentiful.

[froggy47]

Thanks all of you guys GREAT info. So glad I joined this forum.

The more I think about it, brass should be pretty low part of the equation, once I have a base line inventory, I would save/reload the brass & I guess get into the rest of the procedure, clean/size etc. In for a penny in for a pound, right?

I had not thought at all about getting the ffl/coe.

Would somebody elaborate on that?

I am not new to getting fed/state licenses. I prepare taxes & am a licensed CA car dealer (small businesses both but I jumped thru the hoops).

Is there a site "how to get an ffl?"

Take long?

THANKS.

[SG29736]

It's funny how guys that find some widow selling off their husbands old reloading supplies for practically nothing, will use those prices to guage reloading costs. You got a fantastic deal but it has nothing to do with what the typical costs for reloading are.

[heidad01]

Cost of reloading is supplies plus your time. What is your time worth?

At current prices, I just buy what I need. Less hassle and work trying to track components, wash cases, resize,....etc.
Plus they come ready and all shiny in nice boxes for a little over the price or reloading.

[aspenvalley]

If you are getting into reloading to just save money, just get a second job delivering pizza.

I see as a fun extension of the shooting hobby. Loading is almost as fun as reloading.

[Jimmy's]

Lol, pricing your time do you.price your time when you go shooting, go for a drive, go surfing. Riding,flying or ?

[mikeyr]

Everyone is talking about costs and that is fine, its really important.

But you might find that you are more like me, my friends joke that I only shoot guns because I have to in order to use my reloads. I have even bought guns just because I wanted to reload that caliber. I find reloading super relaxing and almost zen like. I go out in the garage, turn off the TV and maybe or maybe not turn on the music and crank out ammo. I can easily spend hours out there doing nothing but reloading. I really enjoy my time reloading and who knows you might be like me and if you are the money savings won't be as important.

Yes, I am looking at a over/under just to get into reloading shotshells and while I reload .45LC I don't reload .45ACP so I am thinking I need a 1911.

[CSACANNONEER]

Everyone is talking about costs and that is fine, its really important.

But you might find that you are more like me, my friends joke that I only shoot guns because I have to in order to use my reloads. I have even bought guns just because I wanted to reload that caliber. I find reloading super relaxing and almost zen like. I go out in the garage, turn off the TV and maybe or maybe not turn on the music and crank out ammo. I can easily spend hours out there doing nothing but reloading. I really enjoy my time reloading and who knows you might be like me and if you are the money savings won't be as important.

Yes, I am looking at a over/under just to get into reloading shotshells and while I reload .45LC I don't reload .45ACP so I am thinking I need a 1911.

Your friends may be joking but, they don't understand that reloading is a hobby in and of itself. I have found myself going to the range just because I wanted to test loads or empty brass and not because I really wanted to go shooting. It happens. In fact, I'm hoping to get to Angeles this Sunday just to unload some of my match 50 ammo so that I can load it for my next match.

When it comes to loading shotshells, it can be cheaper to buy cheap 12g shells than to load them yourself, specially if you don't buy on sale and in bulk. But, you will know the QC on your own loads and can develop pet loads that you like better than cheap store bought stuff. Also, there's a satisfaction that only comes from knowing you loaded your own ammo. Of course, if you are shooting .410, 36g, 32g, 30g, 28g, 18g, 16g, 14g, 11g, 10g, etc. it is far easier and cheaper to shoot your own than purchase new shells constantly.

[alpha_romeo_XV]

Don't overlook the safety factor when considering to get into reloading. Many of us have reloaded tens of thousands of rounds without a kaboom, but there are many examples of an injury or broken gun from a bad reload. Can you stay focused and pay attention to detail?

[CSACANNONEER]

Don't overlook the safety factor when considering to get into reloading. Many of us have reloaded tens of thousands of rounds without a kaboom, but there are many examples of an injury or broken gun from a bad reload. Can you stay focused and pay attention to detail?

I could have easily lost my eye when a high end (Eley), factory round failed in a single shot, bolt action rifle and I ended up with burning powder and brass shrapnel in my eye. Yea, I was young and dumb and wasn't wearing eye pro but, the point is that even "factory" ammo can cause catastrophic failures. That said, yes, reloading is a hobby that REQUIRES focus and attention to details at all times.

[froggy47]

Don't overlook the safety factor when considering to get into reloading. Many of us have reloaded tens of thousands of rounds without a kaboom, but there are many examples of an injury or broken gun from a bad reload. Can you stay focused and pay attention to detail?

Yep, good point.