Reloading pros and cons?

[CSACANNONEER]

Not a great time to consider reloading.
But you can start by saving your brass. I did that for almost two years before i bought my first reloading kit, a simple Lee Loader kit that came with all you see here:

[ATTACH]936037[/ATTACH]

All I needed was a a Lee reloading book, mallet, scale, 100 bullets, 100 primers and a pound of powder to make about 30 rounds an hour.
I think it was about $150, all-in.
After making and shooting all 100 rounds, I was hooked.

So, smoking candy cigarettes really can lead to shooting dope......

The best thing about those Lee kits is that you really learn exactly what you're doing instead of just having someone else set up a progressive press for you and just providing the power for the automation without really understanding what is happening.

[tabascoz28]

I think there's going to be lots of opinions on this, probably way more than most other posts.

But when you boil it down, it's either a way to save money on big calibers, a way to make better bullets for your firearms, and finally a way to be self sufficient.

Economically I've only been able to make my money back based on current prices for ammo, for 9mm bought at $.18/rd it makes no sense to reload if you factor in your time.

Accuracy wise you'd have to spend a lot of money on other equipment usually not included in reloading sets, like a comparator, calipers, digital scales, seater dies that seat by ogive, ogive measuring tool for your rifle, match grade bullets, benchrest primers, concentricity tool, neck turning tool.
All to get that last quarter inch knocked off. I laughed when I saw the new scale system selling at about $800, just to get your powder dropped and measured faster. It makes sense if you're a competative shooter shooting thousands of rounds a week.

At this point it is also hard to find components (bullets/primers/powder/brass) which has incrementally gone up in price also.

Lastly, the budget lee hand loader "system" can technically load a bullet but you'll hate it. Knowing what I know now I'd still have my Lee Classic Turret press and RCBS Rock Chucker. A progressive press is a want. A Shotshell press is for those really picky shotshell shooters.

[Cowboy T]

Pros:

If you have components, you always have ammo. I believe someone already mentioned this. Ammo availability is key, especially during times like these. Except for .22LR, I reload for every chambering that I shoot. I have zero ammo availability problems. I also cast my own bullets, both handgun and rifle.

Your cost per round can go waaaay down. Consider .45 Colt, which I enjoy and shoot. Standard .45 Colt is over $30/box of 50. I can make that same box for $5. Now, consider the Buffalo Bore hot loads. Last time I checked a few years ago, Buffalo Bore was $80.02 per box of 50. My version of that load, I make for $8.50. That's $71.48/box of savings right there.

You can tailor your loads. First, let's talk handgun loads. Sure, I like some pretty warm loads sometimes, but the major advaitage was in developing a *lighter* load. I've mentioned my "powder-puff" .38 Special load a few times, using 3.9gr of Bullseye or 4.2gr Titegroup, under a 105gr cast bullet. This was developed for my wife and makes it easier for her to practice her marksmanship. Result: she goes to the range more often, and that's good. Now, let's talk rifle loads. You can still go "mild" or "wild", and that's helpful, but the major benefit here is developing a load specifically for your gun so you get the best precision, i. e. tightest groups.

Cons:

There is a learning curve, but it's not too bad. Start with single-stage first before going to a turret or (especially) progressive model, so you really learn what you're doing. And READ THOSE RELOADING MANUALS!

There is an initial expense up-front. Depending on your chambering and the load, that can pay for itself pretty quickly. In the case of my ".45 Colt Magnum" load, 2.5 boxes paid for the press. But I did have to buy that press up front. As an example, for what I'd call the bare minimum single-stage setup, you're looking at about $150. Personally, I'd count on $300.

You can blow up your gun and even parts of your body if you do stupid stuff. Seems like you already know about squibs, double-charges, that sort of thing. Those are definitely bad. But here's the good side: if you don't do stupid stuff, reloading is very safe. As long as you stay within the published specs, your gun will have no problem even after thousands of bullets down the barrel. This assumes a quality firearm in the first place, of course. Rifles, you will eventually wear out the barrel, but for non-magnum cartridges, that's several thousand rounds, so don't worry about that.

[five.five-six]

- the wife & kids MIGHT miss you!

Mine never have


Pro: without any new components, it will be years before I run out of ammo.

[pacrat]

Not a great time to consider reloading.
But you can start by saving your brass. I did that for almost two years before i bought my first reloading setup, a simple Lee Loader kit that came with all you see here:

[ATTACH]936037[/ATTACH]

All I needed was a a Lee reloading book, mallet, scale, 100 bullets, 100 primers and a pound of powder to make about 30 rounds an hour.
I think it was about $150, all-in.
After making and shooting all 100 rounds, I was hooked and bought an RCBS turret press, which sped up production quite a bit.
You don't have to spend a lotta money to find out if reloading is for you.

Lee Loader in 308 is exactly how I started in Jan 1968. Outlay at that time $8.99. Primers were 39 cents a hundred. IMR 4895....$3.89 #. Sierra was 3 mi away and sold OTC for $3 a hundred for 150 gr spitzers.

DAMN I'm

[edgerly779]

It is fun for me and I don't have to shop for deals or just try to find ammo. I load non lead hunting for less than half what new is. I do not have to deal with sellers/vendors for transfers. I load at my leisure so there is always ammo on the shelf.

[GeeBee49]

From the very beginning it was a hobby and one that I really enjoyed.

[operavoice]

Pro:
Ammunition that out shoots factory match grade.
Opens up a world of calibers.

Con:
Initial investment, and then more, and more, and more.
There always seems to be something to buy.
A better scale, a better die, a swager, a sizing die, a comparator, a puller, collets, on and on, ad infinitum

[the86d]

Pros, I just found 500 more small pistol primers that were in the reloading desk drawer, AND 500 MORE Small rifle, so I can reload 1000 more rounds than I thought...RIGHT NOW.


I am going to burn through these Small Pistol primers tonight, so +500 9mm in an hour or two...

For 9mm I have very few problems on an XL 650 progressive I started on like 8.5 years ago, rifle on this press that needs a cleaning can be WAY less than 400-600/hour, like I can do it w/9mm, if someone else is loading primers in the tubes...

Oh, I forgot to mention... I am reloading these 124gr Powder Coated pills for a grand-total of $0.103/rd, AKA $5.15 per 50, or $10.30 per 100, ALL INCLUSIVE(, aside from my time, electricity, brasso/solvent/tumble media, press wear, and tumbler wear). I ALREADY recouped the cost of the press and all accessories a couple years back... due to the money saved reloading.

What is a box of 9mm going for, right now?

It appears a box of Fiocchi FMJs Backorderable, on Optics Planet right now for $17.99 for a box of 50, for people in free states...

WINNING the Internet, TODAY.

[jessdigs]

You are not going to SAVE money, but you will shoot a whole lot more for the money you spend.
But, you are super late to the party, the chicken tacos are long gone.
Primers cost double right now, if you can find them. Powder and projectiles are hard to find.
I stocked up over a year ago, have over 30k primers, a shelf unit full of brass and bullets, and a ton of lead and molds to cast my own projectiles.
I hope you do it, buy a good press like a Dillion 750 or 550 and get a single stage for precision rifle. And start tracking down components.
I use a Lee APP press to deprime, a Dillion 550 to load, and use the app to size my cast powder coated bullets.
I collect lead and tin whenever I come across if for casting bullets, and order brass from my brass guy on cast boolits forum.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

[the86d]

You are not going to SAVE money, but you will shoot a whole lot more for the money you spend.
But, you are super late to the party, the chicken tacos are long gone.
Primers cost double right now, if you can find them. Powder and projectiles are hard to find.
I stocked up over a year ago, have over 30k primers, a shelf unit full of brass and bullets, and a ton of lead and molds to cast my own projectiles.
I hope you do it, buy a good press like a Dillion 750 or 550 and get a single stage for precision rifle. And start tracking down components.
I use a Lee APP press to deprime, a Dillion 550 to load, and use the app to size my cast powder coated bullets.
I collect lead and tin whenever I come across if for casting bullets, and order brass from my brass guy on cast boolits forum.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

Yup, you have to buy in bulk, and during non-lean times to get good deals, NOW is NOT the time to start...
You spend MOAR to get MOAR components in bulk.


"Dillon presses AND Carbide DIES" are backordered for months they said. Hell I overpaid by about $100 when I ignorantly horked a cabride die, WHEN IT HAD A BUILT-IN STUCK CASE REMOVER IN THE DESIGN I was unaware of... just to get one in lean-times, and THAT was JUST USED DIES during this panic.


Pro #2, didn't leave the house, had 3 beers and 2 hours later, I have 200 124gr 9mm cartridges waiting for the range weekend.

Had to stop early, as the reloading press is right next to my daughter's room, so 300 more before not next, but the following weekend, for sure!
Oh, and total cost for 200+ rd 9mm... ~$20.60

Oh, I just remembered, I have to load some 5.56 for the daughter's AR, too...

[Yetiultimate]

Well...how far down the rabbit hole do you want to go? About 6 years ago I got a single stage press to reload 8mm mauser because I couldn't stomach the prices of factory ammo. Now I have 3 presses, I cast and powdercoat most of my own bullets, and I reload for 17 calibers. I find myself buying dies and molds for guns I don't own yet, just because I know I'm looking for one. Ex: I bought brass and dies for M1 carbine last year because they were a steal - but i just got the carbine 2 weeks ago.

As a plus, when panics hit and prices skyrocket, the little machines in the garage just keep going kachunk-kachunk. I still go to the range with my kids twice a month and I'm still sitting on tons of components. Guys who want to buy a new Glock for $1000 are paying 50 cents a round and I'm reloading that caliber for 7 cents.

[M76]

I'm a newb, loaded some .45acp 230g rn w/ 5.5g bullseye;
testing them out was great, my OCD came in handy for QC.

Making space in my one-car garage was the only con.

[Oceanbob]

Hey Blue...

Reloading is Zen....

[the86d]

Shizoot, I THOUGHT about getting a dedicated press just another caliber (or just rifle)!

2-4 Minutes is too long to switch calibers?