Reloading question from a newbie regarding ammo.

[zushikikato]

Do you guys buy new ammo, shoot it then reload? Or buy all the bullets, casing and all that, reload then shoot?

[Mstnpete]

Nope, not new ammo. For competition reloading, the normal amount we shoot on pistol is 400 rounds a weekend. So to answer your question, we buy everything in bulk. Load shoot pickup shells clean brass and reload again.

[Eljay]

I think the common scenario is you start saving your factory brass while you're thinking about reloading, then you start scavenging at the range. That covers most of it.

BUT

Let's say you buy a gun after you start reloading and it's in a weird caliber. You basically need to look at the cost of new brass and the cost of factory ammo and decide which makes more sense for you. For some calibers like .45 auto rim you can barely find loaded ammo but Starline makes a brass run once a year so basically all you can do is put in a backorder and wait.

[zushikikato]

I started saving my factory brass before i even thought about reloading! haha I have quite a few but not like 1000.
I plan on reloading 9mm, .45, .223, and .308

[Eljay]

There are also calibers that can be made from other calibers. 300 BLK is a popular one - you can just resize and trim .223 brass. So your options are
1. Buy some loaded 300 BLK ammo to break in your gun and then reload that.
2. Raid your .223 stash or just collect it at the range and make your own 300 BLK.
3. There are people who have done #2 efficiently because they're all set up for it and they'll be happy to sell you some.
4. Companies like Hornady make "match grade" 300 BLK brass and will sell it to you for more than loaded 300 BLK costs.

[firemanjoe]

It's generally cheaper to find once fired brass and then load all the other components, but if I do shoot factory ammo, I will of course save the fired brass.

[Eljay]

Just saw your latest - 9 and .45 and .223 are very common and if you start asking the people near you at the range if they save their brass you should be swamped with the stuff in no time. .308 is a little trickier but if you save what you can and make smaller batches you'll hopefully collect up more than you lose over time...

Although really, you never know. I bought some 38 Special brass since I inherited a revolver and had no ammo and supplies were bad and the very next range trip I walk up to my lane and there's a pile of 100 cases just sitting there.

[wxl]

Common semi auto brass like 223, 9mm, 40, 45 is usually all over the place and I just load brass I pick up and have plenty more than I need. For revolver brass like 44mag, 357 and 38 spec there are almost none to pick up so I either buy once fired brass from Calgunners or buy factory ammo and shoot those and reload.

[Divernhunter]

If I need new pistol brass I buy direct from Starline.
When I want new rifle brass, such as for hunting ammo I buy from Graf usually with my 03 discount. This is especially when ordering 500-1000 pieces of a given cartridge.. Sometimes I buy local if only wanting 50-100 pieces.

I ask other shooters if they are saving their brass and if not can I have it. I have friends who give me their brass and I pick up ANY reloadable brass when at the range. I load over 35 different cartridges so I usually can use it. If it is something I do not load I have friends who load those usually.

I have a large supply of reloadable mil-surplus ammo which I reload once it is shot.

[thenodnarb]

Do you guys buy new ammo, shoot it then reload? Or buy all the bullets, casing and all that, reload then shoot?

Yes

[johnniezombie]

I only keep one box of factory rounds for home defense for each firearm. Never use reloads for home defense.

[zushikikato]

Thanks for your response everyone! I think I am about to use my money to buy a new press instead of buying new ammo!

[uhlan1]

Smart move.

[Enfield47]

Thanks for your response everyone! I think I am about to use my money to buy a new press instead of buying new ammo!

You'll be much better of buying a good press and reloading components. That said, until you get set up with all of your supplies, there is nothing wrong with buying some factory ammo so you can still take a range trip. You will also have some brass that you can reuse for your reloading - win, win.

[Fishslayer]

When I was starting out I bought a lot of used brass. Picked up at the range. Actually bought 300 rounds of .357 reloads "of dubious origin" and disassembled for components.

I buy my bullets at the moment but am getting stuff together to start casting my own. That is where you can save serious $$$.