When/how did YOU get into reloading?

[madjack956]

I bought a .357 magnum in 1980. A few months later I picked up a handheld LeeLoader like the one in knuckleheads post#80. I hammered out a lot of ammo with that thing. Still got it somewhere.

Around 1983 I worked with this guy and his kid who took up shooting. They bought a couple Smith & Wessons and a Dillon Square Deal. They tried using it once and sold it to me for $90.00, along with one of those bench top garage refrigerators that they figured they would keep beer in while they made ammo. All this stuff was brand new.

I loaded 9mm and .357 and .38 on the Dillon and purchased a MEC shotgun press for my Mossberg.

Around mid-90 I guess, a friend got a divorce from his wife and gave me a Dillon 550B. I tooled it up for .308 and .223 and .45acp and started messing with bolt guns.

Since then I bought a Rockchucker for various duties. So, since 1980 I have acquired 4 presses, 30+ firearms and enough reloading gear to keep me happy through retirement.

I truly enjoy making ammo as much as I like shooting and cleaning my firearms. Yep, I like cleaning my firearms too.

I really enjoy reading these stories of how everyone got into this hobby. This is a great thread.

[brettkeating]

My father in law was a Pearl Harbor survivor, army colonel, and veteran of three wars. He left me a couple Japanese WWII firearms for which ammo was either non existent or ridiculously expensive. But the component pieces were more easily found. My wife got me a rock chucker kit for Christmas and I recently shot my first reloads for my Arisaka. Still waiting for dies for my Nambu. That's how I got into it, but realized hey, I can reload for my Glock and S&W revolver too! Just need to get my hands on some dang pistol powder... Stop hoarding it!

[Rwnielsen]

I bought a nice Kimber 1911 in 2000 and then realized how much it cost to feed it. The boys at the Stockade set me up with a 650. I've been hooked ever since.

[Twystd1]

I taught myself as a lad.

Then got serious when IPSC and IDPA came into vogue in the late 80s and forward.

For most people...
Ya have to reload in that game to be uber competitive.

-T

[OldShooter32]

[dragon7]

I started in the early 80's. Had a couple of handguns but couldn't afford to shoot them as much as I would like to have. Saw ads from a new company called Dillon Precision liked what I saw and bought my first 550 progressive press. I've never regretted that decision and now when I leave the shooting range it's because I've had enough fun not because I've run out of ammo.

[Timbob55]

About 2008. I purchased a M48 Yugo and shot it a lot. American 8mm ammo was/is anemic. In fact, the loading guides were over cautious. I found some Vihtvouri N150 after looking at the Viht loading guide and have been happy ever since.

[Timbob55]

About 2003. I purchased a M48 Yugo and shot it a lot. American 8mm ammo was/is anemic. In fact, the loading guides were over cautious. I found some Vihtvouri N150 after looking at the Viht loading guide and have been happy ever since.

[rm1911]

When/how did YOU get into reloading?

Musta been 1989 or 1990. I was not even 21. I had a 22 rifle and a 12ga shotgun. Was just starting hunting with a couple of friends. Got myself an old sporterized 03A3. Day I turned 21 in bought a used 357. Then got a garand.

Was working at a chain sporting goods store and the boss was a shooter and also a reloaded. So we went to range and I was buying and he wasn't. Too cool. He tracked down an rcbs partner press kit and dies from another store.

So we drove up to a local gun store (Jim Larner's shop in Santa Rosa. Anyone remember him??? ) and got me all set up with components. From there it was on. I got more guns and calibers and reloaded for them. Back then I got spoiled. Powder and primers were plentiful. Although there weren't as many options there was never a concern.

Later got a dillon square deal b. And the ammo just flowed like manna from heaven. I guess I got into all this a long time ago. Long before plastic pistols and AR's and all that. Missed a lot of craziness. Missed a lot of the panics too!!

[AZImport]

Got into reloading about 2-3 months ago. Father in law has been doing it for years, and I asked him to teach me. Makes shooting my garand a not painful experience on my pocketbook, and will likely help feed my shooting habit once I have to opportunity to expand my collection.

[someoneeasy]

I started thinking about reloading about two years ago, but last year I bought my M1 garand and knew it would be expensive to buy the ammo to feed it so that sealed the deal for me.

[HK Dave]

I've been shooting for a long time but always made enough income to buy FGMM in bulk so I never got into reloading because it didn't make sense.

When FGMM hit $2 a round... I decided it made sense. :P

[just in joy]

I started about 4 yrs ago in Washington State when I used to shoot every weekend in the summer and every other weekend in the winter. Cost of factory ammo and factory reloads cost where killing me and making trips shorter and shorter.

I started just before saying do not spend too much money, a nagging wife, until I took her and the kids to a local range and we had to pay for their ammo due to renting some of the guns they had 4 boxes cost close to 150 bucks. The next day the wife logged into the account to see how much we spent, she asked what it was for I told her the ammo at the range she gave me the okay to spend 1000 to get what I needed to shoot for a while.

So I stocked up on powder and projectiles being I always ran into deals at cabelas for primers. I bought a lee single stage kit for 100 bucks and I was off loading as the next trip to cabela I was able to score 15k in primers at 23.75 per brick.

I still have the Lee and also added a Hornady LNL AP with a case feeder and DIY bullet feeder.

I started loading 9, 40, 243,7mm mag Now I am loading 380, 44,45,257weatherby, and 223 and also looking to add...

The Price of the 257 ammo was a killer for factory ammo 60-80 a box. Brass is still pricey 35-45 per 20 this is the only caliber I do not have over 200 pieces of brass for.

[klewan]

1994, Lee Anniversary kit for $65. You could get all the components at the local gun shows; it was great. Got a Lee Loadmaster the next year to make pistol ammo.

[goawayleftwing]

2 years and counting

I got into reloading two years ago from a co-worker who got into it. I can't believe how much money you save, and it gives me a reason to get away in the garage and turn up the Grateful Dead. Thanks Frank, now I have a gun buying habit to feed my reloading habit.