Reloading as a prep?

[Spyguy]

I've recently gotten into reloading. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time. I've always viewed reloading as one of the important preps I hadn't covered and that was one of the primary motivations for me to finally commit myself to buying the tools and supplies.

Now that I've bought most of the tools, and many of the components (still lacking pistol powder), I'm beginning to question if reloading is really the best option for a prepper, versus just buying more ammo. You're not saving any space. You're not saving any weight. You're not even saving any money, unless you're actually shooting what you reload. In other words, reloading is a money saver if you're doing it to replenish your shooting ammo, but it offers no financial benefit if you're reloading to build up your SHTF supplies.

Furthermore, I'm not sure how valuable reloading will be after SHTF. It will probably be easier to scavenge and trade for live ammunition than for components like powder, primers, and bullets. (I understand that some cast their own bullets, but I don't think anyone is making their own smokeless powder and primers.) And even if you have a stock of bullets, primers, and powder, will you really be catching or collecting your brass if you're actually shooting for survival in a SHTF scenario? Some perhaps, but enough to make a difference? And if you're not going to reclaim your brass, then you have to stock brass in your preps, along with your primers, powder, and bullets. Which leads back to the idea of just buying and stocking manufactured ammo instead.

I'm not disappointed that I've finally gotten into reloading. I'll certainly use it for my shooting ammo and it's nice to acquire the tools and the skills. I'm just not sure if my preconceived notions about it being useful for SHTF were valid.

Please discuss.

[Oceanbob]

Isn't a SHTF scenario a preconceived notion? We're not living on a Movie Set.

I reload and have reloaded for decades. Not for some SHTF war in the future but because I like to shoot and save money over the long haul. ..

Sure, I have ammo set aside for emergencies, like most of us do.

[Cyberion]

Depends where you draw the line on when you believe you're in SHTF and what you plan to do about it. You see the zombies marching in your town and your plan is to flee to the mountains. No, you're probably not taking your reloading gear are you? And in a rush, you probably aren't able to take all of your ammo stockpile either. So neither will help you.

If you plan to stay home then you have a mini-manufacturing site. For me, SHTF is seeing another ammo supply crunch and price spikes. Long lines, no inventory, etc. Reloading helps smooth out the supply (for me) and it's been fun too.

[buckshot0351]

the real advantage to reloading is tuning a load for better than off the shelf accuracy. as far as reloading to save money, id have a ton of ammo if I didn't spend the cash on reloading supplies. realy its all about what you want. cheap blasting ammo that gives you a 4inch group at 100 or reload some sub moa that's tuned to your rifle. I haven't worked out the math but if im saveing any cash by reloading it isn't much and will be forever until the cost of the equipment will be off set by any saveings. but guess what. I can put a bullet where I want it out to 400 reliably (16" 223 wylde) if shtf vs some wolf/tula/steel junk.

[buckshot0351]

what comes to mind when I hear realoding to save money is "i can build it for cheaper than I can buy it" which in some rare cases yes but realy if you roll your own, then you do it to get exactly what you want and savings may not be one of them.

[bigguns85]

You could always trade or brass in a shtf and reload those. The down side is you need to have th other componets as well. In a situation where the small community has a local who makes reloads then you can be the go to guy but that will be in a rebuilding state after a shtf. It has its pros and cons but if you have enough stuff for it. I think the pros outweighs the cons espeially since you wont be so dependant on others if properly stocked. I think it would be good to take a few chemistry courses to learn how to make smokeless powder and other useful chemicals like cleaning supplys and other fun things. THe down side as mentioned before is if its a situation that you need to leave your stuff then you need back ups at the BOL or its not realy worth it for those situations.

[Eldraque]

When you can make ammo for .8 cents a round vs buying ammo at .35 cents a round id say its worth it financially

[Spyguy]

When you can make ammo for .8 cents a round vs buying ammo at .35 cents a round id say its worth it financially

That's predicated on being able to reuse your brass (which does have a limited lifespan). In any case, it's not germane to this discussion. My point was not, "Is it cheaper to make your own everyday shooting ammo?" The topic of this thread is, "Are reloading tools & supplies a good prep versus just stocking up on commercial ammo?"

[bigguns85]

I think it is benificial because the more well rounded your preps the better off you will most likely be. The more tools, security, ability to manufacture things, etc the better. The only downside would be if you lost it due to a need to abandon the property and bug out but thats also why back ups at other property is good, or a plan to take it with you in a vehicle. Thats what I think at least for shtf in general. Ofcourse specific shtf scenerios would need to be thought through to determine the benifit of the reloading eqipment.

[cudakidd]

Depends on your Fantasy Scenario...in a REAL Scenario, Earthquake, Blackout, etc, it will be a localized temporary event. Reloading won't be effected or help.

In a Prolonged Economic Downturn, Reloading will save you money and could become a small side business or be used for Barter for goods and services...

[the86d]

When 115gr 9mm was going for $0.35-$0.50/rd, I was reloading 124gr plated near NATO velocities for about $0.12/rd, and 90gr frangibles (sale posted in reloading, on sale) for $0.095 ea.

$0.26 is the cheapest non-steel case I could find right now that aren't reloads goes for right now on gun-deals.com, and most is around $0.30/rd.

THAT is just about 50% savings in ammo costs and over the course of like 2.5 years I have paid my press and accessories off in ammo-cost equivalency with the ammo shortage so w/ammo-costs being so high, and I have reloaded less in the last year or so. I have never stopped going to the range, and I had many lanes to myself as nobody had much ammo except for those who though ahead, and I assume if it ever hits the fan I will be in a similar position as far as ammo goes. To save any real money you have to buy components in bulk, and think long-term for whatever your desire for reloading is... prep, cost-savings, having more than the bad-guys, or all three. You can scoop some from each reloading session, add it to your stockpile, and it will add-up quick.

[chris]

Isn't a SHTF scenario a preconceived notion? We're not living on a Movie Set.

I reload and have reloaded for decades. Not for some SHTF war in the future but because I like to shoot and save money over the long haul. ..
Sure, I have ammo set aside for emergencies, like most of us do.

I have reloaded for years for my hunting rifles. I have been able to make loads that my rifles like. much cheaper to hand load 5 or 6 rounds to experiment with.

[arslin]

I am working toward the capability of reloading everything I shoot. For instance, I have the dies, primers, bullets, and brass for 7.62x39 (have not found powder). Currently, it is cheaper to buy AK ammo, but with a wave of some legislators pen, that could change.

I will not register to buy ammo...

[emptybottle151]

Maybe after a SHTF in a rebuilding phase. People will trade spent brass. Ive seen Afghanis pick up our spent brass to sell for scrap *cough* reloading *cough*

Also some components could be swapped between calibers like projectiles and primes, think loading stations in FallOut 3 Las Vegas. So if you found/traded for some 38s you could break them down and use the projectile and primer for 9mm with a lee classic reloader kit in a pinch.

Reloading your own could save space if you use the same powder for different calibers, so that you can reload what you need.

Most calibers can be loaded with cast bullets and black powder, granted they will suck in semi autos. Casting, black powder and even primers are not impossible to make. Do a google/youtube search and you will see.

[cudakidd]

I have a "Tap a Cap" Percussion cap maker and have used it just for fun...made my own percussion caps out of pepsi cans and cap gun primer roll (I bought 1000 of them cheap for fun).

They worked great!