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Reloading A Good "Value" - On Multiple Levels

1K views 15 replies 13 participants last post by  bumblebee 
#1 ·
As I get settled into this new hobby of reloading I'm really struck by how, when looked at from a "cost / hour" perspective, how very inexpensive it seems. I mean - we all go through the calcs to show how much we save on the assembled ammo product itself. But when I factor in how much I enjoy doing the work itself the hobby is a very cheap date.

And it can be done any time! Where I live we got a bunch of snow last night. I can still "go shooting". :)

OR
 
#2 ·
Absolutely! It's fun, makes shooting more economical AND we can produce better ammunition than you can buy. Wait till you get in to casting. Takes the most expensive component down to around $0.03-0.05 I'd guess. Glad you're enjoying yourself.
 
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#4 ·
Well, I'm gonna "semi-disagree" with you. I started reloading out of curiosity, not money. I wondered if I could do anything with all that brass I had accumulated so I read up on reloading (this was way pre-web). I continue reloading now because I enjoy all facets of makin' my own, and I don't wanna know how much it costs. Great satisfaction of producing a bunch of ammo that cannot be bought is well worth any amount for me, besides I'd have to factor in a bunch of stuff that would give me a headache; gas for my truck to drive to the gunshop, or shipping if I have to buy online, utilities for my "shop" for heating/lights/cooling/radio/CD player, etc.. And I'd have to figger what components cost at the time of purchase; I have powders up to 9 years old and a few 18 year old primers, and some bullets I purchases in '88. My time can't be counted (but when I retired I was making $42.45 per hour), and the time figgering all that out I could be out in my shop sizing a bunch of HXP brass for my Garand!

Besides, I am alone in my shop, with my thoughts, the smell of lead and gun oil, some '60s do-*** or a bit of Willie playing in the background, my blood pressure drops, and I get that old "Life is Good" feeling all over again...

FWIW; I don't know any fishermen that started fishing for $$ sake, or calculate now how much money is spent fishing and compare that to costs of fish from the market.
 
#6 ·
If you really enjoy guns and shooting - reloading is just a natural extension of this. While it is nice to save money on something you enjoy doing, it is even nicer to constantly be learning and expanding your horizons. The more you reload, the more you shoot, the more you learn about every firearm you own, then you reload more - shoot more - and so on. I also fully agree with Firpo on casting, because it is yet another fun and interesting part of the hobby. Just like in handling guns or the reloading process, there are cautions you MUST adhere to, because doing any of this hap-hazard can hurt you. Be patient, ask questions, learn and have fun! In the end you will be a better shot, save money and have ammo that will out perform anything you can buy.
 
#7 ·
I think Jim has said it best. Much could be said on the subject however I get lazy when typing on my phone. Takes forever to get things out.
 
#8 ·
Agreeing with what others have mentioned above, in addition, I have actually purchased certain firearms because of the desire to reload a particular cartridge. A wag the dog purchase, but the WSM family is expensive and ends up being a huge savings immediately.
 
#9 ·
I started reloading only recently. My wife and I are shooting combined 2500+ rounds/month and we need lead bullets for one of our ranges. I'm enjoying learning a new skill and the rhythm of the press: no tv, no audio book, no radio. If I get up early in the am I go out to our bunkhouse and knock out a few hundred rounds. I'm certainly not doing it for the economics given that 9mm ammo has become pretty affordable; I like problem solving and the learning curve is full of minor problems to solve. I can see how the challenge of crafting really precision rounds would be a lot of fun; we're banging away at steel challenge and IDPA. Still, in our dotage we won't turn our noses up at more accurate ammo.
 
#10 ·
I'm loading a bunch of 122grLRN 9mm for my Glock 23 practice-I'm using free brass(shoot at my range,your brass stays),cast bullets from free wheelweights,primers I bought in 95,kegs of 231 I bought in 93..about 4cents a round...and the complete theraputical satisfaction of it all out in the mancave.....
 
#11 ·
Many good observations. As with most I started because of the savings. I started casting for the same reason. It didn't take long until it became "the heck with the savings". These days if I'm going to shoot the firearms I like and prefer I have to reload. One doesn't run down to the local gun shop or Wally World and pick up a box of 10.5 X 47R.
 
#12 ·
I've only been reloading for about a year and only do .38SPL, 9mm and .223 at least at the moment. Just got an AK so "might" start doing x39 if I can get it to stop beating up the brass so badly. I don't even figure out my costs, just the increased accuracy is worth it for me in the .223, but I know the cost is less than buying steel case!

My problem lies in making to my buddy's place to shoot. I keep finding "deals" on brass so now have ammo cans full of loaded rounds stacking up as I usually spend about an hour an evening down in the basement doing something, either processing brass or loading rounds...just got some shotshell cartridges in .38SPL to work up a snakeshot load for the .38 for when we move to the boonies this spring. Won't have much reloading time then as I have to carve a shooting range out of the woods there!
 
#13 ·
When I first stared reloading I used to tell myself "look at all the money I'm saving". To be honest, with the cost of the individual components, the percentage of savings has dwindled and if time is figured into the equation, the savings are minimal at best. What I've gained in knowledge, you can't put a price on it. This is advanced mechanics, science, physics and math all wrapped up in a very enjoyable package, I'd still do it even without any cost savings.
 
#14 ·
I have to reload out of necessity, Daughter #2 goes through about 3000 rounds of 12 ga. per month. She finished 2014 as the USA Shooting J3 (14 and under) National Olympic Trap Champion.

If I can continue to find powder, I will press even more this year. She is trying to qualify for a World Cup Team.

If anyone finds any Winchester AA Powder, Let me know and I will take it
 
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