I use both.
Whenever I get a new rifle (or a new-to-me rifle), I buy an assortment of ammo loaded with bullet types and weights that I am interested in to see if the rifle will like that bullet or weight, before trying to develop handloads for it...has proven successful for me over the years. I alos then buy 5 boxes of that ammo so I always have a 100 rounds on hand should I run low and do not have time to load more prior to a hunt. A quick trip to the range to rezero can be done as needed.
Then I work up a specific load for that rifle with the preferred bullet and weight.
I do like reloading for the following reasons:
- I get to use the preferred bullet type and weight for a given cartridge that may not be available in factory ammo
- I like being able to produce an accurate load for a given rifle
- there is a sense of pride and accomplishment in producing an accurate load in a rifle, not to mention in harvesting game with that ammo
- It can be less expensive than factory ammo - but this is not my main reason for handloading, as it can be expensive, especially when first getting set up with the equipment, and then the components when getting into a new caliber. Although it may be a benefit.
For some rifles, today's factory ammunition is so good you cannot duplicate or improve upon its performance with handloads!
I have always found it interesting to see people spend thousands on new rifles and optics, not to mention the cost of the hunts themselves, the costs of the equipment and travel to get to that hunt, but cheap out on the ammo for the rifle and hunt, when it is the bullet that produces the end result of a cleanly harvested animal, meat for the table, trophy on the wall (if that is your thing), and the memories to last a lifetime.
Whether it be $1 or $10/shot is a small investment in comparison to the rest of the costs! (Especially when one should be practicing to develop the necessary skills to reliably place that bullet in the vitals of any game animal for a quick, clean kill.)
