I think there are savings to be had all around but I don't factor in my time. It's a labor of love for me be it .223 plinking or .308 precision work. I enjoy the meticulousness and tangible result. It is rewarding to watch things tighten up when you find your rifles favourite dish. Then stretch it out and find new recipes for different conditions. I got in on a budget a long time ago with a lee set up and haven't found a reason to upgrade. I do it all with that set up so my time commitment is large on a single stage but I stay steady at it and seem to be able to reload more than I can find time to shoot. I would suggest that's where you should start and get a good feel for the process before making it too complicated. It's entirely possible to learn on your own, I did. Always keep an eye open for components and buy bulk when you can is best for savings or just collect them steadily. I do both. When I started most of my brass came for free from folks who just wanna toss it out, this is big on the savings end of things. Even now almost all of my brass with exception of precision bolt stuff is scrounged or bought bulk second hand. If I can build it cheaper than I can buy it I am all for it. Almost time to start filling the fly box for another season, good bye social life and civilized conversations with my wife.
Help please. Deciding to reload or not..
- Thread starter AllBlackCollection
- Start date
AllBlackCollection
New member
- Location
- Greater Montreal, Qc
Del
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My 2 cents...
Agreed.
Couldn't agree more.
I wouldn't say "man-spa"
for myself but an escape that's rewarding for sure with added sense of accomplishment. I get ya Petamocto.
Ed puts it in plain simple terms. He's got the marriage thing figured out too. My wife thinks reloading is my second girlfriend but thank goodness it's cold in Canada Ed, and when I'm with my wife she now thinks I'm "cheating" on "Reloading"
lol
Didn't know that all. To add this will be my 3rd season using a press. OP, With well structured queries here and some research on previous threads you'll often get ample support here. Lots of cats here that know their stuff and you'll figure who they are for yourself.
It's made a huge difference in hunting accuracy and improves shooting confidence for myself and my son. Glad I got started.
Regards
Ronr
Agreed.
Couldn't agree more.
I wouldn't say "man-spa"
for myself but an escape that's rewarding for sure with added sense of accomplishment. I get ya Petamocto.You might save money but by reloading you have the pleasure of making better quality ammunition than factory loaded that is tuned and tweaked to your rifle. And in Canada you have your long cold winters to reload unless you just got married and have better things to do.
Ed puts it in plain simple terms. He's got the marriage thing figured out too. My wife thinks reloading is my second girlfriend but thank goodness it's cold in Canada Ed, and when I'm with my wife she now thinks I'm "cheating" on "Reloading"
lolDidn't know that all. To add this will be my 3rd season using a press. OP, With well structured queries here and some research on previous threads you'll often get ample support here. Lots of cats here that know their stuff and you'll figure who they are for yourself.
It's made a huge difference in hunting accuracy and improves shooting confidence for myself and my son. Glad I got started.
Regards
Ronr
Put your town/province on your profile so we know where you are. When giving advice on where to buy bullets, etc. it is critical info.
Also, if we know where you are, one of us can come over and hlp you set up your new press...
Also, if we know where you are, one of us can come over and hlp you set up your new press...
As an American and thinking its cold here in central Pennsiltucky I will say that Vancouver, BC was even colder with mixed rain and snow today so the Stargate you took from was even closed down. It was also below freezing west of Vancouver clear to Halifax on your east coast.
So don't walk to AllBlackCollection house to help him setup and learn reloading or you freeze your (*expletive deleted) off. (*looks like A$$ but can't get by your Canadian potty mouth posting detector)
P.S. RonR you don't list your age but if I may make a suggestion, take some ###### and keep your reloading press and your wife warm.
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If your main intention is to save money for anyone with a decent job they can make more dedicating their reloading time to work.
Reloading is a must for precision, need to customized ammo for you rifle.
Reloading gives lots of options. ie, for 357 Mag, Load WC for ragged holes, SWC for 6" steel plates, full factory loads to impress the ladies.
Still think the stupidest thing to say is can't save money cause you will shoot more. Save the most by NOT shooting. nuff said.
Reloading is a must for precision, need to customized ammo for you rifle.
Reloading gives lots of options. ie, for 357 Mag, Load WC for ragged holes, SWC for 6" steel plates, full factory loads to impress the ladies.
Still think the stupidest thing to say is can't save money cause you will shoot more. Save the most by NOT shooting. nuff said.
After watching Holmes on Homes I feel sorry for you Canadians who can afford a house. And where did all these dishonest contractors come from? Or is this how the contractors save money so they can afford to build a house.
P.S. I have a three bedroom ranch style house I paid $39,900 in 1977 and its paid for now so I can afford to reload more now.
So I just don't tell my wife until after I charge my reloading supplies on the credit card. My wife gets a little mad about my charges because she is saving and wants to go on another Caribbean cruise and get warm. 
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I have only been reloading for a couple of years, so money wise there is no way I have saved a dime on ammo. I have a decent setup and if I don’t lie to myself I have 2grand into it.
But that is the down side. Living in Calgary with ranges no less than an hour away (lucky to have gotten into one) my shooting hobby is primarily a reloading hobby. I spend countless hours casting, sizing, searching for supplies, loading and every once in a while I test my work shooting.
I love it and think it is money well spent. If your primary interest is range time I think it will take a long time to pay off financially. But that is what I thought I wanted until I got into it. Now I would not look back.
But that is the down side. Living in Calgary with ranges no less than an hour away (lucky to have gotten into one) my shooting hobby is primarily a reloading hobby. I spend countless hours casting, sizing, searching for supplies, loading and every once in a while I test my work shooting.
I love it and think it is money well spent. If your primary interest is range time I think it will take a long time to pay off financially. But that is what I thought I wanted until I got into it. Now I would not look back.
With the right calibers, equipment and mind-set you can break even on the first day.
With different calibers and mindset you could well lose money forever.
Most people reload rifle for accuracy, or to shoot the bullets they want, with cost being secondary. That's not necessarily why they started out, but where they ended up.
Handgunners and scattergunners tend toward volume and cost. In some cases it isn't worth it at all.
With different calibers and mindset you could well lose money forever.
Most people reload rifle for accuracy, or to shoot the bullets they want, with cost being secondary. That's not necessarily why they started out, but where they ended up.
Handgunners and scattergunners tend toward volume and cost. In some cases it isn't worth it at all.
nic_reload
New member
- Location
- Montreal, Qc
It's really expensive BUT... It's way more fun! That's where the NUTZ in CGN makes all sense!
As many said before, for rifle, you'll just shoot more for the same money ( and try to convince your wife you're actually saving money!!! )
As many said before, for rifle, you'll just shoot more for the same money ( and try to convince your wife you're actually saving money!!! )
Everything has already been said in the above posts, in my mind if you are just an occasional shooter and already have a few calibres that have lots of cheap ammo available it comes down whether or not you want to spend your time reloading. You will have an outlay of at least a few hundred dollars by the time you get set up with the equipment and the supplies. You have to decide if its worth it to you. Although I personally dont love reloading, I find it not too bad to pass time in the winter while watching a movie on the cold days.
My thoughts are that your interests are mainly in military cartridges and pistol, and your motive for reloading is to save money, not to produce super accurate loads?
If so, it tends to be hard to justify reloading military cartridges and popular pistol as they can be bought cheaply if you're not real concerned about accuracy. What you might want to do is select a couple of cartridges that are the most expensive to buy loaded and do a cost comparison with reloading. X-Reload has a calculator to help you with that. Assuming you have brass, you need bullets, primer, and powder as consumables.
As for tools you need the basic kit. An example is the Lee Turret Press Kit that would be suitable for small rifle and pistol. In addition you need a set of dies for each cartridge, and a shell holder for each different case head. A Lee Length gauge and cutter for each cartridge also.
I guess you would have to do the math to see if it makes economic sense. Reloading if you follow the rules, is not rocket science. The Lee kit includes a good book, and that should be all you need.
Hope that helps some
If so, it tends to be hard to justify reloading military cartridges and popular pistol as they can be bought cheaply if you're not real concerned about accuracy. What you might want to do is select a couple of cartridges that are the most expensive to buy loaded and do a cost comparison with reloading. X-Reload has a calculator to help you with that. Assuming you have brass, you need bullets, primer, and powder as consumables.
As for tools you need the basic kit. An example is the Lee Turret Press Kit that would be suitable for small rifle and pistol. In addition you need a set of dies for each cartridge, and a shell holder for each different case head. A Lee Length gauge and cutter for each cartridge also.
I guess you would have to do the math to see if it makes economic sense. Reloading if you follow the rules, is not rocket science. The Lee kit includes a good book, and that should be all you need.
Hope that helps some
- Location
- West Quebec
^^^ Well said that gets left out a lot of times it's more than the money issue..
+1 reloading is another hobby in itself. Another expensive hobby when you get all the required toys cause there is always another piece of equipment. On another thread just realize my ChargeMaster isn't good enough; I now need a FX+trickler LOL.
Don't believe every anecdote on TV otherwise we Canadians would believe US is one big blood bath of gun shot victims. Good/bad contractors everywhere, you pay for going lowest bid.
Had you bought a home in Burnaby in 1977 for $40k it would be at least $1.5Million today. Sell that, move far out of town will leave you at least half, so $750k, that buy lots of reloading and Caribbean cruises. So do you prefer Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Houston (yes I've done all three).
Don't believe every anecdote on TV otherwise we Canadians would believe US is one big blood bath of gun shot victims. Good/bad contractors everywhere, you pay for going lowest bid.
Had you bought a home in Burnaby in 1977 for $40k it would be at least $1.5Million today. Sell that, move far out of town will leave you at least half, so $750k, that buy lots of reloading and Caribbean cruises. So do you prefer Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Houston (yes I've done all three).
After watching Holmes on Homes I feel sorry for you Canadians who can afford a house. And where did all these dishonest contractors come from? Or is this how the contractors save money so they can afford to build a house.
P.S. I have a three bedroom ranch style house I paid $39,900 in 1977 and its paid for now so I can afford to reload more now.
