Is it really worth it??

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ScubaD

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I'm sure this has been asked 100 times before but I went back 5pages and also did a search for "is it worth it" and had nothing good come up.

So I will pose the question again.
Is getting into reloading ammo worth it over-all?
Money saves, is it really there?
Time it takes, or does that not factor in?
Space it takes up?

I am just wondering, as I have a friend who does reloads for his 12ga and when I ask him about these things the reply is more of a "hmmmm... it takes a lot of time and also a lot of time to get your money back from the initial purchase"

Seems like something that would be interesting to get into and learn about but I have my doubts about whether its really worth it.
 
For me it was worth it I like to shoot more often and tailor the load to the gun and what type shooting I do (Target) you can't get that with stock ammo.
And I like to learn new things and am a gadget person.. = a perfect fit :)

I have the time to do it.. long winters TV is boring.
 
ScubaD said:
So I will pose the question again.
Is getting into reloading ammo worth it over-all?
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Like everything else, it might be, it might not be for you. I enjoy it, others enjoy it, some others don't. If you're on the fence, watch some how-to videos, read some books, or even find a friend who will let you try it out.

Money saves, is it really there?
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It can save money, if that's your objective. If you buy components in bulk, you'll be able to load more ammunition per dollar than you would buying factory ammo. The usual outcome of reloading is being able to produce more consistent ammo than most factory ammo, the cost savings is an added bonus.

Time it takes, or does that not factor in?
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If your time is valuable, yes it does. If you've got time to spend on hobbies, I've found it's a good way to spend it.

Space it takes up?
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From a shelf in the closet to a whole room. Depends on your equipment and space constraints.

I am just wondering, as I have a friend who does reloads for his 12ga and when I ask him about these things the reply is more of a "hmmmm... it takes a lot of time and also a lot of time to get your money back from the initial purchase"
Click to expand...

It does take time to get the initial investment back in terms of money. If you're after consistent ammo that is tailored to your individual guns, the time and money is well spent.

Seems like something that would be interesting to get into and learn about but I have my doubts about whether its really worth it.
Click to expand...

It has to be worth it for you. People do try reloading and decide it's not for them. Like I said, watch some videos, read some manuals, and see if you can try it before you buy into it. Then decide if it's for you.
 
silverfoxdj said:
For me it was worth it I like to shoot more often and tailor the load to the gun and what type shooting I do (Target) you can't get that with stock ammo.
And I like to learn new things and am a gadget person.. = a perfect fit :)

I have the time to do it.. long winters TV is boring.
Click to expand...

Yeah, sounds like the same reason I got into reloading...
 
It depends. For 12 gauge target loads I won't bother. For rifle, esp with larger calibers and premium bullets its practically a necessity. With a modest reloading system and African style cartridges you can break even in a couple hours. Most people end up spending more in total and shooting a lot more, but they usually also got into handloading because they wanted to shoot more.
 
For 12 guage I wouldn't bother for rifle loads and pistol loads I think it is definatly worth it depending on how much You shoot. If You only plink a couple hundred rounds a year You will most likely never make your money back on set up. If You shoot alot then You will pay off your original investment aswell as make more accurate ammo. Plus most of us enjoy it.
 
Dogleg said:
It depends. For 12 gauge target loads I won't bother. For rifle, esp with larger calibers and premium bullets its practically a necessity. With a modest reloading system and African style cartridges you can break even in a couple hours. Most people end up spending more in total and shooting a lot more, but they usually also got into handloading because they wanted to shoot more.
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This. I like to hand load for cartridges like the Weatherbys, Whelen, etc.... where factory ammo costs are quite high. I found it was hardly worth my time on the 223, mine liked that cheapo Winchester white box HP (40 for $20) anyways. The .308 is only marginally cheaper, but I get to play with bullet weights that are sometimes hard to find off the shelf.
 
It all seems worth it after hours of research and trial and error to come up with a load or loads that make you smile.It gives you something to think about instead of watching tv all day.Cost,as with everything you can make it look as good or bad as you like.
 
I like this "is it worth it" question... In the short term, no, you will not save any money. In the long term, you will accumulate inventory and skill, and make rifles shootable that you would not be able to find ammo for, this is only going to get worse. Once you have had bullets and powder long enough that you have forgot about the money you spent on them, you find yourself shooting for nothing, almost. I cast bullets for the 45/70, and shoot them pretty hot, 1860 fps with 500 grain bullets, you cannot buy that ammo. I shoot a 7mm rem mag and a 7x57 mauser, and a 300 win mag. I bought the bullets for the magnums so long ago (they were about $17/hundred up to $25/ hundred, partitions for $30/50) that I can make normal quality ammo for about $7/20, and partition ammo for about twice that. Lots of fine cartridges are getting harder to buy ammo for. I think this is a conspiracy to sell newer cartridges, but that is my paranoia, but the 25/06, 7x57, 303 brit, and a host of other cartridges are fine cartridges, but you cannot rely on being able to find ammo for them, or the ammo you want. If you reload, and you take advantage of the purchasing opportunities as they come along, you will be able to shoot these rifles for a long time. Bullets come and go, manufactures change bullet styles, stock up on the ones you want, they will not always be available, and the new ones will be more expensive...
 
Reloading is about the quality of the ammo you use. You likely won't save any money. What you save on ammo you spend on components. However, if you ever buy a firearm or barrel in an odd, obscure or discontinued chambering, reloading can be your only way of shooting that firearm.
Time is irrelevant unless you do have family stuff to do.
 
Word of warning - to reload is to become a die collector, along with other associated paraphernalia.

How to know if you are a reloading nut? You've bought dies in a calibre for which you do not own a rifle. Been there - done that ..... probably will again.
 
I like to do load development more them just loading.
I have great loads for all my rifles I own at the moment. Need to buy more guns.
 
Personally I need to reload, I just haven't set up yet. The reason being I have firearms in calibers that they don't make ammo for anymore, or the cost is redicilous for a box of ammo (e.g. my Arisaka Type 99, you can buy a box of 20 for 50$ or I can get set up reloading and easily reduce that to 50c a round).
 
if i had to buy only factory ammo it would be very boring and very expensive. to shoot a couple of boxes of 30 06 or 270 a year not worth reloading. to be able to play with wildcats and pricey cartridges definatley yes. can become very expensive when the addiction kicks in. i have 10's of thousands of bullet on my shelf yet if i see a deal i buy more. if i see powder at a good price i buy and put it away. do the same with 22lr too. shoot a brick buy two more. i don't smoke and drink very little so its justified to spend what i would doing that on supplies.
 
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