Is Reloading vs Factory really needed/Today

I don't handload for shotguns. And I don't handload for rimfire although it's technically possible.

Most of the shotgun ammo I go through are target loads and I don't think I could really improve on accuracy or cost that much with them over the readily available factory ammo. I'm not much of a waterfowl hunter, most of my bird hunting is opportunist grouse so a couple of boxes of factory #5 or #6 20 gauge a year is all I usually need. I used to shoot trap quite a bit but haven't done much for years but all the best trap shooters I have known shoot factory ammo.

Rifle ammunition is a whole different story though. Absolutely ZERO of the best competitive rifle shooters I know use factory ammo. I am sure there are some sponsored shooters that do but we don't know if they are using the same factory rifle that you could buy off the shelf at XYZ gun store.
 
It's all part of the process for me. I don't believe I've shot a factory round at anything alive besides a coyote in 25 years. I do it for the same reason I build my own arrows, tune my own bows, sharpen my own broadheads and knives, butcher my own game, change my own oil etc, etc. Also there's no way I could afford to shoot the volume I do if I was shooting factory. I also shoot some uncommon calibers that would be pretty hard to find factory fodder for.
 
I wouldn't shoot a 9.3x62 if I had to rely on factory ammo. Likewise for the 7x57. Getting a reliable supply of ammo for a .250 Savage is what got me started in handloading back in the early '90's.

If you're content with common, bread & butter array of calibers, like .30/06, .308, 7mm RM, .270, etc, then you can probably get along quite satisfactorily without loading your own. For me, I'd rather load up a batch of 50 or 100 and know I have essentially the same lot number with no surprised waiting.
 
I do both,but factory and components. I won’t pay full sticker prices though, I buy a lot of partial boxes and ammo storage clean out stuff. I haven’t paid sticker price on anything in the last 2 years other than 2 lbs of imr 4350 for my Swede..
 
I don't know the difference (accuracy/terminal/velocity performance) between factory and handloading; I haven't purchased factory ammo, hence 1981, other than shotgun shells. There is something other than handloading, it's the love of the journey, from start to finish. There is also great reward to custom make a reloaded cartridge that shoots very accurate. There is also another great reward, that it kills the game a person pursues.
 
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Gatehouse said:
I don't handload for shotguns. And I don't handload for rimfire although it's technically possible.

Most of the shotgun ammo I go through are target loads and I don't think I could really improve on accuracy or cost that much with them over the readily available factory ammo. I'm not much of a waterfowl hunter, most of my bird hunting is opportunist grouse so a couple of boxes of factory #5 or #6 20 gauge a year is all I usually need. I used to shoot trap quite a bit but haven't done much for years but all the best trap shooters I have known shoot factory ammo.

Rifle ammunition is a whole different story though. Absolutely ZERO of the best competitive rifle shooters I know use factory ammo. I am sure there are some sponsored shooters that do but we don't know if they are using the same factory rifle that you could buy off the shelf at XYZ gun store.
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This is pretty much it for me too. The freedom from the vagaries of the marketplace coupled with the components that I've accumulated/stockpiled are the primary reasons that I handload. I have sufficient quantities of components/rimfire ammunition, 12 ga target/turkey/slug/buckshot/general purpose loads as well as several cases of 20 ga 1-oz #6 that I'm OK unless I live to be 103.

I'd imagine that my cognitive ability will run out long before my ammunition supplies...
 
I can’t recall a time when I’ve ever shot factory ammo at game. My dad has been reloading since the 60’s so I grew up with it. My first big game animal was taken with hand loads as has every animal since.
 
Late to the party, but to me, it all depends on how many rounds you shoot per year and how deep your wallet is to "stockpile" components.

Bullseye League - need a minimum of 600 rounds of centerfire ammo. I generally shoot either 38 Special or 357 Mag from my revolver. Some weeks I shoot 45 Colt (just because). Plus practice rounds
PPC League - need a minimum of 2400 round of centerfire ammo. I generally shoot 9mm or 45 acp, but some weeks I shoot 7.62x25 or 45 Colt. Plus practice rounds
PCC Matches - need about 2000 rounds of 9mm. Plus practice rounds
2-gun or 3-gun matches - need about 400 rounds of 223 Remington (maybe some matches I shoot 7.62x39) plus 1000 or so 9mm. I hate cleaning gas system on the 7.62x39 so non-corrosive or handloads generally.
Weekly Range Trips - various toys to put holes in paper at 25 yards or 100 yards. Practice for hunting season, or just to relax and have fun.

To me, reloading lets me shoot more and not worry about high prices (like Canadian Tire near me sells 303 British ammo for $80 a box. I can still reload for less than $1 per round).

I currently reload 223 Remington, 220 Swift, 243 Winchester, 6.5 Carcano, 270 Winchester, 7mm Weatherby Magnum, 30 Carbine, 7.62x25, 300 Savage, 308 Winchester, 303 British, 7.62x39, 7.2x54R, 8mm Mauser, 8x56R, 38 Special, 357 Mag, 10mm Auto, 45 Colt, 45 ACP, and 45-70. I no longer reload 30.06 or 6.5x55 but I used to...

Reloading is fun - I enjoy it. I currently don't watch TV or movies but prefer to spend an hour or two a night reloading in preparation for future hunting or events.

YMMV
 
The OP’s asked if it needed and Id say the answers is no its not needed, but then we get some politicians saying rifles and hunting game is no longer needed. For those who shoot thousands of rounds per year I suspect they no longer could enjoy shooting that much if they didnt reload, and a lot of long range competitions would no longer have the same level of accuracy, plus availability for those who shoot calibres that are not popular. I find the reloading process therapeutic although at times it moves me near the edge of slipping into a bit of insanity LOL and I enjoy playing around with testing different combinations. There are those who love shooting and they probably enjoy reloading and then there are those who enjoy hunting and they probably would rather spend that time out scouting the bush instead of reloading and then there are those who love both. If someone has a lot of time constraints but loves hunting Id suggest staying away from reloading and just focus on the hunting because reloading is almost a 2nd sport and some dont have time for 2 sports during certain phases of life. Okay Im finished rambling
 
I've been reloading since 1963
which makes me an old fella.
The only time i was not satisfied with my reloads.
Was a bear that i shot at 40 feet, in the chest with a 180 grain nosler partition FROM A 30-06.
Big blood trail, but i never found the bear.
I was soured on nosler for a long time.
I'm back to shooting noslers again.
Last bear dropped like a ton of bricks.
OLD TIMER 76
 
It depends.

As an example, I find 7mm Rem Mag to be rather uninspired from factory loadings. I like to measure up my freebore and determine how much room I have to play with. Load well beyond SAAMI specs for COAL, work up with modern propellants, and it's pretty awesome. I've seen nearly 200 fps difference on some 175gr loads (factory) vs my tuned reloads.

The flip side is that it takes effort to tune like that - sometimes a lot. Whereas factory loadings will do just fine out of ANY chamber, barring physical defects or poor workmanship. My .308 loved cheap Sako 150gr deerhead loads. 3 holes touching at 100 yards is way more than good enough to hunt with even out to a pretty significant distance. Good example of a well-made rifle with decent factory loads working as intended. My .223 loves Hornady Superformance 75gr Match. My Mark V in .300 Wby Mag (thankfully) stacks 3 of the cheap Interlock cartridges into one hole at 100.

My .35 Whelen is okay-ish with factory ammo, but seating 250s out until they're almost touching is the magic. My .257 Wby likes my handloads wayyy more than factory loads. My .30-06 shoots better the faster I push it.
 
DGY said:
I think in modern, common calibers it is probably true! That said I started reloading g when I got my 9.3x62 and my 8x57 cause the factory offering was is pretty weak(at least what is available in Canada) couldn’t find anything loaded with premium bullets either!
If I was in Europe it would be most likely different! Right now I’m waiting for a custom in 7x65r and 9.3x74r and these are pretty hard to find up here and plus they are mainly loaded in break action rifles that are somewhat weaker than the action I’m getting so I should be able to load at a bit higher velocity and tailor them to my barrels!
I’ve been happy the last 35years with factory loads in my different 30-06’s!
The other advantage of reloading is reduced loads for plinking or for new shooters!
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you may not keep for long your brass if too hot ...
 
9.3mauser said:
I wouldn't shoot a 9.3x62 if I had to rely on factory ammo. Likewise for the 7x57.
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Funny, its those two that led me to look at reloading, it was easy to convince myself for the 7x57, I only do a few hundred rounds a year on average, so got a lee classic loader, but still havent used it.
Then I got two 9.3X62s cuz my meds were apparently out of balance. I bought a few boxes of PPU cuz it was handy, even if 60$ a box, then bought some of the federal solids at 180$/box:eek::eek:
After the sticker shock hit me I looked at reloading, then its sticker shock hit me. Dies, press, 150$ hand primer... ffs, thats before the 3$/casing, and 2$/bullet, never mind powder.
If there was a classic loader fir 9.3X62 maybe I would consider it, but 100$/box lapua looks to be a better deal.
 
medvedqc said:
you may not keep for long your brass if too hot ...
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With my 9.3x74r I just want to have 286gn bullets going around 2425fps +or - 25fps… just like my 9.3x62!
As for the 7x65r I don’t know enough yet to know what I want!!
 
Dosing said:
Funny, its those two that led me to look at reloading, it was easy to convince myself for the 7x57, I only do a few hundred rounds a year on average, so got a lee classic loader, but still havent used it.
Then I got two 9.3X62s cuz my meds were apparently out of balance. I bought a few boxes of PPU cuz it was handy, even if 60$ a box, then bought some of the federal solids at 180$/box:eek::eek:
After the sticker shock hit me I looked at reloading, then its sticker shock hit me. Dies, press, 150$ hand primer... ffs, thats before the 3$/casing, and 2$/bullet, never mind powder.
If there was a classic loader fir 9.3X62 maybe I would consider it, but 100$/box lapua looks to be a better deal.
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imagine if you were shooting a magnum you will find out that the 9.3s are a bargain lol
 
I've been slowly collecting and researching reloading for awhile now. I love the idea of making my own and its getting harder to get some of my calibers in factorys. Its a bit overwhelming and expensive to get set up. So much to learn and get.
Im up to a Lee press and dies for 222 rem, 6mm, 257 bob and 338 fed. My rare'er ones. With some brass

Im not collecting stuff for 223, 308, 30-06, shotgun yet. Maybe down the road
Ive been shooting some reload stuff a friend has spun up for me and some of my best groups with them. Best of both worlds, guns that shoot easier to find and less expensive stuff and then reload for the rest!
 
Reloading is addictive. Can lead to hoarding large numbers of rifles and components. Also gives you the uncontrollable urge to kill things. And you’ll go through a lot of targets…
You’ve been warned. :)
 
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