Reloading?? Is it worth it?

GundamZero

GundamZero

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So I am getting into Rifle Shooting w/ my .308 Bolt action.

I have been looking at the price of .308 Match ammo and it is pretty pricey and scarce since COVID.

I want to start reloading for .308 and 45/70.

I probably shoot 250 rounds of 45/70 a year and approximate will shoot about 1000 rounds of .308 a year.

I do not need a fast or high tech setup. Just a regular setup, that is safe and will meet my low production needs.

Is it worth it for me to Start reloading?

Can anyone recommend any beginner setups for gear that will allow me to reload 45/70 and Match .308??

I am putting huge emphasis on a safe setup, I have seen some scary videos on youtube where people's guns explode from shooting reloads.
 
There are several reasons that might drive the choice to reload. Some cost savings is almost always possible, how much depends on the caliber and load.

Many people load to try to wring the best accuracy from their firearms, this is most true for rifles.

I place a lot of value on self-sufficiency and reliable supply, and that is really what you are exploring if current scarcity has got you thinking. But it's kind of a flawed plan. Reloading components are often the first thing to disappear when there is a shortage, if you try to buy what you need right now, you may be SOL.

In a normal market you can get started on a good (maybe not great) single stage setup capable of loading about 50 rounds per hour for $300. I would certainly think that a guy who shoots 1000 rounds of .308 per year could justify that. And .45/70 is a caliber that has high payback when reloaded, so a bigger budget might well make sense.

The hazards of reloading are virtually all due to the reloader, not the equipment.
 
I would say with those quantities of rounds and the 45/70, reloading would be cost effective. It takes some money to get going, patience to slowly learn, and then time to actually do it. I'm glad I got into it years ago. For better precision rifle rounds, I use a Redding T7 press, but Lyman's press is similar and almost half the cost; having all your dies securely mounted once enables consistent accuracy.
 
GundamZero said:
So I am getting into Rifle Shooting w/ my .308 Bolt action.

I have been looking at the price of .308 Match ammo and it is pretty pricey and scarce since COVID.

I want to start reloading for .308 and 45/70.

I probably shoot 250 rounds of 45/70 a year and approximate will shoot about 1000 rounds of .308 a year.

I do not need a fast or high tech setup. Just a regular setup, that is safe and will meet my low production needs.

Is it worth it for me to Start reloading?

Can anyone recommend any beginner setups for gear that will allow me to reload 45/70 and Match .308??

I am putting huge emphasis on a safe setup, I have seen some scary videos on youtube where people's guns explode from shooting reloads.
Click to expand...

Exploding guns are about carelessness not the reloading set up
 
I got a Lee reloading kit and a few other things so to keep the initial cost down... even if the Lee kit is cheap and not of the highest quality I’m like you in term of quantity maybe even less(we’ll see). But I shoot 9.3x62 and up here the ammo is way more expensive than down south and it is all pretty much special order so reloading make sense!
 
I would suggest you start with RCBS partner beginning kit. It is not expensive ($135) and works very well. Also get RCBS dies, a mallet, a bullet puller of some sort, a caliper, and a lee case trimmer and you are good to go. This is the strict minimum. You can expand little by little later on.
If you shoot 1000 rounds a year, it is definitely worth it.
Now I have a friend of mine who uses one box of ammo every 10 years. He shoots one cartridge before hunting season to make sure he is well sighted in and one shot for his deer. He is not interested in handloading.
 
While I shop and support CGN contributing businesses as much as possible, I cringe at suggesting the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Deluxe Reloading Kit that is offered by Cabela's (who is obviously not a contributor to CGN).... but its a hell of a deal even at today's price of $1,250.... was about $900 just 7 years ago.

While my standards for reloading equipment border on "arrogant elitist level" now a days, my own personal experience with this very package years ago was very good....even though every piece of the kit has been sold and replaced/upgraded.

The only things you will need to buy separately for the kit are:
Dies (naturally),
Calipers,
Brass cleaning equipment (i.e. wet stainless steel or vibratory case polisher)
Media separator (for the brass cleaning equipment).

Regarding safety of reloading.....well I don't come from a family with a history of firearms usage, I had no prior knowledge of reloading. And I've never had any kind of "close call" with a bad load made by myself - on the range/field or in the reloading room.

Research, Common Sense, and Attention to Detail will be all you need to get you started.

I trust my own loads more than any off the shelf, factory ammunition because I trust my own abilities and quality control more so than ammo that is mass produced..... that being said I would never trust anyone else reloads in my gun.

These guys on Youtube going around blowing up guns with reloads (and/or factory ammo) likely know 9 out of 10 exactly what they are doing.... and they are doing it for click bait.
 
I dont think you will save a lot you will shoot 2x as much. A lot of good advice above me. I started with a progressive(got a new one for a steal) but now I am more into precision instead of bulk reloading. I'm guessing with a 308 you are looking for precision as well. 100% start off with a single stage as a beginner. Do your research. Pick a couple bullets that people with a similar rifle are getting good groups from. I do it because its satisfying. I also reccomend a good set of dies (full length sizing/ seating with micrometer) for consistency when sizing and seating bullets.

Good luck
 
I love reloading but......some times....like now,...projectiles are impossible to get for some calibures , and good powders are harder to find and the price is going up.
30 30 is tuff. brass is expensive or hard to find and if you want to use cheaper plated bullets, ..forget it.

other common calibures seem to be ok for now.
 
lone ranger said:
I love reloading but......some times....like now,...projectiles are impossible to get for some calibures , and good powders are harder to find and the price is going up.
30 30 is tuff. brass is expensive or hard to find and if you want to use cheaper plated bullets, ..forget it.

other common calibures seem to be ok for now.
Click to expand...

Buy it cheap, stack it deep.
 
Certainly you can benefit from handloading, not only from the standpoint of savings over the cost of factory ammo, but handloading also allows you to optimize your ammunition to your specific rifles and needs, which in turn increases the versatility of those rifles and increases the opportunity for their use. The specific types of shooting you want to do today, over time could evolve into other genres. You can begin modestly enough, then add to the complexity of your handloading setup as you discover bottlenecks you wish to eliminate, or discover techniques and tools that enhance your ability to make accurate, reliable ammunition.

There are startup costs involved beyond the cost of purchasing the actual reloading tools. First considerations are your budget and the amount of room you can dedicate to handloading. A solid bench that will not flex or move under load is essential. It will require a 2" lip to allow for the clearance of the press's linkage. A bench can be made easily enough if you have access to hand tools, some hardware and lumber. Existing tables and counter tops that are unsupported by an underside framework are almost always a poor alternative to a bench that was designed at the outset to be used for handloading. I've seen Work Mates used as a loading platform, and they will do in situations where room is at a premium. But a Work Mate doesn't offer much in the way to height adjustment and deciding on the height of the bench before you decide on what your bench will look like is an important consideration. Will you be sitting or standing? If the height of the bench requires you to work in hunched over posture, you will fatigue quickly and lose interest, or worse, rush to get finished, and not pay attention to detail. If you intend to use a balance beam powder scale, having a shelf that allows you to read the scale at eye level is beneficial, as it is for a runout gauge or similar measuring tools. The importance of bright overhead lighting without shadows cannot be overstated.

Hope this helps
 
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Absolutely yes. Not only is it cost effective for volume shooters or those shooting hard to find or non-existent commercial ammo, but it's a pleasant hobby on those shy!ty winter days.

Also, buy it cheap and stack it deep. We're going into a dark period of firearm ownership.
 
I started reloading because of the amount of 308 i used to shoot, started with Lee challenger kit (changed he scale) for around $300

I still use the lee kit 8 years later for rifle reloading.
 
Yes for seversl reasons.
25-06 with 75gr Vmax
308 with 110gr Hornady sp
303 with cast & "The Load" ( lotsa cheap shooting)
41 Swiss (more lotsa cheap shooting )
2R Lovell ( you ain't buying that at Bass Pro ! )
38-55 with proper cases for early Marlins.
.....and the list goes on.
Enjoy
 
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