Ammo Jon
Ultimate Member
- Mar 3, 2008
- 21,052
and NEVER drink while reloading.
What if you get thirsty?
and NEVER drink while reloading.
I didn't start reloading to save money. That's the same as homebrewing beer. By the time you get all the equipment you aren't "saving" anything. Sure, each batch's materials might be cheap, but I've invested tons of time and money just to get to the point where I can pull the handle. I started to make ammo that I wanted. 5.56 load with no flash suppressant. Subsonic 300 blackout for a single shot/bolt gun using pistol powder. 165gr subsonic 9mm. 357 magnum that expels fire. Mid range 357. 38 special that shoots like a 22. To me it's a lot more about creating what you want than just saving some scratch. Buy it cheap and stack it deep certainly applies to reloading. You definitely won't save any money if you had to get started right now. Collect stuff when and where you can and you'll be ready for next time. Buying everything right now would be painful, if not impossible with all of the shortages.
Things may have changed but I got into reloading due the frustration of inconsistency of factory loads. Went from a 5 inch spread on factory loads to a 1.5 inch spread on hand loads (30-30 Marlin at 100 yards).
Things may have changed but I got into reloading due the frustration of inconsistency of factory loads. Went from a 5 inch spread on factory loads to a 1.5 inch spread on hand loads (30-30 Marlin at 100 yards).
It’s false economy to look at how much you save by reloading. But, if it makes you happy to create the illusion that you are spending less, then you have fun being you.
I calculated the number of 9mm/.45acp/etc that it would take to pay for my Dillon 550, and it was paid for within the first 2 years, but during that time, I spent way more on reloading supplies than I would have spent on ammo. It was easier to convince the Minister of Finance that I was saving money by spending money than convincing her that buying ammo was a good idea. So, the false illusion comes from that trap that everyone I know who reloads falls into. They all still spend the same, or more money, but get to shoot more. More importantly, they get to spend less time in the company of others while reloading.
One thing that everyone ignores when doing the savings calculations is how fast new calibers pay for themselves. It only takes about 2 boxes of decent quality rifle caliber reloads to pay for the new set of dies and shell holder for a single stage setup. It takes a couple more to pay for caliber conversion kits for the progressive. The more obscure the cartridge, the faster it pays off.
My entire stable of reloading equipment was probably paid for with reloads of .416 Remington Magnum ammo. At $80 a box of twenty for the cheap Remington green and white box crap that could be reloaded for less than $80 per hundred rounds at the quality of premium ammo, I’m able to abuse my shoulder, and the shoulder of anyone brave enough to give her a go, without $4 per round guilt.
But reloading has never saved me money. I couldn’t afford not to buy it with the savings.
It’s false economy to look at how much you save by reloading. But, if it makes you happy to create the illusion that you are spending less, then you have fun being you.
I calculated the number of 9mm/.45acp/etc that it would take to pay for my Dillon 550, and it was paid for within the first 2 years, but during that time, I spent way more on reloading supplies than I would have spent on ammo. It was easier to convince the Minister of Finance that I was saving money by spending money than convincing her that buying ammo was a good idea. So, the false illusion comes from that trap that everyone I know who reloads falls into. They all still spend the same, or more money, but get to shoot more. More importantly, they get to spend less time in the company of others while reloading.
One thing that everyone ignores when doing the savings calculations is how fast new calibers pay for themselves. It only takes about 2 boxes of decent quality rifle caliber reloads to pay for the new set of dies and shell holder for a single stage setup. It takes a couple more to pay for caliber conversion kits for the progressive. The more obscure the cartridge, the faster it pays off.
My entire stable of reloading equipment was probably paid for with reloads of .416 Remington Magnum ammo. At $80 a box of twenty for the cheap Remington green and white box crap that could be reloaded for less than $80 per hundred rounds at the quality of premium ammo, I’m able to abuse my shoulder, and the shoulder of anyone brave enough to give her a go, without $4 per round guilt.
But reloading has never saved me money. I couldn’t afford not to buy it with the savings.
My buddy’s expression. “I’m going broke saving money!”
Wow, this generated a ton of responses and all good reads! I’m sure I’d end up shooting up any savings for sure. I don’t have much room to set up anything yet and don’t have any of the equipment. This was a general inquiry to let me know if it’s worth it ya know.
In normal times, you can stock up on supplies.Then knowing you you can load as many bullets as you want or need......thats something you can't put a dollar value on