[Uncle Bob]

I’m trying to get my head around the investment in equipment to reload vs. good quality off the shelf ammo.
Currently I’m using 1000 rounds per month of 9mm Federal 115 / 124 at $325 per case.
Appreciate your input.

How old are you and how many years and calibers do you shoot?

Good and well maintained equipment lasts a lifetime.

 

[Uncle Bob]

I'm retired and disabled. So reloading is something I've been doing 46 years. I load 45 and 308. I can load these for half of factory price

Reloading 308 gives you far better accuracy than factory. Also goes for .223.

With pistol it's easier to dial in a load for your pistols, be it accuracy or just pleasant practice ammo.

 

[Uncle Bob]

At today's prices:

9mm <#300/1,000 - not worth it with primers being the primary reason
45 - worth every minute reloading
38 Super - even more worthwhile
38 Special is right at the breaking point now - I simply can't find good enough 389 Special ammo per 1,000 so that's where the bulk of my small primers go.

This is why you stock up when prices are reasonable. I did

 

[Uncle Bob]

If the only caliber to be reloaded is 9mm it's not worth the cost or trouble. I reload 9mm, 223, 308, and 45acp and it is well wprth the time and trouble

9mm
38 super (asap)
38spl (enough loaded to last years)
45acp
44/40 (since 1971)

7.62x39 (the barrel on my SAKO)
7.62x54 (Nagant)
308
30-06 including light loads for position practice.
Have loaded 50 cal, but won't anymore.

Talk to Ed Harris, he loads a LOT of calibers

 

[Uncle Bob]

I enjoy reloading, find it relaxing.

There is pride of ownership so to say, or creation; to send your own remanufactured ammo down range.

Precision rifle reloading is my zen. 😀

 

[Uncle Bob]

I have been reloading 53 years and reloading has saved me a huge amount of money. On top of that the reloads I work up have always been more accurate than any factory ammo that I have tried regardless of the cost of the factory ammo. Say what you want about the latest and greatest factory ammo but a savvy reloader can tune his ammunition to the gun in such a way to out shoot any ammo coming from a factory. Believe me the quality of the bullets, powders, technology, and reloading equipment/dies available these days available to reloaders has kept up. The trend these days is so spend a fortune on a gun that will shoot factory ammunition accurately. I have spent my money on reloading components to make my rifles as accurate as the high dollar rifles.

Reloading has been and still is one of the wisest decisions that I have ever made. Reloading components are subject to market price due to the political ups and downs but so is ammo. Right now ammo prices are coming down a little quicker than reloading components. But in my 53 years of riding the reloading storm I have never regretted reloading.

Hey if I can get a standard grade M1A shoot 1 MOA, hand loaded ammo is infinitely worth it!