Better time than ever to reload?

[153]

I started reloading about three years ago just to get better groups and lower cost some. I was thinking the other day now may be the best time to reload as companies are pushing ammo out the door as fast as they can. I am sure quality inspection is lower as companies want to get all the money they can while the market is hot. Somewhat like the quality of cars when the car market was booming. What do y'all think? I did reduce size of groups from 1.5-2' to less than an inch. Also use higher end bullets for a much lower cost.

[AJ]

I can't say that reloading has been cheaper for me. It has allowed me to shoot more but I still spend at least as much of not more than when I bought factory ammo. The one exception I would say is the 338 Lapua Mag, in factory form it eats a $5 bill for every trigger squeeze. Reloading gets me down to $1.25 per shot for a similar quality load. Plus I can tune the load to my gun.

[youp50]

I did some loading this winter. I managed to find some powder at a couple of retailers in Jan., had bullets and brass from years of watching and buying on the cheap. This kind of panic buying should settle down in a couple of months. I hope the guys that are paying 60-80 a pound for Varget are looking at their 'too expensive to use' powder and wondering why.

[wilmsmeyer]

Having the ability to reload is priceless. Even if the cost is the same. As long as you have components, ammo is never scarce and the price is stable.....AND Uncle Sam isn't counting how much ammo you've bought at the cash register. That's what NYS will have very soon....ammo backround checks.

[sourdough44]

I don't even need any, but I may go load some lighter 120 grn 284 win loads. I was just wanting to try some out. That may be a new predator load, next to the 243.

[zubin]

Except being a good hobby of main and truly I do enjoy all the process of reloading, if you shoot every weekend, then reloading will save you bunch. When I was competing in high power rifle matches, I used to practice at least 500 rounds before each trip. So, I did save a lot by reloading them. Those days I used to pay $120 for 168 grain of Sierra match bullets, 10 boxed of 100 rounds each, shrink wrapped together delivered to my door! Good old days are gone now.

Now reloading 460S&W, 50AE, 500 S&W, 338-378 Weatherby Mags will pay back big time.

[rjhans53]

sort of think it's a really bad time to reload, I can work around the lack of bullets (enough different calibers in the safe so the 7mm and the 6.5 can still be sort of found) powder is sort of tough but here again I can use 4831 instead of 4350 and use other powders that can again be sort of found, but dang it all THERE ISN'T ANY PRIMERS OUT THERE ANYWHERE, I've got a few stashed back but for someone starting it would really be tough to reload

[dannoboone]

Learned my lesson about primers during the last scare. Stocked up on them
after the prices went down somewhat. It makes me a little sick to see some
of the prices on my older powder canisters compared to now. VV used to
sell 2# canisters and I have some left of a couple of their powders which
were bought at $22.sumthin'. Now one pound is over $30, IF you can
find it (this was prior to this last "scare"). But in the meantime, I acquired
more powder than I'll ever use and have plenty of bullets for most of my
rifles.........now wishing I had an ample supply of bullets for a .243, instead
of just a couple hundred of various types and weights of bullets. There is
plenty of brass around here for everything. So the expense for some of
us is far below anyone attempting to start out reloading now.

Guys, ya just need to "hoard" AFTER the scare is over and supplies on
the shelf reappear at a less expensive cost. Sure wish I had taken my own
advice when it came to rimfire. I'm now learning that lesson the hard way,
on something which is impossible to reload!

[Rifleman]

It is possible to make your own 22 rimfire reloads at least in theory. I read a book about it years ago. Anyway I am tired of loading and think I will get rid of the last of my RCBS reloading equipment.

[Richard]

To me, besides being able to produce exceptionally accurate ammunition, which is a MUST in the long range bench rest game, it is also very relaxing. I turn on my TV with the music channel, I have one, two or three dogs in their basement beds near by and I can get lost in tinkering!
Richard

[zubin]

And life is good Richard!
Me too. I do enjoy reloading, and I do it all, reloading,
380, 9, 357Sig, 40, 45ACP pistol
38spl, 357, 44S, 44Mag, 454Casull, 45Colt, 460Mag, 50AE, 500Mag revolver
too many to remember them all for reloading rifle rounds.
12 gauge shotgun only.
Also cast bullets, and buck shots.
I have not been able to cast number 1 shots yet.
Anyone got any tricks to do it?