I May Start Reloading

[Wobbly]

Also, Reloading and "saving" money is an oxymoron.  You don't "save" money, all you do is to have a new and different hobby that will redirect any savings into your components to allow you shoot (more?).   

This is a misrepresentation. You will save money. The issue is, what will you do with the savings ?

You may know a "shopper" who saves $200 on the purchase of a couch. Then, they go out and buy the matching love seat, recliner and 60" wall-mount TV to celebrate ! True, their checkbook is busted. But, they did save $200 on the couch, which was the intended purchase.

What happens is that in place of the 30 rounds a person may normally go shoot, the reloader often finds themselves with 600. So they simply go shoot 5-600 rounds in place of 30. Did they save money ? Yes, they wisely got the price per cartridge to drop from 20 cents per to les than 10 cents per round. But their pockets are empty because they then chose to spend all their savings by shooting more. A lot more.

So don't lay that personal decision at the feet of reloading. You will save money. The real question is what will you do with the savings ?

 

[JBruns]

I agree with Wobbly, but I think bang bang said that tongue in cheek.

The thing I'd see people argue (when 9mm was selling cheap a year ago) is that you weren't saving money because the cost of reloading was about the same as, say, Win White Box. The part about the cost was true, but the comparison was not. Most reloaders work up loads that shoot consistently well out of their gun(s) and is otherwise easy to live with. So you really need to compare it to higher end ammo. When I shoot name brand store bought range ammo, which is not often (black friday specials, etc), it generally has a lot more flash and smoke. Always prefer shooting my own loads.

[Wobbly]

I agree with Wobbly, but I think bang bang said that tongue in cheek.

You may be correct. I seem to have a really hard time deciphering message tones these days. And an especially hard time with some of the younger gens humor. Even when my son comes to visit, the rest of the family is rolling on the floor, holding their stomachs. I'm like... what ??

 

[Dan_69GTX]

If you have self control, you can save a lot of money.

I, have no self control, but have a lot of practice controlling recoil!   

GREAT point on the better quality ammo - could never convince my dad of that. 

[Wobbly]

Thanks, all, for the tips. Will start studying now. I'm sure you will be getting more questions from me soon.

Stephen

Studying AND looking for a local mentor.

The reason for this is that a mentor may allow you to use his equipment for a short time. Or, in the decision between equivalent presses, you may choose the same brand as his so that you can share training and accessories.

There are lots of good reasons to seek out local help.

[sevt_chevelle]

My cost per round of reloads is less then buying factory, so yeah I save money.  But, instead you buy factory ammo and only shot 200 rds per range session, me on the other hand shot 500 rds per session. 

So I do indeed save money per round and also get to shot more and spend more time at the range, I fail to see a problem here.

[JBruns]

Studying AND looking for a local mentor.

The reason for this is that a mentor may allow you to use his equipment for a short time. Or, in the decision between equivalent presses, you may choose the same brand as his so that you can share training and accessories.

There are lots of good reasons to seek out local help.

Totally agree. If you can find someone to show you the ropes, that'd be a great thing to take advantage of. But there are lots of online video resources these days too, if you can't find a local mentor.

[bang bang]

Studying AND looking for a local mentor.

The reason for this is that a mentor may allow you to use his equipment for a short time. Or, in the decision between equivalent presses, you may choose the same brand as his so that you can share training and accessories.

There are lots of good reasons to seek out local help.

Totally agree. If you can find someone to show you the ropes, that'd be a great thing to take advantage of. But there are lots of online video resources these days too, if you can't find a local mentor.

I agree & disagree.

Just like any other trade/skill and hobby.  You will find people that know what they are doing and will find people that dont.

So i would be real careful about who you choose to learn from.

when i was at the range 1 day, some guy arrived and brought his 44mag pistol and some reloads.  he didnt bring his spotting scope and he setup next to me and asked if i could see where his shots were hitting at 50 feet.  I could not see any hits and this was on a 4 ft x 2 ft board the club uses.   I asked about his reloads and "i dont know" was alot of the answers i got.

So i picked up and move out of the area.

good luck

[lewmed]

 If you are looking for a mentor ask the RO at your local range they know who the shooters are that reload. When ever I'm working up a new load changing powder charge or primer brand many times the RO is right there watching and asking questions.  Also a local Dillon dealer may be a good place to start my first Dillon progressive came from a dealer that gave shooting safety and basic reloading classes.
 

[mistercmath]

Thanks for all the good advice.

Stephen

[hardmix]

Reloading is definitely the way to go if you plan on shooting on a regular basis. As you are now aware, your timing is less than exceptional. That said, keep your eyes open on componants and equipment, you never know you might get lucky.

[Wobbly]

Everyone else is having the same idea. Dillon currently has a 3 month backlog on machine orders, and piece parts like 9mm shellplates are out of stock.

I went on Ebay yesterday and was shocked. People who bought new 550's and 750's have them on Ebay trying to fill the gap by offering their new machine at an extreme profit. There were 550's for $900, and 750's for $1200 !!!

[Dan_69GTX]

What is surprising is that folks are PAYING that - as well as 200+ for 1K primers on gunbroker.

Simply amazing!!

[lewmed]

As for saving money by reloading with the current inflated ammo prices my newest press a 1 year old Dillon XL750 set up for 9mm has almost paid for it's self. I only have one box of 1500 Fiocchi sm pistol primers left from my first case of 12,000 that I opened the day I set the press up. With 3 of us shooting 9mm I would say we are saving a lot of money. My older loading presses a Dillon 450 , 650 and a Lee Loadmaster have also paid for them self many times over.
 But with the shortage of reloading supplies unless you planed ahead and stocked up I would avoid buying equipment until the supply has caught up with demand. I'll bet you this time next year you'll be able to find lightly used or new unused equipment at a good price. Kind of like after Y2K people were selling generators and MRE's they had  stockpiled. Now would be a good time to study up on reloading, plan your loading room and stock up on once fired brass or find a friend that reloads.
 

[recoilguy]

If you plan to shoot for a while.
If you like shooting and enjoy knowing what you use - you made.
If you like the idea that you can make for half the price twice the quality product.
I'd do it. It wont always be like this and man is it fun.

Back a while when components were inexpensive and bullets were cheap and available at everybody's favorite gun store
Walmart.. (I hated when people bought bullets at Walmart.) they'd tell me why do you make bullets for $6 a 50 when I can get them a Walmart for $8.50?
My time is more valuable. Shopping at Walmart doesn't prove your time is valuable it proves money is your only consideration.
an $8.50/box bullet is not the same quality bullet my $6/ box bullet is.

I would travel further, pay more, and do it again in a week rather then buy bullets at a store that only carries bullets when politics make it seem acceptable, then they price the actual gun store out of business or at least out of customers and do not care a bit. Then when it doesn't seem politically acceptable to sell them they stop and issue and anti gun statement from their corporate HQ. And now the local guy is gone as well. Awesome!!!! Mission accomplished.

Reload it is fun and rewarding, and like wobbly said you do save money, I just shoot more for the same money like chevelle does.

Enjoy!

RCG