Un-loading

[North Country Gal]

Turned a corner

Been kind of boxed into a corner these last few years with the reloading. We shoot a lot, so we really should reload, but we also have a lot of other activities that demand a lot of time (shooting is actually one of them), so finding the time to sit down at the bench for an uninterrupted hour or two is now almost impossible and we all know how important it is to give full attention to the task when at the bench.

Decision time, then. We sold off all of our loading equipment and supplies. Gone, done, no more reloading. Not an easy decision, because I've been reloading almost as long as I've been shooting. Still, I felt it was time.

To keep ammo costs at least a bit reasonable, we’ve put a self-imposed limit of 50 cents a round, and preferably, 30 cents a round, for factory ammo. This is within our budget, given the amount of shooting we do, but we've also been drifting more and more to rimfire shooting, anyway. That, and we also do a lot of air gun shooting, so we're covered in the case of another run on ammo, anyway. Lastly, I have access to locals who sell recycled ammo at only nominally more than I can reload it, cost-wise.

Have also trimmed down our collection of guns to reflect this, though we have made some exceptions for certain guns, even if they are more expensive to shoot. No more guns in expensive to shoot calibers. (Contenders are an exception, because i can always swap barrels. Have friends that also shoot Contenders and we do a lot of barrel trading.)

Not that any of this is headline news. The reason I post this is for folks in a similar situation and for folks who assume that reloading is an absolute must if you shoot a lot. It's not. I still strongly believe that reloading is the smart way to go, but only IF it works for your situation. It's not an absolute must for a diehard shooter, though it may take an adjustment in the cartridges and guns you shoot. I'm proof of that.

Thanks for letting me share this.

[Sir Henry]

I kept all my reloading supplies and equipment but haven't reloaded in years. Shooting rimfire has a lot to do with that. I do need to thin out my herd of rifles though. I think I have enough .22 ammo to last me the rest of my life.

[clovishound]

I shot nothing but rimfire for decades. I also didn't shoot much. When I finally got into centerfire, I found that I really enjoyed it. I still like rimfire, but the .38s, .357s and .45s are so much more fun IMO. Now that my daughter has gotten into the sport, it would be difficult for me to afford us shooting at anything near the volume we both want to. A typical day at the range involves around 450 rounds, 350 of that centerfire. It would cost me just a little shy of $100 to purchase factory ammo in this quantity. I might be able to save some by researching and quantity purchasing, but it would still be a good bit more that I could justify spending. I currently spend about $50 or less for the same ammo.

Fortunately, I have the time to reload the ammo required. I also have more disposable income the last few years, although I'm not swimming in it. I still drive a 25 year old vehicle.

Sorry that you had to give up on reloading. I do understand that not everyone's situation is the same, and the solutions that are a good fit for me are not necessarily a good fit for others.

I sincerely hope you are able to continue to enjoy the hobby.

[North Country Gal]

Thanks, Clovis. Oh, I'll never stop shooting, even if it's just a BB gun or a slingshot.

We are able buy 9mm for the same price as 17 HMR and even cheaper than 22 mag. If I shoot the aluminum case 45 auto, only a little more. No problem, then, keeping the 1911s fed. Really can't justify taking the time to load these two cartridges, then.

357/38 we can buy locally in bulk for only a little more than 45 auto, so those are also in our budget.

The ones that hurt are the 44 mag and the 45 Colt, but I'll still shoot them on an every now and then basis in the Contenders. I can justify keeping these two cartridges in the Contender because I'm only investing in a barrel, not an entire gun.

In centerfire rifle, 223 is doable for us. We also shoot in our Contenders, both rifle and pistol. 7.62x39 is also doable and we may get one of those in a CZ, again. Really don't shoot other centerfire rifle rounds enough to miss them.

[CT_Shooter]

I haven't been able to shoot for the last six months. Before that, it was pretty much once a week, mostly my Henry .357 BBB and SmokeWagon SA revolver. I miss it, but an occasional hour of reloading helps to keep me in the sport and I enjoy it. It's the only centerfire caliber I shoot (with the exception of its little brother, the .38 special). I believe I have enough brass, powder, primers, and bullets to carry me to the final roundup for both of them. I'm certain that I have enough 22 LRs to last that long, too.

[RanchRoper]

I just keep trying stockpile my 45c. Looked at reloading but just no time. Maybe in a couple of years will see.

[North Country Gal]

Still plan to shoot 45 Colt, too. Just no way will I part with my USFA Colts in 45 Colt. Finest revolvers I've ever owned. Also shoot 45 Colt in the Contender. Sold the Marlin 1894 in 45 Colt, though. Great gun, but WAY too easy to blow though a box of 45 Colt ammo in short order.

Did sell off both Ruger No. 1s in 44 mag and 243. Hated to let them go, but I have Encore/Contender barrels in those cartridges and the TCs actually shoot every bit as well or better than as the Rugers. Could justify keeping the TCs, because don't have much money wrapped up in the barrels. They're there when I feel like spending the money on 44 mag and 243 ammo. Not so with the Rugers. Way too much money tied up in guns that I wouldn't shoot much. Got an excellent price on the 44 mag and actually made a little on the 243, though.

Turned right around, of course, and used the money from the Rugers to buy other single shots in more affordable to shoot chamberings.

[JEBar]

the time may come when we stop reloading but I sure hope it doesn't .... for us doing so would probably indicate that we aren't able to spend much time on the range .... that said it seems like we don't have as much time to spend loading as we used to .... picking up a Hornady progressive press has really increased the number of rounds we turn out in a short period of time so even with reduced time we are able to stay ahead

[tx gunrunner]

I could NEVER do the Cowboy Action for 18 yrs if I didn't reload . A match is over 100 rounds and do that twice a month that is 200 rounds a month . Practice is over 300 rounds a month . So 500 rounds a month would be way out of my budget plus the match fees . I sit in ft of the TV it this setup and load for over 30 yrs .







I can make 500 rds of custom ammo 500 rds for under $70 . Bullets cost $53 for 500 rds ..PRIMERS cost me under $8.00 for 500 rds.... Powder cost for 500 rds maybe $8. total cost for 10 boxes of ammo under $70 . The cheapest 38 spec ammo loaded cost over $180 for 500 rds .

[Estacado]

Sorry to hear you are getting out of reloading. A persons gotta do what a persons gotta do. I have down sized on a lot of things, but not reloading. I get as much pleasure from reloading as I do shooting. It is like meditation to me. It is very soothing for me to go to my reloading room and crank out a few shells. It relieves the daily stress.