The Most Arrogant And Condescending Post Denouncing Reloading I Have Ever Read.

[220]

I put 200-300 45 colt loads down range almost every week. My loads cost $.17 per round not counting brass and I get 20+ reloads per stick. Factory 45 colt runs in my area about $.75- $1 per round. So I could spend $300 every week or $51. It take me less than an hour to turn out 300 round on my Dillon 550. Even factoring in the Dillon, it doesn't take long to pay that off several times over. But in all honesty, there is no way I could afford $300 a week in ammo. So not only do I shoot more by reloading I do it for a lot less. I run Unique because it's economical, I buy bulk bullets from Bayou Bullets and primes by the case. All of this drives down the cost per round. I use to do it all on a single stage and that took all week to make up the three hundred rounds, hence the Dillon. My time was worth that purchase alone.

For a fair comparison you really need to factor in brass and equipment cost, what is 45 brass how many reloads do you get, really you could add another 3c with just them to your 17c.
If you were shooting factory you would be buying in bulk just like your reloading components 60c a shot would be more realistic price so the comparison then becomes $180 to $60. Shooting factory you also have the option to sell your once fired brass and narrow it even further.

I am not anti reloading last time I started adding up what I have in my reloading room I stopped when I got to $5k
I reload for everything I have. Have even reloaded BP 22lr just because I could but I think most shooter fool themselves on what they are actually saving. No doubt there are savings to be made for some and when you view it as part of a hobby or a hobby in its self then the cost doesnt have to be justified.
Unless shooting is a business for you, then it is hard to argue for factoring time/labour, I will say though all the professional shooters I know none reload, for them the time has to be taken into account because it is a cost and when it is purchasing factory ammo is the cheapest option.

[BrokenolMarine]

I have to chime in. When I was shooting PPC, I shot around ten to twelve thousand rounds per year split between thirty eight and forty five, with a bit of forty in the mix. If I hadn't been reloading, there would have been no way I would have been able to afford to shoot the year long circuit. I did choose to buy 223 ammo in bulk as the amount that I shot didn't justify the purchase of the toolhead, dies, and caliber conversion kit to reload.

As far as professional shooters and reloading, I can only speak from personal experience. The professional shooters I associated with over the past thirty years that actually shot in high volume? They either reloaded or were sponsored and didn't have to pay for their own ammo. Most were sponsored. Nice when you don't have to expend time OR money.

[deano5150]

I wonder how much money (time) the poster wasted thinking about and posting that topic?

[Mistered]

I wonder how much money (time) the poster wasted thinking about and posting that topic?

Well probably not much but after realizing he was largely in part 'overruled' his final post was priceless - and spoke volumns:

False on every point. Not interested in arguing about it. Yes, you are getting rich reloading. About to order a Dillon 650 and some Amway while I'm at it...

[BrokenolMarine]

I forget what the savings were exactly, but there were a group of us shooting PPC that bought supplies in bulk. A sergeant from Richmond Pd and one from our department would take a dually pickup and enclosed trailer to GA and pick up the bulk order... Hundreds of thousands of bullets and primers, several hundred pounds of powder, and various accessories. Twice a year. Buy in bulk, additional savings.

I know my cost for thirty eight semi-wadcutters was about a third of factory, and my load was matched to my PPC gun. My 45 loads were matched to my P220 and my 1911. Saved at least half the cost of factory. Friends always wanted to "buy a couple hundred rounds."
Not.

[Rifletom]

I like to handload. Relaxing, taking my time. I started years ago because I couldn't find 7x57 ammo all the time[1977 to present] and recently, for the .45 Colt. Factory .45 Colt ammo is expensive. I handload for all firearms save for .22lr and shotgun. It's a hobby. One I totally enjoy. My time, my leisure. Think I'll handload some 30-30 today.

[Firefly]

You are dead right the poster is a complete Pratt. Reloading is not about cost it is about consistency, most if not all target shooters reload to get ammunition trailered to their own gun that will shoot very small groups every time, if you want tight groups you don't want factory amunition
it is inconsistent.

[RanchRoper]

And what's the deal with those side loading gate rifles?....

[Mags]

.
The "Pratt" got more mileage on this forum than the other and doesn't even know it
Oh the things that get under our duster that get the dust up!

[Mistered]

All good points.

I only posted that because I see a few here getting started in reloading and just thought it would be humorous for some to read - and it was for me.

I 'll admit I got sucked into responding but I felt I had to as the OP was so far off and I (as well as many others) had some rational and objective points to make about reloading.

I can think of MANY other pursuits, that are vastly more expensive and time consuming - and are considered 'hobbies' !

[Mags]

.
Esquared said we can't talk about that anymore.

And what's the deal with those side loading gate rifles?....

I'd say this [side-gate] topic has run its course unless or until something happens.

[BigAl52]

And what's the deal with those side loading gate rifles?....

There pretty cool RR you need one for the other side of Badger. 38-55 would look good in the hands of an ole cowboy its been around a while.

[Cofisher]

Yeah, I fish. Nuff said.

[ESquared]

Hey, you can talk about the side gate all you want. I'm just out of that one.

File it under "life's too short..."!

[RanchRoper]

Kidding guys...I know we've beat that one to a pulp.

[Bubbas4570]

I reload, some money savings....mostly to relax and tailor loads for my tools.

I also ride a Harley Davidson.....let's talk about "wasting" money on a Hobbie now......

[RanchRoper]

....or get a few hay-burners. $$$ = gone

[220]

As far as professional shooters and reloading, I can only speak from personal experience. The professional shooters I associated with over the past thirty years that actually shot in high volume? They either reloaded or were sponsored and didn't have to pay for their own ammo. Most were sponsored. Nice when you don't have to expend time OR money.

We are talking slightly different things when we say professional shooters, here in Aus there are virtually no target or recreational professional shooters some do have sponsorship that helps with ammo firearms etc but not to the stage they can survive without a income.
The professional shooter here are shooting deer and kangaroos for pet food, human consumption or culling contract. The kangaroo cull averages about 5 million a year. Doesnt matter if you are looking at budget ammo or premium if you factor in brass cost and a life expectancy of 7-10 reloads cost comes to around 70% of factory ammo. Most recoup the difference buy selling their once fired brass.

[BrokenolMarine]

Cool 220, I can understand that. The guys I am referring to are the ones you see wearing sponsor's jerseys and shooting firearms sports for a living. Whether it's a handgun run and gun type event, three gun matches, or something like skeet, trap, or sporting clays, they do a lot of shooting to stay at the top of their game. Between practice, promotional events, and competition, they probably put more rounds down range in a month than three of us in a year.

[Bubbas4570]

I look at this topic this way. If you think that getting set up to put together 9 m m loads on the cheap for a once-a-month type of shooting thing where you go out and plink you're not going to be saving any money. the type of money that you need to think about saving is going to be realized when you or either loading to get accuracy from your rifle or handgun, or you start looking into the more esoteric rounds slash calibers. When I did a lot of Buffalo rifle shooting, and was reloading 45/70 to the tune of a couple hundred a month, that would have been prohibitively expensive. As those rounds even back then were nuts. I would cast my own bullets, and buy powder in 8 pound keg lots, and go at it.

One can still save money reloading 9 mm, but it's not something that I would think you can start up and only do that caliber to save the money. Especially if you do not buy your components in massive bulk quantities. The only other thing I can think of to make 9 mm cheap as possible, would be to cast your own bullets.

Not that my mindset is the be-all end-all, but that's just how I see it. Everyone has their own idea of what saving money or the correct idea for getting into reloading is.