Reloading ..... never, sometimes, always .. how long?

[Chuck R.]

WOW, now I’m feeling old!

Started when I was 14 and shooting Trap religiously with my dad at our gun club (Ponsness Warren 375). From there I branched out to rifle and pistol, and was casting my own at 17.

I’ve now done some wildcats and custom chamberings.

Really doesn’t seem like that long a time though……

Chuck

 

[grislyatoms]

Been at it for the last couple of years. Mulled it over for close to 20 years before taking the plunge, though!

I load primarily .45 ACP, although I have done .38/.357, .223, and I am about to get .380 ACP dies. I figure I have loaded 3500+ rounds.

I really wish I had started earlier. The potential savings over the last 20 years keeps looking me in the eye!

 

[murph50]

Just started reloading last week. I took a couple free classes at Sportsmans Warehouse which where really a big help. Right now I'm only set up for 9mm.
I made up 30 rounds on Friday night. Very nervously hit the range on Sat. morning. I figured I'd use my 20 year old Taurus PT 908 (didn't want to blow up a newer gun). I was amazed. All 30 rounds fired great--1 misfire but it fired the second time. Still have all 10 fingers and the intact PT 908.
Plus I picked up a couple hundreds rounds of brass from the recycle bin. Yesterday I made up 50 more rounds. Slow going with a single stage press and I can really see that the RCBS digital scale and dispenser will be needed real soon but I'm having a blast.
I've shyed away from larger caliber handguns for years because of the ammo costs. Now the wife wants a 357 revolver and I'm looking at the SA 1911.
I got a feeling that reloading is now going to become a big part of my lifestyle.

 

[JJE]

I got an RCBS turret press at the beginning of summer, but only put it together a couple of weeks ago. I'm still trying to get my first batch completed (have primed & belled cases). Hopefully this weekend I'll finish up (and maybe even shoot!) some 125 gr JSPs out of my S&W Model 10 snubby. I've learned a lot just trying to finish my first batch!

I convinced myself I'd save money relaoding, but I just paid for a Ruger Blackhawk in .357 (at least it was used) just so I'd have a good test gun for my .38 spl and .357 magnum loads. That was a little hard for my wife to swallow.

 

[Vitamin G]

Been reloading for about a year. I do 10mm, 45acp, 44mag, and 30-06. Lee anniversary kit, but i'll be upgrading to a Lee Turret soon. I don't load enough to justify a dillon, and even if i did, i think the 200/hr is plenty fast.

 

[dtalley]

10 years off and on. Had a 5 year lay off after a divorce so actually only about 5 years total, after I thik about it.

 

[db_tanker]

Started rolling my own when I got ahold of a 45 WinMag and 45-70 Contender barrel.

That was about 7 years ago, I reckon. Still have the 45-70 but got rid of the 45 WinMag.

I don't even want to guess at the amount of money expended as of today. lol

D

 

[Lennyjoe]

3 years now. Well worth the time and effort in my humble opinion.

 

[DWARREN123]

In July I purchased a new Ruger SP-101 in 32 H&R magnum, last month got a Marlin 1894C in 32 H&R magnum. Have you priced 32 H&R magnum? $10 for 20 rounds of SWC and $12 for 20 rounds of JHP, only 2 loadings I have seen and only from Federal. Had to start reloading to feed these little beast.
They really are fun guns!

 

[Ala Dan]

HANDLOADING

"As they say, _____ rolls down hill"~! (Fill in the blank)

Yes, I have been handloading ammunition for many years now. I got into it
during the fall of 1972, as my friend and fellow THR member Capbuster took me under his wing and taught me everything that he knew. And, that experience has made me a better pistolero. Many thanks for the "Handloading 101" course Cliff.



'Round 1975 or so, I branched out into handloading for rifles; feeding the
needs of a .22-250, .243, .25-06, and a 7m/m magnum. Quickly, I learned
that I was spreading myself too thin; and spending many hours away from
family, at the loading bench. After, a year or so I gave up on doing the
rifle thing; and concentrated strictly on handgun calibers.

In doing so, I can't stress enough how important correct record keeping
is. Its kind'a like handloading and record keeping go hand in hand. One can
quickly thumb through their notes on their favorite load, and relay that info
on to their friends. And YES, I'm now 59 years young; and I still do both.

 

[Gewehr98]

Just turned 40 myself...

Dad started me on Lee Loaders around age 12. Needless to say, he really likes my Dillon setups at my house.

 

[BobMcG]

I'm in the 30yr category, loading for a variety of handguns and rifles as a hobby to enjoy rather than with the idea of saving money. Having started out with a Lee Target Loader in .308 in '76 and eventually getting a RCBS RC Jr. for all my handloading needs. Currently I'm utilizing an RCBS RC Supreme to handle the chores for nine CFR calibers and two CFHG calibers and enjoying it as much as ever.

 

[MCgunner]

I'm 54. When I was a 10 year old bugger picker, I'd sit for hours with my grandpa and uncle beggin' for a "job" in the reloading process as they stocked up their ammo in the "reloading room". They usually let me chamfer cases after trimming, since that was a low risk job. I watched every move they made with intent study. I inhereted that equipment and still use some of it today. When I started reloading, I really needed no instruction. I had done the undergraduate work as a kid.

 

[BIGJACK]

STarted loading for my 06 back in '61 been doing it ever since. Load several calibers now. BAck in the 60s and 70s I use to load 10 boxes for the cost of the components and the set of dies(which I kept), for friends and afterwords $10 per box.

Started loading 12 and 20 gauge in about 1970. Don;t load shot gun shells anymore. Sons have grown up and gone their way and really don;t shoot as much as we use to. We use to never go to the dove field with less than 15 boxes and usually it was like 20 boxes 2 to 4 times a week.

 

[DogBonz]

I want to ...

But right now I don't have the cash to spend on equipment. I've been keeping my eyes open on EBay, but I'm not sure what used equipment is worth.

 

[lee n. field]

Off and on, for the last 8 to 10 years.

I try to have a die set for most everything I have around. I most commonly reload .38 Special and .45ACP, and .223. ABout the most "exotic" think I load for is 9mm Makarov in sized and trimmed 9x19 cases.

I do not cast (yet).

 

[mainebear]

not sure what used equipment is worth

Reloaded with a Lee handloader starting in the mid 80's, quit to make a fortune. Did that. Lost it. Found my sanity again. Started reloading again recently with very little money. Ebay is great for picking up reasonable reloading equipment.

All i do is try to pick it up for half or less than the online stores sell stuff for. Got a Rockchucker, an old Redding hydraulic damped? scale thats really cool. and a bunch of other stuff really cheap. Fun at the auction, and money left over for powder etc. It can be done cheaply, and is sure relaxing. New wife loves it too. Keeps me close to home but out from under her feet.

 

[flutedchamber]

I started in 66 loading shells for our weekend sheet shoots. We had six shooters, including me. The other five split the cost of powder, etc, and I reloaded everything and shot for free. I reloaded about 600 shells per week on a Mec 600. I still have the press. I graduated to metallic cartridges about a year later when my brother bought a .225 Winchester. That will make it 40 years give or take on Monday.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Me actually loading my own?

About 17 years. I put 20+ on the poll because long before that I was helping my dad with his reloading. When I was 5 he would acctually let little 'ol me wipe the case lube off after resizing!!! Dad was such a sucker!!!

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I usually go in spirts too. Sometimes I won't touch a press in 2 months.

But when I do load, it's for the day, and it usually tallies up to around 6 or 7 thousand rounds for the days work.