Why Even Reload Now?

tailchasers · Mar 27, 2014

Reloading supplies had been a bugger to locate for quite sometime. Fortunately I have been able to maintain descent shelf stock prior to the price hikes but now loaded ammo prices have dropped lower than what I can reload for. In particular I'll reference 223 where I am seeing it on the shelves now for about $.27/round. I can't reload a round for this price. By the time I get said and done I have right at $.30 into each round not including my time or brass prep. I know the market is flooded with this caliber now but you'd think with this being the case that manufacturers would be slowing 223 production freeing up and possibly lower the prices of some of the reloading components. I've been following other ammo prices and less the 24 karot 22lr I am seeing the same trend with reloading component price still priced higher than a kite but also some not even available. So for now I am sitting on my reloading supplies and making the switch to factory ammo waiting out this new twist to the ammo craze.

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."

2f350s · Mar 28, 2014

I reload for about seven rifle calibers including my .223; IMO, if you change to factory ammo you'll be getting slightly different (sight-in) performance out of you rifles for a given caliber... and have to sight them all in again. Why spend the bucks? If you reload you know its not advisable to have or sit on powder/primers for very long much less have quantities stored in your home (although I feel safer with gun powder in the cans in my basement than I do with gas in my garage).

I've bought quite a bit of reloading supplies a while ago but use it all at a steady rate, keeping the same sight-in performance for all my hunting/target rifles too!

I don;t like shooting cheap ammo (steel/varnished cases, dirty powder ect) in my rifles... paid too much for each gun.

Just my thoguhts,

muzz · Mar 28, 2014

I reload for accuracy and knowing where my bullets are going, If your looking to get rid of some reloading stuff I am interested. Factory loads don't shoot for ******* , so ill stick to my reloading.
O--one
B--big
A--ass
M--mistake
A--america

maxcarp · Mar 28, 2014

Where can you get 223 for .27 a round? I get ads from wholesale suppliers and the cheapest 223 I have seen is around .34 a round for Wolf Gold (brass case, boxer primer) in bulk.

BIGJOHNT · Mar 29, 2014

Some loads are not available loaded over the counter. We have to load to get what we want in bullet weight and velocity. I have been hand loading my 338 win mag for over twenty years now. I have been loading Barnes 185 grain bullet. Also I have been shooting a 300 Tejas for the last five years or so. Haven't seen those at Sportsman's Warehouse lately.
My dad started me reloading as a teenager. We would go out to the desert shooting targets and clay pigeons. Started with 12 gauge shot gun shells. Then moved on to straight cased pistol and rifles. I guess we did it because it was cheaper for target practice. I am still loading with the same presses today. Plus is also good to know how to do it if certain ammo becomes unavailable. You can do it yourself. Just wish I had that 22 long rifle loader now.

tailchasers · Mar 29, 2014

Seen 223 ammo on Sportsmen's Guide today for $.26/round. This is dirty wolf crap I realize but what I have seen is the competition to start dropping their prices too. Most of this is FMJ ammo but the FMJ is what I am seeking and still can't locate at a reasonable price of barely less than $.10/bullet. My other hand loads are with 40 grain V-Max and I have even being seeing these getting scooped up by the "generic" ammo companies and used in the loaded ammo...

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."

YukonDall · Mar 29, 2014

AFTER 26 YEARS OF RELOADING I QUIT !!! THE FEDERAL VITAL SHOCK LOADS ARE AMAZING/ACCURATE. I DONT HAVE TO FIND COMPONETS, WASTE A BUNCH OF TIME WITH SEVERAL CALIBERS. INSTEAD OF ALL OF THAT & BEING AT THE RANGE.......I JUST HAVE MUCH MORE TIME TO HUNT.........................YD.

REDDOG · Mar 31, 2014

I dont know haw many different cartridges I load for, but its a bunch..I cant recall a single time loading my own ammo cut into hunting time,i mean you still have to shoot your factory rounds at the range dont you? find a load you like for hunting and load some up on a slow winters day, and put them in the larder..

Also watch sites like pat's reloading, when things settle down make a bulk order..military pull down powder/bullets/brass can be had dirt cheap if you keep an eye out.

mtmuley · Apr 1, 2014

I doubt I'll ever stop handloading. I kinda like for myself and my family to kill stuff with ammo I made. Nothing feels better than firing itty bitty groups with loads made by hand. mtmuley

Califelkslayer · Apr 4, 2014

I'm with you mtmuley. I have no doubt there is accurate factory ammo out there.

All I know is if I buy a gun in a caliber I don't already own, my next purchase is a set of dies, even before i buy a scope for it.

My limited experience is (since I've never shot factory) is that I can always find a load that shoots good in a particular gun. It may take some loading and shooting, but with one exception, it's always worked.

If I didn't reload, I wouldn't shoot half as much either.