??? of the Day -- Do you reload or buy factory ammo

Founder · Jan 10, 2015

The question of the day ... do you reload or buy factory ammo? How many rounds would you estimate that you shoot each year? How many different calibers are you loading/shooting?

I loaded my own many years ago, but haven't for a long time. I want to get back at it as my buddy did some custom loads for me that shot great. I'd like to start playing around with some different bullets.
Shot factory for years, but never had any that shot really tight groups. I've had some that are "good enough", but not great.

Brian Latturner
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12point · Jan 10, 2015

I've got 2 rifles, a rem 700 300 savage and a cz 22 hornet. I have to reload both to get the ammo that I want. Shoot about 10 to 20 rounds of 300 and 50 to 100 22 hornet per year.

BruceMc · Jan 10, 2015

I load for nine different rifle calibers and three handgun calibers from .223 to .30-06. Recently most of my loading is for .220 swift,.270 and 7mm Rem Mag. I'm partial to Hodgdon powders and Nosler partition and accubond bullets. I've been reloading for 40 years.

foghorn · Jan 10, 2015

I do both.
Started reloading for a .270 in 1970. bought my first pound of 4350 for $3.25 ah the good old days.
I now load for .22-250, .270, /06, and .300 savage. along with a few others at times.
usually load a little on the mild side. better case life and all that.
have found that seating depth has the biggest influence on accuracy.
usually shoot around 400 rds a year. about half are .22-250.
later
foghorn

RELH · Jan 10, 2015

I have been reloading for about 40 years. Reload for about 6 rifle calibers and 6 pistol calibers. When I was shooting pistol competition I would shoot about 1,500 to 2,000 rounds a month in practice and matches.
I very rarely buy factory ammo for any of my firearms. Only buy factory ammo for my pistols that I carry concealed on a daily basis and use my reloads for practice.
This recent ammo shortage did not effect me very much as I have on hand enough bullets, powder, primers to load thousands of rounds. I even do my own bullet casting for my handguns and several rifles and have a about 1,000 pounds of alloyed lead to cast bullets.

RELH

hank4elk · Jan 11, 2015

Was going to start but the cost of components and such turned me off.
Could have gotten a great set-up cheap when I first thought of reloading 10 yrs ago. I have lots of good brass.
I only shoot my 30-06,a 94' 30-30 and a 22 single shot.Oh and a 9mm pistol.
The only 2 guys I would trust to reload for me both died last year.

Apexmtnman · Jan 11, 2015

I started reloading over 40 years ago, my dad reloaded and taught me. Most of my rifles have never seen a factory round. Working up a load with the bullet, case, powder, and primer that I chose is very satisfying. The cost of components and equipment didn't scare me, if you shoot much at all it doesn't take long to recoup the cost based on the price of factory rounds. I reload for about a dozen different rifles and pistols and I even reload 12 guage trap loads. Like RELH the recent shortage didn't effect me too bad because I had plenty of components on hand.

sageadvice · Jan 11, 2015

I started rolling my own back in the 70's. I had bought a .257 Weatherby Mag and even back then, factory rounds for it were over $50. a box so i didn't have to buy many boxes of that stuff before i saw the future before my eyes in a RCBS Rockchucker setup.

I still reload for my hunters with the exception of my lever guns and Dad's old Win 243 which seems to love factory ammo. There is something very special about a factory rifle that shoots factory ammo, right out of the box consistently into very small little groups.

It's been fun working up good loads for my 25-06, 280AI, and 270WSM. Lots of performance out in the field in comparatively small packages.

So, i'd say it's about 50-50.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

whitwell_56 · Jan 11, 2015

I do both. I enjoy loading and would rather shoot my reloads, but sometimes I just don't have the time.

I currently load 3 pistol cartridges and 6 rifle cartridges. I have loaded for a lot of others at times.

Depending on the year and what I get to do, I shoot from several hundred to several thousand rounds a year.

30Hart · Jan 12, 2015

I reload for my 30 Hart and my 7mm RSAUM, that's it.

hounddawgs · Jan 12, 2015

I reload for 4 rifles 30 378,(2)300wsm and my wifes 270win I shoot around 300 rounds a year and soon will be reloading for a 300win mag.

Zeke · Jan 13, 2015

I shoot ++thousands of rounds of shot shells and pistol reloaded ammo every year but probably less than a thousand metallic rifle rounds.

Factory ammo has not been used in any of my firearms for over 45 years. Yes, I reload. No, I don't buy ammo.

Rifle calibers Reloaded: .224, .243, .257, .277, .284, .308, .338, .416

Zeke

sage_sniffer · Jan 13, 2015

I enjoy reloading alot. I load for .270win, 243win, 9mm and 40s&w. I recently bought the 40 mainly so I'd have something else to reload. I shoot some factory out of the pistols but the rifles just see reloads. I maybe shoot 500 rounds a year.

rutnbuck · Jan 15, 2015

Been loading for 40 years load for several rifle and pistol. Only factory I bye is for 30-30 only cause I don't shoot it enough Like a couple other guys here. I have cast my own pistol. Shoot enough to warrant a progressive press. I also load for the shotgun trap loads. Use to shoot a lot of rounds of trap a year. I loaded 1500 .223 last couple weeks. They won't last. Haven't shot a factory round in years. I don't plan on it and have enough to last. Paid for it many times over and it is hard to beat the accuracy. Using yester years prices it is hard to beat the price.
Rutnbuck

sambo3006 · Jan 16, 2015

I've been reloading for close to 30 years and in that time I'e probably only bought two boxes of factory ammo. I currently load for about 10 different rifle cartridges and 3 handgun cartridges. I don't currently load shotgun shells because I feel that it isn't worth the effort since there is basically no savings on the shells I use.

NRA Life Member

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earlyriser · Jan 30, 2015

Haven't been reloading as long as some on here, but I reload 223, 45, 35 rem, and 30-06. Really enjoy doing it!

EVILNR · Jan 30, 2015

.243, 25-06, 7mmWBY, 30-06, .300WM, .375 Ruger, .44mag, .45LC, .38/357, 40SW,

I'll buy factory stuff if I catch a good deal.

Whiterock · Jan 31, 2015

I buy factory ammo for all my handguns and a box or two a year for my 30-30 ,but all my other center fire rifles I handload.Started handloading 40 plus years ago more for a hobby but now it is for cost savings. Also working on accuracy is interesting.

Califelkslayer · Feb 21, 2015

I've been loading shotgun since about 1970. Before steel shot requirements I never shot a factory shotgun shell. Evolved into even loading Hevi-shot for ducks and geese with all of the complications of Hevi-shot. Now days I load chukar, quail and sporting clays shells.

I started loading rifle in about 1990. I don't think my .338 has ever had a factory round through it, I know my .280 and the wife's 7mm-08 never has. It is very satisfying. Most of my guns shoot better with loads hotter than factory although I agree with the post above that seating depth usually has the most to do with accuracy. As far as cost, I don't know. I use a lot of components working up loads but I guarentee i shoot more than most do. Having worked up a pet load for deer/antelope and elk/moose for .280, 7mm-08 and .338 cost a lot of money. The 06 and 22-250 only have one, all round load each. Some mentioned the recent un on components didn't faze them, not me. 7000 large rifle primers and 5000 large rifle mag primers may seem like a lot but when you're not sure if you'll ever see another, you will pay pretty outrageous prices to get another 1000 of each.

Pistol: I have the components minus powder to load 10,000s but never have. Same goes for .223. I think in the very near future I'll start loading for the .357 but 9mm and 38 are pretty reasonable priced and I have plenty. I just think a 140 grain bullet @ 1500+ fps in the 357 would be a good, accurate load. If I bought a progressive loader, the .233, 9mm and 38 components would get used.

CHWino_1 · Feb 21, 2015

Back in the mid-80's I bought a custom 7mm-08 from a guy who said the rifle would not shoot factory ammo very well. I quickly learned he was right and began loading then.

Loaded for a Thompson Contender in 223 and 7-30 Waters for a while. That was fun.

I load for only one other person (300 Savage) as a favor.

For me now its 22-250, 7mm-08, 7mag, 308 and 375H&H.

It usually doesn't take long to develop a load that will shoot better than factory. Last Oct I enjoyed making a 320 yard shot on a Colorado elk and pulled this out of him.