Decided to get out of reloading...

[Martinjmpr]

In the process of moving into our new house in the Columbine area, I've come to something of an epiphany about reloading and decided it's no longer for me.

I started reloading in 2000. At that time I was in my late 30's and going to school full time, my only regular income was from the National Guard. I didn't have much money but I was fortunate to live in Laramie, WY which has a great public shooting range that was just about 5 miles from my apartment. Shooting was about the only thing I could afford to do back then so I started reloading, first .45 ACP and then eventually .30-06, .30-30 (for hunting), and .38/.357 since I owned a few revolvers. I enjoyed it, and even with my little single-stage Lee press I could crank out 50 rounds of pistol ammo in roughly an hour and a half. I would sit and sort brass on the floor while I watched a DVD. I would tumble cases on the balcony of my apartment and even had my brass sorted, numbered and polished, ready to reload.

I was also single - no wife, no dog, no motorcycle, not much else to do but reload when the winter temps dropped to -30 (Winter in Laramie is brutal.)

Fast forward to today: Full time job, wife, house and dog to take care of, "honey do" lists, motorcycle(s) to ride, and time to actually get away from home and take a real vacation now and then. The bottom line is that I haven't reloaded a single round in probably 3 - 4 years, and even then when I did reload, I'd crank out 20 rounds of my 125gr "Antelope loads" for hunting and then stop. Sorting brass is not something I have time for and honestly, with the lack of nice, accessible outdoor ranges here on the Front Range, I just don't go out shooting more than a couple times a year.

Anyway, I was just curious if anyone else has gone through a similar process. When we moved to the new house my wife made sure to set aside an area for my reloading bench but as I was hauling those boxes around I started thinking "Why am I carrying this stuff from house to house when I never use it?" Hell, my back is still sore from hauling all my unused ammo to the new house. I could probably go shooting once a month for the next few years before I started to deplete my current ammo stocks.

Reloading is fun - I get a feeling of satisfaction hunting antelope with a load I "worked up" on my bench, but these days I just don't find the time for a lot of things I used to do. Our recent move was kind of a "wake up call" for me (seriously, you never realize just how much CRAP you have until you have to move it!)

FWIW stuff will probably be posted in the Classifieds section so if anyone's looking to get into reloading, watch that space. ;)

[Wulf202]

I made the same decision but the fact is I find reloading tedious. I went all out and got the blue fever before I made the decision.

Wish I would have kept a single stage in a box for the money savings when firing $3 a shot stuff though.

[Dave_L]

I've debated getting into reloading several times. However, I find it easier to just order ammo online. I don't shoot 10k rounds per year, I don't precision shoot so hand loads are moot, etc. Sure, I could save a few hundred bucks a year but I already have hobbies I don't dedicate enough time to so I decide to not reload at this point.

[Erni]

Well I guess I am a bit more optimistic since I am keeping my press even though my time is even more scarce.

Likewise I was single when I got into reloading. Part of the reason I started reloading was that I shot monthly club matches with a revolver and needed specific brass for my moonclips. I enjoyed it and still do. Fast forward 15 years to 3 kids, dog, etc and there is little time.

I still crank out revolver ammo as 38spl is just silly expensive and ai like to shoot plated ammo to minimize led exposure; but 9mm, and even 223 is just too cheap to spend time on. (But I did buy a ton of reloading comps for 223 for funsies) I will have to reload for a few less common calibers as my son enjoys all guns that are not 223.

I think that a large part of my reluctance to reload is the cheapness of 9mm. And the lack of time for matches.

[Great-Kazoo]

Nice way to 'Pre-Sell" your items ;)

With today's prices and availability, it's more cost effective to purchase locally or on line. Being retired, i have the time and the monotony of it keeps me busy. If i had the responsibilities you have, it would be a back burner hobby. Being on 2 wheels the priority it use to be for us, roads clear, no ice or sand it's riding time.

[Martinjmpr]

I still crank out revolver ammo as 38spl is just silly expensive and ai like to shoot plated ammo to minimize led exposure; but 9mm, and even 223 is just too cheap to spend time on. (But I did buy a ton of reloading comps for 223 for funsies) I will have to reload for a few less common calibers as my son enjoys all guns that are not 223.

I miss the days of cheap .38 SPL. Back when all the cops carried revolvers it was the cheapest ammo you could get. $5.00 for a box of 50 was the typical price in the 80's. Even factory loads weren't more than about $7.50.

Nice thing about .38 is that it is cheap to reload - I think my typical load had about 3 gr of Bullseye in each round. At that rate a pound (7000 gr) would load well over 2,000 rounds. I bought (I think) 1000 empty cases off of GB back around 2001 - 2002 and still have quite a few of them.

Nowadays Russian 9mm is the way to go ~ $9.00/box at Wally World or online from CTD.

[O2HeN2]

I solved my lack-of-time problems by buying two of these: Mr. Bulletfeeder (http://www.mrbulletfeeder.com/).

69302

:)

O2

[ray1970]

Back when I worked a normal, forty hour week and didn't have kids I had plenty of time to reload.

I've found that having a full plate pretty much all of the time it's just easier to buy most of my ammunition. I still load for the rifles but honestly don't shoot them much these days but I just buy the handgun ammo.

I'd rather spend what little free time I have actually shooting than loading.

[feal]

i dont bother with 45 or 9, but its still worth it to me for 500s&w, 50 ae, 10mm and 38/357. another bonus is you can load them hot or light depending on whom it's for.

[Great-Kazoo]

i dont bother with 45 or 9, but its still worth it to me for 500s&w, 50 ae, 10mm and 38/357. another bonus is you can load them hot or light depending on whom it's for.

I load all my hand gun for suppressors at 1/2 the cost, if not less.

[Grant H.]

I faced the same decision about 5 years ago. To sell or not?

I got into reloading probably 10 years ago (early 20's), and did lots of it. Progressive presses for bulk, single stages for precision, bullet casting, the whole 9 yards. Then my older brothers and I started a company, and for the last 5 years, I have barely had time to squeeze some shooting in, much less reload. However, I decided to keep my gear/components, instead of selling them, and it has proven to be a good move. Given what I paid for all my gear/components 5-10 years ago, I prevented myself from losing ~$10K when it came to buy it all again. (Lots of big/expensive caliber tools and components).

Now, I am going to have more free time, so I will start setting my presses back up, and getting back into reloading.

[Irving]

If you already have stuff, and components, it could prove to be a very effective guard against future inflation. Of course that all depends on what happens in the future and when you bought stuff.

[gnihcraes]

I started reloading in 1990 or so. Trying to save some cash. Then the assault weapons ban was enacted a bit later. I just went into a gun depression and quit reloading and buying guns. Sold all my stuff. Bought a house, had some kids etc. No time.

Picked up a better press at a garage sale one day (Rock chucker) and started reloading again. I won't sell the equipment until I'm disabled enough to not do it or old enough to just quit. Rare that I buy factory ammo. It's my Knitting, just like the wife reads books, I make ammo. It's my down time.

If you pay yourself an hourly wage, plus components and equipment, you're probably not saving anything. Much like knitting a pair of socks, not really any cheaper, but it kept you busy.

[feal]

I load all my hand gun for suppressors at 1/2 the cost, if not less.
im about to find that out in a couple of months....the wait is killing me.

[Guylee]

Well when you decide to sell everything let me know.

[Irving]

Well when you decide to sell everything let me know.

https://www.ar-15.co/threads/161458-Selling-my-reloading-setup-250

[Guylee]

By the time I saw it was already snatched up...

[Marine24]

I have bought, sold and rebought reloading gear more times than I would like to admit. I recently finished my latest rebought stage with a Redding T3 and a few extra turrets sitting in boxes in my garage. Serves as a reminder to me to set up my reloading room in the basement, but it has been doing that for the past year. Seems the press I'm using the most if a Lee hand press for my 454 Casull ammo.

[MED]

I have a nice reloading room with a nice big screen and sound system; I go down there, relax, put on a game, and work on something. It gives me something to do in the winter when I am stuck in the house, and I never go in there in the summer. I don't see it as a chore; I have it set up for something fun to do. I've been buying stuff since the 80s. I was looking at some of my rifle dies the other day; several RCBS two die kits labeled $16.99 from Longs Drugs. I am just finishing up a CCI 1000ct large rifle box of primers I got in the 90s, which I paid $14.95. I definitely saved a lot more money when lead was plentiful back in the 80s and 90s; handgun savings today is marginal especially for 9mm, but rifle savings is still huge. Even without the savings on rifle, I prefer to develop my own consistent load for each rifle. I also constantly buy components and materials as a hedge against future supply issues. If a run happens like 2013, I won't notice. Even if you don't load much; having the equipment and access to materials can be a good thing.

[O2HeN2]

I have a nice reloading room with a nice big screen and sound system...
My firend used to joke (back in the day of tube TVs) that having a TV on the reloading bench was a great idea because it gave you a place to put your drink and an ash tray. :)

O2