Why & what do you handload?

[howl]

(In the interest of not appearing hypocritical)

I started handloading as a hobby, for accuracy. Economy was never a consideration in the beginning. I'm not as concerned with tiny groups as I once was. I continue to load now pretty much only as necessary due to other factors. If factory ammo availability and quality was then what it is now, I doubt I would have started nor would I have some of the guns I have.

Examples:
25 WSSM ammo is $5 per round if you buy it. My rifle came with dies and a supply of cases. I resold all the factory ammo I had at a profit that I haven't used up on handloads yet. There is no other path to utility equivalent to that rig.

TSS turkey shells...I was loading these before factory ammo was available. Shotshell components come in bulk. In other words, we have TSS at home.

If anyone knows of 130gr 30/30 factory ammo, I'd like to hear about it. Loading 30/30 has always felt a little silly.

 

[Wolfshead]

I started out with wanting to get the best accuracy I could and save some costs as well.
But now, with N.Y. regulating everything, and with the Covid experience, I want to know that I have, and can make ammunition if and when I need it.

 

[Tmbrgost]

I started reloading as an interest and for something to do. I mainly reload 7mm, 270, 270 SM & will be picking up 257 Robert’s soon. With the COVID craziness and just supply problems, I am glad that I no longer rely on factory loads to be on the shelf. I have saved some $ but in all reality the fun has been what keeps me doing it.

Nothing like a round I built being sub 1 MOA or better…..simply magnificent!

 

[howl]

I started out with wanting to get the best accuracy I could and save some costs as well.
But now, with N.Y. regulating everything, and with the Covid experience, I want to know that I have, and can make ammunition if and when I need it.

I didn't easily find the answer to my question via internet search. Are you allowed to buy cases of ammo out of state and return home with it?

 

[N2TRKYS]

I wanted to shoot the bullets I wanted to shoot and at a cheaper price. I succeeded on both categories.

 

[noharleyyet]

For accuracy & duplicitous testing/practice. Economy was the perception but not anymore.

 

[Jbotto]

I started as I was a broke college kid with a .223 who wanted to deer hunt with it. Bought a lee loader hammer kit for the .223 and loaded up 5 loads with 60gr Nosler Partitions. Shot those and was hooked. Was talking reloading and guns with an acquaintance of mine who was selling some stuff. Bought a box of reloading goodies from him with his “old press”. Paid $50 for it all. With that I moved from a Lee loader to a Bonanza Co-Ax. Still my main go-to press for everything I do. Loaded thousands of rifle and revolver rounds on it already and will continue to do so until I get my other presses set up.

 

[rjthehunter]

I do my .338, 7mm, and .270 currently. Mostly just my .338 win mag though.

I wanted more accurate ammo with more bullet options. It could save money, but I shoot a lot more because of it.

 

[6mm Remington]

My father started me reloading under his watchful eye when I was 12 years old. I am now 65 and I have never shot anything but my reloads for hunting since that time. I only load for my rifles. We have 3 6mm Remingtons in the family, 280AI, 30-06, and 300 WSM. It just adds more meaning to the hunt that I carefully craft handloads for each rifle and use them to take game with. I imagine it's like making lures and tying flies for fishing.

 

[Redmt]

I started loading 12ga. probably in the late 60's because it was cheap and fun. I got into trap shooting so reloading was necessary to keep shooting. I developed a 1-3/8 oz load that was killer for birds. Years later I decided to get back into reloading except the shotgun sat in the closet and rifle was the weapon of choice. I still have my Sabbati over under. As life changed again, kids etc. I got away from it again. Then maybe 10-15 years ago the obsession took hold again. Now it's just really convenient to load up various calibers as the intended targets change. Right now it's 25-06 and 6.5 Creedmoor as I anxiously await my newly rebarreled. Ruger #1 Stainless to come back from Paul Hampton. More on that later!!!!

 

[Bambistew]

Have always loaded for economics. Accuracy is a byproduct. Some of my rifles have never had a factory round through them. Some I could buy the exact same combo I load as factory, but they're 2x the price. Considering the cost of powder and primers, it's penciling out much closer these days.

I don't shoot as much as I used to, but since I've already paid for all the supplies and tools its still cheaper. The only thing I don't load are small pistols. Just not worth the hassle.

 

[sclancy27]

I started for the same reason I started building my own arrows, tuning my own bow, etc. I got sick paying for shit I felt I could do better myself.

 

[std7mag]

I didn't easily find the answer to my question via internet search. Are you allowed to buy cases of ammo out of state and return home with it?

Can you buy cases of ammo in another state? Yes.
Can you take it home to a different state from where you purchased it? Depends on the state.
California and New York, all bets are off if you get pulled over with a couple cases of ammo in the car.

But to answer your original question.
I started with the Lee, Whack a Mole kit for 7mm Rem Mag.
Mostly because it was hard to find factory ammo with the bullet I wanted in the weight that I wanted.
Moved up to the Lee 4 hole turret press. (Wife was coming unglued with me hammering on the dining room table)

With the turret press, I started shooting more. ALOT more!!
Both rifle and pistol.

Now, with ammo scarcity and the raise in prices, I'm glad I did!!
Add in the wildcat and obsolete cartridges that I have and like and it's definitely a win, win.

As you said, shooting things like my 25WSSM, reloading makes it possible.
Add in that I'm loading 115gr Berger VLD and 120gr Partitions.

Ditto for my 250 Savage, 257 Roberts, 257 Roberts AI, 257WBY.

 

[Mallardsx2]

12 gauge (Homemade shot)
20 gauge (Homemade shot)
410 gauge (Homemade shot and I save a boat load of cash reloading these)
9MM (Powdercoated Cast)
44 Magnum (Powdercoated Cast)
.22 Hornet
.223 (Powdercoated Cast)
.22-250
.243
6.5 CM
7mm-08
.270
30-30 (Powdercoated Cast)
.308
30-40 Krag (Powdercoated Cast)
30-06
300 WSM

I just reload because I enjoy reloading.
I even enjoy making my own shot for my shotgun shells.
Plus, nobody bothers me while I am reloading ammo.

I'm not really a "precision reloader" and I never even owned a chronograph that was worth a $hit until this year. lol

 

[ismith]

I grew up hand loading, partly because my Dad and his father taught me to do it, and partly because It saved me money. I haven’t done much over the last decade, but I’ve recently gotten back into it.

Right now I’m loading 257 Weatherby and 300 H&H. Currently gathering components for 7mm Mauser.

 

[ploxwithblox]

300 win mag with 200 gr. Eldx, 308 with 155 eldms, 9mm with whatever is on sale, 10mm, 40 s&w, .556.
I do it because I enjoy it. Cost really has nothing to do with it, I like to hunt and shoot and I enjoy spending an evening putting together some rounds for whatever suits my fancy. The clunk of the press, the smell of the components, the heft of a dense bullet, it's just enjoyable. The 308 and 300 are real tack drivers with my rounds and I am happy about that when I'm in the woods.

 

[Foxtrot1]

I started reloading when I got my 9.3x62. To some extent for cost savings, but also for versatility of loads from light target loads to full power hunting rounds. I was so impressed with results, I have expanded to all my big rifles: 30-06, 7x57, 9.3x57, and 9.3x62. I really don't fool with 223s or pistol rounds because factory ammo is so cheap.

 

[Dougfirtree]

I got into it for two reasons: I wanted to be less vulnerable to ammo shortages and i wanted more choice in bullets for my chambering. Better accuracy was the icing. This has worked out pretty well for me, though I did learn to buy components in larger quantities, when they're available..

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Started when I got sold on the 6.5 SAUM hype in 2014 and had to have one and that meant learning to handload.

Had that for a while, 7 SAUM, 300WM, 300 WSM, 300NM, all of which would suck to pay for any volume of factory ammo and most of the factory ammo was probably not what I'd want to shoot.

Got a 6.5x47 because i wanted a desert tech bullpup and they had them marked way down compared to the 6.5 creedmoors. Found out what "easy button" really meant. The two i've had dont shoot a single load combo i've tried less than good.

For shooting volume for cheap - 223's with heavy bullets, there isn't factory ammo loaded to maximize the application for the higher BC bullets.

Now most of my shooting is 223, 6 creedmoor (primary hunting rifle), 6.5 creed (NRL gun), and 6.5x47 (PRS gun). Still have 7 Saum and 300 WSM but they basically never get used.

 

[Robert N]

Oh goodness. You really want me to develop my carpel tunnel, right?

Ok, Why: using firearms for various reasons. My GP100 went from Mild to Wild to Wilder. 125gr. Light competition rounds…180 heavies…200gr. WNLFPGC’s “penetrators”…. Customizing rounds like my .41 Mag in a Ti-Scan 357PD - 250 grains at 1100 fps…heavy Hunters in the .44 Mag and even Heavier in the 480…because they were fun. 38 Special Wadcutter defense loads…44 special wadcutters…

Rifles: tailored loads for specific applications. Hunting in Alaska for accuracy…hunting in Africa for longer range and tougher critters…Deer loads, bear loads,

Loads that are brutally difficult to find…like the SAUM or the 7x57Rimmed…or big heavies that are just plain expensive (Price a box of Rigby lately?).

Lessee…let’s start with pistol…then move to rifle…

Pistol
38 Special
.357 Mag (*in many loads, up to 200gr. Heavy hardcast)
9mm
41 Mag
44 Special
44 Mag
480 Ruger

Rifle
6mm Creedmoor
257 Roberts
6.5x55 OG
7x57 Rimmed
7mm SAUM
7mm Rem Mag
308 Win
30-06 (Garand)
9.3x62
9.3x74r
375 H&H
416 Rigby

Calibers I no longer reload for:
223
7x57 Mauser
300 H&H
35 Remington
350 Rem Mag

I’m sure I’ve forgotten something…

In the end, I like to shoot. I certainly don’t save any money in the long run…but I do get to shoot a whole lot more for the same money.

For the record: I purchased my first reloading set up circa 1989…that Hornady Pro-Jector is still bolted to my bench right next to a 40 year old Rock Chucker. The Redding T7, I purchased that some 10 years ago. I’m still working on Clinton era primers and powder.

In the end, I like the process, enjoy the idea of taking game with my own ammo that I rolled. I enjoy a better quality product that is more accurate. I like the smell of it…although I will say that Reloader series powders do have an odd acridity to them.

it’s a good hobby.