What Got Everbody Started Reloading ?

[Dr. Richard Gray]

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I guess money savings or accuracy must be the primary reasons, or maybe having the control and ability to produce what you want when you want it. I got into it for the accuracy edge, factory ammo wasn't so carefully produced and premium bullet's weren't offered back in the day, so rolling your own was the way to go. Started with some simple equipment and it just slowly took on a life of it's own, one thing would lead to another. I'm still not there but its closer now than when I started I remember the first game that fell to my handloads, those first targets that I could see what I was accomplishing in load and rifle tuning. There's a lot of members on here that can still teach me a lot, this is one of my favorite stops when I log on...so much to learn so little time....Dave

I guess money savings or accuracy must be the primary reasons, or maybe having the control and ability to produce what you want when you want it. I got into it for the accuracy edge, factory ammo wasn't so carefully produced and premium bullet's weren't offered back in the day, so rolling your own was the way to go. Started with some simple equipment and it just slowly took on a life of it's own, one thing would lead to another. I'm still not there but its closer now than when I started I remember the first game that fell to my handloads, those first targets that I could see what I was accomplishing in load and rifle tuning. There's a lot of members on here that can still teach me a lot, this is one of my favorite stops when I log on...so much to learn so little time....Dave

 

[Tiny Tim]

Like Len, I started with shotgun shells in the seventies. It was to save money. Began to reload for 44 mag when I started shooting IHMSA. Single stage press was all I could afford. Started without a scale and a powder scoop supplied with my dies.
As a young father couldn't afford to buy jacketed bullets and swedged couldn't handle full power loads w/o leading the bore. Started casting. Tire places would give away used wheel weights and had a nephew that worked in a print shop that was getting rid of their lino type machine and scored some ingots. Moved into rifle loading for both accuracy and to use premium bullets that weren't always available in commercially loaded ammo.
I've fallen in love with the journey. I still tie my own flies, make my own arrows, build my own bows, and reload my own ammo. Anytime I connect, whether a target or an animal, it feels like a piece of me goes with it.

 

[Tiny Tim]

WHAT got me started was a reloading class offered in 6th grade (easy elective).
WHY I reload is purely for accuracy.

I also remember being able to have guns in our cars in the student parking lot, and even to be able to bring it directly into the school office when other arrangements couldn't be made!

 

[Dr. Richard Gray]

I started reloading about 50 years ago for a Winchester 30-30. Started with a Lee hand loader kit. In the 50 years of reloading I learned 2 very important things. Reloading 223 / 5.56 cartridges is not cost saving. You can purchase them cheaper, depending on the load. Weatherby 340, don't break over when seating the bullets. When you push the press arm down just go until you feel the contact. I use RCBS press and dies. This may not be the case with Lyman, Hornady, or whatever. Even though I read the directions carefully prior to starting, it just simply got lost until after I had ruined 5 cartridges @ $2.00 each. I reload everything, except 5.56, 55gr. Heavier loads I will reload at a slight cost savings. My 340 and Ruger 375 are the big cost advantage.

 

[HAMPS]

Went to a coworkers house to break in a new Tikka T3 Varmint in 223. Easy break in then he loaded me 5 custom rounds his same gun liked. I shot a .213" five shot group. Nuff said...take my money. I now load for all my rifles.

 

[Pointman]

I started in the early '70's. I had a 700 BDL in 25-06 that I had re-barreled into a long-range rifle. In those days, ammo was scarce so my local shop suggested reloading. Even factory brass was a problem so I haunted the local gun shows. before they became "outlawed in Calif. I couldn't find 25-06 brass but I could always find Lake City military surplus 30-06. RCBS sold a trim die which I used to neck the brass down and I was off to the races. Now I load mainly for accuracy as an extension of my "hobby". Like others, I'm searching for the "mythical" one hole group. My best was a 25-06 group with 5 rounds under a dime.

 

[Mike Matteson]

I started reloading in 1962. I purchases a Rem. 721, 300 H & H Mag. with a C/H press, and FL dies. A box or 2 for shell casing, and some rounds. I was given a saw off case and told to use that to measure the power charge to place into the case to load. that was about 40 grains of IMR 4831. I figure that something wasn't right. So I got a powder scale. That taught me right then, be careful what others state. Work up load slowly by loading one round at a time with powder with different powder charges from reloading book low charges to there highest and beyond. Checking signs for over pressures. I loved to hunt. After getting out of Vietnam I stop hunting for a few years. Something for combat Vets. I started using a shotgun to hunt birds, got me back to hunting again and reloading. Shown my two boys how to hand load both rifles and shotguns.
Anyway I Join Long Range Shooting in 2017. I had been reading all the info supplied by this group. and have learned new tricks for hand loading and confirning others I had develop on my own hand loads over the years too.
Now I am upgrading my reloading equipment again. I have done that over the years, but last few months have great increase the equipment. I was cutting neck back in 90's and weighting the brass cases. amealing cases at that time. I use the old way for placing the case in a pan of water and torch to heat the next up and push over. Now order out from Ballistic Recreation ([email protected]) the salt mix and other items to use a salt bath to amealing the cases along with out items too. I am looking forward to see how that works.

SSS
Mike

 

[Rum Man]

Years ago I had a quest to reach 300 yrds with my Ruger 44 mag . Loading was a great way to make it happen . Then I took a long brake in loading and shooting . Family ,work and just life I guess .
Then buying three wildcat 338 Edges it made me dive right back in loading !
I cant begin to tell you how rewarding to me it has been !! I'm now hitting Steel at 2053 yrds. Took my Elk this year at 1244 !
I wont lie to you guys it was hell at first , it seemed like i wasnt gaining ground and then it just come together . Now i just injoy it way to much to stop !

Rum Man

 

[Shortywy]

I started watching my dad and helping him. He loaded for saving money plus he could tune the loads for accuracy. He didn't really try for sub MOA, but if he could cover most his shot group with a quarter it was considered good. He let me use his 243 for deer and varmint. It was hard to find a good varmint load in the late 70's and there was a bounty on coyotes. A gun shop owner showed how me do a little load development and I have been hooked ever since. Several books and LRH has taught me even more. Thanks everybody.

 

[WYO300RUM]

I started reloading in 1976 when I was 19. Like some of you it was a Lee Loader. Mine 12 ga. and a Lee Loader for 22-250. The first center fire gun I bought . A Rem. 788. The thought of banging on those dies and using the powder scoops on that Lee Loader scares me now. My uncle gave me a single stage Cobra press. Was black and shaped like a Cobra head with hood spread. Wish I still had it. He gave me a set of 7 rem mag RCBS dies also. But not his Sako Finnbear.... So I bought a Ruger Mk. 1 in 7 rem mag. Now I was a deer Hunter. I went on and on buying more rifles and pistols . More calibers and more dies. Now I reload for 14 rifle calibers and 10 pistol. I've always found reloading relaxing and rewarding. To take game with your loads and to get good groups on paper gives you a special feeling. I don't know the word. When I was young, on rainy days I would get a lot of reloading done. If I ran out I'd go done to gun shop and buy more brass or what I needed to load more. I started casting bullets for pistols to save a little $. Wheel weights and lino type from newspaper print shop . Haven't casted any in probably 10 years though. Still have some. Anyway. I'm enjoying reading all the posts and I'm only on page 2 . Hope you all have a great day.

 

[1greywolf]

As a lot of other loaders , I started loading for my 410 and 12 pipe . A box of clay pigeons was $5.99 and a box of shells were close to that cost . My brother bought the loader for the 12 pipe and bought the one for our 410's . From there it went to rifles . I could load a box of shells for my 7mm for $13.60 Canadian , a box of Norma factory loads , $52.99 . Umm , load or buy . But then , you start to chase that five shot one hole or cloverleaf. Then 200 yds isn't far enough , then 500 yds . Oh , and then that new bullet comes out , then somebody else brings one out , and on and on . It's so satisfying what we do that the only way we would stop is because we can't pull the handle down anymore .

 

[ShootMo]

I got started reloading as a means to be able to afford to shoot more than I could afford to with factory ammo. Mostly pistol ammo back then.

 

[Scott E Ames]

I guess money savings or accuracy must be the primary reasons, or maybe having the control and ability to produce what you want when you want it. I got into it for the accuracy edge, factory ammo wasn't so carefully produced and premium bullet's weren't offered back in the day, so rolling your own was the way to go. Started with some simple equipment and it just slowly took on a life of it's own, one thing would lead to another. I'm still not there but its closer now than when I started I remember the first game that fell to my handloads, those first targets that I could see what I was accomplishing in load and rifle tuning. There's a lot of members on here that can still teach me a lot, this is one of my favorite stops when I log on...so much to learn so little time....Dave

I started over 45 years ago for cost savings. It gradually became quality bullets and accuracy focused over time. Back in the "old days" no one ever dreamed of the accuracy we have today.

 

[freddiej]

Wow, I just reloaded because it was the only way I could shoot, hunt, practice, compete, and have money to put in my tank to get around. so it was definitely money savings. then it was tuning loads to my comp gun, then I caught the hunting bug with a caliber not stocked at the local gun store, then it was ****** ammo when I could find it. then of all things I went to a range at Ione, CA and caught the 1,000 bug.. has any other person read the saying on the back of Hodgdon's powder? "if you hit your target, you will smile all day; if you miss you will be hooked for life." well, I missed a lot early on.. so I was hooked for life.