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Mozella · July 2, 2015, 04:01 AM

The single most expensive thing I've ever done associated with shooting is getting into reloading. Yes, I'm able to produce a round superior to good factory ammo at a lower per-round cost IF (and that's a big IF) you ignore the cost of equipment and other costs associated with making hand loads. If you consider how much "stuff" I now own, I figure I'll amortize the equipment if I live to be 200 years old, give or take a few years.

Naturally, a big part of reloading is load development. The fact is, that in order to develop a good "recipe" you have to do something like load five rounds of five or six different charge weights in hopes of finding one out of the five which shoots well. That means that 80% of the development rounds are junk with only 20% good, and that's if you're lucky.............. real lucky.

Then you get to repeat that process for half a dozen different powders, several types of primers, several different cases, and who knows how many different bullets. All the while you are expecting success out of only a small percentage of what you produce and you're expecting the rest to be junk. They say "You won't save money but you'll be able to shoot a lot more". That's true because, to begin with at least, most of the ammo you produce will be junk as you search for the key to making "the good stuff". Filtering through that takes a lot of shooting, mostly missing the target. That's the part they don't tell you.

By the time you find the best recipe you've worn out your barrel and spent a fortune on range fees too. Naturally, when you do eventually discover enhanced accuracy associated with hand loading, you find yourself addicted to precision shooting as surely as if it were a drug. You are unable to resist the urge to upgrade your front rest, you "need" a roll of expensive Teflon tape, you "require" a good chronograph, you "must" have a good spotting scope, and you need a more powerful rifle scope........... the upgrades are endless.

Obviously all this new equipment needs testing too, requiring more ammo and more time at the range.

By now you're so deep into reloading that you've discovered that storing your ammo and doing your reloading in your garage isn't a good idea so you hire a contractor to build a special reloading room as an addition to your house. Building costs, permits, fees, insurance, and increased property taxes associated with your reloading room shouldn't run more than fifty thousand bucks, not including the extra presses, automated powder dispensers, and dies you are unable to resist.

Of course, it goes without saying that the divorce is the most expensive part of reloading.

Anyone contemplating reloading better enjoy it 'cause it's going to cost you a bundle. Me personally??.......... I love it.

July 2, 2015, 04:01 AM	#35
Mozella Member Join Date: April 17, 2015 Posts: 83	The single most expensive thing I've ever done associated with shooting is getting into reloading. Yes, I'm able to produce a round superior to good factory ammo at a lower per-round cost IF (and that's a big IF) you ignore the cost of equipment and other costs associated with making hand loads. If you consider how much "stuff" I now own, I figure I'll amortize the equipment if I live to be 200 years old, give or take a few years. Naturally, a big part of reloading is load development. The fact is, that in order to develop a good "recipe" you have to do something like load five rounds of five or six different charge weights in hopes of finding one out of the five which shoots well. That means that 80% of the development rounds are junk with only 20% good, and that's if you're lucky.............. real lucky. Then you get to repeat that process for half a dozen different powders, several types of primers, several different cases, and who knows how many different bullets. All the while you are expecting success out of only a small percentage of what you produce and you're expecting the rest to be junk. They say "You won't save money but you'll be able to shoot a lot more". That's true because, to begin with at least, most of the ammo you produce will be junk as you search for the key to making "the good stuff". Filtering through that takes a lot of shooting, mostly missing the target. That's the part they don't tell you. By the time you find the best recipe you've worn out your barrel and spent a fortune on range fees too. Naturally, when you do eventually discover enhanced accuracy associated with hand loading, you find yourself addicted to precision shooting as surely as if it were a drug. You are unable to resist the urge to upgrade your front rest, you "need" a roll of expensive Teflon tape, you "require" a good chronograph, you "must" have a good spotting scope, and you need a more powerful rifle scope........... the upgrades are endless. Obviously all this new equipment needs testing too, requiring more ammo and more time at the range. By now you're so deep into reloading that you've discovered that storing your ammo and doing your reloading in your garage isn't a good idea so you hire a contractor to build a special reloading room as an addition to your house. Building costs, permits, fees, insurance, and increased property taxes associated with your reloading room shouldn't run more than fifty thousand bucks, not including the extra presses, automated powder dispensers, and dies you are unable to resist. Of course, it goes without saying that the divorce is the most expensive part of reloading. Anyone contemplating reloading better enjoy it 'cause it's going to cost you a bundle. Me personally??.......... I love it.