Is handloading the real deal?

[antonio_]

I'm looking to get a bit more out of my rifle, but I've found that the factory stuff only goes so far. After some discussions with few good friends, it seems like handloading is where the real magic happens. Is anyone else into this?

 

[Magus]

I was until the components dried up.
Buy the manual that goes with your powder and a scale,
The Lee Loader dippers will only take you so far.

 

[Dvldog.cj]

I reload all of my rifle ammo. The best option for long range, repeatable accuracy.

 

[jglenn]

The only thing i don't reload is 22lr. Reloading can be a real rabbit hole trying to find what a rifle wants, but it's fun getting there.

 

[Brucer41]

I haven't in a good long while, but I reloaded it all, pistol, rifle and shotgun. It was well worth the time and money to do so. It was a good hobby and made sense if super accuracy with your weapons was your goal. It's not so much as cheap not and all the parts and pieces of equipment are very expensive. And those that do it can back me up, PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND DO NOT GO OVERBOARD ON THE POWDER. Seeing the results of an exploding rifle of pistol in a face is not very nice, trust me on that.

 

[Engineer1911]

Saving money by reloading is a delusional lie. Assume your ammo budget is $100 per month and you want more than 100 rounds of ammo. So you invest in a press, dies, components, caliper, scale, loading block and case trimmer. You are now $639 over your monthly ammo budget. But your ammo only costs 63¢ per round. Fast forward 8 months and you are spending $125 per month on components and supplies because ammo is so cheap when you reload.

Reloading comes with several key words or adjectives [remember what those are?]: bigger, better, more accurate, quicker, new gun, different caliber, new bench. To save even more money, start casting lead bullets -- it's a whole new vocabulary, tools, toys, and equipment.

Fifty-one years of saving money, spent thousands, and can sell it for less than $1.5 K -- depreciation versus inflation is 93.76%. Just enough to buy the latest g-whiz press and start all over, again.