I never have liked reloading any shells, I did it for cost savings, that said this decision is totally up to you, if your reloads cost $20 a box it still may be beneficial for you because it got you up thinking about shooting, planning for tomorrow, just my opinion

 

No. Any money you save evaporates when you consider the time spent.

You don't save much. You're time is better spent mowing the neighbors yard for minimum wage.

The amount you could make selling the hulls to one of us who refuse to quit reloading would most likely about equal what you'd save on reloading.

 

If your time can be enjoyably spent mowing for someone go for it. I sold my time for 40 years and now get to decide how to use it. Value of my time is all up to me now,so I try to give it to the clubs I use.

 

I'm a pot shooter and I can't buy the shells i need for the games I shoot - I enjoy reloading

 

NO but I enjoy it!!!!!

 

There are more "costs" to reloading that we do not talk about. One big factor is that it requires a room to reload in. if you have free space that is not needed for any thing else that is good. If not it is a "cost" and a fairly large one. I make do in my small shop. Put the reloader up on a shelf covered when not being used. Have to shut everything else down and clean the shop to reload. Have a good bit of space tied up with empty hulls and powder and shot.

 

Absolutely YES !
55 years of reloading has proven to be a worthy hobby and skill.
When I started reloading shotshells, factory shells where about $2.00 a box. Maybe a little more. I bought components with my lawn mowing and paper route money. Saved enough to always have 12 ga. shells. It was worth it.
As years went by, I continued reloading. Now 5 different gauges and many metallic calibers. Some they don't make anymore. Still saving money.
Hoarding helps. If you find a good deal buy it. Immediate need is not important. Future need is.
Money isn't everything though. The ability to customize your load is. I shoot a lot of 410 and 28 ga.. I see not sense in shooting 1,1/8th ounce loads anymore. So, I only load 1 oz. loads. I don't have to search who has them this week. I enjoy my SxS doubles and don't have to beat them up with high pressure loads. 16 ga shells are always expensive and the ones you find are 1,1/8th ounce hunting loads. I have an endless supply of 7/8th and 1 ounce target and hunting loads.
Reloading is worth it.
Then there were the multiple times that ammunition wasn't available. Wars, disease, laws, company mergers. I had plenty to shoot. That includes all the metallic calibers that were not available. Some are still not readily found.
I had target loads, hunting load, and self defense loads. Never having depended on the store to provide them at a time of need.
Yeah, it's worth it.

 

@sharlachris
Here are my "Test Questions" for reloading
1) Do you buy Green Bananas?
2) Do you buy frozen steak?

If you answer "Yes" to both questions go ahead and reload.
If you answer "No" to either or both questions then stick with new shells and don't bother re-loading
Have fun shooting
Gavin

 

@sharlachris
Here are my "Test Questions" for reloading
1) Do you buy Green Bananas?
2) Do you buy frozen steak?

If you answer "Yes" to both questions go ahead and reload.
If you answer "No" to either or both questions then stick with new shells and don't bother re-loading
Have fun shooting
Gavin

1. I don't eat bananas.

2. I don't buy frozen steak, but I do buy steak on sale, put it in foodsaver bags and stick it in either my freezer compartment in my refrigerator or in my stand alone freezer in the garage.

And yes, I reload everything I shoot except for rimfire. But I do shoot factory off and on, simply because I've got so much of it squirreled away.

 

Components are up there in price. I understand some do it as a hobby and enjoy it, I enjoy loading rifle loads but has anyone ever added there time into the equation? That comes at a cost as well since time is finite

not trying to upset anyone and I have had this discussion with my buddies and if I was retired and enjoyed reloading I would but again time is a factor. I agree with Ken_B. You can buy for cheaper then it is to reload.

Travis

 

Components are up there in price... You can buy for cheaper then it is to reload.
Travis

Not necessarily. It all depends on the desired quality of the end product.

To fairly compare your reloads to factory ammo, you need to include the quality of your reloads when making that comparison.

If you're using 6% antimony shot, then a fair comparison would be to STS, AAHS, and HOA quality ammo.

Comparing 6% antimony reloads to the budget priced Gun Club and Top Gun ammo is NOT a fair comparison.

If your skill level is not up to where you can take advantage of the better patterns (not higher scores) that premium ammo offers, then definitely buy the cheap stuff and don't reload!

There's nothing wrong with buying and shooting Gun Club and Top Gun ammo. In 12 and 20 gauge, they work very well at the 21-25 yard range most skeet target are broken.

 

Reloading is about nerding out over 6 different reloading manuals, getting some time to yourself or with a kid, and making something. I long ago stopped trying to add up the savings for metallic reloading.

With that said, I chase brass at the range and now hulls at the trap range. Where do I find people throwing away 28 and 410 hulls to follow around? 😉

 

I enjoy reloading 3/4 ounce loads to reduce recoil. I enjoy the process and save some money.

 

Is shooting worth it? Think of all the time and money you could be saving if you didn't shoot.

 

Reloading is a hobby. Cost savings?. Possible. Making loads the factories don't offer?. Yes. Time factor, waste precious time reloading?. Possibly, depending on your schedule. Shoot both factory and reloads? Certainly. Do what you gotta do. Quality of reloads?. Varies. Up to you. Pattern quality?. Up to you and your gun. Is it worth it?. Define "worth".

 

Depends. I have two hobbies. I shoot so I will have hulls to reload, and I reload so I will have quality shells to to shoot. If you're content with cheap shells and don't enjoy reloading, then by all means don't waste your time on it.

 

I have mine figured between 7-8 dollars a box but I feel like I have a premium shell and plus I get the satisfactory of I feel like it's all me when breaking targets with them

 

I get that completely. I also fish. I build all my own rods and most of my tackle. There’s nothing like landing a good walleye knowing you did it ALL. I just can’t make the dollars make sense for reloading.

 

I reload 7/8 ounce load for 6.90 a box only because it’s hard to find plus I enjoy reloading but if you go up in lead probably not worth it

 

You can save money. It boils down to what your time is worth and if you enjoy reloading. Do you have a recipe that's worth the effort? For me its about opportunity costs with my limited spare time. Good luck and don't forget to have fun in this journey.

 

As someone who recently got back into trap. I found that reloading is not worth it to me. I shoot strictly 12ga. if I was shooting any other gauge then I would consider it. Even when I was shooting pistols, I would not reload 9mm. By the time components were purchased and the time factor, as mentioned before. I would rather work some OT.
I do reload 223, 308 and 6.5 but those are specifically for extended ranges. I found I could produce them cheaper and more accurate than factory loads. But I have not touched any presses since getting back into trap.

 

As someone who recently got back into trap. I found that reloading is not worth it to me. I shoot strictly 12ga. if I was shooting any other gauge then I would consider it. Even when I was shooting pistols, I would not reload 9mm. By the time components were purchased and the time factor, as mentioned before. I would rather work some OT.
I do reload 223, 308 and 6.5 but those are specifically for extended ranges. I found I could produce them cheaper and more accurate than factory loads. But I have not touched any presses since getting back into trap.

Your rifle reloading statement is exactly why I reload 12 & 20 gauge ammo... I can get STS comparable patterns for less money than I would spend buying factory Top Gun and Gun Club ammo.

 

I personally enjoy reloading, it’s fun for me to make each crimp perfect and I like being able to switch up my payload and velocity if I want to experiment. Cost wise you may not see much of a difference. I shop for deals all the time and buy in bulk.