We are fortunate

[JoeJames]

Just thinking about how fortunate we bullet casters are. Last week I did some plinking with my TC Contender 357/38 Special with a red dot mounted on it. I had been shooting wad cutters, but decided to run a few swc’s though it. I checked and found I was kind of low on them. So on Friday I cast a goodly amount of Lee 358 158 grain TL’s, and on Saturday I loaded up some with 3.8 grains of Bullseye - all just as a matter of course. Upon reflection I realized I took the casting and reloading of rounds for granted, but if I did not cast or reload I would probably not have been able to find 38 Specials, especially 38 Special SWC’s. The last time I actually looked for factory made 38 Specials was probably 6 years ago, and at that time all the local gun shops had were full patch rounds. Now I just cast a few bullets and load some more. We were lucky to have had so much foresight.

[Bmi48219]

Sometimes it’s easy to forget how fortunate we are. Like most here, I keep track of ammo prices and availability. Am seeing more of the common stuff on shelves now but I can’t imagine shelling out fifty or sixty cents a round for 38 special HBWCs that I’m still loading for 15 cents each. Let alone being able to find them on a shelf somewhere.

[FredBuddy]

Indeed.

[JoeJames]

Really the icing on the cake is that I already know how accurate my own home cast bullets are. When you buy commercial cast you are kind of at the mercy of the manufacturer as far as diameter, and hardness go, and of course save a chunk of money casting your own.

[Land Owner]

We are all part of the (iirc RCBS) estimated 2-million reloaders in the US. How many casters there are I have not seen estimated. If only 25% cast, that would be a lot.

Consider if you will 2-million small arms manufacturing facilities...let that sink in.

[405grain]

The state where I live in requires background checks (which you have to pay for) to purchase ammo. Also, you're only allowed to purchase ammo for firearms that you have registered. You're not allowed to bring more than one 50 round box of ammo into the state, so you can't just buy it somewhere else. Every time I go into a sporting goods store I see where people are waiting in line, sometimes for an hour, just to purchase ammunition. Except for 22lr, I haven't purchased a single round of factory ammunition since 1982. Being able to make our own ammunition, plus also being able to cast our own bullets, gives us freedom from those that seek to restrict our rights. Reloading and shooting * ammo that we made our self is also rewarding. (* I was going to say "shooting & hunting", but they imposed a "lead bullet ban" and took hunting away from us.) I'm still thankful that we can "roll our own".

[oley55]

The state where I live in requires background checks (which you have to pay for) to purchase ammo. Also, you're only allowed to purchase ammo for firearms that you have registered. You're not allowed to bring more than one 50 round box of ammo into the state, so you can't just buy it somewhere else. Every time I go into a sporting goods store I see where people are waiting in line, sometimes for an hour, just to purchase ammunition. Except for 22lr, I haven't purchased a single round of factory ammunition since 1982. Being able to make our own ammunition, plus also being able to cast our own bullets, gives us freedom from those that seek to restrict our rights. Reloading and shooting * ammo that we made our self is also rewarding. (* I was going to say "shooting & hunting", but they imposed a "lead bullet ban" and took hunting away from us.) I'm still thankful that we can "roll our own".

that my friend is some pretty depressing stuff right there.

[Texas by God]

I like to look and see what's on the shelf for sale. Weirdly, if you want .243 or 30-30 ammo -sorry..... but there's 8 different kinds of 6.5 Creedmoor!
I have two boxes of 70s vintage Remington 30-30 ammunition- perhaps I'll move it to the safe!
We are fortunate in untold ways.

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[shootinfox2]

You can always buy a foundry on Amazon and cast bronze solids for hunting. Brass/ copper/ aluminium alloys.

[pworley1]

All my friends that shoot but don't load are starting to ask about learning to load.

[brewer12345]

Yeah, a buddy and I were fooling around with revolvers that require cowboy action spec 45 Colt ammo. Thank God I cast and we reload, because if you can find it commercially the prices are stupid. Its just a cast 45 bullet, a little powder, and a primer, but boy do they charge for this "specialty" loading. Even better was pulling the revolver out a couple days ago and putting a bullet cleanly through the head of a wounded jackrabbit at 20 feet with a one-handed grip on a big revolver because we found a really accurate load.

[dverna]

Seems weird how people who plan and think are so much more fortunate than those who do not.

[dannyd]

When I started I liked reloading and casting because I don't mind doing repetitive things. Also got into leather working because of the other two hobbies.

305277

[GregLaROCHE]

You’re right, casting our own does give us a big range of options. Also, you don’t have to worry about the boolits you want being out of stock for who knows how long.

[slim1836]

And a big thanks to those who share their information on this great site, the moderators deserve a huge attaboy also.

Slim

[deces]

All my friends that shoot but don't load are starting to ask about learning to load.

Things are bad, people are reloading primers. You know what, I don't blame them either, some day it will be me.

[DAVIDMAGNUM]

A person can create their own "fortune" by being self reliant. While casting and reloading are not prepper, living off of the grid stuff, it is self reliance. I have been asked by non-reloaders "where do you get your ammo?". I usually shoot 4 or 5 Lever Action Silhouette matches each month from March to October. My answer is easy, "my basement".

[JoeJames]

I like to look and see what's on the shelf for sale. Weirdly, if you want .243 or 30-30 ammo -sorry..... but there's 8 different kinds of 6.5 Creedmoor!
I have two boxes of 70s vintage Remington 30-30 ammunition- perhaps I'll move it to the safe!
We are fortunate in untold ways.

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

As I said, I realized I just took it for granted without thinking much last week that I needed some more 38 Special SWC's - so I automatically cast a bunch and then did some reloading. I reckon I am just used to operating that way. But a buddy asked me to pick him up a couple of boxes of 30-30 ammo at the last gun show. I don't reload for 30-30; so I got him a box of Win 170 grain and lord a'mercy it was $40 for one lettle 20 round box. I told him I got him a box, but "sorry about that but I was not fixing to pay $80 for two boxes of 30-30". I suppose that was why it dawned on me how fortunate we are.

[lar45]

There are a couple of young men at deer Camp that are starting to feel the ammunition cramp. They just graduated and need to buy their own ammo now. One of the brothers shoots a 300RUM, the other a 6.5 Creedmoor. The 300RUM is $100 a box.
I told them to gather up their brass and I'll teach them to reload.

[JoeJames]

There are a couple of young men at deer Camp that are starting to feel the ammunition cramp. They just graduated and need to buy their own ammo now. One of the brothers shoots a 300RUM, the other a 6.5 Creedmoor. The 300RUM is $100 a box.
I told them to gather up their brass and I'll teach them to reload.

I've been reloading for my .308 for about 40 years, and have bought and stored back components for it during that time, including j-word bullets; so as a wild guess it probably costs me $1.00 maybe a box. I looked up the 300RUM because I'd not come across it. Wow, y'all must be hunting some cleared power line right-of-ways or such. Maximum range where I have hunted is 125 yards max - so my old .308 fills the bill.

[TurnipEaterDown]

Seems weird how people who plan and think are so much more fortunate than those who do not.

Reminds me of a quote, from Branch Rickey: "Luck is the residue of design."

[Murphy]

If it's a centerfire cartridge, and I have a gun for it, I also reload for it. Only two, do I use a jacketed bullet for. And I can change that with the purchase of a couple of molds and sizer dies. And yes, we're blessed to be able to do so.

As with most of the country, big game (deer, elk, etc.) is upon us once again. The same people last year scrambling for ammunition are at it again. I can understand their shock in how much ammunition prices have gone up. Mine hasn't in years now.

I guess if I have a pet peeve with my fellow casters/reloaders, it's the never ending complaining about the prices of components. If they think the prices of components are outrageous? Skip reloading and just buy over the counter and see how that feels.


Murphy

[jessdigs]

You can always buy a foundry on Amazon and cast bronze solids for hunting. Brass/ copper/ aluminium alloys.

You really have to cast oversized stock and turn it on a lathe.
Casting bronze/brass/copper does not have great surface finish. You can get close with plaster investment, but shrinkage comes in to play too


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[deces]

If it's a centerfire cartridge, and I have a gun for it, I also reload for it. Only two, do I use a jacketed bullet for. And I can change that with the purchase of a couple of molds and sizer dies. And yes, we're blessed to be able to do so.

As with most of the country, big game (deer, elk, etc.) is upon us once again. The same people last year scrambling for ammunition are at it again. I can understand their shock in how much ammunition prices have gone up. Mine hasn't in years now.

I guess if I have a pet peeve with my fellow casters/reloaders, it's the never ending complaining about the prices of components. If they think the prices of components are outrageous? Skip reloading and just buy over the counter and see how that feels.


Murphy
You missed the point somewhere.

People paying more for just primers than commercially loaded available ammunition.

[txbirdman]

Here’s an example of components verses ammo. Today I went into the local Academy and bought some small pistol Federal match primers to load some defense ammo for my P365. I like to use Federal primers as I’ve found them easier to ignite. The cost was $10/100. Also bought a box of 20 Federal HST’s in 9MM which I haven’t seen on the shelf in ages for $32.95. I can get JHP 9MM bullets on line for $79/500 delivered. Also bought a pound of W244 powder for $35. Needless to say I’ll be loading most of my carry ammo in the future.

[JoeJames]

You missed the point somewhere.

People paying more for just primers than commercially loaded available ammunition.

Now perhaps so if one was just starting out in reloading, but I'd warrant there are more than a few old boys on here who were probably in pretty good shape even before Sandy Hook. And idly looking around now it appears that some commercially available ammunition is just plumb unavailable. I myself have been known to be at a gun show, and if I did not find anything interesting, to pick up up a carton of primers for $15 to $20, or a pound of powder. It's not just saving money; as I have found my home cast bullets are as accurate if not more accurate than store bought; and the same often holds for factory made ammunition.

[W.R.Buchanan]

People who don't reload and cast their own boolits really don't understand that we will always have ammo to shoot, and they probably won't !!!

[lar45]

Yes, it's an elevated powerline stand.
Still way more power than is needed.
He's shooting 180 Barnes X, I think I'll load him some 165 corelokts.
Just got some 140gn Sierras for the 6.5

[MarkP]

Most of my guns have never fired factory rounds.

[35 Rem]

Not being dependent on availability of commercial ammo is one big advantage in loading your own. Of course getting ammo cheaper was the reason i got into loading being that I was not eve out of High School and had no money of my own. I figured that if i begged my Father into giving me some money to get a batch of components, i had more shots before running out compared to simply getting a box of 20 or 25 rounds. I shoot a 257 Weatherby when deer hunting big fields, getting factory ammo for it is darned costly plus you can't ever count on getting the load your rifle is sighted in for. Since i load my own, when i am running low, I simply open a box of my favorite bullets and stuff them into empty brass and i have another batch of exactly the load the rifle prefers. If a shoot goes a step farther and casts their own bullets they are even more independent. Buying a mold allows you to manufacture an infinite number of identical bullets. And lead bullets are about free compared to what some jacketed are selling for now. For most of my handgun shooting, I practically never shoot jacketed. Especially revolvers. Another big factor us reloaders and casters enjoy is the ability to download certain guns. For instance, a 44 Magnum revolver would get old pretty fast if you had to shoot nothing but full power loads. The gun magazines always promote the idea that you can shoot 44 Special loads if you want less recoil. But you can't hardly find 44 Special and it's always expensive if you do. I can put an RCBS 245 SWC over a light charge of Red Dot and get about 850 ft/sec in my Super Blackhawk and it's fun to shoot all day and dirt cheap. And the sense of accomplishment in repeatedly using bullets you cast to kill deer can't be experienced with factory ammo or even using factory bullets. Putting forth the effort and $'s to stock up on components in the good times to be able to weather the bad times when guns/ammo are scarce pays off in a big way. It may be uncomfortable - even in the good times when prices are relatively low - to buy multiple cases of primers, multiple 8lb cans of powder, etc. but your future self will appreciate it. :)

[Land Owner]

In times like these we revel in that we cast and reload not only to SAVE MONEY, but also to continue to shoot. Having prepared, I expect my means to outlast my needs with an abundance in remainder.

[Char-Gar]

I broke the code on casting and reloading in 1963, when I discovered once I had the brass, I could cast, lube and load 38 Specials for the same price or less than a box of 22 Long Rifles. I saved my money and bought a K-38 and the game was afoot!

[Dman75]

Was in Canada for work a few weeks ago and talking with one of the guys I was working with. He asked if I shoot guns and I told him yeah I get to shoot a good amount. Told him that I reload/cast my own. He thought that was so cool. He was telling me how he got to shoot one time with his friend that’s an instructor. He acted like he really got to do something special. I then realized how fortunate I was to have that freedom. We need to keep it that way. Reading the post about Cali ammo scares the sh*t out of me. What’s next?

[slim1836]

What’s next?

With the ones in charge currently, it's a crapshoot. It's not looking good in the future either.

Slim

[JoeJames]

With the ones in charge currently, it's a crapshoot. It's not looking good in the future either.

SlimI am almost afraid to bring it up, touch wood, but there are some radicals that have issues with our independence from having to purchase commercial ammunition. But I did notice that some radical was concerned about re-loading - just worried about our safety (sure) and was muttering that we needed to be licensed to be able to safely reload.

[Mal Paso]

I am almost afraid to bring it up, touch wood, but there are some radicals that have issues with our independence from having to purchase commercial ammunition. But I did notice that some radical was concerned about re-loading - just worried about our safety (sure) and was muttering that we needed to be licensed to be able to safely reload.

That is why Diversity Training prompted me to add the 2 cartridges most likely to be acquired "in game" the 9x19 and 5.56.

[dverna]

That is why Diversity Training prompted me to add the 2 cartridges most likely to be acquired "in game" the 9x19 and 5.56.

Yes, when the SHTF, having what almost everyone has is beneficial. Those "Bugging Out" will provide a short term supply of ammunition until they die off (mostly murdered). There are no numbers on how many are going to bug out, but the number of "mobile caches" will drop exponentially as you get further from the cities, but every little bit helps. The downside is the longer they survive, and further they travel, the larger the group will become...and they will be the smart ones.

The paramilitary thugs are my biggest fear. They will be armed with whatever the current military is using.

Anyway, like you, I standardized on 9mm and 5.56 plus added the .308 and .40 (back then police were using the .40). At least I was smart enough to buy Glock 22's and adding a $100 barrel and some mags lets me shoot 9mm.

[JoeJames]

I have the dies for 9mm, and have gone through my own diversity training on the .556 preparing it to cycle in an AR15, and have a Prince Albert tub full of 556 brass. Better to get it down pat now than later when things could be more hurried. 308 has always been my deer cartridge; so I've reloaded it for 40 forevers.

[Bird]

Reloading with either jacketed or cast bullets has saved me a small fortune over factory ammo over the years, to the point it has paid for all my firearms.
I have only bought factory .22's and milsurp ammo.

[Jack Stanley]

Seems weird how people who plan and think are so much more fortunate than those who do not.

You sure got that right Don .

Jack

[frkelly74]

I do remember Barak Obama mentioning " illicit ammunition production" when he was talking about how much control the government didn't have, and should have, and needs to have. There is an awareness among them and I am sure it is on the agenda down the list aways . I believe the primer situation is part and parcel of that master plan.

[blue32]

Most of my coworkers buy guns every other day it seems. None of them reload. They balk at the idea of liquidating some of their collection to fund a press and, God forbid, a mold. I don't understand how they do it.

[BLAHUT]

The state where I live in requires background checks (which you have to pay for) to purchase ammo. Also, you're only allowed to purchase ammo for firearms that you have registered. You're not allowed to bring more than one 50 round box of ammo into the state, so you can't just buy it somewhere else. Every time I go into a sporting goods store I see where people are waiting in line, sometimes for an hour, just to purchase ammunition. Except for 22lr, I haven't purchased a single round of factory ammunition since 1982. Being able to make our own ammunition, plus also being able to cast our own bullets, gives us freedom from those that seek to restrict our rights. Reloading and shooting * ammo that we made our self is also rewarding. (* I was going to say "shooting & hunting", but they imposed a "lead bullet ban" and took hunting away from us.) I'm still thankful that we can "roll our own".

Keep in mind the Demorats, Nature fakers and tree huggers are all working behind the Curtin to put a stop to what we all are doing in the reloading room.
Primers and powder is getting hard to come by, will they get even more difficult to come by ?? If these wantabeys get there way, yes...
Start working with Juniors, cover some of the cost, Teach them to shoot, teach them to reload, So they can feed there addiction ? I do every chance I get.....

[deces]

I have a itching feeling that things will most certainly not be easing up for our community one bit.
https://t.me/ghostnewsx/1377

[dondiego]

Most of my coworkers buy guns every other day it seems. None of them reload. They balk at the idea of liquidating some of their collection to fund a press and, God forbid, a mold. I don't understand how they do it.

They don't shoot very often..........

[Mal Paso]

They don't shoot very often..........

I've met people who just collect. They save so much on factory ammo there's no need to reload. They support the industry but I like the follow through of making it all work.

I am fortunate to be able to average in 2.4 cent primers from a few years ago with the 9.5 cent primers I bought this week to keep overall costs down. I don't want to be too well stocked with expensive primers. 9mm ammo is $.30, 45 is $.50, I think the ammo channels are full and primers will be next, I hope.

[dondiego]

I've met people who just collect. They save so much on factory ammo there's no need to reload. They support the industry but I like the follow through of making it all work.

I am fortunate to be able to average in 2.4 cent primers from a few years ago with the 9.5 cent primers I bought this week to keep overall costs down. I don't want to be too well stocked with expensive primers. 9mm ammo is $.30, 45 is $.50, I think the ammo channels are full and primers will be next, I hope.

I like to dollar cost average myself. I haven't paid over $30 per thousand on primers ever though.

[T-Bird]

I have to admit, my son in law went to WY to hunt elk this fall. I reloaded his 300 WSM for him because I had some H4350 that I had left over from another "project" years ago. He had saved brass, and was able to find the bullets he wanted online, but not the loaded ammo he wanted. I told him to buy the bullets, bring me the brass, and I would use my powder and primers and work him up a load. He came over, I let him watch the process and after a few tries, we had a load that was better than what factory ammo had done in his gun. He was fascinated. He killed a 6x6 bull at 260 yds with handloads, I think I have a convert. I couldn't be more proud.

[Hanzy4200]

I'm not sure fortunate is the real description. It's not a blessing that fell from the sky. It's a desire to build, produce, and learn. It's a inner drive that 98% of the country just doesn't have. I'm willing to bet that a large percentage of us do a lot more than cast bullets. I like cigars. So I learned to grow and cure my own tobacco. I like booze, so I learned to grow grapes and brew my own wines. We want to learn.

It did strike me a bit today. A buddy as work excitedly told me so and so had 9MM in stock cheap. $260 +shipping for 1,000 rds. My cost is about $105, and $95 of that is inflated primer cost. And that's the cheapest commercially available caliber.