How long did it take you?

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testuser

New member
Just curious. How long did it take everyone to start reloading after they started shooting?

I went through that period of excuses, too, for a few years. How many times does someone tell you not to buy a gun and the only reason is ammo expense? Well, I used to be that guy...

For me, it's was about 10 years.
 
1

10Ringmagic

New member
33 years.

I would save money for reloading equipment till I had enough money for a new gun.

I sure wish that I hadn't been so stupid. With the money saved by reloading, one can easily save for the next gun.
 
4

4runnerman

New member
One Month. 2 of my rifles have never nor will ever see a store round. It was a have to do thing if your going to shoot. That excuse worked very well with the wife. I just explained the savings to her and that was all it took. Don't count time shooting 22.
 
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chris in va

New member
8 years. Once ammo got insanely expensive, I started looking into a cheap reloading setup. Still use my Hand Press three years later.
 
L

Lost Sheep

New member
The first 6 rounds

The first six rounds I fired through my Dan Wesson Model 15 (my first gun) 3 were my reloads and 3 were those which my instructor loaded while showing me the ropes. The next 50 were factory.

When I bought my gun, I knew I would be reloading for it. When I bought my press, the guy who sold it to me showed me (with narration and question time) how to load 3 rounds. Then I loaded the next three (with me narrating and answering his questions). Took about an hour, maybe 45 minutes or maybe longer.

After that, the only factory ammunition I bought (aside from 22 rimfire) were to replenish or increase my supply of brass.

Lost Sheep
 
B

Brian Pfleuger

Moderator Emeritus
28 years? Depends on when you start counting. I've been shooting longer than my oldest memories. I'm 37 (today ;)), so I've been shooting at least 32 years. Been reloading 2-ish. So... Somewhere between 28 and 32 years.
 
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Mello2u

New member
I started shooting at about age 5.

In my early twenties I bought a turret press. It was painfully slow to load 50 rounds of 9mm.

I eventually discovered Dillon made a progressive reloader, bought the 550 model and stuff to load several calibers; then I could load 500 rounds in less time than it had taken me to load 50 before.
 
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Lost Sheep

New member
How much did it hurt?

Mello2u said:
I started shooting at about age 5.

In my early twenties I bought a turret press. It was painfully slow to load 50 rounds of 9mm.

I eventually discovered Dillon made a progressive reloader, bought the 550 model and stuff to load several calibers; then I could load 500 rounds in less time than it had taken me to load 50 before.
Click to expand...
My first press was a single stage. I could load 50 rounds an hour, easily, weighing each charge. I must have a much higher tolerance for pain than you.

Eventually I moved to Lee Pro-1000 presses which I found too painful for other reasons.

I guess we have different tolerances for different characteristics. That is what makes for a great economy. Choices, and diversity.

Lost Sheep
 
P

Prof Young

New member
Couple years

Loaders:
I don't recall exactly, but it was a couple years in to my hunting when I bought a 44 mag for the now defunct handgun season for white tail in IL. A good hunting round was 80 cents. I bought the most simple reloading stuff from Lee. It didn't ever require a press. Started doing the 44. Now have a single stage press, primer tool, case tumbler etc and I load 45 colt, 44 mag, 9 mm, and 223. Pretty much enjoy it and means I can afford to shoot a lot more.
Live well, be safe.
Prof Young
 
I

Ideal Tool

Moderator
Hello, testuser..I started out shooting .22 rimfires..then Granfather gave me an old hammer 12 ga. with a Lee-loader, couple bags of shot, cardboard & felt wads & 1/2 can of Red Dot...showed me how everything worked in an afternoon..I was out shooting re-loads next morning..so I guess for me..it was the same time!
 
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hooligan1

New member
my father put a gun in my hand when I was 4 years old,(Ruger Bearcat)and I started handloading at the age of 27 so,,,,,,,,,,,23 years.:eek:
 
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rclark

New member
Can't remember, other when I got my .357 Blackhawk as a teen around1 1980 or so, it wasn't much later that I started reloading too. Can't remember the last time I bought any factory ammo other than .22.
 
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ScottRiqui

New member
I've been a "couple boxes a year" shooter since I was about 12, but it wasn't until I was 38 or so that I started shooting a lot. That, coupled with the 2008/2009 ammo shortage around the same time, is what got me started reloading.
 
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Don H

New member
1 box of .357 magnum. 1966. Purchased a Lee Loader to reload that box and haven't purchased much in the way of manufactured ammo since.
 
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