Agree Aguila.
I have three modes of reloading.
One, like you, is for cost benefit. It is purely a production run, with a few small tweaks for the pistols and ARs I shoot in competition.
Then there is the hunting ammo, which is both a cost and accuracy benefit with the rounds being tailored for my guns, but not wringing out the best accuracy possible.
Then the precision loads, that get the ladder tests and optimized for each firearm. This is mostly precision rifle, but I follow the methodology for a few of the varmint rifles.
With just about 900K rounds loaded and over 1M rounds fired, that 100K plus that I did not reload is almost all shotgun shells. I have no idea what my add for rimfire is, so I don't even count it. But suffice it to say, my $10K in presses, dies and other associated equipment was 1. collected over time and 2. has saved me significantly more than it cost. I am guessing, but I'd say over the 30+ years, it has allowed me to shoot at least 50% more ammo than I would have been able to if I bought factory.
When I shoot matches with prize tables, I am almost always picking up bullet/brass/powder and or trading for it, further reducing my costs. One reason I buy Sierra and Hornady bullets when I can is that I have picked up over 100K of bullets and or certificates from them off of prize tables.
I have three modes of reloading.
One, like you, is for cost benefit. It is purely a production run, with a few small tweaks for the pistols and ARs I shoot in competition.
Then there is the hunting ammo, which is both a cost and accuracy benefit with the rounds being tailored for my guns, but not wringing out the best accuracy possible.
Then the precision loads, that get the ladder tests and optimized for each firearm. This is mostly precision rifle, but I follow the methodology for a few of the varmint rifles.
With just about 900K rounds loaded and over 1M rounds fired, that 100K plus that I did not reload is almost all shotgun shells. I have no idea what my add for rimfire is, so I don't even count it. But suffice it to say, my $10K in presses, dies and other associated equipment was 1. collected over time and 2. has saved me significantly more than it cost. I am guessing, but I'd say over the 30+ years, it has allowed me to shoot at least 50% more ammo than I would have been able to if I bought factory.
When I shoot matches with prize tables, I am almost always picking up bullet/brass/powder and or trading for it, further reducing my costs. One reason I buy Sierra and Hornady bullets when I can is that I have picked up over 100K of bullets and or certificates from them off of prize tables.