Will reloading disapear with the new too lazy to do it generation

M

melodyrain097

Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2026
Messages
9
Reaction score
34
City & State/Province
south carolina
For last 5 months after being gone 16 years .I was shocked that reloading was disappearing big time with people under 35 .I also went to several large gun shops and very few had reloading supplies .I dont know any kids down here that reload .I did see lots old reloading equipment left to their kids and it was being sold by their kids .I took lots of kids hunting but only got to teach one to reload .Its a lot of work my ammo for 338-378 weatherby and 416 rem mag was crazy high .I tried to find some shotgun reloading stuff up there this summer there was none .Sportsman warehouse use to have tons of reloading stuff they didn't have much like they use to .We better start teaching kids this quick or poof its gone..
 
melodyrain097 said:
For last 5 months after being gone 16 years .I was shocked that reloading was disappearing big time with people under 35 .I also went to several large gun shops and very few had reloading supplies .I dont know any kids down here that reload .I did see lots old reloading equipment left to their kids and it was being sold by their kids .I took lots of kids hunting but only got to teach one to reload .Its a lot of work my ammo for 338-378 weatherby and 416 rem mag was crazy high .I tried to find some shotgun reloading stuff up there this summer there was none .Sportsman warehouse use to have tons of reloading stuff they didn't have much like they use to .We better start teaching kids this quick or poof its gone..
Click to expand...
my 2 boys are 26 and 24. They know everything that I do. And if they have children, I'm confident they will be taught as well.

but the biggest hurdle is the downward spiral of component supply. The equipment is always there. When people see that, they say why bother.

I have mentored several young people, in addition to my sons, to hand load.

If we want to keep it going, that's what we must do.
 
If you look at the age of most of the people on this and other shooting/hunting sites and gun shows you will see mostly older guys. The younger crowd just aren't interested. I have seen a few really depressing threads with people asking what to do with their hunting and shooting gear because their kids are not interested. The self reliance gene is dying off. Heck they don't even want to have to shop for their own groceries more or less hunt them down.
 
It's harder to find kids that know how to operate a broom. So reloading?............ The good news is that there is a movement to get young people interested in blue collar jobs like electricians, construction ete. Mike Rowe is showing how there are jobs that pay six figures without a college degree. So our new generation will learn again how to use their hands to build things. If they get into shooting then reloading might have a chance.
 
Its not just reloading that is dying with the younger generations, but in my old home state, even hunting is declining. A couple of years back, I checked that state's number of hunting licenses issued, and it was down year over year. They even published a report discussing the declines and how it was effecting budgets and revenue for game management.

I have posted a few times on this forum and others how many gun shops and sporting good stores no longer carry various loading supplies, dies, equipment, casting molds, lead shot, wads, etc, etc.
 
It's just not cost effective for the commodity calibers like 9mm, 223 or 12ga. It still is for the lower volume calibers like 300 win mag, 44 mag, etc. On the other hand I stocked up for 10+ years before retiring so I'm cost effective on everything :cool:
 
If the cartridges are small they're usually pretty cheap, like 308 Winchester are barely $1.50 factory loaded. When ya move up to say a 340 Weatherby or Remington 300 Ultra Mag, then might be $4-5.00 bucks a round, worth reloading. Do it on rainy days, at night, or in a blizzard, then shoot e'm when weather's better. It's still worth doing, lots of supplies at Powder Valley n others. If its basic 9 mm, just buy get the cheapest n leave behind but, if they need to do serious work, reload those too.
 
For one, the kids need to be taken out while you are hunting. 4 of my grand kids are going out with their farthers in the field to either deer hunt or duck hunt.
It's our job go teach the kid to hunt, and fish. Reloading also. My oldest grandson is starting to reload now and has been for couple of years.
When I get settled down in Montana, I have a couple of men that want to learn. I will teach them what I know, hopefully they carry it forward.
THE STORES: I feel it's hard for them to carry all the different items to reload. If you remember back in the days. The press, dies 2, a scale and something to trim with. As my wants and things developed, so did my reloading equipment. It's by far more than what I started out with. Now including a building. It takes time to acquire the the equipment. As they say the "Rabbit Hole"
Plus somebody must be purchasing reloading equipment, otherwise it would be out there. I think it's the online or net that's holding the stores back. That where I go most of the time on the net. No driving required.
I can see it really hard just starting out and trying to buy onces and not 3 or 4 times. I hate to think on how many powder scales I have. Most I don't use. Sizing dies now it was 2, then 3 and now 4. With other items to just in the sizing cases, if done correctly I think.
Brass, Bullets, Powder, and Primers are large costs. Powder at about $50.00 per pound in 8lbs sizes. Not to say about the shipping cost for primer and powder. Bullets at a $1.00 each. Just dig deeper!:rolleyes:
Can't really blame the sporting good stores, there is so much out there now.
To me it's kind of like, A Lost Dog In A Meat A House. Doesn't know which piece to grab first.
 
oldfortyfiveauto said:
It's just not cost effective for the commodity calibers like 9mm, 223 or 12ga. It still is for the lower volume calibers like 300 win mag, 44 mag, etc. On the other hand I stocked up for 10+ years before retiring so I'm cost effective on everything :cool:
Click to expand...
I beg to differ... I make target quality hunting 223 rounds for 28 cents each. That's a 55gr sp doing 3,250, and grouping about 1/2 moa at 100. Yes you can buy bulk fmj stuff cheap, but its not as good as what you can roll up...

You save alot more when you get into the premium stuff, say you want some 300 h&h or a 257 weatherby load, there your probably 3x cheaper than factory.

The biggest reason I reload is cause of consistency, no longer concerned with not finding a certain loading, once I have my load, the supply is infinite.
 
Definitely a lost craft with the younger crowd. Some guns are cheaper to buy and shoot but the bulk of my guns are hand loaded ammo. Lots of kids just not into the gun and hunting thing as it once was . My daughter swears she's going to sell all my guns when im gone . That's just not going to happen!!!! My dad is a instructor and has a rather large collection that will more than likely come my way and id hate to see her want to sell everything. Most of the time they don't have any idea what there given and what they not only represent . Lots of memories !!!
I tried to get the wife and my daughter into reloading but they just think it's all my job.
My wife has no problem mag dumping her ar 15 or any of her other guns .
 

Similar threads

D
Will a Weaver 6x20 GrandSlam do it.
Replies
1
Views
2K
Trickymissfit
T
Orange Dust
What to do with the little ones?
2
Replies
22
Views
2K
PlumberEd
PlumberEd
S
Ruger M77 .338WM--what do I do with it?
Replies
3
Views
2K
j-speers
J
D
New Sendero! What to do!
Replies
8
Views
2K
Fotis
Fotis
BRADMOTO
Do Guns Love ❤️ Us too?
2
Replies
14
Views
462
Gary in MD
Gary in MD

Recent Posts

Back
Top