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

K.E.C. Darkside said:
You are the exception, that's great. If you ever need anything, I'm a DM away.
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Will do, I've slowed down developing loads recently and mostly just stock up our standard loads when I get some free time.

The good part is that with our cabin renovations we built a shooting room on our range so when I have to do load development it's way quicker as I have the press and trickler right behind the bench so I can't take the shell off the press and shoot it. Couple years ago I speed ran load development and loaded 100 cartridges the day before rifle season opened while we were sighting our guns in.

birddog 68 said:
Reloading is much more than saving a few bucks. I take pride in knowing that I worked up the best load for a particular rifle.
Anyone who is trying to save $$ by reloading is in for a surprise!
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Eventually you can break even, per my records I'm just shy of 8,000 rounds loaded over the past 8 or so years with the majority of that being larger cartridges saving $1 to $2 per round. That's enough savings to offset the beginner Hornady reloading gear and the upgrades to the AP press, AutoTrickler V4, Henderson Trimmer and RCBS Matchmaster dies.
 
Architeuthis said:
I'm the old fool (56) who is just starting and blew some retirement savings getting into it and still learning. Have some great mentors to lean on which is helpful.
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There is a wealth of knowledge here on this forum too. You just have to be able to discern the good information from the bad.
 
MarkInPA said:
There is a wealth of knowledge here on this forum too. You just have to be able to discern the good information from the bad.
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That's the trick, isn't it. I will definitely be leaning on members and posting some results. Started off by taking a class offered by Dallas Sniper Training so I've a good jumping off point with continued support. Nowadays there's so many niche machine shops making so many innovative products that it's kind of overwhelming to navigate alone but I'm now set up to hopefully make some very accurate ammunition. Tried the factory stuff for years but once you start really trying to stretch your legs into LR shooting and finally start using a chronograph you can tell why most factory loads won't get you where you want to go consistently in my experience. I find the whole process pretty relaxing.

Developing mostly for 300 NM w/1-8 twist using Hornady AMax 250gr and Berger 245gr EOL and some Berger 230 Hybrid Target, 300 WinMag, 30-06, 6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC with mostly some variety of Berger, some Hammers and Hornady as well. It's going to be a fun journey. And in about 20 years look out for some high quality used reloading equipment on the "for sale" board. Hope there are some young guys that get into it.
 
akmtnhnt said:
Reloading doesn't save any money. Any more than making your own beer does. Any hobby where you take something that is mass produced and instead make it boutique and a lot more manual labor cannot possibly save money.
If someone says they reload to save money, they failed 3rd grade math.
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In pure costs on a long enough scale it's pretty easy to offset the costs of your reloading gear provided you are loading something with a significant gap per shot between Handloads and factory. I loaded 2,500 rounds of 6.5 PRC and saved between $1.30 and $3 per shot compared to equivalent factory ammo. Average it out at $2.15 and that's over $5,000 I didn't have to spend on factory ammo. Factor in several thousand other rounds and it's probably well over $10,000 which is far more than what I have invested into my reloading gear.

Now if you are adding in time and cost per hour well then it depends on what you consider your time worth. If you consider minimum wage the baseline that's an extra $0.12 per minute per cartridge. If you consider it based on your actual salary then that makes it way harder if not impossible to break even if you have a good job.
 
joep17 said:
What a great thread.

I have read it top to bottom. All 8 pages.

As I approach my 65 bday, it made me think why i started loading at 13.

An insatiable "NEED TO KNOW".

Do you still prefer a car you can set your timing? Do you remember when you could stand inside the engine bay of a 73 F250 with a 300 inline 6?

Life and society has changed.

I load 5000 per year minimum for competitive shooting.

My time in the reloading room makes me feel young and takes me back from the pressures of business.

I taught 2 of my high school teachers to load. Unfortunately my father had no interest it until my mother had a set of kittens when she found gunpowder and primers in my bedroom.

My Z06. If it throws a code, now I have a tool to read what is wrong. When I go to a dealer and explain, they pout as they cannot sell more repairs.

Dont ever forget that guns and cartridges are constantly changing to sell more stuff. My 270 (with a 3rd barrel) and my FTR 308 with its 9th barrel are old technology. You need a "xyz"

I love Hornady but they are the leaders in making "new things" everyone needs.

now i have 400 pieces of Lapua 6 BR brass to take out of the 80"s vintage RCBS vibrator.

load for 43 different cartridges. Keeps me busy when not cutting lawn.

And memtb, i too had a starter wife with a starter home.. She asked for an appraisal on my 58 Mod 70 338 Alaskan. She got a free horse no questions. Hanavarian warm blood dressage horses are way more expensive.

More importantly, does anyone have a 2021 Brent Mason Telecaster for sale? That hummbucker was an awesome mod. Gives you the best of a Les Paul and a Strat with the country twang.
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I don't even play guitar and you've got me looking up the 2021 Brent Mason…. Lol
 
Wayne50 said:
I shoot a lot of rifles with no factory ammo available or very hard to find. Just a few are 25 Rem, 30 & 32 Rem, 40-82 WCF, 35 WCF, 33 WCF, 348 Win, and a ton of others. It's either reload or hang it on a rack and just look at it. I've been reloading seriously since 1974. Load for most all Win lever actions and Rem pumps.
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Yep me too, this new generation dont care or want any of that they want all them new unproven cartridges, just like the real steel and wood guns made in America,now its all plastic and dont care of manufacturer or country of origin,
 
If reloading is on its way out the price of used reloading equipment doesn't show it. Between 2008-2015 , I visited a lot of local auctions. Reloading gear was always available. I bought boxes lots and sorted out everything. In 2009 I purchased a near new RCBS rock chucker with dies, powder trickler, a 505 scale and a bunch of Gizmos for $27. I outfitted many newbie reloaders with used fully functional gear. Not seeing reloading gear at auctions or yard sales like I used to. If eBay is any indicator, prices are higher than normal for the average stuff.
 
The new generations aren't as intelligent for the most part. A lot of them are lazy and have very little drive. However, I have had a few of them ask what equipment to buy to get into reloading and if I could mentor them. The curiosity is there, especially when they see tiny groups at the range. I don't know what it is that excites us when we see 3-10 shots sub ¼- ½ MOA groups or ring steel beyond 1000yds, but it excites a lot of younger folks still. Maybe it's the desire to be like the video game sniper, I don't know.
 
fmuguira said:
Like not wanting a job, drivers license or anything besides a phone, the new generation will want a robot to do it for them …. Laziness, technology paralysis or what, I don't know.
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Or, this generation has to work twice as much to afford life since the past generations let the government get out of control? And don't forget this generation is also paying for all the unfunded liabilities for the boomers golden retirements. Time and money are the two things this generation doesn't have, like the past generations had. Average home is $450k and what is the average wage in 2026? Do the math.
 
adam32+P said:
Average home is $450k and what is the average wage in 2026? Do the math.
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Once upon a time…..young people began their life in an old, "starter" home! It wasn't in a gated, HOA community!

There are some places were a "starter" home does start at $450 K…..thankfully we have a highway system! And there are places that still have lots of "blue collar" jobs that pay far more money than a degree in "remedial basket-weaving" will pay!

Many young people think that they should "start" in a home similar to what their parents spent a lifetime of work and saving to acquire!

Welcome to the "entitled generation "! memtb
 
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memtb said:
Once upon a time…..young people began their life in an old, "starter" home! It wasn't in a gated, HOA community!

There are some places were a "starter" home does start at $450 K…..thankfully we have a highway system! And there are places that still have lots of "blue collar" jobs that pay far more money than a degree in "remedial basket-weaving" will pay!

Many young people think that they should "start" in a home similar to what their parents spent a lifetime of work and saving to acquire! memtb
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Actually I was wrong, the average home price in America is $540,600...so let's say a "starter home" is $300,000 with an average wage of $31/hr...do the math. That's national averages, so that highway system doesn't do much good anymore.

And don't forget that $31/hr doesn't go nearly as far since the "greatest generation" rolled over at every election and allowed the government to get out of control for decades. Now we have massive inflation, laws and regulations galore, taxes on everything in existence and unfunded pensions that the current generations will be paying for for years ahead.

I find it comical to hear how this generation is so messed up...but look who raised them? We didn't raise ourselves in caves and just appeared one day.
 

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