I used to reload my handgun ammo; 9 mm, 45 ACP and 44 mag, it was fun, relaxing and rewarding. 
It was also about 20 years ago and prices of ammo were a lot cheaper then they are right now. Then came COVID and ammo prices went through the roof and they really have not come back down to reasonable prices yet! So what do we do now? Pay the high prices or do we think about reloading? Luckily, I still have all my reloading equipment and most of it is useable today. 
It is not a big fancy progressive press, like the blue Dillon press in the upper picture, that will turn out lots of bullets in a short period of time. It is just a single stage press, Rock Chucker made by RCBS, thats in the bottom picture, but it will work for either handgun or rifle ammo and that’s what I need. Lets look a bit closer at this topic and let you make a decision.
What is Reloading Bullets?
- Components of reloading:To reload bullets , you need a spent casing, a new primer, a measured amount of gunpowder, and a new bullet.
- The Process:The reloading process typically involves resizing the case, removing the old primer, adding new components, and seating the bullet properly.
- The Benefits:Reloading can be more cost-effective, allows for customization of ammunition based on your specific needs, and can potentially improve shooting accuracy.
Who Can Reload Bullets?
Anyone can reload bullets for personal use, but those who sell or distribute reloads for profit need a federal firearms license (FFL).
- Reloading bullets for personal use is legal in most cases
- It’s a hobby that allows you to customize ammunition for your firearm
- You can save money by reloading your own ammunition
- You need an FFL from the ATF to sell or distribute reloads for profit
- You also need an FFL to manufacture or import ammunition
What Equipment Do You Need To Reload Ammo?
If you desire to get started reloading 
bullets it is necessary to get certain equipment:
- An Up-to-date Loading Manual
- A Reloading press (Single stage or progressive press)
- Shell holder
- Reloading die set of appropriate caliber
- Case lubricant & pad*
- Priming unit
- Primer tray
- Powder scale (graduated in grains avoirdupois)
- Powder trickler
- Powder funnel
- Two reloading blocks
- Dial indicating caliper (graduated in 0.001” increments)
- Case trimmer with pilot
- Deburring tool
How Do You Reload Bullets?
- You need some reloading equipment which was detailed in the section above.
- You need reloading components: primers, powder, bullets, and brass to reload ammunition
- Once the press and other equipment is setup for the caliber that you are reloading, You assemble the ammunition using previously fired cartridge cases at the specifications in your reloading manual.
- Part of the fun with reloading is experimenting to make the perfect load for your firearm, that includes adjusting the amount of powder and bullet depth to find the right combination
- You can customize the load for your specific firearm, purpose, and preferences. But it is important not to exceed the maximum powder that is suggested in your manual.
What Ammo Can You Reload?
Basically
, any centerfire bullets can be reloaded, but rimfire cartridges cannot. A centerfire cartridge is a type of ammunition that has a primer in the middle
of the base of the cartridge casing. Centerfire cartridges are used in handgun, shotgun and rifles.
Some examples of centerfire – 9mm Parabellum, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP, 5.56×45 NATO/.223 Remington, .30-30 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, 7.62×51/.308 Winchester
A rimfire cartridge is a type of ammunition where the primer is located in a rim around the base of the cartridge case. When fired, the firing pin strikes the rim, igniting the primer and propellant.
Some examples of rimfire cartridges – .17 Hornady Mach 2 (.17 HM2), .17 PMC/Aguila (.17 High Standard), .17 Winchester Super Magnum (.17 WSM), .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (HMR), .22 Short, .22Long, . 22 Long Rifle (LR), . 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR)
Can You Save Money By Reloading?
With the current cost of ammunition, some shooters may be considering handloading to save money. While it’s true that reloaded ammunition can cost less than factory ammunition, the thought that you’ll save money may not be true.
At the present time, 1,000 rounds of cheap 9mm FMJ ammunition will cost you about 36 cents per bullet to purchase. That works out to $18.00 per box of 50 or $36.00 per box of 100, up to $360.00 for a box of 1000. If we assume that you already have 1,000 – 9mm pre-shot cases, the rest of the components (bullets, powder, and primers) to reload 1000 bullets would cost you about $295.00. That means you will save about $65. Now if you are reloading rifle bullets, the components are a little more expensive, but you can also save a little more money. Again, if you already have the brass casings to reload 1000 rounds of .223 Remington FMJ ammo, the other components will cost you about $320.00. Now if you compare that to the least expensive factory ammo, you will save about $180.00.
Now the last thing to consider is your time. Our time is really pretty valuable, but each persons time is a personal decision. What is the value of your time? With some practice, you can put out about 300 rounds per hour using a progressive press. If you’re using a single-stage press, like me, you might load as many as 100 rounds per hour on a good day. So that means it’s going to take you somewhere between 4 and 10 hours to load a thousand rounds.
So to sum this up, if you have to buy brass and you put a significant value on your time, then there is a good chance that you will lose money by reloading your bullets. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Reloading takes time, but we usually find the process to be very enjoyable. There’s a lot of satisfaction in creating the best ammo for your guns that is reliable and accurate.
Final Comments
So what did we find out? Depending on your equipment and reloading expertise will determine whether you save money by reloading your bullets. Plus, the quality of today’s ammunition is so good that you can almost certainly find a factory load that performs well in your gun. But even though reloading may not be a money saver, you can most likely come up with a handload that performs even better in your firearm.
So with those things in mind, reloading bullets is something that most of us would be willing to spend money on. But if you are a perfectionist-type, this might become an addiction that can come with dialing in the perfect round. This is not a warning but just a comment of what may start out as a way to save money can become a great hobby of hobbies.
If you have any questions about this post or anything related to Everyday Carry (EDC), feel free to leave a comment below and I will be happy to get back to you.
All the best,
Larry
Founder of EDC Essentials
