Sanity check: getting OUT of reloading

[rjacobs]

Probably an odd topic, but one I have been wracking my brain on the past few weeks... Usually you read "getting into" reloading types of posts, but I am contemplating the opposite.

I have no time to shoot, havent for the past year(got married and all that goes into that), dont see shooting much for the next year(building a house and moving). In the past 2 years what I have shot, I can buy for almost cheaper than it costs me to reload(9mm, 45, shotguns). I WOULD keep my Forster Co-Ax single stage along with my Forster 6.5 creed, .223 and 300blk dies. I also have an RCBS chargemaster that I would either keep or upgrade to an Autotrickler V3. So I would still have SOMETHING.

The rest of my setup is a Dillon XL650(with all the aftermarket upgrades: primer shut off, bearings, primer chute, roller handle, strong mount, bullet tray, hex wrench holder, etc...), Dillon case feeder, Mr. Bullet Feeder(9mm), 9mm loading tool head, 45 loading tool head, 223 prep/trimmer tool head(with RT1200), 223 loading tool head, 300blk prep/trimmer tool head(with RT1500), 300blk loading tool head, extra powder thrower, and some other stuff... Not a full inventory list obviously.

I also have a TON of powder, bullets, and primers... Also have a big dual drum wet tumbler that can tumble 50lbs of brass at a time plus the big Dillon media separator.

I believe I have like $5-6k or more worth of stuff thats just sitting...

My thought is to sell all the progressive stuff that I just use to load bulk pistol ammo and use the money to just buy like 5k rounds of 9mm, 2k rounds of 45, and maybe 2-3k rounds of 223... I figure I can get all that for ~$2000 and have a bunch of money left over. It would likely take me years to shoot up all of that at my current pace.

Am I out of my mind thinking of selling most of my equipment and components? I dont know that I WANT to sell it, and financially its not hurting me to let it sit so I dont NEED to sell it, but it also pains me to see expensive equipment and components that arent getting used just sit and collect dust. The part of me that wants to keep it is the "just in case" part...or rainy day...or what have you...

 

[Mainer]

Keep it. If you are keeping your guns, someday you will want to reload again.

 

[rjacobs]

Keep it. If you are keeping your guns, someday you will want to reload again.

I dont plan on selling any guns I dont think. I mean, I could thin the heard a bit, but not really planning on it.

 

[Laseredge]

Any round I can buy quality ammo for less than .60-.70 a round, is not generally worth me reloading.

 

[rjacobs]

Any round I can buy quality ammo for less than .60-.70 a round, is not generally worth me reloading.

I can buy cases of 9mm right now for like 160 for decent stuff, 170 or so for good stuff like Speer Lawman. Cases of bulk 223 can be had for under 300. Guessing 45(I havent shopped it) for probably in the 225 range... So 16-17c, 28-30c, and 22-23c... that covers 75% of my shooting. The new "cheap" 300blk that is supposed to come out should be relatively cheap, although steel cased.

 

[Romeo458]

I have been tempted to sell my progressive load set up also a Dillon, but I also plan to sell a bunch of rifles in the coming months. I'm keeping a lot of my bolt action and stuff that I would use the single stage press and all of that loading equipment so I plan to keep it.

I am going to be moving or I could use the money to help buy the house that I'm currently living in. So if you are not downsizing like I am, and have no reason other then it's just sitting around you might as well keep it.

 

[Foul Mike]

I think you burned out Bro. I am sorry for you.

Some of us reload because we find it relaxing and we get nice ammo out of the deal, like 10 or 20 maybe 100 rounds. Then relax some more, then shoot it, and wash rinse and repeat.

Sorry you burned out. Maybe try shooting more?

 

[tickridge]

I reloaded like crazy in the early 80's for about 3 years then I got divorced lol and ran like crazy until about 3 to 4 years ago and now I am reloading again keep it if it is not hurting u financially

 

[nealm66]

My reloading stuff sat for about 5years till the bug bit me again. I recommend pulling your dies apart and give them a light rub if oil and I would sell your powder charge unit and go manually if you think it’s going to sit for quite a while.

 

[culater]

Keep it and pile up more ammo prices will go only higher and if and when there is ammo shortage your not thinking about it. You can by anything you want including food if things get tough in this country.

 

[jab00]

+1 for boxing everything up and storing it until you get the urge to start up again

 

[rjacobs]

I think you burned out Bro. I am sorry for you.

Some of us reload because we find it relaxing and we get nice ammo out of the deal, like 10 or 20 maybe 100 rounds. Then relax some more, then shoot it, and wash rinse and repeat.

Sorry you burned out. Maybe try shooting more?

I wouldnt say burned out, just lack of time to shoot in the past 4+ years. I would LOVE to just be able to go to the range and burn up 3-4 hours of time, but I just dont currently have it.

I moved here to Dallas in summer 2015 and was shooting a lot(was shooting a lot before I moved here also) the first full year I lived here. In fall of 2016 I started a new job where I was gone ~18-20 days in a row every month and I let my range membership expire. In fall of 2017 I started another new job(where I currently am) at the same time I was trying to have a relationship with my now wife while she lived in Hong Kong. Then spent a bunch of time in 2018 working my ass off trying to make money so I could coast a bit once my wife came over here in early 2019, then we got married and have spent a bunch of 2019 planning this house we are building and getting our current house ready to sell... In theory, things will calm down this fall after we get moved into the house, but its hard to know... My other hobbies have suffered as well so its not just shooting(got a Corvette that has sat almost an entire year because I cant find time to chase an electrical gremlin).

I reloaded like crazy in the early 80's for about 3 years then I got divorced lol and ran like crazy until about 3 to 4 years ago and now I am reloading again keep it if it is not hurting u financially

Its not hurting me financially to keep the equipment. Im blessed to have a fantastic job with a good salary. I just hate to sit on things that dont get touched.

My reloading stuff sat for about 5years till the bug bit me again. I recommend pulling your dies apart and give them a light rub if oil and I would sell your powder charge unit and go manually if you think it’s going to sit for quite a while.

Yea I have to break everything down here in a few weeks to put it into storage while we sell this house and move into the new house. Everything will get cleaned when I do that.

 

[acudaowner]

your choice to keep or sell , Id keep it you may not be able to replace if the dims / socialist get there way .

 

[65x55guy]

Sell it if you are really not shooting that often. Sell it all, for that matter. You might consider having a huge reloading month, take care of all your long range loading for 2 years worth of shooting, and then getting rid of the rest.

The other alternative is to just box it up except for the powders And primers (well those face to face) and execute your plan to buy a bunch of loaded ammo.

right now I’m in a similar spot with kids and job taking higher priority and I don’t see that changing. I was shooting 4-6 times a year and enjoyed my own loading, but its slowing and it’s harder to justify all that space and time. That Prime 6.5 deal for a case of ammo at $1.14 a round looked really, really good at the end of last year. And the brass will resell are .25-.30 a piece.

 

[rjacobs]

The other alternative is to just box it up except for the powders And primers (sell those face to face) and execute your plan to buy a bunch of loaded ammo.

If I sell the equipment I will sell the components, but if I keep the equipment I will keep the components. Components, for me, have always been the harder pieces of the puzzle to get...and I got lots of components. I could load almost 50k pistol rounds right now... I could load like 10k rounds of 5.56...

 

[lightman]

I'm another that would store it away and keep it. But its a personal choice. Your powder and primers will keep for a long time if stored in an area with a stable temperature. I would oil the dies and other steel tools.

But reloading is not for everybody. I've taught a few guys to reload that just didn't get into it. If you are of that mind then selling out may be the best thing.

 

[rjacobs]

But reloading is not for everybody. I've taught a few guys to reload that just didn't get into it. If you are of that mind then selling out may be the best thing.

Ive reloaded well over 100k rounds and probably run another 70k through for brass prep. At one point I had 2 Dillon 1050's(one had a chain drive for brass prep only)... So its not that I bought all this stuff and didnt "get into it" and am regretting my purchase. Im sure my machines paid for themselves at least once, if not twice...

 

[rjacobs]

I'm leaning towards keeping everything although when I move I dont know that I will set it back up as I have no where in the new house to set it up until I get my shop built out behind the house.

 

[Ryridesmotox]

I would say to keep it all even if you might not pick it up for years. Reloading equipment isnt getting cheaper. And quality loaders are definitely not going to get cheaper.

 

[Foul Mike]

Well now, you are building a house and got married and have a nice Old Lady now that I would hope keeps your crank spun up, but you have a lot of reloading gear and don't know what to do with it????

I wish I was in your shoes or boots. Foul Mike knows what to do.

In this new house you are building is a "Special" place called Your Shop or My Gun Room or My Crib, give it your own name, where you build, with a lot of thought, a place where all of the reloading shit and all of your ammo can be stored and then you build benches and shelves and let everyone in the house know that is "YOUR" space and don't violate it. Put in a TV and a computer place and make it warm since YOU are building this New house.

Your,----SHOP, Gun room, Crib, may go for a while that you can't reload, but you have everything and have put some bucks into it too, go buy it New an see how that works out for you? but you just happen to have it On hand? get out and just "Do Your Thing," but it is always there, and NOBODY fucks with that fact.

I wish I was in your boots, I would build a vault.

I have a nice Shop and the Squaw leaves it alone. It is called RESPECT. It goes both ways. FM

 

[LMT/556]

Do not sell your primary equipment unless you were planning on upgrading. I gave a square deal b away when I got out and still kick myself over that stupid move. Like selling a gun, you will very likely regret it later (unless it's a P85 sold to get a Sig P226)

 

[skatz11]

If it doesn’t hurt you financially to keep it then do not sell it. Just because you don’t have the time to reload doesn’t mean that you won’t be forced to reload in the future.

If your time is more valuable and can shoot factory ammo and have fun then that’s great. However there may be a time in the future when that isn’t the case.

I remember when I could go to Walmart and get everything I needed at a reasonable price. Then came the first Obama election panic and 9mm and 22LR were hard to find.

I would hedge against future instability and shortages by keeping a good stock of components and factory ammo on hand.

 

[Zatoichi66]

I would agree with the folks who said hold off on selling things. I moved for work & it was 3 years between reloading & and rifle shooting. No ranges where there wasn’t a 2 year wait, ut we moved back home & I’m glad I kept not only my rifles, but also my reloading gear.

 

[Aftermath]

I'm in the keep it camp. I'd for sure keep it at least until mid-November.