Shoot More, Shoot Better, Load Your Own

High volume and precision shooters have long known the advantages of loading your own ammunition. In this article we will discuss the advantages that loading your own metallic cartridges offers over factory ammunition.

There are few things more satisfying as loading a round that you put together yourself into a cherished firearm that you hold dear to your heart and sending the projectile down range and into the intended target. Loading your own ammunition creates satisfaction along many different levels. As a volume shooter you can stand to save a mint by reloading your own. For an example putting together a 45 acp for around 10 cents verses 60 cents for its factory counterpart allows you shoot six times more then the guy (or gal) buying from the shelves. More time on at the range is never a bad thing.

Even if you are a low volume shooter reloading can still have benefits. As a reloader you control every step of the reloading process. From the component section to the assembly. This gives you three distinct advantages over the factory ammunition. First advantage is that you are able to tailor your ammunition to your firearm and to your needs. Target loads for your 223 Remington or varmint loads for the same rifle. The sky is the limit when it comes to the level of flexibility you have when you decide to manufacture your own. The second advantage is that the ammunition you build is made specifically for your firearm. Ammunition from the factory is designed to work in every rifle chambered in that caliber. The ammo you produce is custom for your gun which allows you to ring out every bit of accuracy that firearm is capable of producing. Finally the ammunition you can produce is of higher quality then the ammunition from the factory. Keeping in mind that you own the process you control how that ammunition is put together every step of the way gives you total quality control.

Still not sold on reloading? When is the last time you saw a factory box of 7.92 Kurtz? My guess is never. There are many relics around that are still in fine shooting condition. Reloading gives you the ability to take those old relics ,chambered in obsolete rounds, out of the safe and back to the range. Even if components no longer exist for a particular round there are ways to convert a modern piece of brass to fit the obsolete cartridge. It really is a fun way to bring life back to a rifle you thought to be designated as a wall hanger.

I personally find reloading to be a relaxing and rewarding hobby in its own right. It's a wonderful compliment to my love for shooting and in a sense it brings you closer to your firearms. If you were looking for reasons to reload then I hope this article makes a strong case for why you should.

Check back for part two of this article where I will explore the tools required to get started.

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