[Jeff Higgins]

The dirty little secret (and running insider joke) to reloading centerfire rifle and handgun ammo is that it actually costs more than buying commercial ammo. The reason being that we simply wind up shooting more...

I've been reloading for going on 45 years. I have helped more aspiring reloaders than I can remember that wanted to get into the hobby. I can say, without reservation, that each and every one of them that got into it to "save money" didn't do it for long. As a result of having watched that play out over these many years, I would have to say that "saving money" is the worst possible reason to get into reloading.

One has to enjoy it as a hobby in and of itself. Another oft repeated insider joke is that there are shooters who reload so they can shoot, but handloaders shoot so they can reload. A very real difference in attitude and approach.

Personally, I reload so I can shoot obsolete, oddball calibers. I also reload to improve the performance of what are readily available, mainstream calibers. Some of the things I do in this pursuit actually do save me money, but that is not why I do them.

Bullet casting is a good example of something that really does save money. I would, however, cast my own for specific applications even if it was more costly to do so. In these applications, I can simply make better bullets, more suited to those applications, than anyone produces commercially. Heavy big game hunting with revolvers is one such application where the performance of what we can cast at home vastly exceeds that of any commercially available load or component bullet.

Alas, even the cost savings available through bullet casting are largely coming to an end. Someone mentioned getting discarded wheel weights from your local tire store for use as your casting alloy. My God, but the tons of bullets cast from wheel weights I've sent downrange. One of the best alloys available for revolver bullets and straight walled rifle cartridges, like the .45-70. However - and this is a big "however" - modern wheel weights ain't what they used to be...

Modern "stick-on" wheel weights have zinc in them. The old clip-on style, used on steel wheels, did not. Unfortunately, zinc is anathema to bullet casting - even the slightest trace in your alloy will ruin it. Bullets simply will not fill out in the mold with any level of zinc contamination.

So, what's a mother to do? For the last decade or so, I have purchased on foundry quality, certified lead alloys. We can buy "wheel weight" alloy this way, it has become that ubiquitous in our world. We have to pay for it, though, rather than leaving that bucket at the tire shop.

Anyway, I could go on and on. Suffice to say that "saving money" is no reason to reload. Unless it piques your interest as a hobby unto itself, you'll soon give it up, and find yourself with a lot of expensive, unused equipment. If you are determined, and think you might gain that interest, take advantage of that phenomena - there is a lot of such equipment that folks would love to get rid of. Hit the gun shows, surf Craigslist and other sites, check the bulletin boards at guns shops, etc. No reason to buy new. You can't wear this equipment out. Believe me, I've tried.