3 minute read
Reloading
THE ECONOMICS OF RELOADING
By Reis Ladd
Photo courtesy of MEC Outdoors
Craftsmanship takes many forms, but the pride within whatever form it takes never seems to be lacking. At first glance, reloading shotshells does not have the appeal as, say, woodworking or glass blowing. However, once an individual takes a deep dive into the world of reloading the appeal seems to quickly stack up.
Looking back at my summers before being able to drive, I spent countless hours in a seated position behind a sturdy desk with a single-stage 20 gauge reloader that lived in the garage for the remainder of the year. Our relationship always started out rocky, but by the end of the summer and thousands of shells later, I was always somewhat sad watching her go back into the garage.
Reloading shotgun shells took off in the 1950s with companies like MEC Outdoors and Lee Precision bringing self-reloaders to the market. Companies such as these enabled outdoorsmen to reload shotshells in their own homes with the ability to save money, customize their loads, and experience a sense of independence apart from the big ammunition manufacturers.
and shot. Depending on the purpose and desires of the reloader, there are various options available and it is ultimately up to individual preference. Different shotshell recipes are utilized for different applications and can be found by visiting the manufacturer’s website.
Unfortunately for the modern day reloader, the monetary savings one would experience are not quite as substantial as they once were. There is still marginal cost savings especially if an individual will be reloading in great volume, but not quite what it used to be. Companies such as MEC Outdoors and others offer cost calculators online for individuals to review their potential savings before committing to the financial investment.
Even though the cost savings is not what it once was, the ability to customize one’s shotshell load is still a valuable benefit to reloaders. Terry Neans, a longtime member and supporter of TDHA, has been reloading for over 25 years. He says he reloads and “believes other people should, for the customization. A shooter can alter their recipe for their load to perform how they want. Say they are going from skeet shooting to dove hunting, to pheasant hunting, one would be able to change how they see fit, but one must always make sure the new recipe is within manufacturer’s safety protocols.” Cost savings is a concern for Neans, but his main point of contention for new reloaders was that of supply chain issues.
As the world knows, the COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on many industries, including the reloading world. Shawn Wozniak with MEC Outdoors agrees with Neans that, “far and away the biggest issue reloaders face today is the supply chain and inflation especially when trying to find primers and any foreign components.” As the market struggles to get back to normal, reloaders will continue to have trouble finding materials, but fortunately the pandemic did not have all negative impacts on the reloading world.
Considering the uptick in outdoor activities and society simultaneously needing more things to do within their own homes, the popularity of reloading experienced an increase since the beginning of 2020. Not only was reloading giving individuals an activity to focus on, but it also seemed to be catering to the self-reliance aspect that has always been a part of the reloading process.
With any craft, there always seems to be something experienced by its patrons that is initially unexpected but eventually becomes an intrinsic crutch for the participant. When asked about the process of reloading, Wozniak stated, “the word that comes up often in the reloading world is ‘therapeutic’.” Many begin reloading with certain expectations but end up finding something much more valuable in the process. Whether it be the smell of fresh gunpowder, the metallic clink when the lever is pulled, or the image of your own case of “freshly rolled” shotshells at the end of the day, few reloaders regret their actions, but rather continually admire and take pride in their craft.
