I've been reloading since my teens, so something like 35 years. My original motivation was to save money and "build better ammo". I don't know that I shot enough back then to really make my equipment pay for itself, and my novice's understanding didn't produce better ammo then, either. Sure, I was sending better bullets downrange, but to less effect because I really didn't know what I was doing yet. I chrono'ed some of those early loads a couple of years ago and found extreme spreads of over 300 fps. Live and learn.

Having now accumulated a host of tools and knowledge since then, I'm reluctant to say that I reload to "save money". I've learned how to build high performance, accurate ammo tailored to my rifles and my uses, and am somewhat insulated from the craziness that finds its way to the ammo shelf at the retailers. There's some wisdome in the previos description of reloading being a hobby within a hobby.

Years ago, I started shooting a LOT of trap and bought a single stage MEC press on sale for $249. Shotshells are about as simple as you can get. Ultimately, I found that I was saving $0.51 per box of 25. So, it took 489 boxes, or 12,225 rounds, to pay for that press. Not included were the benefits of having something indoors to occupy my time over the winter and not having to worry about the retailers being out of stock.

Saving money? Realistically you probably won't, depending on what and how many cartridges you're reloading. Better ammo? You CAN, with some practice and knowledge. Neither are guaranteed, though. What you may learn along the way about reloading AND your shooting skills is priceless.