When do you decide to make the jump to reloading.. All of my riflesare used for hunting but I still like to shoot them.. But the cost to shoot is getting pretty outrageous. I will buy, site in andhunt with the better constructed bullets, but is there an advantage to reloading. I mean we are talking reloading for a 22-250, 243,6MM,7mm08,308, and 444 Marlin. I can get pretty inexpensive ammo for the 22-250,243 and 308. But would you reload or just plink with the inexpensive stuf??

I cast my own bulelts and reload those for plinking and target shooting in nearly all of my rifles. Its really cheap at a few cents per round- about 2.5 cents for the primer and a few cents for the powder, the brass lasts forever. I don't even blink at the thought of loading up 300-400 rounds of 30-06 at a time and shooting them all in one day. Really cheap, though if the amount of time involved with casting, culling, and sizing the bullets were factored in, not so cheap.

Time is certainly an issue with a 2 year old at home and 1 due in july..

I really thought this might be a statement as opposed to a question.

Reloading (actually handloading, handcrafted, gun matched, component specific ammo) versus cheap ammo....is not a question.

You get back what you put into it.

Umm yeah. I have a 5 and a 2 year old at home, I have to do all of my 'fun' activities late at night.

For the 223 and 308 I can buy the metal cartride ammo for 6 bucks a box of 20.. That is pretty cheap IMO.. What does it cost per round to reload.

It really depends on how cheap you get into it...It is easy to spend $5-600
on just the equipment to get started...If you are patient and a good bidder some of this can be picked up on ebay...

If you don't shoot that much, reloading is not for you if you are doing it to save money. I can buy 45ACP Federal American Eagle for about $13 a box of 50. It probably costs me $10 to reload them, using the same brass.
I reload for a couple of reasons. 1. Its a great pass time. 2. I can tailor my loads to a particular rilfe/handgun. 3. Satisfaction of taking game or shooting tight groups with my own ammo. 4. Cost, simply because I shoot a lot. At least once a week with different weapons. But the cost savings is the least of my concern. Don't forget, if your starting out there is a lot of equipment you will need to purchase. Things like press, scale, dies, powder dispenser, case trimmer, primers, powder, bullets, brass, etc., etc. This will add up to a few hundred $.

To me its not just about saving money. Its more of a trust thing; I'd rather make my own rounds than have someone else do it. And its just kind of fun to play around with.
Im 13 and i reload w/my dad all the time and i enjoy it so when yourkid gets older that may be something to think about too.

I used to reload shotgun shells bc of the same reasons above.. .. But never got into the rifle reloading..