Jim Clark was a Marine, gunsmith, and ammo reloading expert.
After serving in World War II, Jim returned home and started reloading his own ammunition to save money.
He was a competitive shooter and retail ammo at the time was terrible.
Plus, Jim wanted ammo that was designed for competitions.
He wanted the perfect bullet weight, powder charge, and seating depth.
So, he reloaded the ammo himself.
He competed in the Bullseye Pistol Competitions, so Jim started by reloading .38 Special and .45 ACP for the competitions.
In 1958 he won the U.S. National Championship, then as a gunmaker, he won the 1985 Pistolsmith of the Year award.
So, Jim was a do-it-all type of guy when it came to firearms.
He could build, shoot, and reload ammo with the best of them.
But as good as Jim was at shooting firearms, he wouldn’t have been as successful if it weren’t for his reloaded ammunition.
His reloads were so perfect and reliable that he was able to dominate the competition shooting sport for years.
That’s because Jim customized his reloaded ammo for minimal recoil and precise accuracy.
He showed that careful hand loading can produce ammo that outperforms factory ammunition in every category.
And he created a roadmap that influenced generations of competition shooters and reloaders.
These days, there are times when reloading is still a great idea.
From sky-high ammo prices to ammo shortages, it can make a lot of sense to reload ammunition.
Considering this, here are a few things to keep in mind if you are going to reload ammo.
Upfront costs:
When you are going to do any project yourself there will be upfront costs.
Basic equipment for reloading ammo can easily cost $300 to $500.
And if you want a top-of-the-line setup up you could realistically spend $1,500.
So, if you plan on reloading, you should be willing to commit to it long term, otherwise it’s a waste of money.
Minimal savings:
When reloading ammo these days you have to do high volume to achieve cost savings.
The return on investment could take years or longer.
One reloader I know can reload 9mm for about 26 cents per round.
In comparison, which is about 5 cents cheaper than Blazer Brass 9mm.
At five cents a round, it would take a long time to recoup the money spent on supplies and equipment.
So, if you are doing it from a purely cost standpoint, it’s not worth it.
There is a learning curve with reloading. You could spend hours and hours trying to figure out the perfect load.
That learning takes time and money.
Brass:
A lot of people say you can visit shooting ranges and find free brass.
But nothing is free.
You will still have to clean and inspect the brass.
And gun ranges might even charge you for the brass casings.
Also, brass wears out over time and there will be a point where it can’t be reloaded.
So, eventually you will need to collect more, or buy new brass which can cost 10 to 20 cents.
Safety:
Reloading mistakes happen, the goal is to mitigate them.
Overcharging or using improper components can have dangerous consequences.
So, if you choose to reload, you have to make safety a priority.
The good news is, these days factory-made ammo is better than ever, and it goes through safety checks.
Factory-made ammo is consistently manufactured and can be just as accurate and cost-effective as reloading ammo at home.
Which means, if you shoot a minimal amount of ammo or value your free time, then reloading ammo isn’t worth it.
But, if you are a competition shooter or a perfectionist who wants to create the ideal round, it can be a fun experience.
I don’t have the time or patience to reload.
Truth is, I’d rather buy quality ammo and spend what little free time I have practicing my shooting skills on the range.
