I began handloading ammo for my rifles and handguns in 1970, just after special ordering a limited edition of a .220 Swift Ruger chambered bolt action Model 77V.
My initial idea was to come up with the most accurate load possible for my new pride and joy. Like a lot of beginning handloaders at the time, I sprung for a Lee Loader handheld tool that was simple to use, very affordable and of very high quality.
The Lee Loader kit came with virtually everything you needed to be ale to load high quality metallic, centerfire ammunition - smokeless powder dipper, bullet seater, a separate priming operation and a caliber specific load table.
Its only drawbacks were speed of operation and the fact that you could only "necisize" the brass case. As finances permited, I replaced the Lee Loader with an RCBS Jr. bench mounted press and full length RCBS dies, a quality balance scale and a case length trimmer. Later would come a powder measure and digital scale.
Through trial and error, I eventually came up with a load using a 52-grain Speer hollowpoint bullet pushed to a velocity of just under 3,900 feet per second. It was exceptionally accurate and instant death to local groundhogs, crows and foxes. It is still one of my favorite varmint/target loads for the .220 Swift. Incidentally, that load was not then commercially available. In fact, any .220 Swift load was difficult to find on a gun shop shelf in those days. I still load all of my ammo for the Swift to this day, but my current favorite rifle in that caliber, a Cooper Montana Varminter bolt action single shot shoots a 55 grain Sierra bullet just a shade better and a bit faster.
My primary purpose in handloading my metallic rifle ammo is still improved performance AND substantial savings on the cost of ammo. Since my ammo costs less, I can afford to shoot a lot more. I do not handload for my autoloading handguns, but do so almost exclusively for my revolvers due to cost savings and improved performance.
Around 1980 I began to shoot skeet competitively, which meant at least four boxes each weekend. Try as I might, I rarely came up with shotgun loads that patterned better than quality target loads from Winchester, Federal, and Remington, but I did save a lot of money. I also was able to find a few good loads of 12 gauge ammo using light recoiling 1 ounce of shot for use on clay targets and mourning doves. Such loads were not always easy to purchase. Still, for "serious bird hunting," I usually sprung for the factory loaded stuff. A great source for any handloading gear is eBay.
Except for the occasional 28 gauge load, I am not currently loading shotgun shells because I only have the use of one hand/arm. This hasn't presented too much of a problem when loading metallic rifle and handgun ammo.
These cold months are not my favorite times to be outside, so winter translates to "handloading time" for me. Make the winter pay off for you, too!
Like all things, the cost of handloading has risen since I started, but while Lee has discontinued those great Lee Loader kits (they sold for about $10), Lee still makes quality stuff at affordable prices. My RCBS press has paid for itself many times, but I am looking to upgrade this year. A great source is Sinclair international. They have every possible kind of tool to make the handloader happy.
But, make your first purchase a good, up-to-date reloading manual, which describes the process in detail and gives you literally hundreds of safe, tested quality loads. Favorites of mine come from Nosler, Hornady, Speer and Sierra.
If you are a budding trap or skeet or sporting clays shooter, take a good look at those great MEC loaders - easy to use and affordable. Because of the huge number of practice rounds you will fire at clay targets, handloading is essentially a "must do." Save your cases and simply reload them.
