If the sole reason for reloading was economy, then perhaps we all would be better off not being involved in the uneconomical(YMMV) world of doubleguns. Reloading is a lot like flytying. The capital outlay for vises and materials far exceeds what it would cost to keep most of us in flies if we had to buy them. Reloading allows us to tailor loads for specific guns and is fun to do. It's an excuse to keep connected with the sport in another way. I tie flies so I don't have to depend on a UPS man to bring me what I need or want the next day to catch fish. It also keeps me involved with a hobby that I love. Same with reloading. Over 30 years ago I taught a 12 year-old how to shoot a 12 gauge shooting 7/8 oz handloads. I don't know or didn't know if that load was commercially available as it is today. It sure wasn't readily available where I lived. I ended up shooting that load at doves. Hunting turkeys, I handloaded 10 gauge 3.5's. Federal made a killer load back then, but my handloads were more versatile, and there was satisfaction in hunting ducks, dove, quail and turkeys with loads I made. I probably saved some money, but if time is money, then maybe not that much money. But it sure was fun. I could probably get by with Polywads and RST's for my old doubles, but I will do the impractical once again, save a few dollars handloading 16s, maybe not, but it will be fun and another way to keep my hand and time in a hobby that I love. After all, isn't a hobby just a way to murder time? (Mark Twain)
