Each passing day it becomes increasingly obvious that we have to protect our families in the event of an attack on U.S. soil. Wars are taking place all around us and we cannot leave ourselves vulnerable. I know that I am not alone when it comes to the desire of being prepared for such an event to the best of my ability; firearms and ammunition are not an exception to this.

What happens if you can’t get ammunition from the store for some reason? What if there is an attack on the United States and either the stores that sell the ammunition are closed or maybe they have even run out? Although I pray that this situation is one that we never have to face, I also believe that we need to be prepared for every situation possible. That is why reloading your own ammunition is a great option.

There are several reasons why you should consider reloading. The first I touched on above; in the event that factory-made ammunition is not available for some reason, you will still have the ability to generate your own ammunition. Basically, all you need to do is make sure you have the supplies on hand to do so.

The cost is another benefit for reloading. I can reload a box of ammunition for 33% – 50% off what it would be to purchase it at a retail store. To me, that makes it worth it right there because that means that I can practice my shooting a lot more and stay within my shooting budget. Practice is also extremely important but that will be for another article.

Reloaded ammunition can actually be more accurate. This may be surprising to some but you can customize your load for your specific firearm because every firearm is different. For instance, rifle chambers are different from rifle to rifle and if you customize your load you can increase the accuracy of your rifle.  Fitting the brass to your chamber will allow for a more consistent round and may allow you to shoot tighter groups.  Your particular rifle may also shoot a heavier or lighter bullet better than what factory ammo has to offer.  By changing bullet weights, you can increase accuracy as well.  Sometimes the only way to do this is by reloading.

You can also customize your reloads to suit your own needs. You can actually reload you rounds for more or less recoil. This may be a benefit if different family members will be shooting this ammunition as well.  For instance, if the firearm you have is fine for you but produces too much recoil for someone else in your family, you can adjust it by reloading specific ammo for that very situation. By changing bullet weight, powder, or the amount of powder used, your reloads can be customized.

If reloading sounds like an option you would like to consider, it is fairly easy to get started. My suggestion is to pick the caliber that you shoot the most and focus on getting all of the supplies you need to start reloading that caliber first. Once your skill level rises, you can purchase additional dies for other calibers you would like to reload. After the initial cost of your reloading supplies there isn’t much to it. There are many resources available for those just starting to reload. Many ammunition manufacturers will offer reloading manuals. Also, our website is a perfect place to find how-to articles, news, and other resources to help make your reloading experience the best you can possibly make it.

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