You reload .22 shells? Boy, that must be a hassle!
I don't understand your statement. I reload all centerfire cartridges that I shoot. Lawdog
So do I. Not only do I save money and tailor my loads to a specific rifle/purpose, but it is an enjoyable activity in and of itself.
On my last trip to the range, I was shooting some new handloads for one of my model 39 Mosin-Nagants. One of the other shooters was shooting a semi-automatic Russian sniper rifle (not a Dragunov) in that chambering. He remarked that he also was a handloader but that he didn't bother to reload for 7.62X 54R because of all the cheap ammo out there.
Of course, he was missing the point. One doesn't handload only to save money, although one certainly can, but to create loads that are the most accurate one can get out of a particular firearm, and also to create loads to a specific power level for a specific purpose, as I had. Because of the way the sights are set up on my M-N rifles, it is not possible to hit at point of aim at only 100 yards with full power loads. The only way for me to really enjoy shooting the things is to load a bit down so that I can hit at the center of the target without holding absurdly low.
Then there is the case of breaking in a new shooter with a powerful cartridge. One can load way down and gradually increase power in increments as the shooter gains experience.
And, for example, if one were doing some close range deer hunting, one could employ bullets in a .30-06 that were designed for the power level of the .30-30 by creating reduced power loads. Reduced power loads are also fun for practice and plinking. I've had no end of fun single loading Speer 100 grain Plinkers in my Winchester 94 for balloon busting, pop can popping and such.
On the other hand, one can also get more out of some chamberings by handloading that is possible with factory loads. Take the 8mm Mauser, for example. American factory loads for that cartridge are positively anemic, way below the pressure level that a good action can handle. Short of springing for very expensive European cartridges, only the handloader can achieve the round's full potential.
I can use bullets that are not readily available in factory offerings. e.g. I was using X-bullets, Ballistic Tips and Partitions long before the factories started loading them. And, handloading allows me the use of cast bullets in rifle cartridges that are not commercially available with cast bullet loads.
In short, one loads his own for unsurpassed versatility - and
that is certainly no hassle.
