I would say economics and a fascination with the reloading process.

I started out loading shot shells with a Lee handloader kit when I was a dirt-poor private marching in the legions. My only entertainment at my first duty station was whacking jack-rabbits andI couldn't afford to buy the quantity of shells that was needed for my endeavor.

I think the loader kit was about $20.00 or less, a pound of Unique maybe $10 if that, a 25# sack of #5 shot $10, and a bag of wads were too cheap to factor in. Factory shells at that time were $5 or so. So with that initial outlay for equipment and components, I shot very cheaply for a long time.

Things just kinda took off from there.

Nowadays, I often stock up on components and dies in preparation of buying a new gun.

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Z