I started loading at around 12 YO just because I wanted to. Got me a Lee Loader. That thing was a major contributor to the carpal tunnel syndrome I had to deal with surgically in following years. Then I got a really simple Lee press (no automatic anything) and thought I'd died and gone to Heaven. It wasn't until I got my first centerfire handgun at age 18 that the real savings started to be realized. Actually, I got the RCBS JR3 press and 45 Colt dies so I could load "Ruger & TC ONLY" loads in that Blackhawk 45. The next major step was casting my own slugs from scrounged wheelweights. At that point I was loading my 45 ammo for about $2 per box of 50 rds. I hunted deer for 40 years and never killed one with a factory load. I don't load shotshells any more. They are cheap enough at Wally World. Still load everything else though, except rimfires.
