Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Do you reload or buy factory for your deer hunting??

I don’t think I’ve ever shot a deer with a factory round.

I have but it’s been close to 50 yrs ago.

I killed some deer with factory loads when I was 8-14 years old. All from a 300 Savage except for 1 deer killed with a Winchester Silver Tip from my 1st 270. I also killed a few deer and antelope with an AK in 7.62X39 using various soft points and hallow points about 10 years ago.
Other then those, all game I have killed in the USA were killed with my own hand loads. When in other countries I use the factory ammo that was available, but here in the USA I bet I have not killed more than 20 head of game with factory loaded ammo in 59 years of hunting. The game I have killed with handloads however, is beyond counting for me.

I load for my .270, but I don't bother with the .30-30. They've had 125 years to get it right, I figure they should have it figured out by now.

I've surely killed more deer with handloads than factory, overall, I've probably only killed 5-6 deer with store-bought ammo.

I hunt with a 250 Ackley Improved, a 300 Savage, a 30-30, and son a 375Win and a 25-20. Only one of those are a store bought item anymore, and I load for it anyways.
I'm looking into loading brass shot shells for my shotguns. Haven't got there yet.
Other than that, it's rimfire or black powder.

If I’m hunting deer, fox, bobcat, coyote and turkey. I load it myself. That includes handgun as well. Rabbit, coons and doves I’ll buy ammo.

Gonna load some 280, 32-40, and 375 Winchester today. It’s raining, can’t do much outside

I have rolled my own for about 15 years now.

I think I have finally caught up with the cost savings benefit having bought a bunch in the glory days. I enjoy the tinkering and being able to load up rounds to shoot whenever I please regardless of which retard is in office.

I bought a Chargemaster 1500 a few years ago. It make reloading a lot easier

Started handloading about 1967 or 68. Other than 410 and 20ga, I reload everything.

I only hunt with my reloads. In fact, I load for every gun I own be it rifle, handgun or shotgun. I even shot two Elephants with my reloads.

I have shot hundreds of critters with guns and bows and shotguns. I have never killer one with a factory manufactured arrow or cartridge. Kinda cool.

What is this "factory ammo" you speak of?

Growing up, my father was a handloader so everything was reloaded and I eventually learned and took over my own duties.
Outside of shotgun slugs, I've never fired a factory round at a deer.

Started reloading in 1971(with a Lee Loader!) and still going at it. No factory

I shoot factory in my .243 and .223. I can't really spend time and money and do better in a realistic sense, than blue box Federal or plain old AR ammo. Same way with shotgun. My time is worth too much to load shotgun shells. Otherwise I load all my metallic cartridges from 257R up to 375.

The only ammo I don't reload is 12ga 3 inch turkey shells.

I reload all my hunting ammo for rifle and handgun. I agree with the gentleman that made the fly/trout comparison earlier. It really does add some pleasure to know that I killed my best buck to date with ammo I made. Never have shot enough shotgun to get into loading for them. Just buy ammo for turkey or dove.

I reload all my ammo too. Whether it's .308, .30-06 or 8mm Mauser.

All I use is my handloads.