I'm telling you that I've found that I can add accuracy to reloads that I cannot get from the normal off shelf product. And I like doing it.
I'm 76 and have only had two incidents happen that spooked me. The last one recently was an issue with case diameter on a 9mm pistol. Bought a good deal on a private label nickel plated brass made by a very old major company. The manufacturer had a reputation for making brass with thicker case dimensions in general, and I used polymer coated cast lead bullets. 9mm is one of the most difficult reloads because of the extremely short case, tapered wall dimension, and small space for powder charge. I don't like to shoot off the shelf 9mm ammo, because most of it is 115 gr bullet and very high velocity. Light bullet and high velocity and FMC bullets make it susceptible to ricochet. (I've seen it happen) So I load 147 gr Hornady XTP JHP bullets (or 147 gr polymer coated Blue Bullets) with Accurate no. 5 powder load. I use different brass with thinner wall on the polymer coated bullets. It eliminated the case feeding problem. The dimension are very critical. Most people think 9mm is straight wall case, it is not. Some people will tell you that all carbide reloading dies are straight wall, in the case of 9mm they are NOT. It works because of the short case.
So, I worked up a self defense load that suits me. Less recoil, less barrel jump in pistol, better accuracy, and better consistency. (I measure every powder charge very carefully. Don't just rely on powder charge metering, I meter and then weigh each round)
If you weigh your time used it is not saving much on price, unless you shoot a lot. But once you are set up, it is a smooth process. I don't load large runs of any caliber. Usually 50 rounds at at time, that is what most of my ammo boxes hold. (my 5.56 NATO is 100) I carefully document my specs in each run.
“I’m not telling you to buy reloads.”
Did not say you did.
Just not going to buy someone else’s reloads.
Heck, i had a squib load from factory Sellier and Bellot ammo in .380 and left the slug stuck halfway down the bore. Luckily it did not sound right and I stopped my wife from more shooting.
Had a .308 Fiocchi round split the bottom of the case and blow out the primer.
Factory stuff, so no way I trust handloads from some guy on the side of the road.