Learn the very valuable art of reloading. You can get started for about $350.00. This gives one a sense of satisfaction, lower costs, and personal security.
Even that stuff is getting scarce. Dies for popular calibers are on back-order at a lot of places. I can’t find powder or primers anywhere, and brass/bullets are even scarce. It’s still worth it, but many newcomers may be disappointed if they can’t start making rounds right away.
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Learn the very valuable art of reloading. You can get started for about $350.00. This gives one a sense of satisfaction, lower costs, and personal security."
Reloading is good for some, but there are no supplies--no primers, no brass, no powder or bullets. Readers here, have a look for yourself. Try to find those supplies at Web vendors for your chosen calibers now.
It's not a way to go for ammunition availability or cost savings (tools not so bad but supplies much more expensive than before). The initial costs (including tools, time, brass cleaning tools and supplies, etc.) will actually make ammunition more expensive for many of those who bother with handloading at all. In most cases, handloaders find that their initial list was short a few items. The costs are nearly always far greater than first assumed.
Many newcomers, already stocked up on ammunition, bought reloading equipment and supplies for "SHTF," "TEOTWAWKI" or whatever media-driven or bureaucrat-driven end-of-the-world narrative suits them). Prices are driven up, and much of the purchased equipment will go to waste or be offered secondhand for next to nothing. I've bought some tools for about 1/4 of the price of new equipment.
There have also been
warnings from self-defense "experts" against using reloads for self-defense, which warnings the courts will be likely to enjoy for more confusion, ignorance and big bucks.
And anyone thinking of reloading should be prepared to learn a technology that requires double-checking everything and much patience in general. It can be dangerous for those who don't pay attention to details.
All of that said, reloading is good for long range match competitors (for those minute gains in accuracy at hundreds of yards), people in remote areas (shipping lower cost than driving to distant stores)--especially those with experience in machining, mechanics or much interest in those kinds of work. I've indulged in those activities, so it works for me at costs higher, all in all, than costs for factory ammunition.