Is home loading worth it? A full guide for UK shooters
30-May-2025
Chris Cooper
Home loading — often called reloading — is the practice of assembling your own ammunition rather than buying factory-made rounds.
It’s a subject that often divides the shooting community, but is home loading really worth it in the UK?
At Rightgun.uk, we’ve broken down the pros, cons and cost factors so you can decide if reloading suits your needs.
What is home loading?
Home loading involves manually assembling ammunition by:
Sizing and priming used cases
Measuring and adding gunpowder
Seating a new bullet
Shooters use specialist equipment to achieve this, including presses, dies, scales and case cleaners.
In the UK, reloading is legal — but you must hold the appropriate Firearm Certificate (FAC) that specifies the calibre(s) you reload.
Pros of home loading
1. Cost savings
Over time, home loading can reduce your cost per round, particularly for rarer or high-volume calibres like .308, .223 or 6.5 Creedmoor.
Initial investment is high, but long-term savings become significant if you shoot regularly.
2. Improved accuracy
Tailoring loads to your rifle can significantly tighten groups and boost performance.
You can fine-tune powder charges, seating depths and bullet types to find the perfect match.
3. Availability
In times of ammunition shortages, reloading your own ensures you always have a steady supply.
4. Customisation
Choose your bullet weight, type and load strength to match your exact needs — whether it’s target shooting, stalking or vermin control.
Cons of home loading
1. Start-up cost
Expect to spend £300–£600 (or more) for quality reloading equipment.
Consumables (powder, primers, cases, bullets) must also be regularly purchased.
2. Time investment
Reloading is not quick. Precision and attention to detail are critical.
Cleaning brass, resizing, measuring and assembling each round takes time — sometimes hours for a few hundred rounds.
3. Legal and safety risks
You must strictly follow safe practices.
Mistakes in measuring powder can lead to dangerous over-pressured rounds, risking damage to your gun or injury.
In the UK, your firearm certificate must list allowances for storing expanding ammunition components.
4. Storage space
Reloading equipment and consumables take up space — you’ll need a clean, dry, secure area for safe reloading.
How much can you save?
Ammo Type Factory Price Home Reloading Saving Per Round
.308 Winchester ~£1.50–£2.00 per round ~£0.80–£1.00 per round Up to 50%
.223 Remington ~£0.90–£1.30 per round ~£0.50–£0.70 per round Up to 45%
6.5 Creedmoor ~£2.00–£2.50 per round ~£1.00–£1.30 per round Up to 50%
(Prices as of 2025, approximate for the UK)
If you shoot hundreds or thousands of rounds a year, the savings quickly outweigh the initial costs.
Who should consider home loading?
Home loading is worth it if you:
Shoot regularly (target shooters, PRS, F-Class, stalking)
Want maximum accuracy and performance
Enjoy technical, precision-based hobbies
Are willing to invest time and money into doing it safely
It may not be worth it if you:
Only shoot occasionally
Prefer the convenience of factory ammunition
Lack time or space for reloading
Final thoughts
So, is home loading worth it?
For many serious shooters in the UK, yes — but only if you’re committed to learning the process properly, investing in good equipment and shooting regularly enough to justify the cost.
At Rightgun.uk, we support shooters at every level, whether you’re choosing your first factory loads or setting up your first reloading bench.
Stay safe, stay accurate — and if you’re considering home loading, make sure you do it the right way.
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