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You have to enjoy reloading for itself or forget it. It takes a lot of equipment and space and... There's a lot more needed than a press and some dies.
Yes, although you don't need THAT much space. I have a portable bench and store all the equipment in shelves underneath it. Another foot locker for components and that's about it for space. All of it could fit in a closet.
But yeah, you're right you need more than just a press and dies.
I really don't think reloading pays for itself. I wouldn't get into it for the cost savings. In SOME cases, it can be cost effective...I did the math, and excluding the fixed cost of the equipment (which was not insubstantial), my home-rolled 168gr .308 match ammo, using the exact same components as Federal Gold Match, is about 25% the price of Federal GMM. But that's the extreme case...for something like 9mm, you'll never break even.
People should reload because:
- it "completes the circle" - fills out your gun knowledge
- you can make more accurate ammo
- you can fine-tune your ammo
- you don't have to rely on what ammo manufacturers think you want - you can work up (within safety limits, of course) the exact ammo you want
TheHighRoad's reloading forum is very good. They have a sticky thread on the very subject of "break even":
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=18835