Price To Reload

Not including the equipment you purchase to do the reloading, but the materials for the ammo itself. How much does it cost? Specifically .45 ACP.

Assuming you don't cast your own bullets, you can buy very good quality hard cast lead bullets for about $40/500 from Missouri Bullet Co. That is $0.08 each. Primers cost about $35/1000, so call it $0.04 each. If you already have fired brass, you don't have to buy that. If you buy 100 pieces of Starline brass for $20 it will last until you lose it in .45 ACP. So, just assume it is free. The powder cost can vary depending on what kind you use, but it's safe to assume you can get 1000 loads from 1 lb of powder that costs around $21. So call it $0.02.

Add it all up and it costs somewhere around $0.14 each, or a box of 50 for around $7.

Well depends on what you want to shoot. I like lead semi-wadcutters because they're cheaper than FMJ and they leave nice holes in the paper. MBC has them for 39.5/500 (if you use them order 2k at a time to take advantage of shipping costs) I try to order Primers/Powder in bulk off Powder Valley (they'll combine the shippment to save you on Hazmat fees) Brass is free if you've been saving it up, if not factor that in... $60/1k seems common. I'm loading 45 at a little under $6 a box.

This could help you figure out your cost. http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

I buy in bulk to keep the per round cost cheapest. Bullet choice will make the biggest difference in your per round cost. I shoot mostly lead (outdoor range), but do keep some FMJ/JHP rounds around for indoor range use.

8# jug of Hodgdon's HP-38 (good for 11,200 rounds @ 5gr/round): $110.50 @ Powder Valley (http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/)
11k CCI# 300 Large Pistol Primer: $280.50

PV order: $110.50 + $280.50 + shipping (approx $15, probably lower, but giving a conservative estimate) + HazMat ($25.00) = $431.00

Per round of Powder & Primer: $0.0392


This is where it will deviate a lot depending on JHP/FMJ or Cast Lead
Lead Bullets from MBC
2000 200gr LSWC (http://www.missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=56&category=5&secondary=13&keywords=) = $163.10 (includes shipping and using THR discount): $0.0816 per round
2000 230gr LRN (http://www.missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=59&category=5&secondary=13&keywords=) = $176.40: $0.0882 per round

FMJ from Precision Delta (http://www.precisiondelta.com/index.php)
2000 230gr FMJ = $238.00 (includes shipping): $0.119 per round

I was just curious because I'm interested in buying reloaded .45acp to save some money on practice. Does anyone ever sell reloaded ammo?

ALSO, can you just reload brass as many times as you want?

.45ACP Brass can be loaded 20 or more times (from what I have heard and will be corrected if I am wrong). The likelihood is that you'll LOSE that brass long before it starts to have issues.

There are some folks that will sell reloaded ammo, but there are a lot of hoops to go thru to get your licensing so most don't. Those that do are usually the commerical bullet makers. Precision Delta does sell reloaded ammo and I believe MBC in the near future will also be doing so. I'm sure there are others, but I've never looked. Others will chime in I'm sure.

Iceman Unlimited--See the sticky at the top of this forum re: Costs of Reloading.

As to reloading for others, for money, the BATFE wants you to have a specific FFL for that. There are businesses that do so. They have liability insurance that costs a bunch too--and, I expect, lawyers on retainer. I suggest that unless you are going into this as a full-time business venture, the collateral costs will be prohibitive.

"Your milege may vary" depending on the powder/charge weight used, but I have tested 45 ACP 200/230 gr with W231/HP38 and reloaded over 50 times before ending the test. Now I reload until I see splits/cracks on the case or primer pocket gets loose.

I have done the same test with higher pressure 9mm/40S&W cases using mid-high range W231/HP38 load data and loaded 50-100 times without case failure (I do want to put a qualifier that these tests were done using thighter chambered Lone Wolf barrels).


I thought Brad bought Camdex machine to commercially produce reloaded ammunition. Maybe he can give us an update.

but I have tested 45 ACP 200/230 gr with W231/HP38 and reloaded over 50 times before ending the test

That in itself is good news to me. I stopped using the old brass after 15 reloads thinking I was pushing it. The brass still looked just fine so this good news to me. Thanks.

Well depends on what you want to shoot. I like lead semi-wadcutters because they're cheaper than FMJ and they leave nice holes in the paper. MBC has them for 39.5/500 (if you use them order 2k at a time to take advantage of shipping costs) I try to order Primers/Powder in bulk off Powder Valley (they'll combine the shippment to save you on Hazmat fees) Brass is free if you've been saving it up, if not factor that in... $60/1k seems common. I'm loading 45 at a little under $6 a box.

This could help you figure out your cost. http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp
Bookmarked! Cool calculator. I have one like that on an excell work sheet

Where can I find the "THR" discount for MBC?

Does anyone ever sell reloaded ammo?

Only certified reloaders like Georgia Arms and Atlanta Arms.

Assuming you cast your own bullets, about $.04 per round.

Don

I'f you are going to buy reloaded ammo I highly suggest you buy from a factory reloader, someone with a license to do so. (places like Mastercast (http://www.mastercast.net/mastercast.net/Welcome.html), D&G Reloading (http://www.qualityammo.com/), Georgia Arms (http://georgia-arms.com/index.aspx) and CCC Ammo (http://www.cccammo.com/))

I reload my brass many times, don't even count anymore. Reload it until it looks bad or unusable or unsafe. I figure on my reloads costing me about .30 on the 1.00 compared to factory new, and I use all jacketed bullets, not lead. Even more savings if you use lead.

While it's cheaper to reload than buy new, most of us shoot a heck of a lot more, so there are no savings.

Atleast that's my case.

If I had to buy factory ammo, I'd probably get to the range once a month or so.
(I currently go once or twice a week.)

Where can I find the "THR" discount for MBC?

You don't need it. Powder Valley (http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/) carries Missouri Bullets and sells them cheaper than what you can buy from MBC website WITH the 5% THR discount.

8% off website price for 9mm 125 gr (SmallBall!)
11% off website price for 40S&W 180 gr (IDP #5)
10% off website price for 45ACP 200 gr (IDP #1)

worst case, buying local with smallest lots possible and tax, using scavenged brass.

100 230gr bullets $19
100 primers $3.50
1 lb powder $20
gas: 5.00

100 rounds $47.5o, .475 a round
best store bought ammo price for 100 rounds including fuel to get it $48.50 , 48.5 cents a round
save 1.5 cents a round.

next 100 worst case, buying local with smallest lots possible and tax, using scavenged brass.

100 230gr bullets $19
100 primers $3.50
gas: $5.00
powder $.17

100 rounds $27.67, 27.6 cents a round
save 21 cents a round

After picking up range brass, casting my own bullets, buying the powder and primers, I can load 1000, for about $39.71. Of course, sometimes the lead isn't free and sometimes it is.