Average Savings per 100 shots

[jr_roosa]

It all depends how you work the numbers.

I use $0.15 of material to load .45ACP with laser-cast lead bullets, and that compares to about $.31/round for WWB at walmart.

I use $0.01 to load .38 special since I have some home-made cast bullets and a couple thousand small pistol primers that I was given as a gift. I haven't shopped for .38 special, but I'd assume it's about $.30 per round or so.

I use $0.25 to load .45acp JHP that would cost about $1.00/round.

I use $0.35 to load .30-30 that would cost $0.70/round.

Despite all of this "savings" it's cost me $442 to load $293 worth of ammo (800 rounds so far), and I was given most of my reloading gear for free.

Also, I don't think I bought 800 rounds of centerfire ammunition in my entire life before I started reloading one year ago. Maybe if you count shotgun shells, but I don't reload those...yet.

At around 1000 rounds or so I'll break even, but as soon as I get another piece of gear I go back in the hole again for another 100 or 200 rounds.

-J.

 

[ChromeLibrarian]

Reloading is, or is not worth it depending on what you are loading, and for what purpose.

If you are a serious competition shooter, it is a necessity, since the ammo you need either isn't commercially loaded, or is very expensive.

If you have an uncommon caliber, commercial ammo is likely so expensive, or hard to find that reloading becomes cost efficient.

Another common reason for reloading is if you wish to shoot a bullet/powder combination that is not commercially available. In that case, expense probably isn't a factor.

On the other hand, if you have a military surplus gun that you use strictly for plinking, there is likely surplus ammo available at a price that you cannot duplicate by reloading.

 

[MechAg94]

I haven't calculated out what we've been doing, but even with bulk FMJ, you are saving at least 40% or more even not getting good deals or buying bulk.

These days surplus is very hard to find and bulk dealers at the gun shows are charging more than WalMart or Academy.

The big thing I've seen for pistols is I can buy the same bullets used in top name hollow point defense ammo and use it for practice so I can practice with a lot of HP rounds without worrying about burning up so much store bought stuff. Match rifle ammo and premium hunting ammo provides some big savings also.

 

[ChromeLibrarian]

These days surplus is very hard to find and bulk dealers at the gun shows are charging more than WalMart or Academy.

Sorry, I live twenty minutes from J&G Sales. I tend to forget that not everyone has access to a source of surplus ammo like that.