I can load modest .357 and .38 Special cheaper than buying .22LR

[FastCut]

MadCap you must read the same books I do...nice. Anyway, to add to the argument, I reload about 4grains of BE into a picked up 9mm case, and use cast from a local vendor for about 12-13 cents a round. I have tons of .22 rimfire but it is virtually all CCI Subsonic HP for saved for hunting. I do have a good supply of MiniMags but this stuff is more expensive to shoot and replace than my 9mm reloads. I actually put a 9mm AR together just to use at the range because its cheaper but only by a small amount than .22 I also don't have to worry about finding the next box of .22 or begging C*b*las for a box of 50 at chucklehead prices.

 

[Crashbox]

I think it was almost a year ago when the CRO at the local gun range and I were talking about .22LR vs. .357 Magnum and I mentioned to him that I could also load medium-strength .357's cheaper than buying .22LR!

I use 7.5 grains of Herco under a MBC 140-grain TCFP bullet- when I bought my keg of Herco it was about the least expensive powder around (and performs quite well IMO)... primer costs were about $0.035 a pop including all shipping costs.

Personally, I much prefer shooting something with a substantial report such as .357 Mag compared to .22LR, but that's just me.

 

[41 Mag]

but that's just me.

Naaa it's not just you either.....

 

[Toprudder]

Personally, I much prefer shooting something with a substantial report such as .357 Mag compared to .22LR, but that's just me.

Ok, when you shoot 22, take your ear muffs off.

 

[Potatohead]

I use 7.5 grains of Herco under a MBC 140-grain TCFP bullet- when I bought my keg of Herco it was about the least expensive powder around (and performs quite well IMO)... primer costs were about $0.035 a pop including all shipping costs.

Herco does perform very well. A very under appreciated powder IMO.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Apples to apples

Request to those claiming cheaper centerfire reloads than 22 rinfire:

Recalculate with current prices for your components.

This does not detract from the comparison. I am looking at near $50 a brick for rimfire and my ammo consumption ratio (CF to RF) has changed as a result, so I have no argument with the essence of the discussion. Note, while RF prices have about doubled in the past 5 years, CD components have gone up only about 25% to 50%. The pessimist in me looks to the day when CF components' prices will catch up to the RF inflation.

Bummer

Lost Sheep

 

[dragon813gt]

There is no need to recalculate until I need to buy more components. Why calculate now when I won't need to buy for another ten years or so? I'm sure the price will be different then. But to play your game it would cost a whole $.01 more per round. Instead of $.015 primer it's now $.025. Powder is still the same price. Brass and lead are free. Until you have to buy more components current prices are a moot point.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Apples to oranges, IMO. They are two calibers often used for very different applications....I can plink, target practice, or defend my self with projectiles for free if I hone up my rock throwing skills.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Calculating is not a game

If I were to play games, I could "legitimately" claim shooting 22 long rifle for two cents a shot. I still have most of a brick of 500 I bought for $9.95. I do not have to recalculate my cost of shooting until that particular batch of ammo is shot up.

But that price is of no more relevance to most readers of this thread than bullets or brass for zero cost.

That is all I was saying, not playing games with numbers.

You are right, dragon813gt, the point is moot until replenishment is needed. But, for the discussion to have meaningful value for readers without unique supplies, I suggested applying common accounting principles. That is, to compare current prices (meaning replacement costs) available to the common shooter, not ones with special access to unique supplies (like free lead). That means not only the 22 rimfire, but the components of the centerfire being compared.

That is all. No game. Just looking for comparability.

Lost Sheep

 

[jmorris]

..., it's simply a chore that needs to be done, not a hobby. Even so, it's a chore that eats time, and casting bullets would eat even more time I don't have (or want to give).

That is how I felt when I finally decided to start casting. So I built this machine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2U1ujg_nzo

Can cast around 1000 bullets watching a single football game.

 

[wally]

I'm reloading Missouri Bullet hard cast 9mm cheaper than I can buy .22lr for the past couple of years

.38Special should be about the same.

 

[GooseGestapo]

The ONLY reason I own/shoot .22lr is because it's ILLEGAL to use a center-fire to shoot squirrels, rabbits and other small game in my state.

If it were legal, I'd use my .38Spl's from both handgun and rifle or .22Hornet. I can cast bullets for nearly free, and I bought over 50,000 small pistol primers when they were still $14/M. (no, they're NOT for sale!!!)
I've got a .22Hornet and 2 molds. My Ruger M77/22 with a un-gaschecked bullet tumble lubed and sized to .225" over 2.0gr of Bullseye will shoot right with my CZ-452 with match ammo =1-hole 5-shots ($$/50 now!). And, you can't even buy the .22's in my area. Last time I saw .22 ammo on shelf was for Remington Sub-sonic for $4.99/50 at Gander Mountain. Limit 5 !!!

Even when .22lr were still 15/500; I'd still shoot far more .38's than .22's

 

[RandyP]

I'm in agreement with Lost Sheep on this. If I buy in my 'normal' low quantity of a 250 box of Berry's plated .38 it works out to a dime a bullet, primers are $0.03 and I reckon powder at a max of $0.03 so that would be a completed round at $0.16 each.

Sadly that still is only about six cents more than the 325 count tin of Federal plated .22LR I just bought for $32.

Switching over to store bought bare lubed lead from Berry's the price really doesn't change. Oregon Trail from Cabelas would actually be two cents more.

I feel that MANY of us reloaders do not have the $$$ to buy in the huge (to us) quantities that others are fortunate enough to purchase. IMHO however regardless of the actual numbers to reload, the costs for rimfire now are outrageous and unjustifiable.

 

[Sport45]

I have bricks of the good 22lr HP Golden what ever it's called Remington stuff

I think this is the first time I've ever seen the Remington Golden Bullet .22lr referred to as "good." If that was the only thing the store had now and it was reasonably priced I'd still pass on it.

 

[the count]

Well, here in NC when the local Field and Stream or whatever mega outdoor store has 22s I can get my favorite Federal Automatch 325 pack for $17.99. Do the math (ok, it's 5.5 cents a round), still cheaper than any caliber anybody can reload and no time or effort involved.