How Cheap Can It Be?

Howland937

Howland937

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Joined
Mar 1, 2020
Messages
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Location
South central Ohio
The threads regarding cost of startup and whether decent ammo can be made on cheap equipment got me started on this. My goal?
500 rounds of .45 ACP completely from scratch.

I could have gone in there and loaded thousands with stuff I already have, but I approached it as if I had nothing. And I just bought that old Lyman Spartan turret press a couple weeks ago and needed a use for it. I'll include primer and powder cost at current/most recent purchase price but I ain't buying more right now.

Bullets. This is where I could really skew the numbers. I traded a bunch of wheel weights to a buddy who casts. Split the lead 50/50 for half the bullets. I got around 600 230gr for free. But I also picked up 500+ TMJ's (2 300 pc boxes with a few missing) for $60, so I'll use them.

I understand looking for deals isn't for everyone, and they're not always available. Desperation is the enemy, but I didn't need this stuff and just kept an eye out. I collected all of it in the last month. Press will be mounted on a reinforced B&D Workmate table. $5 in a yard sale last summer. Add it to the cost if you must.

Lyman turret press. $20
RCBS 5-0-5. $20
Lee Deluxe die set. $15
Range brass. $0
Win 231 $35
Win LPP(500). $38
Speer TMJ. $60

I plan to prime on the press, but if it gets much more tedious I'll hand prime and factor that cost in. Right now I'm at $188/500 rounds.

I also understand that this isn't precision ammo with high expectations of tiny groups.
 
Last edited:
Howland937 said:
The threads regarding cost of startup and whether decent ammo can be made on cheap equipment got me started on this. My goal?
500 rounds of .45 ACP completely from scratch.

I could have gone in there and loaded thousands with stuff I already have, but I approached it as if I had nothing. And I just bought that old Lyman Spartan turret press a couple weeks ago and needed a use for it. I'll include primer and powder cost at current/most recent purchase price but I ain't buying more right now.

Bullets. This is where I could really skew the numbers. I traded a bunch of wheel weights to a buddy who casts. Split the lead 50/50 for half the bullets. I got around 600 230gr for free. But I also picked up 500+ TMJ's (2 300 pc boxes with a few missing) for $60, so I'll use them.

I understand looking for deals isn't for everyone, and they're not always available. Desperation is the enemy, but I didn't need this stuff and just kept an eye out. I collected all of it in the last month. Press will be mounted on a reinforced B&D Workmate table. $5 in a yard sale last summer. Add it to the cost if you must.

Lyman turret press. $20
RCBS 5-0-5. $20
Lee Deluxe die set. $15
Range brass. $0
Win 231 $35
Win LPP(500). $38
Speer TMJ. $60

I plan to prime on the press, but if it gets much more tedious I'll hand prime and factor that cost in. Right now I'm at $188/500 rounds.

I also understand that this isn't precision ammo with high expectations of tiny groups.
Click to expand...
I like this!
 
That's $376 per 1k
I picked up a case last week for under $300.

Your costs will go down after your initial purchases. Years ago I calculated with 200g cast RFP bullets, Bullseye powder and CCI LP primers it was about $120 per thousand. Probably double that now. I was using a friends Dillon press. We cranked out 1000 in about 2 hours
 
The cheapest you can load, is with a lee loader and a mallet. If your picking brass off the ground and using it till it won't chamber that leaves bullets primer and powder... that being one end of the spectrum and a fully automated dillion on the other, you trade money for time each step in betwixt. As they say get in where you fit in....
 
Howland937 said:
I also understand that this isn't precision ammo with high expectations of tiny groups.
Click to expand...
And therein lies the rub.

I’m eliminating calibers and can tell you that the guy I’m selling old dies, old brass, and partial boxes of bullets to is making more than gas and grocery money at his club from the proceeds. I have neither the time nor the interest in selling - and he’s paying me more than I have invested, after inflation - so it’s an all around win. His friends get stuff that’s unobtainium at better than retail, he makes a little and actually enjoys bargaining, and I make a little space in a crowded to overflowing safe/store room.
It’s hard to put numbers on a lot of this stuff. At least for me.
It would be interesting to see the cost if competitive rifle matches were the objective. Does cheap win competitions?
 
AJC1 said:
The cheapest you can load, is with a lee loader and a mallet. If your picking brass off the ground and using it till it won't chamber that leaves bullets primer and powder... that being one end of the spectrum and a fully automated dillion on the other, you trade money for time each step in betwixt. As they say get in where you fit in....
Click to expand...
Lee Loaders are capable of making competition grade ammunition. If you don’t mind never winning a top prize - I never cared, it was about getting to use old service rifles on the coveted 300m range for me - then a Classic Loader and good technique is fine. Probably.
 
This thread reminds me of folks comparing the cost of firewood!
You can get really outlandish with the expenses, or you can assume you already own a chainsaw and pickup, and maybe factor in the cost of fuel and wood permit. You won't be buying a new truck, or saw for every trip unto the woods, so your true cost is expenses and some wear and tear on the equipment. It would be difficult to estimate per load, but figuring number of loads over time might get some idea of cost!
 
Yes, I'm definitely not saving money on the first 500. Unless you compare loads with the TMJ bullet to the Sierra Lawman factory offering...over $200/500
GeoDudeFlorida said:
Does cheap win competitions?
Click to expand...
Don't ask me. Not my gig. Ask the guy that's working that particular problem. He checked in here. 😁
thump_rrr said:
I don’t believe that you’ll be able to tell the difference in accuracy if you’re loading for pistol.

I’m about to do round #2 with my loading on budget equipment test today or tomorrow.
Click to expand...
I don't expect to see a difference. Just your thread and the other prompted this low-budget endeavor.
Otto said:
Are you going to load without purchasing calipers, a powder measure, dippers or a manual?
Click to expand...
Absolutely. Kinda. Lee deluxe die set comes with a dipper and powder through die. I have scales. Calipers not necessary if I load to max OAL that'll fit both the chamber and mags. And all the data I'll need for this combo is available for free from Speer's website.
 
Heir Kommt Die Sonne said:
most endeavors in reloading aren't always that immediate.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I mean I stumbled upon the press. Didn't need it at all, but couldn't NOT buy it for $20.
The rest of the stuff I've picked up since last Saturday afternoon...except the primers and powder. I also knew a couple places to go look vs just clicking on a website and breaking out the bank card.
Today I picked up 500 Vance Bullets .356 LRN 125gr and a like new set of Lyman All American 9mm dies for $45.
So if I sell myself 500 SPP for $38, I just added 500 rounds and another caliber for $83. I'll use the W231 for them too.
 
Otto said:
Are you going to load without purchasing calipers, a powder measure, dippers or a manual?
Click to expand...
I loaded that way for years. A set of Lee dies - that come with an instruction page and a dipper - a Lee hand press, and a bottle of Clays powder.

No manual, no caliper, no scale, no tumbler. No problems.
I shot thousands of rounds that way, for years.

Of course, this was long before Algore invented the internet, and nobody knew that many hundreds of dollars needed to be spent to safely reload.
 
Lo-Profile said:
That's $376 per 1k
I picked up a case last week for under $300.

Your costs will go down after your initial purchases. Years ago I calculated with 200g cast RFP bullets, Bullseye powder and CCI LP primers it was about $120 per thousand. Probably double that now. I was using a friends Dillon press. We cranked out 1000 in about 2 hours
Click to expand...
Where are you getting 1,000 rounds for $300? Even before the latest shortage $20 a box of 50 was about the lowest I could find. Though California prices are always significantly higher, especially since we cannot order via internet.
 
AJC1 said:
The cheapest you can load, is with a lee loader and a mallet. If your picking brass off the ground and using it till it won't chamber that leaves bullets primer and powder... that being one end of the spectrum and a fully automated dillion on the other, you trade money for time each step in betwixt. As they say get in where you fit in....
Click to expand...
he’s at $55 for equipment and a Lee Loader is $35-$40!

if you factor in the mallet $5-$8, scrap 2x4 $1… it comes out to be the same

I do love Cheap!
 
Some of the most accurate pistol rounds use some of the cheapest bullets. Wadcutters, FMJ, LRN, all cheap and easy to find. Can you make great ammo on the cheap, yes. Caliber plays a factor in how good and how cheap because economy of scale begins to play a factor so the big sellers start to win out as a result. We as reloaders all know this but we have to keep proving it. At least it’s cheap fun to prove it.
 
Walkalong said:
Things sure have changed, I started with a $99 includes everything kit. All I had to do was add .45 ACP range brass,
some $15/$20 per 500 bullets from a gun show, and primers at under a penny each.
Click to expand...

I remember years ago before reloading, starting a thread on a forum i was on at the time asking about one of those sets, if it'd do "45 long Colt" as well as .38. I didn't know alot about reloading back then so I was very unsure. I didnt buy the kit.
 
refuse2bafool said:
Where are you getting 1,000 rounds for $300? Even before the latest shortage $20 a box of 50 was about the lowest I could find. Though California prices are always significantly higher, especially since we cannot order via internet.
Click to expand...

My LGS had them on sale

Guess it sucks to be in CA
 
Lo-Profile said:
My LGS had them on sale

Guess it sucks to be in CA
Click to expand...
Yup. No so long ago I saw CCI .22LR in another state at about two bucks a box cheaper than it is here. I have have not checked gun stores in Reno/Sparks since before covid. They were not a whole lot cheaper than here but if that supply is reliable it's a great price.

Used to go there all the time on business. I asked them at Scheels if the would open a store in California and they laughed. We both knew why.

On the other hand... It never snows at my outdoor range and I can count the days where highs are much below 60F on my hand.
 
Been reloading on a Lee Reloader for years exclusively. All my brass is range brass, 95% of my bullets are cast from range scrap, scrounged bullets, ww lead, or lead from Craigslist or marketplace, almost all of it for free. Lee 4# pot and 2 cavity molds, Lee sizers, Lee dies, goodwill toaster oven, dollar general or yard sales for the rest.
2 years ago when prices got ridiculous, I sold half my 9mm brass(16k), half my 38 brass(8k), and half my 357 brass(4k), and all my 308 stuff(5k brass, ~10k bullets, 16# powder, and 20k primers, and Lee dies). All the brass was range pickups and a good bit of the 308 stuff was paid for with brass sales. With that $ I bought powder and primers and some RMR bullets and built another AR.

I will be loading 9, 38, & 357 for at least the next 3 years at 42-45/1000. When I have to start using my newer more expensive powder and primers, then costs will double.

Even starting from scratch right now(like I’m about to help someone do this week), you can get everything you need to get loading for $500-600 and depending on the caliber you can see substantial savings pretty quickly. loading 357, 44, 45C, 454 460, 50A&E, stuff like that will show a quick return on his initial investment.
 
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