I think I'm done reloading 5.56 for a while

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Bfh_auto

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I bought a case of IMI RazorCore because it cost the same as buying components right now.
Surprisingly it runs 1/2-3/4 MOA in 4 different guns. The velocity is only 2560 in a 16" barrel. But I can't complain.
Now I can focus on my other projects.
 
I gave up reloading 5.56mm many years ago because the cost of a case of factory compared to the component cost and my time to assemble was more favorable. Still is, it's just that tricky availability thing... :thumbdown:
 
Good news is the case was available to buy. About 4 months ago, I signed up to get availability notifications from a small ammo maker. Got the first email I can recall on July 3rd. Email said to act fast, normal sellout was 3 min. Got another email 2 days later.......said they still had product.

Was at farm and home the other day and small ammo case that has been empty for months had about a case of 223.....and one single box of 308.

Probably no coincidence that primers and powder are also starting to show up at places like Midway. Don't last long, but being available at all is a start. The light we see at the end of this tunnel may not be another oncoming train.
 
Howa 9700 said:
Good news is the case was available to buy. About 4 months ago, I signed up to get availability notifications from a small ammo maker. Got the first email I can recall on July 3rd. Email said to act fast, normal sellout was 3 min. Got another email 2 days later.......said they still had product.

Was at farm and home the other day and small ammo case that has been empty for months had about a case of 223.....and one single box of 308.

Probably no coincidence that primers and powder are also starting to show up at places like Midway. Don't last long, but being available at all is a start. The light we see at the end of this tunnel may not be another oncoming train.
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Charlie98 said:
That was kind of my thought. Last case of 5.56mm I saw was around $1/rd... hopefully we are retreating from that kind of nonsense.
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I bought this case March of 2020. It has been available on Midway off and on for the entire time though.
 
Walkalong said:
With free brass, along with catching primers and bullets on sale, it’s tough to buy cheaper for me.
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These were my thoughts too! Plus my ammo shoots better than any factory that I have tried. Sometimes much better. But I do keep some factory on hand.
 
With the cost and lack of involved commitment to time and resources and if it shoots that well, I’d say it makes sense for you to just buy it. Save the brass for when the numbers don’t balance out. I personally load everything and have for many years because I enjoy it and have the time. I also bulk buy components when I get a good price and followed the “buy it cheap and stock it deep” philosophy years ago. If I was working or had other time commitments and found ammo that was about even in cost versus loading it and shot that well, I’d order a few cases and be happy. There is no wrong answer, it is whatever works for you.
 
Bfh_auto said:
Surprisingly it runs 1/2-3/4 MOA in 4 different guns. The velocity is only 2560 in a 16" barrel.
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If it shoots 1/2-3/4 MOA in 4 different guns who cares what the velocity is?
I buy FMJ as well when I see a good price. But I still load other bullets. The match and hunting cartridges are always higher priced and a careful handloader can load rounds as good or better than the factory stuff
 
bullseye308 said:
With the cost and lack of involved commitment to time and resources and if it shoots that well, I’d say it makes sense for you to just buy it. Save the brass for when the numbers don’t balance out. I personally load everything and have for many years because I enjoy it and have the time. I also bulk buy components when I get a good price and followed the “buy it cheap and stock it deep” philosophy years ago. If I was working or had other time commitments and found ammo that was about even in cost versus loading it and shot that well, I’d order a few cases and be happy. There is no wrong answer, it is whatever works for you.
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I have a 2 and 3 year old. I also have a lot of components stocked up. But I don't see the point of replacements are going to cost the same as loaded ammo.
I'm definitely saving my brass and counting my blessings.
 
My “little ones” are 10 & 14 so they either help or are busy with their own things, finally. ;) My oldest 2 are 24 & 26 and and have to contribute components and time loading if they want to shoot, or buy their own ammo and I get the brass. :) Enjoy them while they are little, that time goes quickly and is invaluable.
 
Skeptic13 said:
If you are reloading just 55gr FMJ then it doesn't pay to reload .223. Where I found it really pays off is when you are reloading heavier grain SP and BTHP bullets. When I did the math previously, before the recent pandemic, I could save $.20 - $.50 a round.
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My general load is 23.8 IMR 4064 and a 77 SMK.
The IMI is also a 77 SMK. Just 100 fps slower.
My calculations are based off replacement of components at current pricing.
Currently it's break even without counting time.
 
Dunno. I'm a little under 18 cents for .223 and that's with Hornady 2266 soft point which performs much better than any FMJ. 15.5 cents if I use the Wolf 55gr FMJ which performs same as any other decent bulk FMJ. Even at normal prices where brass .223/5.56 is around $325/case delivered for less expensive brands like Wolf Gold or PPU, I save a good amount.
 
Walkalong said:
With free brass, along with catching primers and bullets on sale, it’s tough to buy cheaper for me.
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I've really never thought about it much but I think I'm about 0.08/rd for powder, 0.04/ for a primer, and 0.10 for a bullet. That's around 0.22/rd. The brass is free from the range. That's buying pre 2020 but I buy powder in 8lb containers, primers and bullets 5K at a time. Not everyone wants to drop that much money on components at once but that's how you stay ahead of the game. I just checked and 5.56 is still around 0.50/rd. I haven't purchased anything .223/5.56 since late 2019 and I'm good for another year of crazy component prices. When they get back to more or less pre 2020 prices I'll jump in again. Who knows, it may not happen but at least I made the effort.:D

ETA. Funny how pre covid/election the brass buckets were full of 5.56 and 9mm brass. I haven't seen any brass in those buckets in about a year. Did everyone suddenly become a reloader?
 
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CMV said:
Dunno. I'm a little under 18 cents for .223 and that's with Hornady 2266 soft point which performs much better than any FMJ. 15.5 cents if I use the Wolf 55gr FMJ which performs same as any other decent bulk FMJ. Even at normal prices where brass .223/5.56 is around $325/case delivered for less expensive brands like Wolf Gold or PPU, I save a good amount.
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I can put cheaper ammo together. But my primary gun likes 77 SMKs. That bumps the bullet price up 20 cents per round.
Powder at the LGS is running 45-50 per pound instead of 25-30.
Primers are 70-100 per 1000.
 
Bfh_auto said:
I can put cheaper ammo together. But my primary gun likes 77 SMKs. That bumps the bullet price up 20 cents per round.
Powder at the LGS is running 45-50 per pound instead of 25-30.
Primers are 70-100 per 1000.
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Yep, that really puts a crimp :( in your ability to reload at a reasonable cost. Powder and primers won't be coming down for awhile. Niether will factory ammo.
 
If the ammo is cheap enough and shoots that good, go for it as long as the velocity loss isn’t a concern. I’m running a very close load with IMR 4064 but I used Hornady 75 grain bullets so I get a little savings there. No factory ammo has shot that good from my rifle but my hand loads are close. Substituting the Hornady for the Sierra helps keep the price down. With the components I have now I can make this load for the same price as local steel case ammo. That said the steel case ammo around here is priced pretty high.

If I count the time I spend on loading I’m loosing money I’m sure, but I’m on a single stage press and I don’t shoot a large volume.
 
I am with Walkalong. Buy in bulk and on sale ahead of need so you can reload cheap. Currently I am retired so time to do fun things does not count. I also build better accuracy ammo for less than factory. Over the years I have tested and refined many loads for my rifles so am able to buy what I know will work when I see a deal. By all means buy factory if it suits your needs, me I wanna do it myself!
 
DMW1116 said:
If the ammo is cheap enough and shoots that good, go for it as long as the velocity loss isn’t a concern. I’m running a very close load with IMR 4064 but I used Hornady 75 grain bullets so I get a little savings there. No factory ammo has shot that good from my rifle but my hand loads are close. Substituting the Hornady for the Sierra helps keep the price down. With the components I have now I can make this load for the same price as local steel case ammo. That said the steel case ammo around here is priced pretty high.

If I count the time I spend on loading I’m loosing money I’m sure, but I’m on a single stage press and I don’t shoot a large volume.
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I tried 75 hpbt, 75 AMAX, eld-m, 68 hpbt, and 77 CC.
The CC matched the Sierra accuracy. But the terminal effect on coyotes wasn't the same.
I too run everything single stage and enjoy it.
But my wife, kids, farm and day job make time more valuable than .50 cents per round if I use my stockpile. If I have too replace it at current prices it is a break even proposition.
I only run about 500 per year anyway.
 
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