6.5 CM Reloading Startup Cost

First of all he didn't exactly go cheap.
Secondly I don't count components into my setup cost.

I'm not saying that I don't have more into it than him but he could have went with the Lee 6.5 Creedmoor Ultimate Die Set and some range pickup brass, or converted his own 308 brass.
When I bought my first 6.5 Creedmoor I couldn't find Lapua brass so I converted 100 pieces of Federal 308 brass.
They didn't shoot bad.

Lee 6.5 Creedmoor Ultimate Die Set $71.00

I never even entertained bushing dies until I was well established in Reloading we are talking it was over 10 years after I got started that I looked into those things also 3 of the first 4 items are Totally Not necessary to load quality ammo I loaded 6.5 Creedmoor with nothing more than the basic hornady die set for years…..






It seemed to load ammo just fine

irishlad said:

He's been watching Erik Cortina videos and his goal is to make his ammo as accurate as possible(for what he can afford), not as cheap as possible. Kinda of hard to reload without the components..
Hopefully this thread doesn't turn into a debate on how to do it as cheap as possible..

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What I am trying to say is that there is a case of diminishing returns.
I will be going to the range soon.
I will quickly slap together an 18 round ladder in 6 steps on once fired federal brass with my Lee dies on my Lee press and compare the accuracy to the results of my ladder with my Redding Custom Competition Dies on my Forster Co-Ax with Lapua brass and see the difference.

I will post a link here to the new thread I will make.

Yes he could have gone cheaper with Lee dies, but I'd like to find BR4's for $75 again....saw them marked at Cabelas for $165 yesterday (and didn't buy). But you figure another Lb of H4350 and he's a little over $1000 and can load most of those 500 bullets and primers. The first time isn't cheaper than commercial, but the second loading of that brass sure will be.

He’s definitely went for the good stuff. And if it’s not budget products, it probably won’t be budget prices. Fwiw, I/we (my dad and bro share some of the costs) don’t count primers or powder as set up, unless it’s very cartridge specific. However, I personally run lapua brass and BR-4 primers in my “good” rifle, not range pickup cheapest primer reloads, and I paid for those. Bullets? Are they “shared”? I don’t necessarily count those, but definitely consider the cost. (How’s that for semantics lol)
It sounds like he’s got a really nice set up. I may or may not be a bit jealous… and hey! That brass sure doesn’t cost as much the second, third and fourth time you fire it…
Then you have to buy the annealing machine…

thump_rrr said:

What I am trying to say is that there is a case of diminishing returns.

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+1

thump_rrr said:

What I am trying to say is that there is a case of diminishing returns.
I will be going to the range soon.
I will quickly slap together an 18 round ladder in 6 steps on once fired federal brass with my Lee dies on my Lee press and compare the accuracy to the results of my ladder with my Redding Custom Competition Dies on my Forster Co-Ax with Lapua brass and see the difference.

I will post a link here to the new thread I will make.

Click to expand...

Charlie98 said:

+1

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irishlad said:

Gotcha. He'll be loading very similar Walkalong's thread.

How I load my PRS Ammo

How I prep brass and load for PRS matches. Step 1: Tumble I tumble the fired cases for 30 minutes give or take. Corncob with light polish (Midway/Dillon/etc). No, I don't care if the cases are shiny, just clean, prior to annealing and sizing. Step 2: Anneal. Some folks like to decap...

www.thehighroad.org

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Diminishing? Yes. If you’re jumping from 1.2 moa to .45, that’s a pretty big step. And then from .45 to .20, that’s diminishing for sure. But if that’s what it’s gonna take to get it… that’s just my way of looking at it. Not at all intended to be argumentative.

I still think he’s got a really nice set up.

What is the end goal? Competition?

Good ammo is only part of the equation. What rifle will he be shooting the ammo in?

MarshallDodge said:

Good ammo is only part of the equation. What rifle will he be shooting the ammo in?

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In my case, I will readily admit the weakest link in any 'bullet to the target' equation is me and my firearm, which is why I seconded the 'diminishing returns' comment. As far as the OP, they have obviously invested in the right reloading tools, so they can check that box off on the way to that one hole cloverleaf....

berettaprofessor said:

Yes he could have gone cheaper with Lee dies, but I'd like to find BR4's for $75 again....saw them marked at Cabelas for $165 yesterday (and didn't buy). But you figure another Lb of H4350 and he's a little over $1000 and can load most of those 500 bullets and primers. The first time isn't cheaper than commercial, but the second loading of that brass sure will be.

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The $75.00 BR-4's were for 500 so $150.00/1,000.

I won't argue the price of components.
That is what it is.

It's the equipment cost that I'm talking about.
I'm guilty of it too but it doesn't have to be that way.

irishlad said:

He's been watching Erik Cortina videos and his goal is to make his ammo as accurate as possible(for what he can afford), not as cheap as possible. Kinda of hard to reload without the components..
Hopefully this thread doesn't turn into a debate on how to do it as cheap as possible..

Click to expand...

Having quality tools has always been more expensive... do good tools make the job easier and more enjoyable. Absolutely. Bushings and mandrels are the best way, but require all the extra bits to do it that way. Barring any factory production issues, the buy once cry once way of getting er done was well executed...

JmacD said:

Diminishing? Yes. If you’re jumping from 1.2 moa to .45, that’s a pretty big step. And then from .45 to .20, that’s diminishing for sure. But if that’s what it’s gonna take to get it… that’s just my way of looking at it. Not at all intended to be argumentative.

I still think he’s got a really nice set up.

Click to expand...

Look at the load development target I posted near the top.
That was converted brass, the Lee dies mentioned above and a Savage 12FV which you can buy at Cabela's/ Bass Pro for $420.00 in a $500.00 MDT LSS-XL chassis.

The test I will be doing today is with Federal brass that was once fired through my Ultimatum Deadline at Dead Zero Shooting Park last summer.
It was from a box of Sierra Custom Competition ammo that shot 0.61 MOA, 0.66 MOA at 1,000y when I ran out of my hand loaded ammo.
I loaded a ladder of H-4350 with BR-4 primers and 140gr Nosler RDF.on my Lee press with the lee dies

It will be going head to head with my Lapua brass loaded on my Forster Co-Ax with my Redding Custom Competition dies.
Off to the range I go.

irishlad said:

I was surprised how much it cost my grandson(he was too!!) to get set up. Prices are rounded off and do not include shipping and taxes.

RCBS Matchmaster FL Bushing die set		$175.00
SAC Bushings (2)		$60.00
Berger Hybrid Target Bullets (500)		$300.00
Erik Cortina Mandrel Die & 2 Mandrels		$135.00
CCI BR4 Primers (500)		$75.00
Lapua Brass		$150.00
1 lb H4350		$50.00
Neck Gauge		$20.00
		$965.00

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Yup. Depending on the goal and purpose getting started with a new chamber/cartridge can be pretty pricey

I bought a Remington 700 decades ago in 7mmRemMag. It was a nice rifle and my second just for hunting rifle. The first was a Marlin .35Rem. The cost of good factory ammo compared to.35 surprised me. Then I started adding up the cost of components and decided I really didn’t need a 7mm Remington Magnum after all.

I did keep the rifle and did reload for it but it was way more rifle than I needed, even for hunting clearcut.

Sticker shock can take the fun right out of a new toy.

AJC1 said:

Having quality tools has always been more expensive... do good tools make the job easier and more enjoyable. Absolutely. Bushings and mandrels are the best way, but require all the extra bits to do it that way. Barring any factory production issues, the buy once cry once way of getting er done was well executed...

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Ditto! Nothing is more frustrating than babysitting a junky tool to make it work. Can it be done? Yup. But! Is! It! Ever! FRUSTRATING!!!

irishlad said:

Got it covered

View attachment 1197496

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Ok, I am now officially jealous.

thump_rrr said:

Look at the load development target I posted near the top.
That was converted brass, the Lee dies mentioned above and a Savage 12FV which you can buy at Cabela's/ Bass Pro for $420.00 in a $500.00 MDT LSS-XL chassis.

The test I will be doing today is with Federal brass that was once fired through my Ultimatum Deadline at Dead Zero Shooting Park last summer.
It was from a box of Sierra Custom Competition ammo that shot 0.61 MOA, 0.66 MOA when I ran out of my hand loaded ammo.
I loaded a ladder of H-4350 with BR-4 primers and 140gr Nosler RDF.on my Lee press with the lee dies

It will be going head to head with my Lapua brass loaded on my Forster Co-Ax with my Redding Custom Competition dies.
Off to the range I go.

Click to expand...

Q: Are you bragging or contributing?

Just asking because it’s not really clear.

How much $$ does a professional PRS shooter pull down annual and is there a pension plan?
Asking for a friend, obviously.

GeoDudeFlorida said:

How much $$ does a professional PRS shooter pull down annual and is there a pension plan?
Asking for a friend, obviously.

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It's like racing cars. You better start off a billionaire if you want to be a millionaire....