Well crap!!! I HATE when this happens...

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ive got it even worse, $.039 to load up a 230gr 45 LTC

free lead
free brass
$25/k tula primers(after shipping and hazmat)
$20/lb hp38(after ship n haz)
free time

I dare anyone to go and find a box of 45 off the shelf for even ten times what it costs me
 
You forgot the cost of the press, your loading manuals, dies, cleaning equipment, lead pot and molds. Is it still worth it? :evil:

In case the smiley did not give it away, just kidding.
 
My current price to load 100 count boxes of 45 acp 185 gr LSWC is 3.50. Cheaper when I pull old stock components. Using primers/powder in current rotation my investment is 2.50 per 100 on 45's and 1.85 on 38's. The people paying panic prices forced me to break out cases of factory ammo and convert to cash at peak panic. Bet that when it all levels out I can put it all back and have plenty of cash for more toys. Even if I have to replace it with handloads. When I sold several cases of .223 I broke out a bunch of once fired lake city brass and loaded two rounds with 62 gr SS109's for every round sold for the emergency stock. Midway was selling the Israeli 62 gr SS109 bullets in 10,000 round lots at a deal back around Y2K. It was free shipping if you bought 50,000. Turned out to be another good investment in consumables. While I was at it loaded 5,000 rounds of 7.62x51 just for kicks. Only thing I have not been willing to part with are .50bmg components. That is one thing I could see them slowing down with quick legislation.

Current primers in rotation paid 12.95 per thousand
Average powder price in rotation 9.00 per pound

Have some powder priced as cheap as 6.95 pound and primers marked 9.95 per thousand. All the cheaper sent down range.
 
I am just under $3.00 per box of fifty for my 45. I had someone on another forum call B.S on me so I explained all my costs and of coarse they went right to the cost of the press, molds, dies and on and on.

It is point less to argue with someone who does not realize that the point of a hobby is to do something that is not a job ( which you usually get paid for) and do something relaxing (which you usually don't get paid for).

Every year people spend hundred of thousands of dollars on hobbies. How many people can say that one aspect of their hobby saves them money and allows them to enjoy it more often and frequently.
 
clocker said:
You forgot the cost of the press, your loading manuals, dies, cleaning equipment, lead pot and molds. Is it still worth it? :evil:

In case the smiley did not give it away, just kidding.
Click to expand...
Haha, good call. That sucker has been paid off many times over now. Now if I can just find a way for it to cook, clean, and....well.....never mind.
 
hueyville said:
My current price to load 100 count boxes of 45 acp 185 gr LSWC is 3.50. Cheaper when I pull old stock components. Using primers/powder in current rotation my investment is 2.50 per 100 on 45's and 1.85 on 38's. The people paying panic prices forced me to break out cases of factory ammo and convert to cash at peak panic. Bet that when it all levels out I can put it all back and have plenty of cash for more toys. Even if I have to replace it with handloads. When I sold several cases of .223 I broke out a bunch of once fired lake city brass and loaded two rounds with 62 gr SS109's for every round sold for the emergency stock. Midway was selling the Israeli 62 gr SS109 bullets in 10,000 round lots at a deal back around Y2K. It was free shipping if you bought 50,000. Turned out to be another good investment in consumables. While I was at it loaded 5,000 rounds of 7.62x51 just for kicks. Only thing I have not been willing to part with are .50bmg components. That is one thing I could see them slowing down with quick legislation.

Current primers in rotation paid 12.95 per thousand
Average powder price in rotation 9.00 per pound

Have some powder priced as cheap as 6.95 pound and primers marked 9.95 per thousand. All the cheaper sent down range.
Click to expand...
Uh...sounds good. Where did you say you lived? KIDDING!!!
 
Grubbylabs, their argument on equipment cost is moot. Less total money invested in my total reloading investment than some individual rifles. Then amortize that cost out over 35 years of building equipment inventory the idea of involving the equipment cost is not of significant consideration. Especially somewhere around 3/4 million rounds later since I started keeping tabs. I could have one more gun and shot only 1/10th the number of rounds. If they argue time investment, reloading is much cheaper than going to see a psychiatrist as good therapy. It keeps me off the streets too.
 
UKfan, I drive through St. Louis at least twice a year going to Kolo"rad"o. Tell me which mile marker and north or south of I-70 and I will send a mag dump or two in your direction. Hahaha
 
Geezz, you have it rough.

I've been spending $.098 per round (200g LSWC)

It saves me so much money I have to go shoot every week.

I'm afraid once I start casting I'll never get away from the range again!
 
DSB, yes once you get bullet cost down to about a penny per unit its almost a sin not to send rounds down range. Thus finally breaking down and putting in an indoor range at work. Saves a lot of gas going to a range. Which in turn frees up more money for components. Its a vicious cycle but I suffer through...
 
Recently acquired new cases and components. Everything has gone up but its still very worthwhile to handload if you shoot fairly often. My current cost to produce 50 cartridges of 45 acp 185gn JHP's is $16.20. Can't find anything on the shelves anywhere near this. Without cases the cost is $11.90 per 50 cartridges.

Save your cases.

TB
 
People who complain about thye startup cost of reloadingare correct. It does take a substancial amount of cash but you don't have to buy everything all at once. You can buy a singla stage press, then get a progressive press, then get into casting,etc. Most of this stuff will last several lifetimes so you'll only have to buy it once.

Reloading isn't a cheap hobby but it's far less expensive than some. If you really want to vburn thru piles of money, buy a boat.:eek:
 
Best thing bout my new indoor range at work, all the bullets are laying in the bottom of the trap shredded and ready to go back in the pot once a week. Just reach in with a scooper and put the remnants in a bucket for the pot. Recovering at least 90%.
 
Originally posted by KY Larry:
"People who complain about thye startup cost of reloadingare correct. It does take a substancial amount of cash but you don't have to buy everything all at once. You can buy a singla stage press, then get a progressive press, then get into casting,etc. Most of this stuff will last several lifetimes so you'll only have to buy it once.

Reloading isn't a cheap hobby but it's far less expensive than some. If you really want to vburn thru piles of money, buy a boat."

You got that right. I was just pointing out to my wife the other day that my modest collection of 23 guns and reloading equipment, accumulated over 40+ years would not even buy the motor on a nice bass rig.

I have been that way too. In 1975 my son and I went to Flippin, AR and picked up a new Bass Masters Classic rig right off the floor of the Ranger factory. The only problem with it was there was nothing else to add!!;)
 
Sad ain't it? :)
For me, casting with free lead, it costs about $3.55 per box of 50. $0.071 per shot.

Of course that can vary a bit depending on which powder you use and how much.
I do use some fuel to melt lead, so I did add some into the calc for that.

Cost of tools? Ya, they did cost at time of acquisition, but considering how many rounds have been made here over the years, it is hardly important to worry about that. The savings very quickly pay off that investment.

Time? As others have said, I too enjoy the time spent reloading and casting. It is a hobby after all.
 
I love the line that you haven't factored in your time! Really, what else would you have been doing? Sitting on your butt in front of the TV drinking beer. Driving to 10 different stores trying to find ammunition. Did you figure that into your equation of the Cheap ammo that you found. 4 trips weekly to 5 different stores, and gas is alot more than those overpriced primers :neener:. I will hang out in my garage and reload my pistol and rifle ammo, the only problem is that my wife feels left out with the Dillon 650 because I have a case feeder. With my Ponsness Warren reloaders, she can at least help out and put the hulls in the machine for me.
 
I just spent like $1106.00 for 100 9mm...now that my new Dillon 650 XL is paid for, the next 100 will only be $6.00...though.
 
Powder - $89 - 8#
Primers - $22 per 1K
Brass - free
Bullets - $89 per 1K (jacketed) or 2 hours in front of the pot for lead.
Equipment - recooped years ago
Labor - All it takes is love.

Being able to load ammo 24-7 - PRICELESS
 
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