357 cost per round
- Thread starter ArmedOkie
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tightgroup tiger
Member
I bought my pro1000 over 25 years ago and it is definitely paid for. I shoot around 400 rounds+ a month of .357mag alone and load mine for 8-10 cents a piece with my own cast bullets.
I shoot 4-600 rounds of 9mm a month also and paid my self back for my Hornady AP in three years.
Put a case feeder on it and it's paid for a year ago.
I load so I can shoot, I don't shoot so I have something to load. I'm going to shoot regardless so, Yea, I cast my own and load my own.
As far as my hunting loads go, I can load 100 for what one of the 25 count boxes cost.
I shoot 4-600 rounds of 9mm a month also and paid my self back for my Hornady AP in three years.
Put a case feeder on it and it's paid for a year ago.
I load so I can shoot, I don't shoot so I have something to load. I'm going to shoot regardless so, Yea, I cast my own and load my own.
As far as my hunting loads go, I can load 100 for what one of the 25 count boxes cost.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
Once you have the press you might as well load 9mm as well.
It's lots easier for me to shoot up a bunch of 9mm for me than .357
Nothing really tricky about 9mm, you just need to watch your OALs.
Using coated lead bullets and rounding up
.09 per bullet
.02 per primer
.02 per powder charge
= about $6.50 a box.
These are light to medium .357 or 9mm.
Full power .357 will about triple your powder cost.
I find reloading relaxing and enjoy doing it.
However I don't really save any money I just shoot a LOT more.
I say, Go for it.
If it turns out you don't like it you can usually sell your equipment for not to much of a loss.
It's lots easier for me to shoot up a bunch of 9mm for me than .357
Nothing really tricky about 9mm, you just need to watch your OALs.
Using coated lead bullets and rounding up
.09 per bullet
.02 per primer
.02 per powder charge
= about $6.50 a box.
These are light to medium .357 or 9mm.
Full power .357 will about triple your powder cost.
I find reloading relaxing and enjoy doing it.
However I don't really save any money I just shoot a LOT more.
I say, Go for it.
If it turns out you don't like it you can usually sell your equipment for not to much of a loss.
mstreddy
Member
I'm reloading 357 Mag for around .14 a round. That's using
Blue Dot, Tula primers and Xtreme plated bullets.
I load 38 Spcl at 11 - 12 cents a round depending on bullets.
And even though you are not thinking of 9MM (yet), I load it for .11 using Xtreme plated bullets.
Blue Dot, Tula primers and Xtreme plated bullets.
I load 38 Spcl at 11 - 12 cents a round depending on bullets.
And even though you are not thinking of 9MM (yet), I load it for .11 using Xtreme plated bullets.
WestKentucky
Member
I do it really cheap. I use range brass, buy primers in bulk for about 20-25 bucks per thousand. I buy cheap cast bullets, often from individuals. Last bunch I bought were from a soldier who was PCSing to hawaii, got 2200 missouri bullets for 95 bucks. A can of powder usually runs 25-30 bucks and lasts me well over a thousand rounds. Of moderate loads. So 200ish bucks for 2200 rounds. 9 cents each.
To jump up to jacketed hollow points triples, sometimes quadruple cost. That doesn't happen much.
To jump up to jacketed hollow points triples, sometimes quadruple cost. That doesn't happen much.
Jeepergeo
Member
The savings just don't add up for me. IMHO, when factors other than savings weigh in, reloading will make the most sense.
Freedom Munitions in Idaho carries reloads in .357 Magnum, 125 gr. hollow points for $0.315 per round, with their new rounds going for $0.335 per round. Watch for free shipping or deals of the day to cut those costs a bit.
Keep in mind, it can take over 3 weeks to get your order from the date you place it. That i my main beef with them, but other wise the ammo seems ok.
Freedom Munitions in Idaho carries reloads in .357 Magnum, 125 gr. hollow points for $0.315 per round, with their new rounds going for $0.335 per round. Watch for free shipping or deals of the day to cut those costs a bit.
Keep in mind, it can take over 3 weeks to get your order from the date you place it. That i my main beef with them, but other wise the ammo seems ok.
Assuming 0 cost for brass (which may or may not be the case for you), I'm at about 8 cents per coated lead bullet (Missouri Bullet Co 125 gr), 2.5 cents per primer, and 1.6 cents for 4.6 grains of Bullseye (light load). So about 12 cents each, or $6 for a box of 50.
Doesn't include incidental costs or, of course, my time, but I enjoy the reloading because it's something shooting-related to do during the week when I can't actually shoot.
I find .357 magnum cases to be my favorite to reload. Plenty of length grab a hold of. You wouldn't think that'd make much difference but fumbling with little 9mm cases just drives me crazy. Speaking of which, 9mm would cost about the same per round, but you can get 9mm for $10 a box new (and jacketed/plated) if you poke around enough, so for $4 a box I no longer see it being worth my time.
Doesn't include incidental costs or, of course, my time, but I enjoy the reloading because it's something shooting-related to do during the week when I can't actually shoot.
I find .357 magnum cases to be my favorite to reload. Plenty of length grab a hold of. You wouldn't think that'd make much difference but fumbling with little 9mm cases just drives me crazy. Speaking of which, 9mm would cost about the same per round, but you can get 9mm for $10 a box new (and jacketed/plated) if you poke around enough, so for $4 a box I no longer see it being worth my time.
Lost Sheep
Member
(from Lee's Web Site) said:
Depending on where purchased, cost is between $188 and change to $300.
Lee dies always come with shellholder included and no progressive press requires a shellholder (they require a multii-shell shell plate).
Yes a scale and loading manual are not included.
Lost Sheep
SlayerOfBunnies
Member
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I went back and checked my figures. My practice plated .357s are $0.19 a round and not $0.12 as I mentioned earlier. The $0.12 per round figure is for lead - my mistake.
anothernewb
Member
I hear that one a lot.
I look at it this way-
true - your time is worth something. but it's like any other hobby. what's your time worth fishing, camping, woodworking, shade tree wrenching, power sports? You gotta prep the boat, pack camping gear, organize tools....
All hobbies require a time investment for prep. Many of us enjoy the prep time as simply part of the overall enjoyment of the hobby/sport.
At least for me - I find it far better to compare what my time's worth cleaning my firearms. I know I spend a heck of a lot more time doing that than pulling a handle. If I could find something to lessen that time - it would be priceless!
Schwing
Member
Another vote for reloading. I shoot so much .357 and .38 that it was an easy decision. The Pro1000 is a great press for handgun calibers. It has a lot of naysayers but the holes in my target can't seem to tell that they were loaded on a cheap press.
My own cast bullets cost between .025 and .07 depending on the alloy. Even buying Zero bullets for my full tilt rounds, they only cost around .11. Primers I figure about .03 and powder is almost always going to be less than .03 per round in .357 regardless of the powder used or the charge. I also tally in .03 per case since they will, eventually, have to be replaced.
That puts my cost between $5.75 and $9.50 per box. I have no idea what factory .357 costs these days since I haven't purchased any in years but the last time I did it was around $27 per box. Doing the math on that, it takes less than 20 boxes of ammo to pay off my pro1000 and accessories.
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