about how much does it cost to reload a .44 mag round?
- Thread starter cajun47
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musher
Member
Jeez. I don't do math on wednesdays, sorry.
To figure out your cost, you're gonna have to price components for yourself in your location. Things cost different amounts depending on where you are. They also cost more or less per unit depending on the volume you buy.
To get a ballpark figure, find out the price of
1 lb of 2400
500 (350 actually) bullets of your choice
400 large magnum pistol primers
figure out the per unit price of each.
e.g.
price of 20 grains of powder
price of 1 bullet
price of 1 primer
assume your brass are free and there ya go. The cost of reloading a round.
NOT counting the infrastructure (press, dies, tumbler, new shoes for your wife, etc) that you needed to buy to get started.
AND not counting your time.
I just picked 20 grains because I load a lot of 44's with 20.5 grains of 2400 just because they work good for me. You can load'em with more or less (or with a completely different powder) and you need to adjust your computations accordingly.
Don't forget to add in the 1.95 that you spend to buy a calculator at walmart.
To figure out your cost, you're gonna have to price components for yourself in your location. Things cost different amounts depending on where you are. They also cost more or less per unit depending on the volume you buy.
To get a ballpark figure, find out the price of
1 lb of 2400
500 (350 actually) bullets of your choice
400 large magnum pistol primers
figure out the per unit price of each.
e.g.
price of 20 grains of powder
price of 1 bullet
price of 1 primer
assume your brass are free and there ya go. The cost of reloading a round.
NOT counting the infrastructure (press, dies, tumbler, new shoes for your wife, etc) that you needed to buy to get started.
AND not counting your time.
I just picked 20 grains because I load a lot of 44's with 20.5 grains of 2400 just because they work good for me. You can load'em with more or less (or with a completely different powder) and you need to adjust your computations accordingly.
Don't forget to add in the 1.95 that you spend to buy a calculator at walmart.
scrat
Member
or if you have the time you can go the cheap route.
i think its about $15.00 for the kit. after that its just powder primer and bullets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bctwbQgjjLo
i think its about $15.00 for the kit. after that its just powder primer and bullets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bctwbQgjjLo
Sunray
Member
Case life depends entirely on the load. A target load will result in longer case life than any hot load.
"...400 large magnum pistol primers..." 500 and they don't need to be magnum primers.
"...400 large magnum pistol primers..." 500 and they don't need to be magnum primers.
Me thinks you left out too many variables.
And you can calculate the costs your self.
Buying in volume cuts the costs.
Buying powder and primers online incurs Haz Mat Charges per container, some companies ship primers and powder seperate thus incur to 20dollar haz mat charges. Best to buy those locally or pools an order with other shooters.
The type of loads dictate brass longevity.
Define target vs hunting loads:
Lead bulk bullets are cheaper then jacket bullets
240gr LSWC (50 per K) versus 300gr JSP Hunting Bullet (11 per 50)
Powder choice is dictated by type of loads
W231 8gr per load for LSWC vs. W294 19gr per load for JSP
Hint 7000gr per pound of powder
Primers
Lot of 1K 24 bucks per M
Case life is defined by type of loads
Virgin brass cost about 22 per C
Soft shooting target loads say 15 plus reloads
Max loads of hunting ammo 8 to 10 reloads
And you can calculate the costs your self.
Buying in volume cuts the costs.
Buying powder and primers online incurs Haz Mat Charges per container, some companies ship primers and powder seperate thus incur to 20dollar haz mat charges. Best to buy those locally or pools an order with other shooters.
The type of loads dictate brass longevity.
Define target vs hunting loads:
Lead bulk bullets are cheaper then jacket bullets
240gr LSWC (50 per K) versus 300gr JSP Hunting Bullet (11 per 50)
Powder choice is dictated by type of loads
W231 8gr per load for LSWC vs. W294 19gr per load for JSP
Hint 7000gr per pound of powder
Primers
Lot of 1K 24 bucks per M
Case life is defined by type of loads
Virgin brass cost about 22 per C
Soft shooting target loads say 15 plus reloads
Max loads of hunting ammo 8 to 10 reloads
I'm not much for math on Wednesday either... rough cost per round for a good light cowboy action load in Idaho:
1lb of Bullseye (almost does a 1000 rds at 5.0 grains each) $16.90
1000 CCI 300 primers $14.90
1000 240 grain cast bullet $60.00
1000 pieces of brass $90.00
Total : $331.80 for 1000 rounds
Works out to about .33 cents per round
With this light load the brass is lasting and costs about .09 cents per round
Your whole family with powder stained, sore hands at the end of the day.............PRICELESS! Have Fun! Ten Bears
1lb of Bullseye (almost does a 1000 rds at 5.0 grains each) $16.90
1000 CCI 300 primers $14.90
1000 240 grain cast bullet $60.00
1000 pieces of brass $90.00
Total : $331.80 for 1000 rounds
Works out to about .33 cents per round
With this light load the brass is lasting and costs about .09 cents per round
Your whole family with powder stained, sore hands at the end of the day.............PRICELESS! Have Fun! Ten Bears
tasco 74
Member
yep ten bears has about what i figured for handloaded ammo...... if you've priced factory ammo lately you can hardly not reload!! mine is still alittle cheaper because i don't buy bullets i cast my own and my brass is cheaper because i've saved from store bought ammo or scrounged it.........
Bula
Member
Plus, you can take the price of the brass out of your price per round on the second 1k. Now you're down to .24 cents per round.
Sharps Shooter
Member
"how many times can one reload a brass?"
I'm sure you've read in your loading manual(s) that it depends on how "hot" your loads are. It also depends on your loading procedures such as how much you work, or overwork your case mouths by belling and crimping.
I'll take a stab at answering your question though - 12 times or 20 times. Alright, I'm being a bit of a smart ass. It's just that it's hard to say how many times you can reload .44 Mag brass. But it's a lot if you keep your loads reasonable and use good reloading procedures.
Generally I notice the primer pockets getting loose when it comes time to throw out a batch of .44 Mag brass, but sometimes a few of the case mouths will crack and some will split down their sides. It doesn't do any harm. I just can't reload them anymore. But after a dozen reloads, I got my money's worth out of them anyway.
I'm sure you've read in your loading manual(s) that it depends on how "hot" your loads are. It also depends on your loading procedures such as how much you work, or overwork your case mouths by belling and crimping.
I'll take a stab at answering your question though - 12 times or 20 times. Alright, I'm being a bit of a smart ass. It's just that it's hard to say how many times you can reload .44 Mag brass. But it's a lot if you keep your loads reasonable and use good reloading procedures.
Generally I notice the primer pockets getting loose when it comes time to throw out a batch of .44 Mag brass, but sometimes a few of the case mouths will crack and some will split down their sides. It doesn't do any harm. I just can't reload them anymore. But after a dozen reloads, I got my money's worth out of them anyway.
musher
Member
Yeah, yeah but I get about 350 rounds/lb of 2400 and I shoot a lot of'em at temps below zero F. I find the magnum primers give me better (or at least more consistent) ignition.
In more sane parts of the world, you probably don't need to do this.
tasco 74
Member
HOW MANY TIMES CAN BRASS BE RELOADED??
i'm 52 an i'm thinkin i've got enough brass and bullets cast now that it'll last the rest of my life....... got about 2700 rounds loaded and don't know how many bullets i have cast.... most of my reloads are milder cast bullet reloads so brass will last a LONG time...... if i can keep getting primers and powder i got nothing to worry about............
i'm 52 an i'm thinkin i've got enough brass and bullets cast now that it'll last the rest of my life....... got about 2700 rounds loaded and don't know how many bullets i have cast.... most of my reloads are milder cast bullet reloads so brass will last a LONG time...... if i can keep getting primers and powder i got nothing to worry about............
I've gotten the price down below $0.15/rnd buying components in bulk, using surplus powder (H110), and watching for deals at gun shows (2400 for $8/lb), and assuming 10 reloads on the brass (I never pay more than $0.15/rnd for brass).
At a recent show the local sportsmans warehouse was handing out $10 gift certificates. I ended up with 2, and used both for plated 44mag bullets. The bullets ended up at less than $0.09/rnd.
At a recent show the local sportsmans warehouse was handing out $10 gift certificates. I ended up with 2, and used both for plated 44mag bullets. The bullets ended up at less than $0.09/rnd.
langenc
Member
How is H110 classed as surplus and what is the cost and source of 'surplus' powder? What other powders are 'surplus'?
I picked up a jug of WC820 a few years back, it uses H110 load data. Some of the recent surplus WC820 uses AA#9 load data. I always thought WC820 was either H110 equivalent or repackaged H110 for military use, but I never looked into it.langenc said:
highlander 5
Member
Ten Bears math is way off a pound of B'eye will give you 1400 rds with a 5 gr charge,that's .012 cents,bullets .06 cents and primers .015 each for a total of
9 cents a round or $9 a 100 add 10 cents per if you need brass
9 cents a round or $9 a 100 add 10 cents per if you need brass
Boring..............
I just watched that YouTube blob on reloading a .44 round. My god, I can't believe people load rounds like that. I was ready to take my Desert Eagle to the head. Geez, people this is 2007, get with the times.
I just watched that YouTube blob on reloading a .44 round. My god, I can't believe people load rounds like that. I was ready to take my Desert Eagle to the head. Geez, people this is 2007, get with the times.
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