Ammo Pricing per Round

Status
Not open for further replies.
H

holdencm9

Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2011
Messages
1,369
Eventually I want to get into reloading but for now I am stuck buying factory stuff (apartment dweller) I just wanted to get a feel for what the High Roaders are considering good prices of various cartridges on a per-round basis, either at the store or online. I usually use the calculator on my phone to gauge the deal, since packages come in 20, 25, 50, 100, 350, 400, 420, etc. Basically prices fall into three ranges: "no way!" "not a great deal but I am headed to the range and need it" or "stock up! buy out the whole store!"

Note, I am thinking mostly plinking, range ammo. Obviously SD and high end hunting ammo can be 2x the cost or more.

What I am seeing in MN at the stores

9mm
$15/50 = 30 cents per round (no way!)
$10/50 = 20 cents per round (stock up!) I saw this for S&B at Cabela's awhile back. Also, I am not averse to herter's steel case stuff, but only if iti s $8 per box (16 cents per round).

.223/5.56
30 cents per round is decent. I bought a couple boxes of the AE 100-round boxes for $30 each the other day. Not a GREAT deal, but decent for brass case. I won't buy steel case unless it is under 25 cents per round.

.308
Usually I am looking at the core lokts PSP's for general purpose
$20 per box ($1 per round) no way!
$15 per box, okay we are getting there
$12 per box (60 cents per round) I will pick up a few boxes
I will buy steel case but only if it is under 50 cents per round.


Does this seem about right? How do my costs compare to where you are? Any online distributors with great deals right now? (Please share!)
 
you should check out ReliantAmmo USA, their prices are awesome and it's all bran new brass. You will just have to compare and see if it is worth it to pay for shipping instead of paying your state sales tax.
 
Eventually I want to get into reloading but for now I am stuck buying factory stuff (apartment dweller
Click to expand...

Many an apartment dweller reloads using some form of portable set up. Unless it is strictly prohibited, a few boxes of ammo and you could get a basic set up to get started, especially of the 308

Just an idea.....
 
I've declared my independence some time ago. Reloading good.
Maybe there should be a reloading.calm site/domain bought and paid for. Knock yourselves out.
 
Fellow apartment dweller here. :) I recently (2 months ago) started reloading in my living room with a Lee Hand Press. I got an old home entertainment center for free and use it to store tools and components. It sits in a corner and holds everything I need to load 40 S&W and 223. The only exception is a tumbler that lives in a closet. When it's running, I can barely hear it and so far, none of my neighbors have complained.

The entertainment center has doors on it to hide the large area where the tv would usually reside so the causal observer (read that as landlord) wouldn't think anything of it. In my case, however, the landlord knows I reload and has no problem with it. When I'm ready to reload, I use an old coffee table that I reclaimed from a dumpster and set up in front of the couch. I prep the brass and prime it in quantity. Then, when I need more ammo, I just charge/seat/crimp in batches of 50. I can usually knock out around 50/per hour when the brass is fully prepped and ready to go.

As far as cost per round, I'm loading 40 S&W for about 12 cents each (Missouri Bullet Company and Powder Valley for the win!) and 223 for about 17 cents per round. In both cases, I'm using range pickup brass and so far, I've been able to pick up more than I shoot so my brass supply is actually growing.

ETA: My whole setup was around $150, and has already paid for itself in savings. Even if you have very little room to work, you can reload in your apartment with just a little more planning and effort than those with the room and budget for full-size, bench-mounted presses.
 
Last edited:
Reloaders always omit the value of their time, the cost of the reloading setup or the space that it takes up, the time hunting for components, etc.

Unless you enjoy reloading, it seems like it is a part time job. If that's the case you have to weigh the value of your time reloading vs. doing other things or working.

Personally, it makes much more sense to me to save $ and make bulk purchases by the case, can, etc. You get the best price and shiping prices if you do it that way.

I just ordered a lot of ammo - 9700 rounds of assorted ammo, rifle (5.56, 5.45, and 7.62x54R) and pistol (9mm, .38, and .40), for under $1900 shipped. That works out to ~20 cents a round. Total time spent was about an hours shopping for the best deal, and the time it took me to earn $1900. It's all factory ammo, loaded by professionals, boxed and packaged (some in long term spam cans).

Pumping out 9700 rounds requires the reloader, all the dies for various calibers, all the accessories, and the components (lead, brass, primers, powder). Shopping and shipping for same. At 500-800 rounds per hour, you're looking at 13 hours in a best case scenario for reloading. Realistically, with cleaning brass, start and stop, remeasuring, checks, changing dies, interruptions, hunting online for supplies, etc, you're looking at 30-40 hours, or maybe more. That's at least a full work week.

And then there's the issue with voiding warranties, or even liability issues...

For now, for me, reloading doesn't make sense. But for those that love it, that's awesom.
 
^
Those 10,000 rounds sound awesome. Are they all high performance SD/hunting rounds or just fmj? Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Got to get back to my high profit knitting now.
 
"Reloaders always omit the value of their time, the cost of the reloading setup or the space that it takes up, the time hunting for components, etc."

No they don't. If someone ,for example, can work overtime whenever they want to, and would rather spend that time working and purchase their ammo instead of spending the same amount of time reloading, maybe that's the best choice for them. But if you are going to put a value on your "time", 24 hours a day, how are you ever going to go shoot a match for instance. Besides the match fee, travel, and ammo cost now you add in the value of your time and that match is pretty expensive. And that's to go compete in a match. How are you ever going to justify simply going to the range and plinking for fun, when your time is so valuable. Plus, reloaders can fine tune their ammo to exactly what they want. Some shooters only reload because they couldn't afford to shoot as much as they want if they didn't reload. But for a lot of shooters reloading is just another enjoyable and satisfying part of shooting. Mark
 
Have seen those same prices around MN. Armslist has a little better pricing most of the time, but the selection is hit and miss.

Got 1000 rds of .223 for cheap a while back, and some 9mm and .40cal for a bargain. Fleet Farm has some deals once in a while. Yay Minnesota. It is still barbecue weather.
 
A full work week for $1900(take home pay)...many would love to make over $110k per year.
 
303tom said:
If I use http://ammoseek.com/ a lot of times I can buy it cheaper than I can make it..........
Click to expand...

I've been considering getting in to reloading for about a year now, but the combination of ammoseek and my busy schedule has stopped me so far. The cost of ammo is only half the reason I don't shoot as often as I would like. Making the time to do it is the other half, and reloading wouldn't help solve that at all.
 
Reloaders always omit the value of their time, the cost of the reloading setup or the space that it takes up, the time hunting for components, etc.

Unless you enjoy reloading, it seems like it is a part time job. If that's the case you have to weigh the value of your time reloading vs. doing other things or working.
Click to expand...
Reloading ammunition is a hobby. I don't know of anyone that factors their time in any hobby, be it hunting, fishing, camping, mountain biking, etc.
 
Yep, I look at the time spent reloading as therapy. I own a business and could afford to buy whatever ammo I want but I enjoy the time spent both in loading and shooting my ammo. I still buy some bulk surplus and new ammo in various calibers, but I look at it as buying once fired brass.:D
 
I recently bought some .30-06 from Wisconsin Cartridge Company (WCC). The reload once-fired brass, and I picked up 100 rounds for $85.00 including shipping on Gunbroker. They got it to me in about two days after I placed the order. They've pretty much got all of the popular calibers, even my fairly uncommon .257 Roberts. I've only shot it to 25 yards so far, but it seems to be more accurate than I am.

Here's the link to their 150 gr. .308, the only other .308 offering seems to be 55 gr. sabots, http://www.wisconsincartridge.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=44&idproduct=111
 
Last edited:
I've been considering getting in to reloading for about a year now, but the combination of ammoseek and my busy schedule has stopped me so far. The cost of ammo is only half the reason I don't shoot as often as I would like. Making the time to do it is the other half, and reloading wouldn't help solve that at all.
Click to expand...

I am kind of in the same boat. My apartment is pretty small to squeeze anything else in, (even if I did get approval from the boss lady :) ) and I just don't think I would have the time to commit to it. Although it does sound fun, and I understand that for some, it is a hobby in its own right. When you look at it that way, the cheapness on a per round basis is just icing on the cake! It is definitely part of the plan once we buy a house.

Thanks for all the links! From what I have seen, as long as you order over $100 worth of ammo, the cost per round, including shipping, usually works out to be cheaper than most store prices. There is definitely an economy to ordering in bulk though. The shipping prices don't scale linearly with the quantity you order ($11 to ship one box, or $17 to ship 10?!?!?)
 
There is a basic minmum cost for shipping things and once that barrier is broken the increase is basically in weight and package dimensions which explains the disparity you mentioned.
 
leadcounsel said:
...For now, for me, reloading doesn't make sense. But for those that love it, that's awesome...
Click to expand...

Reloading makes sense if you are loading for accuracy. If you are reloading to save money, that's not always possible.
 
In a similar vein, I like to fly fish and often tie my own flies. But I do so only because it's fun and I can control the fly style. I do NOT save any money, not at $1.50 a fly from many retailers.

I don't reload but if I did it would be for the exact same reasons and I'd have no expectation about saving money. Of course, if I did start reloading, I'd also have to submit payment in the form of "What, ANOTHER hobby? Where are you going to put that stuff?" :neener:
 
A full work week for $1900(take home pay)...many would love to make over $110k per year.
Click to expand...

That's the total cost of fully assembled ammo and components. Reloaders still pay for components, shipping, etc.

It really boils down to a few cents per round. As someone here stated, they pay like 12 cents per round for reloads whereas I'm paying 17 cents for new... so 5 cents per round times 1000 rounds. At $50 savings, that's not much savings on 1000 rounds for all of the time, work, and overhead. Even at say 10 cents per round, or 20 cents, that's $100-200 per thousand rounds, which takes a couple of hours JUST TO MAKE THEM... Plus factor in all of the time associated with reloading that people forget to factor in.

If it's a hobby and you have loads of free time, then great. But it ain't gonna save you any money in the big picture.
 
Or you can get a Dillon Super 1050 with bullet feeder and load 2,000 rounds per hour for less than a $2,000 investment with 75% resale value.

Least I'd get into reloading is a press that is capable of 500rds an hour, like Dillon 550 or Hornady LNL AP. Don't start small just to upgrade in a year. Cry once, spend the money to get good equipment from the start. Cheaper in the long run.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Gun Auction Ammo Prices
Replies
1
Views
349
BigBore44
BigBore44
VoodooMountain
  • Locked
Inexpensive 223 ammo
Replies
17
Views
825
VoodooMountain
VoodooMountain
P
  • Locked
Cost of Defensive Handgun Ammo-WHY?
2
Replies
25
Views
1K
Redbeard55
R
P
  • Locked
Ammo prices seem stable in my area
Replies
7
Views
513
Ignition Override
I
N
  • Locked
prove me wrong
2 3
Replies
70
Views
3K
evan price
evan price
Back
Top