Any non reloaders struggling to put .45acp down range?

[0to60]

My reloaded ammo is so inexpensive ($3.00/50 for 45 ACP) that I give friends and new shooters the ammo that they shoot on my range.

That's only .06 per round. How on earth are you doing this?

 

[LiveLife]

Casting your own bullets? If you are casting your own bullets, you gotta factor in the cost of propane/electricity used.

Reading this thread made me want to go back and calculate my cost to load a box of 50 rounds of .45 acp using current prices. The total is $5.17 and I don't cast my own bullets.

would you list your components?

$5.17/50 for 45ACP is pretty good. I could get close to that using components I bought last year/earlier this year.

Here's my break down using "current" prices:

Brass: Mixed range brass
Bullets: 200 gr SWC (MBC Bullseye #1 or IDP #1) from Powder Valley or MBC/THR discount
Primer: Winchester/Tula/Wolf LP (Gun shows/PV)
Powder: W231/HP-38/Promo (Gun shows/PV)

4.0 gr Promo/Tula/Wolf LP ~ $5.60/50
5.0 gr W231/HP-38/Winchester LP ~ $6.30/50

 

[David E]

I feel the pain of high .45 prices but I have no intention of ever reloading again. I did it for a while in the 1980s. I found it tedious, boring and something that ate a huge chunk out of my free time.

Sounds like you were either using a Lee Load-All (mallet sold separately) or a single stage press.

I used those before moving on to a progressive press

My Dillon 650 does handgun rds at about 800 rph at a relaxed pace. 1000 rph if I hustle.

 

[USSR]

Casting your own bullets? If you are casting your own bullets, you gotta factor in the cost of propane/electricity used.

Ya gotta draw the line somewhere. I don't figure the energy used to melt the lead, the energy used to heat and light the home I cast in, the mortgage payment, the food and drink I require to sustain me, an hourly wage, etc.

Don

 

[dcarch]

Nope. A local police officer loads some of the best quality reloads I have ever shot for competitive shooting. Look up DC Ammo. Cliff Walsh likes it. http://dcammo.com/?page_id=6 That was good enough for me. Once I bought a box of the stuff, I was hooked. Seriously, try it out. And if you do, tell him Dave sent ya. Hope this doesn't sound like spamming, but I can't help but rave about high-quality locally made ammo.
Thanks!

 

[huntsman]

Casting your own bullets? If you are casting your own bullets, you gotta factor in the cost of propane/electricity used.


$5.17/50 for 45ACP is pretty good. I could get close to that using components I bought last year/earlier this year.

Here's my break down using "current" prices:

Brass: Mixed range brass
Bullets: 200 gr SWC (MBC Bullseye #1 or IDP #1) from Powder Valley or MBC/THR discount
Primer: Winchester/Tula/Wolf LP (Gun shows/PV)
Powder: W231/HP-38/Promo (Gun shows/PV)

4.0 gr Promo/Tula/Wolf LP ~ $5.60/50
5.0 gr W231/HP-38/Winchester LP ~ $6.30/50

thank you, I was interested in bullet prices and them ain't too bad

 

[AABEN]

That is why I reload every center fire gun that I own. If you shoot as much as I do you will pay for the equipment in 2 years or less. I power my 44 45 357. I try to buy by the 250 or 500 or 1000 at a time for my long guns when on sale. I find some good buy at Widener's

 

[chrt396]

Logic

45ACP

The cost of a box of Walmart Winchester white box - $39.95
The cost of 100 rds of 200g LSWC, Tite Grp, CCI & free brass - $12.75 (reloads)
Savings - $27.20

Dillon 550B - Amazon $385

$385 divided by $27.20 savings = 14.15 boxes of ammo

In other words...if you buy...rounded up...15 more boxed of 45 ammo from Wally World...with the savings...you could buy a Dillon 550B...and shoot 45's til' you puke!!!

I have enough ammo to fend off the Ethiopian Army for a month..and it did not cost an arm and a leg!!

Rough calculations..but close enough to take the plunge into reloading!

 

[PabloJ]

What State do you live in?
My Walmarts (in TN) have Federal FMJ for $16-17$ a box.
Winchester White Box FMJ for $32 for 100 rd Box
Remington JHP for $38 100 rd Box

Walmart .45 runs at least $5 cheaper than any other stores I have seen.
Of course reloading would be cheaper.....someday maybe.
In the meantime, SAVE YOUR BRASS NOW

If you're able to buy that stuff you pretty much have to work at Walmart or stand at the counter as new batch comes in.

 

[AABEN]

That's obscene.
I can't imagine paying that for a box of ammo.


My reloaded ammo is so inexpensive ($3.00/50 for 45 ACP) that I give friends and new shooters the ammo that they shoot on my range.

That is a good price! jest say the powder was 20.00 LB primers was 3.00 PH brass .40 each bullets was .28 each cost would be 2.95 for 50 Rounds. That is why we reload and do a lot of shooting I would thank more shooters would reload. That is Wait I am doing this winter.

 

[Gun Geezer]

The only pain is coming up with brass. It's a major hassle to shoot 200 rounds and then spending 20 minutes looking for it. And when I do, i usually can only find about 70% of what I shot. There needs to be a decent brass catcher.

I reload all my revolve ammo, exclusively. Have not bought new in years.

 

[Dogguy]

The pain really comes in when you place a value on the time you spend associated with reloading vs the use of that time on another activity. Such as shooting.

'Course, if you enjoy the repetitive process of making ammunition, it's time well spent.

 

[Honest John]

It looks like the thread subject has rightfully turned to reasons to reload .45ACP. For years I did not reload because I was put off by the equipment cost. But if you get a Lee Classic Loader (mallet not included) or hand press you can keep the capital cost below $200. It is slower. I reload in batch steps but estimate that I could reload a clean case in about a minute with my Classic Loader.
I was Scrooge cheap when I started last year and use steel wool to clean cases instead of a tumbler, that's definitely going to change in the near future.

 

[MCgunner]

Non-reloader? Why? That's blasphemy! Heck, I cast my own free bullets from range scrap. 50 rounds costs me under 3 dollars. I always come home with more 9x19 and .45ACP than I left with. I do prefer my revolvers, though. And, I shoot a lot of cap and ball that doesn't require brass.

 

[Coal Dragger]

Around a 11 years ago or so, I received a Dillon Square Deal B as a Christmas gift set up in .45ACP. I have been reloading .45ACP since then, even when it was still inexpensive, picked up a lot of free brass that I still have since it lasts for about forever. That press paid for itself from round one since it was a gift, but would have paid for itself in today's climate very quickly for the first time buyer.

Even though the cost of component bullets has gone up significantly .45ACP is still a reasonable proposition to shoot for me and I don't hesitate to put rounds downrange since I know I can reload them for a small fraction of what factory ammo costs.

I heartily recommend the progressive route to any of you wanting to reload for a .45ACP, the time you save is worth the extra cost. I also reload on a Redding T7 for rifle and magnum handgun, and it is quite a bit slower than the Dillon although I still love the T7 for its consistency and extreme leverage for sizing rifle cases.

A friend of mine and I have also played a bit with casting our own bullets for .45ACP with some success, we just go pick up wheel weights at a local tire shop for free to obtain raw materials. That is some cheap ass ammo!

 

[KAS1981]

The pain really comes in when you place a value on the time you spend associated with reloading vs the use of that time on another activity. Such as shooting.

This. My time is worth more than anything.

I enjoy my owning & shooting my firearms. However, it is not my #1 hobby, and frankly I got other things to do. Between the time it takes to load up & go shooting, then come home and clean my guns, I don't think I want to devote any more time towards reloading. I don't want to track down brass. Casting your own bullets is cool, but where on earth do you get the lead? Tire store?

My wife works retail, so where she works we get an employee discount. I get a good deal on ammo. I don't remember exactly what I pay, but it's better than any deal I've seen online for bulk ammo. Is it anywhere close to reloading? No. But it's nice to just walk in, and walk out with my ammo.

If I shot thousands upon thousands of rounds per year (or month), I'd probably reload.

 

[TennJed]

This. My time is worth more than anything.

I enjoy my owning & shooting my firearms. However, it is not my #1 hobby, and frankly I got other things to do. Between the time it takes to load up & go shooting, then come home and clean my guns, I don't think I want to devote any more time towards reloading. I don't want to track down brass. Casting your own bullets is cool, but where on earth do you get the lead? Tire store?

My wife works retail, so where she works we get an employee discount. I get a good deal on ammo. I don't remember exactly what I pay, but it's better than any deal I've seen online for bulk ammo. Is it anywhere close to reloading? No. But it's nice to just walk in, and walk out with my ammo.

If I shot thousands upon thousands of rounds per year (or month), I'd probably reload.

I love the act of reloading. Trying different recipes, different combinations. That being said, I cant imagine anyone reloading that did not enjoy the hobby intself. It takes time doing the actual reloading, plus studying ect. I could spend the time I reload on a part time job and come out better $ wise.

But I love it. Great hobby

 

[KAS1981]

I love the act of reloading. Trying different recipes, different combinations. That being said, I cant imagine anyone reloading that did not enjoy the hobby intself. It takes time doing the actual reloading, plus studying ect. I could spend the time I reload on a part time job and come out better $ wise.

But I love it. Great hobby

Yep, I think you have to enjoy it to have the motivation to reload.

Kinda like cooking. I like to cook. My brother asked me once how I found time to cook new & fun dishes. He pretty much gave me the same excuses as to why he doesn't cook that I gave for me not reloading...just doesn't wanna put in the time.

I told him that you have to actually enjoy something to wanna do it.

I'm glad there are folks that love to reload. It leaves more ammo in the store for my lazy carcass to just go buy.

 

[Coal Dragger]

I don't enjoy reloading nearly as much as I enjoy shooting. My pistol reloading usually involves throwing freshly fired brass in the tumbler, or ultrasonic cleaner while I clean guns. Then the next day, or maybe the day after I reload that cleaned brass. Say I fire around 200 rounds in training session, and that takes me about 30 minutes to road on the Dillon at a moderate but steady pace. 30 minutes of my time for roughly $60 worth of ammo that might actually cost me at most $20 in components. So I net out $40 in equivalent income not spent. That's not a bad rate.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I'm actually slimming down my collection to fewer guns, that are cheap to shoot.

Sadly, my .45 has got to go. Which isn't so bad since it's a Hi Point, I don't feel like I'm really missing out. I like the gun, but hate the cost of commercial ammo, and I don't yet reload.

I'm trimming my collection down to 9mm, 7.62x54r, 7.62x39, .22LR, 12 gauge and 20 gauge. Those I can buy commercially in bulk, and not really feel the sting in my budget. I don't like having to buy a boat load of ammo in several different calibers. I'm pretty sure the next to go, if any, is the 20 gauge. Five calibers is a lot easier to horde and keep track of. So good bye .45 ACP, I'm sure we'll meet again in the future.

 

[Wildbillz]

I reload and have for years. I got my first setup for Christmass in 78. Best gift I ever got. I have loaded 1000s of rounds on that old RCBS press. Then moved up to a Dillon 550B.

In the years I have found that some guys are going to want to load there own ammo and some would rather put in extra time at work and make the money to pay for ammo.

But a long time ago I decided that I would not be denied the use of my guns due to not haveing ammo. So I have the equipment and keep some supplys on hand. During the last big ammo scare sale, I only bought one box of ammo. I picked up a 380acp and didn't have the tooling to load for it or any brass or ammo.

Normaly a set of reloading dies is the first accesroy for a new caliber that I get.

But that just me
WB

 

[jahwarrior]

i've been buying the cheap Russian stuff at Walmart for a few months now. it costs half as much as WWB, and is nowhere near as dirty.

i'll be buying less, though, since i got a small Lee kit for .45ACP, for Christmas. i hung out at the range the other day, just to collect brass.

 

[BCRider]

....To be honest I'm just a little apprehensive to get started. The whole thing of possibly putting in to much powder and blowing my hand off scares. Yes I'm the guy that would do that on accident.

It's good that you realize that it's a responsibility that you need to consider. But there's a few tricks you can use to backstop yourself.

I recently got a buddy into reloading for his cowboy shooting needs. At present he's using a single stage press with indexable plate. He loads up 50 rounds at a time using a loading block to hold the cases. One of the steps that I get him to perform just before the bullet seating and crimping step is to use a flashlight and check all 50 cases for powder level. This being the step that comes at the end of the dip and funnel powder charging of all 50.

With semi auto cases there's another option for you of using a powder which is bulky enough that a double charge fills the case or even overflows it. That way there's no doubt at all that you got a double. Keep in mind though that if using a loading block a double charge likely means a missed casing. And that can be just as bad.

The point is that with a more careful approach and with some steps to double check your work as you go reloading can be very safe.

 

[92GreenYJ]

I feel your pain as well. Just spent $40 on 2 50 packs of Blazer Brass rounds on "sale" at Turners. That hurt. So much so I am seriously looking into reloading for the 45 and shopping around for a 22 cal for general target shooting and practice

 

[Wildbillz]

My reloaded ammo is so inexpensive ($3.00/50 for 45 ACP) that I give friends and new shooters the ammo that they shoot on my range.

M2 that 20mm can must weigh a ton! It must hold close to 5000 reloaded 45acp rounds? Defenatley a two man lift.

Did you cast your own bullets for them?

WB