Bullseye give you better deal?

[cfullgraf]

Yeah, I also stopped counting rounds per pound a long time ago too. I also buy my most used powders in 4lb or 8lb jugs and fill a 1lb bottle of the same powder as needed. I'm so glad I saved an older bottle of W231 and W296 to fill. You know, the ones that are not round and have a handle.

Generally, I've not been a proponent of transferring powder to a smaller container.

I usually get handgun powders in one pound containers. They generally last a long time for me.

But, I recently got a large container of W231. I still have one of the old W231 bottles with the handle on it. I might change my mode of operation. Operating out of a one pound bottle for handgun loading is more convenient than a 4 or 8 pound bottle, at least for handgun loads.

 

[exbrit49]

Really!

Think someone has too much time on their hands!
Besides which, do you really think that the manufacturer would sell underweight and risk the wrath of the consumer sales watchdogs. I doubt it.
as another poster pointed out even a minor error on your scales multiplied by the amount of loads is going to add up fast. I use several different scales and each will be close enough to be within spec, but the variance between them is well over .1 grain.

 

[hdwhit]

I quit worrying about "reloads per pound" a long time ago.

Then how do you know your standard cost per round?

And how do you compare whether one powder gets you a bigger "bang for the buck" than another?

If I've got one powder that will, at its most accurate (i.e. optimum) loading, will put 9 out of 10 shots within the 3 inch dimple of a milk jug at 100 yards and another loading that will put 10 out of 10 shots in a similar jug at the same distance - but at a 20% higher cost - then I'll probably go with the cheaper loading. But, you can't make those kinds of determinations if you're not recording cost data.

 

[Walkalong]

Then how do you know your standard cost per round?

I don't, and I don't care. I have a basic idea, and that's all I need. For instance, I know if I choose N320 over AA#2 I am spending a hair more per round.

 

[cfullgraf]

Then how do you know your standard cost per round?

And how do you compare whether one powder gets you a bigger "bang for the buck" than another?

Same here, I do not calculate powder cost per round any more and I do not really care. There are other factors that are more important and cost per round is down the list.

I like powders, particularly hand gun powders, that have multiple uses to minimize the number of different powers I have on hand. Part of this idea is to consume powder at a faster rate. If I do not shoot a particular cartridge for a while, the powder used for it does not sit idle for long periods of time. It gets used in another cartridge or three.

 

[thomas15]

If you are using 5 grains of powder per round then in theory you are getting 1400 rounds of finished ammo per pound. Multiply that number, in this example 1400, by the number of rounds you think you will shoot in a year. Suppose you think you are going to shoot 5000 rounds per year, divide 5000 by 1400 which means you might consume 3.6 pounds of powder. Round up to 4 pounds.

Then multiply 4 pounds by 4 (for 4 years supply) and make that amount your minimum powder purchase. So, you need to start this exercise with 16 pounds of powder.

When you get down to 8 pounds it's time to start looking for another 8 pound container. If it takes you a year to find it, in the case of a powder shortage, you can still continue to shoot without worry. If powder is in easy supply, as it is right now, just buy 4 pounds. You have now established a min/max system of stocking material. Your minimum amount of powder is 8 pounds, your maximum is 16.

If the total cost of powder is $35.00 (shipping, tax, hazmat and so on) and your using 5 grains per round, your cost per round is only 2.5 cents per round. Powder is the least expensive component for handloading.

Now is a great time to make sure you have enough powder to get you through the next few years of political uncertainty. Powder is easy, where it gets interesting and more expensive is with primers and then bullets. In comparison, powder is easy next to bullets. But bullets have been easier to locate than powder in times of high consumer demand, historically speaking.

 

[Fishslayer]

Why aren't you buying Bullseye in an 8 pound jug? Your economy would be far better.

No kidding, especially if you're ordering online & paying a $35 hazmat fee. I would expect somebody obsessed with numbers to spot that pretty quickly.

Bullseye has been unobtanium lately but I recently spotted 8 pounders online & pounced hard.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I haven't gotten in the 8lb jugs because I can pick the 1lbers up at Bass Pro Shop. You can always order online, have it shipped to your local Bass Pro Shop and not pay a hazmat fee picking it up at the store.

 

[Sunray]

There's no assuming 7,000 grains to a pound. That's a given. Your 6.6 grams is 102 grains. However, the only time you'd need to figure out the loads per amount of powder you have is if you're close to running out and you need to load for a match.
In any case, Alliant doesn't guess when filling a bottle. It's done with machines and is accurately measured.