Can you help me plead my case?

[SuedePflow]

People get upset when I point out that they need to account for their time in calculating the cost of reloading

For a hobby? I see valuing time for 'work', but not for a hobby. To me, it's no different than golfing or hunting. It's a hobby and there's no reason to put a price on one's time spent doing it. If I were handloading to sell, then yes, I would definitely have to put a price on my time. But if I were doing it for profit, it would be 'work'.

13,000 CCI small pistol primers @$579.69 which includes hazmat and shipping charges

Holy cow! You need to shop around my friend.

I just got 12k CCI primers in the mail today and my total with hazmat and freight was $360. And I've never paid more than that.

 

[wlkjr]

I paid $736 for 25K of mixed brands. I too don't think time is a cost factor. I also don't try to factor in lights and other shop costs.

 

[mstreddy]

OP, you've now gotten lots of info on pricing and costs. One calculation that I'll add is this as a simple way to amortize the costs of the press/equipment.
Assuming one of the above examples -- from BDS

I use this reloading calculator to calculate reloading cost and buying components in bulk/using jacketed/plated bullets, I can usually reload 9mm for under $7/50 and 45ACP for under $9/50 provided I already have brass (PM me and I could help you out with 380/38Spl/45ACP brass). I used the following cost of components:

Powder - $160 / 8 lbs (example powder charge 4.5 - 5.0 range of W231/HP-38)
Primer - $30 / 1000
Bullets - $80 - $130 / 1000 (plated cost slightly more for jacketed - RMR reloading plated bullet prices used)

Press kit like the Lee Classic Turret kit can be purchased for around $200 and you could be reloading with about $500-$600 initial budget to include components. The initial cost of reloading equipment/components can be recaptured with the first 1000-1500 rounds compared to shooting factory ammunition depending on the caliber.

Here's cost break down for LCT kit set up from Graf & Sons which has free shipping and $7.95 processing fee per order:

$200 - Lee Classic Turret kit - http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...roductId/23840
$65 - Berry's tumbler kit with media and media separator ($85 for kit with better media separator which I recommend)
$24 - Calipers - http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...productId/5376
$23 - Bullet puller - http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/...roductId/20528

Now take that info and you figure that $9/50 for the 45 ACP, compare to a box @ even $20 (if you can find it that cheap) that means that in 1000 rounds (20 boxes) you have saved $220. Now, you can apply that first batch of savings to the press and calipers cost. The next 1K rounds will "pay" for the bullet puller, tumbler, books, etc.
So, don't get too hung up on the equipment costs as they really are quickly paid off. In common handgun calibers brass will almost always be free (pick up after yourself, and where you can, others) and you'll have enough brass for your needs.
I am also another that is in the camp of not counting my time as it's a hobby. And as many have said -- it's also about availability.
Hope this info helps clarify it for your wife. And if she has any questions, let us know.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Prices aside since you already see your price per round will drop considerably, safety is a concern. In reality you have to work on safety but just a few "safe practices" will keep you extremely safe. My wife does not shoot and knows hardly nothing about reloading but she has been in the basement when I load and sees what I do. Once one of my sons asked about how safe reloading was and she answered before i could. she said your father checks everything twice or more and takes a lot of time setting up everything before he loads. He won't even talk to me when he's loading! lol

Your ammo will be safer to shoot than anything you can buy commercially if you just follow a few basic safety rules.

 

[keith5008]

I haven't loaded anything other than .45 cap in a while but I just enough supplies for 500 rounds and a box of 50 rounds is going to tnt me right at $13.00. Hope that helps

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I haven't loaded anything other than .45 cap in a while but I just enough supplies for 500 rounds and a box of 50 rounds is going to tnt me right at $13.00. Hope that helps

I'm sorry to say if it's costing you $13/50 rounds you're doing something wrong. At current prices using a 230gr FMJ bullet my costs are only $8.50/50 rounds. (yes I said current prices) If you're using a cast bullet it should cost you only $5.00/50 rounds.

 

[horsemen61]

As a plus you will enjoy it a lot I know I do

 

[joustin]

If you pay more than $100 per 1,000 pistol brass you might be crazy. Buy once fired and save some cash, I have some 45 ACP brass from the 50's-70's that has been reloaded multiple times before I got it a few years ago. Outside of maybe the 40 SW, you are pretty safe if buying once/multiple fired brass. I save a ton of money by reloading, I don't load up 1,000 rounds and think, "Gee lets shoot ALL of the ammo I have!". So you can save money but you may not. I load for my 444 Marlin, I saved almost my total investment for that caliber in 100 rounds, 45 ACP was about 5,000 rounds, 308 was within 200 or so as well.

 

[Mark NM]

I am the exception, due to time and distance I'm shooting about the same 3500 rounds a year I was before reloading (I am so not retired, 160 mile round trip to the gun club). I had several years worth of .357 & .38 brass saved when I started reloading. Before @.40/round, I spent $1400/year on ammo. Now using expensive laser-cast bullets which I prefer, I spend $.16/ round, total cost $560. Would be less with cheaper bullets. That savings is a lot to me, I was thinking I might have to cut back before I decided to reload, saving 60% per. So that's another way of looking at it, clearly paid off my investment the first year. (OK, maybe I shoot a little more, but not that much.) It's a hobby I enjoy, and my wife says it relaxes me. No lights to pay, sky-lights in the shed. And the .38s are for her. Win-Win.

 

[Constrictor]

This isn't an issue of reloading, its a marriage issue. You've got to let her know you are the man of the house, and certain things you are just going to do because you are the man, and your own person, and point out there are things she is the woman of and you will butt out.
You've got to nip this in the bud quick because if its not reloading, it will be something else and you can't spend the rest of your life getting her permission or approval. You've moved out and left your mom at home. Then give her a big kiss or will all work out.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Another note, the more "rare" the ammo you shoot the more you will save. You will not save anywhere near as much loading .38 Special and 9mm ammo as you will loading 45 Colt and 38 S&W ammo, not by a long shot!

 

[witchhunter]

How much was that wedding ring? Explain to her that you feel that was a great investment. These guys have already done the reloading math for you. My wife gets her nails done every week or so, $35.00, add that up for a few years! She like her nails done, I like to shoot prairie dogs.....

 

[jmorris]

I can thicken the plot. If you cast, pick up range brass, lead and reload you can get real cheap, not counting time. My last 1000, 45 230g loads cost me less than $50 including coating.

My record a few years ago was $18/1000.

Still haven't saved a nickel though...

 

[medalguy]

Something I didn't see mentioned is the fact that if you reload, you are never at the mercy of someone else for a supply of ammo. Remember several years ago when there just wasn't ANY ammo to be had? I never slowed up in my shooting because I reload, and I had plenty of supplies stocked up. I haven't bought any factory ammo in many years other than .22LR, and admittedly I haven't bought any of that in about five years.

 

[higgite]

Okay, let's cut to the chase. If you really want to persuade your wife that reloading is for you and it's the best thing since sliced bread, tell her that medical studies have shown that making ammo from scratch sometimes suppresses a man's libido. She'll be buying you reloading equipment for Valentine's Day.

 

[Gadawg88]

My observation on handgun brass is it can be loaded many many times, at least the calibers I load for, 45acp, 9mm, 38sp. and 357mag. Unless you lose a lot, the cost per round approaches zero.

 

[jmorris]

Okay, let's cut to the chase. If you really want to persuade your wife that reloading is for you..., tell her...that making ammo from scratch sometimes suppresses a man's libido.

I don't know what he is talking about....

 

[savanahsdad]

show her the highest priced stuff you can find on the internet . then act like this was a bad idea . act sad ... then find what you really need , and say look at this great deal !!! then find it on SALE ! and say holy cow ! this is a screaming deal ! you have now saved over $1000.00 before you've ever started , forget you may spend $200-$500. you SAVED $1000.00 ..










!

 

[JWH321]

I bought most of my stuff used. I bought new seating and sizing dies and a new scale. Everything else is the result of watching the local penny-saver type newspapers and the bulletin boards at the range. I found a couple of things at a pawnshop. I bought a well used Lyman's #55 powder throw for $25, and a little plastic Lee powder throw for $8.00 at a garage sale. I spent another $$20 for new parts to bring them up to like new condition. In general, I find that you cannot wear reloading equipment out so used equipment is a safe bet as long as you stay with the simple stuff. Parts for everything are available. A lot of manufacturers will send you small stuff for free if you ask nicely.

I have a single stage press. Its slow, but that gives me time to think and to listen to Mozart. I buy the least expensive bullets I can find. I pick up brass at the range and clean it carefully. I spend more time than is necessary cleaning it, but again, its relaxing.

I shoot only 9mm. I get all enamored with other calibers at times, but I have the die sets and knowledge to handle one caliber and I have very good 9mm guns. So I put thoughts of other stuff out of my mind. Its an exercise in self discipline.

I often have friends pick up things like powder and primers for me when they visit gun shows or shops. I fall in love easily, so I try to avoid the shows and shops so that I am not tempted to find things I "need".

I have not yet spent $500 for equipment. Had I bought everything new, I would likely have spent well over $1000. I pay around $35 for 1000 primers. I usually buy 2000 at a time. The last bottle of Titegroup cost me around $25. I can load about 1500 rounds with that bottle. The last bunch of bullets cost me $77 for 1000. I don't buy brass.

Sometimes when I cannot sleep, I pass the time by analyzing and trying to understand stuff. It occupies my mind. I do that rather than spend money on other forms of entertainment. My wife always knows where I am.

My reloading costs me about 12 cents per round.

 

[GT1]

Don't buy into that saying that you'll not save but shoot more. If reloading costs were the same as factory ammo almost no one would bother.

A sensible set up will pay for itself in very little time for the larger ROI calibers.

A person can't hardly find any 380 ammo for much less than $1 a round these days. I just bought my first pocket pistol and the first thing I bought for it besides a nemesis holster was a set of dies for it.
Those dies will pay for themselves in 50 reloads and an hour of 'work'.

There is nothing better than to not have to worry what ammo is in stock at wally world or wherever.

Oh, another vote for the Lee Classic Turret.

 

[Elkins45]

The cost question has been pretty well covered, but the "blow your fingers off" concern is probably the one that bothers her the most. I think a little Internet research would put her mind at ease. Even people who have blown up guns seem to walk away unscathed a remarkable percentage of the time.

Do a little data gathering on the safety of reloading as compared to owning a swimming pool. Or worse yet, to the number of lawn mowing injuries in a year---using objective data will quickly lead to the conclusion that you should reload every day but never, ever, ever start up a mower!

 

[Potatohead]

I know the safety concern is kind of irrational, but hey, I didn't marry her so that I could keep everything in my life perfectly rational.

Hilarious!


I haven't figured my cost per rd exactly but man its got to be cheap. Once you have a couple 20$ bottles of powder and a little collection of brass and bullets paid for, it's darned near nothing. (I guess that goes without saying but it really feels free now )

Unless of course you keep buying powder, and brass, and primers, every time you run into them. Somebody my wife knows does that a lot.

 

[wlkjr]

My wife's favorite question is "did you make me some bullets today?"

 

[stavman11]

I would approach it a Bit Differently...

Its a Hobby... and Hobby's cost $$$$$ now with this Hobby you can also save money on another aspect of the Hobby..

Most here really enjoy the Tinkering and mad Scientist aspect of ReLoading... Trying new Loads, Bullets and Powders are just part of the Fun...

Like most say... you wont really save $$ but Shoot More....

I assume you shoot over 200-300rds a month.... if ya just shoot a few then it may not be as Cost effective for ya..

Also the quality of Rounds will be MUCH Better than Factory Rounds...

Just a couple things ta think about...

and yes.........

It's easier to Ask for FORGIVENESS than Permission

 

[Arkansas Paul]

The cost issue is where I could really use the help. I know it saves money in the long run because of the dramatically reduced cost of loading your own vs. factory fresh prices. The question is, how much money is saved?

Find the most expensive ammo you can online to show her for comparison. This is not a dishonest tactic either. The ammo you make at home will be on par with the good stuff. You can't use the cheapest crap on the shelf as a comparison, because I'll guarandamntee you my handloads are far superior to the white box Winchesters or the red box Federals.
Then show her a per 1k cost of handloaded ammo. There is enough information on this thread already to help you out with that.

Once you factor in cost of bullets, powder, and primers how much is it really costing? I already have a decent amount of brass saved up for all these loads.

There have been several posts here that have laid that out, but I'll say, since I started casting my own bullets (another hobby altogether) you can REALLY save $. I got started casting for under $100 by the way. I'm loading 1,000 rounds of .45 Colt rounds for under $70 and that's the full throttle +P stuff on par with Buffalo Bore that goes for $36 per 20 rounds. That's a comparison of $1,800 for bought off the shelf to $70 if I handload them.

On 9mm and .40 you won't save quiet as much, but you will still save. As has been said, you can get once fired brass right here in THR classifieds for about $35-$40 per 1k. Anyone who buys new brass for the common 9mm, .40 rounds is crazy IMO. It's just not worth it.
That being said, during shortages, if you're not prepared sometimes you may have to bite the bullet and buy it anyway but that's not usually the case.