Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
No, what RNB65 said.
Do ammo prices have you considering reloading?
- Thread starter jeepmor
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tasco 74
Member
i am continually glad i learned to reload...... AMMO PRICES ARE OFF THE HOOK!! i saved all my cases when i was buying ammo in the 80s and bought lots of brass at gun shows in the 90s and to me it not only saves money it's a great hobby i enjoy............ i have a production pot and cast probably enough bullets to last me my lifetime a coulpa years ago. so my ammo is real cheap........
I was at a small pistol match this weekend. I've reloaded since 1991. One other person had just bought a dillon 550 and 2 others were seriously considering it. None have seen the need to reload before. That's significant IMHO.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Uuuhhhh . . . yeah.
Funny how a cost spike will cause you to think "ahead" about saving money.
I figure if it's bad now, it won't be getting better any time soon.
I gotta find someone locally who's patient enough to teach a crusty old novice the fine art of reloading.
Let's see . . . there's 5.56mm, .9mm, .38, .357, .40, .30-30, .30 carbine, and maybe soon .45 ACP. Everything else is rimfire.
I've been able to get decent prices on all my calibres, even lately, but I don't know how long that's gonna hold.
Time to learn another skill.
Funny how a cost spike will cause you to think "ahead" about saving money.
I figure if it's bad now, it won't be getting better any time soon.
I gotta find someone locally who's patient enough to teach a crusty old novice the fine art of reloading.
Let's see . . . there's 5.56mm, .9mm, .38, .357, .40, .30-30, .30 carbine, and maybe soon .45 ACP. Everything else is rimfire.
I've been able to get decent prices on all my calibres, even lately, but I don't know how long that's gonna hold.
Time to learn another skill.
It's not a matter of whether or not reloading is cheaper...it is. Whether you will shoot more and not save anything - that's a different discussion.
Keep in mind the price of components seem to be increasing as well, but its still about 30%-70% cheaper (depending on what you use) once you get setup
Keep in mind the price of components seem to be increasing as well, but its still about 30%-70% cheaper (depending on what you use) once you get setup
Jkwas
Member
I would reload in a heartbeat, but many of the ranges in our area won't allow outside ammo, much less reloads. I'd hate to get stuck with all that equipment. Even if it worked out about the same, what would I do with it all?
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
I shot IPSC full time for about 6 years, every weekend and practice during the week.
During that time I reloaded WELL over 300,000 rounds of 10mm.
Always used the same load, never changed anything on the Dillon.
I'll never forget the feeling of my 1911 exploding in my hands from one out of 300,000 double charged cases. It only took one.
After my hand recovered, along with the brass cut marks on my face, I sold all the reloading stuff.
I'll just pay more if the price goes up.
Oh and I like the .22 idea, I notice I'm taking them out a LOT more lately.
During that time I reloaded WELL over 300,000 rounds of 10mm.
Always used the same load, never changed anything on the Dillon.
I'll never forget the feeling of my 1911 exploding in my hands from one out of 300,000 double charged cases. It only took one.
After my hand recovered, along with the brass cut marks on my face, I sold all the reloading stuff.
I'll just pay more if the price goes up.
Oh and I like the .22 idea, I notice I'm taking them out a LOT more lately.
SoCalShooter
Member
Absolutetly but you have to realize that reloading requires patience and time, but conversly as the price of oil goes up so does the price of powder and other accessories needed.
I only shoot 9mm, 7.62x39 and .22, so I don't have that much of a need right now. I have begun toying with the idea of doing it with 9mm considering the recent price increase, but I'll probably wait until I get a more expensive caliber like .45 or .223 (on my short list).
Dr. Dickie
Member
Heck, nowdays even re-loading is getting expensive for some calibers.Try finding cheap .224 bullets right now!!
Yes. Actually just bought a dillon 550b
With WWB 9mm going from 10.88 -> 12.88 -> $14.86 a box, I finally plunked down several hundred dollars for a dillon 550b progressive setup. It'll take a while to recover my investment, even more so with newbie mistakes cutting into the cost calculations.
All in all, the increasing costs were probably just a personal excuse to buy a press. It'll be nice to have more control of bullet selection and load instead of the 115gr fmj which was essential my only choice for cheap 9mm.
I shoot an IDPA match of some sort just about every week. With a range trip or two, I'm looking at about 400rds/mo to 900rds/mo of 9mm.
With WWB 9mm going from 10.88 -> 12.88 -> $14.86 a box, I finally plunked down several hundred dollars for a dillon 550b progressive setup. It'll take a while to recover my investment, even more so with newbie mistakes cutting into the cost calculations.
All in all, the increasing costs were probably just a personal excuse to buy a press. It'll be nice to have more control of bullet selection and load instead of the 115gr fmj which was essential my only choice for cheap 9mm.
I shoot an IDPA match of some sort just about every week. With a range trip or two, I'm looking at about 400rds/mo to 900rds/mo of 9mm.
Funny you should ask. I just ordered a Lee Classic turret kit for 38/357 an hour ago. I started reloading shotgun last year (cheaper because I had the press and all of the components purchased a couple years ago.) I got a great deal on a used Rock Chucker which sidetracked me looking at dies on EBAY. No deals there, at least in 38/357. I had purchased powder and primers a couple of years ago and ordered bullets last week. Can't wait to get started on metallic cartridges. I may be comparing apples to oranges, but 38 Special seems to be going for ~ $230 per 1K with jacketed bullets. I can reload cast bullets and almost recover the cost of the equipment and supplies in the 1st 1K.
I seriously thought about reloading a while back; then I seriously thought about me blowing up one of my guns, myself, or my house. I just have too many self doubts right now; but if I find someone nearby who is willing to teach me, and show me the basics I need to get, I might try it. Those .35 Remingtons were getting mighty expensive.
All the best,
Glenn b
All the best,
Glenn b
Yes indeed
Spent 250 bucks for the RCBS reloading setup so I could save. No savings up front but it won't take me long to break even. Have well over 1000 once fired cases just waiting for the tumbler. Hey can we refine our own fuel and generate our own electricity too
Come to think of it I need a raise
Spent 250 bucks for the RCBS reloading setup so I could save. No savings up front but it won't take me long to break even. Have well over 1000 once fired cases just waiting for the tumbler. Hey can we refine our own fuel and generate our own electricity too
Come to think of it I need a raise
Redneck with a 40
Member
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I'm already reloading, started last fall. I've loaded 2800 rounds of 40 S&W so far, for 11 cents/round. The factory stuff is running 25 cents/round now. I did the math awhile back, I knew I would come out way ahead. Besides, my ammo is better than the factory stuff anyway.
I've been reloading for close to 20 years. I reload several handgun and several rifle calibers.
Being a Highpower shooter, I load my own so I can tailor it to my gun and know exactly what it will do at 600 yards.
Some have said they don't trust themselves and would rather buy factory. That's always an option but in life there are no guarantees and you could in fact, have a problem with factory ammo as well.
A famous cop once said "A man's gotta know his limitations". (Harry Callahan)
But seriously, one must excersise caution when reloading. It's not rocket science but it's not black ju ju either.
Do your homework, visit places like this with informative experienced people, willing to share information and knowledge, and expand your horizons.
Surplus ammo will eventually become a thing of the past.
Reloading components are going up in cost but nowhere near the rate of factory stuff.
Eventually reloading may be our only alternative. I hope not, but all the same, hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Hold hard
Jim
Being a Highpower shooter, I load my own so I can tailor it to my gun and know exactly what it will do at 600 yards.
Some have said they don't trust themselves and would rather buy factory. That's always an option but in life there are no guarantees and you could in fact, have a problem with factory ammo as well.
A famous cop once said "A man's gotta know his limitations". (Harry Callahan)
But seriously, one must excersise caution when reloading. It's not rocket science but it's not black ju ju either.
Do your homework, visit places like this with informative experienced people, willing to share information and knowledge, and expand your horizons.
Surplus ammo will eventually become a thing of the past.
Reloading components are going up in cost but nowhere near the rate of factory stuff.
Eventually reloading may be our only alternative. I hope not, but all the same, hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Hold hard
Jim
tasco 74
Member
yep... you guys who are buying the new high dollar reloading equipment(dillon an such) are going to be awhile before you see the economy of reloading....... i bought a single stage press from my bro in law and a lee single stage reloader press second hand at a gun show.... i don't have over $60 in my setup including the lee speed dies....... as for blowing up my gun that's why i like to use single stage presses with a separate powder measure (it's a lee too)....... i can look into each case side by side in the loading block and inspect for double charged cases... like i said i enjoy the hobby so i take my time at it and do it right........ i've never had any problems with any reloads i've ever made............
jrfoxx
Member
I'm just getting back into reloading, after having been taught by my father, (reloading LOTS of 12 and 20ga, and 38/357) 15 or so years ago.The rising cost of ammo is a major factor, but I also see it as a way to have something fun and interesting to do thats "gun related", when hunting/shooting isnt an option (freakin' Oregon rain! )
)Yes, biodiesel hooked to a generator. You're exhaust will smell like McDonald's fries. I'd run the stacks high, I hate that smell.
I've loaded a couple of squibs by using a primed case to do the bullet setup and not marking it properly. Now I do that with an unprimed case. All my loadings thus far cannot double charge. I've intentionally tried to make a double charge to compare the case fullness to that of a normal charge and it has always overfilled the case and been more than easy to see. That's with my single stage.
With a progressive, you have to be a lot more on top of it since more things are happening at once. It seems slower at first becasue your checking this, that and the other thing with every handle stroke, but it is faster. My main issue with progressive (rcbs piggyback POS) is seating the primer on the upstroke. I have a lot bullets to pull from this.
I have probably $500 in the last year into all my reloading equipment and supplies. I have generated a lot more ammo than those 5 bills will buy on their own.
No_Brakes23
Member
I have always been interested in it, but I am just now starting to get into it to ensure I have ammo readily available. With an Argie Mauser and a Krag to feed, (Both run $25-$60 for 20 rounds, and it can be hard to find,) I am interested just to have rounds, but cost is a factor as well. I also get tired of not being able to shoot my 7.62x39mm at indoor ranges who have "No Wolf" policies. MilSurps can be cheap, but the ammo is killing me.
Plus my inner survivalist insists on stockpiling ammo and learning how to make more.
Plus my inner survivalist insists on stockpiling ammo and learning how to make more.
fspitzdorf
Member
did a little audit while putting together some of my cast 357 plinking and target loads last night.... CCI primer, 6.8 grains of unique and my own cast 150 grain Keith SWC, dab of lube and a case that's been reloaded a few tiems and i came up with $1.75 / 50 rounds...
Vern Humphrey
Member
If you have a Krag, it's your patriotic duty to handload.
I don't know why people are so reluctant to handload -- it's no great mystery. And if I can do it, anyone can do it!
I'd recommend you make friends with your local tire dealer to get a supply of wheel weights. Lee Moulds are cheap, and you can make up fine loads of cast wheel weights lubed with liquid Alox for the Krag.
ambush
Member
Yep. I'm with tasco74 on this one. I bought the lee anniversary kit for 75 bucks and load 50 at a time. When I started to reload, my mission was to do it safely, cheaply and I already knew I'd only be loading 100 - 200 rds. per week. Therefore the single stage press was all I really needed. I was tempted to spend more on the progressive equipment, but my reality meter kicked in. I will go through about 100 to 150 rds of .308 at the range on any given weekend. I only load for that caliber. The .223...I buy the wolf for practice (I know, its dirty, but I do not mind cleaning my guns) and I find it still reasonable enough in price that I do not bother to reload that caliber....yet!
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