JustAnotherPlinker
Member
I thought .223 was cheap to reload compared to other rifle cartidges? I mean, I think I'd be lucky to reload .308 for less than $300/1000... .223 is like $100 IIRC
Economics of Reloading 45ACP Revealed
- Thread starter Five of Clubs
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Guns and more
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Then I would shoot a hundred.....ten times.
ForneyRider
Member
380ACP and 45ACP is pretty similar in factory rounds as far as cost.
reloading 380 is really a cost savings, then 45 ACP, then 9mm. 9mm is cheapest factory ammo pistol round for a common caliber.
reloading 380 is really a cost savings, then 45 ACP, then 9mm. 9mm is cheapest factory ammo pistol round for a common caliber.
RustyFN
Member
Not sure how 223 compares to 308 because I have never loaded 308. Yes 223 is cheap to reload. I reload 223 for around $100 per 1,000 maybe a little less.
Rusty
Five of Clubs
Member
I meant that if I bought an AR and started loading .223 I know I would shoot many thousands of rounds per year. Accurate, thirty round mags and minimal recoil? Way too tempting.
crebralfix
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- Mar 7, 2004
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Your numbers are wrong. You need to add the cost of *new* brass and divide that by the number of times it's reloaded. Brass is where the savings are (well, that and labor). For 45 ACP, I can usually count on five great reloads if I'm careful with belling and probably get at least 10 before I have to throw it out.
Additionally, account for lost brass. I lose up to 10% per trip if I shoot at an indoor range. I never pick up brass I didn't shoot or see shot (as new). Hmmmm...free range brass is looking better and better.
Additionally, account for lost brass. I lose up to 10% per trip if I shoot at an indoor range. I never pick up brass I didn't shoot or see shot (as new). Hmmmm...free range brass is looking better and better.
evan price
Member
I pick up all the brass I can get my hot little fingers on at any range I shoot at. I don't care if it is 1X fired or 10X fired. At lower-pressure levels like practice ammo is loaded at, most of my brass gets lost before it splits. I don't own a .40 which is one of the most brass-damaging cailbers (after 10mm!) but my .45 and .38 specials will last forever. As far as 9mm- who cares if the cases go bad after 1 firing or twenty, there's almost as many 9mm cases as gravel on the ground at most ranges.
I can load 9mm for $66 per thousand. I've loaded and shot over 3000 rounds so far this year that I know of in just 9mm. Just in what 9mm I have shot this year, I would have used that savings (Almost $400!) to pay for a progressive press setup, tumbler, scale, bullet puller, media separator, etc and had a good reloading setup if I didn't have it all already.
I can load 9mm for $66 per thousand. I've loaded and shot over 3000 rounds so far this year that I know of in just 9mm. Just in what 9mm I have shot this year, I would have used that savings (Almost $400!) to pay for a progressive press setup, tumbler, scale, bullet puller, media separator, etc and had a good reloading setup if I didn't have it all already.
JustAnotherPlinker
Member
What's your source of projectiles for 9mm evan? I don't think I've seen the bullets themselves (discounting lead) below $60/1000. Taking into acount primers and powder you must be casting your own or getting bullets at $25/1000...
greyling22
Member
you don't save a dime reloading. you just shoot more.
krs
Member
DMazur said:
I'm likely at least the old fart you are and I agree in distaste for the seeming demise of correct spelling. However, consider that the alteration of the spelling of certain words can serve to lessen the amount of spam generated by marketing programs designed to respond to certain and various correctly spelled words and phrases.
I'm likely at least the old fart you are and I agree in distaste for the seeming demise of correct spelling. However, consider that the alteration of the spelling of certain words can serve to lessen the amount of spam generated by marketing programs designed to respond to certain and various correctly spelled words and phrases.
Quoheleth
Member
Here's a handy web-based calculator that does the price per hundred & thousand of reloaded ammo:
http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp
According to it, the 9mm reloads I just made (with scrounged range brass) is 4.79/50. That's about 1/3 the cost of WWB.
Q
http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp
According to it, the 9mm reloads I just made (with scrounged range brass) is 4.79/50. That's about 1/3 the cost of WWB.
Q
stork
Member
cost of reloading
I cast all my 45's with reclaimed range scrap. I use H&G molds, a couple of 130's for 50 ft and 25 yards and a 68bb for 50 yards. If I don't count my time, my cost per 50rd box for cast loads are $2.00/box. The 130's will group about 1/2" C.T.C. @50', where the 68's will hold 2 1/2"-3" @ 50 yards from the Ransom Rest.
For State, Regional, and Camp Perry I use the Remington 185 SWC. Those up the price to $11.00/box. Those always produce a nice round 2" or less group,with any fliers, @ 50 yards from my Ransom Rest.
I don't factor the cost of any brass in because of the 10 gallons or so of 45 brass I have, I have only purchased 500 rds. All the rest have been either range pickups or given to me because the person was no longer shooting. I have given away probably another 2-3 gallons of 45 brass to beginner bullseye shooters because you can only use so much. All pistol loads are reloaded on a Dillon 550. Most rifle loads are loaded on an RCBS 4x4. Benchrest and long range calibers are done on Wilson arbor dies.
I normally shoot about 5-7,000 45 cast rounds per year, so the savings really add up.
FWIW
Stork
I cast all my 45's with reclaimed range scrap. I use H&G molds, a couple of 130's for 50 ft and 25 yards and a 68bb for 50 yards. If I don't count my time, my cost per 50rd box for cast loads are $2.00/box. The 130's will group about 1/2" C.T.C. @50', where the 68's will hold 2 1/2"-3" @ 50 yards from the Ransom Rest.
For State, Regional, and Camp Perry I use the Remington 185 SWC. Those up the price to $11.00/box. Those always produce a nice round 2" or less group,with any fliers, @ 50 yards from my Ransom Rest.
I don't factor the cost of any brass in because of the 10 gallons or so of 45 brass I have, I have only purchased 500 rds. All the rest have been either range pickups or given to me because the person was no longer shooting. I have given away probably another 2-3 gallons of 45 brass to beginner bullseye shooters because you can only use so much. All pistol loads are reloaded on a Dillon 550. Most rifle loads are loaded on an RCBS 4x4. Benchrest and long range calibers are done on Wilson arbor dies.
I normally shoot about 5-7,000 45 cast rounds per year, so the savings really add up.
FWIW
Stork
evan price
Member
Plinker, I buy Titegroup powder in 8# kegs and Wolf primers in 5000-cases in group buys.
I get my 9mm bullets from a commercial caster for 4 cents each shipped but I have to buy a flat-rate box full which is 3300 bullets in a box to get that price, plus when I buy bullets I buy a lot- I like to keep a good stockpile and then just order to replenish- that way if a caster gets backed up I am not waiting with nothing to shoot.
With anything, if you buy a lot, pay promptly, and order often, you can get good prices.
I get my 9mm bullets from a commercial caster for 4 cents each shipped but I have to buy a flat-rate box full which is 3300 bullets in a box to get that price, plus when I buy bullets I buy a lot- I like to keep a good stockpile and then just order to replenish- that way if a caster gets backed up I am not waiting with nothing to shoot.
With anything, if you buy a lot, pay promptly, and order often, you can get good prices.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
And for that reason, I see no reason in paying for the more expensive brassed ammo and so I shoot a lot of Blazer. Blazer right now is running $7.50-8.00 a box. So the reloads are cheaper, but I have nearly zero time investment in making the purchase and don't spend time on the ground looking for the crumbs of others.
Five of Clubs
Member
Crumbs of others? Wow. All I do is reach down and pick up something of value. I just sold nearly $140 worth of "crumbs" on this site. That means my reloads for the next couple months will be completely free of charge. Worth the trouble? For me the answer is definitely yes. Does it bother me that you don't approve? Of course not. Why make a comment like that in a reloading forum though?
Griz44
Member
I am very happy that there are shooters who consider brass "crumbs"!!! More for me! I do not buy brass. I trade the "crumbs" I pick up that I do not reload for. I use the recovered "crumbs" that I do reload for. If 5-10 minutes out of my range time produces a few hundred cases that I will use, I am in the plus column big time. I do not have money to throw away, I would rather shoot it away....
Beagle-zebub
Member
If they be crumbs, then I say "OM NOM NOM NOM!"
RustyFN
Member
Guilty as charged. I'm happy to pick up your crumbs or any body Else's. That keeps me loading 9mm for $70 per 1,000 and 45 auto foe $26 per 1,000. keep the crumbs coming.
Rusty
The Bushmaster
Member
If you can resist buying more stuff to reload with (equipment) you may save money...Let me know how you do it so we all can benefit from your experience of saving money reloading. That's if you can resist shooting your reloads so you can reload those cases again, so you can shoot again, so you can reload........
The only thing I found that was free was the once fired cases I get at the range, and then I have to degrade myself and get on my hands and knees to pick them up..."Ouch!!! Please take your foot off my fingers..."
The only thing I found that was free was the once fired cases I get at the range, and then I have to degrade myself and get on my hands and knees to pick them up..."Ouch!!! Please take your foot off my fingers..."
elkhuntingfool
member
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2007
- Messages
- 393
I didn't take into consideration the cost of the press, dies, etc... just the brass, primers, bullets and brass. Time is subjective. I figure I can shoot more, not save more. I doubt I'll ever purchase factory ammo again - I won't shoot a caliber that can't be reloaded.
Davandron
Member
Side note: when you're calculating cost you only should put in the depreciation for the equipment, not the full price. I've been pricing stuff on the-Bay and realized that if a 20 year old RCBS stuff goes for 70% of the price of a new RCBS stuff then I shouldn't amortize the full cost of all that gear. Furthermore, if you buy used stuff to start with, then the equipment shouldn't be in your costs at all since you can sell it for what you paid. (I'm not including "lost potential" on the cash invested).
Now, if you're talking about never selling any of it, then why are you worried whether it takes 500 rounds or 5,000 rounds? After all, you've got a long time to recoup costs. ;^)
Edit to add: Scanning again I just saw a Lee press that has bids totaling more than the press costs from MidSouth. So perhaps its possible to buy equipment, save money making rounds, then make money selling the press!
Now, if you're talking about never selling any of it, then why are you worried whether it takes 500 rounds or 5,000 rounds? After all, you've got a long time to recoup costs. ;^)
Edit to add: Scanning again I just saw a Lee press that has bids totaling more than the press costs from MidSouth. So perhaps its possible to buy equipment, save money making rounds, then make money selling the press!
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