Getting into reloading to save money?

[hcker2000]

I am curious if any one could help me decide if it would make sense to reload for the guns I have.

Right now I have an sks (7.62x39), m44 (7.62x54r), and a pa-63 (9x18 mak).

In the future I plan to add a k-31 and cz-52 to the collection.

Right now ammo is expensive for my pa-63 (around $20 per 50 around here). The others can be had cheap (wolf or surplus).

What I am curious about is what it would cost to get into reloading these rounds. If it would even be possible to beet the .10 cents a round for the 7.62x54r?

Basically I am looking to save money more than I am looking to get better precision.

 

[presspuller]

First answer is yes, you can save money.
Second answer is no you will not save money because you WILL always find something to buy with the money you save. It will either be more bullets, powder, primers, etc. or more reloading toys.

Go ahead and bite the bullet and join the crowd. Its a lot of fun.

 

[Mark whiz]

Like presspuller said, there is savings available, but you'll never really see it. It's a great hobby and a great way to get in more shooting practice - and quite frankly, going thru the steps of figuring out loads, testing them, etc, makes you a smarter and better shooter.

Personally, what I've found out with my reloading is that I end up with top quality ammo for less $$$ than premium loaded ammo would cost; so in a way that is a cost savings - but only if you are really into serious target shooting and hunting.

If you are more into plinking than max accuracy (typical of a SKS, which are great fun to play with) then you are probably better off buying the cheaper ammo available like Wolf, mil-surplus, etc.

 

[cmidkiff]

I just started reloading... I shoot 5.56, .204ruger, .38spl, .357mag, .44mag, .45acp, and a little bit of .380acp and 9mm.

I'm reloading .44mag now, since it's the most expensive and easy to load round I use. Seemed like a good place to start. So far, I've not spent a lot of money, and it's been fun.

I will be reloading .38/.357, because it's fairly expensive, and I don't have to pick up brass.

I'll also be reloading .204ruger because I want the best accuracy possible from my long range rifle.

I will not be reloading for my AR or 1911. I could probably save a little money, but at the volume that I shoot, I'd spend more time reloading than I want to right now.

It's not an 'all or nothing' question... start reloading where it makes sense, keep buying cheap ammo where it doesn't!

 

[Idano]

Remember that you have saved nothing until you recoup the cost of your equipment and time at your normal hourly rate.:banghead:
However, if you become like most of us, addicted, then you will never save a dime. However, you'll end up with some great equipment, a relaxing hobby, and oodles of top quality premium ammunition for hunting, plinking and paper punching.

 

[jagdpanzer347]

Hcker2000, for the calibers you're shooting surplus ammo would probably be your best bet. The exception would be the K31. GP11 is somewhat hard to find and fairly expensive when you do find it. I've been buying the Prvi Partizan 7.5 so I will have reloadable brass. Also, check out aimsurplus.com for 9mm Mak ammo. Much cheaper than your local source.

-jagd

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

hcker2000,

Answers in context below:

"I am curious if any one could help me decide if it would make sense to reload for the guns I have.

Right now I have an sks (7.62x39), m44 (7.62x54r), and a pa-63 (9x18 mak)."

You can get brass for the SKS and M44. I'm not sure about the PA-63. I reload for the M44 now using cast bullets. I like the results much better than the military surplus junk I'd been firing before that. Though I do have a stock of the cheap stuff. Your rifles will shoot much more accurately with ammo you load yourself. Casting your own bullets will get you the savings you desire.


In the future I plan to add a k-31 and cz-52 to the collection.

You can get brass for the K-31 from Grafs. Buy a case of S&B ammo for the CZ-52 and reload it, like I'm doing. It's a .30 caliber pistol cartridge basically and you can get for it with good success, as well as the K-31.

Right now ammo is expensive for my pa-63 (around $20 per 50 around here). The others can be had cheap (wolf or surplus).

The Wolf brand now sells boxer primed brass ammo that's loaded by Privi Partisan. This is good ammo and is reloadable. With the prices of foreign ammo going up to $150 a thousand or thereabouts now, I'd suggest buying the Wolf and saving the brass.

What I am curious about is what it would cost to get into reloading these rounds. If it would even be possible to beet the .10 cents a round for the 7.62x54r?

Yes, if you cast your own bullets. This caliber responds will to a lead bullet if the bullet matches the bore correctly. I'm at a around 5 cents a round using my own lead bullets. Don't know about jacketed rounds.

Basically I am looking to save money more than I am looking to get better precision.

Based on the last statement, I don't think you're going to meet your goal, though you will likely allow yourself to shoot more for the same money.

 

[BigSoundRacing]

I'm going to reload Winchester .308 only.

I bought the reloading equipment so I can create better quality rounds for my rifle, at a lower cost per round than buying new rounds at my local dealer.

Additionally, I want a cache of 2000 rounds sitting in the safe. So with new brass for 3000 rounds I will have my cache of 2000 in the safe, and 1000 rounds to cycle through the reloading process while I play with the rifle.

I only have to cycle the 1000 rounds once to break even. If you remove the cost of the press and the goodies then the reloading components are significantly less expensive than buying new rounds. Also, I could probably sell the Dillon 650 with a minimum amount of depreciation.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

BSR,

A buddy and I both load 30.06 competition and hunting ammo just like you're describing on our Hornady LnL and Dillon 650 powder measures. He uses a Uniflow powder measure with a Hornady CAPD underneath it. We both get great results for both rounds and we both shoot minute of angle or minute of deer, depending on the bulet. His last two hunting trips resulted in one shot, deer dropped, no running results.

Your .308 is close enough ballistically, I see no reason you can't get the exact same results easily, especially in a bolt action. If you have new brass and a bolt action, I suggest you set your press up to neck size, which will greatly extend the life of your brass. If you have an automatic, use an RCBS x-die to increase that quickly worn out .308 brass life significantly.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Walkalong]

When neck sizing with a full length sizer you will want to adjust it to just "bump" the shoulder. (push it back .001) This will keep it back where it will not start causing chambering problems, but still give you the extra brass life you are looking for.
If your chamber is pretty big in diameter ( compared to your sizer die) this may not be possible without oversizing the case walls. If this is the case just neck size. The higher the pressure you shoot the sooner the shoulder will cause a problem chambering. If you are not loading hot it may never be a factor.

 

[BigSoundRacing]

DaveInFloweryBranchGA,

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm waiting for my new FAL from DSA, gas gun. My buddy has a M1A National Match. We are hoping to create loads for the two and keep the brass separate as we shoot, potentially we will be able to get away with neck sixing only.

First I need to run about 200 round through the FAL, sounds like it will mark up the brass pretty bad until the sharp edges soften a touch. After that we should be able to get a good picture of what will be required to reload, then I'll shop for dies. I've also obtained a Giraud Case Trimmer, might as well get off to a good start with my 3000 cases.

KC

 

[hcker2000]

Interesting info for sure.

Time for a few more questions.

With non-jacketed bullets are there any advantages other than the cost? also what would be the disadvantages?

Could any one give me a rough idea of what the total cost to get the equipment to get into reloading 7.62x54r?

Oh also how do you all go about keeping your brass? At the ranges I have been to it could be a chore to keep it because of all the other brass on the floor

 

[FieroCDSP]

I'm new to the range brass scrounging, so I'll tell you what I've found out.

Don't worry about picking up brass that isn't yours, unless the guy next to you keeps his (60% or more shooters don't ). Be polite and ask them. They may give you a funny look, but if you pick up their brass that they want to keep, they'll be unhappy, even if they do understand. Check with the range owners. Ranges in shops that sell reloading supplies will often ask that you keep only the brass you bring in, because they want to process and sell the rest at a profit (free money!!!). You can always sneak out with some extra, though. Try the ranges that are heavy into CCW or comp-shooting classes. They have massive amounts of good quality brass. Much of the stuff that gets left behind is once-fired from CCW trainees, who buy the box Remington and Winchester white box from the range. The place I go to carts the full barrel to the recycle place. They don't care how much you take, because that gets it out of their way.
Take all you can. It doesn't matter what caliber. 22LR gets scrapped for weight just the same as any other bad casing. 9mm luger (9x19) can be worked down to fit your Makarov(9x18). I've picked up a bunch of 9mm just for that purpose. Anything you don't load can be cleaned and sold for bucks on E-bay. Some guys will pay out the nose for hard to find brass.

Winchester makes the Metric series for the 9x18. I picked up a box at a store, and I think it's just boxed different to make sure Luger people don't pick it up by mistake (that would be an interesting KaBoom). The cheap stuff is still availiable, but getting harder to find. Not to mention most of it is steel cased.

The start up costs aren't too bad, especially with tax returns. $200 will get you a good Lee set-up. I'd probably start with the Classic 4-hole Turret with auto index. Check the numerous reloading startup threads. We've been having this discussion three times a week lately.

BTW, welcome to the sickness that is reloading.

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

Save Money?

No, money won't be saved - but you can make the numbers show that

Probably you'll shoot more.

In my experience, I stay at the range till the ammo runs out. And if I've got buddies with the same gauge / caliber, they'll take my offer of free ammo to stay late with me.

More appropriate questions are:
Will reloading.....
make me a better shot?
add another dimension to shooting sports?
give me another thing to obsess over?
take more time from (insert other interests here)?
add to my shooting sucess and enjoyment?

YES

Reloading will make you become a better shot (by giving you more practice).

My 2cents

Soakers,

 

[BigSoundRacing]

Though the saving money concept does sound like a good line.....

 

[RustyFN]

Remember that you have saved nothing until you recoup the cost of your equipment and time at your normal hourly rate.

OUCH, if I charged myself my hourly rate to reload I would always be in the negative. I consider reloading a hobby and don't figure my time. Just like I don't charge my time to go fishing or shoot the bullets I made. I figure it will wash out also if you figure the time it would take to drive to the store to buy the ammo and the gas. I own a Lee Classic Turret and have figured that my press and equipment will be paid for after loading 2500 rounds and I only load 9mm so far.
Rusty