how to save money reloading

[kennedy]

so far this is my best deal. compare to going to wally world and buying 100 rds of win white box of .40 for 21.77(.22 a round)
went to the big louisville gun show and bought primers for .023, traded some brass toward some win 231 powder, cost $6 or about .004 a round(5 grs per round) bought some 165gr rainiers on the trader board for .09 a round, for a grand total of .023+.004+.09=.117 or about half of factory costs, and a lot less if buying components from the big guys(midway, cabales, etc).

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

You got it! Compared to the ever increasing cost of ammo. Except for the occasional gunshow buy, there is no cheaper way to legally get ammo.

 

[jmorris]

The best way to save money is to reload for a cartridge that is really expensive and has tons of recoil. The 460 Weatherby factory ammo costs over $5 a round and you probably won’t ever shoot 20 rounds at one sitting, so you’ll save quite a bit. The problem is, most reloaders can back this up, if your (45, 40, 9mm, 223, etc) cost you half as much you’ll just shoot twice as much. I guess you are still saving money it’s just not in your pocket at the end of the day.

 

[IDriveB5]

yup, before I reloaded, I would buy a couple hundred rounds at a time. Now that I reload, I buy bullets by the thousands. Overall, i spend more money, but less per round.

 

[xsquidgator]

yup, before I reloaded, I would buy a couple hundred rounds at a time. Now that I reload, I buy bullets by the thousands. Overall, i spend more money, but less per round.

Yup, and then THAT got too expensive, so I started casting. Now I wince when I have to buy powder/primers more frequently... but look at all the money I'm "saving"! Keeps me out of the bars though...

 

[Nowhere Man]

Last time I figured it out 9mm rounds cost me about 7 cents each. Half the price of WWB at Wally World.


Dave

 

[Hiaboo]

You don't really "save" money you just get 2x for your money.

 

[jeepmor]

Gunbroker and ebay have saved me plenty of money. Local Craigslist has landed a few good reloading scores also. The more you look, the more you realize you should have stocked up more last year. Thankfully, I did get a decent amount of supplies, but not so much it'll be much more than a year before I run out and need more with the exception of the hunting guns.

 

[Jordan85]

Well since I'm already here at the title of 'how to save money reloading'....

I am new to reloading. Reloaded about 300 rounds now and no prob other than a couple lightly seated primers on my first 50 batch (knocks wood). But now that I'm set up and ready to roll, I need more components to make ammo. I was just eager to get started and bought what I could get at Cabelas to start, but now I would like to really save some money.

I am mostly looking for cheap bullets (by the thousand prob), as I do not think I will be buying in large enough quantities to overcome the hazmat fees for primers and powder. So where are the best places, short of gun shows, to go to get cheap reloading components??

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Try www.mastercastbullets.com They are the best I have found in the last 6 months.

 

[Nowhere Man]

Here's a good one; http://precisiondelta.com/index1.htm Here's another that "I've heard" is good; http://www.keadbullets.com/


Dave

 

[xsquidgator]

I am mostly looking for cheap bullets (by the thousand prob), as I do not think I will be buying in large enough quantities to overcome the hazmat fees for primers and powder. So where are the best places, short of gun shows, to go to get cheap reloading components??

I would make the rounds between gun shows, internet retailers, and any local places you know that sell components.

Internet places I've liked:
#1) brassmanbrass.com
#2) MidsouthShooter's Supply
#3) MidwayUSA
#4) Graf's
Berry's plated bullets
Goldenwestbrass
Precision bullets.com (IIRC)
Penn Bullets.com

I'll also check online at Cabela's and the like, but those tend to be low probability of success for components I think, generally not the cheapest.

If you really get the bug bad and end up blowing through a lot of $ on components, consider investing in a bullet casting setup. I started casting a few months ago to "save" money (LOL kind of like "saving" money reloading) but it is just as cool and satisfying as reloading is. And CHEAP to make the boolits once you get going. My casting setup cost me about $200 for 3 pistol calibers but I could have done it for half that had I gone without a few tools of convenience. Check out castboolits.com if you're interested, very helpful folks over there who helped me and a lot of others get started.

 

[SSN Vet]

how to save money reloading

One word answer....CAST!

the component that drives reloading cost is the bullet.

convert free wheel weights into free bullets and now your most expensive component is the primer.

 

[schloe]

where do you get free wheel weights?

 

[SSN Vet]

where do you get free wheel weights?

I go to see Bob and Rog. down at the garage...........literally

They keep a couple wooden bins on site by the spin balancer....

I'm told that the recycling guy comes around every other month or so and gives them a few bucks for the lot, but I can help myself to as many as I need.

I cull out the stick ons and zinc weights and head for home with ~30 lbs or so in a cardboard box.

I guess being a steady customer helps

Roger has his little Lee 10 lb. pot going every now and again, and casts for his .44 mag in the lulls between auto. repairs.

On top of being excellent mechanics, these two brothers are just regular nice guys.

 

[Jordan85]

on that website you mentioned grandpa, what does 'per m' mean? is that 500 or 1000?

 

[Jenrick]

Does anyone know of a place who does case prep like River Valley Ordinance did? I've tried to get in touch with them to do an order, but no luck. Looking for cleaned, primed, sized brass in mail box. I can even handle just cleaned and sized brassed ready to be primed. I've got a couple thousand once fire cases I need processed, and am not having much luck finding anyplace to do it.

Thanks,

-Jenrick

 

[NorthIdahoNeck]

Seaking of shopping at Cabelas, they recently hired my wife so with her discounts (not to mention keeping the peace, got 40% off tonight on some cleaning supplies) I'm kinda stuck with them. They don't always have what I need but will order in on request.

 

[Nowhere Man]

Per "M" means per thousand.


Dave

 

[aka108]

Good thing about reloading is that you can shoot many uncommon or relatively expensive cartridge sizes for the same price and more commonly available ones. Costs no more to load 7.51, 6.5 than a 30-30.