I just saved $1,000

[qajaq59]

Casting and reloading is even better once you retire. You can go as slow as you want, be as picky as you like. And best of all you can avoid having to watch "Horrible, Stupid, and Idiotic" TV shows.

Hell, I'd load them even if I didn't have a rifle to shoot 'em from.

 

[jeepmor]

$1065/X hours = value of your time in working man's dollars hour, simple as that. Results will vary.

Man I can't wait till my reloading pays off. Shouldn't be to much longer

Ha! I've been saying that for 3 years. Any day now.. right?

There is a definite break even point with reloading and equipment costs if you never consider your time. This is where a progressive press makes your time so much more valuable everytime you reload in my opinion.

I have grown out of time to reload like I used to have and now work too much and have a new mouth to feed. The extra cost of my progressive press pays off in droves for productivity per reloading session.

 

[RustyFN]

Good points jeepmor. You younger guys probably don't have the time us older guys have. My children are all grown up and almost all out of the house. I reload because I enjoy it, it's relaxing for me, saves me money and I end up with better ammo than factory. If I wasn't reloading I would probably be watching TV or talking to you all on the interweb, I don figure anything for my time for doing those things either.

Rusty

 

[qajaq59]

If you figured cost for your time when you went skiing then I suppose you should do it when you are loading. Otherwise Nope, just free time.

 

[Mantis250]

Bullet: Precision Delta 115gr FMJ RN: .068
Primer: Magtech SPP from Grafs: .0277
Powder: ~7gr HS-6 from Grafs: .0184
Brass: 9mm is "free" at most ranges. .000

Thank you sir,,, great info.

Might I recommend Lee's 50th anniversary kit. It's a "turn-key" minus dies single stage setup.

Thanks Half,, I started looking at some of the Lee stuff,,, but the one I was looking at got TERRIBLE reviews, so I moved on. I'll look at the 50th version. I can't stand dealing with the lead fouling, it makes me crazy. I have one wheel gun now (S&W ultralight .38 Special) that I will never part with but I don't shoot it much either. I've had others in the past, and I recently sold my last remaining revolver (S&W 627 Pro). I tried,,, I really tried,,, I'm just not a wheel gun guy.

I just never understood somebody having to figure in their time. The way I look at it I'm getting paid to reload it's not costing me an hourly wage.

No worries Rusty. I look at reloading differently than most. My schedule is so full right now that when I go to the range,, I'm doing that instead of getting work done. The work doesn't go away,, I just have to do it when I get back from the range. Shooting is a "hobby" for me,,, ammo reloading/purchasing is a means to an end so that I can enjoy the hobby of shooting.

It's kinda like this,,,, I LOVE my dogs, and wouldn't be without them,,, but I don't "enjoy" picking up their crap every day,, it's just part of pet ownership.

 

[halfded]

From my limited experience, as long as your bullet is matched to your application, ie not using target bullets at hunting velocities, and you don't shoot 500 rounds at a time, leading isn't too bad.

And mantis250 to play off your analogy, I don't enjoy case prep or gun cleaning, but it sure is fun to take "the boys" out into the field to play. It's just part of gun ownership.

 

[ny32182]

It may sound like "work" now, but if you start doing it, you might just change your opinion.

Once you start enjoying your loading, it is almost a completely separate hobby from shooting. You get just as interested in the ammo as you do the guns, and it is almost as though they are two separate pursuits, with the exception of time spent making your established high volume plinking loads.

If you don't have time to shoot as it is, don't start loading, because then you will want to spend time doing that too.

 

[nulfisin]

Time value of money

If you are weighing this as a relevant factor, you may as well not reload. Most people with jobs could earn the extra money to buy perfectly good factory ammo if they spent the extra time on it. That's another way of saying that if you don't enjoy it, don't handload.

 

[billybob44]

Thanks for all the replies fellas. My reloading research is ongoing and I'm seriously looking at the Dillon line. I'm in the greater Phx area,,, so they are "just down the road" from me. If I'm gonna reload, I'm gonna go all the way, therefore I want to be able to reload pistol and rifle. (so ths SDB is out) I'm looking serious at the 550,,, but for about $100 bucks more I can get auto indexing. I'm not one to "scrimp" when it comes to upfront tool costs (I've always paid dearly in the past when I did),,, so I may go with the 650,, but the more expensive conversions may steer me away from it and more to the 550. Needless to say, I'm still researching.

I've searched many a-hour for favorable on-line reloading supply sellers,,, but can come nowhere near y-alls listed prices. I was wondering if you kind folks had some favorite suppliers that you have good experience with. I put service pretty high in my "value" menu,,, so I'll pay a bit more if I know I'm going to be treated well.

Thanks a bunch fellas,,, you have all helped educate me a tad on this matter. (Just enough to be dangerous!) I read some of the posts about the different powders/primers etc.. and just can't believe how many options there are out there. Wasn't ready for quite such a learning curve.

Thanks again gents.

You're on track with Dillon. I have a 550 for years + am VERY happy with it. Since you are in the area run out to Scottsdale, and check out their plant. Our Daughter was married out there a few years ago, and I told the Wife that I HAD to go by their Home Office. Well-the people there are Top Notch. They offered+and I toured their plant, bought a few small things, and had a GREAT visit with some good people. IMO the 650 is too much to keep up with-the auto index would not be forgiving if things got a little off. I LIKE the control of my 550, and the RPM (Rounds Per Minute) is fast enough for me. If you want to spend a little more==buy the Dillon Pistol Dies==well worth it IMO....

 

[Jumping Frog]

reloading..

45 colt:
Savings per 1000: $876.80

.38 Special:
Savings per 1000: $188.80

Total Savings of 2,000 rounds of revolver ammunition: $1065!

If you switch from shooting .38 SP to .44 MAG, your savings will double!

 

[Fixxah]

Cast your own and it is even betterer.

 

[halfded]

If you switch from shooting .38 SP to .44 MAG, your savings will double!

You just had to put that thought in my head didn't you?! I swear this board is run by the gun companies to take all my money!!

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, see Post # 2

But you don't save really.....