Most Economical Loads

[DMW1116]

A lot is written and discussed about accuracy and velocity but I was wondering what people use as their economy/plinking load?

I have a load for my 30-30 using cast and coated bullets with W231 pistol powder that shoots pretty well and costs less than a box of Tula 223 ammo before the pandemic. I also have similar loads for 357 Magnum and 9mm. Minimum charges of W231 powder, cast and coated bullets, and the cheapest primers I can find, which are hovering around 6 cents each.

I also bring this up because I’m pondering a similar load for 223. Minimum charge of the cheapest ball powder I can find (Shooters World Tactical Rifle), on sale FMJ projectiles, and the cheapest SRP I can get, which here hovers around 7 cents each. This would come in about the same as the 30-30 load cost wise. Given the cost per round, I should probably switch to 30-30 for practicing with iron sights (Williams Peep).

 

[AJC1]

A lot is written and discussed about accuracy and velocity but I was wondering what people use as their economy/plinking load?

I have a load for my 30-30 using cast and coated bullets with W231 pistol powder that shoots pretty well and costs less than a box of Tula 223 ammo before the pandemic. I also have similar loads for 357 Magnum and 9mm. Minimum charges of W231 powder, cast and coated bullets, and the cheapest primers I can find, which are hovering around 6 cents each.

I also bring this up because I’m pondering a similar load for 223. Minimum charge of the cheapest ball powder I can find (Shooters World Tactical Rifle), on sale FMJ projectiles, and the cheapest SRP I can get, which here hovers around 7 cents each. This would come in about the same as the 30-30 load cost wise. Given the cost per round, I should probably switch to 30-30 for practicing with iron sights (Williams Peep).

The issue with cheap 30-30 is the large primer availability. One could use lpm with no pressure issues if your gun will hit the primer. I haven't gone down that road but I have called starline a dozen times requesting srp 30-30.

 

[cfullgraf]

It depends on what your objectives are for your ammunition.

For most rifle ammunition, I want top performance so I’m not looking to down load it.

But, I have a 32-20 1890 vintage Winchester 1873 that I like to plink with so I load medium power loads to have fun punching holes in paper and soda cans. The loads work well in a 1920 vintage S&W 32-20 K-frame revolver as well. I like to treat both firearms with respect so I do not stress them shooting full power ammunition.

In many cases, I have a 22 LR equivalent to shoot low cost ammunition for plinking fun.

But, again, it is what your objectives are.

 

[DMW1116]

I do have 22 LR equivalent guns for my rifles and some pistols, but sometimes I want to shoot the centerfires. I often run through 50 to 60 rounds of 22 then run 10-20 centerfire rounds to stay familiar. You bring up a good point though. My Henry 22 can’t replicate the full recoil of a stout 30-30 hunting load but it is invaluable for practicing lever action iron sights shooting.

 

[Skeptic13]

My plinking ammo for .223 is 55 gr bullet over 23.1 gr of TAC. TAC is still one of the most economical rifle powders I reload with.

 

[jmorris]

My most economical loads consist of free brass, bullets cast from free lead, have to buy the primer and a small charge of a fast for round powder though.

 

[Riomouse911]

.38 Spl target loads consisting of 2.7 gr Bullseye and a 148 gr lead WC is pretty darn inexpensive to make, shoots great in just about any .38 and is easy to assemble. That, or a less common 2.5 gr bullseye load in a .32 H&R case with a 98 gr WC, are my cheapest loads.

Stay safe.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Mine consist of 9mm mostly with free brass, I suppose Titegroup powder, and a primer that cost more than the plated bullets I use.
Bullets are mostly plated and bought on one of the holiday sales.
I don't have any economy .357mags. Nothing is cheap with them. Brazo's bullets even went up in price.

 

[AJC1]

Mine consist of 9mm mostly with free brass, I suppose Titegroup powder, and a primer that cost more than the plated bullets I use.
Bullets are mostly plated and bought on one of the holiday sales.
I don't have any economy .357mags. Nothing is cheap with them. Brazo's bullets even went up in price.

I try and keep .357 down to a quarter, so compared to shelf price that's cheap, but with 10c primers nothings cheap.
Primer 10
Cast boolit 7
Case free
8.4 grains Silhouette 8 cents ish....

 

[unwashed]

It depends what you are loading for, my EDC I load all as street ammo so there's no difference at the range. Most my other guns I do the same but I'm not shooting a 1000 rounds a week so there's that.

 

[DMW1116]

My magnum loads are really more like 38+p+ and a pinch more. I run less than 5 grains of powder and stay below $.20/round but thats a target load not really a magnum load. My actual magnum loads cost the same as my rifle loads.

 

[DMW1116]

I’d almost be willing to switch to Titegroup for target loads but it’s so dirty. It gunks up my Blackhawk something fierce.

 

[J-Bar]

I’d almost be willing to switch to Titegroup for target loads but it’s so dirty. It gunks up my Blackhawk something fierce.

I burned a lot of Titegroup in Vaqueros shooting cowboy action over the years. I crimped the light loads as tightly as possible to avoid the problem of bullet drift in the lever action rifle magazine tube. I never thought of Titegroup as a "dirty" powder. You might see if crimping the bullet more tightly helps.

 

[lordpaxman]

My economy loads tend to use coated vs jacketed bullets but attempt to keep the other factors the same. Coated use a bit less powder but I don’t look at that as a savings, merely trying to keep Vavg the same. Those economy loads are used for live fire practice.

I’d almost be willing to switch to Titegroup for target loads but it’s so dirty. It gunks up my Blackhawk something fierce.

That’s an interesting observation for TG. Are you shooting lubed bullets by any chance? TG runs pretty clean for me using coated or jacketed.

 

[mdi]

FWIW; I don't have an "economy/plinking" load. Money is the last, often not thought of consideration for my handloads. I started reloading out of curiosity in 1970 and fortunately never gave the costs any thought. I am not foolishly throwing money away when I buy components (I still refuse to pay today's rip-off prices for primers) but I have never done a handload vs factory $$$ test. I reload because I like reloading so I don't ruin my fun by thinking about money... ("Bang! there goes another 89 cents!", nope)

 

[DMW1116]

My economy loads tend to use coated vs jacketed bullets but attempt to keep the other factors the same. Coated use a bit less powder but I don’t look at that as a savings, merely trying to keep Vavg the same. Those economy loads are used for live fire practice.

That’s an interesting observation for TG. Are you shooting lubed bullets by any chance? TG runs pretty clean for me using coated or jacketed.

Now that you mention it, yes those were some lubed bullets, and not my standard jacketed or coated fare. I did run 20 or so with W231 and didn’t have the same mess but I loaded probably 200 with Titegroup.

 

[cfullgraf]

I reload because I like reloading so I don't ruin my fun by thinking about money... ("Bang! there goes another 89 cents!", nope)

I have similar thoughts but $3.00 per round or so for 460 S&W Mag ammunition kind of gets my attention.

I do have a cast bullet load that gives 1200 fps from my 460XVR that is quite comfortable to shoot and quite economical.

 

[AJC1]

I have similar thoughts but $3.00 per round or so for 460 S&W Mag ammunition kind of gets my attention.

I do have a cast bullet load that gives 1200 fps from my 460XVR that is quite comfortable to shoot and quite economical.

The nice thing about 460 is if your like me one doesn't shoot more than a cylinder full of full power stuff... I still want an x frame in 454, because the jump for 460 is a country mile....

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

but I have called starline a dozen times requesting srp 30-30.

Ah yes, .30 American. I've requested it several times myself.

 

[reddog81]

I don’t worry too much about powder costs for any load I’m using. 5 grains of W231 at $30 a lbs is like two cents. Go to something like VV N320 at $45 per pound and now your powder costs is 3 cents per round. If I was broke or living off social security it might make a difference but I probably wouldn’t by shooting nearly as I am today either.

 

[DMW1116]

Powder’s not that cheap here. It’s almost a challenge now. If I can find a cheaper load that shoots almost as well it’s a good day.

 

[AJC1]

I don’t worry too much about powder costs for any load I’m using. 5 grains of W231 at $30 a lbs is like two cents. Go to something like VV N320 at $45 per pound and now your powder costs is 3 cents per round. If I was broke or living off social security it might make a difference but I probably wouldn’t by shooting nearly as I am today either.

The issue is my favorite rifle powders are now 50+ per pound local.... getting multiple 8s from pv in one shot helps bring the cost down.....

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I don't know what bullets you are using and how much they cost but RMR has 55gr .224" bullets for under 11¢ each when you buy 1K.

I’d almost be willing to switch to Titegroup for target loads but it’s so dirty. It gunks up my Blackhawk something fierce.

No reason to move to Titegroup when you have W231. IMO that works well. On some of the rifle cartridges AA5744 also.works extremely well.

 

[AJC1]

I don't know what bullets you are using and how much they cost but RMR has 55gr .224" bullets for under 11¢ each when you buy 1K.



No reason to move to Titegroup when you have W231. IMO that works well. On some of the rifle cartridges AA5744 also.works extremely well.

Now if they would build a 30 cal 165 or 175 I could just buy their bullets and look no further....

 

[DMW1116]

Except Titegroup is 25% cheaper than W231. That said I use W231 for all the pistol calibers I reload and one rifle caliber. It uses charge weights similar to Titegroup so you can spread it pretty thin and get a lot of rounds from a pound.