Arkansas Paul
Member
Agree 100%.
I now have guns that have never fired a factory round. I love that.
Price Per Box on your Reloads
- Thread starter WhistlinDixie
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Agree 100%.
I now have guns that have never fired a factory round. I love that.
While I will never deny the savings and pleasure afforded by reloading, I agree with Constrictor in his reply to mgmorden, and wonder how he finds primers/powder/bullets so cheaply in this day and age. My reload cost/100 is about $10.50 for 9mm and about $12 for 45 ACP, using spent brass and Berger or similar plated bullets.
jcwit
member
Buy surplus powder can still be bought in the neighborhood of $15 if purchased in bulk even with the Hazmet fee. Primers are available for $20 a thousand and again if purchased in quanity the Hazmet does not add that much to the final price.
If you have a club to go thru one can even bypass the hazmet fees.
Now then if you cast your own bullets they become free for all practical purposes, and of course cases from the range are usually in plentifull supply for the picking.
Been doing it this way for 20 years or longer, quality 22 ammo costs me much more per round. The real good stuff is now in the $ .28 cents per round if you can find it. Next best is $ .18 cents per round. But then you do hit what you aim at, precisely every time.
If you have a club to go thru one can even bypass the hazmet fees.
Now then if you cast your own bullets they become free for all practical purposes, and of course cases from the range are usually in plentifull supply for the picking.
Been doing it this way for 20 years or longer, quality 22 ammo costs me much more per round. The real good stuff is now in the $ .28 cents per round if you can find it. Next best is $ .18 cents per round. But then you do hit what you aim at, precisely every time.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Never figure in the cost of brass. Cases get reused so many times that spread out over the lifetime of a brass case, the cost is negligible, even if you buy it new. You will also save a ton of money by using cast bullets, rather than jacketed. Look for a local commercial caster to save even more. I reload more .44Mag than any other cartridge and do so for about $7/50rds.
RustyFN
Member
Powder Valley,
primers = $20 per 1,000
powder = $118 for 8 pounds, $14.75 per pound
bullets = where ever you can find them cheap or cast your own
DoubleSawbuck
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Powder Valley has the best prices I've found...
8# HP38 (W231) - $110.50
1k Wolf LPP - $15.50
Mastercast.com 1k 200g LSWC - $55.71
Price per 50 w/o shipping... $4.05
(I haven't used Mastercast yet but I've heard good things)
8# HP38 (W231) - $110.50
1k Wolf LPP - $15.50
Mastercast.com 1k 200g LSWC - $55.71
Price per 50 w/o shipping... $4.05
(I haven't used Mastercast yet but I've heard good things)
jcwit
member
Here are 2 very reasonable companies
http://www.gibrass.com/index.html
http://hi-techammo.com/
Hope this helps.
http://www.gibrass.com/index.html
http://hi-techammo.com/
Hope this helps.
AirForceShooter
Member
How are you figuring in the cost of equipment that can run hundreds of dollars?
AFS
AFS
DoubleSawbuck
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That's the price of the hobby I suppose. However, the price of your equipment should be inline with the amount you load. I wouldn't go spend big bucks on a progressive with all the bells and whistles if I was unsure that I'd like the hobby or if I only intended to load a couple hundred rounds here or there.
WhistlinDixie
Member
Yea, I figure that the price of a lee turret press and the bare essentials will be paid off by half price ammo fairly quickly.
Arkansas Paul
Member
Yeah, I don't count the cost of equipment either, because handloading is a hobby in itself to me. When I think of how much I spend on golf, I don't factor in the cost of my clubs. 
When I started, I tried to figure how many rounds it would take to pay for the tools. I spent about $600. One guy on this forum (I forget who) said "That first round cost you $600 the rest are cheap.
I got the RCBS Rockchucker supreme kit. Later I got the Lee clasic cast turret. Wished I got that first. My original investment would have been $350 or so.
Before I reloaded, in my range bag was a bunch of .22 and a box or two of whatever caliber I was shooting that day. I was sad to see the last round go.
Now I shoot 'till I don't want to. And when I get home sorting and counting the brass is more fun than cleaning the guns.
Reloading is relaxing for me. I don't count rounds per hour, but the turret is about my speed .
If you're detail oriented you will love the hoby, but you won't save money "You'll just shoot more" Rick
I got the RCBS Rockchucker supreme kit. Later I got the Lee clasic cast turret. Wished I got that first. My original investment would have been $350 or so.
Before I reloaded, in my range bag was a bunch of .22 and a box or two of whatever caliber I was shooting that day. I was sad to see the last round go.
Now I shoot 'till I don't want to. And when I get home sorting and counting the brass is more fun than cleaning the guns.
Reloading is relaxing for me. I don't count rounds per hour, but the turret is about my speed .
If you're detail oriented you will love the hoby, but you won't save money "You'll just shoot more" Rick
David E
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I bet you factored in cost of brass, thinking you would buy new brass each time.
Brass is the most expensive component initially, but it's the only component you can use over and over and over....to the point of NOT counting the cost of brass in your calculations. Try that and see what your price is. Also, lead bullets cost less than jacketed, so take that into account as well.
jcwit
member
Say what? I can use the savings to buy another firearm, or pay my taxes.
I believe in not wasting my funds.
Remember I stated I reload handgun ammo for less than $2.00 a hundred. If I'd use todays pricing I still could reload for approx $6.50 a hundred. Thats $14.50 in my pocket every 100 rounds. My health kept me from shooting as much the last 2 years but if I'd put as many down range as I used to the 3 summer months would run $3150 about, just in plinking ammo. Instead I spent less than $300.
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RustyFN
Member
Another boolit caster. It's the only way to go. With my cast bullets I'm at $2.50 per 100.
David E
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What, you make your own primers, too?
WhistlinDixie
Member
I didnt factor in brass. I get about 1k 9mm from the public range every time i go.
RustyFN
Member
No I buy them for $15 per 1,000.
I'm not trying to discourage you from reloading, because I think it's great, and a fun hobby. However, I think some of the guys in this thread are either full of it, or using supplies they purchased 20 years ago. My experience using Winchester 124 grain 9mm bullets thrown in on another order, so not counting shipping, primers that cost me around $30 per 1000, and Power Pistol Powder, and it was costing me around low $9 per box and that was before the latest price increase. Now that the price has increased at Powder Valley, it's going to run darn near $10, and to be honest, Walmart sells Federal 9mm 100 packs for $19.98. I just can't beat that, and not to mention that's including the brass where as the reloads are considering the brass free, since I already had it.
Now, I know you can get lead bullets cheaper, but I don't want to shoot lead, nor is that what I'm buying from Walmart. You can also get cheaper primers and powder if you buy in large lots, but I don't want to purchase $1000 or even $500 worth of powders/primer, just to save a tiny bit extra over what I'm paying now. To save any once you factor in shipping and hazmat, I've got to order a ton just to break even.
So I don't think reloading FMJ 9mm is going to save you a ton of money no matter how you look at it. You also will most likely have several hundred dollars in equipment as well as the time it takes you to reload these rounds.
That being said, what can save you money is reloading HP bullets for the 9mm. In factory ammo, the ammo price increases greatly for HP rounds, and it doesn't so much in reloading.
The other area I save a lot reloading is with rifle rounds. That said, I think some figures on rifle rounds in here are too low as well.
That said, at $9 a box it's still a large savings over the SST rounds from the store at $25-30 per box of $20, and my reloads are a lot more accurate as well. Heck at $9 per box it's a lot cheaper than the $15 .243 Federal Power Shoks which are about the cheapest decent hunting ammo I've found. So in my case, I'm saving a lot with the rifle rounds, and I think this is where you save the money. I just don't think you save quite as much as some people are making it sound.
Now, I know you can get lead bullets cheaper, but I don't want to shoot lead, nor is that what I'm buying from Walmart. You can also get cheaper primers and powder if you buy in large lots, but I don't want to purchase $1000 or even $500 worth of powders/primer, just to save a tiny bit extra over what I'm paying now. To save any once you factor in shipping and hazmat, I've got to order a ton just to break even.
So I don't think reloading FMJ 9mm is going to save you a ton of money no matter how you look at it. You also will most likely have several hundred dollars in equipment as well as the time it takes you to reload these rounds.
That being said, what can save you money is reloading HP bullets for the 9mm. In factory ammo, the ammo price increases greatly for HP rounds, and it doesn't so much in reloading.
The other area I save a lot reloading is with rifle rounds. That said, I think some figures on rifle rounds in here are too low as well.
These have to be either super old components or homemade bullets, free brass, and powder and primers most likely pulled powder purchased in bulk. There is no way you can get these prices using commercial components now days. I reload for a .243 with Hornady SST bullets, IMR 4831 powder purchased in bulk, and CCI primers I paid $28 per 1000 for, free brass, and not counting my time, and it's costing me around $9 or slightly over to reload 20 rounds. Now I know you can get some cheaper bullets that are still good quality, but I don't think you can get them cheap enough to cut that total price in half. I also don't think you can get any 30-06 FMJ bullets for the price you mentioned, not including powder, primers, etc.
That said, at $9 a box it's still a large savings over the SST rounds from the store at $25-30 per box of $20, and my reloads are a lot more accurate as well. Heck at $9 per box it's a lot cheaper than the $15 .243 Federal Power Shoks which are about the cheapest decent hunting ammo I've found. So in my case, I'm saving a lot with the rifle rounds, and I think this is where you save the money. I just don't think you save quite as much as some people are making it sound.
David E
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Pray tell, where are you getting 1000 primers for $15 these days?
Brand? Shipping costs? Tax?
jcwit
member
Well then slowr1der, I guess you'll just have to be content spending more.
Granted, I bought loads of primers on a store going out of business for alittle less than $50 bucks a case. I purchased cases and cases of them, all he had, more than likely will never need to burchase more. Some of my powder is surplus and some of it is pulldown, and some of it was given to me. Cost runs anywhere from $10 a lb. to free. Cases are free as is the cast bullets unless one wishes to cost out the price for white gas to run the burner. Here in No. Indiana Amish country we can still buy white gas/Coleman Fuel at the pump for approx $4.00 a gal. One Gal. will cast 10's of thousands of bullets.
OBTW the lead is free.
Best
Granted, I bought loads of primers on a store going out of business for alittle less than $50 bucks a case. I purchased cases and cases of them, all he had, more than likely will never need to burchase more. Some of my powder is surplus and some of it is pulldown, and some of it was given to me. Cost runs anywhere from $10 a lb. to free. Cases are free as is the cast bullets unless one wishes to cost out the price for white gas to run the burner. Here in No. Indiana Amish country we can still buy white gas/Coleman Fuel at the pump for approx $4.00 a gal. One Gal. will cast 10's of thousands of bullets.
OBTW the lead is free.
Best
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DoubleSawbuck
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slowr1der, while the savings for 9mm in FMJ may not be huge I still think you could do better. Here's the prices I found that may save you some cash and allow you to have more accurate ammo.
1k Precision Delta 124g FMJ - $79 shipped
1k Tula SPP - $20
8# HP38 - $110.50 (4.8g charge)
$5.42 per box of 50 plus shipping
Sure you have to order a little more to offset the price of shipping and hazmat but you don't have to go nuts. I typically order 5k primers at at time and then throw some powder on the same order. It's still cheaper then buying it at the LGS.
Also I'd like to suggest you give lead a try. It's not as dirty or dangerous as you've read, it's cheaper, just as accurate and the paper targets don't care what they're shot with.
1k Precision Delta 124g FMJ - $79 shipped
1k Tula SPP - $20
8# HP38 - $110.50 (4.8g charge)
$5.42 per box of 50 plus shipping
Sure you have to order a little more to offset the price of shipping and hazmat but you don't have to go nuts. I typically order 5k primers at at time and then throw some powder on the same order. It's still cheaper then buying it at the LGS.
Also I'd like to suggest you give lead a try. It's not as dirty or dangerous as you've read, it's cheaper, just as accurate and the paper targets don't care what they're shot with.
All of my components have been purchased in the last year. The powder can not be found anymore but was so cheep it didn't come to a half of a cent per round(wish I would have bought more then 8lb). Primers 2 cent from PV with free shipping & hazmat, brass free, bullets 20 cent for V-max or Nosler from Wal-mart(I did forget to include tax & gas since it was a local purchase). $4.40 per 20. The 243 is actually a little cheeper because I bought the V-max at $15 per 100 but to replace them is $20. Those M19 bullets were cheep & so was the FMJ.
Sorry if you don't know how to buy smart. I'm cheep so if I know it is going to be used I don't mind buying in bulk. Who can't use 3K bullets or 8lb of powder? With the free hazmat I only bought the 5K primers because I could do better on powder. The only canister powder I have is a 8lb of Bullseye & 4lb of Red Dot that I bought before I know how to save money.
Some/most of my powder has no data. I work up my data myself. It isn't for most but you can still get close to my prices with canister powder because everyone can buy in the same places & amounts I do.
Sorry if you don't know how to buy smart. I'm cheep so if I know it is going to be used I don't mind buying in bulk. Who can't use 3K bullets or 8lb of powder? With the free hazmat I only bought the 5K primers because I could do better on powder. The only canister powder I have is a 8lb of Bullseye & 4lb of Red Dot that I bought before I know how to save money.
Some/most of my powder has no data. I work up my data myself. It isn't for most but you can still get close to my prices with canister powder because everyone can buy in the same places & amounts I do.
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