Purchase New or Reload

[gmflash88]

I'm not new to guns. I have however recently caught the bug and am really starting to get into it. Always had long guns but recently picked up a .357 for myself and the wife bought a .380. Our use will be recreational to start and CCW when we become more proficient. Here's my question...

Do I buy my cartridges from the store or should I get into reloading?

The .380 seems to small to deal with reloading and is fairly cheap to shoot. The .357 on the other hand can be a bit more pricey. I am not worried about creating performance/defense loads (for now), just range loads.

Cheapest I have found is $118 for 500 ctrgs. (+ shipping of course... $18) They are 'factory' reloads. Is the range going to give me a hard time about shooting them there? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[jfh]

Here's a simple comparison: This is the economic side of things:

1. Your purchased .357 reloads are running you about 28 cent a round, or 14.00 a box.

2. At today's current prices, you can probably reload those cases for about 11 cents a cartridge--call it $6.00 a box. So, you would save $8.00 a box. Without going into all the details, the gear and components would cost you (generously) $400.00--and that's for a complete package, from tumbler and media for cleaning used cases, on through to ammo boxes, with a good turret press in between--

3. so, you would pay for the gear in about 2500 rounds, still have the gear and some components, etc., etc. FWIW, these are high numbers, so the payback might be even quicker--say as low as 2000 rounds.

The cost savings for loading .380ACP is even greater, I think, but it is a PITA to do.

The press would, after you get things figured out, churn out about 180 rounds an hour. Is is worth while to save 25.00 an hour to you?

So much for the economics of it.

The real question is whether or not you are of the frame of mind to reload; it takes a fairly obsessive-compulsive person. Have you got a local friend who reloads who could show you what it's like?

Jim H.

 

[gmflash88]

Obsessive compulsive is my middle name. I've been up for 4 hours reading posts on this and the Ruger forum. I figure reloading would be a better use of my time. The question is whether or not I could convince the wife to let me set aside a (another) chunk of the garage for it. Plus the initial investment of the equip. Especially since we just spent $900 cash in 2 new guns.

HOWEVER... she loves shooting. LOVES IT. (Me too... but I think I love it more) and it basically costs us about $75 a trip. $30 lane rental and $40+ in ammo. Once the weather is better we can shoot outside and save that amount. She has been saying I need a hobby... hmmm...

Oh and no I don't know anyone who reloads. You're in MN. Wanna have a beer and show me? Just kidding. My father in law knows how, he's just 45min away so I might go knocking on his door pretty soon. Maybe he'll even let me have his equip if I promise to load him some .44's for his new addition.

I need sleep. I'll jump on tomorrow for the 'where to start' posts.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Also remember, along with the savings per box you also get very accurate ammo too. There is something very satisfying about throwing rounds that you made yourself down range.

I can load a box of .357 Magnum rounds for $6.00 and a box of .38 Special rounds for $3.32. Since the cheapest I can find 130gr Remington UMC FMJ .38 Special ammo for is $12.99 that's a huge savings. I must warn you though, in reality you won't save any money. You will probably do as most of us do and shoot a lot more. I can shoot 300 rounds of .38 Special for $20 but that same $20 wouldn't even pay for 100 rounds of factory ammo. I used to shoot 100 rounds a week and now I shoot 300 rounds a week for less.

 

[evan price]

The cost savings for loading .357 is very much worth it depending on how much you intend to shoot it.
With components bought this month I am loading .357 Magnum for 7.4 cents per round ($3.70/box of 50) using range brass and 158-gr hardcast lead semi-wadcutters.

$118/500 to buy them, or $37/500 to roll my own. Savings of over $80 on just that first 500 rounds. I can get a Lee Pro-1000 press setup from the factory to load .357 already for $130. If you load 1000 .357 mags you paid for your press in savings.

The .380's you should be able to load for about $3.50 per box/50. Saves at least $7/box.

 

[ForneyRider]

Shooting common rounds like .38Spl and .357Mag is pretty cheap at the $.28/round.

Cheapest I have heard of is my coworker that recycles his lead bullets of 9mm. His reloads are 3-6 cents per round. He shoots into a berm(sp?) and shovels them out.

A basic setup for .357/.38 plinking rounds is $100(Single Stage Lee)-$130(Lee Pro 1000) plus components(bullets,brass,powder,primers).

 

[Floppy_D]

I got into reloading to save money. Now, I spend the same amount, but I shoot at least twice as much. It's a fun way to stay connected to the hobby on rainy days and will really get you in tune with ballistics.

 

[CBS220]

I like reloading. I got into it to save money, and I suppose I do, but I just reinvest that money into more ammo!

Wait until you start casting boolits. That's where savings and fun really start.

 

[GaryL]

I got into reloading to save money. Now, I spend the same amount, but I shoot at least twice as much. It's a fun way to stay connected to the hobby on rainy days and will really get you in tune with ballistics.

I've reloaded enough to pay for my equipment. I don't shoot a lot more than I did before; I find chasing brass tends to cut into the number of rounds expended. I would reload for no other reasons than the ammo is much more consistant, and I get to shoot some calibers regularly that were too expensive to enjoy before.

 

[Floppy_D]

Even if I saved nothing, I'd keep doing it because I enjoy reloading. A half hour running my press is more relaxing and fulfilling than a half hour in front of the TV. The added benefits are increased quality and decreased price.

 

[michael_aos]

I'm already setup with a Dillon RL550B. I've also got a Dillon Super 1050, but I'm waiting to set it up in my new reloading room.

I spent about 4hrs last weekend loading up 1200rds of 9mm. I figure:

$.035 - once-fired brass
$.01 - roll-sizing
$.03 - primer
$.01 - powder
$.07 - 124gr Montana Gold FMJ

I figure $.152/rd to load my own. I can buy factory reloads for $.158/rd shipped. And I get $.035-worth of once-fired brass.

In this case, I chose to buy instead of rolling my own.

Mike

 

[jdc1244]

I enjoy just reloading as well. I like configuring the rounds to my liking. But ammo prices are only going to go up. As that happens your investment pays for itself faster. It also gives you a sense of being self-sufficient; I’m not 100 percent dependent on getting ammo from stores.

 

[Burrito]

I'm new to reloading...just started right after Christmas. So far I've loaded 150 rounds of 45 acp and I'm hooked. From what you've said about yourself, it seems you'll get hooked just like me. At this point, it seems to me that people that think like an engineer, accountant, architect, or skilled craftsman just to name a few would enjoy reloading more than...let's say a sales person, artist, musician, etc. I'm not asking you to tell us what your vocation is, unless you just want to. But that's my opinion and I was having your same thoughts about 2 months ago. For those in sales, arts, and music, please don't flame me for this comment. Just my opinion.

With all that said, I consider my way of thinking to be of an accountant. I'm not an accountant, but have a strong interest in accounting, and my job is basically an informal accountant. I do plan on going back to school for a masters in accounting though. If you got mad at me earlier for saying musicians are likely not reloaders, I'm also drummer. Wow. This seems to be getting off topic. Maybe I'll save it for a new thread.

 

[Russt]

I started reloading about 5-6 years ago. I bought a Blackhawk in 45 colt and was suprised at the price of ammo. I could buy the componets and assemble it for about $5.00 per box instead of $20.00 per box of factory stuff. I found out I stumbled on a whole nuther hobbie. I started buying other firearms because I had the initial cost of the press and other equipment out of the way so I could load rifle calibers cheaper than factory. Right now I can load .308 for about $7.00 per box of 20, and it's just as accurate as any factory ammo I've ran through in my rifle. Then came the 45/70. Big savings in reloading it, and fun too, a pound of powder don't last long with it though.

I don't know about range rules. I've heard some indoor ranges don't allow cast bullets and I've heard some don't allow jacketed bullets. I've lived in the country all my life and never had to go to a range, just step out the back door and shoot. I started casting bullets about a year ago. I'm lucky enough to get wheel weights free, so not counting the furnace and molds, bullets are free. For pistol rounds that was half my cost. That turned into a whole nuther adventure as well. There's a ton if info on casting. That's part of the fun factor for me is searching and finding information. Putting it into action and coming out with a working product that I made. In some cases it works better than factory ammo.

Now here's something that's going to seem odd but I can load light plinking pistol rounds for $0.50 cents per box of 50. Here's how. I live in a small town and a local bait shop sold out to a new fellow. He lasted about 2 months and had a going out of business sale. I bought 10k primers for $80.00. A little later on a friend of a friend was getting out of reloading and was selling all of his equipment and componets. I bought an old 8lb can of 231 for $25.00. It is in a round metal drum and looked a little discolored but still smelled fresh. I brought it home and loaded a couple test rounds and they went bang so I assume it's still good to use. I only load about 3.5-4 grains in 38spl and about 5 in 45acp. At this rate it should last a life time.

Now by no means should you let this fool you. I have a lot of money tied up in reloading stuff. But it's because I want too and not that I need too. If I had it all to do again I would start with a Lee Classic Cast Turret and a good single stage. If you're not into high volume and have time to spare the Lee will be hard to beat. You can take it as far or keep it as simple as you like. I'm stuck somewhere in the middle and don't know which way to turn.

Is it cheaper to load your own? YES..it can be. Just remember....$0.15 cents worth of the wrong powder can and will ruin a $600.00 firearm in the blink of an eye and possibly the person behind it. Manuals, research, a complete understanding is a must. The people on this forum have been a great help to me. Dating back to the early TFL days. Thanks guys...