Purchase Reloading Equipment or another gun.

[Ed Ames]

Lead... I kinda agree with you. 1000 rds of .38sp will only save the loader about $100, and can easily take many hours. The equivalent labor rate is probably about $10/hr net or $14/hr gross.

Loading 9mm is worse, because the loss rate on brass is higher and bulk ammo is cheaper.

That said....

1) Knowledge has value. Learning how to reload could easily be valued at a few hundred dollars or more.

2) Starting with an inexpensive revolver and semi-auto round you will use a lot of makes tremendous sense. Mistakes are cheaper, materials (once fired brass especially) more available, and between the revolver and pistol rounds you will experience most of the challenges (differences in how the rounds headspace, etc) you will encounter with other rounds. So while they may be less ideal from a savings perspective, they are great from a learning perspective.

3) Even in these calibers there is plenty of room for making "better than bulk" ammo. One round I reload is 9x18. There are many sources for cheap 9x18 so you wouldn't think it was worthwhile... but I can load new (virgin brass) hot XTP 9x18 for about $35/100, where identical factory ammo costs up to $20/20. The loaded ammo is functionally identical, meaning I can use those handloads for reliability proof, practice, or whatever, and save myself $65 per 100 loading that traditionally super cheap cartridge. Good deal IMO.

 

[rcl5445]

I save a couple bucks reloading various calibers here and there. The amount of time I spend reloading is not equal to the savings. But the knowledge I gain and time I get to spend with brother is where its at.

 

[HOV]

Hand loading for me is not about saving money, although that is a nice side benefit. Th real benefit is that I'm learning about the one part of the whole firearm system that creates the desired effect.

Hand loading can produce ammunition that is made with more precision, quality, accuracy, and safety than commercial loads. There's something to be said about knowing where all the components of your round came from, and that you know 100% that your powder charge is within 1/10 or a grain, and that you have balanced your powder charge with the exact seating depth needed to function reliably in YOUR pistol or rifle. The occurence of squib loads or double charges are all up to your level of attention to detail, vice the QC of some russian factory.

On the economic side of things, I've found that reloading defensive ammo costs about the same as reloading the range stuff. So I have a lot more hollowpoints to shoot that cost (for 9mm at least) ~$0.18/round as opopsed to ~$1/round. I personally can't find range ammo for less than $0.30/round usually.

 

[FROGO207]

mcdonl PM your way

 

[OldCavSoldier]

Having reloaded since 1974 (back then it was only .38SPL/.357Mag) I find that reloading is actually a stress-reducer for me. And I do it on an old RCBS Junior single-stage press....

So, my advice is (and advice is free and you get what you pay for) to save up for a nice 1911....Kimber Stainless II possibly???.....and then, after you get the 1911, save up for a nice multi-stage press and reload your .45ACP to your own specs......

I cannot even estimate the number of rounds I have loaded since 1974. My wife says that it must be over 150,000 rounds. Half my gun safe is full from the $$ savings I have accrued by reloading!!

Good luck! Whatever you decide will be the right choice for you!!

 

[Deanimator]

Meanwhile, just making the ammunition at 100 rounds an hour

100 rounds an hour, on a Dillon RL550B?

Maybe if I take a nap half way through...

 

[moooose102]

This realy should be a "no brainer" for you. You already spend as much money as you can on guns every month, and you are not shooting them! Quit buying guns, and buy the reloading equipment so you can afford to shoot them. You will find that shooting is much more enjoyable than buying. Reloading is the only way that i can afford to shoot. I have a couple of boxes of store bought ammo for each gun i own. The rest (and 99% of what i shoot) is reloads. Besides, half of the time you can not even find ammo, let alone afford it!

 

[woad_yurt]

I only reload the one caliber, .38 SPL. Because of the savings earned rolling my own, I have been able to shoot 4 times as much as before. That's not only 4 times the fun, it's also 4 times the practice. If you want to be really good at something, practice.

If I didn't reload, I'd probably only be a so-so shot. Thousands of extra rounds have enabled me to become very familiar with 4" K-frames, enough so that I can shoot the things in the dark. That would have never happened without all of that extra ammo and practice.

Also, when one reloads, one can customize one's loads. I shoot 148 gr HBWC with 4 gr of HP-38/W231. It's a fairly stout load with a wadcutter bullet, pretty much unavailable unless one bought some Buffalo Bore stuff. I get to practice with my self-defense ammo. This makes for total consistency, a real aid to one's proficiency.

 

[CZ223]

Buy the 1911

then buy a rifle in a caliber that is expensive to shoot. You will then have plenty of good reasons to buy the reloading equipment. As it is right now the only one I would suggest loading for is the 357. I have been reloading for close to 20 years. As others have said, if I did not reload, I would not be able to shoot nearly as much.

 

[mcdonl]

I bought the reloading gear, and I am getting the casting setup next week. I am just as excited about this as I would be a new gun!

 

[Deanimator]

I bought the reloading gear, and I am getting the casting setup next week. I am just as excited about this as I would be a new gun!

I wish I could cast, but an apartment with no balcony isn't a good environment for that.

 

[mcdonl]

Now I have some research to do. I need to learn about what primers for what calibers. So much to learn... so much time to do it in!!

At least I know I can get started making boollits if not loading!

Leroy

 

[Demitrios]

Unless you intend to buy a 1911 chambered in .22 (I'm not interested in hearing the "REAL 1911's don't come in .22" semantics) or get a conversion kit it's cheaper to buy reloading equipment. It'll cost quite a bit at first but in the end you'll actually make your money back.

 

[rcl5445]

No, large pistol primers are for .45 and larger, 357 takes small pistol. Check your reloading manual, it will have that info.

 

[Fatelvis]

Buy reloading equipment and read up on how to do it. You may find you like it as much as shooting. I do.

 

[Shooter57]

when it's raining or so cold you can't go to the range you can always load bullets for a nice day. What kind of set up did you get? bullets and primers will seem like a lot of money but remember you'll have a thousand rounds to shoot when loaded.

 

[JEB]

start reloading and use the money you save to buy the 1911!

now thats killing two birds with one stone!

 

[Shooter57]

After you reload about 1500 rounds that will pay for the machine then you will start seeing a bigger saving in your reloading costs and you can reload reduced loads for practice and get more shooting in.

 

[mcdonl]

What kind of set up did you get?

I have the Lee Anniversary kit. I was able to afford the 9mm 4 die set, and .38 3 die set along with the kit. I will be getting the tumbler, molds and melting oven next weekend. All I was able to find were small pistol magnums, but the consensus seems to be that if I plan to load the low end of the scale for which ever load I choose that I will be safe. As soon as small pistol primers come available I will grab some.

bullets and primers will seem like a lot of money but remember you'll have a thousand rounds to shoot when loaded.

I have 2 full 5 gallon buckets of lead wheel weights so I hope to be able to cut down on the cost of the bullets. I am pretty excited.

I am in the learning mode still, no intention to load until I get my facts straight.

 

[giggitygiggity]

I had the same dilemma. For the price of a reloading set up and supplies, you can get at least one nice gun. I suspect that if you are interesting in reloading, you will eventually buy reloading equipment anyways. I say do what I did and get it now so that you can save money as you continue to build your arsenal. Reloading is lots of fun and a great way to pass time when you are not at the range.

 

[the foot]

Reloading offers the capability to work up loads that maximize the effectiveness of your weapons. Years ago, instead of buying my next gun, I bought reloading equipment. Since then I have worked up loads for each of my weapons that far exceed factory ammunition specs. And I am convinced all the work is worth it.

But, if you have no interest in improving accuracy, saving money, etc, then don't do that.

 

[mcdonl]

Ok... so an update to this. I loaded about 150 .38 special this weekend, I have a couple thousand 9mm brass all cleaned up... 1K Small Pistol Primers, 2K small pistol magnum primers, 1K Large Rifle primers, 2 pounds of powder, and today I cast about 350 9mm bullets and by my rough estimation I have enough wheel weights for about 10K more. I also have a 38 Special Mold.

I can load right now 2K 9mm, 1K .38 special and 1K 7.62x54r

I went to Cheaperthandirt.com and

At today's prices that is about:

WWB 9mm - $440 (Not actually available but this was the cheapest price....)
No name Bulk Ammo - .38 special - $260
Surplust 7.62x54r - $200 (This is for the cheap corrosive surplus ammo... I have S&B brass... if I priced out brass it would be off the charts....)

So, for 4000 rounds of the above mentioned ammo it would be roughly $900 - This is assuming it were available local so I will not include any shipping or anything.

This is what I have spent:

Lee Anniversary Kit - $90
Tumbler - $50
Powder - $50
Primers - $100
Lee Furnace - $60
Lead - Free
Brass - Free
9mm and 38 bullets - Free
Dies - $100
Ingot Mold - $20
Ladle - $5
9mm and .38 Molds - $40
7.62x54r Bullets - $100

So, a grand total of $610

So, for this initial batch of ammunition I will have saved about $300 - And, before people talk about the time spent on loading... my 10 year old daughter has helped me every step of the way and it is a great, relaxing hobby.

I am a little bummed that I did not get my 1911, but I will buy a mold, then the dies and when I do buy it I will be able to afford to shoot it!!

I also got a lot of help from a member of this site who sent me some brass, and a few other items to get me started. No doubt if I had to purchase the brass the delta between money spend and ammo cost would have been smaller.

So, for the next 1000 rounds of 9mm ammo for instance, the bullets will be free, the primers will be $36 and the powder will be $24 - So, total spent... $60 as opposed to $400 give or take!

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I'm happy with the guns I have, I'm concentrating on buying powder, primers, and bullets.

 

[Eagles6]

mcdonl,
You done been bit and there is no getting rid of the bug. Good thing is that it's a healthy, positive habit.
Remember, measure twice, cut once.
Good luck

 

[Shooter57]

As the saying goes it takes about 1000 rds of home made ammo to call it the break even point for the purchase of equipment then it's not about the cost it's about becoming a better shot because you can practice more for the money you spend.