Recent reloading costs
- Thread starter flying
- Start date
- Status
SciFiJim
Member
For me it's still cheaper to reload. Even if I were to pay the inflated prices.
I reload for .45acp
Todays inflated prices for components
Primer $60/1000 so .06 each
Brass range pickup = free
bullets - I cast my own from free wheel weights = free
powder - bullseye @$35/pound ~ 1.6 cents each
all told $76 per thousand rounds.
It's actually cheaper because I got powder and primers before the price went up. It costs me 4.6 cents a round for .45 acp
I reload for .45acp
Todays inflated prices for components
Primer $60/1000 so .06 each
Brass range pickup = free
bullets - I cast my own from free wheel weights = free
powder - bullseye @$35/pound ~ 1.6 cents each
all told $76 per thousand rounds.
It's actually cheaper because I got powder and primers before the price went up. It costs me 4.6 cents a round for .45 acp
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Even at today's prices your component prices are too high.
Powder is only $30/lb, not $38/lb.
Primers when found are still no higher than $35/K (at least that's the most I'll pay)
Brass (.223) is only $10/100, $95/k, not $39/100. (from Jeff Bartlett)
Using those numbers .223 ammo will cost you $0.35 per round, $17.61/50, $352.14/K. The second time around when the brass costs you nothing the price drops to $0.25 per round and only $257.14/K. That's a lot less than $400 a round and your ammo is more accurate.
Powder is only $30/lb, not $38/lb.
Primers when found are still no higher than $35/K (at least that's the most I'll pay)
Brass (.223) is only $10/100, $95/k, not $39/100. (from Jeff Bartlett)
Using those numbers .223 ammo will cost you $0.35 per round, $17.61/50, $352.14/K. The second time around when the brass costs you nothing the price drops to $0.25 per round and only $257.14/K. That's a lot less than $400 a round and your ammo is more accurate.
If you were to start today with new Remington/Winchester brass it may come out more expensive than the cheapest brass .223 you can find. Still buying once fired brass and pulled bullets drops cost quickly. Powder locally is $20-$25 a pound. Primers, when in, run around $35. I have found pulled 62gr bullets for $0.035/bullet. Toss in once fired brass at about $10/100 or $0.10/case and powder ($20 for a 1lb of H335 and 24.0gr/round) at $0.069 and calling primers $0.035 (which is a bit higher than the bigger stores sell it when its in stock, though they go fast) you are looking at $0.24 a round with brass and $0.15 if you count brass as something that gets 10 loads before its no good(10 cents a piece over 10 shots is a cent a shot). Still cheaper and you can tune it to your rifle. Really the only thing bad with reloading right now where I'm at is that supplies are just hit or miss, not that prices are bad. Its hard to get primers but when they come in they aren't priced much more than they were.
Quoheleth
Member
In defense of reloading
First, here is an excellent on-line load cost calculator that does the math for you: http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp
Second, your original comment about "letting the price of brass wash" is backwards. That's part of the whole reason I reload - I buy an occassional box of factory ammo so that I have fresh brass. I don't leave it behind. I pick it up (and whatever others leave, too) so I can reuse it. For a non-reloader, that's all loss. For me, it's gain.
I bought 2 boxes of 9mm and .45ACP last month when my bro-in-law came to visit. Not knowing his shooting ability, I didn't to take a chance with him and my reloads. That was the first ammo I bought in over a year.
So, when I do my cost calculations, I basically put a Zero in the brass price column. Is it exactly honest? I guess not, but then again, out that out of 300 brass cases in my tub, I've bought roughly 100, salvaged 200, have reloaded them 2 or 3 times, and can probably get another 2-3 (maybe more). How would I figure that cost out?
I don't reload rifle, yet. One of these days I'll get into .223. For now, it's pistols. For example, making 158gr LSWC .357 Mag rounds: my Titegroup was $22 and I throw a 5 grain charge. Primers were $35/1000 the other day. Brass is recycled, so zero. My lead bullets are about $30/500. Click the calculate button and I wind up with eleven cents a round or $5.54/box of 50. Cheapest .357 ammo I saw the other day was $35/50.
Using the same cost calculator for .223, and using the same logic for my brass, I came up with approx $20 for a box of 50. Cheapest .223 I saw the other day - besides steel cased stuff - was about $12/20. Even if I assume that out of the box of 20 cartridges I bought for $10, I can reload each one 4 times, thus valuing my brass at $2.50, that only raises the cost/round ten cents...still under $.50/round, still a full 10 cents/round cheaper than factory. I can buy 40 rounds for $25, or I can make 50 rounds for $25. Yeah, savings isn't as marked as with pistol, but it's there.
Remember, it's a hobby...gets my fat arse off the couch and doing something for me. It's double-pleasure: making the ammo so I can shoot the ammo.
If you don't want to reload, that's cool. Send me your brass ~ be glad to be a "green" shooter.
Q
edit: apologies...I didn't see "detached state" in your OP. With component prices as high as you show, in your case, factory ammo may be the way to go. I'll still take your brass, though
First, here is an excellent on-line load cost calculator that does the math for you: http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp
Second, your original comment about "letting the price of brass wash" is backwards. That's part of the whole reason I reload - I buy an occassional box of factory ammo so that I have fresh brass. I don't leave it behind. I pick it up (and whatever others leave, too) so I can reuse it. For a non-reloader, that's all loss. For me, it's gain.
I bought 2 boxes of 9mm and .45ACP last month when my bro-in-law came to visit. Not knowing his shooting ability, I didn't to take a chance with him and my reloads. That was the first ammo I bought in over a year.
So, when I do my cost calculations, I basically put a Zero in the brass price column. Is it exactly honest? I guess not, but then again, out that out of 300 brass cases in my tub, I've bought roughly 100, salvaged 200, have reloaded them 2 or 3 times, and can probably get another 2-3 (maybe more). How would I figure that cost out?
I don't reload rifle, yet. One of these days I'll get into .223. For now, it's pistols. For example, making 158gr LSWC .357 Mag rounds: my Titegroup was $22 and I throw a 5 grain charge. Primers were $35/1000 the other day. Brass is recycled, so zero. My lead bullets are about $30/500. Click the calculate button and I wind up with eleven cents a round or $5.54/box of 50. Cheapest .357 ammo I saw the other day was $35/50.
Using the same cost calculator for .223, and using the same logic for my brass, I came up with approx $20 for a box of 50. Cheapest .223 I saw the other day - besides steel cased stuff - was about $12/20. Even if I assume that out of the box of 20 cartridges I bought for $10, I can reload each one 4 times, thus valuing my brass at $2.50, that only raises the cost/round ten cents...still under $.50/round, still a full 10 cents/round cheaper than factory. I can buy 40 rounds for $25, or I can make 50 rounds for $25. Yeah, savings isn't as marked as with pistol, but it's there.
Remember, it's a hobby...gets my fat arse off the couch and doing something for me. It's double-pleasure: making the ammo so I can shoot the ammo.
If you don't want to reload, that's cool. Send me your brass ~ be glad to be a "green" shooter.
Q
edit: apologies...I didn't see "detached state" in your OP. With component prices as high as you show, in your case, factory ammo may be the way to go. I'll still take your brass, though
Last edited:
lnlreloader
Member
- Joined
- May 9, 2009
- Messages
- 46
You are way off on the prices you quote.
Primers are only $35/1000... or less, if you stocked up when they were cheap and available.
Brass is free.
Powder hasn't gone up much in price.
Primers are only $35/1000... or less, if you stocked up when they were cheap and available.
Brass is free.
Powder hasn't gone up much in price.
Quoheleth
Member
lnlreloader, note the OP - he says he is in a detached state. Assuming he means that literally and not figuratively (ie California), the added cost of shipping to Hawaii or Alaska just might make primers & powder hit those costs.
Stateside, it's not so bad. Out there, it could be.
Q
Stateside, it's not so bad. Out there, it could be.
Q
Winston_Smith
Member
Where are you guys buying your powder? I have been finding HP-38 for $22/lb and primers are $35/1000 locally.
SquirrelNuts
Member
Brass life is the major cost cutting factor. Brass itself is the most expensive part of the complete cartridge until you reload it, then it becomes only slightly more than the primer per shot. If I buy new Remington .30-06 brass and fire it ten times, it comes out to be 4 cents per shot.
Flying is right - he should stop reloading immediately!
If you think reloading is too expensive, just stop reloading.
Any of you who think it's too expensive, please leave the power/primer/bullets on the shelf for us. It will surely help reduce demand. Thank you.
If you think reloading is too expensive, just stop reloading.
Any of you who think it's too expensive, please leave the power/primer/bullets on the shelf for us. It will surely help reduce demand. Thank you.
ants and I have been reloading longer than that. That has nothing to do with it.
If you think it costs too much to reload now, then don't. You asked a question, and were answered. It doesn't sound like you wanted an answer, and just wanted to fuss about it.
If you think it costs too much to reload now, then don't. You asked a question, and were answered. It doesn't sound like you wanted an answer, and just wanted to fuss about it.
Agreed.
ambidextrous1
Member
I'm still reloading with components I bought four and five years ago, so I'm doing okay so far.
We had a major primer shortage about 15 years ago (that's approximate, and subject to correction), and since then, I have maintained a five year inventory of primers; same for bullets: I stocked up on those about three years ago. I have only three powders in my shop, and bought eight pounds of Bullseye fairly cheaply about three years ago; haven't opened it yet.
All of those purchases weren't in anticipation of rising prices; I'm not that smart; but I did (and do) expect that reloading components will be unavailable at any price in my lifetime.
In recent momths, I have been able to buy bullets and primers at reasonable prices, in small quantities. I do this to push back the point where I'll run out.
Bargains will surface from time to time: old stock, going out of business, etc. I look for these, and buy at reasonable prices and ignore the rest.
As others have mentioned, brass is the single most expensive component; but I started collecting brass about ten years before I started reloading - because a friend told me I should.
If we shoot rimfire as much as possible and buy prudently, things will settle down in a few months (or years); but it's likely that we'll never see the old prices for ammunition or components again.
We had a major primer shortage about 15 years ago (that's approximate, and subject to correction), and since then, I have maintained a five year inventory of primers; same for bullets: I stocked up on those about three years ago. I have only three powders in my shop, and bought eight pounds of Bullseye fairly cheaply about three years ago; haven't opened it yet.
All of those purchases weren't in anticipation of rising prices; I'm not that smart; but I did (and do) expect that reloading components will be unavailable at any price in my lifetime.
In recent momths, I have been able to buy bullets and primers at reasonable prices, in small quantities. I do this to push back the point where I'll run out.
Bargains will surface from time to time: old stock, going out of business, etc. I look for these, and buy at reasonable prices and ignore the rest.
As others have mentioned, brass is the single most expensive component; but I started collecting brass about ten years before I started reloading - because a friend told me I should.
If we shoot rimfire as much as possible and buy prudently, things will settle down in a few months (or years); but it's likely that we'll never see the old prices for ammunition or components again.
I guess you are right, how stupid of me.....
Yes, everything costs more today, but it still pays to reload for me when I factor in brass life. I am not going to shoot factory and then sell the brass. If I shoot any factory, I'll reload the brass.
I almost chimed in. Every time I see people including outrageous prices for new brass as part of the cost of reloading, I want to barf. Ditto for $38 for 1 lb of powder. As bad as things have gotten, I still haven't paid over $20 a lb for powder, and even bought an 8 lb jug of W231 for $110 about a month ago. Bullets are in short supply, but they are reasonable. Even the wait times for bullets have only been in weeks. And there have been LOTS of .223 bullets around.
The interesting thing about .223 brass is that it is the one caliber that folks tend to leave at the range! I have an AR lower , and have saved up over 200 .223 in anticipation of completing the rifle and reloading for this caliber.
Primers are the only sticking point for me. But even at a whopping $60 per thousand, they only add about 3 or 4 cents to the price per round that I was paying a year ago. If I run out before this shortage is over, I may fork over $60 per K for primers. So far, though, I have been able to avoid that.
In short, flying, your situation in the 50th state may well be localized to you. If you hadn't mentioned $38 per HUNDRED for brass, I might have had sympathy for you. But no self-respecting reloader is going to pay that when you can 1) pick it up for free or 2) buy it at a dozen places at the price of $90 per thousand any day of the week on the net.
The interesting thing about .223 brass is that it is the one caliber that folks tend to leave at the range! I have an AR lower , and have saved up over 200 .223 in anticipation of completing the rifle and reloading for this caliber.
Primers are the only sticking point for me. But even at a whopping $60 per thousand, they only add about 3 or 4 cents to the price per round that I was paying a year ago. If I run out before this shortage is over, I may fork over $60 per K for primers. So far, though, I have been able to avoid that.
In short, flying, your situation in the 50th state may well be localized to you. If you hadn't mentioned $38 per HUNDRED for brass, I might have had sympathy for you. But no self-respecting reloader is going to pay that when you can 1) pick it up for free or 2) buy it at a dozen places at the price of $90 per thousand any day of the week on the net.
It is still way cheaper to reload even with the crazy prices right now.
I have never really stocked up and rely on my local gun/pawn shop for supplies. A couple of days ago HP38 was still 19.99 and they had a 1000 limit on their limited primers and they cost $30 which is the most I have ever paid.
I actually have seen an easing of the shortage a little. The pawn shop said they had received 25,000 winchester primers but even with the limit they had sold 75% of them when I was there.
I have never really stocked up and rely on my local gun/pawn shop for supplies. A couple of days ago HP38 was still 19.99 and they had a 1000 limit on their limited primers and they cost $30 which is the most I have ever paid.
I actually have seen an easing of the shortage a little. The pawn shop said they had received 25,000 winchester primers but even with the limit they had sold 75% of them when I was there.
Debronduncan
Member
shortage of components from a new guy
Yes, I'm a new guy; but I like the company of old reloading guys.
I've been experiencing the paucity of components like you have lately and am reminded of the gasoline shortage of the late 70's. It's a lot like what we have now.
There was the verbal/nonverbal/rumor threat that the Saudi's were going to cut us off again and the lines started forming at the gas stations and tempers rose and anguish set in that our lives were all changing.
Well, the post mortem of the situation concluded that the Saudi's never stopped shipping and there never was a shortage in the pipeline; the available supply of gasoline just moved from the filling station's tanks into everyone's gas tanks.
And from what I am hearing and reading that is exactly what has been/is going on now with reloading components.
What do you think?
Yes, I'm a new guy; but I like the company of old reloading guys.
I've been experiencing the paucity of components like you have lately and am reminded of the gasoline shortage of the late 70's. It's a lot like what we have now.
There was the verbal/nonverbal/rumor threat that the Saudi's were going to cut us off again and the lines started forming at the gas stations and tempers rose and anguish set in that our lives were all changing.
Well, the post mortem of the situation concluded that the Saudi's never stopped shipping and there never was a shortage in the pipeline; the available supply of gasoline just moved from the filling station's tanks into everyone's gas tanks.
And from what I am hearing and reading that is exactly what has been/is going on now with reloading components.
What do you think?
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Wow, the OP deleted all of his posts... Why would anyone do something like that?
flipajig
Member
I gues he got scerrrrrrrd........
jsuttle
Member
so now that the senate has shown that the majority are for gun owners' rights, not 60% but the majority, will people be less afraid of new laws and quit stockpiling so I can buy some powder?
- Status
