Reloading 204 worth it?

[S&WKING]

Im only 17, have school, work 35 hours a week, and i love to shoot my 204 I was wondering is it worth reloading my 204 when i dont have alot of time to do so and money is somewhat of a factor i was also wondering if anybody has shot the new winchester supreme 32 gr ballistic tip

 

[sdtahoe]

I'm new to reloading and I started with the .204, this past summer.

I figure I can reload for1/3 the price of a purchased round using existing brass (Hornaday 40 gr V-max). I figure I will have to load 400-500 rounds to pay for the equipment I purchased.

The main reason is that I enjoy the process of building a load tailored to you gun and shooting style. Once you start there is no turning back, I am starting to load .270 now too.

 

[Coltdriver]

Given the price of 204 ammo you can save a bit by reloading, especially if you like to shoot a lot.


I reload for mine, the round is easy on the brass. Its one of the few that you don't have to reload a very large number of rounds in order to pay for your reloading gear. It does not take that long to reload a hundred rounds.

I have not tried anything but the Hornady 32 grain rounds. It sure is like shooting a laser beam!

 

[Ifishsum]

They'll likely shoot a little better, too - provided you take the time to work up a load your .204 really likes.

My Savage likes the 40gr pills best, and with handloads will regularly do 1/2 inch groups @100 yds, at 1/3 the price of factory ammo.

 

[loadedround]

At least 2/3 of the cost of factory ammo is the case so you do the math. Yes I do own a 204 and I do reload and save money over factory ammo. I figure it costs me less than 5.00 box to load excellent ammo. What are you paying for factory?

 

[langenc]

My advice would be:

shoot all you can afford. Save all brass and any you find. If you dont belong to a club find one and join. Somewhere in that club is a shooter that will help you load some ammo at the greatly reduced price.

Later (years) when you get yopur own equip you can help someone else.

 

[CZ223]

I love this question

Mostly because it reminds us that there are still hard workin kids left in the world and some of them like to shoot. Makes me smile. Any way, yes it will cost you less per round to shoot in the long run. If, when you go the range you shoot 3-4 boxes per session, or would like to, then I would definitely invest in some reloading equipment and, whatever you do, save your brass. Cost to load 100 rounds of 204 is right around $25 if you allready have the brass. You know what it costs to buy 204 locally so you do the comparisson. You do not need the most expensive reloading equipment available to load good accurate rounds. You do need good solid equipment. Some will tell you to buy a new LEE setup, I am gonna tell you not to. For my money good used equipment is the better deal and it is easy to find over the internet with a little guidance. What you need to get going:

Press: Solid single stage like the Rock chucker. Used price $25-$50

Scale: Forget the dippers. Used price $15-30 for a decent one

Powder measure: Rcbs uniflow Hornady $15-$30

Dies get new ones through Midway $25 this month

Reloading manual check for these online as well but new ones are in $20 range and ther is a lot of load info on the internet. You will find that you need other things as you go but this will be enought to get started. I would also get a Hand primer like the one from RCBS but, if your press has the priming arm you don't even need that. The nice thing abou this approach is that you can one or two items a week instead of shelling out a whole lot all at once.

 

[dcloco]

+ 1000000 times on what CZ223 said.

 

[mek42]

Would it be worthwhile to suggest the Hodgdon annual magazine style reloading book (typically ~$7 US)? I know it is only for Hodgdon powders, but has a lot more variety as far as bullets are concerned than the little free booklets at the gun store.

 

[S&WKING]

yea the price of these shell are through the roof it anywere from 13.99 for cheap stuff to 20.00 for the great stuff so its gettuing expensive