Reloading Cost by the Box

[Wildbillz]

I am with 78Shovle on this one.

I decided long ago that I would not be denied the use of my firearms due to lack of ammo. Be it by edict or supply. So I keep a small supply of primers, powders and projetiles (ok brass to) on hand at all times. During the last ammo drought I had to buy 1 box of ammo (380acp as I didn't load for it and bought a pistol in that caliber). Ohter then that it didn't bother me in the least. The one before that I barly knew it was on (Primes with built in self life, who ever thougt that one up?).

Normaly one of the first accesorys I get for a new gun is a set of reloading dies in that caliber. Heck I have dies for calibers that I don't eaven load any longer or yet. I saw a deal on a set of dies for 5.45x39 (AK74 round) and picked up two sets. Never used em yet. May never but they are cheap insurance. I pickup brass at the range in all calibers as long as its reloadablet. Use to be I was one of the only ones that did it or so it seemed. Now guys are making good dough selling the picked up range brass.

I know that surplus is cheap and the russians will allways make it as long as the US is buying. But I also recall Presadent Clinton putting out an EO that stopped the import of all the cheap Chinese 7.62x39 ammo and other goods. Guys scrambled to get it and the supply ran low. The price in reaction whent up. What we felt like was way up at that time. Cheap 7.62x39 went from $.50 or so a box to over $5.00. Luckly the russians steped in and filled the gap. Think what it would be like if they had not or couldn't fill that gap? So a $35.00 investment in a set of reloading dies is a sound yet cheap investment. I have spent that much at MickyD's in a week for lunchs.

Supplys are cheaper when you buy in bulk. I bought an 8Lbs jug of Unique for under $100. Thats like $12.50 a pound. Primers, I have paid between $130.00 and $90.00 per 5K depending on maker and model. Don't want to spend that much? Team up with a couple of buddys and split it up.

Keep in mind that in the long run most if not all surplus ammo will one day dry up. Its the nature of surplus. Or the boogie man may one day make it impossable to get your favorite caliber any longer.

Sorry for rambling.

WB

 

[HOWARD J]

I don't reload to save money---it's a hobby

 

[Jasper1573]

In my original post, I just wanted to induce a discussion comparing the cost of reloads to the cost of factory measured in boxes of ammo vs dollars as the medium of exchange/measurement.

Yes, it's cheaper to reload if you shoot a lot, and if you reload, you will likely shoot alot. That's a nice circular explanation, don't you think?

I reload because I shoot.

Amen to that...despite the fact that I have saved enough money to pay for my reloading set up twice over in about 1 year of reloading, that isn't why I bought the equipment. I am always looking for something interesting and enjoyable to do, and reloading falls in with shooting...both are interesting and enjoyable; both involve mathematics...I am a high school math teacher, so there you go.

Now, most of what I have said doesn't involve cost, so I bet we all reload for enjoyment, accuracy, and consistency, etc. It allows us to use our minds, which, if we don't, will shrivel like our aging bodies.

And, money ain't what it's all about!

 

[RustyFN]

Now, most of what I have said doesn't involve cost, so I bet we all reload for enjoyment, accuracy, and consistency, etc. It allows us to use our minds, which, if we don't, will shrivel like our aging bodies.

That's it. I would still reload if it cost the same as factory. That's the same reason I got into casting. If you didn't enjoy it I don't think you would be doing it for very long.

 

[Tango Sierra]

Not everyone who reloads ends up shooting more and not saving money and not everyone does it because they enjoy it as a new hobby.

In 2002 and 03 I used to go the the indoor range three or four times a month and shoot 500-600 rounds of factory ammo per session but after a couple of years it got boring. I then discovered IDPA and USPA and started shooting at matches three or four times a month firing anywhere from 65 to 125 rounds per match and found that a lot more fun.

A friend gave me some of his reloads to shoot for a match and after that I knew I needed to start reloading for competition. I don't enjoy reloading one bit but I did it for the custom power factor rounds then and now that I'm retired I do it for the savings. If I now had to buy factory ammo I would have to give up shooting. For me reloading is a necessary evil.

Even if you don't cast your own bullets you will save at least half by reloading 9mm or 45acp as long as your not buying high end bullets like Speer Gold Dots or Hornady. I reload a lot of 357sig and since my components were purchased in 2006 my cost for 357sig is only $3.45 per 50 reusing old brass. None of my friends shoot 357sig so they give me any 357sig brass they find at the range. I reload 9mm for $3.25 per 50 but this will end by next summer because I'm running out of components and new components will cost me a lot more but it will still be half or less than buying new factory ammo.

I just wish I could teach the dogs to do the reloading for me.

 

[voicomp]

Does reloading "save me time"? NFW! I lose hours in the basement (when it is convenient for me to do so).

OTOH, it gives me something productive to do (at times when life might otherwise force stgnation) that is a change of pace and gives a sense of accomplishment/autonomy. There is even room for careful creativity.

Does it save me $$? YES (but not much). Before, I used to stop shooting when I had "spent enough (too much?) on ammo" or ran out. Now, I stop when I feel I have shot my fill (or wrist(s) or shoulder(s) sore or eyes can't reliably focus on target or tested enough of what I made (tpo figure out the next revision) or am slowing badly on pull-aim-shoot w/ a sort of buff boomstick....).

I confess, my .22's probably feel lonely but on a 1 for 2-3 ratio to shoot my 38/357 or.44 or similar, instead, I will save my .22 ammo for some teaching or "focused plinking" (scopes on bottle caps at 25' yards instead of cans at 25' w/ handgun iron sights.

YMMV (espcially if you live for semi or full auto)

 

[Cheers]

I think if you really like to shoot and be accurate, you need to reload. Forget about the cost. I don't think it is a very expensive hobby compared to my golfing buddies. Shoot, reload and enjoy.

 

[perryg114]

I am just starting to get back into reloading and shooting in general after about a 10-15 yr break. I have all the stuff to reload but I am trying to decide if it is worth it. I have the brass and the primers and some powder. The biggest expense seems to be the bullet. It looks like a .357 or 9mm bullet is around $.10 each in bulk. This is either copper coated or Jacketed. I won't shoot lead and have never been able to get lead to work without fowling the barrel. Now add about $.02 for powder and you are at $.12 a round. You can get reloads or new for about $.20-.25 a round. This is not even including the brass, and primers. Which I already have. Actually, I have several pounds of powder as well. For Rifles the projectile costs almost as much as a loaded round at least for common calipers. So do I save my reloading stuff for the end of the world, or do I shoot that up and save the factory stuff eventhough it is overseas manufacture? The main cost item here seems to be the bullet itself that can cost anywhere from 50-150% of factory ammo. I am having trouble justifying the time involved in reloading right now.

 

[Reefinmike]

not too sure where you are getting your numbers, last time I checked, a box of 357 magnum brass is running $25 a box or 50 cents a round. using tulammo primers, HP-38 powder and berrys plated 357 bullets, im loading it for 6.25/box or 12.5 cents a round... 1/4 the price of factory ammo. casting and using the previous mentioned components, I have 38 special under 1.40/box.

for rifle, your standard run of the mill plain jane 224" 55gr hornady fmj is $100/1,000 or ten cents a pop. im loading it for about $3.50/20 round box. last time I checked russian steel case was $5+tax and decent brass ammo was $12/box.

midwayusa.com
montanagoldbullet.com
powdervalleyinc.com
wideners.com
patsreloading.com

 

[Flt Simulation]

Here is a link to a fantastic calculator if you want to know what it cost you to reload cartridges: http://www.reloaderhub.com/calculator.cfm

I only load .45 ACP


Precision Delta 230 gr / FMJ RN bullets ($132 per 1,000)

Winchester small pistol primers

Winchester 231 powder (5.2 gr)

Range pick-up brass (free)


Cost is 18 cents per round / ($9 per box of 50)

 

[GLOOB]

I did the math when I first started reloading. Even compared with bulk ammo prices, I was able to break even with my first $500.00 spent on getting setup for 9mm, 357, and 45ACP. This included the cost of all the gear and components. My first set of components were all bought locally at much higher prices than I have since paid, to boot.

I just looked at it like buying $500.00 worth of ammo, some assembly required.

I did the same cost comparison when getting into casting. I paid for my furnace, lead, and molds in my first big casting session.

 

[cfullgraf]

I am having trouble justifying the time involved in reloading right now.

This seems to be the main discussion point. Folks that enjoy reloading, the time means nothing. For folks that reloading is drudgery, the time spent means everything.

If you consider your time as important and/or not readily available, you will never justify the investment in time and materials for reloading.

 

[Hillbillyz]

For me and many others it's a hobby, or an extension of our shooting hobby. Look at the guys that do wood working. By the time you factor in the cost of tools, materials, and labor, it would be much cheaper to buy a piece of furniture, even high end stuff. But if you enjoy wood working it's relaxing and an enjoyable hobby.

 

[hovercat]

1 to bullfrog. Especially calibers that are scarce or not available. If you handload, you can buy that neat old rifle that is discounted because ammo is not available or hard to find/ crazy expensive.
7.65 Argentine
35 WSL
16 ga
Wife likes her 38s&w police positive for the smooth DA trigger pull.

Not to mention all the light recoil training rounds that the kids shot growing up. They really enjoyed shooting 30/06 at 6 years old. I loved the looks of the other shooters as my daughter loaded up the magazine, they would cringe in sympathy for the poor kid, and the rifle would go POP, less than a 22. Son still shoots 'reduced recoil' rounds for hunting in his 06. Have you seen the price of those commercially? Daughter likes shooting skeet with a light powder load 20ga pushing 3/4 oz of shot, I have not seen where I can get that off the shelf. And it is cheaper, especially when you consider that it is custom ammo.

 

[stiffdogg06]

I've only been into reloading for a couple of months now. At first, it was to save money and shoot more for my money. But it has turned into a delightful hobby of mine. In addition to that, I enjoy shooting stuff I "made".

Next step will be to cast my own boolits.

 

[poboy6]

First post here.

I got into reloading recently because I absolutely love my Lee Enfield .303 British No4 MK1*. The prices were getting pretty high for rounds made in the last half-century (you know, the ones that don't hang fire? ) so I ordered a few reloading books and got the Lee Classic Loader for $30 plus shipping.

I went to my LGS and paid $27 for 1lb of powder and $37 for 1k primers, plus tax. 150grain bullets I got cheap but you can still find them for $25/100.

Plugging these numbers in the handloading calculator I came up with $.468 per round, which does not count the cost of the brass as I currently have a fair amount.

It's tough to find .303 British around here so if I ordered some online I'd be looking at $.70 per round plus shipping unless I buy a case.

Then I decided to "upgrade" to a Lee Hand press and get some .30-06 dies, along with 8lb of powder that will work for either caliber.

Again plugging in the numbers I now come up with $.416 per round, not counting anything for brass.

And over the past couple weeks I've seen the dreaded SOLD OUT sign next to .303 on many of the popular websites that sell ammo.


I don't shoot as much as I'd like so I don't see me upgrading equipment any time soon but I certainly feel like I've made a wise decision.

 

[Kachok]

Lets do a breakdown of one of my favorite hunting loads, the 165gr SGK 30-06.
Factory ammo cost about $40 a box localy or $36.11 on Cheaperthendirt.com that comes out to $1.80 a pop if I buy cheaper online, and assume I did not have to pay shipping.
My cost to make a near identical handload that shoots even better.
Bullets $0.27 each
Primer $0.03 each
Powder 57gr IMR4350 $0.18 each (if I don't buy in bulk)
Brass $0.15 each (once fired at the local range) and I can use them at leased 8 time on that load so say $0.02 each shot.
Avarage that out and I am paying $0.50 a shot instead of $1.80 less then 1/3 the price or $10 a box.
Now figure in that I usually get most of my reloading supplies on sale and I am well under that, the difference is pretty dramatic if you like to shoot alot, plus I enjoy handloading and would do it even if the price were the same.