Reloading Costs, what are yours

[jeepmor]

Handload costs current 1000 case batch 11/05
source comp mfrs qty total $/unit
gunbroker Ni cases 1 fired 1000 58.00 0.058
bi-mart primers cci300 100 1.79 0.018
bi-mart bullet Horn. xtp 14.98 100 0.150
bi-mart powder Unique 1 15.00 0.002
totals--> Cost/round $0.228


I did not load all 1000 cases, but this was my cost per round, with JHPs, not bad considering most JHP are $1/round from my retailers. That's over a 70% saving, without accounting for my time and equipment of course.

For target practice, I have recently found Sportsman Warehouse outlets and am now using lead cast bullets and have dropped the costs to $0.124/round overall using all the same components listed above. I used Oregon Trail Laser cast bullets for $22.99/500. This worked out to $0.046/bullet, less than 1/3 the cost of the JHP bullets.

Here is a comparison of my retail offerings locally. As you can see, handloading does offer cost savings per round when you look only at the cost of parts. I of course need to factor in the cost of my equipment at about ~$430. Being it's a hobby, I don't factor my time. I feel that I'm ahead by a good bit already having reloaded nearly 800+ rounds thus far. Predominantly the high dollar hollowpoints.

Factory cost via my local retailers
Part Qty total price cost/unit
Remington UMCball ammo 250 $49.95 $0.20
misc mfr hollow points 20 $19.95 $1.00


Sorry folks, I cannot get this data neat looking, but I think you can see what I'm getting at.

jeepmor

 

[The Bushmaster]

Cost??? It's a hobby...I don't pay any attention to the cost...I load, shoot, prep, reload and shoot again...I'm more concerned about the cost of gasoline...THAT is not a hobby....

 

[pbhome71]

Material
Bear Creek $25/1000 = 0.025
New Win Brass $10/100 = 0.10
Primer $25/1000 = 0.025
Uniq 7gr/cartridge
1000 load/lb $20/1000 = 0.02
Material= $0.17 per cartridge

Labor
$40/hr 1 hr to load 50 (I'm taking my time... )
Labor = $0.80 per cartridge

Big grin at range... priceless...

 

[P0832177]

Cost??? It's a hobby...I don't pay any attention to the cost...I load, shoot, prep, reload and shoot again...I'm more concerned about the cost of gasoline...THAT is not a hobby....

This is to the point!

 

[Kramer Krazy]

I bought my reloader to save money on plinking ammo. I figure, just shooting 45ACP, I'll have to reload about 3500 rounds to break even on the cost of the RCBS set-up I have. I used to buy WWB 45ACP at $19.98/100 rounds, and I've kept close to 2000 rounds of brass. To get started, here's what I picked up for my first 1000:

1) Rainer 230 gr copper coated bullets - $71
2) Winchester #231 (1 lb) - $18
3) Winchester Magnum primers (1000 ct) - $20

With existing brass, that puts me at $109 per 1000 or $0.109 per shot. I can knock that down to about $85 per 1000 with the same components if I buy the stuff at a show (I saw the Rainer bullets on sale at $52 or so, but shipping knocked it back up to about $64....I've heard of some venders having them around $50 at shows). We just reloaded another two hundred rounds last night (we are up to 300 total).

Got a gun show that we are going to tomorrow. If I get the stuff to reload 357 and 44 mag, I'll break even on the reloader a lot sooner.

 

[trickyasafox]

mine are really low cause i got a hell of a deal on 9mm bullets

115gr JHP 2$/100
cases 10/1000
primers 1.70 per 100
powder 13/1000

per hundred 6 bucks, pretty great to shoot a load that doubles as carry ammo!

223

40/1000 55gr FMJ
cases 7.70 per 1000 *generous reloader!*
primers 1.7 per 100
powder .28 cents per round

just shy of 9 dollars per 100 rounds


22-250

cases free
40/1000 bullets
primers 1.70 per 100
powder 40 cents per

9.70 per 100 rounds

270

cases 12 per 100
primers 1.70 per 100
powder 45 cents per
bullets 12/100
28 bucks for 100 rounds, and the brass really seems ot be lasting so only 16 per additional hundred

38 sp

38/1000 bullets (lead)
cases free
primers 1.70 per 100
powder 1.15 per 100

6.65 per 100

45acp

cases 30/1000
bullets 45/1000 (lead)
primers 1.70 per 100
powder 1.50 per 100
10.70 per hundred, cases last for ever so 7.70 for every additional 100

i have way to much time that i typed that all out

 

[dcloco]

223
172.79 per 1000 reloading
84.65 per 100 over the counter or 846.50/1000.

These are QUALITY rounds.

6.5x55 Swede
301.39 per 1000
79.75 per 100 over the counter or 797.50/1000

7.5x55 Swiss
314.79 per 1000
49.91 per 100 over the counter or 499.10/1000

357
111.89 per 1000
49.91 per 100 over the counter or 499.10/1000

44 mag
129.09 per 1000
43.9 per 100 over the counter or 439.00/1000

Yes, I take my time. I want accurate rounds, tailored to my rifle or pistol. So....I save 2299.69 when I reload 1000 rounds of each caliber. I believe you can purchase quite a bit of reloading equipment AND pay for your time as well.

 

[armoredman]

Costs? Hmm, I only worry about that one set of components at a time...right now it's 123gr SP .310 bullets, and 7.62x39mm brass I need!!!

 

[taliv]

i've posted the details numerous times before but summary:

45acp carry rounds with hornady xtp: 17 cents/rnd ($8.42/50 $168/1000)
45acp lead swc action pistol ammo: 9 cents/rnd ($4.35/50 $87/1000)
223 using actual m193 pulldowns: 8 cents/rnd ($1.68/20 $84/1000) (sadly, i can't replicate this anymore as my supply of accurate dp73 is long gone, so a switch to 2230c will add a penny or two)

all those prices include brass (one firing). subsequent reloads are 14cents, 6cents, and 7 cents respectively

edit: and yes, at these prices/volume i've more than covered my investment in a 1050

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Here goes my most common load:

357 Magnum:

cases= .008 per round-cents/use(13.00 per 100-15 reloads before case failure)
bullets= .01 per round-158 HCSWC home-cast out of free wheel weights.
powder= .03 per round
primers= .02 each

SO: $3.40 per 50 round box.