Reloading is not so cheap!!!

[SniperStraz]

Hey guys. I'm trying to get into reloading here. According to my calculations its not going to save me much money.
All reloading equipmen aside:
Lets say I'm reloading for 9mm
500 Brass Cases-$80
500 Bullets- $50
500 Primers -$15
I dont know how much powder I'd need but lets say 1lb. $30
We're looking at .35 cents per bullet.
What am I missing? I want to get into reloading to save money and shoot more.
Help me out guys.

 

[robriboflavin]

Re-use of the cases is the biggest factor, and I would expect to get at least a thousand rounds of 9mm from any reasonable powder.

Of course this doesn't consider the reloading equipment. I just figure that I get to shoot more for the same amount of money, rather than expect any $$$ savings.

 

[ljnowell]

Lets start at the top, your brass. You can buy 1000 once fired brass for somewhere around 50 bucks. Brass really shouldnt be factored into the per round cost, as it can be reloaded many, many times. you can get 1000 lead bullets for a 9mm for less than 50 bucks at several places. Look up two alpha bullets, for example. What kind of powder are you using? You should be able to get powder for target loads for less than 20 dollars a pound. A pound will usually make 1000 rounds or more. Primers should never cost more than 30/1000.

 

[420Stainless]

You get to re-use the brass several times, so that cost can be spread out over several lots.

Also depends on what you're shooting. Many rifle calibers are running a dollar a round or more, so you can save half the price by reloading even using new brass.

 

[CSA 357]

But look at all the fun your having! Yes it does run into money, but it is cheaper, i have been reloading for a pretty good while. I just started casting my own bullets, and i enjoy it, all of it is getting higher, but so is factory ammo, if you can find it! Csa

 

[jfh]

Figuring case amortization over nominally 5-10 rounds, even if I buy new brass, my costs for reloading don't run over 13 cents a round, or $6.50 a box of fifty.

That's for 38 Special or 357, and it should be about the same or less for 9mm.

Do some actual research for your costs, not ball parking--that should help with your calculating.

Jim H.

 

[PotatoJudge]

The money is saved working up top end loads in handguns and target/hunting loads in rifle. 9mm has never offered much in savings, and until recently very few people loaded for it.

Your bullet, primer, and powder prices are spot on from what I've seen locally. It's tough times to start reloading, but who can afford not to? Buying in bulk will bring costs down especially powder, primers, and cast lead bullets.

I'm just glad I stocked up when I did, though it's not a huge supply by any means.

 

[jcwit]

Powder $30 divided by 7000=.004 X 3.5grains=------.014 cents

Primer-----.03 cents

Bullet------.10 cents

Total-----.144 per round
comes to $7.20 per 50 rd. box

brass doesn't count as you use it over and over

 

[Claude Clay]

brass at $50/1000 used 10 times is 1/2 cent
lead bullets delivered $70/1000 is 7 cents
primers at 30/1000 is 3 cents
powder 20/pound ;2k/pound is 1 cent


amortize the cost of your equipment at a penny a round is 12.5 per 100 shop around and even white box per 100 will be more than double.
your equipment can pay for itself in as little as 2000 rounds [lee] or 4000 for dillon.

cost per bullet is the same for 32 acp 380 38 357 357 sig 40 sw 45 acp etc.

 

[MBDoc Holiday]

You wont save alot on 9mm but you will if reloading rifle or big bore pistol. Just think of reloading 9mm as a "starter drug".

 

[RustyFN]

What am I missing?

Buying in bulk online. you can buy some brands of primers for $90 to $95 per 5,000, that's around $18 per 1K. You can also buy most powders 8 pounds for under $100, that's close to $12 per pound. I pick up brass at the range and save my own and have never bought brass. I don't know what calibers you are loading but you should be able to load for half of factory. Check out places like http://www.grafs.com/, http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/ and Wideners. As far as bullets I buy them where ever I can find a good deal. I cast for my 45 auto and am getting ready to cast for all of my pistols. Casting will save you a ton of money if you don't mind putting in a little time.
Rusty

 

[jcwit]

I also do my own casting using range lead and wheel weights.

Cost of bullets minuscule.

 

[SniperStraz]

Ok, thanks guys, I just got a little shock when I added it all up and needed a little push from my good friends here at THR. I suppose I will reuse the brass a lot (If I can find it all at the range) and rifle rounds will deffinately be worth it.
So far I've heard:
-Buy in bulk
-Use lead bullets
What other tips can you all give me
Thanks

 

[RustyFN]

Also you should be able to buy once fired brass in 9mm for around $30 to $40 per 1,000.
Rusty

 

[33rowdy]

Other than reduce, reuse, and recycle....Thats about it!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

All reloading equipment aside:
Lets say I'm reloading for 9mm
500 Brass Cases-$80
500 Bullets- $50
500 Primers -$15
I don't know how much powder I'd need but lets say 1lb. $30
We're looking at .35 cents per bullet.

One thing I see, powder is ~$20 a lb, not $30 almost anywhere.

Haven't you saved any of your brass from factory ammo? I'm guessing at $80/500 that's new brass, buy used... The brass, like said above, will be used again. Even using your numbers the second time around reusing the brass your rounds will go from .35 a round to less than .15 a round and if you but powder at the right price each round will cost you only .14 even. (using your numbers)

I know it seems you aren't saving much but remember 9mm is a common and inexpensive round. When you get into the more expensive ammo your savings will be considerable. (like building .357 Magnum rounds for the same exact price as .38 Special ammo)

I make a box of .38 Special for well under $5.00 a box... Remington UMC ammo is $17.99 in the store.

 

[earlthegoat2]

the more BULK you go the more you will save. just about everything has to be purchased by the thousand to make it worthwhile. Powder may have to be purchased by the 4lb or more.

 

[rfwobbly]

No one sells the 9mm ammo I reload at any price. Therefore I save money, time, and untold aggravation.

 

[RandyP]

Next time you are at the range, don't be shy about asking fellow shooters if they reload or want to save THEIR brass. You may be surprised at how many not only don't reload but also are more than happy for you to take their now once-fired factory brass to use. Take all you can gather, regardless of caliber. You never know what you might want down the road.

I used to freely offer to others before I just now started reloading. Now, heck I'll even scrounge the cardboard boxes and plastic holders out of the trash. I just wish I had saved the brass from all the factory ammo I've shot.

My indoor range does not permit lead bullet reloads, but plated bullets cost less than FMJs and the cost per round still works out to 1/2 that of factory ammo.

 

[KentuckyPoorboy]

I just purchased 2000 rounds all Win headstamp once fired off this site for $55 shipped to our door. I split that in half with a buddy and your looking even better on your brass. Powder too should be bought for far less than $30/pound. I am just getting in myself but I am a cheapskate so I am always looking hard to save money but am also excited about being able to make loads that are superior to what I can buy commercially.

Best of luck to ya.

 

[Landric]

I just bought 1000 once fired .38 Special cases for $35 shipped. I already have primers and powder, but if you figure I paid $25 for 1000 primers (which is about right IIRC), and about $15 for the powder that goes into 1000 rounds of .38 Special +P (I load the higher end of .38 Special for use in IDPA from a L-frame S&W). I buy lead 158 grain bullets for about $60 shipped per 1000. All told, that is $135 (including the brass) for 1000 rounds of .38 Special +P. I can't buy 500 rounds of factory ammo for that.

Since I can reuse the brass over and over again, my next 1000 round batch will cost me $100. If I buy in bulk, I can get under $100 quite easily. Actually, I don't buy powder. I have a friend that bought a huge amount of HS-6 (somewhere around 100 pounds) at an excellent price, and he just gives me a couple of pounds when I need it. That train will dry up eventually, but when it does, I'll be back to $100, or slightly less for 1000 rounds of +P .38 Special.

9x19 costs about the same, still cheaper than it can be bought as factory. .45ACP and .44 Special cost more, but are still a significant savings over factory. .44 Special is the biggest in terms of factory vs. reloaded cost.

Quite frankly, while one can save money reloading 9x19 it is probably the least amount of savings of any handgun chambering. Back when Wally World sold 100 round WWB for ~$10 I didn't bother reloading it often. These days I handload all my 9x19 also.

 

[Javelin]

A bullet press is nothing more than a machine that converts time into ammunition. You will "save" money only if you are planning to shoot more.

 

[Bear2000]

I reload 9mm for about .12/round. Takes about 2000 rounds to break even with dies and equipment (but your press can be used for other calibers). Show me where I can buy decent 9mm for less than $20/100 today. AND I get a high quality cartridge tailor made for my guns and purposes.

 

[Hoxviii]

As has been said, 9mm is so cheap to begin with that your return time really gets stretched out.

Get into more expensive rounds and it REALLY helps out. For example, I bought an RCBS starter kit.

If all I loaded was .45 ACP FMJ, my setup will be payed for in roughly 1800rounds.

Full load .357 brings return time down to about 800 rounds

If all I loaded was .243, the return time drops to about 850 rounds.

Loading basic 45-70 drops the payback time to about 350 rounds.

Loading hot 45-70 drops payback time to under 175 rounds (it saves $3.45 per round versus commercial loads).

At $40-$80+ a box for 45-70, I can't afford to shoot it. But when reloading it's the cheapest rifle round to load for- 27 cents each, and that's a full power load. Light loads I can get down to 18 cents, each. For comparison it costs me 26 cents each to load .45 FMJ and 12 cents to load .38 special/light .357.

 

[zxcvbob]

I'm using bullets that I bought a couple of years ago for about 3¢ each (when those run out, my cost actually goes *down* because I start casting my own bullets.) Primers are about 2¢ each, and powder is about 0.6¢ per round. Brass is free because I pick it up at the range and reuse it over and over.

Total cost: less than 6¢ per cartridge, and it's good ammo.