should I?

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Axis II

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well I'm sitting at home bored out of my mind today and thinking about making a trip to cabelas for dies and supplies for 38spl and 45-70. I mainly want to cut some cost on the 45-70 so I can shoot it more. $35-40 per 20 is kind of steep. I also want to try loading 38spl and use it in the summer for some IDPA shoots as I hate spending $24 on 50rds. I know I will have star costs like dies and such but my thinking is better ammo for cheaper?

what do you guys think?
 
Absolutely. Assuming your question is Should I reload? Pays for itself in about 6 months if you're shooting the .38 every week(no waiting for summer if you belong to a club and shoot bullseye in a league. All kinds of doors open as a club member too.). Longer for the rifle, of course.
You can further reduce costs, a bit, by shooting cast bullets. Jacketed bullets for either cartridge get really expensive really fast.
 
I currently load 38 special for about $.12 a piece or $12 per hundred. I buy everything in bulk, so this keeps costs down quite a bit. This price also includes shipping. I'll normally purchase 5K primers and one or two 8 pounders of powder and the cost of shipping is spread so thin, the savings is big. I enjoy reloading just as much as shooting, so it helps I save money, but the hobby is more of an interest to me.
 
I want to shoot extreme plated. s&b primers and hp 38 so it will be pretty cheap IMO. but I'm a newbie so I'm asking.
 
.38 spl and .45-70 are two of the easiest to load out there. You will still need a touch of lube on the .45-70 as it is slightly tapered.
 
My first question would be, why not?

That will give us more insight, towards what energy, funds and goals, do you have and are willing to apply towards your objective.

If you want to save money, the best way is to not spend any.

If you want to shoot more or have better loads that are less expensive, some paths exist to do that (sometimes) than buying "factory".

If your just bored a puppy can fill that time, energy and money or you can go for broke and pick a woman of your choice. Either should take care of funds and "down time".
 
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And if you are going to load .45/70 to save money, you might as well save lots and cast your own bullets. That's what I started doing this year.
 
ohihunter2014 said:
well I'm sitting at home bored out of my mind today and thinking about making a trip to cabelas for dies and supplies for 38spl and 45-70. I mainly want to cut some cost on the 45-70 so I can shoot it more. $35-40 per 20 is kind of steep. I also want to try loading 38spl and use it in the summer for some IDPA shoots as I hate spending $24 on 50rds. I know I will have star costs like dies and such but my thinking is better ammo for cheaper?

what do you guys think?
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Well, if you are looking to save money on the 45-70 you will save a lot by loading your own.

The prices below are for components bought at current prices and don't include buying new brass since you said in other threads you have brass.

Powder $30/lb
Primers $32/K
Bullets from MBC, 405gr Cast, $42/200
Cost = 37.5¢ per round, $7.50/20 rounds, $18.74/50 rounds, $37.48/100 rounds.
Using a 350gr Hornady Interlock hunting bullet:
Cost = 88¢ per round, $17.60/20 rounds.

Again, not buying brass and using x-treme plated bullets you mentioned in another thread you posted about the .38 Special and current component prices:
Cost = 15¢ per round, $7.47/50 rounds, $14.94/100 rounds.

I load 158gr Cast bullets in the .38 Special and a box of 50 costs me only $6.10 at current component prices. Only $4.84/50 rounds using the prices I actually paid for the components I'm currently using.
 
thanks guys. I pay like $30-32 for 45-70 ammo and I don't shoot the gun unless its to sight in and shoot deer because the price is so high. I changed scopes the other day and burned a box of 20rds sighting in and just having fun and then decided I liked the 3-9 on it better and had to resight in so that's another 10rds. I enjoy reloading and need something to do in the winter time other than watch tv so figured why not but if cost would be up there with factory I would just not shoot as much and deal with it. I don't count my time in the cost because I enjoy it.
 
If time doesn't count and it is a joy, I agree with Kevin, you should start casting too.

Recycle your lead/brass and 45-70 can be very cheap to shoot. Just powder and primers at that point.
 
If you enjoy (and have the disposition for) reloading, buy the dies. IMO cost alone doesn't justify it, especially factoring in the time it takes.
 
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