So it begins

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peterk1234

peterk1234

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Been reading for two months. Been saving brass for three months. Have 38 special, 357 and a boatload of 9mm. Already have the digital caliper for OAL measurements. Built a table three weeks ago. Bought that vibrating thing to clean brass a couple of weeks ago. Bought a digital scale (as a backup), bullet puller, HP38 powder and winchester SP primers last week. Ordered the Lee classic turret kit and 38/357 die today from Midway. Bought 500 158 SWC bullets from MBC today. Had an old friend show me how to load on his single stage. Plan to drag him to my house for my first session. I'm ready.

I know it really isn't about savings. But I am still amazed that even without taking advantage of volume purchases and sales, I can load 38 special for around $7.50 per 50 vs $21 per 50 at our local Cabelas and.......... control my loads and figure out what shoots the best in my gun. Pete
 
True, I never have come out any better on how much is spent, but definitely shoot much more than I did with store bought ammo! Way more. Instead of a couple of boxes of 50, you'll find yourself able to shoot a few hundred.

I cant remember the last time I left the range because I was out of ammo, I now leave when Im done.

Russellc
 
peterk1234 said:
I know it really isn't about savings. But I am still amazed that even without taking advantage of volume purchases and sales, I can load 38 special for around $7.50 per 50 vs $21 per 50 at our local Cabelas and.......... control my loads and figure out what shoots the best in my gun. Pete
Click to expand...

Congrats
Welcome to the wonderful world of loading your own ammo!
As they say you won't save anything you'll shoot more.

Also be warned, as you're learning soon you'll become an ammo snob. I'm not quite there yet but I'm getting there. I started last year and like you see the benefits of loading my own. First better ammo. Next more ammo for the dollar and just something to do that's relaxing!

Also once you figure out your loads you'll save more by buying in bulk. RMR offers a discount for members her and that helps. I think k a few others might too.

Oh and be careful you might start shooting more to empty brass to have something to reload!
 
It's over for you. Next you will start scrounging lead to cast bullets, picking up every piece of brass on the ground(just in case you may load that caliber or to trade for what you do load for), watching craigslist for deals on more presses, dies, or other accessories, shooting all you have so you can load it again, building a powder magazine to store your bulk powder purchases, building a primer storage area, and reading everything you can about your new obsession for hours on end.

It's not too late for you, you haven't started yet. For the rest of us, we'll, there isn't much hope. If you choose to continue down this road, we understand and are here for you.


P.S. It is possible to save money reloading, and shoot more too. It just depends on how far down the rabbit hole you are willing to go.
Good luck.
 
peterk1234 said:
I know it really isn't about savings. But I am still amazed that even without taking advantage of volume purchases and sales, I can load 38 special for around $7.50 per 50 vs $21 per 50 at our local Cabelas and.......... control my loads and figure out what shoots the best in my gun.
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I think when we start comparing things we just need to be sure we are comparing the same things. For example bullets to bullets, we cant compare a JHP to a LRN.

Ron
 
I started loading in 2005 and its steadily progressed into a serious addiction. When I shoot in the National Forest, I scrounge for brass that is left behind by others, usually end up with 30 peices of 9mm/week. I actually look forward to loading the brass, more than shooting, lol. My 9mm rounds are running $12/100. Factory ammo will run you $20/100.

Russel is right, instead of shooting 50 rounds of factory in a session, I'll shoot 150 rounds of my reloads.
 
I thought I was done adding to my reloading tools. I've been lucky to manage a surplus in cash because I shot a lot to begin with. Now that I cast and coat my own the chore takes time. Now I need to speed things up a bit and an investment of $1600 is in the near future. With it I will save a lot of time on production but I don't think I will gain in bullets produced because I won't be shooting more.


The one caliber I can't see myself loading much of is 223 for the AR 15. I have a load and loaded 100 but that is as far as it may go for the foreseeable future because the savings don't amount to enough over cheap plinking ammo. I have some brass, primers and powder just in case tings get rough again and I plan to add a little to them but I'm not going all out for a reserve. $.035 per round doesn't add up to much if I'm not shooting tons of 223 to begin with.

I figure 2,000 rounds a year is about $70 in savings over reloading provided I get the bullet at $.08 a piece, the powder at $32.00 per lb., and S&B primers for $25 per K. Granted I could buy 8lb powder, get bullets for less (but from what I've seen I would have a mixed lot of pulled bullets and sorting is a pain) plus save a few bucks per K on the primers when on sale. Still a lot of time and planning plus the work reloading them. This is where I pass on reloading them unless I shoot more.

Some people enjoy reloading more than me. I enjoy the results. YMMV

Anyhow welcome to the wonderful world of reloading! It can be a fun journey and there is so much to learn. It is sort of an adventure and there is a pleasure in shooting something you make. If you do it right you will make it for less and get to shoot more or just pay for the equipment and pocket the dividends. Enjoy!
 
Wreck-n-Crew said:
$.035 per round doesn't add up to much if I'm not shooting tons of 223 to begin with.
Click to expand...

I know prices are coming down. But Where are you getting 223 so cheap that it's only a few cents a round more than reloading?

I ask as around here I save between .10 and .16 a round. And that's not with any bulk buying of powder or primers. Bullets are from RMR or Everglades so nothing fancy but not junk either
 
I am really looking forward to learning to load the 38 and 357 loads. I am going to just stick with the 38 for now though. It interesting how I got here, especially since I only took up the sport only six months ago. I really wanted a larger caliber revolver. I had one in a 22 (GP100), and it has been one of my favorite guns to shoot. Can't tell you why, but I love it. My wife and I share a couple of nice semi autos but there is just something about a wheel gun. After doing some research, it just seemed logical to get a 357mag. It is one of the revolvers on everyone's must have list. After purchasing and falling in love with the damn thing, I did a bit more reading. I came across a great article somebody wrote stating that the true strength of this caliber really shines when you start to reload. It can shoot light bullets, heavy bullets, light charges and powerful charges. I think the writer called the 357, four guns in one. He said, "Whenever I have a yearning for a new gun, I ask myself, can I get there with a different load in my 357?" That was the beginning of the end for me. He sucked me right in.
 
I'm loading 55 grain FMJ's for 19 cents/round. Factory FMJ's run about 30 cents/round. So at 3000 rounds/year, I'm saving $330. Not really, I'm just shooting an additional $330 worth of ammo, lmao.
 
Hokie_PhD said:
I know prices are coming down. But Where are you getting 223 so cheap that it's only a few cents a round more than reloading?

I ask as around here I save between .10 and .16 a round. And that's not with any bulk buying of powder or primers. Bullets are from RMR or Everglades so nothing fancy but not junk either
Click to expand...
Tula and Wolf. 24-25 cents a round. I guess I could add the cost of early barrel wear to the savings on the cheap ammo and come out about he same as buying brass but I'm planning an eventual barrel change and possibly a caliber change in the future.

I'll either go with a 300 BO or another .223 in steel and free float. If I go blackout I can use Coated bullets I cast myself and save on bullets plus powder charge on 300 BO can be 25%-33% less than 223. If I go with a free float and accuracy ill use a SS barrel and reload. I'm leaning towards the 300 BO right now as accuracy is a little less important to me than cost per round.
 
I load a lot of 9mm and .45, but load more .223 than that. You can buy Non brass case ammo cheap, but it IS cheap. I havent bought factory .223 ammo since I finished my first AR and had no dies for .223. Plus, I can spend a little extra on Sierra MK bullets and varget and be so much more accurate.

I do cheap plinking ammo too, "Mass made" 55 grain FMJ and so forth. Yes the SMK bullets and varget rounds cost more than factory plinkers, but let's compare them to factory ammo that uses SMK bullets, like Black Hills Match, and I am ahead again. Plus, I just like doing this.

Russellc
 
Wreck-n-Crew said:
Tula and Wolf. 24-25 cents a round. I guess I could add the cost of early barrel wear to the savings on the cheap ammo and come out about he same as buying brass but I'm planning an eventual barrel change and possibly a caliber change in the future.

I'll either go with a 300 BO or another .223 in steel and free float. If I go blackout I can use Coated bullets I cast myself and save on bullets plus powder charge on 300 BO can be 25%-33% less than 223. If I go with a free float and accuracy ill use a SS barrel and reload. I'm leaning towards the 300 BO right now as accuracy is a little less important to me than cost per round.
Click to expand...

Thanks

With factory ammo I get brass. The little savings for steel isn't worth it to me. This way I basically get the brass for "free".
Then I get better ammo when I use the brass. Of course I enjoy the time reloading so there is no "cost" for the time as it's a way to unwind from work and life's stresses.
 
peterk1234 said:
I am really looking forward to learning to load the 38 and 357 loads. I am going to just stick with the 38 for now though. It interesting how I got here, especially since I only took up the sport only six months ago. I really wanted a larger caliber revolver. I had one in a 22 (GP100), and it has been one of my favorite guns to shoot. Can't tell you why, but I love it. My wife and I share a couple of nice semi autos but there is just something about a wheel gun. After doing some research, it just seemed logical to get a 357mag. It is one of the revolvers on everyone's must have list. After purchasing and falling in love with the damn thing, I did a bit more reading. I came across a great article somebody wrote stating that the true strength of this caliber really shines when you start to reload. It can shoot light bullets, heavy bullets, light charges and powerful charges. I think the writer called the 357, four guns in one. He said, "Whenever I have a yearning for a new gun, I ask myself, can I get there with a different load in my 357?" That was the beginning of the end for me. He sucked me right in.
Click to expand...


I also have a GP-00 6" 357 and love it! Loading for that can really save you some money for sure if you shoot it a lot. I load mine with a home cast 158 swc over 5.0 gr of Bullseye and it is extremely accurate and also self cleaning. I haven't cleaned the bore in almost 4000 rounds. The 357 is a very versatile round like you read. You can go from mild to wild and the Ruger will be fine with it. If you plan on buying bullets Rocky Mountain Reloading will be your friend, they have great prices, great products, great service, and are members here. If you are looking for brass I'll tell you where I got some cheap, but I'm not putting it out for everyone till you have a chance to get some( .08c each delivered for 357)

Once you get going good savings will be irrelevant. You will still pay the same money but you will shoot more. If you make it to the bottom of the rabbit hole you will see substantial savings. All my equipment paid for itself in 3 months when I started reloading, but I was shooting a lot. Now it costs me so little I can shoot whenever i want and however much I want. My pistol ammo costs me $35/1000 to load, that's 9mm, 38, 357, or 45. I stocked up on powder and primers a while back before the shortages and got half a ton of lead off Craigslist for free a couple years ago. I'm down to 20# of powder and 40k primers so I will be looking to buy more if I find any deals this year and can afford it.

Be warned, this is where you could be headed if you are not careful.
 
Welcome to the fun, relaxing and productive I started loading when a person online sent me an old single stage press in the mail. I thought that was funny and stuffed it in a drawer. A few months later the wife asked if I was going to use it or throw it out. Other people started donating old equipment, (why, I don't know, but I do that now for new reloaders when I can), and boom, I was done. Casting is easy and fun, but stick with learning the basics, and take it slow. I still use that same 30 year old single stage press, and have enjoyed the thousands of rounds it has helped me assemble over the years. Gonna be hitting it again tomorrow - time to prep some .223 brass, hoping to get some lower cost bullets soon. Really like Dogtown's 50gr JHP, never did find a local supplier with cheap bullets. I do wish I'd had the scratch for that .223 bullet maker that used 22lr brass....
 
bullseye308 said:
I also have a GP-00 6" 357 and love it! Loading for that can really save you some money for sure if you shoot it a lot. I load mine with a home cast 158 swc over 5.0 gr of Bullseye and it is extremely accurate and also self cleaning. I haven't cleaned the bore in almost 4000 rounds. The 357 is a very versatile round like you read. You can go from mild to wild and the Ruger will be fine with it. If you plan on buying bullets Rocky Mountain Reloading will be your friend, they have great prices, great products, great service, and are members here. If you are looking for brass I'll tell you where I got some cheap, but I'm not putting it out for everyone till you have a chance to get some( .08c each delivered for 357)
Click to expand...

I noticed a lot of people are using Bullseye loads, unfortunately I could not find it. I am going to use HP38; I just need to figure out my starting load. Hogdon's data has the minimum at 3.1, my Lyman I think has the minimum around 3.7, which is Hodgon's max load. Most people tend to like 4.0 grains. I am not so much worried about starting too high, but low. I do not want a damn squib. My plan is to load one at a time, fire it, and make sure it made it through :)
 
Welcome to the addiction peterk. Unfortunately there is no known cure, and you cravings will only get worse with time. My Lee Turret press was the gateway drug to my lead bullet casting addiction. And it got worse for me as I recently graduated from pistol rounds to rifle rounds. Hoping to take a deer with my little 303 Brit using my own reloads ....you're doomed my friend.

On a serious note, reloading is great hobby. It allows me to shoot more, cheaper and is very rewarding.
 
Peterk, welcome aboard! There will be lots of opinions whether you can reload or buy cheaper, is it really worth it and etc.. The simple fact is, when you sit down at your bench and you reload, case prep so forth...are you happy? Do you enjoy that time and find yourself relaxed or intrigued with what you are doing? If you answer yes and you get to shoot more, which in turn makes you happy, then have at it!! The minute it becomes a chore and something you gotta do, then something is wrong.
Meanwhile, keep reading, learning, reloading and shooting
 
peterk1234 said:
Have 38 special, 357 and a boatload of 9mm.
Click to expand...

Bookmark this thread and check back this time next year. You will have a new definition of "boatload". Compared to some I'm a relative piker, been handloading for about 4 years and in 9mm I have about 30,000 pcs of range brass.

peterk1234 said:
I noticed a lot of people are using Bullseye loads, unfortunately I could not find it. I am going to use HP38; I just need to figure out my starting load. Hogdon's data has the minimum at 3.1, my Lyman I think has the minimum around 3.7, which is Hodgon's max load. Most people tend to like 4.0 grains. I am not so much worried about starting too high, but low. I do not want a damn squib. My plan is to load one at a time, fire it, and make sure it made it through :)
Click to expand...

As long as you put some powder in the case it is unlikely that a bullet will get stuck in the barrel. You may not have enough to cycle the slide but I would think in 9mm even 1 grain would get past the muzzle. Certainly 4 grains (HP-38) will be ok. Not sure what bullet your going to use but if your in the 124-147g I would think 4g is in the ballpark.

Centerfire revolvers are nice because all you need is enough velocity to get the bullet out. You can run some real bunny fart loads with a 38 or 357
 
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Welcome to the rainy day version of shooting sports.

The great thing is that many of the same components can be shared between 9x19 Luger, 38 Spcl, and 357M. Soon you'll be checking out 38 Super because it's "9mm on steroids" and uses (again) all the same components.

For a common bullet to all, check out the Missouri Bullet Co Hi-Tek coated IDP #8 for 38 Super. You can shoot that in 9mm or 38's.

And be safe !
 
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