The Cost of Reloading

[red rick]

I recently retired , so yesterday I did a budget check on my monthly living expenses , the necessities , house & car ins. , taxes and so on . I can't recover as quick now if I spend a little to much on things that I don't have too have and unexpected expenses , like my rotor cuff surgery , an unexpected house repair and a S&W 15-3 . I use to get 3 bonuses a year at work and they would really catch you up if something came up . I am not broke , just things have changed money wise and I like to run a tight ship since I retired kind of early , 57 .

Well to get on topic , I decided to see how much that I had in reloading equipment , since I have been spending a little money recently on some new dies .

I reload on a Lee Classic Turret Press . I found that I have spent $2800 on equipment since I started reloading in 2013 ( not including bullets , brass , powder and primers ) and $200 on shipping . I reload 8 calibers .

I don't think that I will live and shoot long enough for it too pay for itself since I started so late in life . But it gives me something to do , I enjoy it and I hope it keeps my mind sharp .

I appreciate all the help I get from y'all in this forum as a new reloader .

 

[reddog81]

If you really want to save money you need to start casting your own bullets. I can make bullets for $.03 factoring in the cost of lead and powder coat.

Of course that's ignoring the $2,000 I've spent on molds, sizing dies, casting pot, powder coat oven, etc...

 

[drband]

Wow. I reload on a LCT and I don't have but around $600 invested in equipment. You must really have a deluxe set-up

You should post pics in the reloading bench thread!

 

[red rick]

Wow. I reload on a LCT and I don't have but around $600 invested in equipment. You must really have a deluxe set-up

You should post pics in the reloading bench thread!

I can't see where it's at , I really don't have anything deluxe unless a Sinclair Ultimate Trimmer , Thumbler Thumbler , Lyman Case Prep Center , RCBS Automatic Bench Prime , Redding 3br Power Measure and RCBS 10-10 scales are deluxe .

I think a lot of you would be surprised at what you have spent on equipment if you load a few calibers and have been doing it for a few years , I was .

 

[abijohn]

Just figure the cost as your hobby. Many spend much more on golf, fishing, whatever. As long as you have the essentials covered and everybody is clean, warm, and fed, it's a great hobby and very rewarding. I too started late in life, got the reload "bug" and have far more rounds than I will ever shoot myself. Kids and grand kids can think a happy thought about me as they enjoy the sport of hunting/shooting for many years to come. Sometimes bringing joy to others has a special reward in itself.

 

[RussellC]

As far as my bottom line is concerned, I haven't saved jack reloading, but I shoot way way more!

As far as money spent, well it's already spent. I am sure I can reload cheaper than buying commercial ammo, and money spent is spent right?

I enjoy doing it, and by keeping a load of stuff for the calibers I reload for will make sure I don't go without again should another supply problem arise.

That said, bottom line is bottom line, I sure get that. But unless you are going to give up shooting, the die is cast so to speak.

Congrats on the retirement,I am 61 and will likely drop dead still working.

Part time job?

Russellc

 

[mdi]

I understand the "concern" of being retired and on a fixed income (and not as large an income when I was working). But I have never denied my wife anything she wanted and been able to treat myself nice. Mainly I don't fret because I don't compare my reloads with factory stuff and I don't throw money willy-nilly at my gun dealer. But, I just scratched an itch I've had for several years; I bought a Forster Co-Ax. I curbed my SS spending a bit for a couple months (pension goes to house account) and bought it. I had buyers remorse for mebbe 3 1/2 minutes, but I figger I worked for 55+ years and I ain't gettin' no younger...

 

[dgod]

I have been casting for several years, I have found that Lee molds are OK only if there are none of the type. I get my lead from several sources. 1) Wheel Weights from the local Tire shop, I have been getting 50-60% lead, but you have to clean it (More Later). 2nd option is to purchase Shotgun lead (25# in a bag) You'll Have to clean it as well. 3) You can buy Hardball lead from a store.

Molds are sometimes expensive, Start Sow, the Lead pot you use will be the tool you get to get well acquainted with. I also use a Lee Brinnel Hardness. This is handy so you will know when you are shooting them how close to being the same as others.

After your Mold is selected and ready to use, clean it well, I place mine on top of the Melting Pot so it heats up while the Lead in the pot is heating up. Makes quality pours faster.

Then the poured bullets bee to be sized. That gets a little more tricky. you have to consider Rifle/Pistol, the How Fast will they be going. If too fast, then you need Gas Check. The use of Gas Checks could impact Sizer selection ( have 2 types). The Lee is good for sizing, but a bit of a pain if I need to Lube the bullets. I also have a RCBS Lube-A-Matic that works very well, it will Lube, Crimp Gas Checks, and Size the Bullet. I is more expensive adding new Lube is pain, luckily its not that often.

I load 9mm RN and 9MM HP, 30 Cal 155gr FP, 30 cal 230gr RN, 45AP 200gr RN, 45ACP 230 HP RN, the 30 cals will fit several rifles, 30-30, .308, 30-06, 300MinMag all shoot a 30 Caliber Bullet. Think about it, as there are many choices, and you want to get it as near to complete and effective as possible.

Good Luck, Don't get in a hurry, it is very fulfilling. You will feel good for what you made, and you will feel great when you shoot your first Self made Lead Bullet

Dan

 

[ArchAngelCD]

First off, congratulations in your retirement. Secondly, you can count the cost if components in equipment costs. You would have spent more on factory ammo than components and the components considered consumables, not equipment costs.

Depending on what you are loading you would be surprised how fast you can recoup your equipment costs.

 

[Drail]

The BEST reason to handload today is the simple fact that the ammo manufacturers are turning out the worst quality ammo I have ever seen in my life. They just don't seem to care about quality at all anymore. They sure seem to care about marketing and profits though. You can handload ammo that is FAR BETTER than what you can buy.

 

[Sunray]

"...I recently retired..." Isn't all it's cracked up to be. Boring, mostly. Heart attack and quad by-pass 4 years ago(at 58) and fired for it(yes, they can.). Haven't had a real paying job since.
"...for it too pay for itself..." Takes about 6 months for one handgun cartridge at ~50 rounds per week. Depending on what you paid for the stuff. Most of the "must have" reloading equipment is unnecessary too. All those gauges, etc, you really don't need.
However, think in terms of having to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights if you shot factory only. Roughly $20 per 50 for commercially reloaded .38 Special WC's.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I started reloading in 1963 at age 19, and now load for 32 calibers. I also cast almost all my own bullets, and own a Magma Master Caster and a Magma Bullet Master Mark 6 casting machine. I've got 6 Star lube sizers, plus various other brands, and a Magma Lube Master machine. The bullet mold count is well over 200 molds. I won't even try to compute what I've got invested.

What I can tell you is, I've reloaded well over 850,000 rounds of ammunition in those years, and enjoyed loading almost every one of them, and I really enjoyed the shooting. I'm not done yet, and will continue to load, cast, shoot and learn.

I like making a quality product with my own hands, and reloading provides the satisfaction of doing just that. If I can help someone along the way to improve their product, then that's another plus.......

I consider the experience I've gained, and the enjoyment, as priceless.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[macgrumpy]

Personally, if you don't think you'll recover your costs then you obviously had no real need to start reloading your own ammo. Back when I was doing a lot of shooting I probably used at least 1000 rounds of ammo per month and my savings were at least $300 per month but probably more since I was shooting long range competition more than pistol and my precision ammo was all hand loaded. Recovery time would be well under a year. Even now I shoot a couple hundred rounds a month and it would still only take a couple of years to recover my costs.

 

[Dog Soldier]

I retired some what young. There is always fear when you give up your life line, AKA job. You also forfeit your identity. A working man is known by what he does for income.
What you will find if you planned you retirement, income will likely fit your new life. Many expenses that were necessary for you occupation will now be available for your leisure time. Just accept the fact. Retirement is the best job you will ever have.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Last year I spent $726 on supplies and $80 on equipment. In return I loaded and shot $1,900 worth of ammo. This year, for myself I have a list for $886 and have already spent $162 on equipment and supplies. With what I have left over on hand from last year (slow year) and on order in the list for this year I will produce $2,319 worth of ammo for 2 rifle calibers and 2 pistol calibers.

Doing the math I saved $1,092 last year and $1271 this year reloading. Granted I added a set of reloading dies, 2 molds, 2 sizing dies and a trim die for another caliber so I'm expanding my reloading tools this coming year. But there is one thing that adds to those savings (that some would not call saving) and that is the bullets I made vs. purchasing. The offset to that is my time and energy during winter layoffs. Having free time I make good use of it. Oh yeah I forgot to add powder coat at $26 for both years with enough remaining to coat my own bullets for a few more years if necessary.

To date I have 1-lead casting furnace/pot, 7-molds, 5 sizing dies, 1-progressive press, 1-turret press, 1-single stage press, 4-sets of reloading dies, 2-toaster ovens, 1-PC gun, 1-Propane torch for smelting, 1- 20lb Propane tank, 1-tumbler, 5lbs stainless steel pins, 1- cast iron pot for smelting, 1-manual scale, 1- digital scale, 1 reloading bench, 2-powder measures, 1-trickler, I-set of calipers, 1-hand held priming tool, 1-powder funnel, 2-progrssive turrets, 3-progressive shell plates, 1-bullet puller, 6primer trays, 14-plastic ammo boxes, 3-ammo cans, 2 lead ladles/dippers, 1-case trimmer and holder, 1- primer pocket tool, 1-deburring tool, and 4-baking trays. Total investment out of my pocket through new purchases, trades and deals is $1539 minus powder coat, 1 tank of propane, electricity, and nonstick Aluminum foil and brass. I have purchased some rifle brass and some 10mm brass totaling an additional $344 where $160 was loaded ammo and the brass was procured. In just the last 2 years I have saved more than my initial investment. I don't know how much I saved in prior years. To be honest I only know what my past 2 years inventory cost is with a very high degree of accuracy. In the prior years I had a mismatch of bullet orders and cost's as well as powder types and prices paid to be very accurate.

While the subject comes up whether or not anyone saves money reloading I know I do and maybe some don't. Some say they shoot more and I do a little more but not much. I shot only %30 less than current reloading numbers and things were expensive to say the least. This is the most extensive breakdown of the math I have posted and breaking it down to price for presses, dies etc.is a little more writing than I plan to do. I ran the math 2 times from my inventory list to get an accurate number and it comes up the same.

 

[cfullgraf]

One will always save money reloading. What you do with the savings is up to you.

Some folks shoot more, some folks take their significant other out for a nice meal.

Since it sounds like the OP has already made the equipment investment, assuming it is paid for, he can shoot the same number of rounds per year at less out of pocket costs.

He can enjoy his hobby while adding a bit to to his reserves.

 

[hdwhit]

red rick wrote:
I don't think that I will live and shoot long enough for it too pay for itself since I started so late in life .

It depends on how much you shoot and how aggressive you are in controlling your costs.

For instance, around here 55gr FMJ .223 goes for about $8 per box of 20 which works out to about 40 cents per round. In larger quantities, the cost drops to around 35 or 37 cents. The last time I ran the numbers, I was reloading 55gr FMJ rounds for about 22 cents each.

In that example, you realize savings of 13 to 18 cents per round to pay off the equipment which would pay off the equipment in about 16,500 rounds. So, if you want to make your hobby "pay" you'll need to shoot a lot. I suggest a shooting jacket with padding in the shoulder. But, I was on a different site earlier this week reading about a retiree who goes to the range three times a week and shoots an average of 80 rounds each time (240 rounds a week, 960 per month, 11,520 per year), so 16,500 doesn't seem that big a deal.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

How does one spend $2800 on equipment and load on a hundred dollar press? Where was the rest of the money spent?

 

[splattergun]

congratulations on retirement!

Do golfers expect their clubs to pay for themselves? Do fishermen have to amortize their handmade flyrods and tying tools, or boats and sonar?
Relax, it's a hobby! Mind your budget, keep all your coins in a jar, and don't go all hypertensive over a relatively low cost hobby.

I'll be retired with you in about 2 year, 9 1/2 months!

PS, if you insist on amortizing your reloading tool costs in a short timeframe, just shoot more. The "savings" will really add up fast!

 

[red rick]

I hope to shoot more once I get health again . One of the reason I got into reloading was the cost of 45 Colt . I was only going to load for that . Then when the ammo shortage hit I started adding calibers , so that I could shoot if there was a shortage again . I am not regretting it , like all hobbies they are not cheap , it just surprised me a little when I added up the cost . Another reason I did it late in life , I want to get my nephews involved in it while they are young and pass the equipment on to them . They haven't showed much interest in it yet , but I have hope .

 

[red rick]

Here is my $2800 dollars of reloading equipment . I have $641 in dies and turrets , $139 in books and $120 in ammo storage box .

 

[Hokie_PhD]

How does one spend $2800 on equipment and load on a hundred dollar press? Where was the rest of the money spent?

I was thinking the same.

I started reloading within the last year. I also have the Lee Classic Turret press and I have less than $400 in reloading equipment. Now I only reload 9 mm and 223 but still.

Now I was frugal and took my time shopping but I also have a nice digital scale and a Lee hand press too.

I'm sure had I dons things a little differently I could have done things a little cheaper but I'm happy with my gear.

As a new reloaded I bought primers and powder locally to start. But will be ordering as I see sales.

To OP. Set a budget and plan your purchases. RMR has great prices on bullets and you can get a discount with the THR discount.

Order your powder and primers in bulk and find a friend to spilt the Hazmat or wait for no Hazmat like Brownells is doing now. MidwayUSA and others do it too.

 

[mstreddy]

Red Rick,
Congrats on the retiring, and on the reloading. As many have mentioned, the recouping of the costs comes with shooting more. Particularly on 45 Colt the savings on loading vs factory are pretty substantial.
I'm set up to reload for 32 cartridges and have spent somewhere near what you have. I shoot nearly every week, a mix of 9MM, and everything else. Based on some calculations I had run before, I had spent around $2000 on equipment and that was recouped in 10 months based on my normal shooting patterns. 300-400 rounds of 9MM, 100-200 rounds of 45 ACP or 38 Spcl or 380 ACP, 100 rounds of 223.
But, the really big factor for me is I can load for and shoot a 30-40 Krag, 6.5x50 Japanese, 7.7x58 Japanese, 303 Brit, 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser, 6.5x52 Carcano, 300 Blackout, 45 Colt, 38 Super, and even 32 ACP without having to worry about ammo.

 

[DRAINSMITH]

If I wanted to save money on ammo I would buy factory ammo. Let me tell you how I do it.

1. Me and the brass monkey (5 year old grandson) go to the range and he collects the brass. I pay him $1.00 a pound. Now his dear sweet Nanna explained to him that they would weight more if they were full of mud. A 5 gal pail of brass should weight about 50 lbs. his weights about 70 lbs. So now I have to buy a HF cement mixer just to clean the mud out before I put it into the sonic cleaned. He then sorts it by cal.

2. Now it is in the hands of my 15 year old grandson who decaps and resizes it. I pay him $1.00 a pound.

3. I then remove all mil. crimps.

4. Now everything is put threw the F.A.R.T.

5. Now all pistol brass is sent back to the brass monkey who bags everything I don't want into bags at 110 count each. (he sells it later to a guy at the gun show)

6. The rifle brass is sent to my 13 year old granddaughter, who trims and cleans the pockets. I pay her $5.00 a lbs. (she does a real good job, and make up is expensive)

So as you can see reloads cost me twice the cost of factory. AND WORTH EVERY DAMN CENT.

 

[muncie21]

Think of it this way, 3 years of strippers and whiskey would have been far more than $2800. Just teasing. I find that I shoot more now that I started reloading, so in the end, I'm spending more $$ but having lots more fun doing it.