And all those things should be stipulated in the posts so that anyone reading it understands the conditions under which those costs are figured. Not everyone figures their time the same way and like I said, I shoot 2000-3000rds of .22LR a month. I work 365 days a year and time is limited. I'd rather be shooting than casting, scrounging for lead and processing scrap. I would burn up that 70lbs of lead in less than two months easily. So it would be a hell of a lot of effort to do the same amount of shooting. I'd rather save my time and spend $100-$120 on .22LR ammo. If I have a few extra hours here and there, I'd rather spend it leatherworking.
I can cast over 500 rounds in 2 hours.
And I'm sure that includes sizing and lubing??? How many hours do you spend loading that same 2000-3000rds??? 2000rds would take me 4hrs just for the loading process and that's on a Dillon 650. Even if you can cast 500 bullets, ready for loading in 2hrs, that's 8hrs just for the casting process. Which does not include gathering and processing scrap lead. We're already at 12hrs, just to save $25. If we're talking .38Spl I usually use a 158gr SWC and for 2000rds, that's 45lbs of processed lead. How long does it take to gather and process scrap to end up with 45lbs of lead? When you really break it down, that "free" lead ain't really so free after all.
I pay $237 for 6300rds shipped to my door. That works out to $1.89 per 50rds. If I burn up 2000rds in a month, that's $75.45. Taking the cost above of $1.25/50rds, for 2000rds of loaded ammo that's $50. So you're spending at least 12hrs to save $25. I think you might be better off getting a part time job as a Walmart greeter and using your employee discount to buy .22LR ammo.
My "real" costs, which means buying primers and powder from the gun show, which is about the best I can do. Powder - $22.86/2000rds. Primers $52/2000rds. So even if I did get free lead and placed zero value on my time, I'd still spend the same amount on my shooting, only have a hell of a lot less time to shoot.
A Proud American Buys American
Does that include Wolf primers?