John Wayne
Member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2007
- Messages
- 1,133
Getting started in reloading has got me wondering what exactly determines the cost of a round of ammunition. I'm not talking about inflated prices on hard-to-find calibers like .380 Auto, I'm talking about national retailer (i.e., WalMart) prices within the same store on different calibers, regardless of availability.
.38 special and 9mm cost roughly the same for me to reload. AFAICT, they also use very similar bullets, are the two most common revolver/auto casings, use the same primers, and don't use a whole lot of powder.
But WWB 9mm is $11 a box at WalMart, and .38 spl. is $16.
Likewise, .38 S&W uses similar components to .38 Special, but costs double the price. Maybe it's the heeled bullets in this example?
Same with .45 Colt and .45 ACP, one is double the price of the other.
.25 Auto doesn't use up much lead, brass, or powder, yet it costs as much as .357 Sig at some stores.
Unless there's something I'm missing, material costs can be eliminated for similar cartridges as they're basically the same. I understand why .45/70 costs more than .223, because it uses a lot more lead and a larger case, primer, etc.
Do ammo companies just charge outrageous prices for say, .32 Colt ammo because making .32 Colt ammo takes time away from something else they could be making, like .40 S&W?
.38 special and 9mm cost roughly the same for me to reload. AFAICT, they also use very similar bullets, are the two most common revolver/auto casings, use the same primers, and don't use a whole lot of powder.
But WWB 9mm is $11 a box at WalMart, and .38 spl. is $16.
Likewise, .38 S&W uses similar components to .38 Special, but costs double the price. Maybe it's the heeled bullets in this example?
Same with .45 Colt and .45 ACP, one is double the price of the other.
.25 Auto doesn't use up much lead, brass, or powder, yet it costs as much as .357 Sig at some stores.
Unless there's something I'm missing, material costs can be eliminated for similar cartridges as they're basically the same. I understand why .45/70 costs more than .223, because it uses a lot more lead and a larger case, primer, etc.
Do ammo companies just charge outrageous prices for say, .32 Colt ammo because making .32 Colt ammo takes time away from something else they could be making, like .40 S&W?