Jesse Heywood
Member
Saving money is the myth I repeated to my ex. You load more, which uses the money saved. Then you buy more components. And more press. Then you need another gun. All while repeating the myth.
What's the best savings you've gotten out of loading versus buying factory ammo?
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
I think my biggest handgun savings comes from loading for the 45 Colt. I can load 50 rounds for $8.10 at current component prices while factory ammo will cost me $49.99/50 at Cabela's.
For rifle ammo I think either the 45-70 or 303 British affords me the greatest savings.
Commercial 45-70 ammo costs $32/34 for a box of 20 while I can load them for $7.32. The savings is even higher when loading special bullets where the costs are in the $50+ range.
Commercial 303 British ammo is also in the $32/34 range and I can load them for $10.12 with a 174gr name brand jacketed bullet. With 150gr bulk bullets the price drops to $8.10/20 rounds.
For rifle ammo I think either the 45-70 or 303 British affords me the greatest savings.
Commercial 45-70 ammo costs $32/34 for a box of 20 while I can load them for $7.32. The savings is even higher when loading special bullets where the costs are in the $50+ range.
Commercial 303 British ammo is also in the $32/34 range and I can load them for $10.12 with a 174gr name brand jacketed bullet. With 150gr bulk bullets the price drops to $8.10/20 rounds.
brewer12345
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- 2,751
Keeps me out of bars and away from more expensive hobbies (compared to golf, you can justify ANYTHING).
Factory ammo: go to the gun counter, ask for a box or two of a certain ammo. Plunk down the plastic, go home.
Reloading: Research my reloading manuals (if a new to me load). Assemble/purchase components. Set up press, powder measure, scale, loading blocks and post load data on my powder measure. Load ammo.
Shoot factory ammo and save the brass. Fun (?).
Shoot my perfect, lovingly assembled handloads. Take notice how the loads "feel", eject, condition of brass after firing, and accuracy. Record and review results. Priceless. Very satisfying. No comparison to factory ammo!
For some things money ain't even a consideration...
Reloading: Research my reloading manuals (if a new to me load). Assemble/purchase components. Set up press, powder measure, scale, loading blocks and post load data on my powder measure. Load ammo.
Shoot factory ammo and save the brass. Fun (?).
Shoot my perfect, lovingly assembled handloads. Take notice how the loads "feel", eject, condition of brass after firing, and accuracy. Record and review results. Priceless. Very satisfying. No comparison to factory ammo!
For some things money ain't even a consideration...
Best savings for me is loading 300 Weatherby. Approximately $11-$12 per 20 to reload versus $60-$65 for a factory box of 20. That doesn't include the cost of brass which I stocked up on years ago when costs were not so high. My press and reloading equipment has paid for itself many times over so that shouldn't be included.
Damon555
Member
I'm not sure if it has been mentioned yet or not.......I can load "premium", custom tailored to my particular gun, ammunition for roughly the same or slightly less cost than bulk factory ammunition.
When you start getting into full blown custom ammo on the cheap the savings are startling.....For example: I load heavy 44 mags with a 310 hard cast LFPGC bullet for about 50 cents a round.....buying similar ammo from the likes of Buffalo Bore will run you $2+ a shot. The savings are substantial.
That bad boy on the right is downright fun to shoot......but you ain't gonna shoot many before it's time to quit.....When someone tells me that the 44 mag isn't all that powerful I just let them shoot a few of those.....the reaction is usually priceless when they pull the trigger on my SBHH.
When you start getting into full blown custom ammo on the cheap the savings are startling.....For example: I load heavy 44 mags with a 310 hard cast LFPGC bullet for about 50 cents a round.....buying similar ammo from the likes of Buffalo Bore will run you $2+ a shot. The savings are substantial.
That bad boy on the right is downright fun to shoot......but you ain't gonna shoot many before it's time to quit.....When someone tells me that the 44 mag isn't all that powerful I just let them shoot a few of those.....the reaction is usually priceless when they pull the trigger on my SBHH.
Bbear
Member
Started reloading for my 16 gauge when the 'expensive' shells were $6.99/box (upland). Saved the hulls, bought powder, wads and shot and a mec 600. Reloaded on that thing for years. Worked in the midwest for a gun mfg and they gave us $800 each year to buy ammo to take to events for folks to try out the guns. I bought Remington STS 12 gauge and AA 28 gauge. Saved the hulls. Caught Dick's with a bad ad for all AA shotgun shells for $4.99/ box. Went in and bought $800 worth of 28 gauge and sold the hulls. As I traveled around, any time one of my dealers had shot on sale for less than $19 I bought a bag or two. I also bought reclaimed shot for $20/ 2 liter bottle cleaned
When I moved back to Texas, I brought with me 10,000 12 ga hulls, 5000 primers, 32 pounds of Green Dot, 15 pounds of Unique and over a ton of shot.
The way I have it figured, I can load 12 ga for $1.97/ box. 20 gauge for $1.85/box. 357 for about .15c per round.
Just wish I had more time to shoot.
When I moved back to Texas, I brought with me 10,000 12 ga hulls, 5000 primers, 32 pounds of Green Dot, 15 pounds of Unique and over a ton of shot.
The way I have it figured, I can load 12 ga for $1.97/ box. 20 gauge for $1.85/box. 357 for about .15c per round.
Just wish I had more time to shoot.
Back before the industry consolidated and the MBAs came in and noted that virtually everyone involved with the hobby accounted only for their variable costs and none of their fixed costs and priced components to a level where it made little difference whether you bought or built your ammunition, I used to be able to load everything I shot for between 40% and 50% of the retail price of factory ammunition depending on how careful I was with the prices I was paying for components.
The best I ever did was to load some 30 Carbine rounds for 9 cents each at a time that factory ammunition was running about 30 cents a round.
The best I ever did was to load some 30 Carbine rounds for 9 cents each at a time that factory ammunition was running about 30 cents a round.
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
I reload even when it doesn't save money (9mm) so the equipment and time spent are irrelevant.
Loading 44 and 41 mag saves a bunch but casting bullets to load 45-70 is the biggest savings.
Loading 44 and 41 mag saves a bunch but casting bullets to load 45-70 is the biggest savings.
The "old" formula to figure the savings was " you can shoot twice as much for 1/2 the price of factory". Or it'd cost 1/4 the price of buying factory. Don't think that formula works today with the high inflated prices of components.
Dale shaver
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- Jan 28, 2018
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- 41
Reload long enough and find out ways to gather materials without having to buy much such as trading one component for another including powder or primers. Get range scrap and melt it down and cast your own. Each round is loaded for pennies and sometimes no cost at all. Loaded some 38 special shot shells the other day and only money invested was in capsules at 23 cents each. Had all other supplies. CCI sells theirs for over a dollar per round in unreloadable casings.
For 4 decades I have bought full and broken boxes of bullets at gun shows for a little as $1 to $3 for a full box of jacketed rifle bullets. These bullets have no shelf life. They never go bad. And I have several life times worth of cheap shooting.
mstreddy
Member
OP, for me the cost savings are pretty good when comparing my loads to comparable factory ammo.
In 9MM I load 147 gr plated @ 4.70 per 50. Compare to $10 for factory. I did load some using some 147 gr that I bought at the height of the panic that ended up costing me a bit more per bullet. Those boxes of 50 came to $7.10 - 7.98, depending on which primer I used. I normally load 9MM for less than $5.
I mention this, as many times folks mention 9MM isn't worth loading.
Here's my prices per 50 on pistol rounds. Compare to what factory would cost.
38 Spcl $5-6
32 ACP $7-8
380 ACP $4-5
45 ACP $4.70-6.50
357 Mag $6-7
38 Super $5-6
45 GAP $5-7
40 S&W $4.50-6.50
45 Colt $6-7 (this is probably the greatest margin as a factory box usually runs $30-40.
On Rifle I can save a lot if the brass is once fired, or free range pickup. What I usually figure if I bought brass, I count it as part of the initial cost and then it's free on any future loading. Some will amortize by figuring - get 10 loads from brass so the price is divided by 10. Either way would be fine.
Greater savings may be found in the rifle rounds and the rare rounds really shine with reloading - 6.5 and 7.7 Jap for example. These are just not commonly found and are expensive when you do find them.
For rifle I compare costs at 20 round boxes. Here are the calibers I load and what a box runs me.
223 Rem <$4
300 Blackout $5.50 - 7.50
30-30 Win $6
308 Win $6-7
30-06 $6-7
303 Brit $4.5-6
6.5 Swede $5-6 (first loading 14-15)
6.5 Jap - should be around the Swede/Carcano costs.
6.5 Carcano $6 (first load $17)
7.7 Jap $6 (first load $17)
30-40 Krag $6 (first load $18)
30 Carbine $7 - 12 (pricy FMJs)
7.62x39 $5-6 (My AR doesn't like steel case stuff)
I have components to load but haven't yet the following: 8MM Mauser, 7.5 Swiss, 7.62x54R, 5.7x28 and 7.62x25.
As far as equipment costs. If you load at any decent volume you'll quickly reach the payoff on the equipment costs. There's a calculator around somewhere that you can use. But, figure this -- how much do you load/shoot in one month for your common calibers? Say 200 rounds of 9MM, 200 rounds of 45 ACP, 200 rounds of 223. For me that would be:
Factory costs -- my loads = savings
$40 - 20 = $20
$68 - 24 = $44
$80 - 20 = $60 (brass case not steel)
That would be $124 savings in one month.
How much did you spend on the equipment? Let's say $500. The payoff would be in 4 months.
In my case, even though I bought my equipment over several years, I ran it through the calculator using the usual amounts I shoot monthly. I spent around $2K on my RC, 2 LNL APs, books, tools, and dies, etc... It was paid off in around 10 months.
I'll mention, as many here have, to really maximize the savings you have to buy in bulk. Goes for primers, bullets, and powder.
In 9MM I load 147 gr plated @ 4.70 per 50. Compare to $10 for factory. I did load some using some 147 gr that I bought at the height of the panic that ended up costing me a bit more per bullet. Those boxes of 50 came to $7.10 - 7.98, depending on which primer I used. I normally load 9MM for less than $5.
I mention this, as many times folks mention 9MM isn't worth loading.
Here's my prices per 50 on pistol rounds. Compare to what factory would cost.
38 Spcl $5-6
32 ACP $7-8
380 ACP $4-5
45 ACP $4.70-6.50
357 Mag $6-7
38 Super $5-6
45 GAP $5-7
40 S&W $4.50-6.50
45 Colt $6-7 (this is probably the greatest margin as a factory box usually runs $30-40.
On Rifle I can save a lot if the brass is once fired, or free range pickup. What I usually figure if I bought brass, I count it as part of the initial cost and then it's free on any future loading. Some will amortize by figuring - get 10 loads from brass so the price is divided by 10. Either way would be fine.
Greater savings may be found in the rifle rounds and the rare rounds really shine with reloading - 6.5 and 7.7 Jap for example. These are just not commonly found and are expensive when you do find them.
For rifle I compare costs at 20 round boxes. Here are the calibers I load and what a box runs me.
223 Rem <$4
300 Blackout $5.50 - 7.50
30-30 Win $6
308 Win $6-7
30-06 $6-7
303 Brit $4.5-6
6.5 Swede $5-6 (first loading 14-15)
6.5 Jap - should be around the Swede/Carcano costs.
6.5 Carcano $6 (first load $17)
7.7 Jap $6 (first load $17)
30-40 Krag $6 (first load $18)
30 Carbine $7 - 12 (pricy FMJs)
7.62x39 $5-6 (My AR doesn't like steel case stuff)
I have components to load but haven't yet the following: 8MM Mauser, 7.5 Swiss, 7.62x54R, 5.7x28 and 7.62x25.
As far as equipment costs. If you load at any decent volume you'll quickly reach the payoff on the equipment costs. There's a calculator around somewhere that you can use. But, figure this -- how much do you load/shoot in one month for your common calibers? Say 200 rounds of 9MM, 200 rounds of 45 ACP, 200 rounds of 223. For me that would be:
Factory costs -- my loads = savings
$40 - 20 = $20
$68 - 24 = $44
$80 - 20 = $60 (brass case not steel)
That would be $124 savings in one month.
How much did you spend on the equipment? Let's say $500. The payoff would be in 4 months.
In my case, even though I bought my equipment over several years, I ran it through the calculator using the usual amounts I shoot monthly. I spent around $2K on my RC, 2 LNL APs, books, tools, and dies, etc... It was paid off in around 10 months.
I'll mention, as many here have, to really maximize the savings you have to buy in bulk. Goes for primers, bullets, and powder.
TheDomFather
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All good points above, on top of the savings I find the ammo I build to be better than match grade rifle ammo for .223, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 win, For pistol I’m even loading 9mm cheaper than I can buy it even if I bought it in 1000 round quantities. For me its the time that is the killer, I wish I had more of it. I usually wind up reloading pistol at 500 - 1000 rounds at the time and then shooting through it. Rifle I load smaller quantities 100 - 200 although now that I found a load that works great in my 6.5 Creedmoor I will load a few hundred of those and keep an inventory. Still messing around with .308 win loads.
Dom
Dom
Ruger 15151
Member
+1Sigh, no savings I just shoot more, and buy more reloading goodies.
nettlle
Contributing Member
Been shooting and reloading 45acp for about 6 years now. I recently bought my first 9mm. I have read many threads over the years that with the price of 9mm factory ammo these days it wasn't economically practical to reload 9mm. Not so! My 9mm caliber changeover came from Graf's Wednesday.
TheDomFather
Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2017
- Messages
- 469
Here you go
I don't reload, but my ex's dad used to make me some brutal 180 grain hard cast .357 loads that could drop a moose for about a quarter of the cost that Buffalo Bore sales them. These were even a hair hotter too. They were moving over 1500 FPS out of my 6.5 inch Ruger Blackhawk.
Starter52
Member
I agree with everyone who said .45 Colt.
Arkansas Paul
Member
I cast as well as load, so I'm saving quite a bit.
Not counting brass I can load .45 Colt for about $70/1k and .357 mag for a little less due to the smaller bullet weights.
For premium rifle rounds it is still a good savings.
For .30-06 hunting stuff, I can load a box for about $12-$14. That's with Sierra Gamekings. Factory is $30+ a box.
Stuff like 9mm doesn't save much, but I still load it.
Not counting brass I can load .45 Colt for about $70/1k and .357 mag for a little less due to the smaller bullet weights.
For premium rifle rounds it is still a good savings.
For .30-06 hunting stuff, I can load a box for about $12-$14. That's with Sierra Gamekings. Factory is $30+ a box.
Stuff like 9mm doesn't save much, but I still load it.
JT-AR-MG42
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- Mar 26, 2010
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- 871
Never shot a round of factory ammo in most calibers I load for (which is every center fire I shoot), so calculating savings is tough.
I imagine someone is producing 219 Zipper, .440 Cor-Bon, 50-90, and .577 BPE, but I'd bet it's expensive.
Whether it is 41 Colt, 44 Colt, 38 & 44-40, 45-60, 45-90, 45-110, or .380, 9mm, and .45ACP, its the
same deal, too expensive for me.
I just can't afford to buy factory ammo, and it impresses me when I see other shooters
at the range who can. Oh well, money is relative!
JT
I imagine someone is producing 219 Zipper, .440 Cor-Bon, 50-90, and .577 BPE, but I'd bet it's expensive.
Whether it is 41 Colt, 44 Colt, 38 & 44-40, 45-60, 45-90, 45-110, or .380, 9mm, and .45ACP, its the
same deal, too expensive for me.
I just can't afford to buy factory ammo, and it impresses me when I see other shooters
at the range who can. Oh well, money is relative!
JT
Jeb Stuart
member
I haven't reloaded in a while. I have a turret press now, but actually miss the old hand held. There is a reason I shoot mostly 9mm. I can buy it cheap and it is every where and I like the ballistics. I would not save much by reloading which I have done in the past. I probably shoot more 380 ammo than most people, so maybe that will give me some saving. I also train a lot with 22.cal. I shoot a lot of ammo. Am a range rat, so I just buy a lot of bulk ammo at a time. I like shooting my Blackhawk convertible, but shoot mostly 9mm. I will order about 500-1000 rds at a time of 357 from Freedom munitions. Freedom munitions and Lax ammo have given me great service and I like their ammo. Reliable. And all of my semi's are 9mm as well as my LCR.
I would be curious to see how much folks are saving on reloading 380. I shoot about a 1,000 rds a month out of my two Pico's and Kahr alone. I shoot about 1,000 or more 9mm a month and a ton of 22.cal. Freedom Munitions 380 reloads run about $10.00-$11.00 a box shipped.
Normally do not have much time to reload. TIME IS MONEY-AND CONVENIENCE OF HAVING AMMO DELIVERED RIGHT TO MY DOOR HELPS ME SHOOT MORE.
I would be curious to see how much folks are saving on reloading 380. I shoot about a 1,000 rds a month out of my two Pico's and Kahr alone. I shoot about 1,000 or more 9mm a month and a ton of 22.cal. Freedom Munitions 380 reloads run about $10.00-$11.00 a box shipped.
Normally do not have much time to reload. TIME IS MONEY-AND CONVENIENCE OF HAVING AMMO DELIVERED RIGHT TO MY DOOR HELPS ME SHOOT MORE.
Nature Boy
Member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2015
- Messages
- 8,254
I recently found 8lbs of HP-38 for $140. That’s going to go a long way and last me a long time. Since all my brass is free range pick up, and whatever deals I get on plated bullets and primers, my per round cost of 9mm and 45 auto should be dirt cheap
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Factory .38-40 and .44-40 is as much as $85/50rds. I handload them for about $7.
Factory .416Rigby is as much as $10 a shot. I handload them for about fifty cents.
Factory .405WCF is $2.50 to $10 a shot. I handload them for fifty cents to $1.50.
Factory .416Rigby is as much as $10 a shot. I handload them for about fifty cents.
Factory .405WCF is $2.50 to $10 a shot. I handload them for fifty cents to $1.50.
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