I've been reading this board a lot as I'm interested in reloading. I've seen links to a lot of websites for supply prices, but I can't see how anybody's saving any money. For example I found a lot of .45 ACP cases for $10/100 and bullets for the same price. That would make each round cost way more than I pay for Winchester white box. Is there some secret to making this cost-effective? I've been saving my brass, but do you also need to make your own bullets to come out ahead?
Where are the savings in reloading?
- Thread starter McNutt
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It may not be as cost effective now as it once was. When I started there were no economy Wally World white box shells only Winchester, Remington, and Federal full price fodder. So you could save about 75% of the price of a new box of shells by rolling your own. Now you have surplus ammo where you can buy 223 for $3 for 20 shells. There's not much margin there, imho.
You can tailor your loads to be more accurate. That's still a big plus. It also depends on what type of equipment you invest in. If you get a honkin big progressive setup with all the doodads, it will take you a lot longer to amortize the damage than a simple single stage setup that produces even better ammo but slower. YMMV
You can tailor your loads to be more accurate. That's still a big plus. It also depends on what type of equipment you invest in. If you get a honkin big progressive setup with all the doodads, it will take you a lot longer to amortize the damage than a simple single stage setup that produces even better ammo but slower. YMMV
Smoke
Member
Shop a little further. One can also gather up brass for free from range trips.
Bullets vary a lot. If you were pricing JHP and comparing them to Win White Box FMJ then, no there is not much savings.
There is a floater thread in the Reloading section that has a list of links for reloading suppliers. Check lots of different ones. Powder and primers I buy locally. Price is not much more than online but shipping on Hazardous will eat you up. I hardly ever buy brass. Bullets I can buy cheaper via the interent even with shipping than I can local, better selection too.
Smoke
Bullets vary a lot. If you were pricing JHP and comparing them to Win White Box FMJ then, no there is not much savings.
There is a floater thread in the Reloading section that has a list of links for reloading suppliers. Check lots of different ones. Powder and primers I buy locally. Price is not much more than online but shipping on Hazardous will eat you up. I hardly ever buy brass. Bullets I can buy cheaper via the interent even with shipping than I can local, better selection too.
Smoke
mtnbkr
Member
You reuse the cases. That helps the end price quite a bit. Amortize that $10 over 5, 10, 20 reloadings and your per cartridge cost goes down quite a bit.
The real savings is for specialty ammo that isn't the same price as WWB. I load stuff for my 357mag that would run $25 or more per 50. My cost is around $12, less if I reuse brass. For my cheap 38special reloads, it's hard to beat the cheap lead loads I find at gun shows, but I still reload those when I have time.
Chris
The real savings is for specialty ammo that isn't the same price as WWB. I load stuff for my 357mag that would run $25 or more per 50. My cost is around $12, less if I reuse brass. For my cheap 38special reloads, it's hard to beat the cheap lead loads I find at gun shows, but I still reload those when I have time.
Chris
ThreadKiller
Member
The savings comes from recycling the brass. You only buy it once. I haven't put pencil to paper to calculate the savings on pistol/rifle reloads but for shotshells anyway, the savings is roughly 50%. This is comparing my reloads to the good stuff like Remmy STS trap loads. Trap load brands like Kent or Estate are much cheaper but still slightly more than my reloads.
There are many more reasons to reload other than cost savings. I find it relaxing and rewarding. I enjoy the technical aspects of it. I like to be able to tailor the load to the use, i.e., nice moderate "plinkin' loads for my 45 or lead bullet loads for my 22 Hornet.
I like to shoot lead bullets out of my pistols and thus far, the lead stuff I've found commerically leads the bore badly. The stuff I load is much better.
Though it's growing increasingly more difficult to do, it's still possible to load up rounds that shoot more accurately out of your firearm that do commercial loads.
It's a great hobby and fills winter evenings rather nicely.
Tim
There are many more reasons to reload other than cost savings. I find it relaxing and rewarding. I enjoy the technical aspects of it. I like to be able to tailor the load to the use, i.e., nice moderate "plinkin' loads for my 45 or lead bullet loads for my 22 Hornet.
I like to shoot lead bullets out of my pistols and thus far, the lead stuff I've found commerically leads the bore badly. The stuff I load is much better.
Though it's growing increasingly more difficult to do, it's still possible to load up rounds that shoot more accurately out of your firearm that do commercial loads.
It's a great hobby and fills winter evenings rather nicely.
Tim
Thanks, guys. I'll do some more shopping. I shoot WWB .45 at the range and only buy better if it's for self defense. Right now WWB is still more accurate than me. I do like the relaxation factor of reloading. I think I'll keep buying WWB for now and collecting the brass. Maybe one day I'll have so much brass that I'll decide I need a press.
Buying expensive bullet can take most of the savings out of reloading, particularly for inexpensive chamberings like 9mm or .45acp.
But buy inexpensive bullets, and you can save 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of cheap "white box" ammo.
I use Oregon Trail Laser-Cast that I get for around $20 per 500. That's 4 cents apiece. Powder and primers don't add much to that cost. I have never paid for brass, so don't know how much that costs. I just saved brass from commercial ammo. I re-use brass at least 5 times. Some a lot more.
BTW, if you buy your press, powder scale, micrometer, etc. eithere used, at a garage sale or gun show, you should be able to save at least half off the cost of new.
But buy inexpensive bullets, and you can save 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of cheap "white box" ammo.
I use Oregon Trail Laser-Cast that I get for around $20 per 500. That's 4 cents apiece. Powder and primers don't add much to that cost. I have never paid for brass, so don't know how much that costs. I just saved brass from commercial ammo. I re-use brass at least 5 times. Some a lot more.
BTW, if you buy your press, powder scale, micrometer, etc. eithere used, at a garage sale or gun show, you should be able to save at least half off the cost of new.
Pumpkinheaver
Member
I load 9mm's for $3.44 a box, I can't buy them for that. .45 acp's are around $4.00 a box, I can't buy them for that. I have never saved a dime from reloading my ammo, I just shoot more rounds per dollar.
i save a ton of money... i load premium quality ammo at less than standard fare price...
if you wanna comparison shop, check out a box of federal hydra-shoks (or better), and use that as the basis, because that is the lowest quality ammo a handloader should pump out.
if you wanna comparison shop, check out a box of federal hydra-shoks (or better), and use that as the basis, because that is the lowest quality ammo a handloader should pump out.
Ben Shepherd
Member
Come on guys, tell the truth:
There is no savings, because you just end up shooting more.
There is no savings, because you just end up shooting more.
Tony Mig
Member
My savings come from the fact that I have tons of free lead, and as a professional fire fighter with lots of free time at work, I get paid to stand at the work bench and cast my own bullets.
I've never paid for brass, I saved all the brass from the commercial ammo I shot before getting into reloading, and I collect all the brass I can at the range, plus I've had a lot of brass given to me by others who no longer reload.
I've only paid for powder, primers, and the reloading equipment, and that wasn't very expensive since I bought it as a complete kit through Midway USA.com.
I save lots of money, I taylor my loads to what I want, and it's a very enjoyable pass time.
I've never paid for brass, I saved all the brass from the commercial ammo I shot before getting into reloading, and I collect all the brass I can at the range, plus I've had a lot of brass given to me by others who no longer reload.
I've only paid for powder, primers, and the reloading equipment, and that wasn't very expensive since I bought it as a complete kit through Midway USA.com.
I save lots of money, I taylor my loads to what I want, and it's a very enjoyable pass time.
wanderinwalker
Member
Ben Shepherd has it! THERE ARE NO SAVINGS! YOU END UP SHOOTING 3 TO 4 TIMES AS MUCH!
Now that the shouting is out of my system, let me add that reloading specialty bullets and match ammunition is where the savings lies. Federal Gold Medal .223 loaded with 69gr Sierra MatchKing bullets is about $22-25 per 20, depending on the shop I'm at. I can reload those bullets (or Noslers, which work a little better in my rifle) for about 20 cents/round, roughly. Not only are they cheap enough to practice with 50 or so rounds a week, they shoot better than the Federal too!
Now that the shouting is out of my system, let me add that reloading specialty bullets and match ammunition is where the savings lies. Federal Gold Medal .223 loaded with 69gr Sierra MatchKing bullets is about $22-25 per 20, depending on the shop I'm at. I can reload those bullets (or Noslers, which work a little better in my rifle) for about 20 cents/round, roughly. Not only are they cheap enough to practice with 50 or so rounds a week, they shoot better than the Federal too!
Arub
Member
Let's go with a .45 auto.
New brass, reloaded 10 times = $0.01
230grain FMJ (Winchester) = $0.08
Primer = $0.015
Powder = $0.015
Cost per round = $0.12
Box of 50 = $6.00
The other benefit of reloading is that you can tailor your loads to the
and type of shooting you do. You can experiment to determine what load works best for you.
New brass, reloaded 10 times = $0.01
230grain FMJ (Winchester) = $0.08
Primer = $0.015
Powder = $0.015
Cost per round = $0.12
Box of 50 = $6.00
The other benefit of reloading is that you can tailor your loads to the
and type of shooting you do. You can experiment to determine what load works best for you.
ID_shooting
Member
I don't save a dime by reloading. First you build about a grand in equipment, maybe not all at once, but I added mine up the other day and I have spent $1100 in hardware.
I reload purely to fine tune my ammo and to shoot top grade ammo at plinking ammo prices.
I have one friend that saves money by casting his own bullets, he has a deal with a local tire shop for scrap wheel wieghts, but he is money poor so he does what he can. He lives with less accuracy and performance but I guess he proves you can still load to keep your costs down.
I reload purely to fine tune my ammo and to shoot top grade ammo at plinking ammo prices.
I have one friend that saves money by casting his own bullets, he has a deal with a local tire shop for scrap wheel wieghts, but he is money poor so he does what he can. He lives with less accuracy and performance but I guess he proves you can still load to keep your costs down.
molonlabe
Member
My wife has watched me reload and calls it men's crocheting.
I load excellent 230 grain molly coat 45 acp for $ 2.65 cents for 50 rounds.
This is less than 60 dollars for 1000 rounds. I save about $ 140 per 1000 round case. I paid for my Dillon 650 in about 3 months.
I shoot about 3000 rounds a month. 420 dollars a month in savings.
BUY BULK!!! BUY BULK!!!!
25,000 primers 13.65 cents per brick of 1000
Powder Tight group 8 lbs 83.95
Bullets 30 per 1000
This is less than 60 dollars for 1000 rounds. I save about $ 140 per 1000 round case. I paid for my Dillon 650 in about 3 months.
I shoot about 3000 rounds a month. 420 dollars a month in savings.
BUY BULK!!! BUY BULK!!!!
25,000 primers 13.65 cents per brick of 1000
Powder Tight group 8 lbs 83.95
Bullets 30 per 1000
MoNsTeR
Member
Who buys new brass for .45? You can get same-headstamp once-fired for $50/1000 or less.
This is one of the mistakes I made when first looking into reloading. I looked at the most expensive components and concluded it couldn't possibly be worth it. The truth is, commercial ammo vs. reloads really is an apples-to-oranges comparison, because there's so little variety of commercial stuff available but handloads can be anything you want.
Just for an example, I end up paying about $5.60 per box of .45 (taxes and S/H included), and that's with plated bullets, Vihtavuori powder, and an ultra-conservative estimate of brass life.
This is one of the mistakes I made when first looking into reloading. I looked at the most expensive components and concluded it couldn't possibly be worth it. The truth is, commercial ammo vs. reloads really is an apples-to-oranges comparison, because there's so little variety of commercial stuff available but handloads can be anything you want.
Just for an example, I end up paying about $5.60 per box of .45 (taxes and S/H included), and that's with plated bullets, Vihtavuori powder, and an ultra-conservative estimate of brass life.
Mr. Chitlin
Member
I load for the 41 mag for just a few dollars per box. Wally World wanted $25 for a box of 50. Kind of depends on what you are shooting as to how much you can save. I also load 25/06 and 300 Win Mag ofr a LOT less than what I can get them for at the store.
If ALL I shot was 9mm and 223, I could probably get by with surplus and never miss loading and save money also.
If ALL I shot was 9mm and 223, I could probably get by with surplus and never miss loading and save money also.
Reloading is SWEET!
Back in 1982 when I starting reloading a cheap box of 9mm ran me $12.75....
That's why I starting reloading, just could not afford to shoot at that price. If I cast my own bullets with free lead and free brass. I figure 1cent per round for powder and 1.5 cents per round for primers, comes to $ 1.25 per box. (light plinking rounds for 9mm, 38 special, & .357).... I found low cost lead bullets for $14.00/500 using these I can still load a box for $2.90.. When my stash of lead runs out I will buy lead cast bullets. Casting bullets saves money but it's very time consuming and getting lead is harder for me to find. What is wolf 9mm $6.50 a box?
Just got into .223 reloading. Using surplus bullets ($26/1000 and surplus powder $8/lb) plus primers $15/1000 . that comes to $73 /1000 rounds. Wolf .223 last time I bought it, price was $107. Not a great big saving here but I like my own .223 better.
You can run the cost up by using exotic components, but I would guess the saving is still at lease 50% over store bought.
I always buy large amounts of reloading components to get the lowest prices as possible. Use single stage equiptment. I have also watch for picking up cheap reloading equiptment and components from the gun club sale board.
Reloading has the added benefits of HUGH SAVING in old or exotic calibers.
If you don't shoot a lot and don't mine shooting steel case stuff the Russian stuff is very economical. Just my opinion here, estimated mileage may vary by user... etc etc...
Back in 1982 when I starting reloading a cheap box of 9mm ran me $12.75....
That's why I starting reloading, just could not afford to shoot at that price. If I cast my own bullets with free lead and free brass. I figure 1cent per round for powder and 1.5 cents per round for primers, comes to $ 1.25 per box. (light plinking rounds for 9mm, 38 special, & .357).... I found low cost lead bullets for $14.00/500 using these I can still load a box for $2.90.. When my stash of lead runs out I will buy lead cast bullets. Casting bullets saves money but it's very time consuming and getting lead is harder for me to find. What is wolf 9mm $6.50 a box?
Just got into .223 reloading. Using surplus bullets ($26/1000 and surplus powder $8/lb) plus primers $15/1000 . that comes to $73 /1000 rounds. Wolf .223 last time I bought it, price was $107. Not a great big saving here but I like my own .223 better.
You can run the cost up by using exotic components, but I would guess the saving is still at lease 50% over store bought.
I always buy large amounts of reloading components to get the lowest prices as possible. Use single stage equiptment. I have also watch for picking up cheap reloading equiptment and components from the gun club sale board.
Reloading has the added benefits of HUGH SAVING in old or exotic calibers.
If you don't shoot a lot and don't mine shooting steel case stuff the Russian stuff is very economical. Just my opinion here, estimated mileage may vary by user... etc etc...
Frohickey
Member
You don't really save money.
You just shoot a lot more for the same amount of money you used to spend.
You just shoot a lot more for the same amount of money you used to spend.
kernal_panic
Member
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Ben Shepards right you don't save money you just shoot alot more for the money. the really big secret is cast your own bullets. the most expensive componet on hadgun rounds is the bullet. as one poster pointed out store bought cast bullets are 4 cents a piece. if i cast plain base bullets and lube them my cost is virtually nil. i get the lead free from tire shops. lets look at the cost of say .357 mag
box of umc 125 grn jsp $14.77 walmart price
29.5 cents a shot
vs my own handload:
lyman 358242 129.5 grns lubed cast bullet
for the bullet we'll call it at a penny even to factor in cost of lube and electricity
primer 1.36 cents (bought 10k at gun show for $136 cashola)
heavy charge of h110 5.1 cents
5.10
1.00
1.36
7.46 cents round it up to 7.5 cents a shot x50=$3.75 a box
for the $14.77 i can fire 196 rounds of my own home brewed reloads.
lets look at .38 spec
box of factory 158 grn lead is $9.00 or 18 cents a shot.
penny for the bullet lee 358-158-RF
1.36 cents for the primer
powder 1.14 cents
1.36
1.14
1.00
3.5 cents total!
thats 257 rounds for $9!!!!!!!!!!!!!
in reality i hunt deals on powder and get it for 1/2 the $20 a pound i used as a basis for calculation so for me its really more like 3 cents a shot or 300 rounds for $9
a lee six cavity mold and handles will set you back $48 and a lee bottom pour pot with mold guide about $60 and a push through sizer $12 about $130 to get started in bellet casting in volume.
box of umc 125 grn jsp $14.77 walmart price
29.5 cents a shot
vs my own handload:
lyman 358242 129.5 grns lubed cast bullet
for the bullet we'll call it at a penny even to factor in cost of lube and electricity
primer 1.36 cents (bought 10k at gun show for $136 cashola)
heavy charge of h110 5.1 cents
5.10
1.00
1.36
7.46 cents round it up to 7.5 cents a shot x50=$3.75 a box
for the $14.77 i can fire 196 rounds of my own home brewed reloads.
lets look at .38 spec
box of factory 158 grn lead is $9.00 or 18 cents a shot.
penny for the bullet lee 358-158-RF
1.36 cents for the primer
powder 1.14 cents
1.36
1.14
1.00
3.5 cents total!
thats 257 rounds for $9!!!!!!!!!!!!!
in reality i hunt deals on powder and get it for 1/2 the $20 a pound i used as a basis for calculation so for me its really more like 3 cents a shot or 300 rounds for $9
a lee six cavity mold and handles will set you back $48 and a lee bottom pour pot with mold guide about $60 and a push through sizer $12 about $130 to get started in bellet casting in volume.
sensop
Member
Ben Shepard: "There is no savings, because you just end up shooting more." Ben, I saw the smilie and I know what you mean.
The savings is in the cost per round. That's a decrease in cost per round, whether you shoot more or don't. At some point in reloading you could shoot more for less than what you previously spent to shoot with off-the-shelf ammo. That would be a savings. No?
So you CAN save money reloading. Whether you do or not depends on how you take advantage of the decrease in cost.
The savings is in the cost per round. That's a decrease in cost per round, whether you shoot more or don't. At some point in reloading you could shoot more for less than what you previously spent to shoot with off-the-shelf ammo. That would be a savings. No?
So you CAN save money reloading. Whether you do or not depends on how you take advantage of the decrease in cost.
JuniorG
Member
I saved enough last year to buy a Winchester F.W. 257 Roberts, and all the components to handload the ammo for it. I saved enough the year before to buy a Baby Eagle 9mm, saved enough the year before that to get a new Forster Co-Ax Press and B.R. powder measure. See the trend yet?
Plus, I got hours of quality relax time sitting at my bench and the satisfaction of shooting ALOT of nice groups with my own handloaded ammo.
What could be better?
J.G.
Plus, I got hours of quality relax time sitting at my bench and the satisfaction of shooting ALOT of nice groups with my own handloaded ammo.
What could be better?
J.G.
Thirties
Member
load oddball calibers much less expensively
Another compelling reason to load your own is when you are shooting oddball calibers such as the .32 H&R Magnum. Have you ever priced the ammo for that caliber? There are real savings and much wider choices in loading your own in this caliber, for example.
And then there are the "obsolete" calibers such as 7.62 Russian Nagant Revolver, and 7.5 Swiss, etc. Sometimes loading your own is the only way to shoot these calibers.
So, saving money on your .45acp isn't the only reason folks load.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
And then there is the big reason. Once you've started to load your own, you've got a new hobby. I'm not joking here. It is really fun to load.
Think of this comparison...
Loading is to shooting as cooking is to eating. You can buy all your food cooked by others. But if you love good food, you need to cook your own.
Of couse, as some folks find a burger at McDonald's good enough for them, some shooters not interested in tinkering with their loads are quite happy shooting whatever is the cheapest box WalMart sells.
Chaque-un à son goût . . . it's not always about money.
Another compelling reason to load your own is when you are shooting oddball calibers such as the .32 H&R Magnum. Have you ever priced the ammo for that caliber? There are real savings and much wider choices in loading your own in this caliber, for example.
And then there are the "obsolete" calibers such as 7.62 Russian Nagant Revolver, and 7.5 Swiss, etc. Sometimes loading your own is the only way to shoot these calibers.
So, saving money on your .45acp isn't the only reason folks load.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
And then there is the big reason. Once you've started to load your own, you've got a new hobby. I'm not joking here. It is really fun to load.
Think of this comparison...
Loading is to shooting as cooking is to eating. You can buy all your food cooked by others. But if you love good food, you need to cook your own.
Of couse, as some folks find a burger at McDonald's good enough for them, some shooters not interested in tinkering with their loads are quite happy shooting whatever is the cheapest box WalMart sells.
Chaque-un à son goût . . . it's not always about money.
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