Why bother reloading smaller calibers?

[editingfx]

Besides, I LOVE IT when people leave behind all that pristine once-fired brass at the indoor range for me to pick up. I think my next pistol caliber decision will be based on the most abundant supply of brass I've collected. (45ACP & 40 S&W running neck n' neck, so to speak).

Only found 4 cases of .500S&W .... keeping those as shot glasses, I think....

 

[RustyFN]

Try casting your own and really save.

It's the only way to go. I can load for any of my pistols with my cast bullets for around $23 per 1,000 rounds.
Rusty

 

[NHSHTR]

I hate doing this, because it may cause more people to reload and consume the remaining scarce components on the shelves....

But if you really want to figure out if reloading a specific calber pays in $, use the excellent Excel spreadsheet in the sticky in this Forum: "Questions on Costs of handloading. PLEASE READ -Updated Apr 22"

It certainly pays if you enjoy reloading, but there's no entry for enjoyment, so you'll have to figure that out for yourself.

(Rats, there goes the last of the primers to the new guy! )

 

[magstang1]

I have roughly $1,000.00 into my reloading setup. Using range pickup brass and plated bullets: 9mm will pay for my setup at about 17,000 reloads. 45acp will pay for my setup in 4,000 reloads. Worth it, yes. Save money, no way, I'm always buying more stuff

A short story for those who care to listen. I'm at the range the other day and there were very few people there. I had worked up a few new loads and was trying them out. In walks four guys with a rental gun and 100 rounds of 45 acp each. After about 10 minutes of shooting there was so much brass on the floor you had to kick it out of the way to walk. So I ask. Are you guys taking that brass with you? Reply: nope. Do you mind if I do? Reply: nope. It was like Christmas morning. They even swept it up and poured it into a bag for me as I was shooting. Only a reloader would understand this feeling.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

whens the last you bought any .32acp ammo?
I got to looking for cast slugs to load it with and found only 2 casters, one which is Mike at mastercastbullets and glad I got his, really surprised me over Red Dot fired out of my Beretta (my CCW when very lightly dressed) shot as good or better as the hi$$ Sierra I was loading

 

[Shrinkmd]

Somewhat off topic, but let's say you buy commercial ingots of linotype or whatever to cast the bullets with. How much cheaper is that (shipping included) than just paying a pro to cast them for you? Obviously free lead makes a huge difference, but to make up a batch of 1000 230 gr bullets, how much lead would you need, and what does that cost delivered? I will definitely have to check out that spreadsheet, and tally up what I've spent on my setup so far...

I guess it is good to have loading and/or casting as hobbies for the winter, when you don't shoot as much pistol. For me, winter is Mosin or Mauser season, since I can load and shoot with my gloves on nearly the whole time. I don't care for shooting my handguns when it's 25 degrees out.

 

[magstang1]

230 grains x 1,000 rounds = 230,000 grains divided by 7,000 = 32.85 pounds of lead.

 

[Randy1911]

Freakshow10mm

Where are you finding primers for $20/1K? The last I bought was last fall and they were $30/1K. Who knows what they are now.

 

[jcwit]

Last primers I bought were $10 a thousand.

 

[Yo2slick]

I dont understand people that say you dont save money reloading. Granted you do shoot more when you reload but if you have 4000 rounds of your ammo vs 1000 rounds of factory for the same price then you are obviously saving money.

I load 9mm with JHP and FMJ. I can load 1000 rounds for 112.80. WWB from Wal-Mart is 20 a box so 200 dollars before tax! I have cut my cost in half loading 9mm. You just have to look around for your components. If I cant save money then I dont load for that caliber until I can find the components I want.

 

[mongoose33]

I save $10 per hundred reloading 9mm, about $15 per hundred reloading .45.

If I can reload 300 rounds an hour in 9mm, that's a savings of $30 for one hour of time.

I find reloading relaxing, I produce better ammo than I can buy in the cheap brands, and I do save money.

And there is the last reason to reload--I'm not dependent upon commercial suppliers of ammo. That's important both in terms of the current shortages as well as future issues that may emerge.

 

[armoredman]

Casting is very cheap, depending how you set it up. I have to admit I had a LOT of helo getting set up in both casting and my reloading stuff, much stuff donated to me, (which is why I donate to others starting up when I can, Karma and all, ), and I never bother to account for my time, as I find both casting and reloading to be be a relaxing, productive and enjoyable hobby.
Buying ingots runs around $1 each or so, go check on castboolits.gunloads.com for people selling WW ingots. It costs me about $.25 to run the Lee 10lb pot for an hour or so, get's me about 100-200 usable bullets, depending on how much time I have to spend on it, using a 2 cavity Lee mould. So, honestly, that's a pretty good savings over trying to pay for somebody elses cast bullets, plus shipping. More fun too, and I like the fact that I am even more involved in what goes into my ammo.