George P
member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2018
- Messages
- 7,772
I'm loading 9mm for well under $0.05 a round right now. I cast my own bullets, I'm using S&B primers and Vectan A1 powder.
Primer $0.0175
Powder $0.006
Bullet $0.004
Total $0.0275 per round or $2.75/100
Yet people always question the cost.
Just because they can't do it doesn't mean it can't be done.
9mm brass is free. I normally pick up somewhere between 500-1000 every trip to the range. You can get Fiocchi primers for $0.026 each if you buy a case. The Vectan powder is $14.99 for 1.1 lbs. I'm paying $0.25 a lb for wheel weights.
I can understand if if your idea is to go to Cabela's and buy a lb of powder and a brick of primers and some Berry's plated bullets. You will have a hard time believing that someone can do it so cheaply.
Also I've noted that many people have no real idea of what their reloads cost them vs the cost of factory ammo. We always hear it's not worth reloading 9mm because it's so inexpensive. I say that's BS because it's really easy to cut the cost in half by reloading.
So, I guess what we need to do is break down the cost of our reloads so we can show people the savings.
My .45 ACP loads are broken down like this.
Primer $0.0175
Powder $0.0125 Winchester WST 4.4 gr, I bought 14 lbs for $19.99 a lb when Gander Mountain went out of business.
Bullet $0.007 200 gr SWC that I cast.
Total cost $0.037 each or $3.70/100
If I go with replacement costs then it breaks down like this.
Primer $0.026
Powder $0.0133
Bullet $0.007
Total cost $0.0463 or $4.63/100
If I had to buy casting metal from Rotometals the bullets would cost $0.0623 making the cost of 100 rounds $10.16. That would be a worst case scenario for me.
How is this math working and what am I missing? If the Fiocchi primers in bulk are .026, how do you come up .0175? For your Vectan 9mm reload:
Vectan from Grafs is on special for $15/1.1#; buy a case of 10, add $7.95 fee plus $10 hazmat = $168/11.1# x 7000 grains = $168/77700= .0021 per grain. If you use ~ 5 grains per load = .0108/round + .026 for the primer = .0368 before bullet cost. Are you saying your bullet costs are ~ .01? Did that factor in the cost of the equipment as well? (I do not believe in factoring time as some of us are retired and have that available)