Reloading or not?
I have heard a lot of people here suggesting reloading. I was wondering what the actual cost of each reloaded round is. I'm not talking about time, or the initial outlay for equiptment. I am paying the following price for new ammo.
.15 for .223 military
.18 for winchester 12 gauge trap
.22 for .45 acp winchester fmj
.20 for .357 mag? not sure, shot it all.
could someone roughly figure out the cost per round of thier reloaded ammo. Thanks
RAlph MElissa LExi NIcholas 1
Rameleni1
.15 for .223 military
.18 for winchester 12 gauge trap
.22 for .45 acp winchester fmj
.20 for .357 mag? not sure, shot it all.
could someone roughly figure out the cost per round of thier reloaded ammo. Thanks
RAlph MElissa LExi NIcholas 1
Rameleni1
0
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I'm not going to figure your costs for ya but I'll tell ya mine. Before I started reloading I was paying $8.99 a box for .45acp. After reloading I figured cost per box to be about $2.50-$3.50 depending on the load. Depending on how much your time is worth it is more than likely going to be cost effective. Personally I find it very relaxing and fufilling to sit there for a few hours and just crank out rounds, but others I know would say that it would be cheaper to just buy factory cause they ain't getting paid to handload. The most expensive part is the initial investment. The only of the following listed cartridges that I recommend you don't reload is the 12ga. I've never been able to get 12ga to be cost effective.
Also look at reloading this way. Your not only saving money, but your loading better ammunition than the cheapest stuff available. Sure you can pay .09 each for Wolf .223 but you can handload the equivlant of Federal Gold Medal for about the same price.
If I were you I'd invest in a dillon Square Deal B in a .45acp and order seperate a .357mag conversion. Then buy a single stage press for rifle ammo. You can use the powder dispenser on the square deal until you get a seperate one for rifle cartridges. Buy some little Lee case guage and trimmer sets. Some Lee dies. A LOADING MANUAL. And some AOL guages.
At least go out and buy a Load Data Manual before you do anything. This will assist you in pricing your load.
If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.
The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !0 -
I just thought I'd throw this in.
I can't wait until I retire, because I look forward to hours and hours of handloading and range time. But I've got a ways to go considering I'm only 21.
If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.
The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !0 -
quote:.15 for .223 military
.18 for winchester 12 gauge trap
.22 for .45 acp winchester fmj
.20 for .357 mag? not sure, shot it all
You can beat those prices by at least 50%. For example, I load AA Light Target for about $0.10 ea and .45 230 gr FMJ fo5 $0.095 ea.
As Lee said, you are getting premium loads for those costs. The AA Light Target cost $0.26 ea in the store and I load them for a dime!!
Don't expect to save money though, expect to shoot a lot more for the same money - and you get a relaxing hobby!
I will disagree with Lee one one point however, rather than a Dillon Square deal, I would go to the Dillon 550B and load all the calibers you listed (but not the shotgun shells). If you want to load in any quantity, it is the best way to go. If you are not looking for quantity at first, I would go to an RCBS Rockchucker.
BTW, you are talking about 2 different loading machines, one for shotshells and one for the others listed. I recommend the you start with whatever you shoot most (or want to shoot most) and get familiar with that before you move on. You WILL need at least 2 reloading manuals (including the Lyman Shotshell manual for shotgun ammo) and I recommend (most strongly) that you find a friend/coach/teacher to help you get started - esp. for shotshells as they are trickier than the others.
Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis
Edited by - shootist3006 on 08/12/2002 15:21:550 -
I mostly agree with shootist3006 you can save quite a bit over the long haul but its funny that you chose to post the cost's of the 223, trap & 45 because they are traditionally the cheapest rounds available for the non-reloader (excluding the 9mm). If you chose, say the 300 win mag, the 45 long colt & 3 1/2 inch magnums for turkey's the savings for reloading would about quadruple. I guess what I'm really getting at is the savings will vary based on what surplus is available vs what price you can get your reloading components for. Also the learning experiance is priceless! rg 0 -
The other members have covered the savings angle, now consider this, once you find the perfect recipe for each gun, you will have far more accurate bullets for less money. A WIN/WIN SITUATION!!
A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.0 -
I get so tired of hearing how much you can save by reloading ... I've been doing it for years and never saved a dime ... of course its because I shoot 2-3 times more when I started reloading >>>
Buy a Dillon 550B and reload pistol and rifle on the same machine. I get sub-moa with the right load in all my rifles I load for ... .223, 22-250, 308 ... well I'm still working on the 8mm Mauser, but I'm starting to think just breaking down 50 year old ammo and reloading using the original components may never get me there ... I might have to break down and buy some quality bullets instead of re-using the old nickle/steel stuff that they are loaded with ... still 2" at 100 yds using a $40 Turkish Mauser and my recipe of reloaded 50 year old surplus ammo aint half bad ... ammo was 1400 rounds for $79.10 >>>
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Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com0 -
i reload as a hobby that saves me a little money(i reload rifle shells)
normally come up with a powder,bullet and primer combo that shoots better than factory loads. also give you an excuse to shoot more trying out different loads ect.
doc
I dont give my guns without somebody getting hurt!0 -
You need a lot of patience to do reloading. Best bet is to carefully tune each load, test it out, and then make a big batch. Be sure to the little sizing gauges to make sure your ammo fits correctly.
If you don't factor your time, you do save money.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0 -
I have yet to save money because I reload. I shoot more because of it.
For skeet I can reload for around 10 cents a round and now get to shoot more rounds because of it.
For the 300Wby, the cost of the new barrel will eat up any savings there.
For 9mm, I go to Wally World and get their Winchester 100 rd packs.
After your figure the costs of the press, scale, dies, shellholders, trimmers, and gauges, you may not save any money at all.
But you will get to shoot more, make loads that meet your needs, and relax while doing it.
You just tell your wife you are saving money when she sees the charge slips.
Edited by - rsnyder55 on 08/14/2002 02:18:020 -
I have been reloading for 30 years now. Today It costs me about .12 to reload a 223. They are about as cheap to buy as to reload as are 9mm. However, 45acp fmj cost me .11 to reload and 357 run .07 to .12 depending upon the load. My equipmant was paid for long ago.
Reloading can be fun and you can also create your own loads. I have a few pet loads. Part of it is what YOU want to do. Also knowing how to reload could be very valuable some day. I now even cast my own bullets and reload some loads that are not otherwise available.
The second admendment GUARANTEES the other nine and the Constitution!0
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