$10 per bullet!

[Ed Dixon]

Just got an order in from National Bullets that was about a hundred bucks. Went through some old receipts going back to when I got my RCBS Master Kit a few months ago. At this point I've spent several hundred more on components, books, videos, and accessories and figure with the few boxes I've actually reloaded, I'm at about 10 bucks a bullet. This should begin to improve as I've got all I can handle now and am actually starting to feel like I can handle it (some). Thanks for the help so far. Figure I'll be in the black by Friday (2012).

[griz]

It gets better pretty quick. By 2012 you'll be looking for new reloading stuff to buy.

[dakotasin]

if you shoot w/ any frequency at all, you will quickly recoup your initial investment. of course, that is not putting a price on the intangibles: improved accuracy, increased velocity, and the biggest - the satisfaction of knowing you put that whoop-a** load together yourself.

[Desert Pete]

Ed, I assume you mean $10 per cartridge. Never call a cartridge a bullet.

[k5blazer]

The feeling I get knowing I reloaded my own outweighs the other costs. Besides I consider the cost for equipment and accessories a sunk cost. I don't apply them when figuring out the cost of 50 rounds. Helps with justifying my hobby (habit) to the wife who is a banker.

[Thumper]

Hey pete, between sizing dies, molds, melters, dippers, lube and flux, ther've been times when I was WAY over 10 bucks a bullet, not cartridge. It all evens out. Eventually.

[Ed Dixon]

Okay, Pete, "cartridge" it is. I did actually know that, but was trying to play up my neophyte status. (Would someone who uses "neophyte" not know such a thing?) By the way, those metal cappy things that go in the bottom hole are actually priced quite reasonably.

Ed (poorer in wallet and spirit by the minute)

[Sisco]

Posted this little saying before but it's always good when another neophyte comes along!
Reloading is a vicious circle:
Reload, shoot, clean guns. Reload, shoot, clean guns. Wait for payday to buy more supplies, reload, shoot clean guns.

[Steve Smith]

Ed, I don't get it, are you actually pulling the handle on that press? If all you are doing is stockpiling supplies but not lading anything, of course you're going to be in the red! Some amount of manual labor is required to actually produce cartridges.

[Ed Dixon]

Steve, I admit over the last few months I've been doing more reading and buying than loading, but it seemed that as a novice that was the wisest course. Also, when I came across some rough spots I felt it was more prudent to consult some of the experts here than to rush off and fire as much as I can as fast as I can. If this post wasn't clear enough and you didn't see some of my others, I'm new to this, have no hands-on mentor, and am trying to be safe first and "get it right" second. Anyway, there was some humor implied in the post and if that escaped you I apologize. I'll try to do better with that as well. Ed

[Ed Dixon]

SK: Already starting to feel a twinge of that. Seems like guys(and gals) that golf are the same way. Ready to step over to the obsessed side. Thanks, guys. (I think.)

[Steve Smith]

Read some of my recent posts and you'll see that I would be the last to urge you to shoot ammo you have questions about. On the other hand, you knew your budget, and assuming you stayed wtihin it, you didn't need to drag out the calculator. I can hear it now, "Lessee, I got X amount of this for $XX.xx, X of this for $XXX.xx, and X of this for XX.xx, but I have only loaded 3 rounds. Yup, I'm in the hole!" Wow, did you need the calculator for that? I don't think you've convinced yourself of the savings of reloading yet. Once you crank out a few thousand you'll be hooked, of you'll decide you don't have the time.


"In humor, there are little slices of honesty" -Stephen Zerbe

[Ed Dixon]

Steve, yet again, the humor part. I wasn't really complaining. I was trying to be light-hearted and familiar regarding getting started in this endeavor. Again, I'm sorry if you feel I've tricked you. Does this happen often? From most of the responses, seems like most of the people understood what I was (and wasn't) saying.

[coonan357]

ed I said the same thing when I started to reload several years ago and believe me after you let loose the first round you'll know why your doing it . I paid mine off in about 2 years .

[kitb]

My wife is still trying to figure out if I re-load so I can shoot, or shoot so I can re-load.
After 45 years of re-loading, I still enjoy working up a new load that will work just a little bit better.

[dervari]

I just started reloading 12ga for myself and my wife back in March. Since then I've loaded over 10k rounds and have recouped the cost of the loader. Of course, loading shotshells all you need is the loader and a scale.

[Steve Smith]

I am not as dense as you might think. Its not like I can't see the humor in your posts. I just see things differently than most folks.