45 acp reloading

ECLIPSE45ACP · January 10, 2007, 11:23 AM

I have seen some people say they can load 45 for about 6.00 per 100??
How is this achieved? how much bulk do you have to buy to do this?
any feedback as to how this is done wouild be much appreciated.

rnovi · January 10, 2007, 12:09 PM

Heck, I'm down to around $4.00 a box for .45 acp.

1000 Hardcast lead Penn bullets: $52
1000 primers: $19 (bought in bulk at PowderValley, in a case of 5000)
1000 charges of powder: $6. (Clays @ 3.3 gr per charge in the 8# jug)
1000 pieces of brass: FREE.

total cost of 1000 rounds: $77. or $7.70 per 100. Or $3.85 per box of 50.

ECLIPSE45ACP · January 10, 2007, 12:35 PM

Imkinda picky and will only shoot copper RN FMJ out of it for targets.
whats the cheapest anyone has found FMJ's? for 1000? power valley is
104 after tax and shipping for me for remingtons.

RickB · January 10, 2007, 01:01 PM

I recently paid over $26 for 1000 primers, and that drove my per-round price above $.10 for the first time. I usually buy bullets by the 70# box (~2000), and powder by the 4# jug, but it looks like I'll have to start buying primers in quantity, as well. Six months ago, I paid $17 at the same store!

rnovi · January 10, 2007, 01:32 PM

Berry's Plated bullets are $84 per 1000, shipped. Cheapest I've found for plated bullets.

It's not a true FMJ, but it's about as close as you are going to get for cheap.

Edward429451 · January 10, 2007, 01:32 PM

Casting my own 45 slugs from WW's brings my cost for a box of 50 rounds down to ~$1.50 per box.

ECLIPSE45ACP · January 10, 2007, 02:36 PM

berry's those are plated, are they going to be as clean as FMJ? and as
reliable? thats a good deal on those!

skipjack · January 10, 2007, 03:33 PM

Berry's or Rainier are both great choices for range ammo. I have shot quite a few, and they are excellent bullets. Buy direct from Berry's and they pay the shipping on any order over $30. Rainier is sold by Midway, and often goes on sale. I got 500 for $34 or $36, can't remember exactly.

I have a bunch of Penn bullets that are also excellent for when I can shoot lead; outdoors.

Even at $10 per hundred, that is about half, or less, factory ammo costs.
In addition, you are making them out of good components, not some junk from Eastern Europe.

epr105 · January 10, 2007, 03:39 PM

I felt the same way about the lead bullets, and after experimenting with Hard Cast Lead bullets. I found a very little diffrence in the dirtyness of the weapon fired. Leading will happen under some circumstances but for target loads it works great and is cost effective. I started to try lead when I found a box of remington .45 ACP that was over 50 years old. The ammo was loaded with lead. I did some looking around and found that most of the older pistol cartridges were loaded with lead. So I started to load pistol rounds with lead and have been very pleased with the results. I even load 9mm with 125 gr lead and it works great. (Not in a Glock) I think INMO lead gets a bad name from softer swaged bullets or hard cast pushed beyond the limit.
Ed

sundog · January 10, 2007, 04:05 PM

Like Edward, I cast my own. No cost for the lead. I don't figure the cost of my cast equipment, because I've been doing it so long it's depreciated value is long past. Soooo, just my time involved. Since I enjoy casting, it's hard to put a price on my time. Therefore, my bullets are FREE. Casting is a hobby (well, really its an obsession).

Primers are well under .02 when purchased in bulk, so let's just call them .02. Let's high side the powder, too, say 7 gr per round. That's a thousand rounds per pound, at twenty bucks. Looks like .02 per round. Can't include the brass. I've got WCC brass that the headstamp is gone. I lose brass before it wears out. I doubt if I will ever need to buy .45 acp brass, so, no cost.

Four bucks a hunert - and that's really high siding it. It's really more like ~3.00 - just what Edward said.

I shoot air cooled WWs and range scrap. They are not 'hard cast' and don't really need to be at 45 acp velocities and pressure. In fact, fit is more important than hardness.

Now for one of my pet peeves. Fellas, you're better off NOT referring to your firearms as 'weapons'. I can't make you stop, and if it makes you feel all macho doing that, then fine. All that does is further alienate people from shooting sports. sundog

Nortonics · January 10, 2007, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Now for one of my pet peeves. Fellas, you're better off NOT referring to your firearms as 'weapons'. I can't make you stop, and if it makes you feel all macho doing that, then fine. All that does is further alienate people from shooting sports.

Hahahaha! Every time my firearm is located on my hip it becomes a weapon - plain and simple. Actually I guess the one in the console of my car really should be called a weapon too. They sure ain't located in those spots for the shooting sports.

JoeHatley · January 10, 2007, 04:42 PM

Quote:

berry's those are plated

The new Cabelas store had Berry's plated bullets in stock. $19/250 IIRC. Plus no shipping.

Joe

sundog · January 10, 2007, 04:44 PM

Yea, you know that and I know that, but all it does is add fuel to the fire to alienate others. It's the conotation. It's what makes gun nuts into potential killers in the eyes of the unknowing.

Every gun I had in the Army was a weapon. Their intended purpose was to kill the enemy. My guns at home are not, but any could be used as one. I'm not intending to kill anyone, but if I have to defend myself then the nearest thing to me that will work will be my weapon, which may happen to be my 45. That's why I reload and practice on the cheap.

If you want to operate in that mode fine. I carry a 1911 every day. It's not a weapon until it serves that role. Other than that it is a fine hundgun. sundog

kart racer · January 10, 2007, 06:22 PM

Ghost holster has the cheapest prices I've found on fmj.They're zero brand.
http://ghostholster.com/catalog/inde...2b8ae077e98a91

Ares45 · January 11, 2007, 01:37 AM

Powdervalleyinc.com has Zero bullets cheaper than Ghostholster.

...Back to the original post...Last time I did the math I was loading "premium" jacketed 45ACP for $6.20 per 50. That's using premium components. I suppose you could knock off a few more dollars if you used cheaper components and lead bullets. Without casting your own lead and scrounging for brass I doubt you get to $6.00 per 100 these days. Regardless, I load premium ammo for half the cost of Wally-World WWB so I'm happy.

cheygriz · January 11, 2007, 09:55 PM

Gun or weapon???

Hey, the antis are still gonna be antis no matter what you call it!

If you're not usng cast lead bullets for plinking/practice, you're wasting money.

Freetime · January 12, 2007, 12:55 PM

What's the best brand of 45 acp brass?

JoeHatley · January 12, 2007, 01:27 PM

Star-Line

Joe

Freetime · January 12, 2007, 01:52 PM

Thanks. That's what I was leaning towards. A number of people around here swear by Winchester, but I've found that I have to cull a lot of their rifle brass for lack of concentricity. Hard to trust any of their product if you find one that's subpar

cheygriz · January 12, 2007, 03:16 PM

What's the best brand of 45 acp brass?Quote

U.S.G.I. MilSurp if you can frind it.

sundog · January 12, 2007, 04:33 PM

Best 45 brass is TZZ then Starline. The old WCC mil brass was purdy darn good stuff, too.

James A. Mullins · January 13, 2007, 09:43 PM

Some of my tzz brass has 12 or more loadings. I crush and recycle when the mouths split. My range loads ore all under 800 fps. I have found any US made brass work great.James

DanV1317 · January 15, 2007, 06:00 PM

The best .45acp brass is free .45acp brass. That aside, for a nice soft shooting IDPA legal .45 load try 4.2 clays and 230 RN.

January 10, 2007, 11:23 AM	#1
ECLIPSE45ACP Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2007 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 177	45 acp reloading I have seen some people say they can load 45 for about 6.00 per 100?? How is this achieved? how much bulk do you have to buy to do this? any feedback as to how this is done wouild be much appreciated.

January 10, 2007, 12:09 PM	#2
rnovi Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2005 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 401	Heck, I'm down to around $4.00 a box for .45 acp. 1000 Hardcast lead Penn bullets: $52 1000 primers: $19 (bought in bulk at PowderValley, in a case of 5000) 1000 charges of powder: $6. (Clays @ 3.3 gr per charge in the 8# jug) 1000 pieces of brass: FREE. total cost of 1000 rounds: $77. or $7.70 per 100. Or $3.85 per box of 50. __________________ Robert N. "Remember, Eagles may soar but Weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!"

January 10, 2007, 01:32 PM	#5
rnovi Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2005 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 401	Berry's Plated bullets are $84 per 1000, shipped. Cheapest I've found for plated bullets. It's not a true FMJ, but it's about as close as you are going to get for cheap. __________________ Robert N. "Remember, Eagles may soar but Weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!"

January 10, 2007, 03:39 PM	#9
epr105 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Location: Sullivan County, New York Posts: 241	I felt the same way about the lead bullets, and after experimenting with Hard Cast Lead bullets. I found a very little diffrence in the dirtyness of the weapon fired. Leading will happen under some circumstances but for target loads it works great and is cost effective. I started to try lead when I found a box of remington .45 ACP that was over 50 years old. The ammo was loaded with lead. I did some looking around and found that most of the older pistol cartridges were loaded with lead. So I started to load pistol rounds with lead and have been very pleased with the results. I even load 9mm with 125 gr lead and it works great. (Not in a Glock) I think INMO lead gets a bad name from softer swaged bullets or hard cast pushed beyond the limit. Ed __________________ Two to the chest and one to the head

January 10, 2007, 04:05 PM	#10
sundog Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 1999 Location: Green Country, OK Posts: 782	Like Edward, I cast my own. No cost for the lead. I don't figure the cost of my cast equipment, because I've been doing it so long it's depreciated value is long past. Soooo, just my time involved. Since I enjoy casting, it's hard to put a price on my time. Therefore, my bullets are FREE. Casting is a hobby (well, really its an obsession). Primers are well under .02 when purchased in bulk, so let's just call them .02. Let's high side the powder, too, say 7 gr per round. That's a thousand rounds per pound, at twenty bucks. Looks like .02 per round. Can't include the brass. I've got WCC brass that the headstamp is gone. I lose brass before it wears out. I doubt if I will ever need to buy .45 acp brass, so, no cost. Four bucks a hunert - and that's really high siding it. It's really more like ~3.00 - just what Edward said. I shoot air cooled WWs and range scrap. They are not 'hard cast' and don't really need to be at 45 acp velocities and pressure. In fact, fit is more important than hardness. Now for one of my pet peeves. Fellas, you're better off NOT referring to your firearms as 'weapons'. I can't make you stop, and if it makes you feel all macho doing that, then fine. All that does is further alienate people from shooting sports. sundog __________________ safety first

January 10, 2007, 12:35 PM	#3
ECLIPSE45ACP Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2007 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 177	Imkinda picky and will only shoot copper RN FMJ out of it for targets. whats the cheapest anyone has found FMJ's? for 1000? power valley is 104 after tax and shipping for me for remingtons.

January 10, 2007, 01:01 PM	#4
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	I recently paid over $26 for 1000 primers, and that drove my per-round price above $.10 for the first time. I usually buy bullets by the 70# box (~2000), and powder by the 4# jug, but it looks like I'll have to start buying primers in quantity, as well. Six months ago, I paid $17 at the same store!

January 10, 2007, 01:32 PM	#6
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Casting my own 45 slugs from WW's brings my cost for a box of 50 rounds down to ~$1.50 per box.

January 10, 2007, 02:36 PM	#7
ECLIPSE45ACP Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2007 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 177	berry's those are plated, are they going to be as clean as FMJ? and as reliable? thats a good deal on those!

January 10, 2007, 03:33 PM	#8
skipjack Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2002 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 140	Berry's or Rainier are both great choices for range ammo. I have shot quite a few, and they are excellent bullets. Buy direct from Berry's and they pay the shipping on any order over $30. Rainier is sold by Midway, and often goes on sale. I got 500 for $34 or $36, can't remember exactly. I have a bunch of Penn bullets that are also excellent for when I can shoot lead; outdoors. Even at $10 per hundred, that is about half, or less, factory ammo costs. In addition, you are making them out of good components, not some junk from Eastern Europe.

January 10, 2007, 04:44 PM	#13
sundog Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 1999 Location: Green Country, OK Posts: 782	Yea, you know that and I know that, but all it does is add fuel to the fire to alienate others. It's the conotation. It's what makes gun nuts into potential killers in the eyes of the unknowing. Every gun I had in the Army was a weapon. Their intended purpose was to kill the enemy. My guns at home are not, but any could be used as one. I'm not intending to kill anyone, but if I have to defend myself then the nearest thing to me that will work will be my weapon, which may happen to be my 45. That's why I reload and practice on the cheap. If you want to operate in that mode fine. I carry a 1911 every day. It's not a weapon until it serves that role. Other than that it is a fine hundgun. sundog __________________ safety first

January 10, 2007, 06:22 PM	#14
kart racer Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2005 Posts: 175	Ghost holster has the cheapest prices I've found on fmj.They're zero brand. http://ghostholster.com/catalog/inde...2b8ae077e98a91

January 11, 2007, 01:37 AM	#15
Ares45 Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2005 Posts: 211	Powdervalleyinc.com has Zero bullets cheaper than Ghostholster. ...Back to the original post...Last time I did the math I was loading "premium" jacketed 45ACP for $6.20 per 50. That's using premium components. I suppose you could knock off a few more dollars if you used cheaper components and lead bullets. Without casting your own lead and scrounging for brass I doubt you get to $6.00 per 100 these days. Regardless, I load premium ammo for half the cost of Wally-World WWB so I'm happy.

January 11, 2007, 09:55 PM	#16
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	Gun or weapon??? Hey, the antis are still gonna be antis no matter what you call it! If you're not usng cast lead bullets for plinking/practice, you're wasting money. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

January 12, 2007, 12:55 PM	#17
Freetime Junior Member Join Date: January 12, 2007 Posts: 2	What's the best brand of 45 acp brass?

January 12, 2007, 01:27 PM	#18
JoeHatley Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 1999 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,135	Star-Line Joe __________________ Go NRA

January 12, 2007, 01:52 PM	#19
Freetime Junior Member Join Date: January 12, 2007 Posts: 2	Thanks. That's what I was leaning towards. A number of people around here swear by Winchester, but I've found that I have to cull a lot of their rifle brass for lack of concentricity. Hard to trust any of their product if you find one that's subpar

January 12, 2007, 03:16 PM	#20
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	What's the best brand of 45 acp brass?Quote U.S.G.I. MilSurp if you can frind it. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

January 12, 2007, 04:33 PM	#21
sundog Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 1999 Location: Green Country, OK Posts: 782	Best 45 brass is TZZ then Starline. The old WCC mil brass was purdy darn good stuff, too. __________________ safety first

January 13, 2007, 09:43 PM	#22
James A. Mullins Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2006 Location: Vancouver Washington Posts: 124	Some of my tzz brass has 12 or more loadings. I crush and recycle when the mouths split. My range loads ore all under 800 fps. I have found any US made brass work great.James

January 15, 2007, 06:00 PM	#23
DanV1317 Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2004 Posts: 331	The best .45acp brass is free .45acp brass. That aside, for a nice soft shooting IDPA legal .45 load try 4.2 clays and 230 RN.