Beginner question about reloading

358minus1 · March 14, 2007, 08:43 AM

Is there a general rule of thumb for when reloading will save you money? Something like if you shoot "X" number of rounds a year?

How much of an investment is reloading equipment for pistol rounds?

Anyone who reloads 38 Spl/357.... What is the cost for reloading 50 rounds, ignoring your equipment costs? Same questions for 9mm....

I can buy 50 rounds of target loads for about $10, seems I'd need to have that cost down to $2-4 before reloading would become attractive to me.

Just trying to figure out whether I should expand my hobby. Thanks a bunch!

rwilson452 · March 14, 2007, 10:05 AM

as a general rule of thumb, figure you will save 50% on the cost of comparable ammo. This assumes you have a good store of brass. Low pressure brass such as .38spl and .45ACP lasts a very long time.

As to how long it takes to amortize your costs, it depends on what you buy for equipment. For a low end Lee setup, about 2000 rounds. For a high end dillon 1050 press, it will be a long, long time unless your shooting 1000's rounds a month or better.

The truth be known, almost no one puts money in their pocket by reloading. They shoot up their savings. You just get more bangs for your buck.

For loading pistol stuff you can get a Lee turret setup plus the other stuff you need for around $200. A Dillon 1050 press starts at over $1000.

sundog · March 14, 2007, 10:24 AM

Inexpensive - Lee Turret (which btw makes acceptable ammo) for about a hunert bucks for a starter kit.

From their you can work you way through all the other stuff up to Dillion and spend as much as your plastic can handle.

Primers - $20.00 / 1000

Bullets - $15.00 / 100 (decent Jacketed hollow point - adjust to whatever you can get them for)

Powder - $21.00 / lb

Assuming you already have brass....

Primer + Bullet + Powder (figure 10 grains per so that's 700 charges per lb)

.02 + .15 + .03 = .20 (per round) or $10.00 / box of 50

Obviously, the most expensive component, and the one you have most control over, is the bullet. Cast your own from alloy that you do do pay for, and the cost for the bullet becomes zero. Now, it's only .05 / round or $2.50 per box of 50! Of course 'free' bullet means you are not counting the cost of casting equipment, pot, mould, heat source, etc.

One other thing that can have some affect is using surplus powder, but that is normally bought in bulk, thus a little more cost up front but alot more powder that will last longer. At only .03 / round, it does not have as much affect on overall cost as bullets.

Still, ten bucks ain't bad for a box of .357! If you twice the powder, 20 grains, then your per box cost only goes up by 1.50 to 11.50. Still not bad. But it coud be as low as $2.50!!!!

steelrat · March 14, 2007, 10:42 AM

Here is a great site to calculate costs http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

mrawesome22 · March 14, 2007, 02:20 PM

My .40S&W costs just as much or more to reload. With my .243Win and .22-250Rem. the cost savings are dramatic to say the least. Especially if I use brass that my friends give to me because they don't reload. I figured it out to about $0.23 a round .22-250 loaded myself with premium bullets, compared to $1.10 a round premium factory stuff. Plus my reloads are far more accurate than any factory round I've tried. Even if it cost more, I'd still reload for the enjoyment of it, and it's great accuracy benefits.

CrustyFN · March 14, 2007, 04:50 PM

I can load 9mm for $3.50 per 50 rounds. If you buy lead or cast your own you can probably get close to $2.50 per 50 rounds. Just like rwilson452 said. I don't know anybody that reloads to save money. We all reload so we can shoot more for the same price and shoot better ammo than you can buy in the store. If you are only going to reload to save money then you probably won't enjoy it. The problem is how do you know if you will like it before you try it. That's where I was so I thought I would start inexpensive but with something that would meet my needs so if I didn't like it I wouldn't be out much money. I read a lot of the forums and decided to buy the Lee Classic Turret Press. You can buy the Classic kit at Kempfsgunshop.com and buy a tumbler and start for around $200. Once I got my press and started I knew I was going to like it. I think the quality of the Classic turret had a lot to do with that. It was very easy to setup and use as a beginner without any help except for these great guys on the forum. After the first couple of times and getting comfortable with the press I was up to 200 rounds per hour. I shoot a lot of competition and don't have any trouble keeping up with my ammo needs on the Classic Turret. If there is anybody in your area that would let you try their equipment, that would be a big help. Sorry this ended up being so long and I hope it helps.
Rusty

Trapper L · March 14, 2007, 07:07 PM

Unless you are shooting at least a thousand rounds a month and intend to do it for a long time, reloading your own is not the cheapest way to go. I have over ten thousand dollars in reloading equipment/gunsmithing tools gathered together over the last 40 years. It's a bad habit as the more you do, the more you want. Next thing will be another caliber so now you're buying dies, shell holder, powder, bullets, and usually primers. So when you get tired of that fun, you buy a different caliber until you get bored with the common stuff. So now you get into wildcats. Now you have to turn necks, buy sizing dies, and the list goes on and on and ....So now you get into the old cartridges that aren't available anymore or are incredibly expensive to buy like a 351 Autoloader or a 45-110 or maybe a 33 Winchester. Now you spent some bucks but it's never ending. If you're hooked on reloading for whatever the reason, get ready to make excuses to your spouse- your gonna need 'em.
My excuses:
It's cheaper
I can custom tailor my loads
It more accurate
I have more choices of bullets and power
But the best one- it keeps me out of your way, honey.
Best of luck,
Trapper

LSMNTBC · March 14, 2007, 08:33 PM

For me to reload .40 my cost is 5.70 per 50. 9mm is about 5.25 per 50.

scsov509 · March 14, 2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Anyone who reloads 38 Spl/357.... What is the cost for reloading 50 rounds, ignoring your equipment costs? Same questions for 9mm....

I reload 50 rounds of 9mm for about $4 and 50 rounds of .38 for about $3.50. My cost is pretty much the same as what sundog writes, except I load lead in both of these which I can get for about $20-25 per 500 as opposed to the $15 per 100 listed for quality jacketed bullets. My only other difference is that in these calibers I only load about 4-5 grains of charge per round (depending on powder) which means I get twice as much out of my powder.

mrawesome22 · March 14, 2007, 11:25 PM

I should have made that clearer. Loading .40S&W is a no go for me because no stores in my area carry anything for that round, and shipping charges spoil the deal.

CrustyFN · March 15, 2007, 06:32 AM

Quote:

I should have made that clearer. Loading .40S&W is a no go for me because no stores in my area carry anything for that round, and shipping charges spoil the deal.

I would think you could still load them for half the cost of new. I don't buy my 9mm supplies local and still load them for half price.
Rusty

358minus1 · March 15, 2007, 08:18 AM

Thanks for everyone's comments, this helps me a lot. While I don't (at this point) shoot 1000 rounds per month, I would enjoy making my $ go further either with cheaper rounds or more rounds for the same money (this sounds like the better option!).

Also, where do you guys store your gun powder? Do you store it inside the house? In an attached garage, basement or is it better to store it outside the home in an out building?

My house does not have a basement, but I do have a crawl space, and no outbuildings so my options are only in an attached garage/crawl space (no AC) or inside the house. I live in SC, is there any concerns with summer humidity affecting gun powder if I was to store it in the garage or in the crawl space?

358-1

rwilson452 · March 15, 2007, 09:11 AM

Back when I was a home owner in So. Kal, I stored my powder in a cheap styrofoam cooler in the garage. Now that I'm in an apt it's in a cabinet inside. Humidity is not an issue as long as you keep it in it's original container with the lid tight. Large temperature swings are more of an issue. So you want to put it in a place that the temperature is as well moderated as possible. In case of a fire smokeless powder will not explode if properly stored. It will however burn like crazy. Black powder is another issue entirely, it will explode. One choice might be in a cooler. Put the cooler on the floor of a closet on the north side of your dwelling. If you don't have a north closet east would be the next best bet with south being worst choice. The last time I looked you can get one of those cheap "throw-a-way" coolers for a buck or so.

jcadwell · March 15, 2007, 11:00 AM

You can get much cheaper. I cast my own bullets. Lead cost is virtually nill. (10$ per 200lb) I can reload 50- 40S&W or 45 ACP for about 1.50$. Casting is FAST with a Lee 6 hole mold, and it takes much less startup investment than reloading.

I also reload some expensive calibers. I don't want to pay 5$ per round for my 458 Lott. I cast a 500 grain bullet, and with 80 grains of powder I'm still only 22 cents down. Needless to say, I shoot a lot of Lott... I'll paper patch a 450 grain mold I made for full power loads for even more cheap fun. Even with Barnes Triple shock bullets I'm barely over a dollar a round.

Reloading can be much cheaper. It depends on whether you want bulk or to replicate a factory round. Reloading jacketed hollowpoints for practice never made much sense to me.

LAH · March 15, 2007, 11:52 AM

If you are going to shoot a handgun or rifle you can't afford not to load unless maybe you only shoot 50 rounds a month or some such. When you go through a couple thousand rounds a month you need to produce your own ammo and for me that includes making my own bullets.

Creeker

mrawesome22 · March 15, 2007, 02:18 PM

I can't crusty. I've crunched the numbers a million times seems like. Now if I casted my own it might be feasible. But I'm not about to expose my family to the harms of lead.

CrustyFN · March 16, 2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

I can't crusty. I've crunched the numbers a million times seems like. Now if I casted my own it might be feasible. But I'm not about to expose my family to the harms of lead.

mrawesome22 I'm sorry to hear that. Are you using plated bullets or name brand like Hornady? I buy plated bullets and can get them on line for $55 to $60 per 1000. Primers and powder would only add another 4 cents per round. I don't own a 40 but isn't the WWB going for around $23 per 100? I don't blame you for not wanting to cast. My kids are grown and out of the house but I'm still not ready myself. Good luck, I hope you find a way to be able to load 40 and save some money.
Rusty

mrawesome22 · March 16, 2007, 09:45 PM

Even with el cheapo plated bullets it still is almost as cheap to just buy rounds. Shipping kills it. WWB 100rnd target packs are $17.99. If I didn't have to pay for shipping it would be well worth it. And we can forget about trying to load premium bullets like XTP's (which is what I would love to load) because they cost as much as a box of 100 already loaded rounds. If I had a store where I could by cheap plated bullets without having to pay shipping, I'd probably be loading .40S&W right now instead of typing LOL. I love shooting my S&W in .40S&W trim. I bought a Colt 1911 the other day but my local store carries everything for that round so I'll be loading it. I paid $350 for that beautiful Colt! The guy definitly did not know what he had. And I didn't let him know either LOL.

CrustyFN · March 16, 2007, 10:15 PM

I hear Berry's has free shipping for orders over $30 and Graf and Sons has free shipping.
Rusty

Edit: You can also get discounts at a lot of places with a C&R lisence. The lisence cost $30 and is good for three years.

mrawesome22 · March 16, 2007, 10:23 PM

Never heard of Graf & Sons. And I didn't know you could order direct from Berry's. The only place I've seen Berry's is Cabelas site. Does Graf & Sons have a website?

CrustyFN · March 16, 2007, 11:09 PM

I hope these help.
Rusty

https://www.grafs.com/metallic/
http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/powders.shtml
http://www.berrysmfg.com/images/leftColumn.jpg

mrawesome22 · March 17, 2007, 12:14 AM

Thanks Crusty. I went to Berry's site and with the free shipping it's definitely worth it now. $77.49 for 1000 bullets. These sure won't be HD rounds. But they'll be great for paper.

Guy B. Meredith · March 17, 2007, 01:33 AM

Prices on components have gone up for me recently. Primers from $70/5000 to $98 (with California sales tax)/5000, pretty X-treme bullets 158 gr plated .38 cal bullets from $62/1000 with shipping to $80/1000 with shipping.

However, that means I am producing a high quality product (low dirt, low smoke, low residue, accurate) for $5/50 rounds. Much better than "target rounds" which might go for $10/50 rounds.

I did enough shooting for a year that my reloading gear costs were paid off in the savings. Since that time the equipment is "free".

snuffy · March 17, 2007, 02:20 AM

http://www.xtremebullets.com/plated.htm

Guy just mentioned X-treme bullets, here's the website for their plated bullets. 155 .40 bullets, 85.00/1000 freight paid. They used to be west coast bullets. I've used their bullets in 4 handgun calibers with complete satisfaction.

garbageman · March 17, 2007, 10:00 AM

After you get started, it won't be about the money you save, it will be about the fun you will have and knowing you do it all yourself.

There is a satisfaction you get from loading a cartridge and shooting it from your own firearm.

I like to just go up in my building and look at my bench that was handmade by my wife and me, see the newest press or reloading accessory (thats new or used) that has been added to the collection.

I even like to check flea markets for reloading accessories.

It is an addiction that won't send you to jail or, hopefully, rehab.

And if you have children (I got four) and a spouse (just one, at a time) you can teach them to reload.

My wife loves it, My two sons still at home are still to young, 3 & 5.

March 14, 2007, 08:43 AM	#1
358minus1 Member Join Date: February 21, 2007 Posts: 50	Beginner question about reloading Is there a general rule of thumb for when reloading will save you money? Something like if you shoot "X" number of rounds a year? How much of an investment is reloading equipment for pistol rounds? Anyone who reloads 38 Spl/357.... What is the cost for reloading 50 rounds, ignoring your equipment costs? Same questions for 9mm.... I can buy 50 rounds of target loads for about $10, seems I'd need to have that cost down to $2-4 before reloading would become attractive to me. Just trying to figure out whether I should expand my hobby. Thanks a bunch!

March 14, 2007, 10:24 AM	#3
sundog Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 1999 Location: Green Country, OK Posts: 783	Inexpensive - Lee Turret (which btw makes acceptable ammo) for about a hunert bucks for a starter kit. From their you can work you way through all the other stuff up to Dillion and spend as much as your plastic can handle. Primers - $20.00 / 1000 Bullets - $15.00 / 100 (decent Jacketed hollow point - adjust to whatever you can get them for) Powder - $21.00 / lb Assuming you already have brass.... Primer + Bullet + Powder (figure 10 grains per so that's 700 charges per lb) .02 + .15 + .03 = .20 (per round) or $10.00 / box of 50 Obviously, the most expensive component, and the one you have most control over, is the bullet. Cast your own from alloy that you do do pay for, and the cost for the bullet becomes zero. Now, it's only .05 / round or $2.50 per box of 50! Of course 'free' bullet means you are not counting the cost of casting equipment, pot, mould, heat source, etc. One other thing that can have some affect is using surplus powder, but that is normally bought in bulk, thus a little more cost up front but alot more powder that will last longer. At only .03 / round, it does not have as much affect on overall cost as bullets. Still, ten bucks ain't bad for a box of .357! If you twice the powder, 20 grains, then your per box cost only goes up by 1.50 to 11.50. Still not bad. But it coud be as low as $2.50!!!! __________________ safety first Last edited by sundog; March 14, 2007 at 10:27 AM. Reason: add comment

March 15, 2007, 08:18 AM	#12
358minus1 Member Join Date: February 21, 2007 Posts: 50	Thanks guys (and maybe gals....) Thanks for everyone's comments, this helps me a lot. While I don't (at this point) shoot 1000 rounds per month, I would enjoy making my $ go further either with cheaper rounds or more rounds for the same money (this sounds like the better option!). Also, where do you guys store your gun powder? Do you store it inside the house? In an attached garage, basement or is it better to store it outside the home in an out building? My house does not have a basement, but I do have a crawl space, and no outbuildings so my options are only in an attached garage/crawl space (no AC) or inside the house. I live in SC, is there any concerns with summer humidity affecting gun powder if I was to store it in the garage or in the crawl space? 358-1

March 15, 2007, 09:11 AM	#13
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	powder storage Back when I was a home owner in So. Kal, I stored my powder in a cheap styrofoam cooler in the garage. Now that I'm in an apt it's in a cabinet inside. Humidity is not an issue as long as you keep it in it's original container with the lid tight. Large temperature swings are more of an issue. So you want to put it in a place that the temperature is as well moderated as possible. In case of a fire smokeless powder will not explode if properly stored. It will however burn like crazy. Black powder is another issue entirely, it will explode. One choice might be in a cooler. Put the cooler on the floor of a closet on the north side of your dwelling. If you don't have a north closet east would be the next best bet with south being worst choice. The last time I looked you can get one of those cheap "throw-a-way" coolers for a buck or so.

March 14, 2007, 10:05 AM	#2
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	as a general rule of thumb, figure you will save 50% on the cost of comparable ammo. This assumes you have a good store of brass. Low pressure brass such as .38spl and .45ACP lasts a very long time. As to how long it takes to amortize your costs, it depends on what you buy for equipment. For a low end Lee setup, about 2000 rounds. For a high end dillon 1050 press, it will be a long, long time unless your shooting 1000's rounds a month or better. The truth be known, almost no one puts money in their pocket by reloading. They shoot up their savings. You just get more bangs for your buck. For loading pistol stuff you can get a Lee turret setup plus the other stuff you need for around $200. A Dillon 1050 press starts at over $1000.

March 14, 2007, 10:42 AM	#4
steelrat Member Join Date: February 8, 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 66	Here is a great site to calculate costs http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

March 14, 2007, 02:20 PM	#5
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	My .40S&W costs just as much or more to reload. With my .243Win and .22-250Rem. the cost savings are dramatic to say the least. Especially if I use brass that my friends give to me because they don't reload. I figured it out to about $0.23 a round .22-250 loaded myself with premium bullets, compared to $1.10 a round premium factory stuff. Plus my reloads are far more accurate than any factory round I've tried. Even if it cost more, I'd still reload for the enjoyment of it, and it's great accuracy benefits.

March 14, 2007, 04:50 PM	#6
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	I can load 9mm for $3.50 per 50 rounds. If you buy lead or cast your own you can probably get close to $2.50 per 50 rounds. Just like rwilson452 said. I don't know anybody that reloads to save money. We all reload so we can shoot more for the same price and shoot better ammo than you can buy in the store. If you are only going to reload to save money then you probably won't enjoy it. The problem is how do you know if you will like it before you try it. That's where I was so I thought I would start inexpensive but with something that would meet my needs so if I didn't like it I wouldn't be out much money. I read a lot of the forums and decided to buy the Lee Classic Turret Press. You can buy the Classic kit at Kempfsgunshop.com and buy a tumbler and start for around $200. Once I got my press and started I knew I was going to like it. I think the quality of the Classic turret had a lot to do with that. It was very easy to setup and use as a beginner without any help except for these great guys on the forum. After the first couple of times and getting comfortable with the press I was up to 200 rounds per hour. I shoot a lot of competition and don't have any trouble keeping up with my ammo needs on the Classic Turret. If there is anybody in your area that would let you try their equipment, that would be a big help. Sorry this ended up being so long and I hope it helps. Rusty

March 14, 2007, 07:07 PM	#7
Trapper L Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 804	Unless you are shooting at least a thousand rounds a month and intend to do it for a long time, reloading your own is not the cheapest way to go. I have over ten thousand dollars in reloading equipment/gunsmithing tools gathered together over the last 40 years. It's a bad habit as the more you do, the more you want. Next thing will be another caliber so now you're buying dies, shell holder, powder, bullets, and usually primers. So when you get tired of that fun, you buy a different caliber until you get bored with the common stuff. So now you get into wildcats. Now you have to turn necks, buy sizing dies, and the list goes on and on and ....So now you get into the old cartridges that aren't available anymore or are incredibly expensive to buy like a 351 Autoloader or a 45-110 or maybe a 33 Winchester. Now you spent some bucks but it's never ending. If you're hooked on reloading for whatever the reason, get ready to make excuses to your spouse- your gonna need 'em. My excuses: It's cheaper I can custom tailor my loads It more accurate I have more choices of bullets and power But the best one- it keeps me out of your way, honey. Best of luck, Trapper

March 14, 2007, 08:33 PM	#8
LSMNTBC Member Join Date: December 12, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 24	For me to reload .40 my cost is 5.70 per 50. 9mm is about 5.25 per 50.

March 14, 2007, 11:25 PM	#10
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	I should have made that clearer. Loading .40S&W is a no go for me because no stores in my area carry anything for that round, and shipping charges spoil the deal.

March 15, 2007, 11:00 AM	#14
jcadwell Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2006 Posts: 166	You can get much cheaper. I cast my own bullets. Lead cost is virtually nill. (10$ per 200lb) I can reload 50- 40S&W or 45 ACP for about 1.50$. Casting is FAST with a Lee 6 hole mold, and it takes much less startup investment than reloading. I also reload some expensive calibers. I don't want to pay 5$ per round for my 458 Lott. I cast a 500 grain bullet, and with 80 grains of powder I'm still only 22 cents down. Needless to say, I shoot a lot of Lott... I'll paper patch a 450 grain mold I made for full power loads for even more cheap fun. Even with Barnes Triple shock bullets I'm barely over a dollar a round. Reloading can be much cheaper. It depends on whether you want bulk or to replicate a factory round. Reloading jacketed hollowpoints for practice never made much sense to me.

March 15, 2007, 11:52 AM	#15
LAH Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2002 Location: In The Hardwoods Posts: 1,202	If you are going to shoot a handgun or rifle you can't afford not to load unless maybe you only shoot 50 rounds a month or some such. When you go through a couple thousand rounds a month you need to produce your own ammo and for me that includes making my own bullets. Creeker

March 15, 2007, 02:18 PM	#16
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	I can't crusty. I've crunched the numbers a million times seems like. Now if I casted my own it might be feasible. But I'm not about to expose my family to the harms of lead.

March 16, 2007, 09:45 PM	#18
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Even with el cheapo plated bullets it still is almost as cheap to just buy rounds. Shipping kills it. WWB 100rnd target packs are $17.99. If I didn't have to pay for shipping it would be well worth it. And we can forget about trying to load premium bullets like XTP's (which is what I would love to load) because they cost as much as a box of 100 already loaded rounds. If I had a store where I could by cheap plated bullets without having to pay shipping, I'd probably be loading .40S&W right now instead of typing LOL. I love shooting my S&W in .40S&W trim. I bought a Colt 1911 the other day but my local store carries everything for that round so I'll be loading it. I paid $350 for that beautiful Colt! The guy definitly did not know what he had. And I didn't let him know either LOL.

March 16, 2007, 10:15 PM	#19
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	I hear Berry's has free shipping for orders over $30 and Graf and Sons has free shipping. Rusty Edit: You can also get discounts at a lot of places with a C&R lisence. The lisence cost $30 and is good for three years.

March 16, 2007, 10:23 PM	#20
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Never heard of Graf & Sons. And I didn't know you could order direct from Berry's. The only place I've seen Berry's is Cabelas site. Does Graf & Sons have a website?

March 16, 2007, 11:09 PM	#21
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	I hope these help. Rusty https://www.grafs.com/metallic/ http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/powders.shtml http://www.berrysmfg.com/images/leftColumn.jpg

March 17, 2007, 12:14 AM	#22
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Thanks Crusty. I went to Berry's site and with the free shipping it's definitely worth it now. $77.49 for 1000 bullets. These sure won't be HD rounds. But they'll be great for paper.

March 17, 2007, 01:33 AM	#23
Guy B. Meredith Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 1999 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 1,581	Prices on components have gone up for me recently. Primers from $70/5000 to $98 (with California sales tax)/5000, pretty X-treme bullets 158 gr plated .38 cal bullets from $62/1000 with shipping to $80/1000 with shipping. However, that means I am producing a high quality product (low dirt, low smoke, low residue, accurate) for $5/50 rounds. Much better than "target rounds" which might go for $10/50 rounds. I did enough shooting for a year that my reloading gear costs were paid off in the savings. Since that time the equipment is "free".

March 17, 2007, 02:20 AM	#24
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	http://www.xtremebullets.com/plated.htm Guy just mentioned X-treme bullets, here's the website for their plated bullets. 155 .40 bullets, 85.00/1000 freight paid. They used to be west coast bullets. I've used their bullets in 4 handgun calibers with complete satisfaction.

March 17, 2007, 10:00 AM	#25
garbageman Member Join Date: April 26, 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 52	After you get started, it won't be about the money you save, it will be about the fun you will have and knowing you do it all yourself. There is a satisfaction you get from loading a cartridge and shooting it from your own firearm. I like to just go up in my building and look at my bench that was handmade by my wife and me, see the newest press or reloading accessory (thats new or used) that has been added to the collection. I even like to check flea markets for reloading accessories. It is an addiction that won't send you to jail or, hopefully, rehab. And if you have children (I got four) and a spouse (just one, at a time) you can teach them to reload. My wife loves it, My two sons still at home are still to young, 3 & 5.