Finally made it to 10K with my hand press

spacecoast · February 12, 2011, 09:00 AM

I've been shooting more .22s lately and therefore don't have as many empty boxes around for ammo, but after 14+ months I made it to 10,000 rounds reloaded with my Lee hand press and dippers. Caliber breakdown is as follows:

.380 ACP 13%
.38 spc 37%
.357 mag 6%
9mm Luger 23%
.45 ACP 20%

I've used 2.08 pounds of AA#2, 2.45 lbs of Titegroup, 1.13 lbs of Unique and .21 lbs of H110 for a total of 5.87 lbs or 4.08 grains per round on average, ranging from a low of 2.5 grains for very mild .380 ACP to 16 grains for full-house .357mag. I calculate total savings vs. new rounds at $2,070, which covers my fixed costs at least 6 times over. That savings is based on store prices of $16 for .45ACP, $11 for 9mm, $16 for .38 special, $21 for .357 mag and $21.50 for .380 ACP.

I also have dies for .25 ACP but haven't finished off the 4 boxes I bought initially. I love digging in the buckets at the range and especially prize the very small (.25ACP, .32ACP, .380ACP) brass as well as the large revolver brass (.44mag, .44spc and .45Colt). Later this year I may add a .223 Rem rifle to the stable (likely a Mini-14) and would start reloading those at that time.

dwhite · February 12, 2011, 09:31 AM

You should have a chest and arms like Schwarzenegger now!

Really though, I only have a hand press and have done many many rounds on it. It's easy to use and makes good ammo.

Interesting stats. You must be an engineer or an accountant.

All the Best,
D. White

Huskerguy · February 12, 2011, 09:46 AM

I am more impressed by your record keeping.

chris in va · February 12, 2011, 04:16 PM

I'm not far behind, probably 6-7000 rounds loaded. I recently added 7.62x39, along with the 30-06, 45 and 9mm.

The press was just for me to 'dip my toes' in the reloading pool. Go figure.

jmortimer · February 12, 2011, 08:54 PM

You are a reloading hero and you saved a bundle of $$$.

spacecoast · February 12, 2011, 08:58 PM

Thanks, but no hero, just someone able to keep up with a fairly active shooting habit with a minimal setup and little available space. Fortunately, I find it very fun and relaxing. I'm not an engineer, but I could play one on TV

south.texas.dead.I · February 12, 2011, 09:03 PM

According to my records I have shot 1 and 1/2 bags of 25lb shot bags filled with primers worth so far...how's that for stats

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Wag · February 12, 2011, 09:16 PM

That's cool! I hit 10K a couple months ago but it's been between two single stage presses. Lots of 9mm and other pistol and revolver rounds.

Thinking about starting a spreadsheet and inventory model.

--Wag--

February 12, 2011, 09:00 AM	#1
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Finally made it to 10K with my hand press I've been shooting more .22s lately and therefore don't have as many empty boxes around for ammo, but after 14+ months I made it to 10,000 rounds reloaded with my Lee hand press and dippers. Caliber breakdown is as follows: .380 ACP 13% .38 spc 37% .357 mag 6% 9mm Luger 23% .45 ACP 20% I've used 2.08 pounds of AA#2, 2.45 lbs of Titegroup, 1.13 lbs of Unique and .21 lbs of H110 for a total of 5.87 lbs or 4.08 grains per round on average, ranging from a low of 2.5 grains for very mild .380 ACP to 16 grains for full-house .357mag. I calculate total savings vs. new rounds at $2,070, which covers my fixed costs at least 6 times over. That savings is based on store prices of $16 for .45ACP, $11 for 9mm, $16 for .38 special, $21 for .357 mag and $21.50 for .380 ACP. I also have dies for .25 ACP but haven't finished off the 4 boxes I bought initially. I love digging in the buckets at the range and especially prize the very small (.25ACP, .32ACP, .380ACP) brass as well as the large revolver brass (.44mag, .44spc and .45Colt). Later this year I may add a .223 Rem rifle to the stable (likely a Mini-14) and would start reloading those at that time. Last edited by spacecoast; February 12, 2011 at 09:16 AM.

February 12, 2011, 09:16 PM	#8
Wag Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 988	That's cool! I hit 10K a couple months ago but it's been between two single stage presses. Lots of 9mm and other pistol and revolver rounds. Thinking about starting a spreadsheet and inventory model. --Wag-- __________________ "Great genius will always encounter fierce opposition from mediocre minds." --Albert Einstein.

February 12, 2011, 09:31 AM	#2
dwhite Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2007 Location: Wake County, N. Carolina Posts: 379	You should have a chest and arms like Schwarzenegger now! Really though, I only have a hand press and have done many many rounds on it. It's easy to use and makes good ammo. Interesting stats. You must be an engineer or an accountant. All the Best, D. White

February 12, 2011, 09:46 AM	#3
Huskerguy Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 348	I am more impressed by your record keeping.

February 12, 2011, 04:16 PM	#4
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I'm not far behind, probably 6-7000 rounds loaded. I recently added 7.62x39, along with the 30-06, 45 and 9mm. The press was just for me to 'dip my toes' in the reloading pool. Go figure.

February 12, 2011, 08:54 PM	#5
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,763	You are a reloading hero and you saved a bundle of $$$.

February 12, 2011, 08:58 PM	#6
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Thanks, but no hero, just someone able to keep up with a fairly active shooting habit with a minimal setup and little available space. Fortunately, I find it very fun and relaxing. I'm not an engineer, but I could play one on TV

February 12, 2011, 09:03 PM	#7
south.texas.dead.I Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2011 Posts: 282	According to my records I have shot 1 and 1/2 bags of 25lb shot bags filled with primers worth so far...how's that for stats Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk