i just dont see how some can say reloading is cost effective

[Wag]

I just loaded my 12,000th round the other day. Total cost so far is $1,300. That doesn't include all of the components I still have on hand that I can reload with.

That's all of my assorted rounds, pistol and rifle. Some rare occasions when I bought brass but mostly just picked it all up off the range.

--Wag--

[Waldog]

Go to: http://www.10xshooters.com/calculators/

They have cost calculators for Rlfe/Shotshell/Handgun.

It also allows you to calculate the cost of your reloading equipment.

[sob (sweet ole bill)]

Priceless-- with adequate supplies in hand ,you can reload as you see fit. Regulations,shortages,and price wars are not items that will unduly bother you. Independance, thats what it is about.
Pitchforks to the ready!!

SOB

[the_right_reverend]

I reload because the crook dealers around my area are very proud of their limited wears....... and it is pretty much a useless cause to look around for a bargain or a reasonable price....... buy my powder and primers at gunshows when the price suits me. buy all the blemished bullets I can get my hands. and buy all the once fired brass i can get my hands on

I have a C/R FFL with a couple of online dealers and the luxury of being able to hit the grafs super reloading center a couple times a year.

that means my next 1000 125 grain 357 mag rounds in XTP will run me a little less then $150. thats a savings of $600/1000

but then all my presses to include the Dillion 550B are early 80's vintage just makes good sense for me to reload

[vikingm03]

Just wanted to give my current reloading costs. After totaling up my notes, im at $6.64 per 50 for .45acp, compare that to the local price of $20 a box for factory ammo ON SALE. However, this is using free range brass. Also, i would guess 9mm CAN be cheaper than this, since ive found 9mm lead projectiles far cheaper than the big .45s i bought.

[xzqzq]

I am just getting into casting / reloading, and I don't even want to think about how much I have spent, even trying to keep costs down by buying used whenever possible... It would take years to amortize the costs.....Just the 10 bullet molds for my BP & center-fires @ $ 300...then lead, primers, dies, press, etc...

The best thing is to do it simply because you enjoy it...or if reloading for an unusual caliber. I am finding that I enjoy casting & reloading at least as much as shooting....Now I go shooting largely to test my hand-loads....My two center-fire rifles are in odd calibers - 8 X 57 Mauser, and .300 Savage... buying in bulk doesn't work - the usual outlets refuse to ship ammo to Hawaii, where I live...reloading, I will be able to shoot these two guns a lot more than previously....

9mm is $ 18 / 50, .45 Auto & .44 Mag is $40 / 50 where I am.... when I can get it....

[Tanker6]

Doodlebugger45 said:

"Likewise, there was a long period in my life when I knew that my circumstances would not support a reloading habit. I read about it all the time and wanted to do it, but when you have kids, dogs, horses, wives running around demanding constant attention, that is not the optimum setting for reloading. You need a certain amount of time and space that will guarantee uninterrupted concentration. Otherwise you are asking for trouble."


One of my wife's girlfriends gave her a copy of "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" several months ago. I wanna hug that gal (her girlfriend). Now, my wife understands that I need time "in the cave."


I bought an inexpensive Lee Anniversary Set (single stage) about 14-15 months ago. I started using brass I'd shot (factory stuff) and recently bought some pre-fired brass in bulk. I buy lead cast stuff (I don't cast my own....yet ) in packages of 500 or so. I buy primers and powder at the local Gander Mtn (which is the only place I've found locally to purchase those items) which we all know is "proud" of their pricing. All in all, however, I've now loaded over 2,000 rounds of .40 S&W and around 1,000 rounds of .38 Special. The amount I've saved over the cost of buying factory rounds has paid for my equipment twice over.

While I don't necessarily reload to just save money (and others have pointed out the many reasons, so I don't need to here), there is a savings......which I pour back into shooting more.

[chris in va]

I can reload my LRN 9mm for about $3/50.

A can of powder will charge about 1800 cases.

Primers are dropping in price, so 1000 of those.

Brass is free.

I cast my own bullets, so figure...$10 per 500.

My equipment is really basic and paid for itself a long time ago.

[farmerboy]

Yes some people can sure save big money if thats what they're after and some people can say they dont see how if they wont top of the line components. To me its not about saving money because what I do save, I spend more on shooting or buying more supplies. But either way I love it and I'll continue to because it's a hobby of mine. Its for some and for some its not. If it strickly about the savings for you, you better think is this what you really want to get into because if the "BUG" doesnt get hold of you you may dump whatever money into this, get frustrated and get out.

[oneounceload]

If you value your time at anything above minimum wage, then cost savings are not why you reload - it is because you can tailor an accurate round for your particular gun

[testuser]

If you shoot a lot of different calibers or expensive ones, then you'll probably save money very quickly.

I've shot enough .44 magnum, .45 Colt, .357 magnum and 10mm to pay for my equipment. (Not to mention the eight other calibers I reload for.)

I also like the modularity of components. Powders, primers and some projectiles can be used for multiple calibers. It cuts down on storage space. Imagine if I had to buy in bulk for 12 different calibers?

I can also spread out my ammo costs easier. I don't have to commit say $200 for a 1,000 case of 9mm.

I can take some that money and buy a couple of thousand primers and another fraction to buy enough powder to reload 5,000 9mm cases. Next month I'll maybe buy some bulk bullets. You get the point.

[whipper]

I just bought a .17 Remington fireball. Cost of factory rounds $27.00 for 20 rounds, reloading them my self $2.40 for 20.

Reloading works for me!

[salvadore]

I would buy factory 9mm luger rounds even tho I reload and cast for .45acp, .45 Colt, .44 spec., .38s, .38 +p+, .32/20, and plan on casting and loading for 8mm mauser, and .32 Win. Spec. Until they get as pricey as the rest of my cartridges I probably won't worry about it.

[sserdlihc]

If you value your time at anything above minimum wage, then cost savings are not why you reload - it is because you can tailor an accurate round for your particular gun

Exactly! This is the only reason I reload. Well said oneounceload!!

[waltfraz]

I am looking at reloading 44 mag and 44 spec does anyone have cost using new brass and once fired brass?

[Doodlebugger45]

I am looking at reloading 44 mag and 44 spec does anyone have cost using new brass and once fired brass?

For good high quality .44 hard cast bullets, I pay $67 for 500, or $0.13 each. For JHP bullets, I pay $21 for 100, or $0.21 each. For brand new brass, I pay $22-25 for 100 depending on the brand, so say &0.23 each for new brass. I don't buy once fired brass. I buy new and use them forever. An "average" load of powder might cost anywhere from $0.03 to to $0.07 depending on the load, so figure an average of $0.05 for powder and $0.03 for a primer for each load.

So...
Using brand new brass and a JHP bullet, it costs about $0.52 each, or $26/box of 50.
Using brand new brass and a cast bullet, it costs about $0.44 each, or $22/box of 50.
Using used brass and a JHP bullet, it costs about $0.29 each, or $14.50/box of 50.
Using used brass and a cast bullet, it costs about $0.21 each, or $10/box of 50.

[jimbob86]

Once fired 9mm brass is FREE, because most people won't pick it up.

Berry's plated 115gr bullets are 21.99/250 ($.08 ea) right now at Cabela's ..... primers are about $.03, powder about $.02 ..... $.13 cents/round = $13 for a hundred = $6.50 pre box of 50. .... and that is w/o buying in bulk.

9mm FMJ prices at Cabela's were :

Herter's (Russian seel cased import) $8.99 for 50

Remington-UMC $14.99/box of 50

PMC Bronze $14.99/box of 50

-----------------

I understand you can get 100 round boxes of WWB at WallyWorld for $20.

Even assuming WallyWorld prices, At $7 / 100 rounds savings, your savings will pay for a simple Lee kit in less than year .....provided, you .... you know....actually shoot your guns, as opposed to just talk about shooting them on the internets....

When I'm out and about, and I see ammo prices, I am SOOOOO glad I reload.

[jag2]

Did you ever think that maybe it's just a very enjoyable hobby? How do put a price on that? If you want to save money, don't shoot! If you don't shoot then
you won't have to buy any ammo at all, in fact you won't even have to own any guns. Huge savings!
Seriously, I think I enjoy reloading as much if not more than shooting. I can do it any time I want to in air conditioned comfort without driving anywhere.

[vico512]

I'm reloading for 9mm & .44 Mag. I won't duplicate all the numbers previously stated, since mine are similar. I use a Lee Classic Turret.

I will say, however, that reloading is a great to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon out in my "man cave", listening on the radio to the next Seahawks loss...The relaxing aspect of reloading balances my desire to shoot the radio!

[sonnycrockett]

Reloading to save money is wrong thinking,,,,,,ESP in 9MM
U may save alittle in 9MM but allot more in 40/45 and others
but you end up showing up at the range with triple the amounts of
ammo -

I used to show up with 100 rds of 40 , walmart junk,,,,,now I show up with
250-300 rounds of high quality super accurate ammo made my ME.......

plus its soooo much better and more customizable to make your own
bullets

[Hal]

But if you're the type when doing home improvement type carpentry who thinks a tape measure is an unnecessary nuisance, that just "eyeballing it" is good enough, you will not do well as a reloader.

I don't know dude...

I did a lot of home improvement over the years where my only "drills" were .22lr, .38spl and .44mag


I also got into handloads, Lordy, Lordy - over 40 -years ago w/the Classic Lee Loader. The one you pounded the case into with a mallet.

I loaded many thousand rounds of .38spl, .357 mag and .44mag using the Lee pound em in pound em out.
@ the time, they went for around $10.00 for pistol/$18.00 for rifle.

I still have all of them somewhere around the house.

[twins]

Not sure why people don't account their time into the cost of reloading. If you do, even at minimum wage, your total cost would be minimum savings at best. Reloading is not cost effective if you value your time (but then if you're retired, that's a different story). As with all things we buy, 90% of it is marketing, and most of us enjoy savings a few cents if we have to spend 1 hr to get it (or at least we think we save money).

[Wag]

Originally Posted by twins

Not sure why people don't account their time into the cost of reloading. If you do, even at minimum wage, your total cost would be minimum savings at best. Reloading is not cost effective if you value your time (but then if you're retired, that's a different story). As with all things we buy, 90% of it is marketing, and most of us enjoy savings a few cents if we have to spend 1 hr to get it (or at least we think we save money).

Mostly because it's not just about cost. If you use a progressive press, time spent is hugely reduced. Add another $0.10 per round, give or take a bit and perhaps it becomes cost effective at that point. Depends on your particular setup.

More importantly, many people, myself included, load as a hobby which means that if I weren't loading, I'd be doing something else (like surfing the forums in TFL! ) which means that the cost of my time spent loading is effectively zero.

Last but not least, when you handload, even on a progressive, you produce ammunition which is far more consistently built than anything you can get in a store and furthermore, if you care to do the evaluations, you can fine tune your ammo to your specific guns. That's something your hard pressed to even pay for with time or money.

Although there are many loaders who start out intending to reduce their ammo costs, most have a change of mindset and eventually start to do loading for other reasons.

--Wag--

[brickeyee]

Not sure why people don't account their time into the cost of reloading.

It should only be counted if you could actually go out and earn money and are reloading instead of working for pay.

There are certain tasks I hire out, even at work.

It is not because we cannot do the work, it is just not worth spending the time in-house for the work.

Other tasks that would cost more out of house are done inside, even if the actual work is boring as hell.

[farmerboy]

To the ones stating what you dont get paid while reloading, I just wonder how much a person who whatches T.V. in their home is getting paid? Or doing something else he/she enjoys doing in Thier time. Also I dont get paid a dime while hunting venison or pork and whether I bring home meat or not as long as I am able I'll continue to do the things I enjoy whatever that may be. Somethings arent a matter of cost. To each their own!!