I have to admit that I'm now officially bummed. With the rising prices of ammo, especially .45ACP I felt that I needed to add it to the list of cartridges that I reload for. So I went out to Dillon the other day and got dies, quick change kit, extra toolhead and powder die for my 650.

I was at Sportman's today getting a few components to start the project of finding a good reload for practice rounds. I started to do the math and realized that I'm really not saving anything over buying Remington UMC in the 250 round packs. The 250 round packs were selling for $75.00, so figure $150.00 for 500 rounds. Components for 500 rounds added up to 152.98 for 500 rounds using Remington brass and Ranier 130gr. RN bullets.

I realize that brass can be re-used and it does reduce the cost of reloading. But still there is the time involved to roll my own. I'm just wondering is the saings really that great to justify the reloading .45ACP?

Last I checked it cost me <$10/100 to load 225 LTC which is a far cry from the costs you anticipate. Brass can be picked up at the range or bought once fired and need not be included in cost. Lead bullets are by far the way to go. Cabela's had a sale recently on 200 GR Lasercast for ~$51/1000.

I figure 6-8 cents per bullet, 2.5 cents for primers, a penny for powder. That's less than $6 per box of 50. My range is paved with acp brass. Never a shortage. Or, you can buy once-fired for cheap. Even with new brass figure a 2.5 cents amortization, for a max cost of maybe $7.50 for fifty, $75.00 for 500. As a bonus, you get to shoot what you want instead of whatever Remington decides to dump in a bulk box.

You need to find someplace else to buy components!

Go to Cost Calculatorand plug some numbers in to find out what will affect the bottom line the most.

Bullseye cost me <$18lb. Charge weight 4.7. 1000 primers $21 for WLP.
Cases $0 as I have an indoor range near us and there is a fellow there that saves me all the 45ACP brass I could ever use. You need to find a situation like this or similar! Scrounge baby scrounge!
When I cast my own bullets, my price for bullets is nill as I got a bunch of my lead for free too.
Bullets = $0
That puts my reloads with my bullets right at a whopping $1.65 per box of 50. Ok include my time AND my wife's (she is the auto case feeder on my Square Deal B) @$10phr. @400phr it would take 7.5 minutes to do 50. That's an additional $2.50 per box of 50. For a grand total of $4.15 for 50.

Ok so say I want to buy bullets. In our area we can buy 500 Berry's 230gr plated for $51, that's $102 for 1000. Even adding that into the mix my box of 50 is still only $6.75 without labor or $135.09 per 1000. Less than half of your price.

You never win the first time you reload newly purchased cases, never. Where you save money is by RELOADING not HANDLOADING. There is a difference.

Sgt Preston here. I am currently paying about $100.00 for 1000 bullets, $24.00 for 1000 primers, & about $18.00 for 5/7 of a pound (5 grain load/7000 grains per pound) of Win 231. I have in execss of 3000 pieces of used (free) brass. Doing the math I'm spending about $132.00 per 1000 or 13.2 cents per round. My rounds are "target grade" and my ability to put them all in the X ring went up dramatically when I started reloading. I also ENJOY reloading. I'm pretty sure that reloading is not cost effective if you consider my time & the heavy investments in equipment. However it's fun & it's one of my hobbies & that's resaon enough for me. Happy New Year Guys! Sgt Preston USMC LLA

As Skip said, free bullets are pretty cost effective. These Keith bullets,

would cost a minimum of $9/100 plus shipping. So, it doesn't take long to "pay" for the equipment and start shooting "free" bullets!

I agree with PAUL5388...if you cast your own, it gets pretty cheap. I have found lead is getting hard to find around here anyway, unless you pick bullets from the range and add them to the melt. BTW, your casting setup looks like mine.
PH from Wisc

PH,

I've changed that setup a little from the picture. I've found I can use the square pan in the left rear of the picture to catch most of the sprues. That makes it quicker to add them back into the pot!

Same type of setup for me. I raided my wife's cookie sheets when I started and put a towel in one to catch in. My sprue catcher is an old coffee can that is cut in half with the top folded over so you don't get cut. I formed it into a funnel on one end so it would "pour" the sprues back into the pot when required. Works pretty well and best of all...... you guessed it......... CHEAP!
It was her idea that we start casting. She could see the benefits (financially) of making our own. I think she had an ulterior motive as I seem to recall her getting more new dresses since we started!
Doesn't matter I like new dresses on her as much as I like to cast!

When it comes to buying bullets, you can usually find the best deals at gun shows. All other things being equal, you at least save on shipping costs.

Brass should be "free", meaning that you saved your once-fired factory brass.

Buy in bulk, and consider lead bullets. I just bought 1000 200 SWC Oregon Trail Laser-Cast bullets from Cabela's, $65 delivered. I buy Win 231 in 8# kegs, and primers by the sleeve (5000) I save a couple more $20 bills this way

...and Dillon dies are rediculously expensive. Call me cheap, but I like Lee dies, and used them exclusively for almost 20 years.

Anyone can make inexpensive reloads, you just need to shop "smart"

quote:

Originally posted by tlen:
Lead bullets are by far the way to go. Cabela's had a sale recently on 200 GR Lasercast for ~$51/1000.

Yep, good deal indeed...although it was $65 delivered per 1000

I don't know if the savings are that great but the improved consistency from round to round makes it worth it. I have noticed as the price of factory ammo has gone up the quality has gone down. Winchester factory ammo is sometimes so differnet between rounds in the same lot that it is scary. I have fired a round and it felt like a light target load and the very next round felt like a +p load. that is scary to me. Reload and I bet you find your shooting and enjoyment of it improve dramatically even if your cost doesn't.

If one is going to cast adequate ventilation, handling procedures, protective clothing, and safety goggles/eyewear are mandated.

I cast some last night and didn't notice anything other than the odor of cedar sawdust that I flux with. It must be sorta like 1/2" of activated charcoal on top of the lead, that's sorta like what is used in water filtering devices to remove lead from drinking water.