My .45 ACP s just cost me:

$25 for 1000 WLP primers.

$100 for 1000 rainier copper plated 230gr. TMJ-RN. Midway sale: 2000rds. for $200 (w/ free shipping).

$20 for a pound of Titegroup powder (a little goes a long way)

I gave away half of my.45 brass and still have more than I will ever use.

Totals out to about $145 (call it $150) per 1000 rds. Looks to be about a 50% savings from buying factory ammo.

I chronoed this ammo, and tested for accuracy and function in my XD-45 today. 790fps, and dead on accurate at 25 yards off-hand (tennis ball size groups).

WG840

I don't count cost the price of brass since I've reloaded some of mine at least 8 times and get almost all of it back.
On that basis my cost is less than $9.00 per 100.

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
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?

Depending upon how thrifty you are, not only do you get cheaper ammunition, you get BETTER ammunition. You get the load that works best in YOUR gun.

On an average, you should save 50-70% over the cost of factory ammo. If you shoot premium ammo, you will save even more. I buy components in bulk. I can still load a box of 50 .45ACP for under $3.00. That's not counting the brass...you paid for the brass when you bought that bulk Remington UMC didn't you? As others have said, for the most part, I wouldn't go back to factory ammo, especially the bulk stuff. I can load better ammo than that for a lot less cost than factory. The ammo I load is match grade, or premium.

For that matter, start shooting 41mag, 44mag or 45Colt and compare costs.

Excellent discussion here. I am considering getting into reloading once my current well stocked ammo inventory is depleted. When it comes to 45 ACP, it seems there is still a savings to be had by reloading.

Animalmother,

You might want to start getting the components now, since I'm sure they will only go up in price.

I buy at least 1000 bullets every time I order sometimes twice that just to be sure I have some on hand. The other thing is to get lots of primers!!

Just fyi from someone who has been loading for the last 20 years.

Chris

NFrame has it right!

I say, when you become involved in reloading, it's good to jump in with both feet!

Put together better ammo, at a lower cost. What's not to Luv?

You can handload on a very frugal budget successfully. Frankly, I reload for therapy. I can handload when I can't go to a range due to the hour of the day or weather, thus expanding the pleasure of the shooting sport/activity. I take loading seriously; no drink, no TV, no talking and focus on what I'm doing. It's a complete distraction from the day, and the time flies. I think that's the true definition of relaxation. I sometimes wonder if I handload to reload my shooting or shoot to reload my handloading. It's all good to me. So put this value in your figuring if you see it as I do.

Your prices are way off if you are projecting $150/500 rounds of .45 Auto. I paid current prices for powder and primers so the prices I'm going to quote aren't low-ball old stock component prices.

Right now I can make 230gr LRN .45 Auto rounds for $5.27 a box, $105/1000.

ArchAngelCD,

What is the breakdown of the components your using for the creation of those 1000 rounds of 45ACP ammo for $105? I am new to reloading and want to know your recipe for these inexpensive rounds.

Regards.

quote:

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

+1

Keep the temp of your casting lead around 700 degrees and the fumes are almost nonexistence

by casting the bullets (free wheel weights) & using range pickup brass

I figure I can get around 1200 rounds out of a pound of powder. $25.00 per pound = .0208
per round.

Primers are approximatley .02@

Add in the electric is takes to melt the lead and I load for less then .05 per round.

Labor is nothing. I am retired and instead of watching TV, reading or napping I am casting bullets or reloading them.

I started handloading including bullet casting in 1970

Homesteader said it all

quote:

You can handload on a very frugal budget successfully. Frankly, I reload for therapy. I can handload when I can't go to a range due to the hour of the day or weather, thus expanding the pleasure of the shooting sport/activity. I take loading seriously; no drink, no TV, no talking and focus on what I'm doing. It's a complete distraction from the day, and the time flies. I think that's the true definition of relaxation. I sometimes wonder if I handload to reload my shooting or shoot to reload my handloading. It's all good to me. So put this value in your figuring if you see it as I do.

I do 90% of my reload during the WINTER as once hunting season is done, not much else to do until Spring. Also retired so have time on my hands.

Reloading and the savings realized has changed over the years. The biggest impact has been recently with the HUGE increase in lead prices. Previously one could buy quality cast slugs for most any handgun caliber for $40 a thousand or less. Try $90 to $100+ now!!!

To REALLY save You have to buy in BULK. We buy from a Components Dealer who sells primarily to SHOTGUNNERS. Several of us buy together, one of us then drives the 200 mile round trip to pick it all up. Even with the shared fuel fee it's a great deal.

Can't stess enough buying in BULK at a deep DISCOUNT. Buying at Cabellas or Sportsmans Warehouse isn't going to save You very much.
Two years ago I bought 70K of primers,had to REALLY save for that. BUT...in the past two years primers went UP about 50% so now I'm loading with 1/2 price primes. And other than the 25K of WW209 shotshell primers which will soon be depleted...I have enough rifle and pistol primers for the next five years!

FN in MT

I have no local source for anything, so all my components are via the internet. I have several K 200lswc sitting here at $60/K delivered, or 6 cents each. Winchester primers cost less than 3 cents delivered. Bullseye at less than $20lb delivered at 3.8gr equals 1500 rounds per pound, or 1 1/4 cents per round. If you can't get 45acp brass for free, you need to find a different range. My total cost per round is less than 10 1/4 cents, or 102.50 per K.

quote:

Originally posted by madmax-ooohhh:
ArchAngelCD,

What is the breakdown of the components your using for the creation of those 1000 rounds of 45ACP ammo for $105? I am new to reloading and want to know your recipe for these inexpensive rounds.

Regards.

At a recent gun show I bought:
A 4 lb. jug of W231 for $62, that's $15.50 a lb.
1000 Winchester Large Pistol Primers at $21.99.
1000 230gr LRN Cast bullets at $70
I have over 1000 cases at no cost.

1 free case, 1 LPP, 5.5gr W231 plus 1 bullet = 1 round of .45 Auto @ 10.4 cents.

The cost is actually $5.21 a box, $104.10 per 1000. I originally calculated the powder @ $16.50/LB. whereas it was actually $15.50/LB.

Even if you use Retail prices of $19.99/Powder, $23.99/Primers and $40/500/bullets the cost is still only $5.98/box, $120/1000.