Hi Folks,

Now that my daughters are older, and ready to graduate from their "Red Rider" carbines (No the have not shot their eyes out yet ) I'll be using 3x's more ammo at the range. While we'll be starting them out with the 22's, it won't be long before they graduate to centerfires. With that said, can anyone provide best guess estimates on the average percentage of savings per round? I know there are many variables, and understand there's the initail layout for equipment expenses, just trying to get a high level feel of the how long it will take to cover the start up costs. Here are a few of the calibers we might want to reload:

* I have been saving brass for the handgun loads and have "adequate" quantities.

.380
.40 S&W
.44 Mag (light loads)

7.92 x 57 (8mm) Mauser
.303 Brit
7.62x57 Russian


Thanks in advance!

there are online cost calculators & I am sure somebody will post a link or two - I currently only reload .40S&W since getting back into shooting & reloading after a long break so I will speak to that and a little about .44 magnum - it is good you have the brass so I wont mention that any further.

since the hoarding recently began some people say prices are higher but I still have been able to get supplies for the same price as before with availability sometimes an issue but not every trip to the LGS.

primers i can get for about $35 per thousand so you have 3.5 cents there

powder is still $18 to $25 a lb depending on type - for .40 S&W you should be able to get 700 to 1000 rounds per lb (or more but I prefer slower powders) so you are talking max about another 3.5 cents

so now you have 7 cents or less for powder & primer. last time I bought a box of Berry's plated it was in the low 30's for 250 bullets so about 13 cents. I can still get Hornady 210gr XTP's for $21 per hundred. So bullets are 13 to 21 cents a piece. you can search for cast or cast your own & go even cheaper

so for .40 S&W you can reload for about 20 to 28 cents each if buying plated or jacketed rounds. so not quite half price compared to win white box or something similarly priced if you can find it at about $19 a box.

Been a while since I reloaded .44 mag but for a light load if you get cast bullets you can load with something like unique & get about 700 shots per lb so the powder & primer cost is as above just whatever lead bullets cost but I havent priced those but should be less than the .40 jacketed round

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Steve

Check this out:
Handloading Cost Calculator

I cast my own bullets from free lead. Cost: $0
My powder is bought in lots that makes a pound cost around $10 - $12/lb.
The primers I have cost between $13/1000 and $18/1000.
Plug those numbers into the calculator and see what you get. Run that price against the cost of new ammo.
My loads cost about $1/50.

I'll make it even simpler. Historically I have been able to load a box of cast bullet ammo in any caliber ( 9mm, 38 spl, 357 mag, 40 S&W, 44 mag, 45 ACP, 308 Win or 30-06) for about the price of 50 rounds of 22 LR. When I started casting / loading 45 ACP target loads, finished ammo cost was less than CCI mini mags on a per hundred basis.

I just browsed Grafs, Mid South Shooter Supply, and Midway USA loaking at the cost of bullet molds. After you cast the first thousand bullets, you have paid for the mold. Five years ago, I bought a 2-cavity Saeco 420 grain 45-70 mold and handles for about ~$130. The mold paid for itself in one afternoon of casting. My 300 pieces of brass are on their third reload. A 420 grain bullet really whacks the 100 yard gong!

You don't save money, you just shoot a lot more ammo.

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S&WHF 366

Skip is the econo-side of reloading. I don't buy in bulk (lb of powder, 100 ct box of primers, 500 cast bullets) and it costs me right about $9 for either my 9mm or .45 ACP loads, the higher end of reloading. Switch to jacketed bullets would drive that cost up. The larger the bulk quantity, obviously the costs come down.

If large quantities is your prediction, bulk is the way to go. Don't buy bulk powders until you know which ones you are happy using.

Good advice and very practical. Also, I am not dealing with current prices of components. Also a good point to consider.

Thank you all for the replies, information and insight. Much appreciated. The more I look into it, the more of a "no-brainer" it is. Should be an easy sell on the "Boss" LOL! Good thing she likes to shoot as well.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone.

Make sure you take time into account, nothings free, I would go with a progressive press, savings vary, with the most common rounds its minimal, the more out of mainstream the more savings, roughly half.

I have been reloading since 1970 taught my grandson now 22yrs old and my grandaughter now 18yrs old. Cost saving is a benifit but the pleasure i have recieved from reloading my rifles and pistols and bringing my family into loving the shooting sports are priceless. You will find a much deeper understanding of firearms and shooting when you start reloading. My recomendation is buy the best equipment you can buy one piece at a time and enjoy the hobby it is much more than just saving money

I tell people that they will spend about as much for handloads as they did for factory. But along the way they will shoot two to four times as much and will be shooting more accurate ammunition because they can tailor the ammunition to what each particular gun likes.

Shoot roughly twice as much for half the cost.
The real satisfaction is when you arrive at the perfect load for your gun. And you proceed to put 6 revolver rounds through the same hole, off hand, 50ft. Ka-toonk, Ka-toonk, Ka-toonk, Ka-toonk, Ka-toonk, Ka-toonk. There is nothing like it.
Once you see how everything works, you will not want to do it any other way.
From a purely cheapskate perspective, you can load a ton of ammo on a single stage, and have the cost pretty well covered by the time you load 500 rounds or so. There are perfectly suitable single stage economy models. Go check 'em out.

My wife purchased me my reloading equipment over 20 years ago for Christmas, I was shooting 45acp it paid for itself real quick!,
(RCBS 505 Kit I added a few items and a bunch of dies)

And buy supplies as you go, Over the counter costs figured on the High end. $40.00 for 1000 primers Tax included, 25-30.00 dollars for a pound
of powder tax included and 60.00 to 110.00 for a thousand bullets this is a large range pending caliber and plated to cast also shipping if unavailable locally. so 180.00 roughly for 1000 rounds about 9.00 for 50 rounds of 9mm

Skip Sackett &
Mike Smith put it right on the point!

"You will find a much deeper understanding of firearms and shooting when you start reloading. My recomendation is buy the best equipment you can buy one piece at a time and enjoy the hobby it is much more than just saving money"

If you have the time you will enjoy the hobby!!

Thanks all for the latest responses. Guess I never thought about reloading as a family activity, but I can definitely see the attraction. I also see myself getting totally hooked on refining and testing various loads. Yet another reason to just do it. I'm going to start doing my homework to determine what my options are, then once I have an idea of what I want, will have my wife (the ultimate bargain hunter) work her magic to find the best deal! Though I reserve the right to pick your brains when time comes to make the final choice.

Thanks again.

Buying bullets I can load handgun ammo for 1/4 the price of factory ammo and half price on rifle ammo. Sometimes the rifle ammo will cost me more than half but that's using a premium bullet. Even if I saved nothing on rifle ammo I would still load it because my ammo is extremely accurate and no factory ammo can match it.

So what I'm telling you, if you usually spend $40 on factory ammo for yourself you will be able to spend that same $40 on components but you and your 2 daughters and even your wife will be able to shoot for that price.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

This post may help in your decision of equipment.

Recommendations for a Starter Progressive Press

Buying primers, powder, and bullets in 1k, 8lb, and 1k increments on-line, and sticking with "standard" popular loads . . . 115 FMJRN 9mm, 230gr FMJRN 45ACP, 55gr FMJBTw/c .223, etc . . . you would save 40% or more pre-hoarding. The more specialized the round, typically the more the savings vs factory equivalent. Go with clad or lead and save even more vs factory FMJ.

Times are crazy now, prices are all over the place, but I'm pretty sure judicious buying when stuff is available will yield at least those savings.

Odds are you'll notice more accuracy in your rifles, and perhaps your pistols as well depending on how much effort you put into finding loads they "like".

But you need to buy at least the popular stuff in quantity.

I would never try to discourage any person from starting reloading, but the current non-availability of components can really discourage a person just coming on board. Having said that, I would recommend that you start with an inexpensive single stage press kit, then evaluate what is needed for more speed/output as you gain experience.
I cringe when I hear someone say "This is exactly what you need". Only you can realistically evaluate your needs. Start as simple as possible. As you (Hopefully) graduate to more sophisticated equipment you will still use the simple stuff. I load for seven children and eight grandchildren. How's THAT for volume? I still have situations where I utilize my 31 year old Pacific press. How's THAT for amortization? Start small. Ramp up as needed. I have found reloading to be frustrating/satisfying and discouraging/pleasing. I only wish that I had started doing it 5 years earlier.

Don't let the component shortage get you down. Be patient and you will get to where you want to be while enjoying the trip.

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Boxers or briefs? At my age, Depends.

As has been pointed out, component prices are about half the cost of store bought ammunition. However, you do have to consider the initial $400-$500 cost of equipment and dies.
If you shoot a lot, you will save. You can do the math for your anticipated volume.

I load for roughly half the cost of factory ammo o average. Less savings for 9mm, and more savings for 218 Bee or 41 Mag. I also get better quality ammo tailored specifically to my gun, and also some loads I can't find commercially, such as 38 Special loaded with walnut shell media for shooting carpenter bees in the barn, light target 44mag loads, or 87 grain 250-3000 Savage loads.

I enjoy reloading almost as much as shooting, and rarely buy commercial ammunition.

Sounds like you have four or more people shooting. You probably won't use as much centerfire as rim but still. I couldn't afford to keep my and boy shooting with any regularity if I didn't reload. I'm going to make like a fortune teller and say, "I see reloading in your future".

You likely get a lot of advice about starting on a single stage press and as you gain knowledge and experiance move your way up to more elaborate or sophisticated equipment. I'm sure that's the path for some, but boy, am I glad I didn't follow that advice.

So as not to turn this thread into a add for equipment brands I won't mention what brand I bought, but I did spend a lot of time on pre-purchase research and then went straight to a progressive press and am super glad I did. If you are serious about getting into the hobby this is the way I recommend doing it. I was able to learn just as well and the overall expedature was actually less in the long run.

The best advice anyone can give you is if at all possible, find a reloading mentor to help you out.

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- Change it back -

By the way, my reloading equipment is blue.

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- Change it back -

The first thing I tell folks is that if they're in it to save money they would be better off working a few shifts at McDonalds then use the money to purchase store-bought.

Your initial outlay will be substantial, even if you go the cheap route. (And I am not sorry I did not go the cheap route...)

Then there is the time spent reading up on methods and components.

We can't forget the time spent on forums defending your choice of equipment.

Not to mention the actual time spent making ammunition.

Reloading is something you have to be interested in as well as something you are prepared to pay strict attention to in order to do it well.

Blue is a very nice color, indeed.

I've been to parties where people took turns reloading. Those not familiar with reloading are generally fascinated. And I guess it could be a family affair but I'll handle the powder if you please!

Some kind of press
Primer tool (if not on the press)
Dies for each caliber
Powder
Powder measures
Primers
Bullets
Cases (hopefully saved from factory ammo)
Scale
Case lube
Powder funnel
Reloading block (made my own)
Case chamfer/deburr

After about 5 reloadings you will need:
Caliper
Case trimmer

Some of these items only cost a few bucks. There are some simple methods (like case trimming) where the method you use determines the affordability/simplicity/productivity etc. You can spend anywhere from $25 to several $100s on a scale. There is a wide range of possibilities.

I have never understood why it is better to learn on a single stage press if one intends to load in bulk. Setting up the stations are identical no matter what type of press. While there may be good reasons to load precision ammo on a single stage I see no advantage to loading pistol ammo that way. The progressive press may be somewhat more complex than a single stage but since the progressive is set up one station at a time the differences are small. The real consideration is the amount of ammo one will need for plinking, hunting or competing and how best to supply that need. I just don't think a single stage will be adequate over time to meet most shooters needs and just adds to the overall cost of bulk loading.
RichH

Not everyone is in a hurry. I've been using a single stage for over ten years and exclusively handgun cartridges. I enjoy the reloading process. I guess if I were shooting thousands of rounds a month for competition, I would switch to progressive.

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Centennial Every Day

Reloading is kinda Zenlike.

I reload, I brew beer, I make wine, I bake. I can buy ammo, beer and wine and pie (and often do) but I enjoy the contemplative aspects of each of these hobbies as well as enjoying the finished product.

If one were to get into reloading simply as a cost saving measure I don't know that it would be a chore that needs to be done to get to the fun stuff.

I am not implying being in a hurry or just loading to save money, although that's probably why most people start. It's why I started. I am talking about efficiency. Most people that reload are high volume shooters and would be quickly frustrated with a single stage press. By the same token, it does not really pay off very quickly to invest in a press, dies, components and tools to save money somewhere down the line. It is, at least for me, a combination of the intricacies, precision and satisfaction I get from shooting my own loads. I just see no reason for a bulk user to start with a piece of machinery that will most likely not do what they really want. If I were a bench shooter I am sure I would load on a single stage. As it is I shoot USPSA and there is no way I could keep up with a single stage.
RichH

To reload or not to reload “That is the question”. There are many answers and reasons for both. Here is my best advice. If you decide to reload know that you must be meticulous in the process. I say this again be very meticulous and keep good records and you will have a lifetime of pride and pleasure. Good shooting

I have tracked all my factory and reloaded. I have not bought bulk for either, just bought whatever Cabelas had in stock. My cost to reload is about 50% of factory.

This brings back old memories.

Groundhog Day.

Progressives are not just about speed, but economy of work. To load 1000rds of pistol ammo on a ss or turret, you will pull the handle 3000-4000 x. On any progressive, 1003-1004x. That is a huge work savings. Well worth the slight cost over a ss or turret. Throw on the speed, it's a no brainer.
A good progressive setup will run you about $700 for one caliber. You will save 50% min on any caliber you choose. Even the lowly 9mm can be reloaded for $11-$12/100, 50% of factory. So even shooting just 200rds a month, you pay off your equip. In 3yrs or so, & the gear will outlast even the youngest shooter. You save more on other calibers, as much as 75% more.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I recently started loading and load for 38, 9MM, 45 ACP and 380 ACP.
My recent pricing (approx.). Hope this helps.

Powder has been getting easier to buy so prices may stabilize. I started when it was hard to find, so my cost may be higher than you (or others) may experience in a less strained environment.

Baseline Gear
ABCs of reloading/Lyman 49th Guides ($40 total I think?)
Lee Classic Turret Kit $225
Frankfort Arsenal Digital scale $20 (the Lee one is tough for me to use but I use it to keep the digital one honest)
Calipers $25
Lee decapping die $12 (I decap then tumble)
Harbor Freight dual drum tumbler $40 (I wet tumble)
Stainless media $25 (2 lbs - HFT tumbler is small)

Each Caliber
Turret plate $12
Dies (Lee carbide 4 die sets) about $35 (avg)

Components:
Brass - $0 Keepers from factory or range pick ups
Primers 3 cts ($30/1000 for me around here)
Bullets 8-12 cts (230 gr. 45 most expensive, 100 gr 380 least)
Powder $25/lb (liberal estimate for costing is 1-2 cts/round)
My reloads = 12 to 17 cts/round (estimate)
9MM about half of bulk cost, 45 less than half.
Plus I shop for ammo by pulling the handle evenings during the week.

I'm super glad I started and with 3 of you shooting, I'd highly advise it. When you are ready to actively think about it - BUY A MANUAL AND START READING BEFORE YOU REALLY DO ANYTHING ELSE.
Come back here (or other forums) and ask questions - folks are universally willing to help.

Good luck.

Besides the savings, one of the biggest benefits for me is that I can load rare or out of the mainstream cartridges and shoot them as much as I do the more common ones.
Get a deal on a .264 win mag? Factory ammo, if you can find it, is over 50 dollars per 20. I load premium 130gr Nosler accubonds that shoot to less than a 1/2" at 100 yds for around .60 cents each.

Want to shoot grandpa's old 32-20 hand ejector? Again, 30-40 dollars/50 rd box, if you can find it. I get over 1500 loads per pound of Unique. Put that under a bullet cast from wheel weights and your total cost, including primers, is less than a nickle per round.

And, as has already been stated, the education you get in the process will make you a better, safer hunter and shooter.

1) You can load any bullet, any powder combination that you want. I love this part because I shoot everything from high to low.

2) You will definitely be able to spend more time shooting, even if you use more ammo. The cash register doesn't ring every time you fire a shot.

3) You can crank out ammo or spend as much time as you want getting it 'right'.

The cost savings and the reasons above go double for rifle cartridges.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"