Wee Hooker
Member
I'd also point out that commercial cast lead bullets can cut your bullet cost buy 30-40%
CAN you save money by reloading?
- Thread starter Skip Sackett
- Start date
OP
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Components play a big part in how much you save. This is a good suggestion too. Thanks for the input.
I might add that buying in bulk helps quite a bit.
Case in point: Powder Valley has Wolf LP primers on sale for $15.50/1000. With the Hazmat being $25, not sure on shipping yet, if you buy only 5000, that makes the price for 1000 go to $20/1000. If you buy 10,000 with the same hazmat fee, I think that you can buy up to 40,000 for the same fee, it brings the price per 1000 to $18. That is what I just did. Pretty cheap primers. Brings the price of reloading down too. Just in case you are concerned with that aspect!
novalty
Member
Components play a big part in how much you save. This is a good suggestion too. Thanks for the input.
I might add that buying in bulk helps quite a bit.
Case in point: Powder Valley has Wolf LP primers on sale for $15.50/1000. With the Hazmat being $25, not sure on shipping yet, if you buy only 5000, that makes the price for 1000 go to $20/1000. If you buy 10,000 with the same hazmat fee, I think that you can buy up to 40,000 for the same fee, it brings the price per 1000 to $18. That is what I just did. Pretty cheap primers. Brings the price of reloading down too. Just in case you are concerned with that aspect!
40,000 primers. I am hoping that was a group buy. Can't even imagine spending $720 on just primers.
Buy in Bulk
For over the last 20 years or so I have always purchased in bulk. Powder in 8lb jugs,primers by the case. Commercial cast bullets from someone who shipped with Flat Rate USPS boxes. When I shot skeet I also bought wads by the case. Also I would hook my order onto the clubs order when they bought clay birds and components,saved on shipping that way.
Currently contemplating an order now for two 8lb jugs of powder and 10-15,000 primers. That would spread out a HAZ-MAT if I order over the internet.
For over the last 20 years or so I have always purchased in bulk. Powder in 8lb jugs,primers by the case. Commercial cast bullets from someone who shipped with Flat Rate USPS boxes. When I shot skeet I also bought wads by the case. Also I would hook my order onto the clubs order when they bought clay birds and components,saved on shipping that way.
Currently contemplating an order now for two 8lb jugs of powder and 10-15,000 primers. That would spread out a HAZ-MAT if I order over the internet.
OP
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Never done it..........yet!
I have done some group buys but still not to the 40,000 primer count mark!
A friend of mine and I split 20,000 once. That was when they were $13.90/1000! Hazmat was $20 I think.
Still, you get my point. Buy in quantities where the saving can be had. Share with others. Work together.
FWIW
I have done some group buys but still not to the 40,000 primer count mark!
A friend of mine and I split 20,000 once. That was when they were $13.90/1000! Hazmat was $20 I think.
Still, you get my point. Buy in quantities where the saving can be had. Share with others. Work together.
FWIW
The best way to save big money is to have Skip send you all his free, nada, zilch lead.!! 
Maximumbob54
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2010
- Messages
- 7,202
- Reaction score
- 1,928
I have moved beyond cost savings and equipment madness.
I just like to load my own and I find it fun and relaxing in this mad world.
I just like to load my own and I find it fun and relaxing in this mad world.
Notoast
Member
Reloading hasn't saved me money since I shoot more now. But I can shoot more for the same budget. more/$ = 
OP
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Right with ya Bob! It is almost to the point now that I even enjoy casting more than all!
John Eilertson
Member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2011
- Messages
- 412
- Reaction score
- 35
But as was said...if proper practice is performed, more shooting can't but help! Though I agree that the reloading equipment and powders, primers and bullets are far from cheap. But the process itself is sort of a joy, and makes experiementing with various loads easier and handier. I say...RELOAD!
firearmsunlimited
Member
You can only save money if you put zero value on your labor time and the reloading equipment has been fully amortized. LOL
OP
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
OK, Let's look at that realistically!
Time spent in a hobby is never going to be cost effective, it is supposed to be fun though. No one that likes golf ever puts a price on how long they hit that little white ball around. Just sayin'.
What about this though, 500 rounds of 45ACP ammo in 30 minutes?
Using the numbers above the savings over that amount of ammo would be $8/50, right? $16/100? Okay, $16 * 5= $80 saved in that half hour. Anyone out there make $160/hr without a law/medical degree? Yeah, not me either!
Those 500 rounds I loaded, I did on a Dillon XL650. Got the whole shootin' match, excuse the pun, for $1000. @ $16 savings a week, it takes 63 weeks to pay that off. Imagine if I still shot that 500 rounds a week, which I almost did when I was shooting competition. @ $80/week savings it only takes 12.5 weeks to pay the press off. After that, I start saving money big time!
It is just something to think about. This is exactly how companies, small and great, decide on spending money for capital improvements. If this was a business venture, and I could get an ROI of 12.5 weeks, I would be stupid not to do it. Most companies thing that an 18 month ROI is a good deal!
The plus side of all of this is having ammo, your ammo, customized to your firearms, when you want it.
"CAN" is the operative word though.
Time spent in a hobby is never going to be cost effective, it is supposed to be fun though. No one that likes golf ever puts a price on how long they hit that little white ball around. Just sayin'.
What about this though, 500 rounds of 45ACP ammo in 30 minutes?
Using the numbers above the savings over that amount of ammo would be $8/50, right? $16/100? Okay, $16 * 5= $80 saved in that half hour. Anyone out there make $160/hr without a law/medical degree? Yeah, not me either!
Those 500 rounds I loaded, I did on a Dillon XL650. Got the whole shootin' match, excuse the pun, for $1000. @ $16 savings a week, it takes 63 weeks to pay that off. Imagine if I still shot that 500 rounds a week, which I almost did when I was shooting competition. @ $80/week savings it only takes 12.5 weeks to pay the press off. After that, I start saving money big time!
It is just something to think about. This is exactly how companies, small and great, decide on spending money for capital improvements. If this was a business venture, and I could get an ROI of 12.5 weeks, I would be stupid not to do it. Most companies thing that an 18 month ROI is a good deal!
The plus side of all of this is having ammo, your ammo, customized to your firearms, when you want it.
"CAN" is the operative word though.
Attachments
If you shoot anything other than the Walmart calibers savings by reloading add up fairly quickly. I regularly shoot 32 WCF, 32 Long and 38 S&W, to name just a few. Shoot just one box of any of these cartridges every other week and a progressive press will pay for itself in a year as compared to buying factory ammo. IF you can find factory ammo that is.
Reloading has always saved me money, it’s one of the best hobbies that I have. Do I shoot more? Hell ya!!!! The more I shoot the more I save.
One thing that really hasn’t been mentioned here is the reloading equipment is an investment. Over the 30+ years of reloading I’ve bought, sold & horse traded equipment. I can easily sell the reloading equipment and quadruple my money. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to have a hobby that not only saves money but will also turn a profit selling the tools of that hobby when I’m done with them.
One thing that really hasn’t been mentioned here is the reloading equipment is an investment. Over the 30+ years of reloading I’ve bought, sold & horse traded equipment. I can easily sell the reloading equipment and quadruple my money. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to have a hobby that not only saves money but will also turn a profit selling the tools of that hobby when I’m done with them.
OP
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Forrest,
I guess I have to admit two things here. #1, I have never sold one piece of reloading equipment yet. #2, I have given bunches of it away to family members to get them started reloading!
I guess I have to admit two things here. #1, I have never sold one piece of reloading equipment yet. #2, I have given bunches of it away to family members to get them started reloading!
Reloading keeps me from having that little killjoy calculator adding up the dollar signs in my head at every range session...so my answer is yes, it saves me money and worry!
novalty
Member
LMAO. Remember loading a clip and thinking as I filled my 5906 mags. Well here goes $3.30 in factory ammo. Now that I am reloading for my 1911, each mag costs about $0.20**, instead of $2.64 with factory.
**Using Unique powder given to me for my b-day. 500:230gr. Berry's plated purchased for $0.00 with my Cabelas points, and CCI#300 primers I purchased for $25/1000. Also using once fired brass that I saved from previous factory purchased ammo. My cost is sure to go up when I run out of Cabelas points, but enjoying the cost saving now.
Last edited:
geneboy
Member
Target sports USA has tula .45 230gr for 14.99 A 50 round box, free shipping, Your savings would be minimal unless you shoot a lot. I have shot this brand of ammo a lot, It`s great stuff. And I don`t have to spend my time reloading. Please figure what your time is worth 2 an hr 4 an hr. If I work 1 hour over time I make 75 dollars, OR i could reload my own ammo for 3 dollars an hour. But then again I love to shoot, I don`t like to reload. Life is short Buy your ammo
Last edited:
Maximumbob54
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2010
- Messages
- 7,202
- Reaction score
- 1,928
I’m going to say something conflicting here. I like that I cast my own, but I find casting to be beyond boring and monotonous. I don’t know why I feel that way other than swinging around a brass mold full of hot lead in the Florida heat and humidity isn’t so fun… Add to that I reload in the A/C and I guess I just answered my own conflict. I try to only buy four cavity minimum when I buy a mold. I love some of the Lee aluminum six cavity molds. That makes a pile of bullets in no time. But I really need to fork over money for a Star Lube Sizer. Tumble lube is getting old, pan lube is not for me since I tried it once and never again, and I don’t see why I would buy the Lyman or RCBS when the Star seems so superior. I love these Ranch Dog bullets than I’m casting, but dipping them in the LLA and then mixing a 50/50 of LLA and Johnson’s Paste Wax is just tedious to an extreme. Get in where you fit in though, I guess. I will just keep dreaming Star dreams for now.
ohiococonut
Member
"Look Honey, I saved xxxx dollars. It was on sale"!
That's usually what my wife says when she comes home with a new outfit. In all reality she didn't save money, she just didn't spend as much as she thought it was worth, or at least the original price tag. Did she need it? Probably not but it was a bargain to her and she's happy so that's all that matters.
Can you save money reloading? Sure, depending on whos point of view you're looking at it from. I never tell my wife that I saved money by buying reloading components because she's just too smart for that. I just tell her it's an investment
That's usually what my wife says when she comes home with a new outfit. In all reality she didn't save money, she just didn't spend as much as she thought it was worth, or at least the original price tag. Did she need it? Probably not but it was a bargain to her and she's happy so that's all that matters.
Can you save money reloading? Sure, depending on whos point of view you're looking at it from. I never tell my wife that I saved money by buying reloading components because she's just too smart for that. I just tell her it's an investment
