To Reload Or Not Reload. Help!!

[AC Man]

I am sure this comes up but could not find info.

Here is the question, I shoot revolvers/lever action in 357, 41, 44 mag and 45 Colt. I do not shoot a lot. However, I am retired and have the time and it seems like the type of thing I would like to do. My brother got into reloading a couple of years ago, but he is hyper active and doesn't like it at all. says it is a waste of time and money.

My only question is what % on average do you save per round? not worried about labor, that would be a plus giving me something to do.Thanks!

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

On average, I'd guesstimate it at about half price over buying factory cartridges. That's really kinda hard to pin down cause the prices have fluctuated so much over the years, different bullets, primers, powder charges, etc. I'm sure someone else would figger 35 percent and yet another person 75 percent. Fifty percent is pretty roundball inclusive of the primers I've paid $10 per carton for, the ones I've paid $6 for, and the ones that have been haunting my shelves and drawers for decades. Same concept with powder and bullets. I figger I'm a bit below $20 a box for my smoke and thunder .38 Special loads.

It also doesn't need to be overly complex or expensive. I've made tens of thousands of rounds on a Lee hand press, mostly while re-watching old spaghetti westerns and such. I could fit the necessary tools into a large boot box. Good luck in your decision!

 

[Rpg]

If you disregard the costs of equipment (press, dies, scale, powder measure, etc), and your costs are limited to components (primers, powder and bullets — I assume you have cases for the ammo corresponding to your guns) you can save about 50% over factory ammo.

Amortizing the cost of equipment is more difficult to calculate. Generally, the more ammo you reload, the less the amortized equipment cost of your ammo.

In OP’s situation, where his current ammunition consumption is modest, I’d expect his reloading volume to also be modest resulting in higher amortization costs.

Many of us have seen folks who started reloading and increased their shooting. This could be a result of the less expensive ammo, but I think it’s more likely because reloading opened new elements in the shooting sports such as load development for various applications.

 

[mikerjf]

Let’s see…. Your brother has reloading gear and doesn’t like it. You are interested in trying it. Seems like a no-brainer!

 

[AC Man]

Let’s see…. Your brother has reloading gear and doesn’t like it. You are interested in trying it. Seems like a no-brainer!

LOL I think he would give me the equipment for free. So the equipment is not a factor in the cost. So what I am hearing is reloading saves about 50% is that correct?

 

[glenwolde]

LOL I think he would give me the equipment for free. So the equipment is not a factor in the cost. So what I am hearing is reloading saves about 50% is that correct?

I'd say that's about right on average. More with the .41, .44, .45 Colt. A bit less savings on .38/.357 vs. the big bores but still 50%. The worst is 9mm.

But there's more to it. You can develop a .41 load and shoot that for the rest of your life. Hard to do that with factory ammo. It comes, it goes. I've been shooting the same .38 spl load for 40 years.

 

[Babysitr]

I've been loading for 5 years...357/38 only. always loaded shotgun...started right after I retired...Love it, you should try it, great experience...plus you save money to boot!...I shoot more

 

[Spurdann]

I save nothing, I just shoot more, lots more.

 

[glenwolde]

OK I went and priced out my .41 load. I use lead bullets for my target load. Figuring $110/m for bullets, $40 # for powder, $80 for 1,000 primers I get $11.36 for 50. I can actually beat those prices a bit

Go shopping, and google "reloading calculator".

 

[scattershot]

I have reloaded for 50 years or so, and I have saved a lot of money over the years. Better than that, though, I have had ammo to shoot when others couldn’t die to one shortage or another.

Having said that, if I had to start over today, I don’t know that I would. Equipment is more and more expensive, and factoring that in, I don’t know that it would be worth it.

I can reload .45ACP, for example,for about $25.00/$26.00 for 100 rounds, but my equipmemt is long paid for.

 

[djohns6]

I don't have a dedicated place to set up and work . I gave it serious consideration but decided not to for that reason . I'm retired so it would be ideal for me though . Oh well ..

 

[Nevada Ed]

In you older years it is not about saving money.

It is about being able to load and get out and shoot.......................
before the gates close!!

Get er done.

 

[Vtgw938]

I had it all and sold it off along with 1,000's of rounds of components. Thought I was done with revolver shooting. Boy do i wish I had it back. If nothing else to load light wadcutter 38's and a mild 44 Special load. Grab it. Don't think you will regret it.

 

[Model19man]

On average, I'd guesstimate it at about half price over buying factory cartridges.

I would guess that number too if you had to buy new brass every time. It's a lot less than that after you pay for the equipment. Every time you see the price of new ammo you will be proud that you don't have to pay that.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

Assuming you have fired cases, I load full-house .41 Magnum with Hornady 210 XTP bullets for $27/50. If using new brass, $39/50... but those cases last at least 5 firings, bringing the cost down to $30/50 . Factory is $79/50.

.38 Special with cast lead bullets, $8/50. Factory practice ammo by me is $39/50.

Reloading is a win on the marginal cost. It's hobby so my time ia not calculated... people who argue about the cost of your time spent reloading probably make enough money that reloading isn't necessary. Except when there is no ammo on the shelves: they have none, and my own shelves are full. Buy reloading components when cheap, and stack deep.

I can also create loads that either not readily available on the market, or that shoot more accurately in my own guns, or have better terminal performance, or are simply equivalent to "premium" loads at 1/3 the cost.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

If you can get your brothers equipment for a song or less [Or just borrow it] you can’t go wrong. Components are coming back but buy buy buy. We are 2 years away from another stupid election cycle and while it shouldn’t matter it does in today’s America. Plus part of the draw is the ability to make custom ammo that you can’t buy tailored for your firearms. I have reloaded for almost 40 years and still consider it a necessary chore.

 

[TheTinMan]

For me hand loading can be an end in itself. I enjoy doing the research, finding components, and testing variables until I find a load that works well in a particular firearm. Then I can have consistent ammunition until I stop shooting. You just can’t do that with store bought anymore because of “supply chain” issues.

With 9mm Luger, 38 Special, and 45 ACP, I do buy loaded ammunition sometimes because the savings aren’t all that great. 45 Colt? I don’t understand why a box of 50 is $50 but I can assemble it for a LOT less. I’d bet 41 Magnum is more of the same.

Loading pistol ammo isn’t all that exciting. It just solves availability and consistency issues. Dialing in a hand load for a bolt action rifle is big fun when you find the right bullet/powder/COAL/charge weight etc. to get the most accurate results.

 

[Old&Retired]

OK I went and priced out my .41 load. I use lead bullets for my target load. Figuring $110/m for bullets, $40 # for powder, $80 for 1,000 primers I get $11.36 for 50. I can actually beat those prices a bit

Go shopping, and google "reloading calculator".

Save you some time! Simple spreadsheet to figure cost per round/box and amortize all costs related as well as print box labels.

 

[BRL40]

I don't have a dedicated place to set up and work . I gave it serious consideration but decided not to for that reason . I'm retired so it would be ideal for me though . Oh well ..

Lots of good answers here...except maybe this one.
You want to spend your retirement years as a little old lady, sitting in front of the TV knitting a scarf?
You don't need much room or a laboratory to reload, I've been doing it since 1980 with this same equipment.
The leg-less chair is recent though, I do like to be comfortable in front of the TV, just be sure to pause the movie when it's time to add powder.

 

[stansdds]

I doubt you will save any money be reloading. I've been reloading for about 35 years now, have yet to save one penny. What I have found is that I shoot about twice as many rounds of my reloads as I would if I just bought factory ammo, so no savings, just more shooting. Reloading can be a fun and fascinating thing to do. I find it enjoyable and even relaxing.