Reloading 44 mag brass cost

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Rich Richardson

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Assuming I had all the required loading equipment and brass, what would it cost per round to reload 44 magnum for target practice?
The supplies would be at today’s price.

Thank you
 
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New Brass---.22 to .25
Primer--------.10
Powder-------.06 to .10
Bullet--------.10 to .13

Ballpark at .55 per round or $27.50 per box of 50.

The bigger savings comes along each time you reload the brass. You can either cut that cost in half each time you reload it, or figure you paid for it on the first loading. Now the brass is free each additional time you load it.

A couple of my load costs as examples using todays prices.
Brass free
Powder at $40 per pound = .07 to .10
Coated 240gr SWC bullet bought in bulk .11
Primers when you get a deal .06

Ballpark at .26 per round or $13 per box.

Same load using components bought a few years back (25).
Brass free
Powder at $20 = .03 to .05
Cast 240gr SWC bullet bought in bulk .07
Primers at .03

Ballpark .15 per round or $7.50 per box.

I started loading for 44 shortly after buying my first revolver in 44 back in the early 80's. I realized that to be able to shoot any kind of volume, I would have to reload. Paid off my hardware in saving long ago. With 5 revolvers and 3 rifles in 44, it doesn't take long for the savings to add up.
 
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The price of components is just all over the map depending on what, where, how and so on.

But you can probably come in around .50 cents a round perhaps bit more?
 
Rich Richardson said:
Assuming I had all the required loading equipment and brass, what would it cost per round to reload 44 magnum for target practice?
The supplies would be at today’s price.

Thank you
Click to expand...

This varies incredibly. I'd get a new handloading manual and read it. You'll learn what this is all about, what you will need, and you can look up prices yourself once you get a basis. You'll have a minimal investment in the book if you choose not to handload.

"Varies incredibly" means...you can load .44 magnum loads (or any other handgun chambering) in the same brass many times before discarding the brass. You may choose to cast bullets. In truth, for handgun cartridges, there is absolutely no need or advantage for jacketed, plated, painted, or coated bullets over cast bullets that fit and are of the right alloy for a load (tall order but very possible, just takes some work).

You may choose to buy components in large quantities to save money. Far more factors to consider, some of which have been mentioned by other posters here, many have not. Get a book and read it. That's not an instant answer, but it's the best one and you'll be able to figure costs based on your actual needs, not what someone else imagines them to be. And you may decide handloading is not for you. Good luck-
 
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One of the advantages to reloading is getting the bullet type & weight and velocity that you want. 40 years ago, I would experiment all over the place! Now, Pretty much I load one bullet per diameter now days. My 44's are Mag, Special, & Russian. (Most 44-40 handguns use .427 bullets instead of .429) 205 RNFP. 45's are Long Colt, S&W Schofield, & ACP using 200 RNFP. I buy the bullets in units of 10,000 at a time and keep the costs down. I pick my bullets up from the caster at shoots and save freight. Storing 100,000 bullets is just shy of 1.5 tons and requires forethought and strong flooring!

Jacketed bullets have become too outrageous to be practical for practice!

Ivan
 
If you have the loading equipment and brass, you can definitely get to the .50 per round mark especially if you just want plinking rounds. You could probably get down to .35 if you shop around for bullets.
 
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Many years ago, when I first started reloading (early 80's), I ignored the cost of cases, as I knew I'd get 8, 10, or more, reloads from every piece of brass. I exclude loading .357 and .44 magnum, because those were in the "load them hot" days, and I didn't know better. I was a magazine reader only - there was no internet. Less than .10 cents apiece. Any caliber. Today's reality is much different. I load .38 target loads, .44 spl loads (sometimes Keith's for my Vaqueros only), a little .45 Colt, and still ignore the cost of brass. I have some brass left over since the 80's (discolored, but fine when cleaned), so I still ignore the cost of brass. Todays reloads are under .50 cents for anything I reload, it's still inside the cost of inflation. 9mm has never been in that mix. It's always flooded the market when available, and nearly always as cheap, or less cost than reloads.
 
In addition to saving some bucks, I view the main advantage to reloading is the convenience of being able to load whatever you wish .... full power, milder, light target, plinking, etc.; all with various types of bullets depending on your need. During times when ammo is scarce (or not available on the store shelves) you have the ability to create ammo for general shooting or hunting..... of course if you have stockpiled the necessary components.
 
I started reloading when I was 15 so that I was able to shoot a lot. That old Herters C Press was my best friend until Dillon came on the scene!
 
Reloading saves money? How? I spend just as much money on factory ammo as I do on reloading my own. I do get to shoot more rounds by using my reloaded ammo, but I have yet to save money. :D
 
There is not a hard and fast answer.
It used to be that a premium bullet and a new case accounted for 90% of the cost of a round ....
Today, powder and primers take of greater consideration since proclaiming "hold my beer"
You'd do well to dive into some research rather than ask us.
Sure, we can give you leads pertaining to what to look up, but ultimately your limitations and expectations measured against the significant options available will give you a far more accurate answer.
 
Rich Richardson said:
Thanks to everyone for the info.
Click to expand...




On ammo like 44 mag, 357, 45 Colt even 38 special it is much cheaper to load your own (assuming you have the press and dies already and amortized the cost of those) )


I stopped loading 9mm and 223.556 a while back when it was cheap and bought a case or two, Wasn't worth it to load, I have not check prices recently but still have supplies from pre Obumer!:D
 
Rule3 said:
On ammo like 44 mag, 357, 45 Colt even 38 special it is much cheaper to load your own (assuming you have the press and dies already and amortized the cost of those) )


I stopped loading 9mm and 223.556 a while back when it was cheap and bought a case or two, Wasn't worth it to load, I have not check prices recently but still have supplies from pre Obumer!:D
Click to expand...

Mostly true.
I still do a bit of dev work in the 9MM and 5.56 in order to have the proven load data on hand. That and the "special collection" loads. Past that ... bulk has become my friend too. Never saw that coming:D
 
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