OP
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
I now have a Magma/Star. Not looking back either! Get one, you won't be sorry!
CAN you save money by reloading?
- Thread starter Skip Sackett
- Start date
I now have a Magma/Star. Not looking back either! Get one, you won't be sorry!
novalty
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
Boy would I love to make $50 an hour. In this economy I'm happy to have a job. As for reloading if you don't like doing it, then it isn't worth it. If you consider it an additional hobby to shooting, then it is worth it. If you are counting the time spent reloading, versus time spent earning money. Do you also consider the time spent shooting, versus time spent earning money?
Wee Hooker
Member
Some companies will offer wholesale prices and waive shipping and hazmat fee's if you do a bulk order and accept private truck deliveris. Our Club does one twice a year. We save Big.
OP
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
geneboy
Member
I love to shoot, Yes
SWBigBang
Member
You can actually spend more reloading because you shoot more so the real statement is that reloading allows you to shoot more for less.
OP
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
This has all just been a ruse! There is NO way I am ever going to save money reloading! I just bought my second XL650!
It was used though and I saved some. They guy that sold it had had the press for 10 years and hadn't gotten it set up! The seller lives in the same state as I do and I asked if I coud come pick it up. They agreed and in about half an hour after getting it home, it was up and running!
Couple parts need to be bought, couple parts need to be replaced where they had tried to get it working. No big deal with their guarantee. I had the parts from my other XL650 for the primer apparatus to make it work.
This one will get setup for small primers while the other is set up for large. Not that it is too difficult to make the switch though. Less than 15 minutes if you plod like an ox going across country!
FWIW
It was used though and I saved some. They guy that sold it had had the press for 10 years and hadn't gotten it set up! The seller lives in the same state as I do and I asked if I coud come pick it up. They agreed and in about half an hour after getting it home, it was up and running!
Couple parts need to be bought, couple parts need to be replaced where they had tried to get it working. No big deal with their guarantee. I had the parts from my other XL650 for the primer apparatus to make it work.
This one will get setup for small primers while the other is set up for large. Not that it is too difficult to make the switch though. Less than 15 minutes if you plod like an ox going across country!
FWIW
westczek
Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2009
- Messages
- 71
- Reaction score
- 3
I'll add to this. I have saved money and have been able to shoot revolvers in competition.
I would have been stuck shooting 9mm in USPSA production division if I hadn't started reloading. I'm able to reload 38 Special that makes minor power factor for less than I could by 9mm. Its hard to find any factory 38 special that makes minor.
I buy poly-coated lead bullets in bulk. I use moon clips so I get all my brass back. I figured out that my cost is about half what I bought my last box of White Box 9mm at Wallmart for. I shoot the same two matches a month and still have one practice session at the range a month.
I use a Hornady progressive press, got a 1000 free bullets with it, 100 will the die set. Volume does make this cost effective. about 500 rounds a month.
It also gives me a relaxing hobby that is gun related when I can't get to the range. That keeps me out of trouble, not even sure how much that has saved me.
Westczek
I would have been stuck shooting 9mm in USPSA production division if I hadn't started reloading. I'm able to reload 38 Special that makes minor power factor for less than I could by 9mm. Its hard to find any factory 38 special that makes minor.
I buy poly-coated lead bullets in bulk. I use moon clips so I get all my brass back. I figured out that my cost is about half what I bought my last box of White Box 9mm at Wallmart for. I shoot the same two matches a month and still have one practice session at the range a month.
I use a Hornady progressive press, got a 1000 free bullets with it, 100 will the die set. Volume does make this cost effective. about 500 rounds a month.
It also gives me a relaxing hobby that is gun related when I can't get to the range. That keeps me out of trouble, not even sure how much that has saved me.
Westczek
fredj338
Member
Not true. Let's take the simple 45acp. At a production rate of 600rds/hr, you save $20/100 or $120/600rds reloading vs factory. Since you would have to make at least $160/hr + to achieve a net $120 more to buy the ammo, your time cost will vary by your hourly worth. I don't know many folks that are making $330K/yr, so yes, even counting your time, you can save of a lot of $$ reloading.
Gear cost: Shooting 500rds/m, 6K/yr of the same 45acp. That is about $2400 in factory ammo cost (Walmart + ST). You could reload it for $1200 or less. That $1200 is the cost of a very high end progressive setup, one that would allow you to achieve the 600rds/hr easily. I submit most that do not want to reload have a fear of it or low attention span for detailed work, nothing more. Sure, if you are one fo those fortunate enough to make $300K/year, or don't shoot much, you can afford factory ammo.
Last edited:
fredj338
Member
No, that always gets thrown out there but reality; YOU DO save on every round of ammo you shoot. What you choose to do with that svings is on you. Some shoot more, some buy more guns, some take their wives out to dinner more often. You DO SAVE on every round fired though.
Very late to this thread, but I have news for everyone... if you are going to cast, prepare to go in debt. Smith Crazy didn't originally add in the price of the mould, the handles, the lube, or the sizer for his cast bullets. So I see his cost for the bullets as skewed.
I, too, cast, and have for about 30 years. I started with a loaned pot, a four-cavity Lyman 429421 and handles for $35, and a Lyman 45 sizer I gave $40 for. I have since graduated to about 75 moulds, almost half of them Hensley and Gibbs blocks that run anywhere from $100 to well over $300, and an original Star sizer with 12 dies at $40 per. I buy lube in bulk, and have over 4k of lino, pure lead, and wheel weights stacked up in the garage. No way I have saved any money, fellows. It is just a fact!
Guys, it is a disease, and there is no cure for it. But there is a very large support group...
I, too, cast, and have for about 30 years. I started with a loaned pot, a four-cavity Lyman 429421 and handles for $35, and a Lyman 45 sizer I gave $40 for. I have since graduated to about 75 moulds, almost half of them Hensley and Gibbs blocks that run anywhere from $100 to well over $300, and an original Star sizer with 12 dies at $40 per. I buy lube in bulk, and have over 4k of lino, pure lead, and wheel weights stacked up in the garage. No way I have saved any money, fellows. It is just a fact!
Guys, it is a disease, and there is no cure for it. But there is a very large support group...
OP
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
How long does it take to pay off a $500 investment when you shoot bullets that cost .002 cents versus 11 cents a piece?
Does it take time? Um, yeah, we have been through all of that. Do you want to get payed for playing golf or riding your bike or ........ building that cute little bird house? Whatever.
No, the cost is assuming that you have amortized the cash outlaid to do the hobby. Still, it is a pipe dream in actuality but it does work on paper!
Does it take time? Um, yeah, we have been through all of that. Do you want to get payed for playing golf or riding your bike or ........ building that cute little bird house? Whatever.
No, the cost is assuming that you have amortized the cash outlaid to do the hobby. Still, it is a pipe dream in actuality but it does work on paper!
snowman
Member
I have seen this issue arise repeatedly here, generally from those who are contemplating reloading, and virtually everyone tells such people that they won't save the money, but just shoot more and thus spend the same amount that they would otherwise have spent on factory ammunition.
Apparently that is true for most of the posters here, but it has never been the case with me. Probably 90% of my shooting practice is defensive, and I knew when I got into it that, in order to become reasonably proficient, I would have to practice regularly. It was immediately apparent that I wouldn't be able to afford using factory ammo to do this.
But it was also clear that I only had so much time to practice, which I couldn't exceed. But I needed to practice that amount of time in order to "become reasonably proficient". Consequently I would shoot the same amount whether I used factory ammo or assembled my own. This is in fact what has happened; therefore I am indeed saving a great deal on my ammunition by reloading it.
As far as the time expended reloading, it isn't time I could otherwise use to make money anyway, so I don't count it as additional expense.
Andy
Apparently that is true for most of the posters here, but it has never been the case with me. Probably 90% of my shooting practice is defensive, and I knew when I got into it that, in order to become reasonably proficient, I would have to practice regularly. It was immediately apparent that I wouldn't be able to afford using factory ammo to do this.
But it was also clear that I only had so much time to practice, which I couldn't exceed. But I needed to practice that amount of time in order to "become reasonably proficient". Consequently I would shoot the same amount whether I used factory ammo or assembled my own. This is in fact what has happened; therefore I am indeed saving a great deal on my ammunition by reloading it.
As far as the time expended reloading, it isn't time I could otherwise use to make money anyway, so I don't count it as additional expense.
Andy
rollin59
Member
I agree, not only how much you shoot, also WHAT you shoot. 9mm at 10-12 bucks a box, probably not worth your time. 44 Mag at $32-$40 a box, well yeah. Cases and cases of shot shells for trap, probably worth it. Couple boxes a year of 30/30 for practice & whitetails, no deal.
Once I got a few hundred free .44 Magnum brass and some boolets, so had to buy dies and a couple of Rugers to shoot the product in, that was some expensive free brass!
Last edited:
OP
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Made a mistake in the math, but still.....
Well, sure! I happen to be able to score lead pretty reasonably. Even FREE at times!
At FREE for the material, what do bullets cost then? How long does it take to pay for equipment when you get the base bullet material for nothing?
I have several moulds now too, not 75 though and only a couple of them are H&G. They are great moulds too! I have several Mihec moulds and they are pretty good as well. Let's say one mould costs $150. Purchased lead bullets around here go for $75/500 for 230gr RN in .452". At FREE lead for making them, how long does it take to make up that $150? To me, and remember, this works on paper, that would be after I make 1000 bullets of that size, weight and caliber.
I scored 450# of wheel weights once for $30. 450 * 7000gr = 3150000gr or 13695, 230gr bullets for $30 (I know, not exactly because of scrap, still.....) That makes each bullet come to .002 DOLLARS (my bad above, forgive the error) or 1000 bullets for $2, STILL mighty cheap bullets, right?
'Nuff said......
Well, sure! I happen to be able to score lead pretty reasonably. Even FREE at times!
At FREE for the material, what do bullets cost then? How long does it take to pay for equipment when you get the base bullet material for nothing?
I have several moulds now too, not 75 though and only a couple of them are H&G. They are great moulds too! I have several Mihec moulds and they are pretty good as well. Let's say one mould costs $150. Purchased lead bullets around here go for $75/500 for 230gr RN in .452". At FREE lead for making them, how long does it take to make up that $150? To me, and remember, this works on paper, that would be after I make 1000 bullets of that size, weight and caliber.
I scored 450# of wheel weights once for $30. 450 * 7000gr = 3150000gr or 13695, 230gr bullets for $30 (I know, not exactly because of scrap, still.....) That makes each bullet come to .002 DOLLARS (my bad above, forgive the error) or 1000 bullets for $2, STILL mighty cheap bullets, right?
'Nuff said......
geneboy
Member
convert your 38s to 9mm, shoot the cheaper ammo. plus a wide range of self defense ammo. I plan on converting a few guns, But geting Pinnacle to answer there e-mails is the hardest part of the venture. Then you have to shoot enough to pay for the conversion. OH guess I`m not saving money
OP
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
SAY WHAT?
I cannot even begin to fathom someone contemplating doing something like this to a 38spl!
Why, it is almost,.......sacrilege!
If we still loaded the 38spl to the levels that the Hi-Vel loads were, no one would be converting nothing!
(Bad grammer/english but it serves the point!)
I cannot even begin to fathom someone contemplating doing something like this to a 38spl!
Why, it is almost,.......sacrilege!
If we still loaded the 38spl to the levels that the Hi-Vel loads were, no one would be converting nothing!
(Bad grammer/english but it serves the point!)
geneboy
Member
I cannot even begin to fathom someone contemplating doing something like this to a 38spl!
Why, it is almost,.......sacrilege!
If we still loaded the 38spl to the levels that the Hi-Vel loads were, no one would be converting nothing!
(Bad grammer/English but it serves the point!)
Why would someone buy a new gun, when there are so many cheaper perfectly good used ones out there. Because we are all dain bramaged
Reloading Cost $aving$
Equipment: I got a second used Dillon 550B for $250 and an second RCBS Rock Chucker Press and Uniflow powder measure for $30. The RCBS stuff needed a lot of love to function.
At this time I have ~40 gallons (yes gallons as measured by 1 gallon milk jugs) of brass: 38, 357, 9 mm, 40, 44 mag, 45, 223, 25-06, 7 mm mag, 30-06, 45-70. There are ~88,000 primers (sm pistol, lg pistol, sm rifle, lg rifle) and 75 pounds of assorted powders. Can somebody explain to me how I am saving money?
I didn't even list the casting equipment and bullet molds.
I'm retired so my labor is free, lead is range scrap pickings/siftings, and brass was range pick up. In just 2 months at a public range on Saturdays, I was given over 450 once fired 7 mm mag cases for my single shot rifle .
I can't afford to save any more money, I'll have to build a bigger money closet.
Equipment: I got a second used Dillon 550B for $250 and an second RCBS Rock Chucker Press and Uniflow powder measure for $30. The RCBS stuff needed a lot of love to function.
At this time I have ~40 gallons (yes gallons as measured by 1 gallon milk jugs) of brass: 38, 357, 9 mm, 40, 44 mag, 45, 223, 25-06, 7 mm mag, 30-06, 45-70. There are ~88,000 primers (sm pistol, lg pistol, sm rifle, lg rifle) and 75 pounds of assorted powders. Can somebody explain to me how I am saving money?
I didn't even list the casting equipment and bullet molds.I'm retired so my labor is free, lead is range scrap pickings/siftings, and brass was range pick up. In just 2 months at a public range on Saturdays, I was given over 450 once fired 7 mm mag cases for my single shot rifle
. I can't afford to save any more money, I'll have to build a bigger money closet.
