45 colt and cast my bullets. Lee hand press, dies, and bullet mold. It's an old H.E. 2nd mdl .455 butchered to .45 colt so i don't burn lot's of powder per load. At this point i think it costs under a quarter a round. I can reload about 200 to 300 rounds before it starts to feel like work and i rarely shoot that much a week. I want to handgun hunt so i will spend more on a .44 and dies in the future but for now it's really cheap and enjoyable.
Can you save money reloading??
- Thread starter roscoepc
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Wee Hooker
Member
I can reload 50 rounds of 9mm using commercial cast bullets for just about $5.80/box. Closer to $8 if I use a plated/jacketed bullet. (That's once you consider my press;s and other gear is long paid for.) That said, reloading is more than saving money. I get WAY more enjoyment out of the art and science of reloading than a few $ either way could measure.
Moe Mentum
Member
Reloading handgun cartridges, yes without a doubt, shot shells not really.
kbm6893
Member
I can reload 100 9MM rounds for about 13 bucks. That's about 7 dollars cheaper than what 100 rounds of 9MM would cost you if you're paying 10 bucks for 50. And I don't know where you're paying that little. Walmart has 9MM target loads for about $28 for 100 rounds. So I'm paying half Walmart prices. You must be buying aluminum cased ammo to get it for so little.
.38 is way cheaper to load. Winchester White Box .38 at Walmart is like 25 bucks for 50 rounds. That's $50 for 100 rounds. I can load 100 for about 14 bucks.
As for shooting more, that doesn't always happen. My shooting has increased very little since reloading. I just like having a large supply on hand for when the mood strikes, and I don't want to be a slave to the next panic.
chaparrito
Member
For me the answer is definitely yes. I didn't spend a fortune on a cadillac rig. I have MAYBE 400 bucks in my Lee Turret loader setup with turrets and 4 die setups for .38/357, 45ACP, .44 and 9mm. I saved factory brass, about 2K rounds each for years before I started so my brass costs are nil. Counting powder and bullets I can load for between 5 and 8 dollars per 50 depending on caliber. Figuring the savings over retail shooting about a hundred rounds a week during the winter - it's too hot here in the summer so I rarely shoot- I figure my equipment costs were paid for in about a year.
I shoot 3 to 5 hundred rounds a month on average and that's 200 more then before i reloaded. And i got my 11 year old grandson shooting it also because i can load it with 200 grain bullets and a light powder charge he can handle. So there is another plus for my reloading.
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There are lots of reasons....
There are lots of reasons for reloading rather than cost alone.
It's educational
It's fun and satisfying
You can make any combo of bullet/powder that you want.
You can save money if you shoot a lot and don't buy every new toy that there is. OR you can shoot more for the same money. If you are cheap like me, you could actually save money.
You are more immune to ammo shortages if you stock up on components.
Some ammo is just plain expensive.
There are lots of reasons for reloading rather than cost alone.
It's educational
It's fun and satisfying
You can make any combo of bullet/powder that you want.
You can save money if you shoot a lot and don't buy every new toy that there is. OR you can shoot more for the same money. If you are cheap like me, you could actually save money.
You are more immune to ammo shortages if you stock up on components.
Some ammo is just plain expensive.
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fredj338
Member
Anyone telling you they don't save $$ reloading their ammo just isn't doing something right. Obviously it depends on what & how much you shoot, but I save a min of 50% on the more than 25 diff calibers I reload for. You are off to a good start.
Geo. T.
Member
Another Thought!
Everyone above has made some good points. I would like to add another thought. The amount of money you save is dependent on what kind of ammunition your loading. if you are duplicating cheap plinking ammo the amount you save will be less than if you are loading rounds that go for 35 dollars a box.
Try to find your press and scale used you will save a bunch. Buy bulk when you can and you will load more for less!
As others have said reloading is fun and educational. You will likely find it's your new favorite hobby!
Everyone above has made some good points. I would like to add another thought. The amount of money you save is dependent on what kind of ammunition your loading. if you are duplicating cheap plinking ammo the amount you save will be less than if you are loading rounds that go for 35 dollars a box.
Try to find your press and scale used you will save a bunch. Buy bulk when you can and you will load more for less!
As others have said reloading is fun and educational. You will likely find it's your new favorite hobby!
cmj8591
Member
You are not going to save money doing anything we talk about on this board!
When the factory ammo is all gone you will be very happy with 20 pounds of powder, a case of primers and a wheelbarrow full of brass.
Save money? I don't know anyone who saves money reloading, but they are at the range when I get there and still there when I leave.
Save money? I don't know anyone who saves money reloading, but they are at the range when I get there and still there when I leave.
I vote this "Post of the Day"! 
Harley Fan
Member
OK, my morning is officially made by getting to read yet another great post by my friend Engineer1911, whose logic is a laser, and whose humor is welcome.
~~
I'm on press #3 (if you count the Lee Loader) and yes indeed, you can "save money".
I'm now on a quest to get dies to load yet another caliber (.40S&W) to feed my son's new Austrian Tupperware. Funny- as we were to split the reloading costs down the middle, he seems to be scarce when it's time to replenish supplies.
I no longer do "green eye shade" analysis to costs, I focus on the most accurate load development, which has been fun. I can say this- I acquired a new Kimber .45acp, and I was a good soldier by buying factory ammo for the so-called 400 round break-in period. That bit my wallet big-time, whether is was Wal-Mart or anywhere else. (Turned out I needn't have bothered, but was a shot in the arm to my brass inventory.)
~~
I'm on press #3 (if you count the Lee Loader) and yes indeed, you can "save money".
I'm now on a quest to get dies to load yet another caliber (.40S&W) to feed my son's new Austrian Tupperware. Funny- as we were to split the reloading costs down the middle, he seems to be scarce when it's time to replenish supplies.
I no longer do "green eye shade" analysis to costs, I focus on the most accurate load development, which has been fun. I can say this- I acquired a new Kimber .45acp, and I was a good soldier by buying factory ammo for the so-called 400 round break-in period. That bit my wallet big-time, whether is was Wal-Mart or anywhere else. (Turned out I needn't have bothered, but was a shot in the arm to my brass inventory.)
I am stunned, really stunned, that an actual savings is documented by reloading ammo. I thought it was only a figment of an Accountant's imagination.
Now to further enhance the growth of your retirement funds, you must start bullet casting. Here is a fine Lyman mould, but you will need lube, sizer die to realize the next level of savings. The bullet is a smallish 375 grains so the yield will be 18 bullets to a pound of lead alloy.
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/Dept/reloading/lead-bullet-casting/lyman-moulds/-point-500-dia
Continue on with your calculations and in only a short period of time you will be shooting for almost free, until you buy another caliber firearm.
Congratulations!! I nominate you for the Story Teller of the Year Award.Welcome to the World of Fiction. It's how we all keep going.
KarmannGhia
Member
If you shoot a caliber that cost 35, 40, 50 dollars for a 20 round box and that's if you can find it (my most costly factory ammo need is 30-40 krag), then reloading is the way to go. I also have a Webly .455 that has a shaved cylinder and custom load 45 auto rim loads for it. In that case reloading is the only way to go.
I use a single stage press so my start up cost were minimal and I have fought the urge to upgrade to a progressive.
I use a single stage press so my start up cost were minimal and I have fought the urge to upgrade to a progressive.
gwpercle
Member
The reason I reload is NOT to save money.
I just enjoy doing it, the whole process . From turning dirty scrap lead into gleaming bullets, case prep, reloading, working up an accurate load, it gives me a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
It's my hobby.
Over 40 years ago I started with a Lee Classic Loader $9.99 , I liked it and moved to a single stage press and have preferred the single stage ever since. Not a large investment for me, I'm not into progressives....to complicated .
I also enjoy saving old vintage reloading presses from the scrap heap .
Everybody needs a relaxing hobby, this is mine.
Gary
I just enjoy doing it, the whole process . From turning dirty scrap lead into gleaming bullets, case prep, reloading, working up an accurate load, it gives me a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
It's my hobby.
Over 40 years ago I started with a Lee Classic Loader $9.99 , I liked it and moved to a single stage press and have preferred the single stage ever since. Not a large investment for me, I'm not into progressives....to complicated .
I also enjoy saving old vintage reloading presses from the scrap heap .
Everybody needs a relaxing hobby, this is mine.
Gary
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kbm6893
Member
Not everybody gets into reloading to eat up the savings in more shooting. With a job, wife, kids (who come with their own obligations. Cub Scouts, sports teams, play dates, etc), I don't shoot a whole lot more since I started reloading. I just crank out 50-100 rounds at a time on my single stage Hornady press. No desire to get into progressive. I have about 1500 cases tumbled, sized, expanded and primed. Just waiting for powder and bullet. I have at least 1000 rounds of .38 special already loaded and sitting in an ammo can. And 1000 9MM, too. At my rate of shooting, that will keep me going for 2-3 years. But I just keep cranking them out in drips and drabs. Weighing every powder charge. Making sure each round is safe. And when the mood strikes, I think nothing of grabbing a few hundred rounds and hitting the range. No longer feel guilty spending twice the money of factory target ammo.
And when (not IF) the next drought happens, I'll still be shooting. And that's the main reason why I reload.
And when (not IF) the next drought happens, I'll still be shooting. And that's the main reason why I reload.
kbm6893
Member
Do you get paid to watch TV? Mow your lawn? I painted 3 bedrooms this summer. Nobody paid me. I could have paid somebody twice the cost of the supplies I bought to do it myself.
The whole "my time is worth more than I save" argument is so dumb. If I HATED being at the reloading bench, I guess MAYBE I would not do it (although I surely do not enjoy painting or mowing my lawn). But I'm not gonna pay twice the price for somebody else to do what I can do myself.
And unless you shoot a LOT, for very little money and very little time, you can make your own ammo for half the cost. I batch load, so all the dirty cases get resized and deprimed when I come back from the range. Takes MAYBE 15 minutes. Then I throw them into a bucket. When I have enough of those to warrant a tumbling session (normally 250-300 cases), I throw them in the tumbler and turn it on. Takes 3 minutes, tops. I don't stand and watch them tumble for 2 hours. I walk away. When they're done, I prime them as I watch TV. No time wasted there. I'm sitting in bed watching TV. I loaded 50 rounds this morning. Being a bit OCD, I weigh every charge. Takes me about 20 minutes to drop powder, and 10 minutes to seat and crimp. I guess I don't consider being in my garage for 30 minutes (away from wife and kids! Gotta "concentrate when Daddy is measuring gunpowder") a big waste of time.
And your hourly rate for being a lawyer is surely higher than 8 bucks an hour. Do you not have a hobby outside of work? Do you play golf? Does the golf club pay you to be there?
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Depends on how many times you tip over a bottle of powder.........
Body control is mandatory.
Body control is mandatory.
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