Cost Averaging Reloads

[AJ]

Just had a thought about cost of our reloading habits vs factory loads. Has anyone cost averaged the cost of reloading components lately? I have not bought any components for several years over the counter. A friend and I are occasionally buying components from estates. Just curious as to what the OTC components are costing nowadays.

 

[22shtur]

Bullets have slowly risen in price the last few years. Primers and powder have risen exponentially the last few years. With an average of $55.00 for powder, and $95.00 for primers, plus 30 cents for bullets, a 44 magnum round is costing about 50 cents to make yourself if you have the empty case. If you have to buy the brass, it will cost more.

 

[raljr1]

I think the last time I added it up for 9 mm, with 10 cent primers and 10 cent bullets, 4 grains of W231 at $55 per pound, 55 divided by 1750 rds is 3 cents, so 23 cent per round or $11.50 per box of 50. I recently bought some Argentinian primers for $50/1000, so cut that by $2.50 for those and you get $9 a box, if you have cases. I have lots. On larger calibers, the economics still work out. Bullets cost a couple pennies more, and you can only get about 1200 rds out of a pound, so say 10 cents for the primer, 14 for the lead bullet and 5 for powder. so 30 cents a round.

44 magnum 10 cent primers 34 cents for SJHP XTPs and 22 cents for powder using 296....so 64 cents each for a hunting load

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

When you load the odd balls like 32-20, 38-40, 44-40, 41 Mag, and even 45 Colt, the savings are very good. And you are still ahead with 38 Spcl, 357 ans 44 Mag. But with ith 9mm I'd find it's hard to justify the cost of primers to reload them. I'd just buy factory loads and save my primers for other stuff.
Lately, 9mm been so cheap I've been toying with buying a Keltec sub 2000, just for fun. But I keep talking myself out of the idea.

John

 

[kbm6893]

I haven't loaded a round in over a year. My shooting slowed down so much that there hasn't been much reason to. Once I get back into it, I usually go all in, so I'll start cranking them out again. I have a few thousand primed cases and probably 10,000 primers in my reserve. I'm kind of holding onto them for now. I've been shooting more .22 lately.

So right now it's about the same to load 9MM than buy factory, but we've all lived through the times when ammo was WAY higher than it is now, and almost impossible to find even at those high prices. So it is still good to have some components on hand for those times you can't get 9MM factory.

 

[Model52guy]

Last reloading components I bought were in 2019 at guns shows when ammo was cheap and folks were getting rid of primers, powder and bullets. Haven’t bought any since. I think I have a lifetime supply of components now.

 

[GypsmJim]

I have been loading .41 Magnum for about 30 years. First for my Dad, and for myself since he passed.

An ample stash of once fired brass and home case boolits from lead long ago amortized makes those components basically free.

Powder and primers have been the part that has exacerbated the cost.

Current cost for a box of 50 rounds is $2.50. That's for components that were purchased in March of 2020 (on SALE.....LOL), the day after the govmt announced "pandemic".

Next year's cost (based on components that I have been forced to buy in recent months) is about $6.50.

A similar comparison could be said for .38, .45, etc.

My only fly in the ointment is 5.56 / .223 because I need to buy FMJ bullets since lead won't work.

 

[AJ]

Current cost for a box of 50 rounds is $2.50. That's for components that were purchased in March of 2020 (on SALE.....LOL), the day after the govmt announced "pandemic".

You are doing better than I am. I load 10 different handgun calibers. My cost using OTC bullets is about $0.07 a round ($3.50/box). It would be less if I use my own cast bullets.

 

[TheTinMan]

For me, it makes sense to reload almost everything except 9mm Luger, 5.56 NATO, and, of course, .22 LR.

The savings with rifle cartridges is bigger per unit than for pistol cartridges, but I shoot a lot less per outing. Handloading bottlenecked rifle cartridges takes me much longer than pistol cartridges. However, the benefits of tailoring a load to a specific rifle make up for that. YMMV

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Iffen I pull the trigger on any of my centerfires( long or short).......Or my shotguns.....There's a 98% chance it's one of my reloads. With my cast bullets or my homemade shot.
Don't factor the cost.......Factor the fact when the store shelves are empty.........Mine are full.

 

[AJ]

Iffen I pull the trigger on any of my centerfires( long or short).......Or my shotguns.....There's a 98% chance it's one of my reloads. With my cast bullets or my homemade shot.
Don't factor the cost.......Factor the fact when the store shelves are empty.........Mine are full.

Must be a problem where you live. The store shelves are not empty, even Wally World has lots of ammo. I shoot my reloads due to the fact I do not have a bunch of money tied up in components.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I can load a box of 38 Special at a third the cost of store bought range ammo.

Hornady XTPs I can load at a fourth of the cost of store bought Hornady XTPs.

I tend to shoot 150 or 200 rounds of handgun on the Range. If I did not reload I would have to cut back to 50 rounds per outing.

 

[rwsmith]

With my present stock..

I can reload pistols for about .20/round and large rifles for about .45/round and small rifle for about .40/round.

I shouldn't ever have to buy any more powder. Eventually I may have to buy primers. I've got enough pistol and rifle bullets to last a while, but I'll have to get some in the next few years.

 

[rosewood]

Must be a problem where you live. The store shelves are not empty, even Wally World has lots of ammo. I shoot my reloads due to the fact I do not have a bunch of money tied up in components.

I think he was referring back to the pandemic when in 2021 or so, the shelves were bare. Those of us that reload and had components, could make whatever we needed.

Rosewood

 

[rosewood]

As many others have said, loading the more expensive rounds is where you save the $$. 9mm, .223 not so much and save the components for other things.
I acquired a 38-55 a while back. A box of 20 is about $70 last time I checked. That is $3.50 per round for the mathematically challenged. I cast my own boolits. Casting my own cost me about .30 cent per round for powder and primers at current prices. The lead I have cost me pennies (much was free), not worth adding to cost. Not to mention, I can make as many as I feel like making.

Rosewood

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Must be a problem where you live. The store shelves are not empty, even Wally World has lots of ammo. I shoot my reloads due to the fact I do not have a bunch of money tied up in components.

I hope you are more than 5 years old...........CUZ we have been through MAJOR ammo shortages in the last 10 years.........All here can attest to that.

 

[gwpercle]

Cost of components isn't the main problem I have ...

Availability Is ... Empty shelves and Out of Stock is what I see a lot of .

I don't like to mail order but my last reloading supplies came from Powder Vally because no one at any local gun-shops had anything .

It was Mail-Order (internet order) from Powder Vally or do without ...
Cost was just fine ... if you can find what your looking for .

My stocking up of reloading supplies was based on availability not cost .
Gary

 

[zeke]

Cost of components isn't the main problem I have ...

Availability Is ... Empty shelves and Out of Stock is what I see a lot of .

I don't like to mail order but my last reloading supplies came from Powder Vally because no one at any local gun-shops had anything .

It was Mail-Order (internet order) from Powder Vally or do without ...
Cost was just fine ... if you can find what your looking for .

My stocking up of reloading supplies was based on availability not cost .
Gary

If it weren't for ordering from websites, would not be reloading at all. Closest steady supply of handloading components with limited selection from brick and mortar is 2 hr drive (one way) north or south.

Being able to find my preferred components involved lurking on various internet suppliers and using credit card before any available supply disappeared. On several shortages using the internet enabled any components at all.

 

[glenwolde]

I use the current resale market price for the value of the components.

Saying that you bought primers for $20 way back when and so that's what they "cost" you is wrong in my view. Those $20 primers are worth what today? What could you sell them easily for today? You don't have to use current full retail, but it's more than what you paid. That's their "cost". Because that's what you're giving up when you use them. Plus using an age-old price completely ignores the time value of money.

American primers are going for $90+ shipping+hazmat. I assume you wait and get free shipping and hazmat. If I put my $20 primers on a local board for....$65?...$70?... I think they'd sell fast with no shipping & tax. So whatever you think is a reasonable price they would sell for quickly, that's their "cost".

 

[rockquarry]

Our interests vary. I've never done any cost averaging in almost sixty years of handloading, perhaps because it never interested me and because it's work that would take away from enjoyment. I'm not a spendthrift and I doubt cost would ever have an effect on my handloading and shooting as long as I could afford it.