Cost Averaging Reloads

[gwpercle]

Reloading for me has always been a interesting and enjoyable hobby .
As a hobby, that I enjoyed a lot .. I never calculated the cost because I was having fun ...
And having Fun ... is ... Priceless !
Gary

 

[GypsmJim]

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.

Since our beloved Governor passed a law requiring a NICS check for ammo purchases, our shelves are full. Of course, some ammo is scarce at dealers across the PA line.

Regardless, its not unobtainium, and since most of us were smart enough to be prepared its not a problem.

Wally World, though, IS a problem. They were not set up to have a minimum wage earner do paperwork and make calls and work computer apps, so they had to train people. Unfortunately, the guy often does not show up for work.

 

[AJ]

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.

Yes, I am! Been reloading for over 50 years and helped my Father when he reloaded in the 50's & 60's. Been aware of problems in the hobby for much more than 10 years.

You stated "Don't factor the cost.......Factor the fact when the store shelves are empty.........Mine are full." And I wrote that our shelves are full of factory ammo. So, if you want some factory ammo, come on down. we got plenty to share at the moment.

 

[AJ]

Since our beloved Governor passed a law requiring a NICS check for ammo purchases, our shelves are full. Of course, some ammo is scarce at dealers across the PA line.

Regardless, its not unobtainium, and since most of us were smart enough to be prepared its not a problem.

Wally World, though, IS a problem. They were not set up to have a minimum wage earner do paperwork and make calls and work computer apps, so they had to train people. Unfortunately, the guy often does not show up for work.

Where are you at? We don't have that problem here.......yet. Does your Wally World sell guns? Ours do not anymore.

 

[AJ]

Reloading for me has always been a interesting and enjoyable hobby .
As a hobby, that I enjoyed a lot .. I never calculated the cost because I was having fun ...
And having Fun ... is ... Priceless !
Gary

If you factor in the time involved we are probably way in the hole over buying factory ammo. I agree it is fun and interesting. Free labor is the key!!

 

[GypsmJim]

Where are you at? We don't have that problem here.......yet. Does your Wally World sell guns? Ours do not anymore.

We are in Western NY state. Ammo restrictions have been in place for about a year now. The Wally gun cabinets have been empty for awhile now, but just recently I saw that they were completely full. But when the sign at the counter reads (in bold) "The Gun and Ammo Counter is Currently Closed", I guess they aren't going to sell much of anything.

Fortunately all the stupid new laws have not applied to ammo components. If / when they figure it out I guess I'll be spending a couple SS checks.

 

[AJ]

We are in Western NY state. Ammo restrictions have been in place for about a year now. The Wally gun cabinets have been empty for awhile now, but just recently I saw that they were completely full. But when the sign at the counter reads (in bold) "The Gun and Ammo Counter is Currently Closed", I guess they aren't going to sell much of anything.

Fortunately all the stupid new laws have not applied to ammo components. If / when they figure it out I guess I'll be spending a couple SS checks.

Still have some distant cousins in the East Aurora area. Have not been there since 1970. To bad about the laws there. Down here nothing like that yet.

 

[Skeet 028]

WW shelves may be full but at unholy prices. 17 dollar a box 28 and 410 shells. Eben with the cost of primers I can load them for much less. I too make shot and have a ton or 2 stashed away. All said and done I have about 30 flats of 20s loaded..don't shoot 12s 'nuff to load many..But I don't reload because it's fun...It's cheaper. 9mm is cheap 'nuff to buy new...recently got a 1000 223s for 30 cenrs each...Loading 38 sp cost I have recently avg primers at 44 dollars...avg SRPs at 56 dollars. Powders are almost all older cans and will never need to buy any Bullets...jacketed have sure gone up and I probably have enough..lead bullets in some cals I will have to buy

 

[AJ]

WW shelves may be full but at unholy prices. 17 dollar a box 28 and 410 shells. Eben with the cost of primers I can load them for much less. I too make shot and have a ton or 2 stashed away. All said and done I have about 30 flats of 20s loaded..don't shoot 12s 'nuff to load many..But I don't reload because it's fun...It's cheaper. 9mm is cheap 'nuff to buy new...recently got a 1000 223s for 30 cenrs each...Loading 38 sp cost I have recently avg primers at 44 dollars...avg SRPs at 56 dollars. Powders are almost all older cans and will never need to buy any Bullets...jacketed have sure gone up and I probably have enough..lead bullets in some cals I will have to buy

Ammo/component prices are up and keep going up all over. But so are prices for everything across the board. I doubt if we will really see any better prices in our lifetimes. Guess I ought to burn all the old AR and other gun rags from the "Golden Era" of firearms, so I don't have to look at the prices shown in them.

 

[pasound]

I don't see prices on powder and primers coming down any time soon, considering war in Europe and the Mid-East. I stocked up on powder, lead bullets and primers a few years ago, barely before they went exponential. I have a lot of new and used cases for 38, 357, and 44spl, the ones I regularly load. 9mm and 45acp are still basically "what's on sale" as opposed to reloading. I'm staying below $10 a box for those three calibers. Cheaper, but sad that in the 80's-90's I loaded the same rounds for $2-3 a box. We won't ever go back.

These days, 90% of the shooting I do is 22lr and occasional 22mag. No reloading there, but still "sorta" inexpensive.

 

[GypsmJim]

I knew this was coming based on past experience. I may have spent more than I wanted to at the time to stock up for the future, but it was what it was. I now can still shoot a box of 50 magnums for $2.50 and i'm happy for that.

On my way to camp for a weekend of fun I usually stop in Mickydees for a quick breakfast. It used to cost me (as I remember) about $3.45. That SAME "snack" is now about 8 bucks.

I'm not happy for that because there was no way I could plan in advance.

 

[TheTinMan]

If you factor in the time involved we are probably way in the hole over buying factory ammo. I agree it is fun and interesting. Free labor is the key!!

I was billing my time at $265/hour back in 2014 when new regulations forced me to shut down my municipal finance consulting business. How much did that box of twenty .30-30 cartridges cost me?

Now that I’m retired I guess my time is worth less, but I’ve enjoyed hand loading for a long time. And I like being able to shoot even when there’s a pandemic going on!

 

[AJ]

I was billing my time at $265/hour back in 2014 when new regulations forced me to shut down my municipal finance consulting business. How much did that box of twenty .30-30 cartridges cost me?

Now that I’m retired I guess my time is worth less, but I’ve enjoyed hand loading for a long time. And I like being able to shoot even when there’s a pandemic going on!

Never made that much So I guess my ammo was not as pricey!

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I own several firearms that have never been fired with factory ammo. I own several others for which no factory ammo has been available for 50 years or more. I have several grandchildren who never seem to have learned that ammo can be purchased in stores, they just send the empties to Grampa's house for replenishment.

I started reloading so I could shoot in addition to feeding hungry kids and making house payments. Over the years it has become part of the process; I hardly think about buying ammo, only about what I have on hand and what I need to resupply.

Probably the last factory ammo I purchased was a couple cases of Caliber .30 M2 ball from CMP when I was still active in Service Rifle matches, about 20 years now. Maybe a carton or two of .22LR here and there.

Prices for primers and powders over the past several years have been pure sticker shock, but I've managed to lay in enough for several years so I'm good for the foreseeable future. The days of reloading most handgun calibers for under a buck per box are long gone.

 

[AJ]

I own several firearms that have never been fired with factory ammo. I own several others for which no factory ammo has been available for 50 years or more. I have several grandchildren who never seem to have learned that ammo can be purchased in stores, they just send the empties to Grampa's house for replenishment.

I started reloading so I could shoot in addition to feeding hungry kids and making house payments. Over the years it has become part of the process; I hardly think about buying ammo, only about what I have on hand and what I need to resupply.

Probably the last factory ammo I purchased was a couple cases of Caliber .30 M2 ball from CMP when I was still active in Service Rifle matches, about 20 years now. Maybe a carton or two of .22LR here and there.

Prices for primers and powders over the past several years have been pure sticker shock, but I've managed to lay in enough for several years so I'm good for the foreseeable future. The days of reloading most handgun calibers for under a buck per box are long gone.

Your Grandkids must know my Grandkids!! Grandpa will take care of it! Just gave my oldest Granddaughter a box of factory .380 HST that I was given(boy, is that stuff pricey). Told her not to use it for plinkin' ammo!!

 

[mtgianni]

I am a bullet caster that will leave my estate some AA2 at about $9 a lb and AA9 at about $8 a lb. I cry about primers but don't sweat the rest.

Currently shoot mostly cast in 22 Hornet, 222,7 TCU, 7/30 Waters, 30-30, 35 Remington, 32 Long, 32 H&R, 38, 357, 40, 10 mm, 44 spl, 44 mag, 45 acp, 45 Colt, 50 and 54 muzzleloaders.

 

[BRL40]

I recently got into reloading for the .450 Bushmaster and didn't have any supplies for it so all the reloading components were also purchased recently.
Even at the ridiculously high costs of powder and primers, by using cheap plated .45 ACP bullets I can put together a plinking round for about 50 cents which is about one third or even less than factory hunting ammo.
...oh, and it's FUN!

 

[CH4]

Although saving money on ammo is a good thing, I started reloading because:

* Much of my ammo isn't easily found, especially now
* Supply and demand issues - none of my guns are worth much without
ammo.
* Sense of accomplishment

 

[AJ]

Although saving money on ammo is a good thing, I started reloading because:

* Much of my ammo isn't easily found, especially now
* Supply and demand issues - none of my guns are worth much without
ammo.
* Sense of accomplishment

Without ammo they are nothing but a club. Not even a good one at that! Maybe if you can mount a bayonet that would be good?

 

[jcelect]

Cost per round?

All this talk about prices of components for reloading and not one post about the cost of the equipment required to do the task of reloading! May I suggest that each of the posters here look at their reloading bench and add up the cost of the equipment they have accumulated over the years! That would also include the equipment you have bought, used for a period, and replaced for some particular reason! In my case the list is long! I presently have 2 Herters 6 hole turret presses, 2 Herters single station presses, 1 C-H 3 station press, and a Dillon 550 w/13 blocks(including dies). A Hornady bullet puller w/collets, a Forester case trimmer, 3 scales, and many little tools and accessories. Most of these items I have owned and used for many years! If you amortize the cost of this equipment from when you bought the equipment until today the figure would be very low. However, for the average shooter looking at buying this equipment today he is by far better off buying factory rounds. If you are going to try to calculate the cost of your shooting habit, you must consider the above mentioned cost!
jcelect