Cost of Reloading .223

[kbm6893]

I reload .38 and 9MM, so I have the press. I've been saving .223 brass for years so I have that. I know I'd need dies and probably an auto case trimmer. I'm not doing that by hand.

But once I had all that, what's the cost per round for powder, bullet, and primer? Walmart has 100 round boxes for 40 bucks. I'm not looking to buy a case of a thousand at a time. Just want to know I can load up 200 rounds or so for the occasional range trip.

 

[roscoepc]

A semi educated guess would be about 20-30 cents per round with your bullet choice being the largest part of the cost. It all depends on your bullet choice:

22 Cal (.223-.224) | Bulk Rifle Bullets | Bullets

It took me about 2-3 months of searching before I settled on the 2 bullet brand/types for my 500 but I've got the cost down to about $0.85 per round for hunting and about $0.30 for target practice..... Another link for ya:

Reloading the .223 | Hodgdon Reloading

Have Fun!!

 

[jepp2]

If you buy in bulk:

bullets $0.08
primer $0.03
powder $0.08

 

[roscoepc]

If you buy in bulk:

bullets $0.08
primer $0.03
powder $0.08

As I said... "Semi Educated!!!

 

[smokindog]

Many ranges around here won't let you shot FMJ rifle bullets but if you can use them, these work pretty well

223-55gr. FMJ

if not

22 Caliber .224 Diameter 55 Grain Soft Point With Cannelure 250 Count by HORNADY BULK BULLETS

about 10-11 cents

Midsouth has a few powders in stock (H322, H335, Benchmark, BLC(2) that work well

Hodgdon H335 Smokeless Powder 8 Lbs by HODGDON , IMR & WINCHESTER

6-8 cents per round (rough number used 25 gr)

and primer (all over the map right now)

say 3-4 cents

so 18-23 cents per round (give or take).

 

[ChiefStealth]

Yea, you can get "bulk" 55gn, or 62gn, for 8 to 8.5 cents each. Then, you can get good match, or varmint bullets for 25 to 30 cents each. Then you can get some really fancy no-lead bullets for almost 50 cents each.
You'll use a lot more powder than you are used to with the pistol rounds. You get 250 to 300 rounds per pound, so buy more pounds than you are used to. Happily, rifle powders are easier to find than pistol powders.

 

[Frank46]

Loading ammo from one pound cans gets old very quickly. I learned long ago that buying in bulk (powder, primers,bullets and cases) while the initial layout of funds can get expensive the price of the items are cheaper than lets saying buying a box of just bullets, primers or powder.And can save you hours going from gunshop to gunshop only to find out the powder,primers or bullets isn't in stock at the present time Frank.

 

[M16]

There are 7000 grains in a pound of powder. To figure your powder cost divide your load by 7000. This will tell you how many rounds you can load with a pound of powder.

 

[vipermd]

Many ranges around here won't let you shot FMJ rifle bullets.QUOTE]

How would they Know? What difference would a FMJ do to a backstop that and all copper nosler would not? FMJ are copper jacketed lead, just like a HP, the hollow point "may"expand and do greater damage to synthetic material. 223 tend to ricochet with FMJ or JHP. If you are talking about SS109 it only has steel in tip, not a hardened steel core. Do they let people fire 7.62 X 39? Be Safe,

 

[scooter123]

Viper, he's probably dealing with shorter indoor ranges that are only in the range of 50 feet long. Personally I would not shoot a rifle at a steel bullet trap range shorter than 25 yards and I would hesitate at 25 yards. Because at the 50 foot ranges in my area just 357 Magnums bounce chunks back to the firing line frequently enough that I get it rather frequently.

Fortunately I do have a 50 yard indoor range nearby with a slopped backstop and vertical traps designed for rifles and a 200 yard outdoor range only 20 miles distant.

As for the cost of 223, I enjoy the challenge of shooting for accuracy, so my loads always feature the most accurate bullets I can put my hands on. BTW, I've experimented with the high dollar Bergers and either I'm not good enough to see any benefit or 200 yards is just too short. What I've found work very well for me are Hornady and Nosler bullets that cost me about 20 to 30 cents per bullet. Note, my most accurate load to date is sub 3/10 MOA and features a 20 cent Hornady 68 grain BTHP. However the 30 cent Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint is quite close at a bit under 4/10 MOA. Figure 11.5 cents for primer and powder and the per round cost neglecting the case cost is in the range of 31-42 cents per round. Someday I'll try out those cheap 55 grain bullets I always see at gun shows but at this point I have a good stock of bullets that I know produce accurate loads on hand so I'm in no rush.

 

[MyDads38]

With 25 grs. of Varget you get 280 rounds/lb. At $26.75/lb. (with tax) it's $.095/per round for powder. Primers @ $32.10/1,000 (with tax) it's $.032/per round for primers. 55 gr. plinking bullets about $90/1,000 (usually includes shipping) so $.09/round for bullets. Total per round cost = $.217/round. X 100 rounds = $21.70. Cost per 1,000 = $217.00.
The above price looks pretty good, but then you have to figure the time it will take to load those 1,000 rounds. Case prep takes the bulk of your time, depending on if you use commercial or military brass (primer crimp removal) and case trimming. Once the brass is prepped, then depending on single stage, turret or progressive press, will be time at your bench. Right about now, $299/1,000 loaded bulk rounds looks pretty good! I've seen prices from $299-$329 for bulk American Eagle/Federal ammo. For the difference in price, I'd rather be shooting than reloading. But I don't go through as much rifle ammo as I do pistol, so YMMV

 

[cuda2045]

If you buy in bulk:

bullets $0.08
primer $0.03
powder $0.08

This works for me

 

[Bugkiller99]

Ahhhh, there is ^^^^^^^^^^.

Time. It takes time to reload. So, what is your time worth?

The cost difference in a plinking round and factory round is not great for .223. If you are only loading for the cost savings, well, if you include your time as a cost, don't do it.

But if you enjoy reloading, then go right ahead. I notice you reload 9mm, and the same cost comparison is true for reloads vs factory 9mm, so I'm going to guess you are in the later category.

Enjoy, and be safe.

 

[fredj338]

At today's cost,buying components in bulk & amortizing once fired brass 8x, I can reload 223 for 16c/rd, $160/1000.

 

[SMSgt]

I've never concerned myself with the costs, I reload because I enjoy it and can reload as much or as little as I want.

 

[Twoboxer]

. . . But once I had all that, what's the cost per round for powder, bullet, and primer? Walmart has 100 round boxes for 40 bucks. I'm not looking to buy a case of a thousand at a time. . . .

You set the standard at Walmart's offerings, so the equivalent or even upgrade from there is Hornady 55gr SP or FMJBTw/c. The cost to reload those with H335 is <=$21.00 per box of 100, a savings of nearly 50%. Those on-line costs are without shipping or sales tax (if any), but does include a Hazmat shipping fee. Your Walmart cost does not include sales tax nor auto mileage costs, so you can adjust the cost however those apply to you.

You aren't looking to buy 1k at a time, but if you reload that's exactly what you will be doing . . . though at half the cost.

If you only make occasional range trips and are happy with Walmart ammo, I'd normally say to forget reloading . . . but surprisingly you already reload. So I'll withhold any advice on the whethers or nots.

Finally, the extra steps you require to reload 223 to replace Walmart ammo can easily be done cheaply and well with Lee tools and your hand drill. So not much added equipment cost is required.

 

[Magload]

Many ranges around here won't let you shot FMJ rifle bullets.QUOTE]

How would they Know? What difference would a FMJ do to a backstop that and all copper nosler would not? FMJ are copper jacketed lead, just like a HP, the hollow point "may"expand and do greater damage to synthetic material. 223 tend to ricochet with FMJ or JHP. If you are talking about SS109 it only has steel in tip, not a hardened steel core. Do they let people fire 7.62 X 39? Be Safe,

How do they know? Well the indoor range I belong to checks everyone ammo with a magnet before they go in to the range to shoot. They do not allow you to bring your own 223/556 in to shoot no matter what it is made of or where it was bought. They sell 223 at only a few more sents then it can be loaded for and cheaper then Walmart or GM so I don't complain. I also get once fired brass to load for the outdoor range. Where they are located they can't take a chance that the backstop walls or roof will be penetrated. I am always amazed at the shot up ceiling tile and the side walls. Don

 

[smokindog]

Spot checks. I try to follow the rules regardless. Just not worth it to me. It's a tough enough world without adding petty things Their house, their rules.....

How do they know? Well the indoor range I belong to checks everyone ammo with a magnet before they go in to the range to shoot. They do not allow you to bring your own 223/556 in to shoot no matter what it is made of or where it was bought. They sell 223 at only a few more sents then it can be loaded for and cheaper then Walmart or GM so I don't complain. I also get once fired brass to load for the outdoor range. Where they are located they can't take a chance that the backstop walls or roof will be penetrated. I am always amazed at the shot up ceiling tile and the side walls. Don

 

[vipermd]

How do they know? Well the indoor range I belong to checks everyone ammo with a magnet before they go in to the range to shoot. They do not allow you to bring your own 223/556 in to shoot no matter what it is made of or where it was bought. Where they are located they can't take a chance that the backstop walls or roof will be penetrated. Don

A magnet is not going to tell you if it is a fmj vs JHP. Do they tell you what their reloads are? Are they JHP?
As Scooter123 and you stated they do not want any rounds escaping, which is the most important thing. Be Safe,

 

[vipermd]

Spot checks. I am not suggesting that you/anyone use APIT, I just was curious as to the real or imagined difference between JHP vs FMJ. I shot 2 logs today 30 rds each jsp vs fmj,,( the logs were 18" long, cut from the same tree, exposed to the same environmental conditions ) 223, 25 yds, off a bench, 16" bbl, 55 gr bullet Federal FMJ, and Tactical Rifle Urban.JSP No pass throughs, no significant difference in the logs, I did start getting some backsplash after about 15 rds. I should have photographed the logs, but they disappeared, in a cloud of smoke.
Not suggesting that you break the rules or risk injury to someone inside or outside the range. Do they allow 7.62 X39 mm? Be Safe,