I will be getting started with reloading in the very near future. I will be reloading .38's mostly . I have always wanted a 1911 in .45 but since I like to shoot a lot the cost of factory ammo has always held me back. For those of you who reload this caliber how much on average is it costing you per round ?
Cost to reload .45
- Thread starter Empe
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
If you count your brass cost as zero I find you can reload for roughly 50% of the cost of purchasing new. It used to be an even better figure but costs of reloading components have gone up, like everything else. If you shoot lead it might be better than that, if you shoot jacketed bullets a little bit less. If you don't push the velocity you can keep using the brass until the head stamp is almost unreadable.
Bayou52
Member
My per unit cost break-down for reloading 45acp:
Brass - free - all range pick-ups
Powder - 1.5 cents per throw
Primers - 3.5 cents apiece
Projectiles - 230 grain plated RN - 11.7 cents apiece
So, about 16.7 cents per round or $8.35 per box of 50.
Of course, not including the cost of equipment. For me, reloading is an enjoyable past time/hobby, so the cost of personal labor is not factored in.
Bayou52
Brass - free - all range pick-ups
Powder - 1.5 cents per throw
Primers - 3.5 cents apiece
Projectiles - 230 grain plated RN - 11.7 cents apiece
So, about 16.7 cents per round or $8.35 per box of 50.
Of course, not including the cost of equipment. For me, reloading is an enjoyable past time/hobby, so the cost of personal labor is not factored in.
Bayou52
"Of course, not including the cost of equipment. For me, reloading is an enjoyable past time/hobby, so the cost of personal labor is not factored in."
My say for sure!!!!
My say for sure!!!!
FWIW, the cost difference between for the most expensive rounds and the least expensive rounds I reload is around a nickel. I reload .380, 9mm, 38spl, 357mag, 44spl, 44mag, 45cp & 45 Colt. The .380/9mm rounds are about a dime apiece to reload, and the 44 mags are about fifteen cents. The biggest difference is the cost of the bullets. Calibers starting with a 3 are about a nickel each, those starting with a 4 are more like a dime apiece. I shoot mostly lead and plated.
Reloading the .45 ACP
Greetings. There are so many variables involved in initially getting started that you should do a lot of basic research into this rewarding but potentially hazardous hobby. I started out with a new "blue press" manual indexing, 4 stage, deprime/reprimer station, powder/chamfering station, bullet seating station, crimp station, finished round hopper. Lots of places to make mistakes and you will miss something, sometime. However, this press can be used as a single station press which allows you to assemble an individual round step by step.
Actually I'm going to stop now as I don't want to un-intentionally mis-inform or forget a critical step.
It can be a very rewarding hobby but you need to match your needs with what would be the best equipment for what you want to spend.
Good luck to you and keep asking questions.
Hobie
Greetings. There are so many variables involved in initially getting started that you should do a lot of basic research into this rewarding but potentially hazardous hobby. I started out with a new "blue press" manual indexing, 4 stage, deprime/reprimer station, powder/chamfering station, bullet seating station, crimp station, finished round hopper. Lots of places to make mistakes and you will miss something, sometime. However, this press can be used as a single station press which allows you to assemble an individual round step by step.
Actually I'm going to stop now as I don't want to un-intentionally mis-inform or forget a critical step.
It can be a very rewarding hobby but you need to match your needs with what would be the best equipment for what you want to spend.
Good luck to you and keep asking questions.
Hobie
Last edited:
muddocktor
Member
My costs are very similar to Bayou52, except that I load 230 grain FMJ Zero bullets and the cost for those are 12.3 cents/round, ordering in 2k quantities. I also figure around 2-3 cents per round for powder, depending on which powder I am loading with.
I don't consider reloading hazardous in the least, unless you're type who reloads with a lit cigarette hanging out of your mouth.
Things one does on a daily basis are more hazardous, driving, taking a shower . . . Heck, Elvis croaked just taking a dump.
Stupid is as stupid does, and if you want to get stupid when reloading, then certainly you can win the stupid prize.
That was eloquently stated. I never have smoked so we can rule that out. No distractions at all. I have a nice room that I built with properly grounded power(NEC compliant). Lots of lighting from various directions that greatly reduces shadows.
But, enough about me. You contend that there is no potential for harm unless, obviously, you're stupid. Ever miss a powder charge and stick a bullet in the lands? Next round fired blows up the gun and they'll cak you lefty. How about a double charge.SSDD. Wrong powder? Nah, doesn't happen. Gun Shop regular tells you a load that is smokin' hot and over limit.
Yeah, I guess you're right. How did I ever survive the whole experience?
It's uncalled for comments like yours that make people shy away from fear of being called "stupid".
To the OP: I hope you find what you're looking for and enjoy the hobby.
To SMSGT, go do what is anatomically incorrect to yourself.
To admins: You don't have to bar me. This was my first post in a couple of years and with it comes a typical social media jerks. It's a pity as I had to take time off for some little medical problems. So, with that, I'm out of here. I'll see myself to the door.
But, enough about me. You contend that there is no potential for harm unless, obviously, you're stupid. Ever miss a powder charge and stick a bullet in the lands? Next round fired blows up the gun and they'll cak you lefty. How about a double charge.SSDD. Wrong powder? Nah, doesn't happen. Gun Shop regular tells you a load that is smokin' hot and over limit.
Yeah, I guess you're right. How did I ever survive the whole experience?
It's uncalled for comments like yours that make people shy away from fear of being called "stupid".
To the OP: I hope you find what you're looking for and enjoy the hobby.
To SMSGT, go do what is anatomically incorrect to yourself.
To admins: You don't have to bar me. This was my first post in a couple of years and with it comes a typical social media jerks. It's a pity as I had to take time off for some little medical problems. So, with that, I'm out of here. I'll see myself to the door.
Missouri Bullet 200-grain LSWC: $0.09/round with shipping
Primer: We'll just call it $0.03, ordering in 5k quantities for free ship or hazmat
Powder: $0.01/round
$0.13 a round, or $6.63/box. Plenty accurate a cartridge unless you care about an inch at 50 yards.
Also:
Primer: We'll just call it $0.03, ordering in 5k quantities for free ship or hazmat
Powder: $0.01/round
$0.13 a round, or $6.63/box. Plenty accurate a cartridge unless you care about an inch at 50 yards.
Also:
Last edited:
OP...I believe you'll find reloading a very rewarding past time. It does have inherent hazards (as pointed out by Hobie11) but reading several current manual's "How To" sections should help you avoid these pitfalls.
Attached is an Excel worksheet which can be tailored to your needs and will breakdown the costs for you. It's in a zip file and very easy to use and customize. Even prints ammo box labels for you.
Good luck and enjoy.
Attached is an Excel worksheet which can be tailored to your needs and will breakdown the costs for you. It's in a zip file and very easy to use and customize. Even prints ammo box labels for you.
Good luck and enjoy.
joeintexas
US Veteran
Reloading can be very rewarding in savings and ammo quality. 45 acp's run me about $8 a box of 50. You can load 9mm for under $6, 38s, 357s and 40s a little more. That cost calculator is a good one.
Well maybe you shouldn't have bothered to post again. In all my years of posting I have never felt the need to call someone stupid nor tell them to do anatomically incorrect things to themselves.
I inferred that "reloading" is not inherently dangerous. "Shooting" ammo that is carelessly reloaded certainly can be. But that does not make reloading itself dangerous. Saying reloading is dangerous is akin to saying guns are dangerous. Neither are, but people can be.
Short of two dud primers since I began reloading in the mid-'70s, I haven't had a failure of any manner in my reloaded ammo. Not one squib, not one overload or kaboom, nothing. My experience speaks for itself that reloading is not
"hazardous."
If you have departed as you stated, then I see no need to report your post.
Last edited:
My methods are a bit on the extreme side, but I shoot into a barrel full of rubber mulch and harvest the lead for remelting, a time consuming process. Then I melt into ingots, then cast new bullets, lube them with homemade lube, all of which takes time. But the final reward for all that extra effort and recycling is the monetary cost of my 45 ACP shooting has been around 4 to 5 cents a loaded round. All the extra labor means that major cost savings can be had, and I can shoot my Model 29 cheaper than most people load 9mm Luger. I put a few thousand rounds through my Model 22-4 for the cost of around $130 (and a lot of time).
Time is, for the most part, where the savings of reloading comes in. I doubt any reloader pays less for powder than Remington, Federal, or the likes. Now those folks buy in bulk! Some feel their time is to valuable and will not bother to reload. Others, like me, have all the time in the world in that aspect and reload because we enjoy reloading.
For what it is worth SMSgt, your original post in this thread did come across pretty condescending. The statement that reloading is only hazardous if you're stupid, implies that anyone who sees reloading as hazardous is stupid. Realistically, saying reloading isn't hazardous but shooting reloads can be comes across as semantic games.
It is implicitly understood that whenever MOST of us refer to reloading we are also referring to shooting those reloads. If you aren't going to shoot them then what would be the point of reloading them? And if there are hazards associated with shooting reloads - due to the potential for mere mortals (like most of us) to make mistakes when reloading - then that pretty much qualifies as a hazard associated with reloading.
Ever heard of a primer getting sideways and going off inside the primer tube? I have. I've also heard of them setting off a chain-fire of primers - and destroying the primer storage portion of a press. Seen a couple of threads about that here on this very sight in the last 5 years. Think the shrapnel from something like that might be hazardous? Heck, mashing a finger in the press even qualifies as hazardous. There are lots of things in the process of reloading that could be considered at least mildly hazardous.
I understand that your track record up to this point has been perfect. I applaud you. However, not everyone is so infallible, and plenty of people who are NOT stupid have made mistakes when reloading - resulting in hazardous situations. I haven't had that experience myself, but I'm not going to delude myself into believing that it isn't possible just because I'm so smart.
Even if I believed that was the case I probably wouldn't be arrogant enough to say so out loud - in front of God & everybody.
Just one person's perspective.
Last edited:
fredj338
Member
Cost is all about the bullet. Any powder, any primer, about 4c each, buying in bulk of course. Bullets, lead, coated, plated & jacketed in that order for cost. Coated 45, total cost about 13c each loaded round.
Yep, just YOUR perspective.
Guess it is all is how someone interrupts a post on the internet.
Maybe it is like Twitter or something, and some Millennial left their safe place and was offended over nothing.??
Nowhere did I read SMSgt post as condescending towards anyone and not calling anyone stupid??
Just Another Mountain out of a mole hill and a Nit to Pick.
fredj338
Member
Shooting is potentially hazardous. Reloading too, only is if you are the type that can not stay focused for more than 10m. Then again, I wouldn't want that person to shoot either.
