pps
Member
Ditto on the lnl. It's been fantastic.
Economies of Scale re: Handloading
- Thread starter HOUSTON RICK
- Start date
Dale53
Member
Anyone who shoots any decent amount at all is shortchanging themselves if they don't reload. Even more if they don't cast their own bullets.
I have been casting and reloading for over 50 years. I still have some of the moulds that I started with. With decent care, they last forever. I have cast thousands and thousands of match grade bullets and the moulds are ready to go other hundreds of thousands. My reloading equipment is the same. My Dillon presses will outlive most anyone's automobiles two or three times.
The investment in set up and equipment lasts forever. I have even moved my reloading bench three times across the state.
I, too, load what I want and when I want. I wouldn't be without that ability willingly.
You no longer have to shortchange yourself. Get started reloading and even better casting also.I don't know anyone who has NOT benefitted from the experience.
Dale53
I have been casting and reloading for over 50 years. I still have some of the moulds that I started with. With decent care, they last forever. I have cast thousands and thousands of match grade bullets and the moulds are ready to go other hundreds of thousands. My reloading equipment is the same. My Dillon presses will outlive most anyone's automobiles two or three times.
The investment in set up and equipment lasts forever. I have even moved my reloading bench three times across the state.
I, too, load what I want and when I want. I wouldn't be without that ability willingly.
You no longer have to shortchange yourself. Get started reloading and even better casting also.I don't know anyone who has NOT benefitted from the experience.
Dale53
Snapping Twig
Member
On average, and casting my own boolits - 6 cents/round.
Rifle is a bit different with jacketed boolits and larger powder volume, not to mention the extra miniscule cost of case lube. Still, it's under 20 cents/round.
The biggest benefit is doing it your way, making rounds that shoot well in your firearm. If you hunt, then the return is even higher because you take game with something you made from the ground up - like tying your own fishing lures.
Rifle is a bit different with jacketed boolits and larger powder volume, not to mention the extra miniscule cost of case lube. Still, it's under 20 cents/round.
The biggest benefit is doing it your way, making rounds that shoot well in your firearm. If you hunt, then the return is even higher because you take game with something you made from the ground up - like tying your own fishing lures.
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Gottcha NOW! There is no such thing as "jacketed boolits" dear friend!
There are "CAST BOOLITS" and "JACKETED PROJECTILES" but NEVER "JACKETED BOOLITS"!
Hook686
US Veteran
I shoot .357 magnum and .44 magnum mostly. I figure it costs me anywhere from about 15 cents to 40 cents per round. I find it depends upon the bullet I choose to load. Jacketed bullets are more costly than cast bullets.
Factory loads run about 55 cents to a buck and a half a round.
No matter how I figure it though, the more I shoot, the more it costs me.
Factory loads run about 55 cents to a buck and a half a round.
No matter how I figure it though, the more I shoot, the more it costs me.
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Ditto for me too.
And this is just one reason that when certain people speak, I shut up and listen. For someone to share their experience of over 50 years, willingly, concisely, professionally and freely is almost unheard of these days. It happens here. The knowledge is invaluable.
Not to shut up and take notice would be foolish. Dale and others have been doing what I want to do for longer than I have been born, almost. Paul5388, Dale, Jessie and others on this forum have been both inspirations and encourager's, mentors, and at times "discipliners".
Each brings a special perspective to the forum that will make someone well rounded as the pursue they "handloading" experience.
Listen to these folks, one day, they will be gone and maybe, just maybe, it will be your turn to step up to that plate. I hope we have learned well. It will be our turn then.
Snapping Twig
Member
Originally posted by smith crazy:
Gottcha NOW! There is no such thing as "jacketed boolits" dear friend!
There are "CAST BOOLITS" and "JACKETED PROJECTILES" but NEVER "JACKETED BOOLITS"!
LOL! So busted!
I was wondering who'd catch that!
J-word bullets.
This is a great forum and I always learn from your posts Skip.
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
rundownfid
Member
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2007
- Messages
- 239
- Reaction score
- 4
I look at shooting and reloading as two inter-related, but different hobbies. If I didn't enjoy shooting I probably wouldn't reload as it would be tedious to unload the ammo. If I didn't enjoy reloading I wouldn't shoot nearly as much as I'd feel guilty about the money I was spending, rather than virtuous about the money I was saving. (You can't get away from Calvinism)
I believe there is no simple answer to the real life savings; everyone's lives are subtly different (for example what would you be spending recreationaly were you not a shooter-reloader?).
The above cost analysis are very good & minus my BS.
I believe there is no simple answer to the real life savings; everyone's lives are subtly different (for example what would you be spending recreationaly were you not a shooter-reloader?).
The above cost analysis are very good & minus my BS.
As many have stated, the ability to obtain loads that cannot be purchased at a reasonable cost, or even an unreasonable cost is my reason. 0.455 Webley, 38/200 S&W, even 0.32 ACP or 7.63 Mauser. To have these available more than pays for the time involved. Dave_n
Wyatt Earp
Member
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2007
- Messages
- 996
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- 16
I reload for all the normal reasons that everyone has put forth.
But in the last few years, I have come to see reloading as another step towards self sufficiency and a way to get around any future illegal restrictions on the sale of ammunition.
Hoard as many supplies and components as possible.
I also enjoy seeing the look on the faces of my friends when they find out that I make my ammunition in the basement. To most non-gunowners, that fact just blows their mind.
But in the last few years, I have come to see reloading as another step towards self sufficiency and a way to get around any future illegal restrictions on the sale of ammunition.
Hoard as many supplies and components as possible.
I also enjoy seeing the look on the faces of my friends when they find out that I make my ammunition in the basement. To most non-gunowners, that fact just blows their mind.
grendelbane
Member
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2007
- Messages
- 81
- Reaction score
- 8
I did a cost efficiency analysis a couple of years ago. Even considering the cost of my labor, and I am not the most efficient reloader, I am coming out ahead.
I use the same single stage press I bought in 1979. I also use a Lee hand press, while watching tv. (unfortunately, tv has gone digital, and I failed to upgrade).
So, I multi-task while reloading. Charging and seating bullets are done without distraction, however.
All things considered, the calibers I like, which are expensive, yes, I can reload much cheaper. Something like 9mm, no, I would just be breaking even.
Breaking even is not bad, however!
I use the same single stage press I bought in 1979. I also use a Lee hand press, while watching tv. (unfortunately, tv has gone digital, and I failed to upgrade).
So, I multi-task while reloading. Charging and seating bullets are done without distraction, however.
All things considered, the calibers I like, which are expensive, yes, I can reload much cheaper. Something like 9mm, no, I would just be breaking even.
Breaking even is not bad, however!
Landric
Member
Lets look at .38 Special, which is probably what I shoot the most.
Brass, I've already got it, and I reuse it a lot, but I recently added another 1000 pieces to my inventory for $35 shipped.
Bullets, 1000 158 grain SWCs from Missouri Bullet, $64 including shipping
Primers, average about $25/1000 lets say
Powder, average about $20/pound
Total, including brass: $144/1000 rounds
Total, w/o brass: $109/1000 rounds
Buying in bulk reduces prices on about everything, but the above is assuming buying just enough to load 1000 rounds. I load 6.5 grains of powder in each of my .38 Special rounds, so I use slightly less than 1 pound loading 1000 rounds.
So, including brass, its 14.4 cents a round, without brass purchase, its 10.9 cents a round. Buying in bulk, which I do, I can get down to about 9 cents a round, and that is without casting my own bullets.
I just checked Ammoman to get an idea of what factory .38 Special is going for. My standard .38 Special loading is +P. Ammoman is out of stock on all .38 Special, but their last prices show $149/500 for Federal 158 grain LSWCHP+P or $239/1000 of American Eagle 158 grain RNL (non+P). That is 29.8 cents a round for +P and 23.9 cents a round for standard pressure, and again, its all out of stock.
I don't account for my time in the figures because I enjoy handloading as a hobby in and of its self. My press is long paid for, so I don't factor in the hardware either.
Keep in mind that I can handload a seriously expensive cartridge to buy factory, like .44 Special, for only about $10 more a thousand than .38 Special assuming using brass I already have.
It saves a lot of money per round, whether is saves any money overall depends a lot on how much one shoots. I simply couldn't afford to shoot at all these days if I didn't handload. Luckily I've been doing it for 15 years now, so I haven't had to deal much with the huge spike in ammo prices.
Brass, I've already got it, and I reuse it a lot, but I recently added another 1000 pieces to my inventory for $35 shipped.
Bullets, 1000 158 grain SWCs from Missouri Bullet, $64 including shipping
Primers, average about $25/1000 lets say
Powder, average about $20/pound
Total, including brass: $144/1000 rounds
Total, w/o brass: $109/1000 rounds
Buying in bulk reduces prices on about everything, but the above is assuming buying just enough to load 1000 rounds. I load 6.5 grains of powder in each of my .38 Special rounds, so I use slightly less than 1 pound loading 1000 rounds.
So, including brass, its 14.4 cents a round, without brass purchase, its 10.9 cents a round. Buying in bulk, which I do, I can get down to about 9 cents a round, and that is without casting my own bullets.
I just checked Ammoman to get an idea of what factory .38 Special is going for. My standard .38 Special loading is +P. Ammoman is out of stock on all .38 Special, but their last prices show $149/500 for Federal 158 grain LSWCHP+P or $239/1000 of American Eagle 158 grain RNL (non+P). That is 29.8 cents a round for +P and 23.9 cents a round for standard pressure, and again, its all out of stock.
I don't account for my time in the figures because I enjoy handloading as a hobby in and of its self. My press is long paid for, so I don't factor in the hardware either.
Keep in mind that I can handload a seriously expensive cartridge to buy factory, like .44 Special, for only about $10 more a thousand than .38 Special assuming using brass I already have.
It saves a lot of money per round, whether is saves any money overall depends a lot on how much one shoots. I simply couldn't afford to shoot at all these days if I didn't handload. Luckily I've been doing it for 15 years now, so I haven't had to deal much with the huge spike in ammo prices.
glypnir
Member
Originally posted by smith crazy:
Gottcha NOW! There is no such thing as "jacketed boolits" dear friend!
There are "CAST BOOLITS" and "JACKETED PROJECTILES" but NEVER "JACKETED BOOLITS"!
What if you make your own jackets and cast your own boolits in them?
http://www.corbins.com/tubing.htm
Reloading is about your shooting budget -- how many $$$ are in the pot? You don't save a ¢¢¢ (penny) reloading ammo. For simplicity use round numbers: You have $20 in the weekly ammo budget. Because you "save" so much money reloading you will spend $30 each week trying to buy those scarce components.
But you "save" even more money by casting your own bullets. Now you are spending $20 on components and another $30 each week getting equipment to cast those cheap lead bullets and for gasoline to find those free wheel weights at the tire shop.
Now you will need a casting / reloading building because your wife won't let you cast bullets on the porch. And all this started because you were saving so much money and now you have a second mortgage on your home.
On ONE Satuday night in 1983, I loaded enough 38 Spl ammo to pay for a melting pot, Lyman sizer, and 4-cavity bullet mold. I bought range scrap lead from an indoor range for $5 for a 5 gallon bucket full. The bucket yielded 130 pounds of castable lead.
But you "save" even more money by casting your own bullets. Now you are spending $20 on components and another $30 each week getting equipment to cast those cheap lead bullets and for gasoline to find those free wheel weights at the tire shop.
Now you will need a casting / reloading building because your wife won't let you cast bullets on the porch. And all this started because you were saving so much money and now you have a second mortgage on your home.
On ONE Satuday night in 1983, I loaded enough 38 Spl ammo to pay for a melting pot, Lyman sizer, and 4-cavity bullet mold. I bought range scrap lead from an indoor range for $5 for a 5 gallon bucket full. The bucket yielded 130 pounds of castable lead.
Dale53
Member
I have many times figured up what it would cost to set up a basic, but NOT slow reloading set up. In basic terms, the first 1000 rounds will pay for the complete reloading set up (Lee Classic Turret with dies and a scale and powder measure). The second thousand will pay for a basic casting set up (Lee Pro 4-20 bottom pour electric pot and mould, etc). There will be some odds and ends. There is also a REAL side benefit. You can be casting and reloading instead of watching the dreadful TV shows we are subjected to (although I REALLY enjoyed the Jessie Stone TV movie tonight, "Thin Ice". Costs figured by buying from F&M Reloading, Midway, Natchez, or Graf&Sons.
Dale53
Dale53
