I stocked up after the 08 shortage ended,so my powder and primers cost about twice what Skip paid.I buy my bullets from a local caster ,so I figure a box of 50 45 acp target loads cost me about $6.
Is it worth reloading?
- Thread starter eddieE76
- Start date
DWalt
Member
At current prices - today's actual prices - Primers are about 4 cents each. Powder is close to 0.4 cents per grain. And I don't think the internet sellers, what with shipping and hazmat charges, will do much better than that. So even with "free" bullets and cases (and we know those are not really free), 6 cents a round is about the rock bottom best one can do for reloading handgun loads. And that's not likely to improve. If you have a stash of primers you bought for $15/K and powder for $10/pound, that's great (and I do myself). But for someone just starting and buying bullets and cases, $7 to $10 per box is what it will cost to reload. But at least there might not be a "Violence Tax" on reloading - yet.
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
After spending the money for cases the first time, what do the second reloads cost you?
DWalt
Member
You have to treat the cases like reloading tools- sort of a startup cost. The powder, bullets, and primers are expendibles, the cases not so much, as they should withstand many loadings. Plus as anyone who has done much reloading knows, your stockpile of brass seems to magically grow from pickups, gifts, garage sales, gun shows, etc. I am not exaggerating, I have in all likelihood several hundred pounds of fired brass in all calibers, most of which didn't really cost me anything - mainly range pickups and from various friends who do not reload giving their empty cases to me. Two weeks ago I got a large plastic bucket of .38 Special brass that way.
Well after looking at empty shelves in Wally World I'd say - yea, it's worth it 
I've been saving brass for some time before I've pulled the plug, so for me there was no brass purchase, I've managed to buy powder & primers in bulk locally, so no hazmat fee. I am ok with lead bullet and bought 2000 of them for about $130 shipped, so even "least profitable" 9mm I can crank for less than $6 per box of 50. Is it worth it - it is for me
I've been saving brass for some time before I've pulled the plug, so for me there was no brass purchase, I've managed to buy powder & primers in bulk locally, so no hazmat fee. I am ok with lead bullet and bought 2000 of them for about $130 shipped, so even "least profitable" 9mm I can crank for less than $6 per box of 50. Is it worth it - it is for me 
With the free lead I get, the surplus powder I buy in bulk, the Wolf primers I use and the brass that I have gotten for free or next to nothing, I can load a box of 200gr LRNHP 45ACP for under a dollar. That's right, 50 45ACP rounds for $.93! Not each, for all 50!
True, I spend that extra cash anyway so I save nothing BUT, I do have all of the ammo I could ever want or need!
Sorry to correct you, but if you add in the electricity used to heat the lead for casting that has to push your costs up to at least a dollar a box. I don't think you should be so misleading in your estimates.
novalty
Member
I don't know. If you are a cheap *** like me you can do it for a lot bigger savings than buying factory. For instance 45 ACP, got brass from people who were shooting but not reloading a.k.a "FREE." Brick of CCI LP primers at Cabelas $34.99 - $34.99 Cabelas points = FREE. 1 lb of W231 powder Cabelas $24.99 - $24.99 Cabelas points = FREE
Lead ingots approximately $1.00 per lb. 1lb = 7,000 grains
7,000/ 225grain RN approximately 30 boolits.
$1.00 / 30 boolits = roughly $0.03 per boolit.
So lets total it up:
Brass: $0.00
Primers: $0.00
Powder: $0.00
Boolits: $0.03
Total cost $0.03 per round (minus labor)
Factory WWB $39.96/100 = $0.40 per round.
Okay, so no time for casting lead. So you buy 500 rounds of 230gr. RN Berry's Plated direct from Berry's. $70.88/500 or $0.14 per round. Maybe you still want to shoot lead, so you buy 500 rounds of 230gr. RN cast boolits from Missouri Bullet Co. $43 + $13 Shipping = $56 or $.011/round. Still less than half the cost of bulk ammo, if you can find it.
Lead ingots approximately $1.00 per lb. 1lb = 7,000 grains
7,000/ 225grain RN approximately 30 boolits.
$1.00 / 30 boolits = roughly $0.03 per boolit.
So lets total it up:
Brass: $0.00
Primers: $0.00
Powder: $0.00
Boolits: $0.03
Total cost $0.03 per round (minus labor)
Factory WWB $39.96/100 = $0.40 per round.
Okay, so no time for casting lead. So you buy 500 rounds of 230gr. RN Berry's Plated direct from Berry's. $70.88/500 or $0.14 per round. Maybe you still want to shoot lead, so you buy 500 rounds of 230gr. RN cast boolits from Missouri Bullet Co. $43 + $13 Shipping = $56 or $.011/round. Still less than half the cost of bulk ammo, if you can find it.
I think it is safe to say that reloading will not cost MORE than buying ammo, in the long run. But the best reasons to reload are that you can make better quality ammo than you can buy, and it is just plain fun and interesting to reload. This is especially true with rifle ammo and accuracy issues.
retarmyaviator
US Veteran
It is more than worth it if you purchase your components in bulk. By that I mean minimum 2000 bullets, primers by the flat (5000) and powder in minimum of 8 pound containers.
I go through about 8000 to 9000 rounds a year, reloading even 9mm results in savings when you shoot that much.
Buying 100 bullets, 100 pieces of brass, 100 primers and 1 LB of powder is not the way to go.
Handloading Cost Calculator
I go through about 8000 to 9000 rounds a year, reloading even 9mm results in savings when you shoot that much.
Buying 100 bullets, 100 pieces of brass, 100 primers and 1 LB of powder is not the way to go.
Handloading Cost Calculator
Triggernosis
Member
9mm is the only round I shoot that I don't load for, at least not yet anyway. Even if you've got a ton of brass saved up, you can hardly justify pulling the lever on a press to load 9mm....it's just too cheap at Wal-Mart and Cabela's, etc..
DWalt
Member
Have you tried buying ammo recently?
C.S.63
Member
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eddieE76, OP
The best part of reloading is you are 2 steps ahead of the fluctuations of
supply and demand. I shoot factory and also reload. I am gearing up to reload 9mm, Locally factory hardball 9mm 15.00-23.00 a box of 50.
0nce fired brass, hardball/TMJ? bullets, primers and powder
I can use the same powder for 44, 38/357 and 9mm small pistol primers for 38 and 9mm, 44 and 45acp same primers large pistol, also powders are flexible. If you have a 9mm that will shoot lead you are good to go
otherwise? whim of the market?
The best part of reloading is you are 2 steps ahead of the fluctuations of
supply and demand. I shoot factory and also reload. I am gearing up to reload 9mm, Locally factory hardball 9mm 15.00-23.00 a box of 50.
0nce fired brass, hardball/TMJ? bullets, primers and powder
I can use the same powder for 44, 38/357 and 9mm small pistol primers for 38 and 9mm, 44 and 45acp same primers large pistol, also powders are flexible. If you have a 9mm that will shoot lead you are good to go
otherwise? whim of the market?
1sailor
Member
we obviously have some pretty well to do guys here. I can reload 9mm with Berry's plated bullets for about $6.82 for a box of 50. that's just barely over half of what walmart charges and still way below even the cheapest bulk russian or chinese ammo. So it cost me $136.40 per thousand to load and $260 per thousand at walmart. How is that not a savings. I fired about 6000+ rounds during 2012 for a total savings of about $750. That's about double what I have invested in my press and other equipment. Admittedly this is small potatoes compared to reloading for 357 mag where the savings is about $20 per box of 50 but still I was able to shoot twice as much for the same money. I stop loading my brass after about 7 or 8 times and once fired tumbled brass is about $30 per thousand online.
johnjohn
Member
Saving money is a part of it, but I enjoy it.
If you want to get into reloading just to save money - fuggedaboudit!
Especially if you are of a mind to think, "Well my time is worth $X per hour and I just spent 3 hours in the basement..." Just go out and go to work at Mickey D's a few hours a week for your gun money. You'll be happier.
If however you like a challenge, if you like science, if you are a detail-oriented person, if you like the thought of tailoring your ammunition to your guns (and yes, you will be tuning ammunition to fit your particular firearms) and you relish the thought of being able to shoot 2 or 3 or more times as often for the same money you are spending now - then welcome to your next obsession!
It ain't about the money, Honey...
Especially if you are of a mind to think, "Well my time is worth $X per hour and I just spent 3 hours in the basement..." Just go out and go to work at Mickey D's a few hours a week for your gun money. You'll be happier.
If however you like a challenge, if you like science, if you are a detail-oriented person, if you like the thought of tailoring your ammunition to your guns (and yes, you will be tuning ammunition to fit your particular firearms) and you relish the thought of being able to shoot 2 or 3 or more times as often for the same money you are spending now - then welcome to your next obsession!
It ain't about the money, Honey...
However if you want to do a dollar-for-dollar breakdown:
Cases - you buy a press/powder/primers and bullets and send me evidence that you have and the first 500 9mm cases are on me.
Bullets - I highly recommend Berry's plated bullets. 9MM in 124 grain, plated hollow points are $89.86 per thousand and delivery is free.
You found primers at $36 for a thousand ? Excellent.
Powder is a personal preference but a good one is Unique at less than $20 a pound. At 5.5 grains per round, this pound (7000 grains) will make over a thousand rounds, easy. ( 1272 to be precise).
So you are into your first thousand rounds (you will reuse the free brass, right?) for less than $150. That works out to $7.50 a box of 50.
Consider that you would have paid $17.50 for a box retail. You "saved" $10 per box and you just made 20 boxes! You're $200 to the good.
Now go get a press and get started!!!
Cases - you buy a press/powder/primers and bullets and send me evidence that you have and the first 500 9mm cases are on me.
Bullets - I highly recommend Berry's plated bullets. 9MM in 124 grain, plated hollow points are $89.86 per thousand and delivery is free.
You found primers at $36 for a thousand ? Excellent.
Powder is a personal preference but a good one is Unique at less than $20 a pound. At 5.5 grains per round, this pound (7000 grains) will make over a thousand rounds, easy. ( 1272 to be precise).
So you are into your first thousand rounds (you will reuse the free brass, right?) for less than $150. That works out to $7.50 a box of 50.
Consider that you would have paid $17.50 for a box retail. You "saved" $10 per box and you just made 20 boxes! You're $200 to the good.
Now go get a press and get started!!!
If you start with Lee Hand loaders
I started with Lee loaders and started seeing savings right away because the loaders are pretty cheap, and it's all there, except for the components. It takes investment of time but I find that there is great conservation of movement using the hand loaders compared to a single stage press. If you have everything in front of you making each round takes about 45 seconds from start to finish. Since I saved money by doing this, I was able to get set up with a press over time as I shot more ammunition. And I agree with the other's comments that you will learn a LOT, it's a fun, satisfying part of the hobby and you can tailor your rounds for what you want. I load .38 special wadcutter target rounds to full .357 magnum and everything in between depending on what I want. I also load for a 30-06 and with the right powder I can load what is little more than a .22 in recoil (my family appreciates those) to big-game rounds. If I shoot enough, I may go to a progressive press one day.
I started with Lee loaders and started seeing savings right away because the loaders are pretty cheap, and it's all there, except for the components. It takes investment of time but I find that there is great conservation of movement using the hand loaders compared to a single stage press. If you have everything in front of you making each round takes about 45 seconds from start to finish. Since I saved money by doing this, I was able to get set up with a press over time as I shot more ammunition. And I agree with the other's comments that you will learn a LOT, it's a fun, satisfying part of the hobby and you can tailor your rounds for what you want. I load .38 special wadcutter target rounds to full .357 magnum and everything in between depending on what I want. I also load for a 30-06 and with the right powder I can load what is little more than a .22 in recoil (my family appreciates those) to big-game rounds. If I shoot enough, I may go to a progressive press one day.
Viss
Member
I just calculated .45 acp rnds that I load, buying all components it goes as follows:
Primer .03
Powder .01
Brass .02 Using new brass eight times
Bullet .08
Total .14 cents per round, Walmart W.W.B. .33 per round
I found that I enjoy the hobby of reloading as much as I do shooting.
Primer .03
Powder .01
Brass .02 Using new brass eight times
Bullet .08
Total .14 cents per round, Walmart W.W.B. .33 per round
I found that I enjoy the hobby of reloading as much as I do shooting.
Thanks for all the comments. Obviously it is cost effective to reload. Not only is it a $ thing, you obviously get enjoyment out of it. I will be looking into getting a set up for myself. The idea of being independent is appealing to me.
I will be asking questions I'm sure. Tomorrow I will be visiting a friend to see his set up. I will be learning from him.
I will be asking questions I'm sure. Tomorrow I will be visiting a friend to see his set up. I will be learning from him.
Black_Sheep
Member
I can reload .38 Specials and .45ACP with cast LSWC for 12 cents each or $6.00 per box. It works out to around 1/3 the cost of comparable factory ammo. Total cash outlay for a Lee Challenger reloading kit, dies, incidentals and a Lyman tumbler was $225. Using an estimated .25 savings per round the break even point for the equipment would be 900 rounds, after that the real savings kick in.
You could save a bunch by sourcing components differently, a quick Google search turned up once fired 9mm for $39 per 1000 and plated cast 9mm bullets for $89 per thousand. With a little patience you can turn out decent ammo that's perfectly acceptable for range use and plinking...
You could save a bunch by sourcing components differently, a quick Google search turned up once fired 9mm for $39 per 1000 and plated cast 9mm bullets for $89 per thousand. With a little patience you can turn out decent ammo that's perfectly acceptable for range use and plinking...
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