Reloading cost questions
- Thread starter FLGun
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dsf
Member
Handloading is an expensive way to save money. 
I started out in 1972 with plain old 222 Remington and about 100 calibers later .....
41 Rimfire. Actually, I use the Lee HandPress to reload the rimfire cartridge. Kind of jury rigged it, but it works. I made up a rig to hold the press to a board, very transportable but easier to handle.
If you have a bit of self control and use it for 50 or 100 rounds at a time of 38 Special or 20, 40 rounds of 30.06, 30 WCF and such it's a great set up. But I'll be there's no one here who reloads that didn't expand to more calibers, more guns and a whole host of "hey that would be neat to have" reloading equipment, followed closely by more guns.
That's not a criticism, just a warning.
I started out in 1972 with plain old 222 Remington and about 100 calibers later .....
41 Rimfire. Actually, I use the Lee HandPress to reload the rimfire cartridge. Kind of jury rigged it, but it works. I made up a rig to hold the press to a board, very transportable but easier to handle.
If you have a bit of self control and use it for 50 or 100 rounds at a time of 38 Special or 20, 40 rounds of 30.06, 30 WCF and such it's a great set up. But I'll be there's no one here who reloads that didn't expand to more calibers, more guns and a whole host of "hey that would be neat to have" reloading equipment, followed closely by more guns.
That's not a criticism, just a warning.
STORMINORMAN
Member
If the OP shoots $100 worth of factory ammo per month, IMHO reloading can make $ENSE... If it is a purely financial determination there are many less time-consuming and potentially less expen$ive "hobbies"!
I have multiple presses, including the excellent LEE Hand Press, which (also) IMHO is a good place to start. But, a used single stage press and a set of dies is hard to beat.
Being ABLE to make your ammo is a positive accomplishment: a pound of powder can mean a thousand reloads. How many "typical gun owners" will ever shoot a thousand rounds in their entire life?
Just something to consider...
Cheers!
I have multiple presses, including the excellent LEE Hand Press, which (also) IMHO is a good place to start. But, a used single stage press and a set of dies is hard to beat.
Being ABLE to make your ammo is a positive accomplishment: a pound of powder can mean a thousand reloads. How many "typical gun owners" will ever shoot a thousand rounds in their entire life?
Just something to consider...
Cheers!
RMFnLA
Member
Conventional wisdom is reloading doesn’t really save you money, it just allows you to shoot more.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
In the name of full disclosure, I started loading in 1979 with a Lee Loader in 303British. I now load for 117 cartridges and am down to 1 Turret Press, 1 single stage press, and 1 progressive. (and a couple of bullet sizers.) From 3 Turrets, 6 single stage presses, and 2 Progressives And still have 17 or 18 Lee Loaders & 4 Lyman 310 tools and about 20 sets of dies. From 32 S&W Short to 450 3 1/4" Nitro Express. I have loaded more than Half a Million Rounds.
Ivan
Ivan
Baltimoreed11754
Member
Look for used equipment and estate sale components. Don’t shoot other guys reloads though, tear them down for the components. The current prices of primers, powder and the availability are crazy. Lead bullets aren't too bad. I have bought some post pandemic powder but my other components are pre pandemic. I shoot a match or two a month. Good luck.
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RMFnLA
Member
“Down to”…
Tim Stapp
Member
When our sons and his two grandsons were in their early teens, my buddy and I would shoot most Sunday afternoons. Being recently divorced, I soon realized that I needed to reduce/minimize my cost of ammo for my son and myself. Given that my buddy had his teenage son and two grandsons and I was on an limited recently divorced budget, we did the math.
Casting our own bullets and loading our own ammo for .38 spl was less costly than the .22 RF. So, we invested in a progressive press and loaded for the .38 spl. As I recall, it was less that 3.5 cents per round/
Casting our own bullets and loading our own ammo for .38 spl was less costly than the .22 RF. So, we invested in a progressive press and loaded for the .38 spl. As I recall, it was less that 3.5 cents per round/
Ivan the Butcher
Member
“Down to”…
I moved to a condo and went from 17 running feet of loading bench in a 12'x15' dedicated room to a 5' bench in the laundry room. The only reason to "DOWN TO"
Ivan
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I started shooting Sporting Clays in the late 90's and 2 of my 4 kids shot with me every week the club had an event. Not counting back yard and skeet for practice, I shot 100+ shotshells a week and the kids shot 100 to 200 rounds of 20 gauge. Their range fees were half price, but at times 500 rounds a week would have been prohibitive without reloading!
In the mid 90's I started shooting SASS Cowboy Action. In the 9-month season I shot 100 rounds of shotgun a week for practice, and 50 rounds a week of 45 Colt. This was my practice. Matches were 120 +/- 45 Colt and 25-30 shotgun once or twice a month. Again, the reloading allowed much enjoyment at little cost! The kids didn't start using my cowboy ammo until they were adults! 4 of us shooting a 3-day event, plus a day or two of practice might burn two to three thousand rounds that week!
I had friends in SASS that had enough brass to load once a year, I got it down to 4000 rounds twice a year for that sport. Thank you, Mike Dillion!
I even remember one summer in the mid 80's I went through 25,000 round of 9mm in my full auto MAC-10. Without a good reloader, I couldn't afford any of my shooting sports! Good 338 Lapus mag is $7 to $12 a round; I can reload mine for around $1.75 (current prices + Brass).
Ivan
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I use the hand primer.....
I prime all my cartridges with the hand primer, still.
The Lee Loader will get it done (lots of tapping to annoy others in the house) ... but .. I'd get Lee's Priming Tool to use instead of the Loaders' "tap the primers in" function. The tool is cheap and no popped primers
Even if you move up to another single stage press, you'll probably still make use of the priming tool.
I prime all my cartridges with the hand primer, still.
I moved my operation....
From the unheated, un-air conditioned garage to my all weather 'middle room', a combination internet router, printer, storage, former desk for my son's business into a reloading area by clamping my Rockchucker onto the desk. I have your basic 5' of desktop plus some cabines, shelves and drawers for most of my gun/reloading needs.
From the unheated, un-air conditioned garage to my all weather 'middle room', a combination internet router, printer, storage, former desk for my son's business into a reloading area by clamping my Rockchucker onto the desk. I have your basic 5' of desktop plus some cabines, shelves and drawers for most of my gun/reloading needs.
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My side half of the laundry room has a 7' bench, Dillon 450, Dillon 550 on either end, a Kennedy top chest on the right end with the Kennedy roll away under the bench. The small upright freezer for meat fits under the other end. This was a major upgrade from the garage without a/c. The Rockchucker, Lee cheapo press, Lyman trim tools can be clamped in the middle of the bench. I started reloading in 1974 to save money, then casting bullets in 1976, and finally have $485 in savings for my next "Got to Have It".
In my spare time I've fired 200K rounds of centerfire ammo from 222 Rem to 45-70 and 30 Herrett to 45 acp.
In my spare time I've fired 200K rounds of centerfire ammo from 222 Rem to 45-70 and 30 Herrett to 45 acp.
AJ
US Veteran
My reloading/collectibles/gun room is a 12' X 20' room I enclosed on the old back porch. To get into it you go through my "office" which is a computer/gun & military book library/collectibles room that is 12' X 15'. Still seems crowded!
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
How many rounds do you send down range annually? Do you shoot regularly, weekly or monthly?
As a reloader I see it as a great hobby. But friends who have failed at it, did so because it was a necessity to shoot and was a “chore” and not a “hobby”.
Start with used equipment. Plus watch out for obvious reloaders at your range. People who pick up brass are often reloaders. Having a good reloading mentor is very helpful.
RMFnLA
Member
I did virtually the same thing, except my loading bench folds up when not in use.
You still have much more equipment than I; I’m “down to” just this Lee App press.
Attachments
About 10 years ago, I was shooting my model 52 at a local range. I was alone. Asked the RO why nobody was there. Said ammo hard to find, nobody wanted to shoot. That’s when reloading was cost effective. I’ve been reloading for 40 years but the cost never really made a difference until then.
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FLGun, you should have your Speer #11 manual by the 21st if you can believe usps, enjoy.
DWalt
Member
A Lee Loader will work, but it is somewhat slow and tedious to use if you plan to shoot much. I started handloading using several LL sets, and loaded lots of rounds, rifle, pistol, and shotgun, with them over several years. But it is the least expensive way to go. You do not really need a powder scale as you can buy a Lee dipper set. Also the cheapest way to go. Someone mentioned the Lyman 310 tong tool, and that is a step up from the LL. Not nearly as bad as using a hammer. If you look, you can find lots of used reloading tools and accessories of all kinds for sale at gun shows and on online auction sites. You do not need new. In fact, nearly every reloading item I have was bought used or given to me. You will find that after a few years, reloading items will breed in the dark rapidly.
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Also, If OP wants to shoot during ammo droughts or when ammo gets taxed or regulated or restricted out of existence, he'll take up this essential skill. He'll lay in as much powder and as many primers as he can reasonably afford/store and replace it as he uses it.
