RELOADING COSTS - WITH NEWLY PURCHASED COMPONENTS

[chief38]

BTW, the only reason I started reloading in the first place is that I owned a few calibers that were extremely hard to buy in the stores. Back in the 1970's factory ammo was dirt cheap!

 

[kbm6893]

This is my dilemma. The component shortage has made me so sick I haven’t reloaded a round in over a year. 9MM is my most loaded round. I have about 1000 cases already primed and maybe 3500 small pistol primers left. I’m almost at the point I never thought I would be: to actually buy ammo and keep my components for the day that they are finally outlawed

 

[dogdoc]

Even at todays component prices I save much by loading certain calibers like 38 spl,357 mag, 45 acp, 41 mag, 44 spl, 44 mag, 10 mm, . I load for half or less than the cost of factory at todays component prices. It is not even close. After doing this for 40 years I have large stores of componets , enough for my lifetime , so that my cost are a fraction of new component prices . 9 mm and 223 are the only exceptions

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Very good post.

 

[Krogen]

I just started loading 308 for an M1A. Other than 223 and a hundred or so 3006 every year, I really haven't been loading much rifle. With components purchased over the past couple of months, I am loading 150 grain FMJ at about .52 per round, which is about half of what cheep factory ammo is around me. Even with the outsized prices, if you do any amount of shooting you will save money loading your own.

I don't want to derail this thread, but I thought it important to comment about reloading for the M1A. If this is new for you cmj8591, then please be aware loading for an M1A isn't like loading for a typical .308 rifle. There's plenty to read on the 'net so we don't need to discuss it here. Apologies if you already know this.

 

[chief38]

This is my dilemma. The component shortage has made me so sick I haven’t reloaded a round in over a year. 9MM is my most loaded round. I have about 1000 cases already primed and maybe 3500 small pistol primers left. I’m almost at the point I never thought I would be: to actually buy ammo and keep my components for the day that they are finally outlawed

Well I have recently seen American Eagle 9mm on sale at Target Sports for $11.89 / box of 50 rounds 124 grain 9mm when bought in 1,000 round cases. Shipping is free! IMHO if you don't have old components in stock, it really doesn't pay to reload for this caliber.

 

[BE Mike]

Even when 9mm was dirt cheap, I could load it for 2-3 bucks a box cheaper than buying new. I'm long retired and all my reloading equipment has long ago paid for itself. I'll continue to load 9mm, .38 Spl., and 45 ACP. It's worth it to me and keeps me out of the bars! I actually can load several other calibers, but don't shoot them as much as these three.

 

[chief38]

For me it's not so much about the money (although I do like the savings on large bore rifle ammo and 45 Colt loads) - it's mostly about tweaking loads to my needs, having what I want when I want, and having the ability to load as much as I want (I stocked up on components big time before the madness) in different calibers. At one time I was using the Titegroup and SPP's mainly for 38 spl. but now I also shoot a lot of 9mm so I can just use the same components for both.

I use a minimum of powders and only use powders that can be used for multiple calibers. I stock Titegroup, W231, Unique, & H4895 - that's it. It covers all MY bases.

I don't particularly love reloading - I do it because the exact loads I shoot are not available in factory loadings and even if they were, they would more than likely be vert hard to buy. It's also nice to have in the back of my mind I can make anything I want or need at a moments notice regardless of price or availability.

 

[colt_saa]

Oh don't kid yourself.
We don't save money reloading. We just shoot more.

That is exactly what my Skeet coach told me more than 4 decades ago

However, I quickly learned that I enjoyed hand loading in and of itself

As time went on I was never afraid of getting into odd ball chamberings. After all I know how to hand load.

By odd ball I mean, 45 Winchester Magnum, 50AE, 45 SUPER, 9x23 Winchester 356TSW and others.

I also enjoyed the discovery that hand loading allowed. I was hand loading and shooting 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum 6 months before the revolvers debuted. I was an early adopter of 22TCM and I love my 475Wildey. These were all cartridges that I had to develop the loads for, there was little to no data available. With the big 500 I have custom molds for projectiles that never existed.

When folks ask me about hand loading, I tell them if you are only doing this to save money and it is something that you do not enjoy, then don't do it. I had a co-worker that watched TV while loading. He never checked his powder charge or scale and blew up a 357 Magnum snubby. He was over max charge by 3 grains because he forgot to zero out the scale before weighing the powder

 

[chief38]

On expensive calibers and configurations you CAN save a small fortune such in calibers like 45-70, 38-55, 45 Colt, etc.

 

[GypsmJim]

This is my dilemma. The component shortage has made me so sick I haven’t reloaded a round in over a year. 9MM is my most loaded round. I have about 1000 cases already primed and maybe 3500 small pistol primers left. I’m almost at the point I never thought I would be: to actually buy ammo and keep my components for the day that they are finally outlawed

Oh please don't even think that. If components and ammo are outlawed, then shooting the old stuff won't be legal either.

 

[GypsmJim]

Well I have recently seen American Eagle 9mm on sale at Target Sports for $11.89 / box of 50 rounds 124 grain 9mm when bought in 1,000 round cases. Shipping is free! IMHO if you don't have old components in stock, it really doesn't pay to reload for this caliber.

I enjoy an afternoon casting boolits just as much as I enjoy reloading. The only store-bought bullets are for hunting, and I haven't bought any in years. With all my boolits being free, factory rounds will never be even close to my homemade ones.

 

[IAM Rand]

Shooting a bullet you have made, PRICELESS

 

[rockquarry]

I enjoy an afternoon casting boolits just as much as I enjoy reloading. The only store-bought bullets are for hunting, and I haven't bought any in years. With all my boolits being free, factory rounds will never be even close to my homemade ones.

Regarding handgun cartridges, I think there are many who don't realize that there are no advantages whatsoever in using a jacketed, plated, painted or coated bullet over a well fit cast bullet of the proper alloy for the load. Granted, it takes some doing (experimentation and shooting groups) to get there, but there's a sense of accomplishment as well as enjoyment in the process.

 

[zeke]

Am still reloading 9mm trget/practice rounds, and have been during all times factory loads were cheaper. Do it because one specific bullet provides vg accuracy in all 9mm tried in, ime. Winchester's 115 hbfmj has a hollow base that imo, expands to fit varying 9mm bores when charged at higher pressures with quicker powders. Same bullet used in Win Q4172 factory white box (at least last time i checked), which are not the same bullet used in all white box loads. It also has a longer bearing surface than other 115 fmj, allowing it to be seated out further while maintaining adequate interference fit. While there may be cast bullets that provide the same benefit, am not at a stage where am anxious to use my limited time to experiment with them.

Good topic as i just sized/sorted a 5 gal bucket of 9mm, which is always a useful learning experience. The only components i may eventually run out of are powder/primers, am retired and we have very long winters up here.

 

[chief38]

I gave up casting about 25 years ago - just did not enjoy it, plus the health risk did not make me happy.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I reload for A Lot of different cartridges both handgun and rifle.

I do save a lot of money loading for the 45-70, the 45 Colt, 38 S&W and the 303 British. When there was no ammo I was still able to shoot the 223, 30-30, 30-06 and a few others. Also for handguns I could still shoot the 38/357, 32 ACP and 45 Auto. I'm very happy I started reloading all those years ago.

 

[chief38]

When I was working (and super busy) and competing in S.A.S.S. matches I would often run downstairs and crank out a few hundred rounds of 45 Colt for the Cowboy match the very next morning. Nice to have that ability!!

 

[mtgianni]

Current cost of 9mm powder coated cast. Lead at $1 a lb. 125 gr bullet x 100 = 12500 divided by 7000 gr is $1.79 per hundred. Powder coating is minimal but I will bump it up $0.02. AA2 powder purchased @ $40 a lb, used 4 gr at a time costs $2.28. 1000 primers @ $90 gives a cost of $9.00.
Bullets 1.81
powder 2.28
Primer 9.00
Total per 100 is $13.09. No hazmat, no shipping costs or handling just stuff bought on a trip to town. I have never seen the advantage of buying 9mm other than time. I cannot find 50 rounds for $6.55, your mileage may vary. Spot price of lead the day this was written was $ 0.938, I rounded up to $1.

Shooting this in a CZ 75 and a Ruger PC9 for long enough to know that 2 passes gets me a clean barrel.

 

[upcountry]

The major benefit to reloading for me is I get what I want, not what they're selling.
Bullet weight, bullet type, powder flexibility and I can get the velocity I want from plinking to hot, and anything in between.
And range brass is my friend--tumble and inspect.