Still peeing up the wall huh? I'm done...
THE $$ AND CENTS OF RELOADING AS I SEE IT
- Thread starter chief38
- Start date
susieqz
Absent Comrade
um, guys? this thing about not shooting other people's reloads isn't true for everybody.
i resent that i'm getting pushed into reloading. my m15 only performs to my expectations with mid range wad cutters that cost 40 cents/round.
if some trustworthy person wants to sell me reloads, please pm me.
i could use 1,000 rounds/month.
i resent that i'm getting pushed into reloading. my m15 only performs to my expectations with mid range wad cutters that cost 40 cents/round.
if some trustworthy person wants to sell me reloads, please pm me.
i could use 1,000 rounds/month.
Yeah, that's just another aspect of the misinformation I didn't want to even get into.
There are other reloaders whose rounds I would trust, and I have friends who trust my reloads to shoot too. So like so many of the generalities that have been thrown around, the part about reloads being worthless isn't necessarily the way it is either.
I'd be willing to make some reloads for you if we were geographically close, but since we're so far apart the shipping would make it cost prohibitive for you. I'd suggest finding and hanging out in a couple of local reloading forums. Listen to some of the experienced guys, figure out who knows their stuff, and approach them about it.
Best to ya.
Many good points in the preceding posts.
I started when ammo was scarce. It will be again.
I think I save some money, but I agree the more important aspect is that I enjoy the time in the garage with the door open and my happy little world. The wife probably enjoys me being off the couch and doing something.
I truly enjoy shooting milder loads in my J frames, and recently loaded some great rounds with Power Pistol for my 686 3" -- superb, basketball-sized flame out the barrel with those!
Lately I have been thinking about getting a Ruger New Blackhawk in .44 Special -- so that I can reload that old caliber. I even looked up .44-40 guns on Gun******.com after reading a book with a protagonist using this round, once immensely popular in the American west, thinking it would be neat to reload it (the guns to be found in this caliber are too expensive, though).
Money is important, but reloading is not just about the money, as many have noted.
I started when ammo was scarce. It will be again.
I think I save some money, but I agree the more important aspect is that I enjoy the time in the garage with the door open and my happy little world. The wife probably enjoys me being off the couch and doing something.
I truly enjoy shooting milder loads in my J frames, and recently loaded some great rounds with Power Pistol for my 686 3" -- superb, basketball-sized flame out the barrel with those!
Lately I have been thinking about getting a Ruger New Blackhawk in .44 Special -- so that I can reload that old caliber. I even looked up .44-40 guns on Gun******.com after reading a book with a protagonist using this round, once immensely popular in the American west, thinking it would be neat to reload it (the guns to be found in this caliber are too expensive, though).
Money is important, but reloading is not just about the money, as many have noted.
Last edited:
Well there are many people who shoot others reloads I personally know 5 guys that reload ammo and either sell it or load others components for them. And here again...time does equal money..the do not do it for free. I have always considered my time in the cost of my reloads...albeit at a very reduced hourly rate. When I had my shop with the reloading business included I sold much shotshell ammo at less than new prices of course. I quit that part of the business as the hourly return was not great enough. I did load ammo when not busy of course...but the fixed costs were much too high. I carried insurance so since it cost so much I had to make almost $3000 profit just to pay the insurance so I could break even. Since I had a farm to work..and guided hunters and had a commercial fishing license...my time was worth something...Still is cause I probably have a lot less coming. LOL. And believe me..if you sell your reloads...you will come to understand your time IS worth something.
As far as components I buy many at gun shows usually for under half regular prices Powder too. Opened powder for very little..older primers for 50% of new prices so that assessment was true..at least around here.
So my reasoning is as follows. I want to spend as little time loading as possible..lots of other things to do in my "golden years". So I invested in progressive machines and only load ammo that has a good positive return on the investment which includes my time. Right now that does not include 9mm. . There are a couple of rifle calibers that are in that category too. Mainly because I shoot them so little. That doesn't mean I can't reload them though. With the progressives in a very short time I can load quite a bit of ammo....and I never actually lose value on the machines
As far as components I buy many at gun shows usually for under half regular prices Powder too. Opened powder for very little..older primers for 50% of new prices so that assessment was true..at least around here.
So my reasoning is as follows. I want to spend as little time loading as possible..lots of other things to do in my "golden years". So I invested in progressive machines and only load ammo that has a good positive return on the investment which includes my time. Right now that does not include 9mm. . There are a couple of rifle calibers that are in that category too. Mainly because I shoot them so little. That doesn't mean I can't reload them though. With the progressives in a very short time I can load quite a bit of ammo....and I never actually lose value on the machines
Time IS NOT money......My spare time is for me to do what I d@## well please and enjoy... And....I enjoy unloading and loading ammo among other things.
You can reload......
You can reload .22s....there a tool kit sold for it. You have to make your own primer paste though. I think the only people really interested in that are expecting the zombie apocalypse and running out of .22 ammo.
You can reload .22s....there a tool kit sold for it. You have to make your own primer paste though. I think the only people really interested in that are expecting the zombie apocalypse and running out of .22 ammo.
The reason....
The reason people are egging you on is because this the reloading forum and most of us are avid relaoders.
If you are happy with your present situation by all means, stick to it. I could save money by going into casting bullets, but I really don't want to go that deep when good commercial bullets are cheap and available. If I get desperate, maybe.
I could NEVER afford that much expensive ammo and if I wanted it, I'd have to make it myself. It would also justify me buying a Dillon 550 where each pump of the handle turns out a round. I'd like to get one of those anyway.
The reason people are egging you on is because this the reloading forum and most of us are avid relaoders.
If you are happy with your present situation by all means, stick to it. I could save money by going into casting bullets, but I really don't want to go that deep when good commercial bullets are cheap and available. If I get desperate, maybe.
I could NEVER afford that much expensive ammo and if I wanted it, I'd have to make it myself. It would also justify me buying a Dillon 550 where each pump of the handle turns out a round. I'd like to get one of those anyway.
With all the folks around here talking about them I'm almost tempted by the idea of a full progressive now that my turret has more than paid for itself.
If I ever decided to take that plunge I guess I could sell the turret to recoup some of the cost.
Reloading to me, is like a toy. My past toys were motorcycles, boats, and airplanes. The Dillon 650, looks "cool"....... even if it's for serious stuff. The airplanes were super serious too!
I can't even start to think in terms of money versus time, and savings when it comes to this cool & fun looking machinery bolted to the bench.
I can't even start to think in terms of money versus time, and savings when it comes to this cool & fun looking machinery bolted to the bench.
fredj338
Member
Ok now you are just refusing to follow facts. The space in my home has no specific value. The house itself has a balue, what i do with the soace is irrelavent, i live in the soace.
The cost of the gear gets factored put after it is paid for. I paid for my 550b in 3m loading 45colt. So cost after 3m, zero. That is the true cost of reloading, not the soace in my garage. Might be the most ridiculous comment/excuse on reloading i have ever heard. You can argue just to argue but lets not make poop up just for sake of argumen.
I pretty thoroughly covered cost vs time. Yes i dont count cost of my gear as a per round item as the gear can be paid off in as little as 3m depending on caliber & quantity. If you want to attach a time value for everything, then you should work 80hr a week & pay others to raise your children, relad your ammo & shoot for you. Likely get better results in all areas.
Last edited:
susieqz
Absent Comrade
guys, i didn't mean to imply you have been forcing me into reloading.
i meant the cost of ammo was pushing me into it.
you have been nothing but helpful.
i meant the cost of ammo was pushing me into it.
you have been nothing but helpful.
fredj338
Member
Thx bc for the link
Anytime man. I like to help and encourage other people to reload - not try to persuade them it isn't worth their time.
The thread is interesting. And I see why some get on my case with a "why don't you reload?".
I live in an apartment, lease prohibits "hazardous" materials, and the press would have to be in my bedroom.
I do save my brass, and give it to guys I know that do reload, but it won't be happening for me unless I lease some barn space out in the country.
And yes, I can "sell" my time. Which I am doing to cover medical costs. I do manage to get a pistol or two cleaned while I'm on conference calls.
So I search for the best deals, buy enough to cover a year or so's needs, and try not to get caught in the next drought.
It would be nice to have a decent workbench again ....
I live in an apartment, lease prohibits "hazardous" materials, and the press would have to be in my bedroom.
I do save my brass, and give it to guys I know that do reload, but it won't be happening for me unless I lease some barn space out in the country.
And yes, I can "sell" my time. Which I am doing to cover medical costs. I do manage to get a pistol or two cleaned while I'm on conference calls.
So I search for the best deals, buy enough to cover a year or so's needs, and try not to get caught in the next drought.
It would be nice to have a decent workbench again ....
fredj338
Member
In college i set up a reloading room in a 24x36 coat closet. Put a lock on the door to keep the nosey landlord out. Hazardous mat'l is very subjective. Most cleaning or paint products are more dangerous than smokless powder. Primers are a little more risk, butjust dont store them together.
I live in a state where internet ammo sales are prohibited.
Let's say I can actually get a case of the .22LR my match gun likes. And let's also say it's $425 shipped (probly way more these days, but what the hey).
Tack on $10 for my FFL to receive it. It's a 30-mile drive, so 60 miles of gas is about $6. Plus an afternoon of my time shot. So we're at $441 a case, which works out to just shy of 9 cents a round.
.38 Spl is about 6.5 cents for really good bullets, 2.5 cents for powder, and 3 cents for a primer, for a total of 12 cents a round. I can mail-order the bullets direct to my door, and powder and primers are much closer to get.
The aggravation of acquiring .22LR, the hassle of going to get it, and being forced to buy nearly $500 of it at a time, makes .38 Spl cheaper to shoot in my book!
I never thought I'd see the day.
kbm6893
Member
Such a dumb argument. Reloading does save you money. There is no debating that. Buying 1000 rounds of 9MM will cost nearly 200 bucks. I reload it for 130. Buying 1000 rounds of .38 is over $400. I reload it for $130. I've loaded about 2500 rounds of each caliber since I started. So I've saved $200 on the 9MM, and over $600 for the .38. I've spent less than that on equipment and that is now paid for.
Arguing over cost in time is stupid. Anybody getting a check for posting on this forum? Then why do we do it?
Something to always consider is the ability to shield yourself from the next drought. I can store the components to make 10,000 rounds in a small cabinet in my garage. When the next drought hits, the suckers will be lining up at Walmart or checking their ammo finding app to get ammo. And they'll be paying big money for it. After Newtown, a 50 round box of 9MM was 15 bucks at Walmart. Now it's $9. When the next panic hits it will rise again. I buy a pound of powder or a box of primers here and there and just put it in the cabinet. Storing 10,000 rounds of factory ammo? No thanks.
Arguing over cost in time is stupid. Anybody getting a check for posting on this forum? Then why do we do it?
Something to always consider is the ability to shield yourself from the next drought. I can store the components to make 10,000 rounds in a small cabinet in my garage. When the next drought hits, the suckers will be lining up at Walmart or checking their ammo finding app to get ammo. And they'll be paying big money for it. After Newtown, a 50 round box of 9MM was 15 bucks at Walmart. Now it's $9. When the next panic hits it will rise again. I buy a pound of powder or a box of primers here and there and just put it in the cabinet. Storing 10,000 rounds of factory ammo? No thanks.
Last edited:
