THE DOLLARS AND "SENSE" OF RE-LOADING AMMUNITION

[chief38]

Hey Chief38 the person in charge of my local range tells me the reason they have the posted rule about only taking your own brass is because in CA it is considered hazardous waste, he also said they sell some of it to commercial reloaders but they can't just sell it as scrap but can sell it as scrap that is hazardous waste. Don't know if this is bs but they are the only local outdoor range and if selling the used brass keeps them open that is ok with me.

California's Rules and laws are way different than almost every other State and since I do not live there I am not that familiar with them. That said, I know many PUBLIC Ranges frown upon and some down right forbid guys from taking any Brass with the exception of their own. The main reason for this (in my opinion) is because they collect and sell that Brass for a profit.

 

[Alk8944]

Even considering that the equipment is fully amortized, there is still the value of your time.

I shoot jacketed bullets on almost all of my reloads and they are a little more expensive than cast lead bullets, so my cost per 50 round box of 38 Special comes out closer to $12.

If I add in the value of my time that box comes in closer to $90. So, unless you want to "sell" your reloading time for about the same hourly wage as a child chained to a sewing machine in a Bangladesh shirt factory, don't do it to "save" money.

And how did you arrive at a value of your time? If you are at home, at night or over the weekend, what would you be doing if you were not watching TV, reading, going shooting, re-loading or other "Leisure time activity"? Face it, you wouldn't be doing anything to make money! This is the most specious of all arguments against hand-loading that there is! It only has value if the only choices are making money or re-loading and we all, including you, know this is not true.

Fine, if you consider re-loading as drudgery, and you can afford it, buy all the ammunition you want. Saving money is not the only reason for any leisure activity.

If you hunt strictly for the meat then this is a reasonable argument, or fish strictly for the fish you catch. How much an hour do you make while golfing, bowling, watching TV, etc?

 

[Qc Pistolero]

One of my friend sold all his guns and reloading equipment 6 or 7 years ago.The bug bit back and he started shooting again;decided to wait to buy reloading equipment.He then bought a beautiful Winchester 1886 replica in 45-70.He showed up at the range with his gun and a few boxes of 45-70;at over a buck a pop,he concluded that he'll save his brass and start reloading ASAP!
To add insult,I gave him a box of my cast bullet reloads...and they outgroupped his expensive commercial jacketed bullets.Spoke to him yesterday and he is now up to decide which Dillon press he'll buy.Great!Another one into our gang!
Qc

 

[hammer 1]

A few years ago, I was enamored by the new Uberti 1876 centennial rifles. 4060, 4560, and 5095 Winchester, are not on every shelf. My pair of 338 lapua'swould gather cobwebs without reloading.

 

[VNK971]

Back in the 70s when I was a police officer I could buy practice reloads quite inexpensively. I tried reloading, but never really got in to it. Now I'm retired and got back into shooting a couple of years ago. I shoot 38 spec mainly, with some 9mm and even less 45 ACP. I have the time to reload the types of target loads for my 38s that I want, and I probably couldn't find them commercially. I try to go to the range at least once a week. I don't care about the cost and I enjoy reloading. I consider it just as much a part of the hobby as going to the range to shoot. I let people know I reload and will help them if asked, but I don't encourage, or discourage, anyone.

 

[brucev]

Back when I was a newly married seminary student, I got my hands on a S&W 19-2. Not to long later ... I got a RCBS Reloader Special and started cranking out .38 Special ammo! I was in heaven! I could shoot my revolver at a price I could afford! Now it is over 30 years later. I reload because the cost savings are significant. I reload because I can load the ammo I want to shoot and not just shoot the ammo a local store or online source wants to stock and sell. I can shoot various loads that simply are not available at any price from any source. For me that's the dollars and sense of the whole matter. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[Fishslayer]

 

[WVSig]

hdwit, you are buying the wrong bullets if it costs you $0.24 a round for 38 Special. Zero bullets sells 158 grain JHP bullets for $206.40 shipped for 2000 bullets. So you could load the 38 special for around $0.15-0.16 a round using their bullets. And the quality of their bullets seems to me to be as good as the big boys. And they happen to be in stock at Roze Distribution lately. That is their retail outlet.

As to the time thing, well I do not figure that in on my load cost. If I weren't reloading, I would probably be wasting time watching the stupid tube or farting around on the internet instead, so the time thing is immaterial. Plus, it is an enjoyable pass time for me to reload. And for pistol ammo, my time spent loading rounds isn't nearly as expensive in time as you evidently, since I load them on my old Dillon RL-450 and can crank out 300-400 rounds/hr after setting up my powder charge and bullet seating depth. That doesn't take me 15 minutes nowadays.

Every single time this topic comes up the issue of time and the value of ones time or labor comes up. Everyone who argues that reloading saves them money never account for the "cost" or value of their time. They always call it a hobby and therefore there is no $$$$ value to their time. The TV analogy also always makes an appearance.

The problem is that the cost comparison offered by the "save $$$" camp is a false comparison. You are comparing the cost of a factory made bullet which certainly has the cost of labor built into it to a reloaded round with no accounting for labor. It is not an apples to apples comparison. Those who call it a hobby have very right to do so but you cannot compare the "the true cost" of reloading without some cost for labor because what you are comparing it to certainly had to take labor into account when pricing it.

I am not saying not to reload but as a purely economic argument this is a false narrative. It is a poor argument that only stands because you have taken out a huge chuck of the cost to manufacture the ammo out of the equation. Calling your labor or time worthless does not validate the comparison. I really wish people would stop doing it. I reload some ammo but I get ZERO joy from it. What I do get is better more consistent ammo that shoots well in my guns. It don't put a $$ figure on my labor but I do pretend it is free. I also will tell everyone who asks me do I save money reloading that yes but only if I do not put a value my time. For me reloading is work and I do not work for free.

 

[Mehutch]

Reloading... its fun, its therapeutic, its cheaper, and it is good for Global Warming problem. Reload - shoot - eat your sandwich... repeat.

 

[WVSig]

This is not the first time I have discussed this subject but since it does seem to come up from time to time I figured I'd post this again. The costs below are from what I have personally purchased in the recent past.

Let's say one is going to buy a Reloading Outfit to load .38 Special, .45 acp and .45 Colt. I am NOT including the cost of the Brass because IMHO there is no reason to buy it! Almost any Range is laden with once fired Brass in these popular calibers and it is there for the taking. My Club Ranges are so heavily littered with perfectly serviceable Brass I always tell new guys getting into reloading NOT to buy the cases. I would have a hard time believing your local Ranges are any different. I have given out thousands and thousands of Brass to new Re-loaders just to get them started. OK - so let's say the Brass is free.

Bullet heads for target shooting that I use are lead. I pay 0.089 cents for a 230 grain .45 acp bullet, 0.065 cents for a 158 grain RNL bullet and 0.100 cents for a .45 Colt 255 RNFP bullet all from Dardas Cast Bullets which I think are very good quality.

I use Titegroup for .38 Spl and .357 Mag, W231 for .45 acp and Unique for .45 Colt. Since all of those powders all cost about $20 / lb (I buy 8 pound cans).

Primers are selling for about $28 - $30 bucks per 1000 so that comes to about 0.030 each.

OK - now the math......

.38 special

cartridge Case.......... FREE
Bullet ..................... 6.5 cents
Powder.................... 1.0 cent
Primer..................... 3.0 cents

TOTAL..................... 10.5 cents / rnd x 50 = $5.50 /box of 50


.45 acp

Cartridge Case........... FREE
Bullet........................ 9 cents
Powder...................... 1.3 cents
Primer....................... 3.0 cents

TOTAL....................... 13.3 cents / rnd x 50 = $6.65/box of 50


.45 Colt

Cartridge Case .......... FREE
Bullet....................... 10 cents
Powder..................... 2.3 cents
Primer...................... 3 cents

TOTAL....................... 15.3 cents each x 50 = $7.65/box of 50

There are 7000 grains of powder in a pound so you can divide how many grains of powder you are using into 7000 and come up with cost per round based on your price per pound.

A GOOD reloading outfit can certainly be purchased for $1500.00 or so. If you save $15 per box over name brand Factory ammo (average of course - some more some less) and you take the $1500 equipment cost and divide it by the savings per box ( 1500 / 15 = 100 boxes of ammo) you will break even and pay for all your equipment after 100 boxes or 5,000 rounds.

While I don't know how long it would take you guys to shoot 5,000 rounds I know I go through that in about 6 months. So that is my perspective on just how fast reloading equipment and components will pay for themselves. Slightly longer if you buy super premium equipment and slightly less if you buy budget stuff. I suppose it also depends on what bullets you shoot but for Target shooting I have no problem using lead cast bullets.

OTHER THAN DOLLARS AND CENTS NOW:

Many guys like myself are serious target shooters and like shooting very accurate and slightly lighter recoiling bullets. I load my target ammo to respectable velocities but not up to defensive ammo velocities. So you can custom tune your own loads to your personal needs.

Many guys find reloading relaxing and enjoyable (I am not really one of them and usually load in bulk - then cover the press again). That's a personal opinion of course.

Once components are procured you never loose the ability to roll your own no matter what the political climate is. Since components last virtually forever if stored properly, you can but in bulk when one of the larger suppliers runs a sale and offers free shipping and NO Haz-Mat fees.

So there is my take on re-loading for those of you who are thinking about taking the plunge!

Regards,
Chief38

You are greatly over estimating the cost of factory ammo. I can find quality 45 ACP factory fresh not reloaded for well under $20.50 a box which is what it would have to cost if I am saving $15 a box and it costs me $5.50 to make.

1000 round case - 45 Auto 230 grain FMJ Sellier Bellot Brass Case Ammo - SB45A | SGAmmo.com

$.258 a piece = 12.90 a box delivered for 45 ACP and that took 10 seconds to find.

38 special costs about $.277 a piece shipped so $13.85 a box.

Prvi Partizan - 38 Special, 500 Rds, 158 Grain LRN Ammunition | SGAmmo

Numbers are closer on the 45 Colt.

I will also say that you can reduce the cost of your reloading components but I think my point still stands. Your factory ammo prices are not accurate which skews all your numbers to suit your initial premise. Again not saying to not reload ammo I reload 2 of the 3 calibers you site but if you want to make a complelling argument you need to have accurate info and pricing.

 

[chief38]

For one, I am unable to find .45 Colt 255 grain RNFP for under $40 bucks a box OF 50. (many are sold in boxes of 20). Second, I own genuine Colt SAA revolvers that are on the older side and like to keep my "Cowboy Loads" lighter so they last as long as possible. No need to stress out old guns to put holes in paper with the amount I do shoot them.

I am unaware of any Factory loaded ammo for the .45acp with 230 grain RNL "LEAD hardball" at any price. The two indoor Clubs I belong to will not allow the use of jacketed ammo so if I want to shoot them indoors I HAVE TO re-load. I will NOT shoot others reloads. While outdoors I can shoot anything, I do not want to load two different types of ammo (Jacketed and lead).

When I used the number of $15 per box savings that was an AVERAGE PRICE. Yes you can get sale priced ammo in bulk, but it may be 130 grain or in a configuration you simply don't want. I like shooting the same exact ammo every time out of a designated gun - as I am into as much accuracy as I am capable of.

The examples and math I posted are from what is trending on the national websites and in my LGS's. If you can buy a specific load in bulk cheaper - great. The numbers I posted are real for me and most here, but if you just are not into re-loading I can understand that as well. I also reload 45-70 and 38-55 Rifle which are not only ridiculously expensive, most LGS don't even carry it! Add that into the mix above and reloading saves even more than I posted.

Reloading is NOT for everyone - I get that. There are some who would not reload even if they were GIVEN a brand new Outfit and free components. For those of us who shoot very often and are interested in a consistent ammo supply and in making that ammo as accurate and consistent as possible, reloading makes sense - assuming you have the time & desire to do so. I'm a Serious Target Shooter and like to know exactly where each one of my firearms hits and like the consistency. Hey, it works for me. .

The reason for this post was because there are MANY who are interested in getting into re-loading and I tried to be as realistic as possible. One can always pick apart a post for this or that, but in general I stand by my numbers and facts and think it's pretty accurate. YMMV.

 

[WVSig]

For one, I am unable to find .45 Colt 255 grain RNFP for under $40 bucks a box OF 50. (many are sold in boxes of 20). Second, I own genuine Colt SAA revolvers that are on the older side and like to keep my "Cowboy Loads" lighter so they last as long as possible. No need to stress out old guns to put holes in paper with the amount I do shoot them.

I am unaware of any Factory loaded ammo for the .45acp with 230 grain RNL "LEAD hardball" at any price. The two indoor Clubs I belong to will not allow the use of jacketed ammo so if I want to shoot them indoors I HAVE TO re-load. I will NOT shoot others reloads. While outdoors I can shoot anything, I do not want to load two different types of ammo (Jacketed and lead).

When I used the number of $15 per box savings that was an AVERAGE PRICE. Yes you can get sale priced ammo in bulk, but it may be 130 grain or in a configuration you simply don't want. I like shooting the same exact ammo every time out of a designated gun - as I am into as much accuracy as I am capable of.

The examples and math I posted are from what is trending on the national websites and in my LGS's. If yo can but a specific load in bulk cheaper - great. The numbers I posted are real for me and most here, but if you just are not into re-loading I can understand that as well. I also reload 45-70 and 38-55 Rifle which are not only ridiculously expensive, most LGS don;t even carry it! Add that into the mix above and reloading saves even more than I posted.

Reloading is NOT for everyone - I get that. There are some who would not reload even if they were GIVEN a brand new Outfit and free components. For those of us who shoot very often and are interested in a consistent ammo supply and in making that ammo as accurate and consistent as possible, reloading makes sense - assuming you have the time & desire to do so. I'm a Serious Target Shooter and like to know exactly where each one of my forearms hits and like the consistency. Hey, it works for me.

See now the argument is changing. Reloading makes sense for your very specific needs which are far from universal yet you proesented the case for the dollars and cents of reloading as if they were. If you are paying $20 a box for 45 ACP you are getting ripped off. You can do better than that at any big box retailer. You will be shooting 230gr but I would be willing to bet 95% of 45 ACP Shooter's are shooting 230gr loads.

Again the same tread continues when it comes to these arguments for cost savings from reloading. If you have very specific needs or requirements from your ammo or you shoot less mainstream calibers reloading makes sense on many levels but as a gerneral rule people are not going to see the savings you are claiming. That is not even taking into account the cost of labor. It will take the bag shooter a lot more than 100 boxes of ammo you calculated to recoup $1500 in reloading equipment.

Again I am not saying not to reload but what I am trying to point out is the circular reasoning used to "prove" that it saves money is not logically sound. You are cherry picking data to prove your predetermined conclusion which does not hold up to objective scrutiny.

I agree 100% that reloading makes a lot of sense for you and I hope you continue to do it and enjoy it but I guess I just don't agree that it yields universal savings when you consider time and the fact not everyone has the same ammo requirements you have.

I believe your analysis fits your individual needs and requirements but it fails as the universal truth you present it as.

 

[chief38]

OK, I guess we look at Reloading from two different points of view - to each his own, so I guess each prospective re-loader will have to decide what's best for them. My intent was in putting the numbers out there as MANY don't understand how to figure it out (initially) or what components cost in the first place.

Yes, you are correct in the fact that I am NOT including labor/time. I would not include labor/time here or with any hobby as it is one of the reasons we choose such hobbies in the first place. If I placed labor and time on how long it takes me to detail my vehicles, I'd never wash and wax them myself - but it's great exercise and gives me a great sense of pride and satisfaction to do so. Plus I do a MUCH better job

 

[Rule3]

I told my Wife that she should get a Dillion 1400 or Binford 4500 needle pointing machine.
She could save so much time and finish her crafts in minutes.!!

All that "wasted time" she spent just sitting there stitching away!

Next it should be spray paint instead of those little brushes!

 

[TomkinsSP]

Nobody asked, so I thought I would chime in...

I figure buying GOOD quality equipment is like buying a house in a good neighborhood, its not going to depreciate in value. My brass in 38 special lasts until I accidentally crush it being the first round after having forgotten to reset something, with normal loads it should last... forever.

So I figure my cost of making ammo is projectile+powder+primer, less than 10 cents a unit for .38 special. ($5.00 box of 50).

I can buy good commercial lhbwc or lswc for $21.00/box when in stock (and sometimes subject to a two or three box limit).

Considering the time I spend making ammo and that $16.00 differential I am 'paying myself' almost $60.00 an hour to make ammo.

And I could load 2.7 for gun A, 2.8 for gun B, 2.9 for gun C if I wanted to with a minimum amount of time to adjust the hopper. I can use any bullet I can find, or any powder in any combination.

And if I was just starting out and money was a concern, the SLGS (semi-local gun store, nothing is close to here) has a Lee hand press for $60.00, starline brass for $18.00/100, Lee .38 dies for $35.00, a ultrasonic cleaner for $15.00, solution for $5.00, 100 bullets for $9.50 (500 for $40) W231 or Bullseye for $22.00, S&B primers $23.00 for 1000, forgot to price a tray- lets say $5.00. So $175 for the first 100, $225 for 500, $ 385 for 1000... Already below $21.00 per box on that first thousand, you have the press, dies, cleaner, lots of powder and solution...

 

[Duckford]

The thing is, all real things are valuable, but not always interchangeable. If you buy a $2 sack of potatoes and try to sell them someone else, you may not even find a buyer at all. Stand outside with a "Will work for cash" sign or look for a part time job, and maybe nobody will hire, maybe there is a limit to your income, maybe you can't always turn time into money, and maybe money can't buy everything. Run over the curb and crush somebody's flower pot, and they claim "That was a $100 pot and flower" and how do they come up with this, cash replacement value, original cash cost value, original cash cost value plus theoretical inflation, or someone trying to convert subjective emotional damage into cash value?

The main point is working for yourself for free doesn't actually cost you a half penny, and if it saved you ANY amount of cash that you would have paid someone else, it literally means you saved money and there is no other way to literally take it any other way. Even if the savings are meager, even if you worked for a theoretical wage that is in par with 3rd world shoe makers, you can't say you lost money, you still saved money, and to say otherwise is to ignore the objective reality before us. Even if i dick around changing oil for 2 hours at a non serious pace to avoid paying the local shop $20 for the same job, and I "paid" myself $10 an hour, unless I lost a paying job with wages superior to this, it is literally impossible to claim my oil change is more expensive when one cost money and the other was free.

Its not flawed logic, its logical fallacy. Working for free for yourself is free, its a cost of time, not of money, so there is no way even logically possible to argue that it doesn't pay money. You exchanged your time to save money, it can't cost you money.

 

[Rule3]

Don't forget they want the Min Wage to be $15/hr now!!

So we must at least amortize that into our cost accounting.

Hows that for the stupidest concept? . Why not just make it $20/hr??

 

[mikld]

Costs of reloading is the last/least important factor in my reloading. I figger it's my hobby (how many people ask a musician, not professional, how much their piano costs, or a fisherman to compare the costs of his equipment vs. the cost of fish from the market?). I'm not rich, but I don't count pennies for my hobbies. If I were to count costs for reloading I would have to count shipping fees for components bought on line, I'd have to figger costs of powder purchased in 1990, or the actual costs of primers I bought on sale in 2002. Then to be accurate I'd have to figger utilities into the costs too (power for lighting, heat, CD use. Water for quenching, clean up, bottled tea for thirst quenching in a warm shop while reloading). Then there is counting times to the LGS and figgering costs of my vehicle (gas, wear and tear) and compare the times I went to the store for reloading components and the times I might go to the store for factory ammo.

Or I could just sit on my stool in front of my Co-Ax and enjoy...

 

[WVSig]

Costs of reloading is the last/least important factor in my reloading. I figger it's my hobby (how many people ask a musician, not professional, how much their piano costs, or a fisherman to compare the costs of his equipment vs. the cost of fish from the market?). I'm not rich, but I don't count pennies for my hobbies. If I were to count costs for reloading I would have to count shipping fees for components bought on line, I'd have to figger costs of powder purchased in 1990, or the actual costs of primers I bought on sale in 2002. Then to be accurate I'd have to figger utilities into the costs too (power for lighting, heat, CD use. Water for quenching, clean up, bottled tea for thirst quenching in a warm shop while reloading). Then there is counting times to the LGS and figgering costs of my vehicle (gas, wear and tear) and compare the times I went to the store for reloading components and the times I might go to the store for factory ammo.

Or I could just sit on my stool in front of my Co-Ax and enjoy...

Exactly I much prefer this to the false narrative that reloading saves everyone who does it money. I know just as many people who bought equipment hated it and sold it's a loss or never use it as people who love reloading.

If you look at it as a hobby it makes much more sense to me. I don't know about anyone else but I lose $$$ on all my hobbies. LOL

The other part that is missing from the false narrative is that most people who shoot regularly have a budget to spend on their hobby. X $$$ a month or a year can go towards a hobby like shorting. Reloading does not shrink that budget it allows you to shoot more for the same money. Actual savings in your pocket doesn't happen because you take the saving and buy more components or load and shoot more rounds. It's not like the "savings" goes into your 401k.

 

[TomkinsSP]

Reloading does not shrink that budget it allows you to shoot more for the same money. Actual savings in your pocket doesn't happen because you take the saving and buy more components or load and shoot more rounds. It's not like the "savings" goes into your 401k.

Agreed, but its lke two for one beers at the local watering hole. Sure me and my buddy could go there and have one each, my treat today his next time; what will happen is we each have two.

Technically we aren't saving a dime, just having twice as many sips. But while I don't have a hard $73.26 limit to spend on this hobby this month, I, and I think everyone does have some self-imposed limit on what they spend for anything. If you don't mind the extra effort, or if it's fun, reloading lets you do more shooting for the same coin.

And that is saving money in a sense.

 

[Sclays]

Motivation for reloading

Entering into the realm of metallic reloading is serious stuff.
An individual's motivation to reload must exceed the economic benefit.
There must be a desire for good craftsmanship.

You want to save a few bucks as well as all your fingers.

 

[Troystat]

The other reason I reload is that for bulleye shooting there are not a lot of choices for factory ammo, my 45 acp loads are loaded to a lot slower fps than most factory ammo. Even my 38 special rounds are lighter. Now for my .357's

 

[TomkinsSP]

True. Handloading requires attention to detail to be safely done..

So do many other things in life. Driving an automobile for instance. But in handloading I am responsible and I can make my work safe. Driving a car, I can be safe and someone else can kill me by being unsafe. Not in my control, but I am still dead.

I am not encouraging anyone who doesn't think handloading is for them to try it. But I am also guessing that very few "never me's" are browsing this topic.

 

[2152hq]

Good thread,,lots of interesting comments.

I look at reloading as a hobby. I'm sure most everyone here does too. Might be someone here that reloads as a business, sells the reloads commercially, pays FETax, ect. As a business, you can calculate a $/hr on your labor to produce the finished product.

But as a hobby, it's your 'free time' invested. Don't like to reload?, don't invest this available free time you have in it. Your option then is to buy ammo. Some calibers are pretty cheap,,others not.

As a hobby, I just like reloading. I like to make low pressure loads for the elderly guns I normally shoot.

It's also the only way I can get ammunition for some of the odd calibers I shoot,,by making them. I enjoy that process too. WallyWorld doesn't stock .256 Gibbs Mannlicher but I can make it rather easily.

No one pays me to reload,,I don't play games on the computer but if I did, I wouldn't expect anyone to pay me by the hr to do so either. Nor go fishing, play golf or read a book. It's what you do with your free time.

 

[ontargetagain]

Lots of good content in the posts here.
I'll add that you can get started for much less than the $1500 chief38 mentioned if you don't shoot high quantities. I have two single stage Lee presses, one dedicated to de-capping and one for all other steps. About $115 combined, carbide dies can be $35 and up based on what brand, mine are $35-60 sets. The inexpensive powder drop I have $30 really works fine with powders that meter well. Amazon for a ultrasonic cleaner takes care of deprimed brass cleaning $80 isn. I did splurge a bit on a medical digital scale, used on Ebay for $115 and well worth it. Hand primer $35.

Anyhow, for about $500 I believe you can be in business before powders, primers bullets etc. Once you get a bit of a rhythm and process down you will be pleased on how many bullets you can produce from a single stage press set up and it is a good learning curve to have control over each and every step of the process.

As mentioned it is rewarding, therapeutic and allows you to either save money or shoot more Work smart, don't allow yourself to be distracted and things will go just fine and once you make your first bullet you will have a big smile to go with it
Karl

 

[Muddyboot]

Good thread,,lots of interesting comments.

I look at reloading as a hobby. I'm sure most everyone here does too. Might be someone here that reloads as a business, sells the reloads commercially, pays FETax, ect. As a business, you can calculate a $/hr on your labor to produce the finished product.

But as a hobby, it's your 'free time' invested. Don't like to reload?, don't invest this available free time you have in it. Your option then is to buy ammo. Some calibers are pretty cheap,,others not.

As a hobby, I just like reloading. I like to make low pressure loads for the elderly guns I normally shoot.

It's also the only way I can get ammunition for some of the odd calibers I shoot,,by making them. I enjoy that process too. WallyWorld doesn't stock .256 Gibbs Mannlicher but I can make it rather easily.

No one pays me to reload,,I don't play games on the computer but if I did, I wouldn't expect anyone to pay me by the hr to do so either. Nor go fishing, play golf or read a book. It's what you do with your free time.

I got into reloading for the same reason, odd calibers, ( in my case the .41 Long Colt) Reloading is the only economical way to shoot my Army Specials in .41LC.

I do reload several other calibers now, reloading ammo brings satisfaction, and saves some money, but even if it didn't,I would still do it as a logical extension of the gun collecting/shooting hobby.

 

[mikld]

I got into reloading for less than $30.00. Lee loader, 100 CCI primers, 1 lb. Bullseye, 100 generic lead bullets. I already had a plastic mallet. I had about 200-300 range pickups for brass. Maybe someone could tell me how to figger how much money I've "saved" since summer of 1969?

 

[bananaman]

Handloads.com is a great site. There is a section for cost calculator. You can enter your component costs, and it calculates $ per round, & box. Recipes, and other neat stuff too! Bob

 

[TomkinsSP]

Referencing my earlier post on how easy/cheaply a newb could get into reloading, I got out the old Lee exercise machine and cranked out 50 on the breakfast table. Took 40 minutes start to finish using tumbled brass. (Had I used the ultrasound it MIGHT have added five minutes.) Bet a beginner could do the first 50 in twice that and by the time they had made 20 or 30 boxes be as fast as I am. I did forget to add a priming tool into the cost estimate. Maybe some extra dippers, used 0.7cc of TB and 160gr RF .358s. Midway is selling a similar cowboy load for $24.00 a box. This was $5.50 for the bullets, $1.10 for primers, $0.80 for powder, so $7.40 lets say $7.50 for a savings of $16.50 or $ 23.00 per hour.

 

[TomkinsSP]

Shot 25 of them this morning. Very accurate out of a 2 inch M36, Trailboss IMHO shoves more than kicks. Uncertain what the velocity is, faster than I can see and slower than 2400, maybe I will get one of those crony-o-grafs someday.