Useful calculator for cost of reloads

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Crunching all the numbers can spit out a price tag that shows a per round or per box price of actual cost laid out, but it cannot capture what it truly takes to weasel down the costs.

This summer I dropped $500 in a primer buy and $1,500 in a bullet buy to jump on a good component deal. Those purchases will help me to put a shockingly low price on my costs, but you have to be diligent, fortunate AND have the funds available at a moment’s notice to pull that off, and a cost calculator cannot show that.

It also cannot account for the time and energy I spend in this endeavor.
 
Not to dis the OP, but I have no idea what my handloads cost nor do I care. I reload because I like to, not to "save money", have no obsolete cartridges to reload, I just enjoy reloading. In 1969 I was shooting my 38 Special and as I emptied the cylinder and watched the cases drop to the ground I thought; "I wonder it these can be reused?". That started it all...
 
mikld said:
Not to dis the OP, but I have no idea what my handloads cost nor do I care. I reload because I like to, not to "save money", have no obsolete cartridges to reload, I just enjoy reloading. In 1969 I was shooting my 38 Special and as I emptied the cylinder and watched the cases drop to the ground I thought; "I wonder it these can be reused?". That started it all...
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^^^^^^
This
What's more, I look at tracking down components and reloading as entertainment and I take much more pride in shooting something I made than burning through a box of factory ammo.
 
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I've always looked at it like this.... reloaders are in it to save money and little else. Safety is important, but not much interest in creativity. Nothing wrong with that. I think I started out in the '60s with this in mind. That concept quickly vanished.

Handloaders enjoy handloading as hobby in itself; they like to safely experiment with loads and are accuracy-oriented among other things. Cost is a very secondary factor.

Maybe I save money, maybe not.
 
Leads be civil here everyone. If you have no use for the calculator no reason to shoot it down. Just say nothing. I for one don't need it but I truly appreciate the OP taking the time to try and help others.

Thank you Sir...
 
I may go overboard with data. I've been handloading since the mid 80's and have binders full of handloading records. I can go back to the first batch I loaded and look over the load data and shooting results. Yeah, I log costs too. It's fun to go back and see what I thought was important back then and what really matters now. I use a handload cost spreadsheet of my own. It shows how cost per round declines with the number of case loadings. I can easily determine how many loadings a given brass lot has under it's belt. Adding to that, I keep a running inventory of my stash of bullets, powder, primers and cases. What brass lot is loaded and with what? Bullets are in numbered ammo cans indexed in the spreadsheet. Loaded ammo is handled the same way.

Whew! He's obsessed you might say. You might be right! But all this obsession keeps me from re-learning lessons of the past. It helps me find that box of bullets I know I have somewhere. I don't run out of good stuff or buy more of something I already have. Best of all, for me it's fun. I'm data driven.

So I understand OP's interest in a calculator. Whether it floats your boat or not, there's plenty of room in this sport for all of us!
 
Nothing wrong with using a cost calculator to compare home reloads with factory ammo costs. It can actually be rather enlightening. In times of plenty, it may not be worth the time to reload some calibers. Calculating costs can also tell you how much more you get to shoot when reloading versus buying factory ammo.
 
Reloading Cost, RC-101

When calculating the cost of reloaded ammo, one significant factor is overlooked. Initial equipment cost. Starting at the bottom:
1] used equipment is cheaper but may have excessive wear.
2] Lee equipment is economical, no frills, and was available for 1 caliber for ~$150 - $200.
3] Hornady, Lyman, RCBS are comparable quality, different levels of automation, and are available for $300 to $500 depending on features.
4] Progressive presses begin at $450 to $2,500.

I have a challenge, believing a "new" reloader, is going to spend as much money starting to reload as the price of another firearm. If you add $3 equipment cost to a box of ammo, you are in for a long ride before seeing any 'real' savings. The benefit is you are shooting more ammo for the same dollar amount.

My 1975 RCBS Rock Chucker and 1982 Dillon 450 have long since been Zeroed Out in dollars. The same with my Lyman and Lee bullet moulds. All my pistol and revolver ammo (except 357 mag & 44 mag) is cheaper than store bought 22 LR.

Today with 10 year year old primers and powder, 223 Rem to 30-06 ammo 50 rounds costs me $11 (223) to $21 (30-06). When the inventory runs out the costs will triple. But my costs will be 60% of current retail. I'm trying to balance a teeter-tooter, of shooting enjoyment versus the dreaded 'Estate Sale'.
 
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I reload because I enjoy it. Years ago when I started it was because it was cheaper than buying factory ammo. Nowadays it is therapy. That all said I still like the aspect of saving a bit here and there. Like Sevens, a friend of mine and I fell into some deals a couple of years ago. We bought portions of estates from the LGS. They did not handle reloading components and they were taking up valuable storage space . Made the shop an offer of $10.00 per brick of primers, $20.00 per 500 box of bullets, and 30 pounds of powder for $3.00 a pound. Did that a couple of times when they go in estates. I used the calculator and I am loading for about $3.10 a box of 50 right now. Kind of warms my heart after seeing what ammo has been going for lately.
 
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Along with many others here, I reload for the entertainment, to be able to make custom loads, and to save a bit of money. While I appreciate the OP’s link, I think a truer tally of actual cost should include all the equipment, manuals, tools, etc. involved. Even adding those costs in, my reloads come out less expensive spread out over years and thousands of rounds than most factory fodder. Now, if you add in the hours spent, well...
 
My only problem with calculating the per round cost of the ammo I load is that many of the components I have were placed on the shelf multiple decades ago. I don’t have the foggiest notion what I paid for many of them. At this stage in my life and shooting career I just take down what I need and load ammo. I’m not replenishing much in the current high priced market, and except for some bullet casting from my abundant supply of alloys, I should have enough to shoot until 2030 from current supplies. At that point I’ll be in my eighties and may have to slow down anyway! :rolleyes:

Froggie
 
Liftrat said:
Along with many others here, I reload for the entertainment, to be able to make custom loads, and to save a bit of money. While I appreciate the OP’s link, I think a truer tally of actual cost should include all the equipment, manuals, tools, etc. involved. Even adding those costs in, my reloads come out less expensive spread out over years and thousands of rounds than most factory fodder. Now, if you add in the hours spent, well...
Click to expand...

Green Frog said:
My only problem with calculating the per round cost of the ammo I load is that many of the components I have were placed on the shelf multiple decades ago. I don’t have the foggiest notion what I paid for many of them. At this stage in my life and shooting career I just take down what I need and load ammo. I’m not replenishing much in the current high priced market, and except for some bullet casting from my abundant supply of alloys, I should have enough to shoot until 2030 from current supplies. At that point I’ll be in my eighties and may have to slow down anyway! :rolleyes:

Froggie
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Liftrat,

All the presses, measures, scales and assorted equipment have been accumulated over a period almost 40 years. Some bought new, some were given to me, and others came to via deals. No clue what I have tied up in all this stuff.


Froggie,

I have the same problem. I have components that are as new as a couple of years ago and some that are 30+ years old. When I first started reloading my Father gave me a bunch of stuff. In the piles were 20 bricks of primers (white cardboard boxes with wood strips separating the primers) and several thousand .30 Cal. Boat tailed match bullets, he had had since the mid 1950's. Traded most of it for stuff I could use.
 
I don't weigh the cost of reloads. I reload because I like it, and because I shoot 44 Mag, 41 Mag, 475 Linebaugh, 300, 340, and 460 Weatherby, and 264 Win Mag, 22-250, 220 Swift, ETC. Just don't find these on the shelf or anywhere else for that matter. So I reload and I know I save money by doing so, but not for that reason.
 
ArchAngelCD said:
Leads be civil here everyone. If you have no use for the calculator no reason to shoot it down. Just say nothing. I for one don't need it but I truly appreciate the OP taking the time to try and help others.

Thank you Sir...
Click to expand...

Nothing here sounds uncivil to me. I could see figuring the cost of reloading. Makes sense. But the people who don't care have a valid point. To some of us the cost is way far down on the list of reasons why we do this. I'm one of that crowd.
 
...reloaders are in it to save money and little else.
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Sorry, but I totally disagree. I'm not cheap, but money isn't everything. If all reloading was money driven you wouldn't see the high tech bullets costing $2.00+ each. Or dies that are super accurately made (+/- .001") and cost enough to feed an African village for a month. 37 years ago I was told "you're worth it...". I don't splurge with my reloading, but I buy good components and tools. I don't pay + 200% for a specific name on a product, and having been a lifelong machinist/mechanic I have learned to purchase tools that work the best.

Actually it's kinda an insult to be asked how much my handloads cost, ust like "how much did you pay for that jacket?". or "how much did you earn last year?".

I grew up with a father that went through the Depression, and he put a price on everything. If he could save a nickel on something when there was an easier better option, he would opt for the cheaper one. I lived like that for many years until I realized money isn't every thing and I was, indeed, worth it!...
 
mikld said:
Sorry, but I totally disagree. I'm not cheap, but money isn't everything. If all reloading was money driven you wouldn't see the high tech bullets costing $2.00+ each. Or dies that are super accurately made (+/- .001") and cost enough to feed an African village for a month. 37 years ago I was told "you're worth it...". I don't splurge with my reloading, but I buy good components and tools. I don't pay + 200% for a specific name on a product, and having been a lifelong machinist/mechanic I have learned to purchase tools that work the best.

Actually it's kinda an insult to be asked how much my handloads cost, ust like "how much did you pay for that jacket?". or "how much did you earn last year?".

I grew up with a father that went through the Depression, and he put a price on everything. If he could save a nickel on something when there was an easier better option, he would opt for the cheaper one. I lived like that for many years until I realized money isn't every thing and I was, indeed, worth it!...
Click to expand...

You didn't read and understand the full post or I did a poor job of explaining things. You probably fall into the "handloader" category rather than "reloader". There's a big difference as pointed out in the post.
 
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