Want to reload, maybe!

ENGINE18

US Veteran
Joined
Dec 26, 2009
Messages
1,220
Reaction score
23
Location
Arizona
In reading the recent .38 ammo threads, reloading came up as it aleawys does. I'm considering getting into reloading .38/.357 and .44 Special. (I have thousands of .38/.357 and .44 once-fired brass)

My goal would be to load target WC/SWC ammo first saving the defensive stuff for the factory loads.

I'm aware that there are tons of reloading tables and have them saved as "favorites." I'm also aware that there are a lot of threads here regarding equipment. I do have a few questions though.

1. Is it really cheaper to reload? If so how much?
2. Are conponents easy to find? Seems like they are a bit
scarce.
3. Anything else you would care to add.

Thanks in advance
 
Register to hide this ad
you will save even more by casting your own bullets...as to savings you will be reloading your mentioned calibers for around $6.00 per 50..
with the new presidental scare components (notably primers)were scarce...most of that has since passed
it's a fun hobby...you can make what you want,when you want...and make it better then factory
 
In reading the recent .38 ammo threads, reloading came up as it aleawys does. I'm considering getting into reloading .38/.357 and .44 Special. (I have thousands of .38/.357 and .44 once-fired brass)

My goal would be to load target WC/SWC ammo first saving the defensive stuff for the factory loads.

I'm aware that there are tons of reloading tables and have them saved as "favorites." I'm also aware that there are a lot of threads here regarding equipment. I do have a few questions though.

1. Is it really cheaper to reload? If so how much?
2. Are conponents easy to find? Seems like they are a bit
scarce.
3. Anything else you would care to add.

Thanks in advance

Sir,

Some will tell you that it's not, because you just will end up shooting more and spending just as much as you would have with fewer factory rounds. I'm sure that that is true for some, but definitely NOT for others, such as myself. The amount of shooting I do is based on the TIME I have in which to do it. That changes little. Therefore I save LOADS of money by reloading. When I started 6 years or so ago that savings was about 75%; I suspect it would be a little less than that now.

Andy
 
It's easier to find components than it is to find the exact ammo you're looking for.

In another thread, someone is looking for a .44 Mag, 240 gr @1000 fps load. No one, that I know of, makes it. Even if they did, your chances of finding any to buy are slim.

Reloading is the way to go, and your idea of starting with the target loads and using factory loads for defense is sound. But in no time you'll probably have complete confidence in your reloads for everything.

Casting saves a LOT of money. But there are lots of cast bullet vendors if you want to spare yourself the initial investment it takes to cast and the time it takes to do it. I enjoy it, but lots of people don't.
 
Reloading is fun and habit forming hobby. Each level brings new challenges and rewards. Some say there are significant savings, others say you will shoot more. I like the independence of being able to shoot what I want, when I want. Last year during the "ammo shortage" I quietly reloaded for me and my two sons. We shot often and never worried about what was on the shelves at walmart.

I like being able load target loads for my guns to enjoy shooting them. I can load mild paper punching loads for outdoors, lead free rounds for indoor ranges and some hotter loads for shooting bowling pins.

At first it was about saving money, then about how many rounds per hour and in my final phase-precision loads for long range shooting.

My best advice, find a local mentor who has been loading for many years. Watch them closely and let them teach you. Work in clean organized environment free from distractions. Keep detailed notes. Enjoy yourself.

In short-What are you waiting for?
 
Thanks for all your input. After a typical investment for a press and components, reloading with vendor-supplied .38 Special 148gr. WC, powder, and my brass, how many rounds till break even figuring $17.00 box/50 for WCs
 
$17/50 sounds cheap, but that's $.34 per round.

Powder, at $20 per pound will cost you 1.5 cents. Primers, at $30/1000 will cost you 3 cents. Cast bullets, at $35/500 will cost you 7 cents. Your labor is free, right? That gives you a cost of 11.5 cents per round, provided that you already have the brass, a savings of 22.5 cents per round compared to factory ammo.

Now, divide the amount of money you are going to spend on reloading equipment by .225 to find the number of rounds you have to load to reach the break even point. After that, you are saving money. I think I reached my break even point sometime in 1970.

Example: Let's say you plan to spend $300 on reloading equipment. You would need to load 1334 rounds to break even.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all your input. After a typical investment for a press and components, reloading with vendor-supplied .38 Special 148gr. WC, powder, and my brass, how many rounds till break even figuring $17.00 box/50 for WCs

Even at current component prices and buying commercial bullets you can easily load 50 rounds of .38 wad cutters for $6.00 not counting the cost of brass. That gives you a savings of around $11 a box.

How long it takes to break even will depend upon what reloader you buy. The more expensive progressives offer greater speed and high volume, the simple basic Lee hand loader offers low price but is very slow. Price range for equipment ranges for under $30 to over $600. You can get a good single or turret press kit for around $300.
 
If you want to do lots of quality handgun ammo with a relatively low initial investment , get a Dillon Square Deal press. Ya can get the stuff to change calibers easy enough. They include a video to show you how to set up and get started.
 
Thanks again. Nice calcs. That per/round cost was just what I was looking for, as was the $11.00 per box estimate. That and the abaility to "play" with different loads and reload for my 696 too, might have made the deal for me.

I've heard the Dillion Square Deal might just be the best all around press for someone like me. Now if I can just find someone to watch and learn!
 
You can learn it alone; I did. Most of the good reloading manuals from bullet manufacturers and Lyman give step-by-step instructions and I'm pretty sure the Dillon will come with pretty good instructions, too. I highly recommend the Lyman manual (I have #49).

Welcome to reloading. It opens up a whole new world.

Go re-read my last post. I edited it to give an example.
 
Last edited:
Once you really get into reloading you really won't save money but you will shoot a lot more for the money you spend.

Right now with current component prices I can load a box of 50 158gr LSWC .38 Special ammo for $4.96. I don't know what you intend on spending on your reloading equipment but if you spend $300 and the price of factory ammo is $17/50 you will pay for the equipment in less than 25 boxes of ammo. If you load more expensive .357 Magnum or really expensive .45 Colt ammo you will break even in a lot less time.

There are a lot of reasons to load your own ammo, price is only one of them...
 
Thanks again. Nice calcs. That per/round cost was just what I was looking for, as was the $11.00 per box estimate. That and the abaility to "play" with different loads and reload for my 696 too, might have made the deal for me.

I've heard the Dillion Square Deal might just be the best all around press for someone like me. Now if I can just find someone to watch and learn!

The Dillon Square Deal is about the best reloader around. I have had two for over 20 years . I shoot very regularly and I have yet felt the need to upgrade.... In terms of watching and learning..... go to ultimatereloader.com and watch the videos. That will give you a clear idea of how the various machines work. Not too complicated....just make sure you follow a manual with regards to amount of powder and bullet weights. Always best to stay on the light end of the loads.
 
Last edited:
Once you really get into reloading you really won't save money but you will shoot a lot more for the money you spend.


ArchAngel: See my previous post. Your assertion is true only for some. How do you know it is true for the original poster?

Andy
 
1. Is it really cheaper to reload? If so how much?

As others have said it depends. You need to know how much and exactly what you are going to reload to determine what it's gonna cost you to reload a box of shells. Many here are quoting prices of reloading bullets they cast themselves from lead scrounged for nothing. The casting process is another investment in time and monies that must be considered, and not everybody has a option of free lead, most must buy it from someplace. Also many indoor and some outdoor ranges now have banned the use of pure lead bullets. If this is the case, then you must buy either jacketed or plated as I know of no-one that has the equipment available at home to produce these themselves. At some point in the near future I think you will see more restrictions put on lead bullets even for hunting. Something to consider before investing a lot in casting equipment. Also the quantity you buy components will determine the actual cost. An 8#jug of powder is generally 30% less per pound than buying it in a 1#jug. Same goes for bullets when buying per 1000 as opposed to buying 100 at a time. If one does not have the spare cash to buy in bulk and sit on the supplies, savings per round will not be what some here have mentioned.

Again, most of us that reload spend more on ammo than we did when all we shot was factory ammo. Shooting and reloading is addictive and like most other junkies, we need a bigger and better fix everytime to keep the same high.

2. Are conponents easy to find? Seems like they are a bit
scarce.
Components are harder to find than they were 3 years ago, but are easier to find than a year ago. Most reloaders are sitting on a bigger stash of components than they were 3 years ago also. The reloading bug has become pandemic and it caught many manufacturers and suppliers with their pants down. IMHO, Some shortages were created intentionally during the Obamma scare to justify high prices. This too will come to pass.

3. Anything else you would care to add.

Reloading is not only cost effective, but is a relaxing hobby for many of us. Not everybody needs to pump out 600 rounds an hour. I shoot approximately 500 rounds a month in the 6 different calibers I reload for. I do all of this on a Rockchukker. I have yet to run short of loaded ammo, but instead generally have to wait for range day for more empty brass. Even tho I reload, I still can only afford to spend so much a month on components......it don't make sense to spend the monies to have the capability to load 5000 rounds a month when I can only afford the components for 500. Something else one has to consider is the sundries that go along with reloading. The dedicated space for reloading, the bench and storage for powders/brass/bullets/primers. Heck, I bet I have over $100 invested in just plastic cartridge boxes to store my loaded ammo.

I'm not trying to burst any balloons here and am not trying to scare you away from reloading.....I'm just trying to be realistic. I'm not saying that folks are stretching the truth about reloading needs and costs, I'm just saying your costs/needs most likely will not be the same. Just as your reloads will shoot different in your guns as they do in mine.
 
The OP asked about wadcutters, which was what I priced out.

Let's replace them with 158 Nosler JHP's at the going rate of $35/250, which doubles the bullet cost.

That brings us to roughly 18 cents per round, or $9 per box. Still just about half of the cost of factory ammo.

Of course, the cost of brass has not been taken into account, either. Let's say .38 brass lasts 20 loadings (I have some that has been shot many times more than that) and costs $70/500. That means brass costs not quite a penny per shot, bringing our final cost, excluding labor, to 19 cents per round or $9.50 per box.

That is where most analysis stops. But what if you're of the gilded class and don't want to be seen sitting at a press, by your ascot-wearing, tea-and-crumpets buddies, like common folk? Let's add labor into the mix.

What are we going to have to pay one of our beaters to sit at a Dillon press and load ammo, $15 per hour? Double it, say $30 per hour, just so we can be selective about who we hire and get good quality ammo. If he can load a shell every 5 seconds, that's 720 rounds per hour, or 4.2 cents per round. Maybe that's too many; let's make his quota 500 rounds per hour, or 6 cents per round.

We are now up to $0.25 per round, or $12.50 per box.

Maybe a penny more for powder because 158 gr JHP's need to be propelled by a different powder charge than HBWC's. $13 per box.

Did I leave anything out? OMG, I forgot to amortize the investment.
 
Last edited:
As you can see from most of the posts, you're per round price will be reduced. Whether that leads to a savings is pretty much up to you. After a while you'll find the 'need' for accesories that you didn't 'need' when you started. You may also find yourself upgrading initial equipment to bigger, better, faster stuff. The point is you'll be shooting rounds that are designed for your gun and your specific application, rather than one size fits all. It just happens to be an additional bonus that the rounds cost less.
 
Let's see... just two quick examples of how reloading can save you money.

1) A 250gr Keith bullet at 1000 fps out of the .44 Special. A big mail order outfit was recently showing these (from Buffalo Bore) for $1.44 per round. I can easily put them together for less than 25 cents each (save almost 83%).

2) Since you like full wadcutter bullets, how about a Penn Bullet 185gr lead full wadcutter at 800 fps out of the .44 Special. You can't find these commercially anywhere at any price (at least I can't), but I can load them for less than 20 cents each.

There are a ton of other examples, but I think you get the point. If I didn't reload, I don't think I'd enjoy the .44 Special nearly as much.

You can put together a quality reloading setup for less than $350, including a Lee Classic Turret press and Pro Auto Disk powder measure. If all you were shooting was the 250gr Keith load above, you'd pay for your reloading setup in less than 300 rounds (that's only 6 boxes of 50).
 
Last edited:
Back
Top