Is it worth it?

Duty-Bootie

Duty-Bootie

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North Saanich, BC & Nicola Valley, BC
Hi All.......Fairly new here and to gun ownership in Canada. Not had guns since my 20's back in the UK.....till they took them off us that is.

Anyway. Looking into the cost of buying bullets vs reloads. I guess the labour saving is there for sure. But by the time I buy all the bits and pieces is it worth reloading myself?

I can sit evenings and do it as I don't watch TV. Bit like when I tied my own flies. Off season....

Just interested.

Thanks.

RH, North Saanich B.C.
 
As a cost saving exercise, not that much is to be saved.

But just like tying flies, a lot of satisfaction from "rolling your own" so to speak.

I enjoy the process ... and have been at it for nearly 50 years, reloading for handgun, rifle & shotgun ( and tie my own flies & carve decoys )

For rifles, I find I can tailor a much more accurate handload than factory rounds, and with the particular type of bullets I prefer.
Haven't bought factory rifle rounds for years !
 
Depends what your looking for, you can load more accurately than just about anything store bought, and with the price of ammo it definitely saves on money as well, there's some calibre I don't reload as don't feel they are worth my time, such as 9mm and 223, but if I had a hunting or precision rifle in 223 I would most definitely be loading for it.
 
You don't really save any money. You just end up shooting more for the same money. But you're looking at anywhere between 50% to 60% of the cost to reload a round vs buying it(which is why I say you'll just burn through more rounds)
 
Depends on what rounds you want to load for and just much you plan to shoot.

For 9mm, 223, 7.62x39mm, 12ga trap you won't save much if anything vs the cheap bulk stuff.

For hard to find ammo or bigger diameter rounds you will save alot of money, which most people just shoot more of the ammo. so they still spend the same but get to shoot more. My biggest cost saving is with 500mag $3.60 for factory (when you can find it) vs $0.35 cents for my reloads using my cast bullets.

Some people factor in their time into the costs which makes sense if they can make extra money at work with extra hours. Or if you have a family and don't have alot of spare time. I don't have a wife or kids so I can spend as much time as I want doing what I want. I also enjoy the reloading process as a secondary hobby. Casting is another secondary hobby.
 
I started reloading 308 then 223 when I got fully set up
308 is definitely worth it, finding range/once fired brass is easy
My reloads are about $0.4/rd with PRVI 150gr ~$1.2 Factory
and my Match loads are $0.67/rd with 175 SMK ~$2.2 Factory

223 Norinco is ~$.33/rd and my reloads are $0.28/rd
Probably shouldn't reload 223 but I enjoy reloading to unwind
 
Reloading yer own makes for mawr looking at gun shows.
Sort of gives a better perpuss tah snewp 'round.
The good part izz, the kid's git less oh yer wallet funds.......... :D
 
I reload 9 mm with brass I pick up at the range and reuse it. I reload them for .13 cents each. Am I missing this cheap bulk ammo everyone is talking about. But I don't charge a wage. I also just reloaded 2000, .45 acp for less than $350. I wore out my Lee 1000 and bought a 550. It paid for itself by just doing 5000 rnds vs buying factory ammo. Savings are even bigger loading rifle. I shoot way more, for way less $.
 
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If you like precision shooting, reloading is a must. You cant get the optimal if you don't customize the round.

If you like shooting just for plinking and such, or shoot a lot for fun then it may be worth it, but keep in mind that reloading involves many factors, initial cost, research, component availability, learning curve etc...if you want to cast and save more then it's even more learning, work etc. Some may find this not to be worth the money they save.

If you are the typical hunter, if you just zero your rifle and use one for a buck every year...probably not worth it.
 
.303 can run you up to $1.50per round. i cast and reload. have reloaded and fired 50 at a cost of approx 55c per. I've got 200ish in equipment and 75 in powder and primers.
this cost only goes down for me until i actually have to buy lead. once my equipment is paid off, if you will, by the money saved in not purchasing factory ammo. i will occasionally have to buy factory loads or once fired brass, but at my rate, not for a while. my calculations are rough, do not include labour, nor the initial cost of my factory ammo to get the empties.
 
I have been reloading since the early 60's, and have accumulated a fair amount of equipment over the years.

Much of what I have is unnecessary for a starting out reloader.

There is a unique satisfaction in taking a game animal with loads you have crafted.

Likewise, winning a match with ammo you have carefully developed can be very gratifying.

As for saving money....you will probably shoot more, which tends to offset the savings, but I see that as a good thing. :)

However, if you load for a more obscure round, you may save a lot. [I load 308 Norma Mag for about $1.30 a round. Factory ammo is $90.00/20 or $4.50 per round]

It requires attention to detail and you need to be distraction free while reloading.

It's a great hobby!! Regards, Dave.
 
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You don't save any money and right now with with the powder crisis..its more a headache then anything. Id wait a few years till powder is available and then maybe...maybe try it.
 
Whether it is worth it or not all depends on how much you intend to shoot. If you're only going to shoot a box a month it's not worth reloading. However, if you're looking at shooting 400-500 or more rounds a month then reloading is the way to go. Even for less expensive rounds like 9mm you're still looking at $15/box so even 400 rounds a month will cost you $120/month or $1440/year.

I reload 9mm for the following:
cases - usually laying on the ground in abundance at most ranges so cost = 0
powder - even at 4 gr. per round and $30/ pound that's 1750 rounds per pound or 1.7 cents per round
Primer - Dominion primers @ $30/1000 = 3 cents per round
Bullet - commercial cast $100/1000 = 10 cents per round

That works out to 14.7 cents per round or $7.35/50. At 400 rounds per month (8 boxes) that's $59/month or $706/year, a savings of $735 a year over commercial. That would easily pay for a decent single stage or turret press reloading setup. After the first year that's more than $700 a year extra in your pocket over commercial.

If you decide to cast your own bullets the price drops dramatically as cast bullets only cost about 2 cents each to make. That drops the price to 6.7 cents per round or $3.35/box. At 400 rounds a month that's $27/month or $322/year, a savings of $1118/year. That easily pays for your reloading and casting equipment.

Of course casting & reloading require your time so you have to ask what your time is worth. If you've got the time & shoot at least 300-400 rounds a month then getting into reloading is a no brainer. In fact the only reloading that will not realize a substantial saving are 12 gauge shotgun shells.

Those who say you won't save anything by reloading obviously have never costed it out or are grossly overpaying for their components. The prices I quoted are current component prices that anyone can get by doing a little judicious shopping. In fact we just bought Dominion primers @ $29.60/1000 in bulk and picked up some Titegroup for $28/pound all in at Hummason's in Ancaster.
 
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