Reloading 45 ACP cost?

[ted_dent]

The greatest cost savings are realized on bullets. Primer cost is fixed at around 4-5 cents each as is powder cost at about 2-3 cents per load. Once fired brass is generally 10 cents each but amortized over 10 reloadings equals one cent each so your price range is 6-9 cents per round (primer, powder, case)plus the bullet and that's where the big price difference comes in. Commercial bullets are going to add 10-25 cents per round depending on whether you go with lead, plated or jacketed so the range becomes 16-34 cents each or $8-17 per box of 50 which even at the top end is considerably cheaper than commercial.

Yes you will have to buy a reloading setup but that can literally be a once in a lifetime purchase if you get decent gear and for every box of reloads you make the overall price per box drops. And if you want to really save money cast your own bullets. A mold will cost you $50-60, a size die $25, a melting pot $50-100 but you will literally recoup that money by casting 2000-3000 bullets. Wheelweight lead is about $1/pound and for 1000 200 gr. 45 bullets you need about 29 pounds so $29 divided by 1000 = 3 cents each. Add that to the above primer/powder/case total and you're looking at 10-12 cents a round or $5-6/box of 50 which is almost as cheap as shooting .22s. And if you can source cheap wheelweights or range lead you can cut your bullet cost down to 1-2 cents.

Reloading and casting does take some time commitment but if you are going to shoot even 100-200 rounds a week the savings will be significant.

 

[VinnyQC]

To each their own. Maybe you could explain why you hate lead bullets. For pistol shooting or cowboy action shooting in my opinion they are great. Also for those in Alaska a hard cast bullrt for any bear type defence projectile they are top notch out of a large caliber wheel gun. As long as the lead bullets are made to proper hardness then leading of the barrels is a non issue. Shooting soft lead is not a good idea!

It's the lube. It's disgusting. A single shot of lead lubed ammo and you have to clean your gun. Compare that to about 1000 shots of plated/jacketed required before cleaning. It also makes a puff of smoke like you're shooting black powder, which might not be a huge problem for those shotting outside, but my favotite pistol range is inside, and after 6 shots of lead, you can barely see your target through the smoke. That's without even taking into account that some guns (I shoot a Deagle) can't even use lead bullets. That's why I hate shotting them, no matter who is casting them.

The downside of casting your own are also obvious. It's long and tedious compared to reloading. With an inexpensive Loadmaster, I can load 500 rounds an hour. For 44magnum, it represenst a saving of about 350$ over buying 500 rounds. Since I buy my plated 44mag bullets for 81$/500, you would need to cast 4320 bullets per hour to save as much as I do reloading, and that's when supposing that lead is delivered free to your door. How many bullets do you cast in an hour, and how much saving does that represent? If you use "free" lead, add the time and gas it takes you to drive around to collect it.

 

[baldabe]

It's the lube. It's disgusting. A single shot of lead lubed ammo and you have to clean your gun. Compare that to about 1000 shots of plated/jacketed required before cleaning. It also makes a puff of smoke like you're shooting black powder, which might not be a huge problem for those shotting outside, but my favotite pistol range is inside, and after 6 shots of lead, you can barely see your target through the smoke. That's without even taking into account that some guns (I shoot a Deagle) can't even use lead bullets. That's why I hate shotting them, no matter who is casting them.

The downside of casting your own are also obvious. It's long and tedious compared to reloading. With an inexpensive Loadmaster, I can load 500 rounds an hour. For 44magnum, it represenst a saving of about 350$ over buying 500 rounds. Since I buy my plated 44mag bullets for 81$/500, you would need to cast 4320 bullets per hour to save as much as I do reloading, and that's when supposing that lead is delivered free to your door. How many bullets do you cast in an hour, and how much saving does that represent? If you use "free" lead, add the time and gas it takes you to drive around to collect it.

The smoke and leading issue can be taken care of by powder coating the bullets. Cannot speak for casting as I do not do that yet.

 

[jethunter]

It's the lube. It's disgusting. A single shot of lead lubed ammo and you have to clean your gun. Compare that to about 1000 shots of plated/jacketed required before cleaning. It also makes a puff of smoke like you're shooting black powder, which might not be a huge problem for those shotting outside, but my favotite pistol range is inside, and after 6 shots of lead, you can barely see your target through the smoke. That's without even taking into account that some guns (I shoot a Deagle) can't even use lead bullets. That's why I hate shotting them, no matter who is casting them.

The downside of casting your own are also obvious. It's long and tedious compared to reloading. With an inexpensive Loadmaster, I can load 500 rounds an hour. For 44magnum, it represenst a saving of about 350$ over buying 500 rounds. Since I buy my plated 44mag bullets for 81$/500, you would need to cast 4320 bullets per hour to save as much as I do reloading, and that's when supposing that lead is delivered free to your door. How many bullets do you cast in an hour, and how much saving does that represent? If you use "free" lead, add the time and gas it takes you to drive around to collect it.

Need to cast 4320 bullets per hour to save as much as you do ...? Must be "new math". Casting and reloading savings can be subjective - I don't need to cast 4000 bullets per hour to save money - unless I'm charging myself for it, maybe. If it's done in free time that I'd just be pissing away anyway - like TV or internet forums, then my time is free to me.

Did you add time and gas to your component costs? Doesn't look like it.

I buy new processed lead alloy and still cast for under $.04 a bullet, or $20/500 which is a decent savings compared to $80. So for me your math is self-serving and doesn't work.

But for the most part it comes down to time and interest. If I didn't enjoy messing around with casting, the extra cost of commercial bullets wouldn't bother me. Cost is only one factor and very subjective to the individual.

 

[VinnyQC]

Need to cast 4320 bullets per hour to save as much as you do ...? Must be "new math". Casting and reloading savings can be subjective - I don't need to cast 4000 bullets per hour to save money - unless I'm charging myself for it, maybe. If it's done in free time that I'd just be pissing away anyway - like TV or internet forums, then my time is free to me.

Did you add time and gas to your component costs? Doesn't look like it.

I buy new processed lead alloy and still cast for under $.04 a bullet, or $20/500 which is a decent savings compared to $80. So for me your math is self-serving and doesn't work.

But for the most part it comes down to time and interest. If I didn't enjoy messing around with casting, the extra cost of commercial bullets wouldn't bother me. Cost is only one factor and very subjective to the individual.

My math is good. Not my fault if you can't understand it. Actually, you didn't understand anything in my post. But that's alright, it wasn't directed at you anyway.

I can save 350$ per hour by loading 44magnum. No one has any clue how much you (or any caster) save per hour by casting, yet some casters keep claiming that "The greatest cost savings are realized on bullets. ", which just isn't true.

 

[polaris]

Campro bullets
Win. 231
Large pistol primers

	bullet	$0.17
	powder	$0.06
	primer	$0.04
	your sweat	$0.00
	TOTAL	$0.27

 

[Grove]

With collected brass = $0.24/rnd
Brass = Free
Bullets = $0.16
Primers = $0.05
Powder = $0.03

I've got pretty much the exact same breakdown for my .45ACP cost.

I always offer to clean up after others at the range so I can bring home more brass.

I also scored my Lee Pro 1000 press on sale for $225 shipped from Budget Shooter Supply years ago.

 

[jethunter]

My math is good. Not my fault if you can't understand it. Actually, you didn't understand anything in my post. But that's alright, it wasn't directed at you anyway.

I can save 350$ per hour by loading 44magnum. No one has any clue how much you (or any caster) save per hour by casting, yet some casters keep claiming that "The greatest cost savings are realized on bullets. ", which just isn't true.

LOL - I understand you perfectly.

I can cut the cost or my 45acp ammo in half compared to using commercial plated bullets and I already showed the math and a full explanation.

You're the only one that break it down into savings per hour - and you didn't even explain that initially. You say I need to cast +4320 bullets per hour to make it worthwhile - and I'm saying that's only true if you're losing paid time by doing it because spare time s FREE time. It's called sweat equity. It didn't cost me anything.

If your time is so valuable then why are you doing pissing it away on an internet forum? Or do you get paid for this?

 

[cr5]

http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

 

[Clay00019]

Is pure lead used or is it alloyed with another metal?

 

[pr connection]

No pure lead is too soft. Need to add tin to pure lead to harden it up or find your self some babbit to add to it. Other then that if u are buying the lead or even scrounging it try and find Lino type. It's already the correct hardness.
Shooting pure lead will gum up your barrel

 

[pr connection]

It's the lube. It's disgusting. A single shot of lead lubed ammo and you have to clean your gun. Compare that to about 1000 shots of plated/jacketed required before cleaning. It also makes a puff of smoke like you're shooting black powder, which might not be a huge problem for those shotting outside, but my favotite pistol range is inside, and after 6 shots of lead, you can barely see your target through the smoke. That's without even taking into account that some guns (I shoot a Deagle) can't even use lead bullets. That's why I hate shotting them, no matter who is casting them.

The downside of casting your own are also obvious. It's long and tedious compared to reloading. With an inexpensive Loadmaster, I can load 500 rounds an hour. For 44magnum, it represenst a saving of about 350$ over buying 500 rounds. Since I buy my plated 44mag bullets for 81$/500, you would need to cast 4320 bullets per hour to save as much as I do reloading, and that's when supposing that lead is delivered free to your door. How many bullets do you cast in an hour, and how much saving does that represent? If you use "free" lead, add the time and gas it takes you to drive around to collect it.

I lube size all my lead with Bees wax. Has a nice Smell to it when I shoot��
I really enjoy the casting part of the hobby so for me it has nothing to do with costs at all. To be honest even if it cost more money to cast I would still do it. But for now it definitely saves me money as I do not count my time as an expense and my Lino type is free so I count my time as I would count my time while shooting.....free time!

 

[Clay00019]

No pure lead is too soft. Need to add tin to pure lead to harden it up or find your self some babbit to add to it. Other then that if u are buying the lead or even scrounging it try and fine Lino type. It's already the correct hardness.
Shooting pure lead will gum up your barrel

What is Lino Type?

 

[ted_dent]

Campro bullets
Win. 231
Large pistol primers

	bullet	$0.17
	powder	$0.06
	primer	$0.04
	your sweat	$0.00
	TOTAL	$0.27

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That's so simple even VinnyQC can understand it. On second thought that's being overly optimistic as he obviously doesn't want to be confused by the facts.

 

[ted_dent]

It's the lube. It's disgusting. A single shot of lead lubed ammo and you have to clean your gun. Compare that to about 1000 shots of plated/jacketed required before cleaning. It also makes a puff of smoke like you're shooting black powder, which might not be a huge problem for those shotting outside, but my favotite pistol range is inside, and after 6 shots of lead, you can barely see your target through the smoke.

What a load of
A single shot & you have to clean your gun?
6 shots and you can barely see your target?

You give new meaning to the term "drama queen". And you can't even spell "shooting". Welcome to the "Ignore" list.

 

[Northernfly]

I lube size all my lead with Bees wax. Has a nice Smell to it when I shoot��

Nice. I'll need to try that.

 

[pr connection]

Lino type is a lead specifically hardened and used in old print machines when news papers were printed on a printing press. All the letters that formed the news papers stories were casted from this lead. Then the letters were melted down into ingots to be used again. Lino type lead has a Brinell hardness of 22.

 

[VinnyQC]

LOL - I understand you perfectly.

I can cut the cost or my 45acp ammo in half compared to using commercial plated bullets and I already showed the math and a full explanation.

You're the only one that break it down into savings per hour - and you didn't even explain that initially. You say I need to cast +4320 bullets per hour to make it worthwhile - and I'm saying that's only true if you're losing paid time by doing it because spare time s FREE time. It's called sweat equity. It didn't cost me anything.

If your time is so valuable then why are you doing pissing it away on an internet forum? Or do you get paid for this?

You're losing reloading time. Unless you enjoy casting 10X as much as you enjoy reloading. In which case you shouldn't reload at all.

And yes btw, I get paid for this.

 

[Northernfly]

I've got pretty much the exact same breakdown for my .45ACP cost.

I always offer to clean up after others at the range so I can bring home more brass.

I also scored my Lee Pro 1000 press on sale for $225 shipped from Budget Shooter Supply years ago.

It's amazing how much 45ACP and 357Mag is lying around on the floor at my range. Admittedly, a lot of it is guest shot, but I've been in on several occasions and asked a 45 shooting member if I could clean up their brass and more often than not they'll say "sure!" Actually, they'll typically just start sweeping it over to me while I'm shooting. I dunno, maybe they're single with no kids and have the money to burn, but I for one make damn sure I leave with AT LEAST as much 45ACP brass as I come in with.

 

[VinnyQC]

I lube size all my lead with Bees wax. Has a nice Smell to it when I shoot��
I really enjoy the casting part of the hobby so for me it has nothing to do with costs at all. To be honest even if it cost more money to cast I would still do it. But for now it definitely saves me money as I do not count my time as an expense and my Lino type is free so I count my time as I would count my time while shooting.....free time!

Can I ask then, why not make it a full time job? Or even part time? There's probably a limit to how much lino you can get for free, but if you can get a lot of it, and bullets do sell for something, why not churn out bullets like there's no tomorrow, then sell them, even if just on the EE? Somewhere there's probably a guy who would like lead lubed bullets but doesn't have the time/room/equipment/energy/health/connections to get cheap/free lead, but would be willing to pay for them (Actually we both know that guy exists somewhere cause places like bullet barn sells lead bullets).