Is reloading even worth it now?

I got into reloading to produce reduced-load, quieter 223 ammo for indoor-range paper-punching with my bolt gun. Factory-produced equivalents are too expensive for my wallet and I don't want to shoot full-power stuff all the time.

(And if you always shoot factory stuff, what do you do with all the brass, toss it in the trash? What a waste.)

Edit: Cost of my 223 reduced-load rounds:

Titegroup 3 grains/round 3.6 cents
Campro 55 grain FMJ ..........12.8 cents
Campro sm.rif. primer......... 9 cents
Once fired brass........................8.3 cents
Lee Loader Classic LOL.abor 0 cents:)
Total .............................................33.7 cents = $6.74/20 rounds = $337/1000 rounds
 
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I reload for 19 different cartridges (including family) ranging from 22 Hornet to 300NM.

I’ll use the Norma mag ammo as my extreme example…it is over $10/ round for Berger factor 245gr target .

I like the Berger bullets and that is what I reload with. So my reloading cost is:
Brass was $4.00/pc. I get 5-6 reloads out of each piece so it works out to conservatively $0.80 / reload.
Bullets are $1.20,
Powder is $1.00,
Primers are $.17 for each load.
That’s $3.37/reloaded round…verses $10!

I’ve been reloading for almost 50years. Even if I conservatively estimate that I know have acquired $5000 net in reloading gear, that’s really only $100/yr.

I can’t afford to shoot and NOT reload.

Lastly, I believe that my reloaded rounds are superior in accuracy to pretty much anything I can buy. But for the sake of this discussion, let’s say they are equal.

I like to reload, it sure beats watching CNN! Reloading is how I get through our long winters.

It, absolutely, makes no sense for me to spend my money on factory ammo.
 
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Just a few of the reasons I hand load
.223 Remington loaded with 95 grain Match Kings that are set for my rifle.
308 Winchester with 155 Match Kings and 185 Bergers set up for the chambers on my rifles.
150 grain TSX bullets in .303 British.
9.3X72R with cast bullets.
8.15X46R loaded with 180 grain cast bullets set up for my rifle.
12 gauge,2 1/2" brass cases and black powder for my Vintage guns
12 gauge 2 3/4" plastic loaded to 5600 PSI for my vintage guns.
I have many more loads in non factory available ammunition, but those are just a few examples.
Cat
 
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The cost of factory ammo has skyrocketed as well. Just bought some rimfire and it was 10cents a piece for bulk HV 'cheapie' stuff. That used to cost a couple of pennies

Centerfire is nuts and no guarantee there is a load ideal to your rifle needs. The gucchi reloading gear gives the impression that tooling is left kidney expensive but you don't need the latest greatest to make 1/4 min ammo. All the standard brands from yesteryear work just as well today as it ever has.

With more and more shooters retiring from the sport, used gear is available and likely, still in like new condition.

Brass is one of those things that can be dirt cheap or pricey. I focus on chamberings that can be sourced from range pick up or in those dusty buckets in many shooters basements. 223 and 9mm are prime examples. And the popularity of these chambers also lead to less expensive powder and primer choices too.

Ultimately, the stuff I shoot isn't available in any factory form so reloading is my only option. The cost per bang is still less then a comparable factory choice and the larger the chamber, the larger the gap.

YMMV

Jerry
 
The OP basically ignores that pistol brass is reusable and then goes on to complain that reloading is too expensive compared to factory.

The entire point of reloading pistol ammo is that the cases can be used many times. Basically the cost of the cases gets amortized out and becomes virtually zero.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
The OP basically ignores that pistol brass is reusable and then goes on to complain that reloading is too expensive compared to factory.

The entire point of reloading pistol ammo is that the cases can be used many times. Basically the cost of the cases gets amortized out and becomes virtually zero.
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Maybe the OP is buying pistol brass and jacketed bullets by the box of 100 and then reloading for 9x19, at that point reloading would not make much sense. I have to say I am pretty happy that we have Campro around, ha ha.
 
ted_dent said:
If you are willing to spend the time reloading then I can't think of any situation (except maybe for 12 ga. target loads) where it isn't worth it if you do the following:
1. Buy components in bulk when they go on sale. Several months ago some friends and I did a group buy on SP primers for about $60/1000.
2. Check the gun shows for deals. Last week at the St. Catharines show I saw guys selling various powders for between $30-50$ per pound and that included some stuff like Varget, 4198, Auto Comp, etc. Red Dot was $30/pound.
3. Unless you're looking for high end hunting bullets start casting and powder coating your own. This will save you a ton of money. Right now I can buy refined range lead ingots from my club for $1/pound. Powder coated they can easily exceed 2000 fps without leading becoming a problem. Even if you're casting 250 gr. 44 bullets that's 28 bullets per pound or $36/1000. PC powder can be had for $20/pound and that will coat thousands of bullets.

I am also mystified when I see people say it's not worth it to reload calibres like 9mm. As an example (and my situation isn't unique), it costs me the following to reload the 125 gr. 9mm rounds I use for PPC:
1. primer = 6 cents each
2. bullet = $17/1000 or 2 cents each (rounded up)
3. powder (let's say HP38 @ $50/pound and 4.0 grs. per load) = 1750 rounds per pound = 3 cents each
4. brass (usually free for the picking up at most clubs but even if I pay 3 cents a case for 1x fired 9mm) = 3 cents
5. powder coat (far less than 1 cent each but lets round up = 1 cent

So I'm paying a MAXIMUM of 6 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 1 = 15 cents a round X 50 = $7.50/box

Considering it's difficult to find 9mm for under $20/box with tax & shipping I'm saving nearly $13 a box. How is that not worth it? If I shoot just 150 rounds a week that's a saving of $90/month or almost $1100/year. That's like a decent free gun every year. If you're reloading more expensive rounds like 44 mag, 38 Special or 45 ACP the savings are even greater.

Yes, I had to buy the reloading and casting gear but with every round I load that's an ever declining cost. For example, a 6 cavity Lee mould with handles is about $120, a Lee 20 pound casting pot is maybe $150 and a sizing die is $30 so let's say $300 total. Once I've cast 3000 bullets (which I can do in 5-6 hours total) the casting setup is more than paid for and from then on my capital cost is $0.

There was a time when bullets were $25/1000, primers were $12/1000, powder was $15/pound and reloading probably wasn't worth the time & effort. Those days are long gone.
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Your numbers are low though, maybe because your stock is old but your cost per box for 9x19 with campro bullets and ginex primers will be about double what you have there. Seeing that bulk blazer is $22/50 you are still coming out ahead but not at the value you have listed there, now if buying components now.

I also have a stockpile, my connection retired now but I have enough primers to last a long time with the rate that I shoot it and I only paid 20-30% of the cost of prices now.
 
The first reason I handload, is the same reason I handload today: to manufacture a custom cartridge for my rifles, hence 1982. I do have a 44 magnum in a Smith & Wesson Model 29-3, however, I only shoot factory ammunition, because I don't shoot it that often.
 
Kyle_4 said:
What does it cost you to reload 45/70
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Worst case scenario Using today's store prices, ie $100/lb of powder I can load campros for $1.08 / round. (Not included brass, but mine are over 7 reloads and going strong)

Of course shopping around you can do it much much cheaper.

Vs factory is $55 - $100 per 20 or $2.75 - $5 per round
 
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Fox said:
Your numbers are low though, maybe because your stock is old but your cost per box for 9x19 with campro bullets and ginex primers will be about double what you have there. Seeing that bulk blazer is $22/50 you are still coming out ahead but not at the value you have listed there, now if buying components now.

I also have a stockpile, my connection retired now but I have enough primers to last a long time with the rate that I shoot it and I only paid 20-30% of the cost of prices now.
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Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. The bullets are cast, powder coated, not commercial (obviously Campros are more than 2 cents each). The primers are the Argentine small pistol that were available a few months ago for about $60/1000. Even if you go with the Ginex primers they can still be had for about 8-8 1/2 cents each so that still only adds about $1-$1.50 to the cost for 50 (so $8.50-$9.00/50, still far less than even the cheapest commercial ammo).

As I also noted, buy in bulk when the opportunity arises. The Argentine primers were shipped free because we ordered over $300 worth. If you can get 3 or 4 buddies to jump in it's usually easy to meet the minimum quantities to qualify for free shipping. A few years back (not too long before Covid) you could get the Russian Dominion primers in bulk for $28/1000 with free shipping. Over the course of 3 bulk buys my friends and I purchased 140,000 primers. I'm still using them up but if stored properly they last indefinitely so current price fluctuations don't have as much affect. Using those a box of 50 9mm are only costing me about $5.
 
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