With smokeless I don't need to lube my PC'd bullets.
With BP I still tend TO Lube them, but the fouling is considerably less because the PC acts like a barrier for leading.
The BP fouling itself is not much of an issue with good lube.
Cat
Is reloading even worth it now?
- Thread starter handofzeus
- Start date
With BP I still tend TO Lube them, but the fouling is considerably less because the PC acts like a barrier for leading.
The BP fouling itself is not much of an issue with good lube.
Cat
Reloading has never been that much cheaper on common calibers. Nobody reloads 9mm or 223 for example. It’s more worthwhile for less common calibers where factory ammo is more expensive. 223 and 22-250 cost almost the same to reload but only one is worth it. Other case where it’s still worth is would be specialty rounds that aren’t available or match ammo
Reloaded few hundred 44mag this Winter. 18 cent copper plated 240gr bullet, 12cent primer, 8 cents of titegroup powder. Brass is negligible as it can be reloaded a dozen plus times apparently.
So I loaded perfectly tailored 44mag for a little more then bulk 9mm prices. Not bad at all IMO.
Can honestly say the same thing for basically anything that fires plated or straight cast ammo. I reload 45-70 for like half the cost of .308 simply because the 45-70 bullets are also half the cost of decent .308 bullets.
So I loaded perfectly tailored 44mag for a little more then bulk 9mm prices. Not bad at all IMO.
Can honestly say the same thing for basically anything that fires plated or straight cast ammo. I reload 45-70 for like half the cost of .308 simply because the 45-70 bullets are also half the cost of decent .308 bullets.
Even for common cartridges reloading is worth it for me. It costs me less than 40 cents a round for .223 range plinking ammo using Ginex primer, 55gr Campro and 2015 powder from Higginsons. Similar spec PMC .223 with 55gr FMJ is about 65 cents a round. I find similar price comparisons for .308, 45ACP, 357 magnum. 9mm can get pretty iffy if it's worth it, depending on what the market is doing. It's always less expensive to load 9mm but sometimes it's not enough of a difference to make the effort.
Obviously when loading more specialized hunting/precision ammunition the costs go up but that's the case with specialty factory ammo, too.
Obviously when loading more specialized hunting/precision ammunition the costs go up but that's the case with specialty factory ammo, too.
I also load for 9mm get tons of once fired brass for free have a ton of bulk powder and small pistol primers purchased at 1970 prices and a Dillon 550 press that I traded for a scope I got for free. Own several 9mm pistols that group and function well with my handloads. What's not to like plus i enjoy making my own ammo. I treat loading components like my grocery bill shop around when find a deal stock up big and fill the pantry and freezer .
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AlphaCharlieDelta
Member
- Location
- The Wet Coast
Still a lot of competition shooters loading their own stuff. You can tune your ammo specifically for your firearm which gives an advantage over factory in the long run. I'm loading 9mm at about 25 cents a round still, and factory 9mm still hasn't dropped to pre pandemic prices so I'm still saving a bit
You use PC and then pan lube?
- Location
- Kitscoty Alberta
I reload for cheaper because I have powder and primers , bullets I bought quite a while ago, also I melt lead and
Wheel weights for bullets I want, for guns that you cannot get ammo for
Also I Taylor make my ammo to the gun which makes them more accurate
It’s also nice when you shoot a animal and know you reloaded the ammo your self
Only thing is when you miss , there is only one person to blame
Wheel weights for bullets I want, for guns that you cannot get ammo for
Also I Taylor make my ammo to the gun which makes them more accurate
It’s also nice when you shoot a animal and know you reloaded the ammo your self
Only thing is when you miss , there is only one person to blame
dgradinaru
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- British Columbia
I load for two reasons. I'm sitting on old stock components that I bought when prices were down to earth so I actually do save a good amount and for performance in certain metric cartridges that are usually underloaded.
My 160gr TTSX load in my 8x57 at 3000 fps (3150+ ft-lbs at the muzzle) is a good example of taking advantage of loading to potential. One wouldn't be able to find anything close to this performance in factory spec ammo.
For cartridges like 308 and 30-06 I don't bother to reload, it's hard to go wrong with Norma whitetail or oryx factory ammo when you can find them on sale. They shoot great, good brass, and the oryx is a bonded bullet. at 35-40$ a box one cant load that in today's market.
My 160gr TTSX load in my 8x57 at 3000 fps (3150+ ft-lbs at the muzzle) is a good example of taking advantage of loading to potential. One wouldn't be able to find anything close to this performance in factory spec ammo.
For cartridges like 308 and 30-06 I don't bother to reload, it's hard to go wrong with Norma whitetail or oryx factory ammo when you can find them on sale. They shoot great, good brass, and the oryx is a bonded bullet. at 35-40$ a box one cant load that in today's market.
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Rod B
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I reload for only two cartridges, .22 PPC & 6mmBR. I like to be able to experiment with powders and & different bullets that suit my rifles. That said as I age I find myself shooting far more .22 rim fire than the center fire cartridges. I think I have enough component to last until the end of my shooting days.
Being already well established and stocked up with components etc it’s much easier and comfortable to do what keeps us enjoying our hobbies. Today’s new shooters and reloaders have a much more difficult time to commit and remain happy with their ‘investments’. What cost me a couple hundred to get started wouldn’t fair as well with today’s prices. Which is sad. I’m in my 50’s and most shooters I see at the range are older or my age. The youth have found other things to do I reckon……
I've been hand loading since 1972 and for me anymore it's not about cost , savings or is it worth it; It's a hobby that I love and I will sit for hours prepping brass or building ammo. I feel a sense of real accomplishment when I take an animal with something that I built instead of shooting factory fodder. I like the fact that my ammo is built for my specific rifle. I load for many rifle calibers but my 2 most expensive are the 7STW and 45-70Govt.
In the long run for me it's not cheap because I shoot 3 times as much. But it's a lot of fun.
In the long run for me it's not cheap because I shoot 3 times as much. But it's a lot of fun.
There are an absolute pile of people who reload 223. If someone is only loading cheap 55 grain fmj, no load development, just for some rounds downrange, then maybe not.
If you are looking to shoot out a bit further, or doing lots of varmint shooting, most guys are developing loads you can't just buy off the shelf.
I personally load for 2 different 223's and I don't run any factory ammo through them. Both of them haven't even fired a factory round before.
Locally a pound of varget bounces between 90 and 100 bucks
A drive to huminsons or lawrys I could save some cash if I was already traveling that way
Buying in bulk is always cheaper
