Reloaded .308 rounds more expensive than factory?

Gunner4life

Gunner4life

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Hey all,

I was doing some calculations today after reloading all my .308 WIN plinking rounds, comparing it to the price of factory 150 gr AE stuff here's the price breakdown for 500 rds of my handloads:

Hornady 150 gr FMJ BT bullets $110
CCI - BR2 Primers - $28
LC 1F cases - $93
Varget Powder - $95
Total - About $390 after 12% tax/shipping

vs

$373 after tax for 500 rds of Factory AE

Now I know with the next set of reloads the LC 1F cases are discounted, but if I buy the factory stuff I could just sell the cases for pretty much the same price as the LC stuff on the EE, so it works out that the factory stuff would be the same (if not cheaper).

Any suggestions on how to save reloading plinking rounds other than the primers?
 
Gunner4life said:
Hey all,

I was doing some calculations today after reloading all my .308 WIN plinking rounds, comparing it to the price of factory 150 gr AE stuff here's the price breakdown for 500 rds of my handloads:

Hornady 150 gr FMJ BT bullets $110
CCI - BR2 Primers - $28
LC 1F cases - $93
Varget Powder - $95
Total - About $390 after 12% tax/shipping

vs

$373 after tax for 500 rds of Factory AE

Now I know with the next set of reloads the LC 1F cases are discounted, but if I buy the factory stuff I could just sell the cases for pretty much the same price as the LC stuff on the EE, so it works out that the factory stuff would be the same (if not cheaper).

Any suggestions on how to save reloading plinking rounds other than the primers?
Click to expand...

powder doesn't cost that much where i live!!!!
http://www.higginsonpowders.com/
bulk is better!!!

and bullet might be cheaper here http://www.budgetshootersupply.ca/
 
bench rest primers for plinking only? could save some $$ there

if you use the cases more than once, take off $93 for 2nd reload batch

hornady bullets are big $$$, I would not use them for just plinking.


actually, I dont get the concept of plinking with .308, I plink with cheaper .223 or 7.62x39 :D
 
The argument with the brass is that I can sell the factory AE brass back on the EE and recoup those costs, same as getting brass for free from range pickups...so in reality the 500 rounds of factory would cost about $90 less
 
luke s said:
hornady bullets are big $$$, I would not use them for just plinking.

actually, I dont get the concept of plinking with .308, I plink with cheaper .223 or 7.62x39 :D
Click to expand...

What other brands are there for volume loading .308? I get all my supplies from Budget Shooter Supply, and those seemed to be the cheapest in terms of bulk bullets.

I just worked out the costs for reloading .223 and that's definitely cheaper than any factory rounds (unless there's a giant Boxing Day sale =P)

I was also getting in 7.63x39 reloading but I couldn't find a place that sold bulk bullets at less than 20 cents each...

Time to do more looking around hahaha
 
Depending on the type of rifle you are plinking with, your brass could last 5-10 loadings. Again if just plinking, look at some of the surplus powders from Higginson. BR primers, switch to Winchester large rifle primers.
But components in bulk of at least 1000 primers, bullets and 7-8lbs of powder at a time is cheaper than buying a couple lbs of power and a couple hundred primers and bullets at a time.

I don't load for plinking, but I know I can make better and cheaper match ammo than I can buy.
 
I have done some playing with WC735 in my .308... Should be fine for plinking...

Don't much see the point in throwing Varget into cases for plinking... Specialy with cheap bullets.

Also +1 on Winchester primers... Don't have anything bad to say about them at all.

Keep an eye open for cheap PRVI bullets... They shoot great and decently priced.
 
Your getting way way better ammo for the price. AE surplus ammo is garbage ammo and your comparing it to hornady bullets and benchrest primers. Sorry but there's no comparison to be had there
 
If you're looking for cheap, you have the wrong caliber, go to .223. I am feeding 4 .308's at the moment,and I know it aint cheap. I use the same bullets you are using, CCI large rifle primers @ about $30/k, H335 powder@ $21/lb (which both my m14 and AR10 seem to like), and of course the brass which I find is still cheaper to buy factory ammo the first time rather than actually buying brass outright. Its about as cheap as you are going to get without shooting cast, but it's still at least double the price of .223 (it's also way more fun). You just have to bite the bullet so to speak:D or change calibers.
 
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