.223

Well.....
You can get powder for anywhere between $20 - $50 per pound.
You can get bullets from $150/1000 - $300/1000
Primers can be had for $30 - $45 per 1000
Brass can be free to $70/100

So.......it doesn't cost much, unless it does.

Oh, and you'll need a press, so count on another $150 or $1000.
 
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Grab a load manual, and a copy of the latest Wholesale Sports catalog, and work it out, based on what you want to do.

Long range? Varmints? Banging away at balloons at the range? Deer hunting? :)D)

Pick a load. Primers, figure $5/100, powder $35/7000 grains (one pound), bullets, say $12/100 on up to a buck each.

Powder loads vary from about 3 grains up to 30 or thereabouts, by memory. Depends on the powder, and what you want to do with it.

Cheers
Trev
 
If your loading for a bolt gun. I use Blue Dot powder. Only 13.5 gr per load pushing a 50gr to 55gr bullet. That's over 500 loads per lb of powder. The cost of reloading drops alot.
It won't work in a semi though, it won't cycle it.
Lots of info on the net on it.
Regards, Henry
 
I have also used Bluedot with 45gr bullets on gophers this past summer.

You can shoot alot more rounds before the barrel gets warm.
 
I just worked this out today for a rifle i am going to be building a round for. I've got a Hornady V-Max sitting on top of a max of 20.0gr of IMR 4198 with CCI Small Rifle primers in Remington cases. I bought the cases new(want to load right away not wait for used in the mail) and the round will cost me 79 cents per for the first round of 100 brass and then 39 cents there after.

kastles
 
Not counting brass ('cuz I have lots of it on hand) I can reload 55gr FMJ's .223 for about 25 cents each. the biggest contributing factor is bullets. If you use premium ones the cost goes up significantly.
 
I'm looking into the costs of starting reloading too. As far as I figure, a cheap plinking batch of 1000 will cost:

$49/1000 once fired .223 brass (SFRC)
$38/1000 small rifle primers (SFRC)
$150/1000 55gr .224 cal. FMJBT Hornady bullets (Reloaders.ca)
3x$35/lb IMR 4320 (based on 21gr./case load, I've also heard that 19gr. 4198 works well too, but I'd recommend buying a loading manual and going off that, not loads you hear about on the internet :D)

Total: $342 ($293 when re-using brass) + tax and shipping

This is of course in addition to your original equipment costs; however, it's almost $200/1000 cheaper than buying the cheapest factory ammo. If you shoot a lot, you'll pay for all your equipment within a few years.
 
This is of course in addition to your original equipment costs; however, it's almost $200/1000 cheaper than buying the cheapest factory ammo. If you shoot a lot, you'll pay for all your equipment within a few years.


Dreamer........
I shoot more = costs more
Never will pay for the equipment. :=P
 
I paid 13/ pound for WC-735 (24.5 gr per round)
I am still using 55gr FMJ bullets I paid 80/1000, and I paid 30/1000 for CCI BR primers. I dont count the brass in the cost, as I have scored thousands of free pieces at the range. So In total right now, it costs me .16-.17 cents per round.
 
In todays dollars.... (I know some of you guys have an 'in' or a chaeper source but I don't)

1000 Match Primers - $45 (if you can find them at all)
3LB of Powder - $105 ($35 ea)
1000 Nosler 50gr BT - $240 ($60 per 250)
1000 1xf brass - $49 + Shipping (SFRC)

For a total of $439/1K or $.44 ea round..... For PREMIUM high quality hunting ammo, suitable for Coyotes, Prarie dogs and Gophers. Compare at $1.05 per round for equivelant factory ammo.

You could get the prices down by buying a less expensive hunting bullet to say $110/1K and you could drop another $5 by using non-match primers. So $304/1K or $.31 ea round.

Cheers!
 
My last batch of 500 came in just shy of 40 cents per round. That's using PP boolits. My 300 rounds of 60 gr Vmax came in around 45 cents per round. You don't really save money reloading. That's probably the biggest rumour going. You just shoot more for the same price and better quality ammo than factory IMHO.

-Jason
 
I am using 60gr. Nosler ballistic tips. Hodgdon H4895 powder, CCI #40 primers and my .223 caliber brass from new cartridges I fired once. Comes out to about 43 cents a round.
 
For my AR's I use: Speer #1050 FMJ 62 gr bullets
IMR 4064 powder
CCI 400 SR primers
for a total of $0.41/cartridge.
New casings would add $0.37/cartridge.

Those are my choice ingredients, others have theirs.
 
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