.243win or 6.5cm for Deer?

Suther said:
I haven't run the numbers in a while, but last time I did it (which was pre-covid) was only ~$25 an hour I was saving when using cheap bullets. Of course this all depends on how particular you are, what kind of press you're using, what kind of scale you're using, etc etc.
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And if you enjoy the reloading as a hobby unto itself, along with the custom ammo advantages, etc.


Mark
 
Suther said:
Have you actually run the numbers?

How many rounds do you make in an hour? How much would it cost to buy that same ammo? Subtract from that your component costs. Now how much are you actually saving by rolling your own?

I haven't run the numbers in a while, but last time I did it (which was pre-covid) was only ~$25 an hour I was saving when using cheap bullets. Of course this all depends on how particular you are, what kind of press you're using, what kind of scale you're using, etc etc.
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I enjoy reloading so my time is not anything I’d factor into it, I bought the majority of my gear and components before the prices went through the roof. I know I’m loading for less than factory, breaking it down to the penny isn’t something I give a crap about.
 
I reload for a bunch of different reasons, depending on the purpose of the ammunition I am loading. Reasons include saving money, Better quality ammo, cartridge/bullet combinations not available in factory ammo and sometimes just having ammo available is a reason. A few years ago even common stuff like 9mm was in short supply.

Today I spent about 3 hours and made 2000 rounds of .223 ammo. Component cost is about 30 cents a round. I've been seeing .223 ammo at $670-800/1000 the last year so $300 +90 min of my time is a pretty good price.

I do yearn for those 2018 era prices where bulk box .223 was $400 or less though.

In prep for hunting season my friend made 50 rounds of her favorite 7-08 load with a 139gr Barnes LRX bullet. It took a bit over an hour. I can only imagine what factory ammo using a premium bullet like that would have cost.
 
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Butcherbill said:
I enjoy reloading so my time is not anything I’d factor into it, I bought the majority of my gear and components before the prices went through the roof. I know I’m loading for less than factory, breaking it down to the penny isn’t something I give a crap about.
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This is me as well. I started reloading in 2009-2010 and paid for all the gear in one summer of shooting 30-06 and .44mag. I'm sure it's painful to start these days.

I forgot to add my $0.02 on OP's question. The answer is always 6.5, for everything. I've got 4 Swede Mausers in 6.5x55 (3 sporters and an M38) and one Savage in 6.5 Creedmoor. The calibre just kicks a$$ for anything that doesn't need a .338 Win Mag, shoots flat, straight and far and does it with very reasonable recoil levels.


Mark
 
Ask a guide! He reply's 6.5 guess I get to kill another wounded bear. Bring enough gun to the party.
A person shot a whitetail buck 24 times with a 22 and it still isn't right.
 
I have used a 243, 270, and 260 on deer. They all killed deer when I made the shot. But it's hunting and the odd time things don't go as planned. I now won't use less than a 130 grain bullet for deer. Now I'm basing this on my personal experience and I hung up the 243 in 1978 and a lot has changed with bullet construction. Still I would use the 6.5.
 
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