9 reasons reloading is better than store bought
- Thread starter PPCLI-Jim
- Start date
Not mentioned but another potential benefit related to cost is the defraying of ammo cost over time.
I think nothing of a long range session where I send 50-60 or more Creedmoor rounds downrange that I loaded at a cumulative cost of well over 1.5$ a round.
But I would feel a pinch in my wallet every time the bolt closed on a factory round.
People are funny.
I think nothing of a long range session where I send 50-60 or more Creedmoor rounds downrange that I loaded at a cumulative cost of well over 1.5$ a round.
But I would feel a pinch in my wallet every time the bolt closed on a factory round.
People are funny.
It's very close when you compare the ratios.
My original reason for getting into it was lack of factory ammo w/Nosler Partition. Since then, bullet choices that aren't necessarily easily obtained is various cartridges in factory ammo is still a valid one. Avoiding buying multiple lots of the same ammo, hoping to find a good batch, then hoping to find, and not being able to find the same lot, or a decent amount of it to last a few yrs.
Also allowed me to buy guns, or use cartridges I would have not bought or used otherwise. In some cases, it saved me some money.
I got involved with some disciplines, met some people, I never would have, which gave me the chance to do some other things that I most very probably would not have had the chance to do.
Also allowed me to buy guns, or use cartridges I would have not bought or used otherwise. In some cases, it saved me some money.
I got involved with some disciplines, met some people, I never would have, which gave me the chance to do some other things that I most very probably would not have had the chance to do.
The article gives $20-30 for a box of 308 Winchester. This does not exist any longer. Furthermore, it gives a cost of $0.40–$0.60 for a handloaded round. When the price of 1 lb of powder is $99 for Varget these days, $0.40-$0.60 does not even cover the price of powder. The price of one Nosler Partition bullet in 0.264-0.308 range is now around $1.80, it is around $0.45 for a Speer bullet, $0.6 for a Sierra bullet...Not to mention the price of cases and primers. I handload, but I believe the monetary advantage for hand loading over buying factory ammo has narrowed significantly lately.
Joe Amorosi
CGN Regular
- Location
- Not Where I Thought I Was....
6 years ago I could load a 30/06 cartridge for $0.64 with 168grn Speers and IMR 4895. Now the the cost is just over $1.50
All depends what your reloading.
xreload has a great load cost tool, and so do many other places that will allow you to actually check instead of guessing if its worth it.
my 45/70 even with current todays prices I am shooting it for $1.03 or $20.60/20... factory cheap stuff is $4.00 each or $80/20
300wsm with 200gr eldx.... my cost $1.82 or $36.54/20.... factory is $4.75 each or $95/20
checking the shots on those 2...
45/70 has 975 rounds I spent $1004, factory would have been $3900
300wsm has 438, I spent $797 factory would have been $2080
Plus if you shop around I can always find a decent deal and stock up. Believe me those numbers up there are way over what I spent, I used todays numbers and higher ones for the reloads then I would pay.
If your shooting fmj 223 then yah.. its not that much different I bet anymore.
Have you seen factory ammo prices?...
My premium hunting ammo using partitions is almost 1/3 the cost of factory ammo with a premium bullet, and my plinking loads with cheap speer bullets cost under half what the cheapest factory ammo costs.
I don't buy components unless they're on sale, and then I stock up. Bought my partitions 40% off, and I bought enough to keep me going for a few years.
Unless you're shooting 308win, 223, 9mm with the cheapest bulk ammo you can find, there's lots of savings to be had still IMO.
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- Location
- Southern Alberta
If done right, re-loads are more accurate than store bought.
They aren't for sure, both sides of the coin... factory and handloads.
Lots of loaders stock up when there are sales, I wouldn't pay Hodgdon $100/lb prices today, that's pretty steep.
To keep it more today, last 8lb jug I bought of anything was Magpro from Higginsons, it was $400. I was getting low on magnum powder, it was last year, never used it before, but it turned out to be a champ.
Works out to 50 cents of powder in 300Win per cartridge, there are some mag primers still $100/1000, the Bosnia ones or whatever, still decent bullets for 50 cents a pop, so if you got brass $1.10 a round. Way less then factory ammo. Smaller cases like 6mmCM can also use this powder, actually it works in a wide range of cartridges short and long and magnum.
But yeah, if you are stuck in a Hodgdon powder and can't adapt, it's going to get pricey.
I'm still loading 223/7.62x39/30-30 with WC735 that was $7/lb I bought nearly 20 years ago.
The CanAm IMR powders were running $25/lb for very common use burn rates, didn't want to get off track, but most loaders always bought the deals and stayed ahead. Just kinda a part of it. I still got 300 unopened 308 Nosler Partition that went on sale for $25/50.
yes but but I did a cost comparison, my DIY are still cheaper than buying decent ammo.
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My .338LM is about 3. maples, next couple hundred will be about 4 in the future. Which I like to say it's still better than 10 per.
It's not cheaper if factor in your time.
I don't charge myself for my time.
dgradinaru
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- British Columbia
I've found if I come across sales in around 30-40$ a box, I buy bulk. Did a few calculations and sometimes I beat my reloads in cost and time. And yes I actually do come across good ammo at those prices, I just wait for sales.
For example: Norma Oryx in 308 win and 30-06 at 33.99 and 35.99 for premium brass and bonded bullets with accuracy that meets my expectations for hunting 3/4-1 inch at 100 yards is hard to beat.
Ive also been finding deals on PPU in 270 win and 308 win. 25-30$ a box. Great plinking ammo.
The one place my reloads do beat price is in European offerings like the 6.5x55, 7x64, 8x57, 9.3x62 or other magnums. That's also to do with stacking it deep when I've found components at pre COVID prices. Replacing what I have would be rough. Hornaday interlocks literally doubled in price in the last few years. 195gr interlocks would sell for 40-50$ a box, pricing now before tariffs 90-100$. Can't imagine what new stock will be listed for. Been slowly switching out to speer due to cost. Much more affordable, 200gr 60$ for 100 or 170gr 100 pack for 45$.
All that to say, i still enjoy reloading especially for my Wildcats and full power range I can get with it.
For example: Norma Oryx in 308 win and 30-06 at 33.99 and 35.99 for premium brass and bonded bullets with accuracy that meets my expectations for hunting 3/4-1 inch at 100 yards is hard to beat.
Ive also been finding deals on PPU in 270 win and 308 win. 25-30$ a box. Great plinking ammo.
The one place my reloads do beat price is in European offerings like the 6.5x55, 7x64, 8x57, 9.3x62 or other magnums. That's also to do with stacking it deep when I've found components at pre COVID prices. Replacing what I have would be rough. Hornaday interlocks literally doubled in price in the last few years. 195gr interlocks would sell for 40-50$ a box, pricing now before tariffs 90-100$. Can't imagine what new stock will be listed for. Been slowly switching out to speer due to cost. Much more affordable, 200gr 60$ for 100 or 170gr 100 pack for 45$.
All that to say, i still enjoy reloading especially for my Wildcats and full power range I can get with it.
