Advice - Cheapest rifle bullet for reloading

D-man66

D-man66

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Besides handgun ammo it seems it's cheaper to just BUY milsurp or bulk rifle ammo than to try to reload it, RL'ing seems more about being finnicky an creating a specialty load for target shooting.

At the stores, I noticed that when you factor in buying the casings, projectiles, powder, & primer then your time, it comes to MORE than the cost of a pre-made bullet most of the time.

What are some good ammo that's cheaper to reload than to buy, because it seems like a waste of my time to do research on presses/tools n stuff if it won't pay for itself.

V:I: woe is me
 
you only reload for accuracy or if your shooting a expensive cartridge like a 257 weatherby that is $60/ 20pcs, 50 cal, or something that is hard to find. Your time is free time so in reality it doesnt cost you a thing....
 
try buying 260 rem, 30 284, 325, 8 rem mag, 338 06, 375H&H. those are a few i load for. mostly costly some not avalable. i find reloading cheap and relaxing and don't consider my time spent.
 
I have 2 - 308 Norma Magnums. Factory ammo runs from $80.00/20 to $95.00/20 When you can find it!
Reloading makes huge sense in similar situations.
But even with conventional chamberings...once you are set up, you can make ammo better suited to your specific firearm at a very attractive cost.
Better yet, try finding factory ammo that will fit most "wildcat" chamberings.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
Seems like you already have your mind made up that Reloading is too expensive for you....so be it....

D-man66 said:
Besides handgun ammo it seems it's cheaper to just BUY milsurp or bulk rifle ammo than to try to reload it, RL'ing seems more about being finnicky an creating a specialty load for target shooting.

At the stores, I noticed that when you factor in buying the casings, projectiles, powder, & primer then your time, it comes to MORE than the cost of a pre-made bullet most of the time.

What are some good ammo that's cheaper to reload than to buy, because it seems like a waste of my time to do research on presses/tools n stuff if it won't pay for itself.

V:I: woe is me
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chappy said:
try buying 260 rem, 30 284, 325, 8 rem mag, 338 06, 375H&H. those are a few i load for. mostly costly some not avalable. i find reloading cheap and relaxing and don't consider my time spent.
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I agree....I reload everything from 32ACP to 460 magnum in pistols and every rifle caliber that I own up to 8X56R....to me the time spent reloading is just as enjoyable as pulling the trigger... "I just sent a round to the target that I had a hand in making"... thats it for me.....whether it be a 9mm Luger or a custom load for a 9mm Browning Long.....its a rush
 
Ya I have some extinct calibers and some hard to get what I want stuff.
Ie. I own a minty Polish M44 Mosin Nagant with a beautifully finished oversize bore.....I cast my own bullets so I make oversize pills and all is good.
Try to find a box of 6.5x55skan in anything other than 140gr/$30-45 for20.
I'm going to get some 90gr v-max's into the 6.5x55 for coyotes soon.
I also am getting set up for 12ga shot gun for my trap needs....and small game.
 
D-man66 said:
Besides handgun ammo it seems it's cheaper to just BUY milsurp or bulk rifle ammo than to try to reload it, RL'ing seems more about being finnicky an creating a specialty load for target shooting.

At the stores, I noticed that when you factor in buying the casings, projectiles, powder, & primer then your time, it comes to MORE than the cost of a pre-made bullet most of the time.

What are some good ammo that's cheaper to reload than to buy, because it seems like a waste of my time to do research on presses/tools n stuff if it won't pay for itself.

V:I: woe is me
Click to expand...

I can buy grey box Winchester for my 270 win for about $19 on sale. They group good in my gun (about 1 1/4" at 100 yards) That's pretty cheap. I would rather however take my old cases or some that I salvage from the range and reload them with a 110 gr V-max for about 65 cents a piece and shoot 1 1/4" group at 300 yards. Or if you want to shoot some premium bullets in a 270 you can buy them for $45 or $50 or load them yourself for about $18 a box. Remember that your brass can be reloaded several times so the cost is much less than it first appears.

Find a friend who reloads and buy a set of dies for your caliber. Go over to his house load some ammo and have a good time. That's how I got started.

G

Edit:I reread your OP and realized that we are not answering your question. If you are looking for good cheap bullets I would try Hornady or Speer they seem to have the cheapest bullets. I personally like Hornady. They make several bullets with high BC on the calibers I shoot.

Hope this helps. George
 
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I started reloading for my Lee Enfield 2 years ago, I'll never go back to commercial ammo except when I'll need to shoot them to get the empties
 
I load for both .223 and .308, which are also available as milsurp (usually). It costs me about 0.20 a round for the .223 and about .30 for the .308, not counting brass which I get for free.
 
the only factory ammo I shoot is 22lr,22mar,17hmr 7.63X39 and 12g. I can load a box of 20 for my 300WSM using Nosler Acccubonds for $21.20 and it will shoot cloverleafs all day long , If I was shooting factory with nosler AB's I would be $50+ a box and they might not shoot as well . I can load a box of 20 for my 243 using nosler 95gr BTs for $12.20 and it is accurate as hell and a box of factory $20+ . I could go on and on with my other calibers but I think you get the point , It did not take long to pay of my loading equip loading for handgun alone ............
 
D-man66 said:
What are some good ammo that's cheaper to reload than to buy, because it seems like a waste of my time to do research on presses/tools n stuff if it won't pay for itself.

V:I: woe is me
Click to expand...

Reloading? Tell me if this is worth it, per 100 rounds of 50 BMG

Cheapest factory = $650
Target quality = $1600

Cheap reloads = $250
Target reloads = $550
 
I reload several different calibers because they don't have then in factory ammo.I use a Ruger #1 45-70 for one and the ammo for my Hornet costs a fourtune also.For a 300HH mag there isn't much out there either.
 
D-man66 said:
Besides handgun ammo it seems it's cheaper to just BUY milsurp or bulk rifle ammo than to try to reload it, RL'ing seems more about being finnicky an creating a specialty load for target shooting.

At the stores, I noticed that when you factor in buying the casings, projectiles, powder, & primer then your time, it comes to MORE than the cost of a pre-made bullet most of the time.

What are some good ammo that's cheaper to reload than to buy, because it seems like a waste of my time to do research on presses/tools n stuff if it won't pay for itself.

V:I: woe is me
Click to expand...

I shoot .308 for about $57 per 100. At the store it about $22 ($110 per 100)after tax. As for the cost of my time, an hour or so at a time after the kids go to bed it not worth much

100 once fired brass $25 (used 4 times $6.25)
100 hornady SPBT $28
100 primers $5
1 pound varget $35 (will load 180 rounds so $18 per 100)
6.25+28+5+18=$57 per 100
I wish I started reloading years ago
 
A Lee Loader for my 308 Mauser is fine for me. Cheaper than factory, accurate and loads that are not hot. Only neck sizing the brass lasts much longer, plus it's kind of a hobby I enjoy. 22-250 bullets are like $15 for 100 if that's what the OP was asking for cheap bullets.
 
SandRoad said:
Reloading? Tell me if this is worth it, per 100 rounds of 50 BMG

Cheapest factory = $650
Target quality = $1600

Cheap reloads = $250
Target reloads = $550
Click to expand...

Funny, that's one of the few rounds I was considering for reloading, really interested in the Gepard GM6 Lynx.

But it seems that's the jist of it, reloading is for maximizing power & accuracy for your particular rifle, or saving money on very large calibers (some of which cost $35 bucks a bullet) or very rare calibers/antiques no longer made.

The only rifle cartridge that seems to be slightly cheaper to reload is the .223 an the .308 an those are the two I'm primarily interested in. The 7.62x39mm, 7.62x54R, .30-06 are not worth the effort for cost alone I would think.
 
I reload 9mm for the cost savings. Its half the price of the cheapest crap you can find out there. I am gonna get the dies and stuff for my 264mag as that ammo is near impossible to find and damn pricy when you do find it. NO matter what you are shooting, reloads are always cheaper, but if you factor in a dollar value on your time, it could be close. With a progressive press like my hornady lnl I can churn out 3 - 500 an hour so if you say $50/hour then I guess its not worth it lol. Reloading tends to be a hobby all its own
 
The inictial set up may cost you, but it will pay for itself after a bit.

These prices are on the high side fyi:
Lee annivercery kit:$200
Lee die set:$60
Lyman tumbler:$60
Tumbler media:$20
Total equipment setup: $340 (let's call is $360 to be generous if you add loading tray, a manual scale, case trimmer ext)

Ill use my 6.5x55 load data for this..
47grains R22 Powder cost:$0.26
Primer: $0.05
Bullet:$0.40
Brass is free as I had tones from factory loads
Cost per round reloading: $0.71

Cost per round factory: $1.60

Savings: $0.89

$360÷0.89= 405 rounds of ammo and your reloading kit has paid for itself.

405 rounds of factory ammo would be $650 approx. So even once you have paid off the reloading set up you would of saved $290. That's another gun or just over 408 more rounds of ammo you can load.
 
D-man66 said:
Funny, that's one of the few rounds I was considering for reloading, really interested in the Gepard GM6 Lynx.

But it seems that's the jist of it, reloading is for maximizing power & accuracy for your particular rifle, or saving money on very large calibers (some of which cost $35 bucks a bullet) or very rare calibers/antiques no longer made.

The only rifle cartridge that seems to be slightly cheaper to reload is the .223 an the .308 an those are the two I'm primarily interested in. The 7.62x39mm, 7.62x54R, .30-06 are not worth the effort for cost alone I would think.
Click to expand...
That's only part of it.

Once you start you will find it addicting and an entire new hobby as well. Plus theres a huge satsisfaction of shooting decent groups with ammo you made yourself.

Unless military surplus ammo is readily avialable for a caliber, it will always be cheaper to reload.
Except for .22 and those 100 round 12g packs.

Do as others have sudgested. Find a buddy that reloads, buy a set of dies if he/she doesn't already have for your cal, some powder, primers and bullets and have at er on their press and equip to start with.
 
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