Advice - Cheapest rifle bullet for reloading

[KDX]

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.

woe is me

Knitting might be more your style.

 

[Boomer]

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.

woe is me

Handloading can either be a simple or a complex business, that is up to the individual handloader. When a cartridge is reloaded with similar powders and bullets, you basically save the cost of the brass with each loading; therefore over the life of the brass the savings can be significant. Consider the cost of buying 40 rounds of factory .30/06, now consider the cost of loading 40 rounds minus the cost of a single cartridge case. Of course there is more to it than that. The true advantage of handloading is that your rifle/pistol/shotgun is more versatile, so if you can do more with the gun you happen to be carrying, so you tend to carry and shoot it more. When cost is the primary consideration, a centerfire rifle cartridge can be loaded with cast bullets over a pinch of fast burning pistol powder to bring its cost in line with shooting a .22 magnum for plinking or small game hunting. On the day you're concerned with accuracy, handloads can outperform the best factory ammo, because they're tailored for your specific chamber. In the field, when power might be your primary concern, handloads trump factory ammo with respect to bullet choices and the velocity tailored to the optimum terminal performance of that specific bullet.

 

[g-manz35]

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.

This is the best deal going on a reloading kit. All you need is a case lengh guage a set of dies with shell holder and a reloading manual of choice. Better than the 50th anniversery kit because you get the hand prime tool. I could not find it in Canada.

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=LEE90030&src=exrbSrch

I ordered all my RCBS kit from them. Pay a bit more in shipping but I do not regret it.

G

 

[SandRoad]

Funny
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.

That isn't exactly the best attitude with which to begin reloading.

Trying to maximize "power" can lead to an unexpected, and instantaneous destruction of your firearm, which will often remove cherished body parts in the process of turning itself into scrap metal.

 

[D-man66]

That isn't exactly the best attitude with which to begin reloading.

Trying to maximize "power" can lead to an unexpected, and instantaneous destruction of your firearm, which will often remove cherished body parts in the process of turning itself into scrap metal.

Power to me is basically range but everyone reloading knows the maximum charge the rifle can take an how many they can take. The only way you can do that to a rifle is if you went WAY over the powder charge limit for that rifle, or shot too many in a single time period.

 

[meatsticks]

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.

woe is me

Don't know what your talking about... i can buy factory 7-08 for about $30 per box for corelokts, or I can reload gamekings or interlocks for about $13 per box..... I'll do the math for you, thats a $17 per box savings. An equal amount of savings can be had when reloading premium bullets. I will agree that I can pick up winchester 30-06 loaded cheap like borscht, but for premium loads the savings are definately there. I shoot lots more this way, and can tailor my ammunition!