Cost difference

[glockdude]

Im looking into purchasing either a .223 or a 308.

What does it cost you guys to load match grade/type ammo for either caliber.

 

[Kevin M.]

Ok, a few questions, you left that pretty open ended.

Do you have reloading gear?

What distance are you shooting?

What action of rifle? Bolt, semi?

What type of shooting? Benchrest, Action rifle, Hunting?

 

[glockdude]

No reloading gear just yet.
Distance for now until I can find some decent places to actualy shoot 500+ yrd, will be 100 and 200 yrds.
Bolt.
Benchrest.

Cant decide on caliber. Monitary it seems wise to use .223 but if the differnce is only a few dollars between shooting(reloading) .223 and 308 I just might go straight for the 308.

 

[manitou210]

.308win Takes almost 2x powder, bullets about $18 per 100 more, primers cost more,brass cost more. if you shoot 1500 rounds a year it really adds up over costs of shooting 223

 

[Kevin M.]

So depending on what kind of prices you pay for components, expect to pay a little less then double to reload 308 over .223. Prices may vary, but that is probably a fairly reasonable statement once all the components are accounted for.

Large primers are more expensive, almost double the powder depending on the load your gun likes, more expensive bullets.

 

[fiddler]

It also depends on what you're reloading for. The cost of punching paper is less than premium hunting loads. Another worthwhile point to mention is that you cannot only load cheaper rounds, but you can load superior rounds. This in itself has a value when you can load better shooting rounds than you can buy.

 

[stevebc]

Put it this way- I shoot .308 and I wish I could afford to get a nice new .223

 

[northern skies]

I shoot a .308, and find that reloading costs approximately $1 per round of match ammo.

 

[ahlsy]

I was just figuring out what it was going to cost last night. For 1k rounds using Varget and 175gr SMKs

bullets=380$
primers=35$
6ish lbs powder=200$

Total is 615$ per thousand or 61 cents per round not counting the cost of the brass. Figure, up to ten reloads per piece, new Lapua brass would cost another 7 cents per round. Winchester brass would run about 5 cents more.

For 223 using 69gr SMKs and benchmark it comes out around 390$ per thousand or 39 cents per round.

 

[sunray]

"...places to actually shoot 500+ yrd..." Where you are matters. There are no civilian 500 plus ranges, at least not in Ontario. If you want to shoot those distances, join the ORA.
The cost depends a lot on what you pay for the bullets. Match bullets are not cheap in any calibre. Hornady 52, 53 and 68 grain .224" match bullets run around $20 to $23 per 100. SP's run $17.

 

[glockdude]

Thanks guys
I think the best thing is to go for a .223.
Now to pic a good one for the price. SPS Tac might just get the node.

 

[DirtDiver_031]

http://www.milcun.com/ranges.htm

civilian range complex that goes out to 1000m in Ontario. Check it out.

"...places to actually shoot 500+ yrd..." Where you are matters. There are no civilian 500 plus ranges, at least not in Ontario. If you want to shoot those distances, join the ORA.

 

[rookie wildcat]

We have a 500+yd civilian range...

 

[Kevin M.]

We have a 500+yd civilian range...

Judging by your listed location, you are not in Ontario.

 

[rookie wildcat]

Judging by your listed location, you are not in Ontario.

Neither is the OP. Or at least that assumption should not be made since there was no location listed. I assumed he was in AB.