Cost of reloading ?

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jasiu123

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Hello,

In my quest to explore what is cheaper and better, reloading or factory ammo, I have read quite a bit and found alot of good info. But I am still missing basic financial info.

For example I have been trying really hard to calculate cost per round to reload ball Win 308 ammo vs the USA factory. Components I am missing is how much power will I use for each round. How many times will I be able to reload the win brass. etc
This is what I was able to come up with so far:
The best I have gotten (without taxes, in ONT):
USA Brand bought in bulk (1200 rnds): $0.55 rnd
Reload Win 308 (similar to USA): $0.39 rnd
Included FMJ, same powder, cost of tumbler media, lube.

Someone at the range told me that it would be around half of the price of factory ammo. And if this is true then why isn't there anyone doing commercial reloads, etc ?
How come no one is producing ammunition in Canada ? (other then SMC)

Could someone please help me, thank you
 
it really depends on what type of bullet you choose and the type of powder.
Bullets vary in price, and so can powder.

reloading usually works out the be half the price of buying factory. Mind you.. the prices you have listed there are nothing to sneeze at. It seems like a very reasonable price for factory stuff.

my rifles are much more accurate with my reloads than they are shooting factory ammo, and at half the cost.
 
online cost calculator

Why don't you try using this online cost calculator:

http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

And to answer your question about why no one does commercial reloading, well, several companies in Canada do just that. Including:

http://www.wolfbullets.com/

http://www.combatmasters.ca/

etc

Only some people reload because it is cheaper than factory, many reloaders do it for other reasons. To tailor a load to a specific target/firearm to use a obsolete or wildcat cartridge or just because reloading is their hobby.

I personally shoot handloads out Armament Technologies .223 that cost several times the price of factory ammo. I also reload 9mm because that is cheap and I can make gamey-mouse-fart-loads for IPSC.

Anyway, reloading is worth doing for a lot of reasons and your reasons don't have to be the same as anyone else's.
 
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Reloading isn't about cost. It's about using the best possible ammo in your firearms.
"...why isn't there anyone doing commercial reloads, etc?..." Too much government interference, the high cost of starting any business and liability issues.
 
Just adding a bit here to Sunray;.....INSURANCE......If someone uses your ammo in the wrong gun, you could have quite a Lawyers bill on your hands.....don't think it could happen?? Didn't someone want to join two guns together on this site? and another want to glue the action to the stock!
 
Just worked out that my 243 costs a buck a shot so no real savings there but I can but 3 shots into 1/2" at 100y. can't do that with factory
 
Cost of reloading depends on how much loading you intend to do. If memory serves me right I think 7000 grains in a lb of powder so do the math. Back when our dollar went south big time everybody that shot big amounts of ammo was reloading. Now trap shooters in general buy the cheap stuff and the guys that are loading are doing it to reduce loads /recoil or they have a ####load of components they want to use up. When you shoot 100-300 rnds a yr at coyotes---you reload for accuracy and cost. When you shoot 500 rnds a yrs at prairie dogs you reload for accuracy/cost. If you shoot 3 shot out of the 270 every season you go buy a box of ammo and call it a day.

The other factor in reloading whether your a silhoutte shooter, trap shooter , varmint hunter or pistolaro is you reload because you really enjoy it. I know trap shooters that reload when they know its only saving them 30 cents but they like it. As for commercial reloaders, they've been around but they don't last long and I'me sure quit because of liability reasons----Cowboy
 
sunray said:
Reloading isn't about cost. It's about using the best possible ammo in your firearms.
Click to expand...

Bingo!

Furthermore the cost of reloading, whether or not you choose to believe so, includes capital costs of the gear involved (opportunity cost) and your time. With all but the least common (priciest) ammo or unless you send one hell of a lot downrange each year, if you're just comparing component costs at Russells to the cost of the finished product you're kidding yourself, you won't save $$,,,nuff said.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't reload.

Reloading is a more entertaining and important part of our sport than the single, and often futile, effort to save a few pennies per round. Get into it for these other reasons and you'll be well rewarded.
 
my 243 load costs $0.41 and shoots 3 shot 3/8.

the most costly component is the bullet. my load is with v-max 87gr if i switched to a failsafe of Barnes tripple shock the cost would easily be 80 to 90 cents.
 
Colin said:
The price of components just went up so the actually cost is going to change for a bit
Click to expand...

Psst! Those same components go into factory ammo so it will go up also!;)

Yes there are capital costs to reloading, but if you ever decide to get out of reloading a good portion of those costs can be recovered if you sell the equipment.

Another benifit to reloading is learning more about the ammunition you are building versus just pulling ammo out of a box and shooting. Which in turn can give you more insight into your own firearms. All part of a well-rounded gunnut education IMHO.

If you are just curious, you can buy some very inexpensive starter kits. Or even hand-press kits and a few basic tools can give you a taste of reloading. But it's just like a moose steak, one bite is never enough.
 
I used to spend about$100 a year on ammo,then I started to reload and after capital expenditures it cost me $225 for the first year.Save money? Maybe not,but I sure enjoyed a lot more shooting.:D
 
I load for both accuracy and cost savings. I've picked up smoking good deals on match grade bullets at gun shows (I've got several thousand match grade .308 bullets in storage now) and I buy bulk powder from Higginson Powders. I can load very accurate .308 ammo for about $.30 each and about the same for .223 with Sierra 69 gr (these bullets cost me more but less powder).
 
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