Cost per round, store bought VS homemade.

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henry22

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Hello guys. Very new here. I'm in the midst of getting the PAL returned to me, hopefully by June I can purchase my first rifle. I'm set on a lever action. I can always start with a .22LR lever, like a Marlin or a Henry, but, IF I wanted to look at larger caliber levers, such as the:

Marlin 1894 in 357/38 special
Marlin 1894 Lever in .44 Magnum
Henry Big Boy Lever in .357, .44, or .45 colt

STORE PRICING
20 rounds of 45-70 = $62.00 including HST, — $3 bucks per round
50 rounds of .45 colt = $70.00 including HST, — $1.40 per round
50 rounds of .44 rem-magnum = $60.00 including HST, — 1.20 per round
50 rounds of .357 magnum = $43.00 including HST, — 0.86 cents per round

Based on this pricing, does anyone have any "real" costs per round, or cost per 50 rounds, to give me an idea of how much cheaper you can make your own?

I called Cabela's today, and the man I spoke with at the hunting counter said, there are too many variables to be able to give an accurate cost per round / per 50 rounds. Cost of powder, brass shells unpolished vs polished etc. But, he said when he speaks to friends who reload for 9mm, they often can make the same number of rounds sold in a box, for half the price.

Basically, I'd like to know if there's a "more" cost effective larger round to make, comparing all the calibers mentioned above. Is the "half cost" ratio applicable to all of these calibers?

I'd LOVE to be able to shoot 45-70 on a regular basis, but at 3 bucks a round, it's prohibitive. How much lower than $3 can you get that round for if you make it yourself?

Much thanks.
 
Generally speaking, reloading doesn't result in a net cost savings.

The reason for this is you shoot more!

BUT... The ammo you make by reloading is better quality than you can buy!

So, I am a fan of reloading! And, about to step into 50 BMG once I get around to buying the press!

Cheers
Jay
P.S. You could likely reload 45-70 for about half the price you noted, given that you have the brass...
 
These days, people don't get into reloading for cost savings. Primarily, they do it for accuracy. Some get into it because they have a hard time finding factory ammo for the calibers they shoot. Those who go into it thinking they'll save money, quickly realize that is only the case if you shoot high volume and buy in bulk. Even then it is not guaranteed you will save money. Component costs have risen steadily in recent years. You also have to factor in initial set up costs. Buying everything new will set you back a good chunk of change.
 
I started loading strictly for the cost of 45 colt. I couldn't afford to shoot it otherwise. Now it's no big deal to rattle off a few hundred rounds at a time.
 
I load .357, .44, .460, .303, and .308. Typically the cost (not counting initial eqpt. Cost) is just less than 1/2 good quality factory rounds. Rifle accuracy is much better with hand loads for me. I shoot the same amount, factory or reloads, so it is a direct savings for me to reload but it does take time to do.
 
Well, the math is simple division.
Cost of bullets divide by number of projectiles.
Same for primers.
Same for Brass, but that is only after the initial outlay.
Then it is the cost of powder, but gets a little confusing in that the cost of powder divide by powder charge and then how many rounds by the weight of the powder charge.
Generally less than 1/3 the cost once you get going.
But, one has to amortize the cost of dies, press and other bits and pieces.
That really shouldnt factor into a ''Cost'' though as this is a hobby more or less and some it is more...much more.
Rob
 
Even if I am using Brand new brass with the correct headstamp, I can load my 308 Norma Magnum for
$25.00 less per box than I can buy it. As well, I am loading a premium bullet, which the factory offering
is not. I also can develop a load that trumps the factory offering in accuracy and velocity.
So it is win/win, all the way around. Every re-use of the brass, brings the total cost down. D.
 
Projectile cost is the bulk of your cost when reloading. Going to cast Bullets is a fair bit cheaper. I buy cast lubed bullets for 10 cents each for 357,45auto and for my 45 colt. Jacketed bullets will be more.
 
You should be able to realize substantial unit cost savings for all of the cartridge types you have listed. I would consider reloading a must for all of them. Plated (e.g. Berry's or Campro) or cast bullets will be much less expensive than any of the jacketed bullets that a store like Cabela's sells. For example, my approximate .44 Magnum costs per thousand are as follows:

Campro bullets: $150
Dominion or S&B primers: $40
Powder: $25 for light loads using 700X or $130 for heavy loads using W296 or H110
Brass: $30 assuming $300/1000 and 10 reloads per case

Total: $245/1000 for light loads or $350/1000 for heavy loads. Alternately, that would be $0.245/round and $0.35/round respectively.

.45 Colt would be similar in cost to the light .44 Magnum loads above.

Even if you still end up spending the same amount, more ammo for the same cost is still more value for money.
 
Notwithstanding the above noted comments, reloading your own ammo is a big money saver. Of course, you must buy your reloading setup pay upfront costs, however, amortizing this cost over production and your costs generally go to zero after 2 years, give or take.
For example: common commercial lead pistol bullets, 9mm, 38, 40, costs about 9-10 cents each. Plated 2-3 cents each more. A LEE 6 cavity mould in .44 caliber costs about C$75.00. After casting your first 1000, all your subsequent thousands of casts are free.
The main reason persons reload is so they don't have to purchase factory ammo.
 
You can load 45-70 with cast lead bullets (store-bought) and shoot for less than 50 cents a shot.

But, handloading becomes an interesting hobby in its own right. More than just a way to get cheap ammo.
 
henry22 said:
Hello guys. Very new here. I'm in the midst of getting the PAL returned to me, hopefully by June I can purchase my first rifle. I'm set on a lever action. I can always start with a .22LR lever, like a Marlin or a Henry, but, IF I wanted to look at larger caliber levers, such as the:

Marlin 1894 in 357/38 special
Marlin 1894 Lever in .44 Magnum
Henry Big Boy Lever in .357, .44, or .45 colt

STORE PRICING
20 rounds of 45-70 = $62.00 including HST, — $3 bucks per round
50 rounds of .45 colt = $70.00 including HST, — $1.40 per round
50 rounds of .44 rem-magnum = $60.00 including HST, — 1.20 per round
50 rounds of .357 magnum = $43.00 including HST, — 0.86 cents per round

Based on this pricing, does anyone have any "real" costs per round, or cost per 50 rounds, to give me an idea of how much cheaper you can make your own?

I called Cabela's today, and the man I spoke with at the hunting counter said, there are too many variables to be able to give an accurate cost per round / per 50 rounds. Cost of powder, brass shells unpolished vs polished etc. But, he said when he speaks to friends who reload for 9mm, they often can make the same number of rounds sold in a box, for half the price.

Basically, I'd like to know if there's a "more" cost effective larger round to make, comparing all the calibers mentioned above. Is the "half cost" ratio applicable to all of these calibers?

I'd LOVE to be able to shoot 45-70 on a regular basis, but at 3 bucks a round, it's prohibitive. How much lower than $3 can you get that round for if you make it yourself?

Much thanks.
Click to expand...

Your prices are a bit on the high side.

If I were you I would start with a 22lr. Then you can plink all day long without worrying about costs. After you've shot a few thousands rounds of 22lr, maybe you'll find you want another lever action, but maybe you'll want to try a semi-automatic (for sheer fun) or a bolt action (for extreme long range precision).

If you want to start with a centerfire, I would start with a 357. The kick is between 45LC and 44mag, the ammos are the least expensive and most available, and if you want to get into reloading, then components (brass and bullets) are the most readily available too. Make sure you keep your brass, if you decide to start reloading you'll have something to begin with, and if not, you can always sell the cases on the EE.
 
With reused brass my 44 mag loads are 26 cents a round with cheap bullets and 357 mag are about 18 cents each BUT I've loaded 4000 rounds so far this year! Not really saving money but I am shooting more.
 
nomad 68 said:
These days, people don't get into reloading for cost savings....
Click to expand...

Some people start reloading to save money. It really depends what kind of shooting or firearms you are interested in. I don't load for accuracy as much as I do for availability because I can't buy factory ammo for many of my guns, or if factory ammo is available it is rare or expensive.

For instance: 455 webley ammo often isn't available in Canada. Factory 458 winmag costs $4 per round or more per round but I can load it for under $1 per round.

I also like being able to better factory ammo in the accuracy dept, but that's not always the primary reason I reload.
 
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Reloading can be done for many reasons. A reloaded 308 can cost you 2X the price of a cheap PMC (think norma brass with expensive bullet and BR primers) or 25% the price of an expensive brand (think campro bullet with reused brass and cheapest possible primers).

The more expensive the ammo the more you can save by reloading. In some cases for rare ammos it's just crazy. 32acp (which is kinda rare due to being prohib) is quite expensive to buy but not very much to reload.

Anyway no one's gonna shoot for precision at 1000 yard with a SWC in a lever action.
 
Understanding you have the reloading equipment. I bought a used single stage set up for $125.00. I have done 10000 rounds of 38/357 on it.
Do per rounds:
Equipment amortisation $0.012
Projectiles $0.10
Primer $0.05
Brass $0.00 pick up Range brass to get going.
Powder $0.04
Tax and shipping $0.02
TOTAL $0.222
 
VinnyQC said:
Reloading can be done for many reasons. A reloaded 308 can cost you 2X the price of a cheap PMC (think norma brass with expensive bullet and BR primers) or 25% the price of an expensive brand (think campro bullet with reused brass and cheapest possible primers).

The more expensive the ammo the more you can save by reloading. In some cases for rare ammos it's just crazy. 32acp (which is kinda rare due to being prohib) is quite expensive to buy but not very much to reload.

Anyway no one's gonna shoot for precision at 1000 yard with a SWC in a lever action.
Click to expand...

exactly.
455 Webley ammo costs almost $60/ box of 50 if you buy factory. You can load it for a fraction of that AND get better ammo.
Factory 9.3x57 is $100 per 20, reloading is $10.
 
Since you mentioned that you want a lever action, something you could also consider is a lever action 12ga. Corwin was selling them before but I think they sold out but there are other options floating around. I did a round of sporting clays and a few rounds of skeet with my lever over the weekend and the feeling of working that lever to blast two clays out of the air is pretty awesome. Other guys at the range loved it too haha
 
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