In my experience, I reload for accuracy to each of my precision rifles( 300WM, .223 and .260) Testing and developing a specific load that sees each gun shooting it very best, its all about consistency in that respect, no so much expense. Very recently I have started to reload for my handguns (9mm, .45ACP and .357 mag) I like to shoot a lot, and even buying bulk Ive found 45ACP for instance is about 60 cents a round, even more for .357 mag! So as far as the handguns go I do it for cost savings, although I also find it therapeutic in my gun room tinkering away. I loaded about 300 rounds last night in peace and quiet.
Cost to reload ???
- Thread starter mattbol
- Start date
There are quite a few cartridges that factory rolled reaches over $100 per 20 rounds, that is where it will save a lot and quickly recover any $$ invested in reloading equipment. Everytime I load up about 50 or 100 7mmSTW or a bunch of 25-35 I can't help but smile.
I myself love reloading as a hobby and would do it even if it saved me nothing or cost a little more.
Also, once you have the gear to reload, all it takes is a set of dies, and hunt down brass, or make brass from another cartridge to load for a new rifle, which then opens up choices in calibers you would otherwise skip over due to ammo availability.
I myself love reloading as a hobby and would do it even if it saved me nothing or cost a little more.
Also, once you have the gear to reload, all it takes is a set of dies, and hunt down brass, or make brass from another cartridge to load for a new rifle, which then opens up choices in calibers you would otherwise skip over due to ammo availability.
For me I forget about the cost savings if there is any which honestly I have never really seen in the big picture since you are always upgrading your gear, buying components you don't use etc , etc. It is about producing quality ammo when you want it and in what ever configuration you want rather than going and hoping you can find something at a sporting good store that is even in your caliper then pray that it will work somewhat OK
Plus reloading is fun
Cheers
Plus reloading is fun
Cheers
Last edited:
Everyone reloads for their own reasons.
But really for .223/5.56, 9mm and .45acp if that is the ONLY ammo you shoot and will reload for then you really need to look at how much ammo you go through. With .223/5.56 and 9mm you're looking at the worst possible examples FOR reloading in terms of cost. The break even point on supplies and outlay for the gear is quite a few thousand rounds of reloading down the road. And if you only shoot a total of 3K to 4K of these two sizes all together per year you're probably looking at your break even point being two to three years down the road if you go for a progressive press right out of the gate.
With .45acp the cost saving will be more significant but you still need to be shooting a pretty fair quantity to pull the break even point down to a year or less when included with the other calibers.
Also how much time do you have at home? Folks with kids and such might find it hard to get more than an hour or two a week for reloading. But then such folks also find it hard to get to the range consistently as well.
So much of the answer depends on your personal situation at home and how often you shoot presently.
But really for .223/5.56, 9mm and .45acp if that is the ONLY ammo you shoot and will reload for then you really need to look at how much ammo you go through. With .223/5.56 and 9mm you're looking at the worst possible examples FOR reloading in terms of cost. The break even point on supplies and outlay for the gear is quite a few thousand rounds of reloading down the road. And if you only shoot a total of 3K to 4K of these two sizes all together per year you're probably looking at your break even point being two to three years down the road if you go for a progressive press right out of the gate.
With .45acp the cost saving will be more significant but you still need to be shooting a pretty fair quantity to pull the break even point down to a year or less when included with the other calibers.
Also how much time do you have at home? Folks with kids and such might find it hard to get more than an hour or two a week for reloading. But then such folks also find it hard to get to the range consistently as well.
So much of the answer depends on your personal situation at home and how often you shoot presently.
Last opportunity I got to buy powder at a lgs it was 54$ a pound and I refused to pay it.
Not much savings unless you are into oddball calibres or big stuff. Lots of savings for let's say 45-70, 375hh, etc.
At one time with all my scrounging I got .38 special down to about par with .22lr (when it was $20 a brick!) with some wheel weight cast bullets, A keg of old powder I got for cheap and primers I got on sale. Brass was free of course
Paying retail for components is crazy expensive and won't save any if at all.
But it's satisfying to create something you can hit a target with or take down an animal with.
Not much savings unless you are into oddball calibres or big stuff. Lots of savings for let's say 45-70, 375hh, etc.
At one time with all my scrounging I got .38 special down to about par with .22lr (when it was $20 a brick!) with some wheel weight cast bullets, A keg of old powder I got for cheap and primers I got on sale. Brass was free of course
Paying retail for components is crazy expensive and won't save any if at all.
But it's satisfying to create something you can hit a target with or take down an animal with.
Last edited:
that's a handy calculator, thanks for posting the link. For 9mm I'm under $150/1000 and can go through 2,000 rounds a month easy. So if retail is average $300/1000, I'm saving ~$3,600 per year on paper.
One thing people need to account for also is wastage like crunched primers or reloaded rounds that fail chamber checking (I'm trying a number of different powders, so I don't take a chance and just toss the powder). So for cost calculations, maybe add a 2% waste factor.
Also, depending on what you are reloading for, you will consume additional rounds in testing. I reload for IPSC minor power factor, so always trying to hit 900fps with a 9mm 147gr projectile. Working up loads for each type of powder will consume ~100 rounds each, and maybe I'll run a test batch through the chrono every now and then to confirm my powder setting hasn't drifted. And then I do something silly like add a 9mm revolver so the process starts up all over again lol. It's definitely an enjoyable hobby on it's own
One thing people need to account for also is wastage like crunched primers or reloaded rounds that fail chamber checking (I'm trying a number of different powders, so I don't take a chance and just toss the powder). So for cost calculations, maybe add a 2% waste factor.
Also, depending on what you are reloading for, you will consume additional rounds in testing. I reload for IPSC minor power factor, so always trying to hit 900fps with a 9mm 147gr projectile. Working up loads for each type of powder will consume ~100 rounds each, and maybe I'll run a test batch through the chrono every now and then to confirm my powder setting hasn't drifted. And then I do something silly like add a 9mm revolver so the process starts up all over again lol. It's definitely an enjoyable hobby on it's own
Last opportunity I got to buy powder at a lgs it was 54$ a pound and I refused to pay it.
Not much savings unless you are into oddball calibres or big stuff. Lots of savings for let's say 45-70, 375hh, etc.
At one time with all my scrounging I got .38 special down to about par with .22lr (when it was $20 a brick!) with some wheel weight cast bullets, A keg of old powder I got for cheap and primers I got on sale. Brass was free of course
Paying retail for components is crazy expensive and won't save any if at all.
But it's satisfying to create something you can hit a target with or take down an animal with.
Use the calculator I posted, the cost of a pound of powder going up a couple dollars doesn't really change your cost per round drastically.
It's like the cost of fuel, My car can only drink premium and when gas prices are low like they are now compared to when it was at it's peak not all that long ago makes the cost of a fill only change by a couple dollars. It seems like a lot when you look at the price but it doesn't translate into a huge increase in actual cost.
The only cartridges that the cost of a pound of powder would make a more noticeable increase in cost are high capacity cartridges like my 338 Lapua where I only get 70 rounds from a pound. Reloading for pistols where you are only using 5-7 grains the cost per round hardly changes since you get so many rounds from a pound.
I don't reload to save money though, I reload because I can make high quality ammo specifically tailored to my firearms for the cost of cheap bulk ammo. For an example, I can reload 300 Blackout with A-max bullets for almost as cheap as 7.62x39 surplus and my rounds shoot sub moa.
Indeed, there's 3 cents worth of powder in my 9mm reloads. If powder doubled in cost it only be another buck and a half per box. One less burger combo upsizing.I guess.
So if I were to buy federal gold metal match for my .308 I would be looking at approx 3.50 each time I pulled the trigger. I customize my own for approx 68 cents a shot for supplies. My time for doing this is priceless because it keeps me occupied and my OCD in check. If I were to calculate my time it at 20.00 an hr it would be about 90 cents a shot since I load precise loads and use a single stage press. So in the end I am still saving over 2.00 a shot, and yes you will shoot more than normal due to the fact that the cost per round is lower. So a money saver yes, but you will still spend it n components.
Are you loading for the rem 700 AAC-SD? I have one of those as well, mind sharing what projectiles and powder you are using for it?
I reload .223 for $0.208 per round but I buy in bulk.
It shoots very well in my rifles.
S&B SR Primers $135/5,000.
Hornady 55gr FMJ with cannelure. $600.00/6,000
WC735 powder. $184.00/8lbs.
The trick is to buy components when they are on special and in bulk wether you need them or not at that particular moment.
It shoots very well in my rifles.
S&B SR Primers $135/5,000.
Hornady 55gr FMJ with cannelure. $600.00/6,000
WC735 powder. $184.00/8lbs.
The trick is to buy components when they are on special and in bulk wether you need them or not at that particular moment.
Common range calibers like 9MM,40,45,223, and to a lesser degree 308/7.62x51 are not where hobby shooters save money reloading. Premium bullets in hunting ammo and unusual or larger calibers will save money very fast, unless you only shoot 20 a year.
