Economics of reloading in Canada

hdls

hdls

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I'm thinking of getting into reloading, but it doesn't seem like it's worth the cost up here. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong retailers.

Would anyone care to do some back-of-the-envelope math on the economics of reloading in Canada, and perhaps recommend some retailers of reloading components? Let's say I'm trying to reload 1000 rounds of .223 or 9mm.
 
Assuming you have the press/dies/tools and brass...


9mm:

powder: 0.02
bullet: 0.09
primer: 0.03
Cost: 0.14/round

Bulk ammo ~0.30/round

.223

Powder: 0.12
Bullet: 0.12
Primer: 0.04
Cost: 0.28/rnd

Bulk Ammo: ~0.40/rnd


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I reload 9mm, starting on 223 soonish. I still see a measurable saving in reloading 9mm. 223 won't be so much but it will be a far better product than the norinco stuff i'm currently using.
 
Intresting I'm on the fence as well weather I should start or just keep " stimulating the economy" I shoot lots of 9, 556, and 45acp. Obviously not much savings on the 9mm an 556 but how about .45acp?
 
Where the economics of reloading really becomes apparent, is when loading relatively obscure chamberings, or wildcats.

But there is a considerable savings to be realized in many common chamberings as well.

My 308 Norma Magnum, for example....one source of ammo. [Norma of Sweden] Retails for right around $85.00/20 + taxes. I can load it with a premium bullet for $35.00/20 if I have brass. [At today's powder prices]

A box of top-quality 30-06 ammo is approaching $50.00/20, whereas one can load it for around $32.00/20.

If one has "bargain" priced powder to use, or stock from an earlier time, then the price to reload is even more favorable.

I still have some powder from Higginsons that I paid around $8.00/lb for. :)

Regards, Dave.
 
Jerry Champagne said:
Intresting I'm on the fence as well weather I should start or just keep " stimulating the economy" I shoot lots of 9, 556, and 45acp. Obviously not much savings on the 9mm an 556 but how about .45acp?
Click to expand...

For 45ACP think $0.20 per round versus $0.45 per round for Commercial. The reload cost excludes the cost of brass.

The bullet is the biggest cost.
 
Pr589 said:
For 45ACP think $0.20 per round versus $0.45 per round for Commercial. The reload cost excludes the cost of brass.

The bullet is the biggest cost.
Click to expand...

$0.20 sounds good! I have close to 3500 rnds of 45 brass I have been saving since I started considering reloading. @ 0.20 I'll be taking the plunge!
 
Reloading costs need to be compared to match ammo . If you load properly and get the desired accuracy comparing it to bulk ammo doesn't make sense . If your just plinking then just shoot the cheap factory ammo and be happy with that
 
fchan said:
Assuming you have the press/dies/tools and brass...


9mm:

powder: 0.02
bullet: 0.09
primer: 0.03
Cost: 0.14/round

Bulk ammo ~0.30/round

.223

Powder: 0.12
Bullet: 0.12
Primer: 0.04
Cost: 0.28/rnd

Bulk Ammo: ~0.40/rnd


-------------------------------------------------------

I reload 9mm, starting on 223 soonish. I still see a measurable saving in reloading 9mm. 223 won't be so much but it will be a far better product than the norinco stuff i'm currently using.
Click to expand...

Even with the current higher prices, for 9mm you are looking at:

powder: 0.03
bullet: 0.10 lead 0.12 plated
primer: 0.04
Cost: 0.17 - 0.19 per round
 
Eagleye is telling it to you straight. But I will add a bit to his statement in that it all depends how you purchase your components.

If you buy them in 100 count boxes, one pound containers and 100 count primers there may not be any savings. It's when you take care of your brass and reload it several times that the savings start to add up. Then of course if you purchase the rest of your components in bulk, say enough to load up 5000 or more pistol rounds the savings will get much better. There are other options to save as well such as buying cast bullets or casting your own (not always feasible depending on where you live.)

Getting together with a group of friends to buy powder can really get you some great discounts. Check out Higginson's. Even your local gun shop might be willing to give you a discount if they can get the powder in large enough quantities. Same goes for bullets.

The days of cheap 9mm/223/45acp surplus are over for now. I have no idea when or if they will come back again. The same 7.62x25 ammo per 2880 crate which used to sell for $220 is now close to $350 by the time it gets to you and that is just in a year.

All component prices just got a 25% increase since the US dollar started to climb. Last fall would have been a great time to stock up.

Last fall powder was running $30 per pound taxes in. Now it's $40 per pound. The increase in price is directly reflected in the dollar difference. Availability also has some effect on prices.

The biggest saving is your brass and how often you re load it. With proper attention to annealing and moderate loads most brass will last a long time. I have some 40 year old Dominion cases that have been reloaded and re annealed dozens of times and they are still good for more.

Buy in bulk instead of dribbles if you can afford it. That's where it really pays off.
 
Are their any clubs that offer access to equipment or reloading stations/ courses? I know it's tough to justify the up front cost for me but if the gear was available I can collect brass and buy the powder/bullets the cost would b a lot more easy to swallow. Just a thought.
 
This is a very subjective question

I am reloading 60 grain V-max .223 for about $0.47/round
So I am under $10/20

Compare that with buying factory hornady ammunition of the same. Easily $20 or more plus tax per box of 20
So my cost is less than half. But I don't factor in my time. I do it because I enjoy it.
If your time is a factor than you might be outta luck.

The best part of reloading will always be the ability to build a custom load for your specific gun and have it be the same all the time.

Shoot straight - chrisco
 
The bigger the caliber, the bigger the differential in price.

And yes, comparing to match grade ammo is the only fair comparison. Reloading for plinking compared to surplus isn't going to be much of a difference.

I reload 308 and 45, and my 308 is at least 50% cheaper than buying match ammo. 45 works out significantly cheaper as well, plus my SIG likes 200gr SWC better than 230 RN.
 
U
HammerliSP20 said:
Even with the current higher prices, for 9mm you are looking at:

powder: 0.03
bullet: 0.10 lead 0.12 plated
primer: 0.04
Cost: 0.17 - 0.19 per round
Click to expand...

Beg to differ. Even if you pay $40/pound for powder @ 3.5 gr. per round (typical For Bullseye, Clays or Red Dot load) that's 2 cents of powder per round. I've been using Dominion (Russian) primers from Canada Ammo at about $30/1000 or 3 cents each. Several local casters sell 9mm lead bullets in the 8-9 cent each range so fchan is actually right on the money in his estimate unless you're paying top buck for components. I cast my own bullets and after the first couple of thousand bullets have been cast to cover the initial cost of the casting equipment I'm paying maybe 2 cents max per bullet for a total of 7 cents a round (tons of 9mm range brass @ most clubs so that cost is pretty much zero). Therefore I'm paying $3.50-$4.00 max for a box of 9mm. Seems like a pretty god savings over $14-15/box for commercial.

These days the key is casting your own bullets. It's going to save you at least $3-4 per box by itself.
 
Phat Eagle said:
fchan, share your secret! Where do you find 9 cent 9mm and 12 cent .223 bullets!?!
Click to expand...

I wonder if those are cast...? I just purchased 1000 plated Cam Pro 124 gr bullets for $100+taxes. That works out to ~11cents per bullet. His cost is likely just a bit less than mine for reloading 9mm, which I estimate to be $8--$8.50 per 50 rounds.
 
robab said:
Are their any clubs that offer access to equipment or reloading stations/ courses? I know it's tough to justify the up front cost for me but if the gear was available I can collect brass and buy the powder/bullets the cost would b a lot more easy to swallow. Just a thought.
Click to expand...

A couple months ago I started reloading and the basic equipment was about $500. That included just a hand held press and dies for two calibers only. I'm sure it's better to get the full set up attached to a bench, etc. but what I've got is good enough for me. You don't necessarily need a $1000 dollar set up.
 
Bittereinder said:
A couple months ago I started reloading and the basic equipment was about $500. That included just a hand held press and dies for two calibers only. I'm sure it's better to get the full set up attached to a bench, etc. but what I've got is good enough for me. You don't necessarily need a $1000 dollar set up.
Click to expand...

I was just thinking it would be nice if a club had a higher quality one or a faster one. You could do say 300-500 rounds in a couple hours and be on your way for literally a fraction of the cost of buying factory.
 
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