How much cheaper is reloading?

midnightpossum

midnightpossum

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Today I finally took my Swedish Mausers out for a shoot.. I really enjoyed the lower recoil of the 6.5x55.. Before I knew it, I was out of ammo, and was just feeling I was getting started on becoming one, with the iron sights and the rifle... I was using PPU 139 GR FMJ.

Could have easily fired 100 RNDS today, it was just that much fun!. However at $1+ each.. way out of my budget.
 
I listed what it costs me to reload versus what cabelas is charging online for similar ammo. components have become more expensive. When I started it was much more worth it than it is now.
Calibre Reload Cost Factory Cost
223rem $0.28/rnd $0.84/rnd
7x57 $0.69/ rnd $2.77/ rnd
300 WSM $1.40/ rnd $2.83/ rnd
375 H&H Mag $ 2.30/rnd $3.79 /rnd
 
Just done a little research and math. My standard 6.5x55 load for the last 30 years has been 140SP Hornady over 35.0 grs of 4064. This is a mid range load which I have found accurate in a couple M38's, a 96 and a M42B

Always check internet loads with at least one reliable source.

Current prices (at Higginson's) 4064 39.50/lb- 200 loads per lb= 19.75/100
100 140 gr SP Hornady bullets- 43.45 = 43.75
Win Large Rifle Primers 45.00/1000 = 4.50
Total $67.70/100
Tax 8.80
Total Cost 76.50/100 rds- you may have shipping costs as well
Not near as economical as it used to be! I'm still reloading with 25.00 a lb powder, 25.00 bullets and 3 buck a hundred primers but my stockpile won't last forever.
 
I duplicated a load of a Federal Gold Medal Match 178gr SMK in .308. These are selling for around $2.80 per round. I've duplicated it with Lapua brass, CCI BR2 primers, Varget powder, and Sierra SMK's for $1.00 per round. This does not include the sunk costs of setting up the reloading infrastructure.

After you're set up, and you're ok with the sunk costs, it is much cheaper. And, if you shoot enough, you can over time pay for those sunk costs in savings over buying factory ammo.

ymmv
 
In my experience, you shoot more for the same cost as store bought, so you're not saving any money. Until the novelty wears off in a decade. Then you just save money.

But, your loads are better tuned for your gun, so you can enjoy shooting more.
 
If your only purpose is the "cheap" factor I can guarantee you will end up disappointed. Buying "cheap" reloading components and tools will end up "cheap" reloads who won't worth shooting.
Reloading is a hobby like any other hobby and like any hobby is costly (at first). Reloading will teach you many things you never knew before, will make you more responsible and the last but not least will allow you to shoot more. Isn't that the final goal?
If you're shooting only once in a blue moon, don't start reloading as will not worth the expense on equipment and components no matter how "cheap" they are. If you want to shoot that Swedish Mauser a lot then you should start doing your home works and start reloading. You will never regret.
 
Do you know an experienced loader?

All you have to buy is a set of dies (if he does not have 6.5x55), a box of bullets and a pound of powder (4350 or 4831 are good choices).

Go spend an evening with your buddy and load up all the brass you have been saving.
 
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I would have to say it depends.
If your objective is just to load the cheapest possible ammo it will come down to what caliber you are shooting.
Calibers enjoying current low ammo prices are few and are usually some surplus ammo that is landing on our shores from the east block.
These calibers cannot be loaded for less than what they are selling for nowadays.
The more mainstream non military calibers like 308, 30-06, 270 win, 30-30 and all of the magnums to name a few are not as cheap to shoot these days in most
cases they can be hand loaded for less than factory prices. When talking about high power premium ammo hand loading is much more economical than factory.
I personally have never hand loaded only to save money because my objective is to fine tune a custom load for any one of my rifles and for that reason factory
ammo has never attracted me much or shown to be superior to my hadloads.
BB
 
You'll shoot better ammo... But you won't save much $$


Heck, it might turn out to be another expensive hobby :yingyang:
- You'll end up buying more guns, or guns you wouldn't have considered because "hey! It's just one more set of dies..."
- You'll want to shoot more, since you need to make sure to justify spending the $$ on reloading gears....
- Someone will give you a bag of empty casings... next thing you'll be buying dies... and be looking for a gun...
 
Its not cheaper, however you get more and better, more accurate loads for the same amount of money. If you amortize the cost of the reoading press and devices your cost will eventually run about 50 or 60 % of purchased loads, but this depends on what you shoot and/or how many other calibers you got going.
 
I'm not sure what reloading saves me but I know it costs a lot. once you load for expensive rounds like 8 mag, 325,338 06, 375 the savings are huge. common stuff you will save but not as much or not at all cause you will shoot up all your savings..
 
Most of the time, the reloading kit sits unused. So me and a buddy came up with a plan.

We both went half/half on buying a reloading kit. It packs up into a large rolling toolbox, and we share it between us - I have it at my place for a couple weeks, he has it for a couple weeks... For us, it's working so far but we just started this summer.
 
Once you get into reloading the real "savings" is in shooting cast bullets.- Either home cast or purchased. I've got less than 15 cents apiece in my home cast Gas Checked 30 cal rifle bullets. Not sure what commercial casters are charging now but it will be a lot less than jacketed bullets which come out of the States with the significant difference in the dollar added on. Cast loads can be just as accurate, less recoil, less muzzle blast and not as hard on bores as jacketed bullets. Usually use less powder as well. I've never figured it out but I'm sure I'm shooting 3006, 303 Br and 7.62 Russian for less than a quarter a round.
 
Factory ammo is great for folks who do not shoot a lot like hunters and shooters without a range membership or a free place to shoot.

OP if you are somewhat of a volume shooter, reloading is the best and least expensive option. Re-loaders are almost always better marksmen than non re-loaders because they have practiced a lot more. Also, the ability to tune your load to your exact rifle by finding the ideal powder charge offers the highest possible precision. I have seen a re-loader with a cheap savage axis out shoot a gear head with an expensive Sako.

"it's not the arrow, it's the Indian"
 
Lol

It will cost you more, but you will shoot more.
So far, in 7 years of reloading, I dont think that I have saved any money.
But, I shot quite a bit, and I had a ton of fun reloading and shooting my reloads.
My issue is that I keep buying gear.
Its a hobby, its not worth it just for the savings, unless you buy a cheap kit, keep it to that, and reload calibers that are expensive to shoot. I mostly shoot 9mm, 223 and 308, and I shot 600 rounds of 300 win mag when I had my rifle(sold it, I regret).
I am into bullet casting for 9mm also.

Im certainly not saving any money.
 
If you only own a 9mm pistol, a .308 rifle or shoot .223 then buy bulk when there is a deal on.

If you shoot on a competitive basis, or have some more unusual rifle / pistol calibre's you can save money by reloading. Shell cases can sometimes be free from the range, powder bought in bulk on a deal is good value and the same is true for bullets. Add this to a Lee or basic RCBS and you are away.

Reloading is a pastime in its own right, and I personally enjoy doing load development etc. It keeps me going through the depths of a cold winter!

In short it depend upon what and how often you shoot, or intend to shoot.

Candocad.
 
Reloading is saving you money but costing you more by the stockpiles of components you have, also you shoot way more.
Before I use to shoot 100 rounds of 9mm, 40 rds of 223, and 20 rounds of 308 and call it a day
Now its probably 250-300 rounds of 9mm, 100 rds of 223, and 60-80rounds of 308, not including when I bring out the Garand or soon the 6.5 Creedmoor.

But savings
Bulk 223 cost .60/rd reloaded is .26/rd
Precision 308 2.5/rd reloaded is .80/rd
Bulk 9mm cost .32/rd reloaded is .16/rd
 
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