I am thinking on reloading
- Thread starter Skogkatt
- Start date
- Location
- Fraser Valley, B.C.
Hoenstly if you aren't shooting allow and looking for the tightest group possible you are better off using factory ammunition.
Most hunting rifles with quality ammo will be more than accurate for hunting. If you wanted to get more accurate and shooting longer ranges then maybe but even some factory ammo will do that.
The cost of components has gone up alongside the cost of ammunition. Its really only cheaper in select situations.
Large rifle primers are also harder to find which all those cartridges would use that would put you at a disadvantage for starting out.
My Vote would be no unless your goals/requirements change.
B
Most hunting rifles with quality ammo will be more than accurate for hunting. If you wanted to get more accurate and shooting longer ranges then maybe but even some factory ammo will do that.
The cost of components has gone up alongside the cost of ammunition. Its really only cheaper in select situations.
Large rifle primers are also harder to find which all those cartridges would use that would put you at a disadvantage for starting out.
My Vote would be no unless your goals/requirements change.
B
Hey! I did a break even for reloading 30-06. If you buy a Lee challenger press and a basic reloading kit for about $600 you should be able to reload 30-06 for about $1.12 each. This is about 50% of buying new.
In my calculation it would take about 600 ish round to break even. Meaning you have saved the cost of the equipment after reloading 600 rounds.
Here is a spreadsheet I made. (Spreadsheet with equipment and costs) and a video I made on my YouTube channel on the subject. (Link to video)
Prices may have changed since I made that video.
In my opinion, you should reload because you want to reload. It takes time and you need to be very focused. If you don’t enjoy it or will be rushing then buy factory.
I don’t count my time in my calculations because I like doing it and it’s is relaxing.
In my calculation it would take about 600 ish round to break even. Meaning you have saved the cost of the equipment after reloading 600 rounds.
Here is a spreadsheet I made. (Spreadsheet with equipment and costs) and a video I made on my YouTube channel on the subject. (Link to video)
Prices may have changed since I made that video.
In my opinion, you should reload because you want to reload. It takes time and you need to be very focused. If you don’t enjoy it or will be rushing then buy factory.
I don’t count my time in my calculations because I like doing it and it’s is relaxing.
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Don't forget you have to ROI your equipment, 600 dollars for reloading equipment is 300 rounds, how long does 300 rounds last you. Plus.... is your time worthless? Mines not.
I used to reload.... alot.
Won't consider it these days, only would for PRS, but I don't do that anymore
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I wouldn't get into it for calibers you can buy, especially if you're only hunting and shoot say 4-5 rounds a year to confirm zero and kill your animal.
If you enjoyed just shooting, and are going to put hundreds of 30 06 down range through your m1 garand then yes do it.
I personally got into it because antique calibers are rediculous expensive if you even find it at all. After that I branched out since it's just another set of dies for a new caliber, besides components of course
If you enjoyed just shooting, and are going to put hundreds of 30 06 down range through your m1 garand then yes do it.
I personally got into it because antique calibers are rediculous expensive if you even find it at all. After that I branched out since it's just another set of dies for a new caliber, besides components of course
- Location
- Van. Is. B.C.
At that level of shooting you would probably not see any savings for many years. BUT if you pick up on the amount you shoot the savings would be realized sooner. Then there is the satisfaction of shooting your own ammo and tailoring it to your needs. If you make ammo for hunting you can use the best premium bullets tailored to your rifle. You can also make low or underpower ammo for new and upcoming shooters that aren’t ready for full power loads. My son and I spent many happy days shooting reactive and moving targets with cast lead bullets in a 30-30 doing around 1300 fps. This was easy for a 13 year old to handle and cost us Pennie’s at the time. As my CGN name suggests I love my 270 Win for hunting and usually use 150 gr bullets around 2900 fps., as a training aid I downloaded 110 gr hollow points for varmint hunting around 2900 fps that matched the drop and ballistics close enough that when it comes time for that shot with 150s I have practiced that shot many times. All this because I reload.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
You will want to look at various accessories - as a young fellow discovered here - not going to get much done with several thousand dollars of components and tooling, but no shell holder for that cartridge. I do not load that cartridge and he did not have the $2 shell holder - neither did I - and now some of them are north of $25 each.
If you bought and stocked up supplies like 5 or 10 years ago, I think you could be money ahead over buying store-bought stuff - but, around here, I am simply not finding ANY Large Rifle or Large Rifle Magnum primers to buy - fairly limited selection of powders as well. So, for some cartridges, I have been gritting my teeth and paying what the retailers price the shells at - a real "shocker" compared to last time I bought store ammo (40 years, or more, ago). No one has mentioned to learn to reload - maybe a Lyman Manual - I have #49 and #50 - the front parts of either book seem to cover off "how" to reload fairly well. About nothing found lacking with second hand tooling - some brass and bullets were also bought "second hand" on CGN - but you will need primers, and where I am there is NONE to buy.
You can and probably will use the same primer in 30-06, 7mm-08 and 30-30 - but the last one will need a different shell holder than the first two - the rim is different size on the case. You will want a press, a set of dies for each cartridge, some way to weigh and dispense powder, some way to measure, trim and chamfer your brass. Some folks will fuss a lot about getting the rounds "shiny" - like new - but really they only need to be clean - no grit on them - tarnished or not is a very minor thing, in the scheme of things.
If you bought and stocked up supplies like 5 or 10 years ago, I think you could be money ahead over buying store-bought stuff - but, around here, I am simply not finding ANY Large Rifle or Large Rifle Magnum primers to buy - fairly limited selection of powders as well. So, for some cartridges, I have been gritting my teeth and paying what the retailers price the shells at - a real "shocker" compared to last time I bought store ammo (40 years, or more, ago). No one has mentioned to learn to reload - maybe a Lyman Manual - I have #49 and #50 - the front parts of either book seem to cover off "how" to reload fairly well. About nothing found lacking with second hand tooling - some brass and bullets were also bought "second hand" on CGN - but you will need primers, and where I am there is NONE to buy.
You can and probably will use the same primer in 30-06, 7mm-08 and 30-30 - but the last one will need a different shell holder than the first two - the rim is different size on the case. You will want a press, a set of dies for each cartridge, some way to weigh and dispense powder, some way to measure, trim and chamfer your brass. Some folks will fuss a lot about getting the rounds "shiny" - like new - but really they only need to be clean - no grit on them - tarnished or not is a very minor thing, in the scheme of things.
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The OP could do it on the super cheap. Lee Classic Loaders are available in 30-06. Some Speer bullets, get a pound of powder on sale for Black Friday...
The idea that you NEED to spend like $600 to get started is ridiculous. A classic loader, a scale (Or the set of Lee scoops), and components are about all you REALLY need to get going. With a box of bullets, a tray of primers, and a pound of powder you could bang out your first 100 reloads for a total investment of like $200+tax, and you'd have ~100 rounds to show for it. Add $50 if OP didn't think to stockpile his brass over the years.
But if the OP is shooting a box or less a year, I wouldn't bother. It'll take years to use up all that ammo and then years more to actually break even. Plus reloading is the mother of all gun-related rabbit holes...
The idea that you NEED to spend like $600 to get started is ridiculous. A classic loader, a scale (Or the set of Lee scoops), and components are about all you REALLY need to get going. With a box of bullets, a tray of primers, and a pound of powder you could bang out your first 100 reloads for a total investment of like $200+tax, and you'd have ~100 rounds to show for it. Add $50 if OP didn't think to stockpile his brass over the years.
But if the OP is shooting a box or less a year, I wouldn't bother. It'll take years to use up all that ammo and then years more to actually break even. Plus reloading is the mother of all gun-related rabbit holes...
Absolutely, it’s a fun hobby to go along with shooting. Getting into it now if you’re not a high volume shooter may be pointless though. I thought I’d use a lot more components than I have. I panic bought every bit of cheap primers and powder if found over the at 4 years. I literally just finished the random sleeves of LRP that came with my second hand reloading kit. The initial investment hurts, especially now. YMMV
