I just read a site sponsors page that advertised good quality ammo at great prices. I saw .338 lapua at 7.80/round and 300 wm at 4.40/round and have to think that I am really glad I reload. Even with Lapua brass and Berger bullets I am in at .30% of the cost. Yes I have money invested in the reloading gear and that will average down as I shoot. I just can't seem to understand the math on that. If I shot 20 rounds a year it might work out but that sounds crazy to me. Every time I look at a US web site I think that reloading is questionable but when I look at the Canadian sites I want to order more powder. Guess I must be insane...
Is the cost ammo Insane or am I?
- Thread starter Magoo22
- Start date
rifleman762
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
I only started reloading when Federal stopped selling 300 WinMag with 180gr Accubonds. I checked the price stickers on the boxes I'd bought; the price climbed from $46/20 to $58/20 in 4 years. Now I'm so far down the rabbit hole that I have some guns that have never seen factory ammo. Next step is thinking about wildcats... And to think I chose the 300WM because of easy ammo availability.
- Location
- On the beach
I just got 3 Enfields given to me (2 MkIII's, and a M47 Sniper), as well as a Ross, 3 Carcanos, a Swedish ag42B and a Kar 98. I may have to learn to reload I guess. Just the .303 price is killing me.
Tenda is the way to go now days... Buying the cheaper calibers there on sale... Wow... I mean is there a point in reloading?
If it turns out to be too much of a drain on you just send them my way. I reload for all of them, I'll even pay shipping.
I was in Utah over the summer and at Bass the powder was 23.99 per pound of Varget and they had lots of it on the shelf. Most of the powder was that price and as high as 31.00. Do the exchange rate and you can see how much we are being screwed.
I used to shoot .338 lm, too much even with reloading. And where I live I never shot it over 500m, so kinda a waste and sold it.
As far as ammo/ reloading components and price go, it's all relative. Someone getting into the game today has never seen a box of primers for $20. Hell I still have price tags on pounds of powder that say $24.99 (cad). To those of us that have been around awhile.... prices are crazy, but what hasn't gone up?
As far as ammo/ reloading components and price go, it's all relative. Someone getting into the game today has never seen a box of primers for $20. Hell I still have price tags on pounds of powder that say $24.99 (cad). To those of us that have been around awhile.... prices are crazy, but what hasn't gone up?
Milanczar
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Look at the cost of oil which was over $110 in 2008 vs about $45 now and that the price of gas at the pump has basicaly crept up to the
same it was in 2008 or that gas prices in the cities inevitable are higher than in rural areas where it costs more to distribute the product.
Another is that the prices in Canada for most items tend to stay the same when the US dollar approaches par but get worse (never to spring back) every
time the Canuck buck drops......
The differences and fluctuations are beyond what you can explain with smaller market/distrubution/labeling or packaging standard with respect to costs.
The Canadian consumer is not exactly facing normal market conditions and its more of what they think the market can bear in cost in a cornered or exploited market condition
without the fear of effective regulation or consumer protection rather than normal forces and effects of cost/demand/supply etc
same it was in 2008 or that gas prices in the cities inevitable are higher than in rural areas where it costs more to distribute the product.
Another is that the prices in Canada for most items tend to stay the same when the US dollar approaches par but get worse (never to spring back) every
time the Canuck buck drops......
The differences and fluctuations are beyond what you can explain with smaller market/distrubution/labeling or packaging standard with respect to costs.
The Canadian consumer is not exactly facing normal market conditions and its more of what they think the market can bear in cost in a cornered or exploited market condition
without the fear of effective regulation or consumer protection rather than normal forces and effects of cost/demand/supply etc
Sure there is: even Tenda's cheapest 9mm is 26 cents/round. Most are about 34 to 38 cents/round.
I can reload for about 15 cents/round.
As others have said, cost (especially .303) was what drove me into reloading.
What keeps me there is better ammo than factory, at far less cost.
At this point reloading 556 is either for bolt gun or not worth it financially.
Tenda and durham outdoors have lowered the prices on bulk 9mm and 556. For 9mm, canada ammo and western metal offer real good prices on reloaded ammos. Cabela's and SFRC have 22lr at prices lower than they were 2 years ago. I think prices got so high so fast that everyone (consumers, distributors) got into reloading. Production of new ammos has also ramped up. Now we're starting to see the effect of that additionnal production. Add that to the newfound strength in the loonie, and we get the prices we get.
Of course, we're never going to see the same prices as in the US (after exchange rate). But have you compared cell phone plans or mutual funds fees between canada and US lately? Guns and ammos aren't the worst. At least for guns we can import through Irunguns and we mostly get the same prices as in US.
Tenda and durham outdoors have lowered the prices on bulk 9mm and 556. For 9mm, canada ammo and western metal offer real good prices on reloaded ammos. Cabela's and SFRC have 22lr at prices lower than they were 2 years ago. I think prices got so high so fast that everyone (consumers, distributors) got into reloading. Production of new ammos has also ramped up. Now we're starting to see the effect of that additionnal production. Add that to the newfound strength in the loonie, and we get the prices we get.
Of course, we're never going to see the same prices as in the US (after exchange rate). But have you compared cell phone plans or mutual funds fees between canada and US lately? Guns and ammos aren't the worst. At least for guns we can import through Irunguns and we mostly get the same prices as in US.
I got into reloading two years ago - its been a learning curve to say the least - I enjoy processing brass and I am able to shoot 223 and 308 much cheaper than if I would have to buy the rounds. I have made some very accurate rounds that you simply would not get with factory ammo. I checked the prices 39.99 for 20 308 rounds? Insane prices to say the least - that being said I have reloaded some of my 308 brass over 10 times already.
My advice to anyone who shoots quite a bit - start to reload or save all your brass for the day that you realize that you should have started to reload already
My advice to anyone who shoots quite a bit - start to reload or save all your brass for the day that you realize that you should have started to reload already
And btw, a lot of people see reloading from the 9mm point of view, but if you start shooting something more expensive, the savings explode. I can reload 44magnum for 30¢/round. New production cost about 1$/round. I can make about 400 rounds/hour, so I save 280$ per hour of work.
So, is there a point to reloading? I believe so, given how I can pay for a full reloading setup just with the savings on my first 1000 rounds.
So, is there a point to reloading? I believe so, given how I can pay for a full reloading setup just with the savings on my first 1000 rounds.
I started reloading so the more expensive stuff could be come more affordable.
I still buy 9mm when it really goes on sale (just scored 2k rounds of UMC 9mm for 220 per k from cabelas) and bulk 223/556 when its cheap, but I've just started into reloading for my 77gr 223, 45 ACP and all the other rifle calibers like 308, 3006 and 300 wm.
I'm finding ALOT more retailers are having ammo sales this year then ever before, so I take advantage of it while we can.
I still buy 9mm when it really goes on sale (just scored 2k rounds of UMC 9mm for 220 per k from cabelas) and bulk 223/556 when its cheap, but I've just started into reloading for my 77gr 223, 45 ACP and all the other rifle calibers like 308, 3006 and 300 wm.
I'm finding ALOT more retailers are having ammo sales this year then ever before, so I take advantage of it while we can.
