Reloading 1000 .223 costs HOW MUCH??

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brokensoldier

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Greetings:

Mesmerized by the automation out there, namely the Dillon Super 1050, I thought I'd price out what it takes to make 1000 rounds of my own 55gr 223. Using some of our sponsors websites as a guide I put together this quick rounded pricelist:

Packaging $20
Powder (4LBS) $120
Primers $50
Brass $250
Bullets $150
Total: $590

Now I know this is retail, and i might me able to save ten percent if I buy enough for fifty thousand rounds... And I could save a hundred bucks if i use used brass. But why would I bother with any of it when I can buy 1000 MFS rounds for $430, without buying a three thousand dollar autoloading system.

Is this the new reality of handloading in Canada? Is this really what it costs to reload something as small as 55gr 223 here? Is there a canadian version of oldsarges or cheaperthandirt that you guys use?

Please, someone correct my math...
 
Am using a Dillon 550. Here's my computation for 1,000 rnds (includes all taxes & shipping)

Small rifle primers (CCI) - $40
Powder (WC735) 5 lbs. - $118 (includes Hazmat)
Lake City 55 grn. FMJBT heads - $135
Once fired Military brass - $85
Total = $378 ($.38/ rnd.)

vs. $600/1,000 for "off the counter", reloading saves a minimum of 37%. Once you start re-using the brass, costs drops further. Another plus is being able to make bullets to suit your needs. Find my rounds more consistent and accurate than retail ammo. Happy shooting :canadaFlag::ar15:
 
Why are you paying so much for brass? And you can reload them at least 5 times so that $250 needs to be divided by 5, so you just saved $200 on those calculations.

And that MFS garbage might be OK for an AR(although it worked like crap in mine), I don't think anyone here would put that stuff through their bolt action varmint, or target rifles.
 
If you RELOAD, you REUSE your brass. Unless you shoot 1000rds a day you can most definitely reload that brass at least 5 times.

These are my totals for match grade .223
1000 90grn VLD's - $450
1000 CCI BR4 primers - $50
3.52lbs of Varget - $140
100pcs of Lapua brass - $80
= $720

Price for brass will be even lower per shot since I already have 10 loadings on some and expect at least 3-4 more. This is all tax in, to my door, ready to be loaded.

If you price up some things you would use in a AR for plinking fun, here is what I come up with.

bullets - $130
1000pcs of 1F Brass - $70
Primers - $40
Powder - $140
= $380 maybe a little extra for more shipping costs depending on where you are, where you get it all from. So call it $400, and that is without reusing your brass.....Also using our sponsors as a baseline...
 
Per thou of .223,
Math is hard... But,

8lb keg of H322... $168
Bullets, Hornady 55gr fmj's $100/k
Primers, Federals sm. rifle $26/k
Brass.. $75/k

Yeah the brass screws up the equation... Gotta be pro rated somehow, but for now close enough.
My load... Per 1000 rounds.
Powder. $60
Bullets $1000
Primers. $26
Brass. $75

Total: $270
 
667 said:
Per thou of .223,

Math is hard... But,

8lb keg of H322... $168
Bullets, Hornady 55gr fmj's $100/k
Primers, Federals sm. rifle $26/k
Brass.. $75/k

My load... Per 1000 rounds.

Powder. $60
Bullets $1000 :eek:
Primers. $26
Brass. $75

Total: $270
Click to expand...

Those must be those heat seeking exploding bullets that idiot congresswoman was speaking of.

Do you have one of those shoulder things that goes up to?

[YOUTUBE]BRQqieimwLQ[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]9rGpykAX1fo[/YOUTUBE]

..
 
w(x3).handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

I'm into the double digits for # of times I've reloaded the same brass so I don't even take that into account now. I'm between .31 and .38 cents per round for my .223 (depending on what varmint bullet), and could push that lower with bulk FMJ's.
 
Things sure do change. When I was loading a poopload of .223, my price break down was more like;

Brass, $25/k (1F via a certain police supplier)
Powder, $45/k (3lbs OEM 335 via higginsons)
Primers, $30/k (again via higginsons)
Bullets, $100/k (SS-109's bought from Canuck223;))
 
Anyways................

My costs:

Brass - $70 (New Win, 100 pieces loaded 10x)
Powder - $90 (25 gr of h335 per)
Bullets - $140 (Hornady 55gr FMJBT)
Primers - $30 (CCI SR)

= $330 for 1000 rounds of cheap stuff
Add another $60 - $100 for some better bullets if you want.
 
mlehtovaara said:
Those must be those heat seeking exploding bullets that idiot congresswoman was speaking of.

..
Click to expand...

Right... That should have read $100

Oh... And with all due respect , your Hitler quote is all FUBAR.
Please people.. If you're gonna quote someone don't just make s**t up and attribute it to them...
 
I probably save around 15-20% because I buy my components in bulk.

Still, I don't do it so much to reduce cost, although that is a nice side attribute, but I do it for the quality of ammo. I have ammo that is suited for my guns and my accuracy standards, while saving money.


I <3 my 1050 and Mr bulletfeeder though. There is somthing very manly feeling about cranking out 1500 rounds every hour without breaking a sweat. :D:D:D
 
Rottboy_8 said:
Am using a Dillon 550. Here's my computation for 1,000 rnds (includes all taxes & shipping)

Small rifle primers (CCI) - $40
Powder (WC735) 5 lbs. - $118 (includes Hazmat)
Lake City 55 grn. FMJBT heads - $135
Once fired Military brass - $85
Total = $378 ($.38/ rnd.)

vs. $600/1,000 for "off the counter", reloading saves a minimum of 37%. Once you start re-using the brass, costs drops further. Another plus is being able to make bullets to suit your needs. Find my rounds more consistent and accurate than retail ammo. Happy shooting :canadaFlag::ar15:
Click to expand...

I've seen tins of 1000 223 for 399$ recently 21$ isn't worth the time of reloading for me
 
667 said:
Right... That should have read $100

Oh... And with all due respect , your Hitler quote is all FUBAR.
Please people.. If you're gonna quote someone don't just make s**t up and attribute it to them...
Click to expand...

Well you are correct but it was repeated by goebbles i believe on several occassions and him being hitlers right hand figure they go hand in hand. Easier for the sheeple to understand.

The same saying has been used in various forms by many. Because they said it doesnt mean they were the first.
 
9Guns said:
I've seen tins of 1000 223 for 399$ recently 21$ isn't worth the time of reloading for me
Click to expand...

I have recently reloaded 3000 .223, my costs per K where;

$70 per 1K brasss
$30 per 1K primers
$88 for powder (3.5 lbs @ 24 grs per round)
$130 per 1K 55 gr fmj's

total= $318 I figure it atleast took me 5 hours to prep the brass, prime it, and load..... sooooo I was working for $16.40 a hour considering I can get it for 400$ per K right now.....

Chances are I will not reload .223 again with bought brass, whatever brass I recover I will reload. This is just plinker stuff to feed my AR, accurate stuff for my bolt guns is another story.


I think that as long as I can get bulk .223 for under 450$ per K to my door, reloading is out the window for me, not worth my time.
 
Kevin M. said:
I <3 my 1050 and Mr bulletfeeder though. There is somthing very manly feeling about cranking out 1500 rounds every hour without breaking a sweat. :D:D:D
Click to expand...

Exactly - watching those Super 1050/Ponsness/MrBulletfeeder vids was outstanding and I would do it just for the sake of doing, it providing i didnt lose money. (You know what I mean...)

Since .223 is out, what calibers do you reload where you find the savings are substantial?
 
brokensoldier said:
Exactly - watching those Super 1050/Ponsness/MrBulletfeeder vids was outstanding and I would do it just for the sake of doing, it providing i didnt lose money. (You know what I mean...)

Since .223 is out, what calibers do you reload where you find the savings are substantial?
Click to expand...

Reloading isn't just for the savings. It's also a matter of consistancy and supply. When you get something that works, you like to know you won't run out, ever.

As for the equipment, I look at it this way. How old are you? How many years do you figure you'll be in this sport? You only buy the best tools once. You amortize the costs over a lifetime.

I load currently just for 9mm and .38 Spec. I've loaded for .223 Rem and .40 S&W.
 
Canuck223 said:
Reloading isn't just for the savings. It's also a matter of consistancy and supply. When you get something that works, you like to know you won't run out, ever.

As for the equipment, I look at it this way. How old are you? How many years do you figure you'll be in this sport? You only buy the best tools once. You amortize the costs over a lifetime.

I load currently just for 9mm and .38 Spec. I've loaded for .223 Rem and .40 S&W.
Click to expand...

I'm pushing 40 and have been shooting recreationally for 15 years, plus another 9 years in the infantry where I shot for a living. I figure I have another 25-30 years of shooting left before the inevitable happens (boredom..lol :eek: ).

There are better reasons than savings to get in to reloading, I know... But to be perfectly honest, until my kids leave the home savings will be one of my main reasons to do or (not to do) anything. So like you I'm a big believer in 'buy it once - buy it right'.

The reason why I ask about caliber savings is maybe there's a caliber that I can get into which will help me get past the mental block of spending all that cash...? Savings PLUS accuracy = go. In all likelyhood I will still invest in my own factory, because you guys are all correct - the machine is amortized and brass can be reused 10-50 times (depending on who you talk to); and in the long term you will definitely save cash plus all that extra enjoyment.

Plus where will I get my ammo when the zombie apocalypse happens?.
 
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