Reloading vs Factory....Any Savings Nowadays?

I have a friend that actually enjoys reloading. So I pay him to reload my ammo. Comes out way cheaper then buying it... And then I spend time with him developing my loads. :p I think he likes reloading and finding the best ammo/powder combo more than shooting

I hate reloading and I don't have the patience or time. And I don't need to spend $ on another hobby,
 
I don't find reloading cheaper at all. Once I got into it the dollar bills really started to fly. That said, I got in for far more expensive than you need to with all kinds of fancy gizmos like an automatic powder dispenser and stuff.

I LOVE it however. Pretty much all I'm doing these days when I find time to get out to the range is load development. I'm shooting with premium components and while I'm out time (which I find is relaxing) they cost per round about what run of the mill factory stuff would. Think I priced out I was shooting Nosler Accubonds out of my 30-06 and it was costing me ~$1.15 per round after amortizing the brass over 6 firings.

I suppose if you are really price conscious and get into it to save money you would find the opportunity to do so. $ for $ if you compare the same factory ammo with reloads I'm sure it is cheaper but it is inevitable I think that you get drawn to squeezing out the most accuracy out of your rifle you can and dreaming of perfect expansion by selecting some perfect premium projectile with just the right ballistic coefficient to give you a slightly flatter trajectory and extend your MPBR by 10 yards.

It is a freaking disease and I LOVE it!
 
Kevin M. said:
Realistic repeatable cyclic rate of the 550 and 650 Dillons is around 400 and 650 per hour respectively for pistol, drop maybe 50 rounds per hour off each for the larger volume of powder to be dropped for rifle cartridges.

If production is all you care about, the Dillon 1050 is where to go, 1000 rounds per hour is regularly repeatable with pistol, with over 800 per hour in rifle.

Remember, in any progressive press, you are trading accuracy to gain volume. I use the progressives for pistol, and semi auto rifle where 1.5MOA or greater is acceptable, IE. run and gun, most semi's, beltfeds, etc.
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That would be acceptable to me....if I could punch out a couple hundred rounds in an evening before going out gopher shooting the next day and make it so I can afford to burn up 200-300 rounds in a day of plugging gophers then that would work for me. Thanks for the info....
 
the spank said:
That would be acceptable to me....if I could punch out a couple hundred rounds in an evening before going out gopher shooting the next day and make it so I can afford to burn up 200-300 rounds in a day of plugging gophers then that would work for me. Thanks for the info....
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No problem.

I am a lazy a-hole when it comes to reloading bulk ammo, I like to do one or two runs a year, spend two or three nights and end up with 5 or 6 thousand of my chosen cartridge to last me for a good while.
 
ekj56789 said:
What about loading for 9mm versus the blazer ammo that uses aluminum cases that arent reloadable? It currently sells for 14$ for 50.
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If you buy in quantity and buy the steel case and with a bi metal bullet you can get it for about $11/$12 per 50 round box can you reload for that ?
 
ekj56789 said:
What about loading for 9mm versus the blazer ammo that uses aluminum cases that arent reloadable? It currently sells for 14$ for 50.
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kobs said:
Also waiting for someone reloading that to see if there's a difference
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Baddog377 said:
If you buy in quantity and buy the steel case and with a bi metal bullet you can get it for about $11/$12 per 50 round box can you reload for that ?
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I reload 147gr Zero JHP for around $7.75 per 50, or around $155 per thousand. I don't count the brass because it's 9mm and I have 50L pails full of the stuff all over the garage.
125gr Zero JHP is roughly the same (maybe a little more on account of the few tenths of a grain of powder used).

For .45 ACP, using 5.3gr of W231 and 230gr Zero FMJ, I can usually load 50 for around $9, which makes 1000 rounds for around $180. I don't count the brass because I haven't yet had to throw any away in 4 years of re-using the same cases over and over and over again.

For .223, using 25gr W748 and 55gr Hornady FMJBT, I can usually load 50 for around $15, which makes 1000 rounds for around $300. Brass is 1F range pick up, and I can get as much as I want so I don't count it's cost either.

I also load .40, .38, .357, 10mm, and .308, but I'm too lazy to calculate out the cost right now. But it's around 50% or so of factory ammo for better components and rounds tailored to my guns.

I'm using a Dillon 650 progressive.
 
I reload 8mm mauser for about 50c a pop vs $1+. That was the cartridge that opened up the reloading path for me.

I then reloaded 270win for my buddy. I dont own a 270win firearm and dont particularly like the way the 270win feels, but he gave me a crap load of his fathers reloading stuff when his father passed away that i owe him big.

223 i reload for about 25c a round. Biggest cost there is the bullet and i managed to snag Hornady 55gr FMJ before the craze hit. I bought 1000 projectiles for $88. I havent been able to come close to that price.

Norinco was around 27c and almost made reloading pointless but now that its dried up and prices have started to creep up, nothing can come close to touching the price of reloads. The fact that the load is custom tailored for my bolt gun and gives me 1/2 MOA at 100 yard is a major bonus.

9mm i reload for about 15c a round or $7.5 with 124 grain plated bullets. Cheapeast equivalent i've been able to find is Winchester white box for $14 a box.
My cast lead round nosed dont cost a thing. Just my time casting. At that point its whatever the primer and powder cost is which is around 4c. That would make 50 round cost $4.

Now, if you find this to be a chore, than its not for you. Initial cost of equiment means that unless you're reloading big or rare calibers the time to recoup the cost is going to be years.

I enjoy reloading, and even more important for me, i love the self-sufficiency. Knowing that i have enough components to be able to reload for years without stepping into a gun store is nice.
 
reloaderhub.com/calculator.cfm plugin the numbers for your costs on components and you will have the financial answer you asked. I also shoot 22-250 and for me the cost of components is $18.66 per 50. On my lee 50th aniversary kit I can do 50+ per hour very easily and that is a about $20 per hour over the 40 pack of winchester factory ammo. Not enough for me if I did not find the job relaxing. Don't forget to add something (maybe 5%) for spillage, mistakes and leftover components.
 
The trigger time you will spend in load development is well worth the expense if you are a hunter IMHO. Hand-loading has greatly improved my shooting.

If you chose to load premium bullets it will still cost a few bucks but I find I can handload premium bullets for less than cheapie factory shells with crap bullets.
 
I just stared reloading .338 lapua mag.
excluding cases i can load it with premium hunting bullets for under $2 a round, decent factory ammo is $6.5 and up. y first 100 rounds i make and shoot will have saved me more then what the dies cost ($300)
 
Well, I definitely save money, loading for my 308 Norma Mags cuts the price of ammo by 75%

I also load for several AI chamberings, so cannot even buy factory loadings for them.

But even with conventional stuff, like 30-06....much cheaper to load premium ammo than to buy it.

Regards, Dave.
 
The start up costs can mount quickly, even for a basic set up. That being said, I have a couple of rifles that ammo isn't readily available for, hence my desire to roll my own. Consolidating our calibres and components makes a lot of sense. Melnibonean makes a good point, if you can pick up 1F brass in what you shoot, this will save A LOT of money as currently, brass is the most expensive component.
 
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