thinking of starting reloading
- Thread starter shms
- Start date
Jeez, I actually get to say it first! Buy a couple of books on reloading, for a start. Lots of good info online as well. For me, it is cost, big time. I cast my own bullets and watch for good deals on powder. I have a boatload of milsurps and other rifles, and often go out to my buddy's and blow off a bunch of rounds.
I love shooting my Lee Enfields and Mausers, so reloading is my best avenue.
Enjoy!
I love shooting my Lee Enfields and Mausers, so reloading is my best avenue.
Enjoy!
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Bit of both. Cost wise the savings with reloading must be calculated by price per round. The reality however is that your budget will still max out at whatever you are going to spend, you will just shoot more. With something like a 38 spl, you are probably using a revolver so whatever will chamber, will shoot.
You will have a much better variety of bullet and powder combos to choose from. The choice of factory 38's in most stores will be limited.
Assuming you are not casting and you have the equipment and brass already, a primer is 5 cents, powder is about a nickle and the bullet is 15-25 cents a piece depending what you want to shoot. That makes 25-35 cents a round vs close to 50 cents a round for reloaded factory ammo. These are just quick round numbers but you get the idea. Deals can be had on both sides.
You will have a much better variety of bullet and powder combos to choose from. The choice of factory 38's in most stores will be limited.
Assuming you are not casting and you have the equipment and brass already, a primer is 5 cents, powder is about a nickle and the bullet is 15-25 cents a piece depending what you want to shoot. That makes 25-35 cents a round vs close to 50 cents a round for reloaded factory ammo. These are just quick round numbers but you get the idea. Deals can be had on both sides.
Bigrounds8mil
CGN Regular
- Location
- Winnipeg, MB
Better ammo is half the reason, although PPU seems to work great for almost any milsurp.
The other half the reason was cost savings, yes, but it rarely works out that way. You save some rolling your own, but you end up shooting more, usually balances out.
But, to end up with a pile of ammo custom tuned to your rifle is priceless
The other half the reason was cost savings, yes, but it rarely works out that way. You save some rolling your own, but you end up shooting more, usually balances out.
But, to end up with a pile of ammo custom tuned to your rifle is priceless
I reload rifle only and do so because it slows me to shoot more for the same cost, and I find the task of reloading a relaxing hobby. As far as savings there are many online reload cost calculators. It is also very simple math. Common cailber= less savings less common caliber'= more savings eg 223 rem 28 grains varget powder 21.6 cents/round primer 7 cents and hornady 40g vmax 27.2 cents: 55.8 total plus brass cost 204 ruger bullets .5 cents a round cheaper other costs same so 55.3 cents per round. Factory ammo 1 brand 36.99/ 20 or 1.85 for 204ruger or many choices from 13.99 to 42.99 / 20 for 223 or 70 cents to $2.15 per round.
- Location
- Stittsville, Ontario
Hi shms,
New guy to CGN and new to reloading as well. I just reloaded my first bunch the other day and I learned a lot in the process. I did not get into the hobby for the savings - more because it is something that will fit my desire to learn a craft and continuously improve my newfound abilities over time. Regarding cost savings, my first 100 rounds that I loaded were 9mm, and it cost me about $50 to do the 100 rounds I built using components that I bought at a Cabelas premium price. The very same week I bought 350 rounds of Blazer 115 grain factory rounds on sale for $147, so the factory rounds were a bit cheaper per cartridge than the ones I put together.
But hey, who gives a ####. I wanted to give reloading a try, and cost be damned. Now that I built my own rounds, I can tell you my own builds were much more accurate than the Blazers from Canadian Tire. My groups with the Blazer were about 4-6" from 10 yards - even I can shoot better than that. My own reloads were 2.6" maximum over the 50 rounds I shot.
Was it psychological? Who knows. Whether this is a statistically valid study or not, I am totally hooked on reloading now. I am buying 1000 Campros to load over Christmas and I estimate significant cost savings buying buying in bulk like this. Should be fun.
Cheers
Jim
New guy to CGN and new to reloading as well. I just reloaded my first bunch the other day and I learned a lot in the process. I did not get into the hobby for the savings - more because it is something that will fit my desire to learn a craft and continuously improve my newfound abilities over time. Regarding cost savings, my first 100 rounds that I loaded were 9mm, and it cost me about $50 to do the 100 rounds I built using components that I bought at a Cabelas premium price. The very same week I bought 350 rounds of Blazer 115 grain factory rounds on sale for $147, so the factory rounds were a bit cheaper per cartridge than the ones I put together.
But hey, who gives a ####. I wanted to give reloading a try, and cost be damned. Now that I built my own rounds, I can tell you my own builds were much more accurate than the Blazers from Canadian Tire. My groups with the Blazer were about 4-6" from 10 yards - even I can shoot better than that. My own reloads were 2.6" maximum over the 50 rounds I shot.
Was it psychological? Who knows. Whether this is a statistically valid study or not, I am totally hooked on reloading now. I am buying 1000 Campros to load over Christmas and I estimate significant cost savings buying buying in bulk like this. Should be fun.
Cheers
Jim
Midnight Rider
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ......the Vanishing Point .
Like others have stated , cost savings in ammo cost is my main reason ; but reloading ammo is certainly not my favorite past time....lol
Self sufficiency. I cast and reload. Have enough components to last me past my retirement. Dont have to buy seperate ammo for each caliber. I can use the same cast .308 bullet in my 30-30, .308 or 30-06. Same .311cast bullet in a .303 or 7.62x39.
Lots of benefits to reloading.
Lots of benefits to reloading.
A bit of both but over time it was more accuracy as it became the cost of doing business.
When I bought my first rifle in 30-06 Lake City ammo was available at $2.00 per box of 20 . . . cheaper than a case of beer.
But there was always the desire for better accuracy and it was worth it at any price or almost.
When shooting 44 Magnum in Metallic Silhouette there was the satisfaction of creating your own loads but accuracy from custom cast bullets outweighed the cost.
Things change and eventually cost becomes secondary in favor of production and accuracy.
When I bought my first rifle in 30-06 Lake City ammo was available at $2.00 per box of 20 . . . cheaper than a case of beer.
But there was always the desire for better accuracy and it was worth it at any price or almost.
When shooting 44 Magnum in Metallic Silhouette there was the satisfaction of creating your own loads but accuracy from custom cast bullets outweighed the cost.
Things change and eventually cost becomes secondary in favor of production and accuracy.
I reload first because it is fun...it's a hobby for me, it's something to make a person think about precision in this sport. Secondly when I first started reloading, I wanted precision and I was shooting a Savage lightweight Hunter in 223. My first handloads ended up with a 3 shot group at 100 yards in one hole..I was pretty amazed as a newbie at reloading. Since then, that was a few years ago I just want to enjoy the entire process..I really like going from fired brass to the entire process and then shooting..to see what I've accomplished and from there try to make it better.
I'm now reloading for a Ruger Ranch American in 223/566 and I've bought into the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge a Winchester XPR for distance and accuracy..so that's what I'm doing for the winter..In the Spring I hope to see the results.
I'm now reloading for a Ruger Ranch American in 223/566 and I've bought into the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge a Winchester XPR for distance and accuracy..so that's what I'm doing for the winter..In the Spring I hope to see the results.
At any one time, I have 2 dozen or more rifles in a total of 12 or 14 different cartridges. Some of the cartridges are difficult to impossible to buy off the shelf, and I like the idea of trying different loads and bullets for each firearm. There is a certain amount of satisfaction in both range shooting and hunting, using ammunition you have put together yourself. As already mentioned, it is often cheaper to build your own, and just as important ... there is a lock on the "gun room" door.
The room itself is equipped with reloading gear, and a bunch of gun maintenance tools and potions. NO ENTRY permitted to anyone except by invitation from me. Yup ... it serves as a hideout and getaway!
The room itself is equipped with reloading gear, and a bunch of gun maintenance tools and potions. NO ENTRY permitted to anyone except by invitation from me. Yup ... it serves as a hideout and getaway!
Reloading for me is another hobby which I enjoy. I also enjoy building tailor made loads for my rifles, to see how accurate I can get them (always seem better than factory). Cost savings are there but less important to me.
me too ^^
