What are the cheapest calibers to reload?

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fathomn

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A thread in the Precision Rifle forum got me thinking about this. Just what are the cheapest and most expensive calibers to reload and maybe some whys as well.
For myself if I reload it will be 9mm, .303 and either .223 or .308. I know these are very standard and probably cheap as borscht but just how do these common calibers fair against other calibers?
I know there are price ranges rather than a specific price..ie itll be cheaper if you buy a 1000 rounds worth of components vs 500 or even 100. Yeah, yeah I know probably noone reloads a hundred rounds but its just an example.:p So maybe in the responses you guys can give the rough estimates of price drops lets say per 500 round lots or so?

Id love to see a list of all the calibers and rough prices if I can to compare side by side. I think itd help a lot of guys get into reloading...namely me, if I can see it rather than just hear about all the savings. Especially since Id only start out small so the cost of a round immediately goes up for the equipment in my eyes.

Thanx guys, looking forward to some of the numbers.:)
 
Easy enough for you to calculate. Get a catalogue with reloading supplies listed. This will tell you the cost of cases, if you start from new, primers, powder and bullets. Cost of powder varies with caliber, but for round numbers, you could use 6gr for 9mm, 25gr for .223, 45gr for .308 etc. So, if primers were $3/c, bullets $30/c, and powder $35/lb, consumables for 1 round of .308 would be .03 + .30 + $35 divided by 7000/45 = $.55 per round. So, sit down with a catalogue and calculator, and you can work out the cost of any combination you wish.
 
Are you asking cheapest or best bang for the buck?
The cheapest to reload for, are usually also the cheapest to buy factory.
.223, .308, and 9 mil. Almost anything .30 cal.
Best bang for the buck is anything exotic, .303, and 6.5 X 55.
 
I just bought a 22 hornet and it is by far the cheapest I have ever reloaded cheap brass cheap powder and the rest well it's about the same.
 
coyote said:
I just bought a 22 hornet and it is by far the cheapest I have ever reloaded cheap brass cheap powder and the rest well it's about the same.
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a very good deal considering factory stuff is ~$35 per 50.
 
The only real difference in reloading different caliburs is the amount of powder and the weight of the bullet. This does not include the initial cost of the brass. The more powder you use the higher the price, like wise for bullets. 50 gr .224 bullets are cheaper than 150 gr .308 The brass is another story great savings can be had by buying military caliburs.And you will pay through the nose for the specialty brass such as any of the Weatherby Magnums.
 
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tiriaq said:
Easy enough for you to calculate. Get a catalogue with reloading supplies listed. This will tell you the cost of cases, if you start from new, primers, powder and bullets. Cost of powder varies with caliber, but for round numbers, you could use 6gr for 9mm, 25gr for .223, 45gr for .308 etc. So, if primers were $3/c, bullets $30/c, and powder $35/lb, consumables for 1 round of .308 would be .03 + .30 + $35 divided by 7000/45 = $.55 per round. So, sit down with a catalogue and calculator, and you can work out the cost of any combination you wish.
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Where could one get one of these catalogues?**found the online Higginson store**

Are there any local, by local Im meaning BC, stores that supply reloading components and presses? The shipping would be the biggest killer for me as itd jack up prices considerably?
 
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S.I.R., Wholesale Sports, LeBaron have reloading supplies sections where you can check prices. .higginsonpowders.com for Hornady and powder. hirschprecision.com for the excellent Lapua line. If you are going to load, you need to decide what your objective is. If you want plinking ammunition, there are cheaper bullets; if you want enhanced performance for target or hunting, you can do that. Higginson probably has the best prices for powder, Hornady, Lee and Bushnell.
 
coyote said:
I just bought a 22 hornet and it is by far the cheapest I have ever reloaded cheap brass cheap powder and the rest well it's about the same.
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I hear ya. I can shoot Hornet reloads with expensive VMax's for about the same price as buying HMR's. (I figger $12/50, assuming I save the brass)

And if I use cheap FMJ bullets, it's even cheaper.

Cheapest still is loading up hard cast bullets. 4-5 grains of a fast powder... Pennies a pop. Now we're REALLY into rimfire price range... (maybe $5/50)

Better still is stuffing a .22 airgun pellet into an empty, primed case :)
 
.38 special with home cast bullets cost me about $2 a box of 50.

My .38 brass was free - I have a liftime supply of brass that the police were too lazy to pick up (bless 'em for their sloth). My current target load is 3.5 grains of an old pistol powder (Dupont #6), I got several 8 oz cans for $5 each. There are 1000 of those 3.5 grain loads in an 8 oz can. The primers are the "expensive" part - $3.50 per hundred. My casting lead is scrounged (free) for the most part.

Lots more work to make your own bullets - but if you like them you can always make more, unlike commercial ones that sometimes dry up.

Be cheap and shoot more!
 
Powder choice and load density play a part too.
For example, a pistol case with a MAX load of Bullseye, is still going to be 6 grains or less even in a magnum case. That's a lot of loads/pound. Better than 1000 anyways.
Using cast bullets makes it even cheaper, espescially if you cast them yourself.
That takes you down to just powder and primers, assuming you have a good source/supply of free brass, and the local tire shop will give you the wheelweights free.
 
The cheapest rounds I've loaded were for the .22 Hornet and .38 Special - cheap brass, light charges, cheap bullets.

The most expensive ammo I've ever loaded by far was for the .416 Rigby - the high cost was exasperated by the fact that I shot it alot. Norma cases were nearly $4.00 each, over 100 grs of powder per case, 350 and 400 gr bullets from Barnes and Speer at over $1.00 each - and this was 7 years ago!

I've posted about loading .308 Mexican Match from surplus 7.62X51 - given the labour intensiveness of this process I can't call it cheap - however, it does save me from purchasing powder when I'm patient enough - or have enough time.
 
In the cals you listed, 9mm and 223...

About 11 cents per round for 9mm.
About 12 cents per round for .40 S&W

Rifle rounds are more expensive since the powder is more expensive and you generally use a lot more. Also bullets for .223 range from really cheap to quite expensive depending on if you want basic 50gr blobs or something like a moly 75gr A-max. Probably 15 cents to 30 cents each.

These cals are common enough that brass should be free or nearly so. Anything else you'll end up spending some money on brass too...
 
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in BC, you can get reload supplies for 9mm so cheap it only cost 9 cents per round of FMJ.
The guys at the gun shop will tell you its not worth the time to reload.. they just want your money! I found that out. $12-$14 per box of 9mm and I reload it for 5 bucks.
 
hoochie said:
in BC, you can get reload supplies for 9mm so cheap it only cost 9 cents per round of FMJ.
The guys at the gun shop will tell you its not worth the time to reload.. they just want your money! I found that out. $12-$14 per box of 9mm and I reload it for 5 bucks.
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Okay I have GOT to get into reloading!!:redface: Even the reloads Im buying are in the $90 for 500 range which to me was a stinking great deal off the factory.
Gah another thing to add to the list it seems.:rolleyes: :D
 
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