What calibers are not worth reloading for cost-savings?

Reloading is a hobby within a hobby I would just like the shortage of supplies problem to go away. My LGS rations primers as they want to be able to have some for each of their customers and getting brass and some bullets is tricky too. It's like having a vehicle you can't get fuel for...f:P:

I try to reload for everything I shoot but I am having an especially good time developing a .223 load.
 
Reloading will always be more economical. Once you are initially tooled up, its is just a matter of another set of dies. A lot of loads share common components (powder / primers etc). I would NEVER get into bullet swagging. That's way beyond my budgetary restraints.
 
Cactus said:
Buying supplies locally and not in huge bulk (500 fmj bullets for 90.00 and 1000primers for 32.00 and 1lb of powder for 32.00) I am saving 9.00 per box of 9mm almost half the cost. It will be less than half price once I start buying bulk supplies.
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The biggest cost for me when thinking about reloading is TIME!
My time is pretty expensive. Mind you I don't and won't be shooting any of the big cost ammo.
 
I feel that you learn things by reloading (about each component, ballistics, etc) that you would never get just shooting commercial ammo.
 
pontcanna said:
I feel that you learn things by reloading (about each component, ballistics, etc) that you would never get just shooting commercial ammo.
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Something like 9mm though ballistics don't really matter, just the velocity and bullet weight, and that could be had factory ammo.

My 22-250 I'll reload next year probably. Not really for the cost savings, more for like you said, learning and getting the most from my gun.
 
If you're happy with Wolf Reloaded Ammunition (I am!), then reloading for most common pistol calibres doesn't seem worthwhile. I suppose if you have plenty of time on your hands it's still a hair cheaper... unfortunately I definitely do not have all that spare time.
 
i spend one day per month loading up on my "range fun" rifle caliber stash for that month which includes about 100 30-30 and 100 .303 brit and it costs me about $90 plus my time. i end up with very accurate ammunition for less than $0.50 a piece, less than 1/2 price compared to factory. those are two already cheap calibers made even cheaper.
 
I have decided to get into reloading, mostly because I shoot a lot of .30 cal + sizes, but also because shooting has become my favorite past time. I've sold a lot of old toys to pay for just buying more cases of ammo or another firearm/fierarm accessory. Anything that will let me get out there more to shoot more accurately and more for equal dollars is worth it in my opinion. Plus reloading gives me something to do when im looking to relax on those days where the weather looks like it would rust your gun in no time :p
 
cancer said:
If you're happy with Wolf Reloaded Ammunition (I am!), then reloading for most common pistol calibres doesn't seem worthwhile. I suppose if you have plenty of time on your hands it's still a hair cheaper... unfortunately I definitely do not have all that spare time.
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What are you going to do when the poo hit's the propeller? Wolf might not be able to supply your needs when SHTF. Wolf makes good ammo, that's for sure. When the SHTF you'll have time to reload some ammo just to survive. Why not learn to reload now & gain the experience. I surely woulden't want to learn when the SHTF already. Believe me you will make afew mistakes when reloading, like every thing else, it's a learning curve.
 
It all depends on how much you shoot I guess. If you're the kind that barely shoots 100rds of any given caliber per year, then purchasing the equipment and supplies necessary to reload for that caliber is probably overkill since it would take a lifetime for the investment to pay for itself.
 
From what i've been reading and makes sense, is that reloading 22's is worthless and 7.62x39mm because you can get military surplus in corrosive ammunition, but if you compare to a namebrand like Prvi Partizan and others which are non-corrosive good quality bullets then yes you do save, also depending what your reloading on the 12gauge, your savings may not be much of a difference, everything else you save a lot!
 
I reload everything. The way the price of 22 rimfire is going, I would reload for that if I could do it practically,hmm I smell a project coming on.
 
RobSmith said:
It all depends on how much you shoot I guess. If you're the kind that barely shoots 100rds of any given caliber per year, then purchasing the equipment and supplies necessary to reload for that caliber is probably overkill since it would take a lifetime for the investment to pay for itself.
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100rnds in a year?

What the hell kind of freak would that be?:eek:

All present freaks excluded, of course.....;):D
 
kjohn said:
Save money reloading? Hmm, that's a concept I've given very little consideration.:p Ahhh, just kidding!

I recall sitting at the kitchen table loading 30-30 ammo with my Lee Loader, some 40 years ago. The odd primer would go off. My next big purchase was a Lyman Spar-T press from Casey's Reloading Supplies at Midland, ON. I bought a fair bit of stuff from him. Great service!

Since then, well...... I probably have more stuff than the average bear, but I have fun.

kj
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40 years ago!! how were ammo prices back then? were they relatively cheap compared to todays prices?
 
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