What does 50BMG cost?

There are many variables. Typically brass life for 50s is lower than say 308 or 30-06 unless it is re-annealed after every or every other firing.
Primers range from about .55 for CCI to .80 for Ruag. Casing costs also vary significantly between 1 time fired surplus and virgin Lapua. Also bullets run from about $1.00 to $5.00 depending on whether you want to run pulled surplus of something like an Amax.

You should see about 22 rounds per pound of powder, do the math. .55 for primer, $2.50 for powder charge and $1.00 for projectile equals $4.05 not including the amortized cost of the casing on the cheap end of the spectrum, which still can be very accurate to $8.40 for true match type ammo again without the amortized cost of the casing.

No-body ever claimed shooting a 50 was cheap. Dies and press are also a cost consideration.
 
Hmm seems like non match stuff like American Eagle runs about $5/round. Add in the expense of the gear and my timr and I wonder if reloading is even worth it for my purposes. Thanks for the replies. :)
 
Gatehouse said:
Hmm seems like non match stuff like American Eagle runs about $5/round. Add in the expense of the gear and my timr and I wonder if reloading is even worth it for my purposes. Thanks for the replies. :)
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The AE 50 cal that has been available for the last year or 2 sold as XM33 is filthy horrific crap and is loaded hot for use in MGs. There are a few dealers carrying the PMC for about the same $$, at least it is clean, has decent brass, but is not loaded hot, which is not a bad thing.
 
curseyou said:
50BMG shooting the the sport of kings. You have to be one to afford it. :(
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Not really, it is just like any sport. You can get in for not too much $$ or go crazy, it all depends on what you value.
Power drinking is NOT a cheap sport, but is certainly seems to be popular with some.

Now an M2HB is a whole different beast, they ARE expensive to feed!!
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
The AE 50 cal that has been available for the last year or 2 sold as XM33 is filthy horrific crap and is loaded hot for use in MGs. There are a few dealers carrying the PMC for about the same $$, at least it is clean, has decent brass, but is not loaded hot, which is not a bad thing.
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Good to know, thanks. PMC ammo at $6/round still makes more sense to me than reloading.I barely have time to load for the rest of my guns these days. And if I feel the need to shoot small groups, I'll splurge on the $12/round stuff. :)
 
how about the IVI that can-ammo i selling? somewhere between match and pmc I'm guessing. I've been doing a lot of research as I think I want to join the Huge Boom Club.
 
I have seen .338 Lapua ammo that is $180.00 for 20 , so it is all how you shop and what you consider for plinking.

It doesn't have to be that expensive but it is marketed this way and will be priced as the market can handle it.
 
I guess 'cost' Vs. 'value' can depend on the accuracy you want & the time you're willing to invest. For someone willing to spend some time taking some extra steps like regular annealing, turning the necks & other stuff like de-burring flash-holes, fire-forming to your specific chamber, neck-sizing thereafter, & whatever other alchemy that gives you best results: I'd expect that you'd be able to turn out ammo as-good-if-not-better than the $10+/rd commercial match-grade stuff.
What accuracy level are you after Vs. what you're willing to settle for, and what time, effort, & $ are you willing to invest to get it? Decide on that, & you're on your way to making big noise & 1/2" holes at whichever price level you prefer.
 
Buster95 said:
Gatehouse, are you interested in a particular rifle?
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Not really.

PGW interest me, obviously, but I don't know if I need that kind of performance. If Canam had their new non restricted lower/upper ready now I would probably look hard at that as it appears to be a bargain. Hitting a 10x10 target at 6-700 yards is fine with me, that's the furthest I've ever been able to shoot around here. Most shots would be about 300 anyway.

buckbrush said:
Gatehouse, if you are shooting your .50 on a Range, check to see if the range is templated for .50 Browning. Most are not so you might have to hit the bush or use private land.
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We made sure it was approved for that when we built the range.....:)

I"m not even sure I'm that interested in owning a 50, as it's kind of a hassle, including the damage they do to gongs. Just something I'm pondering.
 
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