What is the cheapest rifle round to reload?

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calvados.boulard

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Hi everyone,

What is the cheapest rifle round/calibre to reload? Purchased cast projectiles would be an option, but casting myself is not. Otherwise all components will be purchased, and/or brass scrounged from the range. Easily available components are also paramount.

Thanks,
Cal.
 
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22 Hornet can be kind of picky to load for and the 222 is easy to load for and accurate (very accurate handloads vs the hornet) handloads are easy to build. That sloped shoulder can be a bit of a pain, similar to the 30-30. Brass life expectancy will be superior with the 222 Remington.

There is abundant goodies available for the fine 222 as well.

my 2 bits only

PS: Using similar arguments it's hard to not endorse the 223 Remington also.
 
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.223.... same .224" bullets as the Hornet or .222, but there is cheap brass everywhere, often free. You can primer charge pellets also, or 3.0 grains of TB with 45 SP's are a nice small game load... CFE-223 with 55 VM's for coyotes, even 60 grain Parts for deer in a pinch or survival situation.
 
Well some of the lever action cowboy rifles can be very cheap to reload for. Especially the ones chambered in 357 magnum. One of those would digest 38 special cartridges as well. Both 357mag and 38 spec are easily come by. You are lucky because you have a great bullet caster on the island and close to you. This should just about cover you. Also look at one of the Chiappa 9mm M1 carbines. Doesn't get much cheaper all around than this.
 
bearhunter said:
Well some of the lever action cowboy rifles can be very cheap to reload for. Especially the ones chambered in 357 magnum. One of those would digest 38 special cartridges as well. Both 357mag and 38 spec are easily come by. You are lucky because you have a great bullet caster on the island and close to you. This should just about cover you. Also look at one of the Chiappa 9mm M1 carbines. Doesn't get much cheaper all around than this.
Click to expand...

Good point! If you cast then you just pay for powder and primers.
 
Rifle
38 Special/ 357 mag (using cast) or plated
44 mag (using cast) or plated
45-70 (using cast) or plated
300 blackout (using cast)
30-30 (using cast)
308 (using cast)
223 (using cast)
223 jacketed
 
Don't use range brass. You know nothing about it. Some clubs don't like people taking it anyway.
Don't think there is a cheapest any more. .223 is likely the least expensive though.
 
As an FYI I picked the Hornet due to total capacity and the frugality of the charge weight required. Mine is a K so no issues with brass, and I've never found it especially difficult to source or more costly than other calibers when buying new. I do agree however on the .223 when sourcing brass is added to the equation. I've also found the .300 Blackout to be very easy and reasonable to load for - and since 5.56/.223 cases are the parent, very cheap to load for...
 
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