why should I load my own? (223/5.56-7mm).

Dutchm3n

Dutchm3n

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Hello

I have been buying lots of ammo for far to long now and I'm at the point where maybe reloading is a good idea

I was considering specifically for 223/5.56 and 7mm

Can anyone tell me how much it cost per round for each?
What about start up costs?
How long does it take to press a 1000 rounds?
How much real estate does one need to allocate in their house to do this?

I'm not an idiot and am competent how'ver I'm totally shooting in the dark here on this and any advice or links is appreciated.

In the interim I'll watch some YouTube videos etc

Thanks guys!:dancingbanana:
 
If you like to shoot and shoot a lot then reloading is the way to go. As for cost per round that will depend on how, where and what type of components you buy?buy powder in bulk if you can afford it, buy lots when it's on sale, Cam pro bullets, cheap brass and primers with make for cheaper cost/round. Lapua brass and Berger bullets will up the cost significantly! Your 7mm will be more expensive to load for than.223 just due to bigger bullets and more powder.

Starting up cost can stay resonalble if you buy a lee or rcbs kit, if you go progressive then you can spend a bunch but it will speed up your reloading time. On a single stage press weighing each charge you can expect 1/2 hr-1 hr per 50-60 rounds depending if you have prepped your brass ahead of time?

As for a space to reload some guys will set up a press on a workmate under their stairs others will build an entire dwelling just to reload. You can make it as expensive and elaborate as you can afford or keep it simple and inexpensive. That may be the beauty of reloading anyone that can read, follow directions and wants to learn can reload accurate ammo.

I say go for it... start small see if you like the process, you can always invest and go bigger if you enjoy it?
 
Dutchm3n said:
How long does it take to press a 1000 rounds?
How much real estate does one need to allocate in their house to do this?
Click to expand...
These are very intelligent questions. Another would be "Do I want to sit pulling a lever up and down for an hour?" and "What do I get for overtime". Commercial .223 is cheaper than most chamberings.
 
IMHO, If you're shooting for accuracy, reload - its the only way to go!
If you're just spraying bullets thru a semi, i would just buy cheap bulk ammo.

Definitely the 7mm (whatever the 7mm is - 7x57, 7-08, 7mmRM, 7WSM, etc) you will get better ammo for a large savings.
 
Accuracy.

Don't load for savings because you'll end up shooting more and components are cheaper in bulk. Personally, I can't see myself cranking on a single stage trying to load 1000 rounds for a semi.

With the fairly recent drop in our dollar, I'm loading much higher quality rounds for a bit more than half the cost of the cheapest .223 I can find (short of buying 1000rd cases of Federal, which are about equal cost per round).
 
I tried reloading for a while. Bought a Dillon progressive. By the time I had all the equipment I was into it for a g-note, without the actual loading supplies. Spent a bunch of nights pulling the lever. I guess it's each to their own, but when I factor in my time I just couldn't justify it anymore. FYI I am also shooting in excess of 500 rounds a week, mostly 9mm and .40.
 
Figure a 2x3 tabletop surface permanently for this purpose and some storage like a Rubbermaid tote underneath at a minimum, in addition to whatever your usual ammunition storage already is.

Single stage, if I can do 100 rounds start to finish in an hour I'm doing pretty good.

Cost per round depends on what you are using for components. Projectiles for different purposes have big price differences. 7mm RM I'm reloading for about half the shelf price or less depending on your box of choice, while 5.56 bulk looks cheap but I don't own one.
 
If you take into account your time to reload, it costs way more to reload than it does to buy off the shelf
 
My own opinion only, but reloading is for two reasons: To make ammo when there is a shortage, and primarily to customize ammo to your firearm.

You might want a specific weight of bullet not commercially pre-loaded, you might want to get the best accuracy for the firearm, you might want to load lighter rounds than can be bought, you might want to get a specific projectile, and a myriad of other reasons.

1. X-Road has the cost calculator. Again, cheap bulk is best for large shooting quantities. It is hard to put a price on reloads that can't be bought (for above reasons).
2. I suggest a Hornady Lock-n-Load type press so die changes are easier (no constant set-up measuring). You can put together a "cart" at one of the CGN sponsors to see what a press, dies and so forth are worth without having to buy.
3. 1000 rounds will depend on the press type. With a Lock-n-Load I figure most of a day (clean, prep, size, load, etc). Progressives can drop that to hours.
4. I am using a 19" deep by 40" long piece of counter top (well attached to an existing table made of 2x6 planks) with the press 1/3rd to the side: this allows me to have trays of cases, tumbler, or whatever either in use on top or stored below. I have a shelf with leveling screws for my scale on the back. Your own preferences and mileage may vary.
 
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Reloading itself is it's own hobby. It's a lot of time and effort but you get to make more precise ammunition at a lower cost by buying the components.
But yeah, you have to have a lot of time for prep in 223. Between resizing, trimming and deburring that can be hours before you even start measuring powder let alone picking a bullet weight. Then there is testing, chrono'ing and getting your load to a 'sweet spot'. If none of that sounds fun to you, i'd suggest buying bulk plinking rounds - otherwise you'll be wasting your money selling your press and reloading gear in 3-6 months.
 
You can tune the load to your liking, gain accuracy and save a boat load of money. Here is the catch: you will need to invest time, money and lots of patience.

Don't buy your reloading components from retail stores. You will pay premium and your cost savings will go down.

If you shoot a lot, you should reload. If you shoot a little dont bother with reloading.
 
Reloading is not saving much money at all especially when counting the time and such. I only reload for my precision rifles. All semi are eating special deal on occasion, buy lots and stuck up for the whole year.
 
If I'm shooting .223 through a semi, I buy commercially reloaded ammo. If I'm feeding them into a bolt gun I reload. A single stage press is very time consuming and you'll feel like shooting yourself in the face when you have to weigh charges by hand with a beam scale. There doesn't seem to be any end in the cost department. There's always another tool, different powder and bullet combos. If you're looking for cheap ammo produced fairly quickly you'll probably want a Dillon and if you want time consuming performance rounds you'll want to go to a single stage press. It's a hobby and if you like it you'll be hooked for life and if you don't you sell your gear on the we.
 
Some like to reload and some people hate it. I'm in the like to reload group. I mostly only load for handgun and save big on reloading especially 357 and larger. I use a single stage Rockchucker and a Hornady LNL progressive. But if I was going to mess with any large amounts of 223/556 a Dillion 650 or 1050 is the only way I would and now you are talking a large upfront cost.
There are lots of oem's that have single stage loading kits from a couple hundred to $500 or so. Be careful there as you do get what you pay for. A turrent such as a Dillion 550 is an option but I don't like having to manually index but others do.
I don't count my time as it is my hobby and if I did worry about it I would still do it.
 
I enjoy reloading almost as much as shooting. Like previously stated its a hobby in its own. I'm fortunate that I got a great deal on a progressive, so single stage frustration was avoided.
 
223/556 take A LOT of prep work even if you did it on a progressive mainly because you cant use all the stations on the progressive at once (If you do not have a progressive press don't bother reading past this lol). First I decap the primers on all the brass (the brass is still dirty at this point). Then I went tumble all the brass (1000 of them at once), rinse it a few times then wait for it to dry. If you get military brass you will need to swag the primer pockets as they will be crimped otherwise you can never fit the primer into the primer pocket. At this point you will need to lube all the brass and prep it (I just put all the brass in a cardboard box, put on gloves and spray it all with a spray lube) for resizing and trimming if necessary. After the resizing (you will only need to resize if you are shooting a semi auto) I then dry tumble all the brass with corn cob media to get the lube off. Now the brass is prepped you can begin reloading. Prime, drop powder, seat the bullet, and crimp.... Yeah it takes a lot of time, prepping your brass is the worst part of it. Your mileage may vary the steps I mentioned might not be the steps others take, but it seems to work for me.

Cost wise: Powder now a days is going to cost you 280 (w/ tax) for an 8lb jug (Please let me know if you can find this for cheaper!!), I reload using CFE 223 @ 26.5 grs = 13 cents roughly per round, Campro 55gr projecticles $60ish with tax for 500, 13 cents per round, Brass: Free if you find it on the ground. Primers are about 3 cents each. So in the end its roughly around 30 cents per round. You will get a bit better accuracy. It definitely is better ammo than any steel case it will be less wear and tear for your rifle in general.
 
Using a lee turret press and I can crank out 50 in about 15 minutes checking every step of the way. It costs me about $8.92 for 50 9mm and there a quality product. So comparing that to a $23 box, thats saving me $56 and hour. I have the .500 S&W down to $23.16 a box of 20 vs $90 plus shipping! Thats $660.00 dollars an hour savings!! Those numbers are well worth my time. Be smart about your purchases, stock up when sales are on and you can save a ton and as mentioned find the perfect load for your rifle. .223 will be a lot smaller margin but I think you will find a huge saving on 7mm
 
Aside from precision that does best with rounds customized for the rifle any other reloading of common calibers it is better to work extra, buy the ammo.

Anyone telling you they can load 500+ rnds an hour has very expensive equipment or are very careless. Making rnds is similar to painting in that anyone that tells you they can paint a room in couple of hours needs to add in all the prep work.

Reloading is my relaxing hobby thus like any hobby value of time is not counted.
 
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