What is the range of cost for complete reloaded rounds, for pistol (9mm, say)rifle (say midrange caliber...30-06) and shotgun(trap or hunting loads)? Not counting reloading equipment, but what's cost of each round, Ranging from cheapest possible (i.e cast bullet, least expensive components...to "premium, best of everything")
Simple Reloading economics question
- Thread starter dfaugh
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David Wile
New member
Hey folks,
I'll tag on to Sam with a few more factors. Do you buy your cast bullets ready made, or do you cast them yourself? How about cast bullets with gaschecks? Besides bullets in quantity, what about quantity for other consumables such as powder, primers, shot, and wads? The bigger the quantity you buy of those things, the cheaper your cost per round gets.
If you figure the cost of all the reloading equipment that I (and most other folks) have, one could certainly make the argument that buying commercial ammo would be less expensive. But then again, that is commercial ammo, and I consider the ammo I make to be better. I can also make a much bigger variety than I can buy. And I am not the best reloader around even though I have been doing it since the 1960s. I know some folks who go to some really Herculean efforts just to reduce the standard deviation of their loads by a very small amount. Those guys are more particular than I, but I am more particular than the folks who make factory ammo. It all depends on how far you want to go with the quest.
I can buy surplus ammo for less than I can make it, but that does not mean I should not make my own. Actually, I really do not like to use surplus ammo because of the unknowns of its corrosiveness. I am not saying anyone should not shoot surplus ammo. For my own purposes, however, I would rather shoot my own. I do, however, make good use of surplus powder and surplus bullets whenever I can.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile
I'll tag on to Sam with a few more factors. Do you buy your cast bullets ready made, or do you cast them yourself? How about cast bullets with gaschecks? Besides bullets in quantity, what about quantity for other consumables such as powder, primers, shot, and wads? The bigger the quantity you buy of those things, the cheaper your cost per round gets.
If you figure the cost of all the reloading equipment that I (and most other folks) have, one could certainly make the argument that buying commercial ammo would be less expensive. But then again, that is commercial ammo, and I consider the ammo I make to be better. I can also make a much bigger variety than I can buy. And I am not the best reloader around even though I have been doing it since the 1960s. I know some folks who go to some really Herculean efforts just to reduce the standard deviation of their loads by a very small amount. Those guys are more particular than I, but I am more particular than the folks who make factory ammo. It all depends on how far you want to go with the quest.
I can buy surplus ammo for less than I can make it, but that does not mean I should not make my own. Actually, I really do not like to use surplus ammo because of the unknowns of its corrosiveness. I am not saying anyone should not shoot surplus ammo. For my own purposes, however, I would rather shoot my own. I do, however, make good use of surplus powder and surplus bullets whenever I can.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile
Details
Not looking for too much analysis...as far as quanitities of materials, I'm thinking of the"average" reloader... meaning buying relatively small quantities, not someone who churns out thousands of rounds a month...So maybe buying bullets and primers by the hundreds, powder no more than a few lbs at a time...I know that in some cases, you can buy ammo cheaper, but want cost for reloads (for all the reasons mentioned above) specifically because combinations you produce may not be available commercially....Again, not concerned w/ cost of reloading equipment...just actual costs to produce...minimum assumes no new brass, just other components, maximum would include new quality brass....
Not looking for too much analysis...as far as quanitities of materials, I'm thinking of the"average" reloader... meaning buying relatively small quantities, not someone who churns out thousands of rounds a month...So maybe buying bullets and primers by the hundreds, powder no more than a few lbs at a time...I know that in some cases, you can buy ammo cheaper, but want cost for reloads (for all the reasons mentioned above) specifically because combinations you produce may not be available commercially....Again, not concerned w/ cost of reloading equipment...just actual costs to produce...minimum assumes no new brass, just other components, maximum would include new quality brass....
Steve Smith
New member
Poodleshooter
New member
Handgun: I can beat any factory cost on any ammo at nearly any quantity
Rifle: I can't beat military surplus ammo costs at any quantity, I can beat any commercial softpoint or match ammo costs.
Shotgun: I can't beat the cheapest Remington Dove and Quail loads available at Walmart, I can beat costs on every other load. It is however, difficult to replicate a lot of the higher end hunting ammo-steel shot, magnum buffered loads, slugs and buckshot.
Rifle: I can't beat military surplus ammo costs at any quantity, I can beat any commercial softpoint or match ammo costs.
Shotgun: I can't beat the cheapest Remington Dove and Quail loads available at Walmart, I can beat costs on every other load. It is however, difficult to replicate a lot of the higher end hunting ammo-steel shot, magnum buffered loads, slugs and buckshot.
Master Blaster
New member
I can reload match grade .45 ACP (meaning it will shoot a under 2" 5 shot group at 25 yards from my Kimber, or my Colt from a sandbag rest) for $3.50 per box of 50.
To buy similar quality / accuracy .45 the choice is federal gold medal match at $19 per 50 bought in a case quantity. per box at my local gunshop its $24 per 50.
The savings is very substantial.
To buy similar quality / accuracy .45 the choice is federal gold medal match at $19 per 50 bought in a case quantity. per box at my local gunshop its $24 per 50.
The savings is very substantial.
No bearing on the coinversation per se, but when you figure a $25K 4X4 to get you to the deer woods, another $1k+ for camping equipment, etc. + the vaca-time to havest that venison, your "free' deer ends up costing somewhere around well over $150 per pound.
Who even plays with reloading costs? I do it 'cause it's fun enough ... & that independence thing.
Who even plays with reloading costs?
I do it 'cause it's fun enough ... & that independence thing.I do .45 with a 230gr LRN for 6.50/100. 12 ga. runs between 2.29 and 2.45 per 25, depending on shot charge (7/8oz to 1-1/8oz). 20 ga. runs slightly less due to less powder used per shell. I buy pistol powders 5lbs. at a time (I use IMR 700-x and SR7625), primers by the 5000 for both pistol and shotgun, and wads generally 2000 at a time.
Mike
Mike
Dad-Gummit
New member
Reloading WIL NOT save you any money-in fact since I've started reloading I'm spending alot more on my ammo budget. But in return I'm shooting a whole lot more. Before reloading I would only shoot 1box out of my .45-now it's not uncommon for me to bang out several hundred .45's per session. Rifles the same-before I would buy a box or two per year-sight my gun in, then use it to hunt with. Now I shoot plenty of rounds through my rifles. The result is now my rifles are all sub inch shooters,and bragging good with my pistols. Hav'nt started reloaing for my G-17 since Ammoman has 1,000 for $100(cash discount) Norma 9mms,and with the Glock I can't use cast bullets, so these are as cheap as I can make them. Don't get into reloading to save money-get into reloading to shoot more.