I think it also depends a lot on the retail cost vs. component cost of the caliber you're reloading for.

DG gave one example with the 7mm STW, and I've done a similar analysis with the two calibers I'm favoring for my next rifle, .308 Win and .300 Win Mag.

.308 Winchester

Lapua Brass $32.94 per 100
Powder $20/lb
Primers $16 per 1000
Bullets (A-Max 168 Moly) $19.09 per 100

Cost per shot:
Brass (reloaded 10 times)=$32.94/(100*10)=$0.033
Powder (7000 grains/lb / 45gr/shot= 155 shots/lb)=$20/155=$0.13
Primers ($16/1000)=$0.016
Bullets ($19.09/100)=$0.191

Total cost per shot: $0.42
Cost per box: $8.40
Box of Hornady Match Grade(w/o A-Max bullets): $19.49
Savings: $11.09 (56%) per box

.300 Win Mag

Winchester Brass: $14.24/50
Powder: $20/lb
Primers: $15/1000
Bullets (A-Max 178gr Moly): $19.58/100

Cost per shot:
Brass: $0.028/shot (10 reloads each)
Powder (7000gr/lb / aprox 76gr/shot= 92 shots/lb): $0.22
Primer: $0.015
Bullets: $0.196

Total cost per shot: $0.46
Cost per box: $9.20
Box of Hornady 180gr Heavy Mag ammo (not A-Max): $26.49
Savings: $17.29 (65%) /box

The equipment setup I want to get (I'd be just getting started), which includes the Rockchucker Master Kit, Redding dies, and the rest of the tools I'm figuring $350 initial investment.

To break even I'd have to reload about 31 boxes of .308 Win, or about 20 boxes of .300 Win Mag, but I'd have the luxury of combining exactly the components I want and finding the perfect load for my rifle. Factory ammo is manufactured to shoot well in and meet the needs of the widest variety of rifle and shooters. It's impossible to put a price on being able to make ammo that precisely meets one's needs.

Mike


Gun control means putting the second bullet through the same hole as the first- Ted Nugent
NRA Member
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