You can cut your cost considerably shooting cast bullets. That's about all I shoot in my .45 and if you get a can of bullseye or red dot, they use so little powder that a pound will last forever. It's a HOT powder and you best be careful with it. My own best .45 powder is Unique........6 1/2 grs under a 230 gr RN cast bullet.

Also keep in mind that for certain cartridges, usually military ammo, it IS possible to find commercially loaded ammo cheaper than you can load it and for the reasons Birman has mentioned. They load the stuff by the train loads and can sell it cheap. But for most ammo, it will never touch your reloaded cost...and reusing the brass (which is LAW #! for a reloader) will drastically lower your cost.

Instead of buying new brass for .45, check Midway and others for once fired brass. Learn to keep your eyes open when you go to a shooting range and latch onto the brass others aren't smart enough to pick up. It takes a little time but eventually you'll have all you want. And another thought, people who ask me to reload for them, usually the first thing I tell them is "Bring me YOUR empties."

Finally, be careful about loading for others. If they have any sort of "problem," guess who they will blame or try to sue.[:-]

I only load for VERY close friends. Resist the temptation to be a "nice guy." Very quickly they will waste more of your time than they are worth and you'll get the blame for every miss or whatever they have forever.