Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

I am always wondring :is reloading your bulets really cheaper OR what is the &quot;braking point &quot;that your bulets are costing say &quot;1/3&quot; of store price.<img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle>

Toons

Safty Is # 1

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

By the time you buy all the gear you have to shoot several hundred rounds a year to actually save money.The biggest advantage is that you can develop a load that is most accurate in your gun.

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

Reloading cost to get set up but once you get set up it more than pays for itself especially if you shoot alot. Like already mentioned accuracy is one big reason some people reload. I personally do alot of shooting both rifles and pistols along with my son and brothers so i know for a fact that we save money on ammo as well as have a great time reloading and working up different loads for our guns. Reloading is just plain fun. I'll admit reloading can try one's patience at times but it's a great hobby.

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

[You don't save like you used too many years ago but if you shoot all year you can save quite a bit.If you are just going to shoot a day before the season you would be better off to just buy a box

http://www.hunting-pictures.com/memb...ght&encore.jpg

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

I don't know if it's cheaper, but it sure is alot more fun <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Seriously stubblejumper is right on and I think it's nice to know that I reloaded the shell that put down my deer, etc.

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

Toon,

Unless you're only loading for 1 caliber and if you hit paydirt with your 1st can of powder & 1st box of bullets..........you won't be saving money anytime soon. Realistically, it will probably take at least 1000 rds for you to recover the initial cost for tools & load development components.

However, it is a great hobby........you will shoot more for the same price........you will end up being a better shooter (and thinker)....and you will really appreciate every &quot;X&quot; and every animal that you put a hole through.

If you got the time and the money......GO FOR IT!! :D


&quot;Every moving thing that liveth, I give unto you as meat&quot; (Gen 9:3)

Trust God..........but keep your powder dry!

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

I started handloading for a hobbie, and to save money on ammo. I now handload for hobbie, accuracy, and to save money on ammo. Once you really get into handloading, you will produce more accurate ammo than any factory ammo available. I keep on reading by gun writers say that factory ammo is as accurate as handloads, don't believe them they are just trying to endorse a product. Good luck with your new hobbie.

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RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

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
&quot;They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.&quot; -Ben Franklin

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

I fire several thousand rounds per year.

I started reloading.

I did not save one penny... because I started shooting twice as much!!

~Happiness is flying brass! -Country Boy

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

Thank you guys for all the info.
what you all wrot is very intresting and encoreging.
I just wonder about the accuracy part,is it more powder?or what?

Toons

Safty is # 1

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

Where the accuracy part comes in is:

Each of your cases will be exactly the same, they will all be the same length, all the primer pockets will be uniform allowing all the primers to be installed at the same depth, all the flash holes will be deburred. In some cases one can seperate new cases by weight, turn the necks, and even shave the case heads. One can also weight all the bullets and measure them for uniform ogives. I have found the most accurate loads I have loaded have been neck-sized only (after fire forming). All your powder charges will be uniform, and also dropped (or charged) the same in each case. Every firearm will like one powder more than the other, cases, primers, and bullets. One will seat the bullet to the rifle's prefered cartridge over-all length (COL). In other words one can seat the bullet into the case a certian depth just so it will barely touch the lands and grooves (depending at what COL the rifle shoots best at). I know I have forgot some stuff, but someone will help fill in the blanks. It sounds like a lot of stuff, but it really isn't. There is nothing really complicated about the procedure. If you run into problems I will be happy to help you, and so will the other handloaders on this bulletin board. We all need to stick together; they want to take our right to handload away. Good luck.





Edited by - handloader1 on 11/11/2002 01:07:54

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

Before I started reloading, when planning a big game hunt I would have to order 10 boxes of ammo that I was taking on the hunt. This after buying different factory ammo to get the best results. I would then buy a similiar weight bullet in a cheaper ammo just to practice. A month prior to the hunt I would shoot up all the good ammo except for 2 boxes that went with me. Suffice to say that got old after a while and I now handload. I put whatever bullet into whatever case using whatever powder and primer and not worry about it when I find the right combo make up 40-60 rounds and I am good to go. I refuse to pay 30+bucks a box for factory ammo..simply ridiculous to do so. There is also the gratification factor of standing over an animal that you killed with your own ammo.

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

Does reloading save you money? It depends on what caliber you shoot. If you shoot a 270 30/06 308 30/30----I really don't think it does. You can buy them at Wally World for $10/ box. By the time you add in all the other needed items it will take a long long time to break even. And don't forget what your time is worth. I shoot a 30/06 and I started to reload several years ago. I found a load that's really accurate out of my rifle. A 3 shot group will touch one another at 100 yards. Factory ammo will take a quarter to cover the same 3 shot group. To be honest it makes no difference to the elk, he's dead from both.

I also shoot trap and reload my own shells. The best I can do is about $2.75 a box--- you can buy new shells at the club for $3.50 a box. It takes me 15 minutes to reload a box on my single stage. .75 x 4 = $3.00 My time is worth in this case $3.00 an hour. Hardly worth it in my opinion.

Now a hobby. That's a whole another game. If you like to tighten up you groups & you take pride in it-- well then do it. Just remember that there are always new products like electronic scales, electronic powder dispencers, etc And after you start you will want to add these new toys and your break even point is further out.

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

I was lucky! I bought my reloader for $100 from a lady who lost her husband. That is all she wanted for it. She told me she wanted me to enjoy it as much as he did. It came with powder, bullets, brass, primers, press, etc. The most valuable thing I got was years of notes he made. I haven't been reloading long, but it is fun. I have made enough bullets already to pay for the loader. I know not everyone gets this kind of deal though.

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RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

To reload my 30/06--- 180 grain &quot;Hornady&quot; .16
56 grains of IMR 4350 .17
Winchester primer .02
------------
total cost .35/round--$7.00/box


Remington/Winchester/Federal at Wally World ----$10/bx

So I can save $3/box. Now if you are a shooter an like tight groups then reloading is for you. If you are a hunter, then your time is better spent in the mtns. looking for elk or at the local gym on the stair climber getting those legs & the cardio-vascular system into shape.

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

There is a certain break even point and I've calculated it before and don't know what it is off hand but I've definately surpassed it. Unfortunately I use the perceived savings to justify buying new equipment and trinkets which may or may not make reloading easier or give better results. I also shoot alot more. The best thing is that I can reload shells for a rifle that will work best in that rifle with the components that I want to use instead of paying for some of the overpriced crappy ammunition sold at the loca sporting goods store.

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms... who's bringing the chips?

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

i reaload, and cast my bullets for my .357mag. depending on what primers cost me and what powder i use, my ammo costs me about $1 for a box of 50. i bought a cheap lee kit and some dies, lets say total cost of $150 bucks. you do the math, its much cheaper

propmahn
save the world, reload your brass

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

I know you guys are brass reloaders, I am a die-hard 10 and 12 ga shotgun reloader. In my book and I keep records I can not even buy the loads I can reload. All are all very safe and proven loads from masters. Last night for grinns while at Bass-Pro they had a box of 10 ga Remington nitro-steel for $20.00. Thats .80 cents per shell and that load was set at 1380 FPS. My standard loads I am doing for the 10ga are set at 1590 FPS and at a cost of .60 cents per shell. With all the trap and skeet I do I can save over 4.40 per box.My walmart here sells the remington greens at 4.96 per box.(thats the only hull I use) I get the hulls for free at the club so just powder,shot wads and primer is all I need. I know I cheated alittle when I bought a 8475 progressive that does 6 shells at a time but I bought it from a friend for 100.00. Both my 10ga sizmaster and my 12ga steelmaster 3.5 cost me 180.00 from one person online.Deals can be had all over if you look. Not only that I can reload the night before or even a few before the hunt, try getting into your car and get what you need right then and there. Most of the times they are out or you got to drive to another place. Forget going to the one open on the way to the hunt it is twice the price.As for the question, Yes,reloading in my book saves me time and money.

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

Reloading can be cheaper if that is what your looking for ,but it really depends on how envolved you get into it .I can't honestly say I save anything because its my hobby and I do it for the relaxation and the custom loads I develop for my guns . If I factor in all the extras that I have accumilated I could have bought all the ammo I would ever need and had money left over .
On the practical side I just helped a friend buy everything he needed to start reloading off of ebay ,he got everything he needed for two calibers for $126.00 .All RCBS equipment with a rockchucker press .If anything is wrong with it it has a lifetime guarantee .

RE: Is reloading really Cheaper?
 

I just looked it up.I started handloading on Sept 25,1948.I've loaded thousands of rounds in over a dozen calibers,and I have'nt saved a dime yet.I did shoot a heck of a lot more then I would have,using only factory ammo.
Frank

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