Reloading Cost vs. Factory Ammo

[Idaho-Lefty]

OOP's,. I Forgot to Average in, my Brass Cost !
Peterson, 6.5 Creed Brass @ $90.00 a Hund, Divided by 10 Shots = .09 cents per shot plus .69 cents = $.78 cents a round x 20= $15.60 per Bx of, 20 !
Can anyone Buy, a Box of 6.5 Creed Ammo, that Cheaply ??

 

[Straightshooter1]

Given the cost of ammo today is it feasible/cost effective to reload your own ammo? I shoot 9mm,40 and 7mm08 I am looking to pick up the lyman ultimate kit , I for one am tired of paying close to 50 bucks for a box of 7mm08 thats not in stock a lot

Thanks
N5ATK

When I took up reloading (about 9 years ago) I calculated that it was indeed cost effective to reload for my rifles. . . after the the point at which the savings was enough to make up for the cost of the equipment. That can take a while depending on how much one shoots, or plans on shooting.

As it turned out, the reloading got me shooting a lot more, which shortened the time the savings paid for the equipment. In the end, I'm spending more than I would have because of reloading by shooting more that twice as much as I did just buying the ammo.

And then, there's that rabbit hole! When one starts reloading, then there's at urge to upgrade the equipment. . . when feels like it's never ending.

So, in my case. . . it hasn't been cheaper to do reloading. But it's been a great hobby. . . though NOT cheap.

Unless you're shooting tons of them, I don't think it economical to reload 9mm or 40's. But if you find you enjoy doing it . . . why not! For my pistols, I just look for deals and buy factor rounds.

 

[R&B]

One of the reasons I reload is for autonomy. I can control the quality and choose what I want to shoot. Relying on ammo off the shelf is great if they have what you want. In my neck of the woods I've never seen a box of 6.5 x 47 Lapua ammo on the shelf (LOL). In my mind it doesn't exist so I have to make it (LOL). Buying only off the shelf limits your options. This also contributes to the hording mentality that comes with not having much of a choice (All or Nothing). In my case I shoot interesting rounds the masses have never heard of or are not interested in like 7mm x 61 S&H (Only Accurate Rifle Are Interesting). Shooting is a hobby for me. Hobbies have been and will always be a form of mental health for me. The value of my peace of mind and happiness is priceless.

If money is a key concern you can do the math to figure out what is cost effective for you. Reloading has its own merits and they are not necessarily financial ones. If I was just concerned with cost I would just shoot my bow and arrow set or air guns all the time. It all about options and being flexible.



-R&B

 

[Walt Krafft]

View attachment 1599778

Truth right here!

 

[SRJG]

A box of 20 Hornady 6.5CM 140 eldm rounds costs $130.00 here in NZ, so we have an incentive to reload.

 

[ISS]

Back in the 1960's gun mags told us that for every dollar of factory bought ammunition, that shiny new case was 65-cents. More for big guns.
I am getting a 6 Dasher delivered this week. I bought new brass for about $2.00 per case. Figure 40-cents per bullet. Figure 15-cents for a primer, and 25-cents for powder. 80-cents, +/- for comestibles per round.
Reloading equipment is amortized over (for me) fifty years. I am 75, and retired since 2008. I enjoy sitting at the bench turning out better ammunition than money can buy.

ISS

 

[jds holler]

I started loading rifle ammo back in the mid seventies. Back then a box of 20 factory shells cost around six to ten bucks depending on the store or sale that you caught. There was no such thing as factory "match ammo". In my part of the world, store bought ammo meant Winchester, or Remington.

For me it was a no brainer for reloading, as 100 rifle bullets cost around the same as twenty factory shells. A pound of powder was three to five bucks a pound, and primers were 70 or 80 cents a flat. (100) Nobody bought brass because it was laying everywhere, and of course all once fired.

Us reloaders were in the vast minority among shooters, although in my area, shotgun reloading was fairly common. That's how I got started. (age 12)

You would be amazed to know just how little factory ammo I've bought in my life, and how much shooting I've done compared to my peers. Friends used to accuse me of being an amazing shot -- and I'm not. I'm just better than most folks who almost never shoot.

I think that if I was just starting out now, that I'd still choose to reload. The costs may be relative to the times. After all back when I started, gas cost probably 35 cents a gallon, soooo...
AND -- I wouldn't trade this hobby for any other. jd

 

[CJ6]

When I first started I figured that break even point (loading vs factory) was about 500 rounds. That included brass, primers, bullets, powder and all the equipment ( press, dies , trimmer , scale, etc). I haven't priced what that point is now. This was for a 30-06.

 

[jds holler]

When I first started I figured that break even point (loading vs factory) was about 500 rounds. That included brass, primers, bullets, powder and all the equipment ( press, dies , trimmer , scale, etc). I haven't priced what that point is now. This was for a 30-06.

I figure my break-even point happened with my first batch of a hundred shells. Not too hard to accomplish when your entire outfit cost $9.95.
(Lee Whackamole) And components probably ten or twelve bucks. I started out with a 243 Win., shooting the little Speer 75 gr. hollowpoints. My brother in law had given me an Ohaus beam scale, and I acquired a "Speer #8 Reloading Manual" -- and carefully read it. My first four group target produced a half inch group, and I figured "this stuff is easy".
jd

 

[DShortt]

Another point for reloading is to find best accuracy for your firearms.

This is why I got into reloading in the first place and why I continue to reload. If I could buy ammo off the shelf that shot just as accurately, then that's what I would do, but it's been an exercise in futility the few times I tried that.
I know people who shoot PRS and do just fine with factory ammo, so I'm not saying it's not possible. It just hasn't worked out for me personally.

 

[M60 Tanker]

Once you add up your component cost, equipment and your time, reloading is a poor ROI in my opinion. However, I really enjoy reloading because I am actually manufacturing something that is better than most factory ammo and there is a certain amount of pride in "rolling your own". It's also a therapeutic activity for me.

 

[Rank Amateur]

Once you add up your component cost, equipment and your time, reloading is a poor ROI in my opinion. However, I really enjoy reloading because I am actually manufacturing something that is better than most factory ammo and there is a certain amount of pride in "rolling your own". It's also a therapeutic activity for me.

No disrespect intended, and I understand your reference to ROI in terms of costs of components and equipment and your time, may actually exceed factory costs. On the other hand, I find hand loading to have a very special ROI, and perhaps even more when you are hand loading wildcats. First, you can’t buy these. Second, you likely load these for competition purposes (likely, not necessarily). And third, you then use the ammo you loaded and tweaked for your own rifle/pistol, and the complete system that you are responsible for complements the endless hours of practice to yield success. There’s nothing like it. You have to be “wired” a certain way, but if you are, the ROI is pretty special. Again, no disrespect intended. Just one man’s opinion.

 

[jds holler]

I would guess that in my area, and among my friends and acquaintances, that reloading is done by only a few percent of gun owners, hunters, and shooters in general. Most shooters aren't after the kind of performance that reloading provides, and frankly the numbers of shooters is very low per capita.

I'm not a competition shooter, so maybe I'm not seeing a large part of what's going on in other areas. I kind of hope so. I'm amazed that reloading isn't more popular these days, when there are bunches of odd, uncommon, and hard to find chamberings being sold. -- and sold at very high prices. jd

 

[Kracken McGraw]

OOP's,. I Forgot to Average in, my Brass Cost !
Peterson, 6.5 Creed Brass @ $90.00 a Hund, Divided by 10 Shots = .09 cents per shot plus .69 cents = $.78 cents a round x 20= $15.60 per Bx of, 20 !
Can anyone Buy, a Box of 6.5 Creed Ammo, that Cheaply ??

I don’t think so, but I do see factory load shooters being able to get let’s say 33 cents out of the one fired Hornady brass.

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

I've bought some factory ammo the past few years at a good "deal".

They go bang, and nieces and nephews can kill deer with it.... but it's pathetic in terms of accuracy compared to reloaded ammo tuned to a rifle.

You can buy 7mm-08 ammo on GB for $23.99 a box.

 

[searcher]

If it is mostly about saving money, be very careful in your initial equipment purchases. There are good presses, good funnels, good powder dispensers and trimmers, etc. They NEVER come together in one package. "Starter" kits are sold, assuming you can later upgrade to their better stuff - which means paying all over again. Sometimes, the presses might be OK, but everything else ends up getting replaced. The informed person would select the "right" items that can last for many years - and which you will be happy with for many years. Many, like me, ultimately wished they had bought something a "little" better from the start. We eventually throw away the plastic funnels, get a trimmer with a micrometer, a better scale, maybe a better powder dispenser, etc. Getting MUCH better stuff and paying another $400.00 in cost for your gear will be a decision you will not regret if you are a long-time shooter. If you "upgrade" later, it costs much more than that - not only because of increased prices, but because you are buying stuff twice. The recommendation I give my friends who are starting out (and I know they are the type who will stick with reloading), I tell them to get a basic Redding press like a Big Boss, a Harrell's powder dispenser, a decent powder scale or digital scale like an RCBS or maybe a Lyman, a metal (like a Satern) powder funnel and a trimmer like a Redding with the dial micrometer on the end. Add your choice of lube spray or pad, a set of dies like Redding, chamfer tool, neck brush, shell holder, a pair of digital calipers and a set of the headspace gauges and bullet comparator gauges (both sold by Hornady) and a vibratory tumbler of most any make. Figure that will all add up to slightly over $1,000 + tax. You will have to load about 30+ boxes of 7mm-08 ammo to break even on your investment. If you only shoot a few boxes of ammo a year, I'd keep buying factory stuff. Reloading can get VERY expensive, but it doesn't have to be to load good ammo that will shoot better than factory and provide savings once you have loaded enough to pay for the gear. There are a lot of decent presses, dies and such - you just don't want to get anything you will be unhappy with in short order. This forum is a gold mine for helping one to get steered to better things - and away from junk. I'm not at all knocking your combo selection - I just don't like any of the combo options I have ever seen.

 

[450BM]

I’ve been reloading since I was 12 years old back in 1977. My parents spent $100 and I got everything I need to load 100 rounds of 22-250. That was my only firearm and I hunted woodchucks all summer and then it was my deer rifle in November.

I started out to save money shooting but the reloading turned into the more enjoyable hobby. When I turned 21 I bought my first handgun and then had to learn how to cast bullets. Wasn’t long before I bought my new Dillon 550 for 38’s and 357’s. I now have an RCBS Rockchucker, Forster Co-ax and the Dillon mounted on my reloading bench. I have another Rockchucker I’d like to mount but it will limit my space too much and I know I really don’t need it mounted. I bought it so I could take my reloading stuff to my shooting bench but for lots of reasons I only did it once.

Almost forgot…. My buddy had all of his reloading gear in cold storage with nowhere to set it up. I have a radiant floor heated woodshop with my old reloading bench there acting as a workbench. He asked if he could bring all of his gear and set It up in my shop. What could I say? No? Heck yeah, bring it over. So, in my woodshop there is his rockchucker and Dillon 550 setup and ready to use.

With all this said, reloading is a great hobby! No, you won’t save money but you’ll be adding another fun, enjoyable hobby that you can do anytime. You’ll shoot more and enjoy it more, at least I do.

I’m getting lost here in all that I want to say…. Lots of great advice from others already on components.

One more thing and I’ll stop. On another forum someone was looking for 17 wsm (rimfire), but couldn’t readily find any. When guys were finding it, it was at least 58 cents per round. I load my 17 Fireball, using current prices, for 40 cents per round. I shot 27 rounds today testing Remington 7 1/2 primers. Thoroughly enjoyed it!!! Looking forward to loading some more.

BB

 

[jxb]

It's kinda a loaded question. Simple answer is of course reloading is less. The trouble with that is there's a zillion variables that go into that. A better answer is: It depends...

If you just want to reload for your 7mm-08 then you could simply find used equipment in good shape, the consumables you need and start reloading. I see perfectly good kits for sale all the time and at give away prices. I'm talking <$100 then you buy your consumables and get after it. You can easily load as much as you're likely to shoot through that 7mm-08 and for very little cost (relative to factory ammo).

Start adding additional die sets, accuracy or bulk, speed of reloading either, or bling the price goes up quickly.

Granted if you're one that goes to ammoseek and buys the cheapest ammo available that might shoot 4moa and are happy with that then maybe not, but if you want <1moa groups you generally aren't going to find that in the cheapest section.

If you think your time should be counted in the cost of reloading just stop right there and buy factory or even custom made just for your rifle ammo, it's going to be cheaper than you reloading it.

Oh yeah, if you decide to reload. Buy your bullets, primers, and powder when they are on sale or lowest costs of the year, in bulk, and with free shipping and/or free hazmat. Don't forget brass, but remember it's not one use. With a little work and patience you can find those each year. Now through second week of December is a great time to do just that. "in bulk" is relative to your needs. I'd try to get enough to last 2-5yrs, or start small until you know what you want, then next year load up when prices are best. Ounces are pounds... think of it like that. Every cent per that you can save getting it to your reloading room lowers your cost per round.

 

[dryhumor]

I’ve been thinking about another 257 Roberts. Started looking at brass… wish I had kept what I had leftover from when I used to shoot one.

Anyway, the cheap route was to actually buy loaded ammo compared to just brass. It was actually cheaper by an average of 30-35 cents a round, not factoring in the components and time.

I guess reloading, you are or learn to be thrifty. That said, there’s no way I’ll do a mental inventory of my components on hand and the cost.

Ignorance is bliss as they say….

 

[chop house]

it is more suited to individuals that have a personality of attention to detail

Amen