Approx Price Per Round for ELR Cartridges?

[RabbitSlayer]

I could afford to put together or have built any rifle I want, but can I afford to also shoot it? I suspect there is a balance between capability of the cartridge, cost, and budget to practice. Yes, I own a calculator, but I suspect one of you already has the answer. What is the approximate price per round for the small to big magnums using premium components like lapua brass and berger bullets?

6.5 prc and similar short mags

300 prc and similar long mags

300 norma variants

338 lapua variants

375 cheytac

416 barret

 

[R.Morehouse]

104g of n570.....?
300g Burger Hybrid....$1.ea.
Lapua Brass.....$3 + ea.
Primer..... .10 ea.

338 Lapua variant

Grin Factor........ ...........Priceless

Regards
Rick

 

[brokeasajoke]

While I'm not in any league close to most everyone here, my 338 Lapua is about $1.90. A big portion of that is case life and S&B and Herters split necks at about 3 firings. It is possible I wasn't getting them fully annealed with a torch. These were neck sized only. I think the last bullets I got which were Berger 300gr OTM were $.85 each.

 

[moondog]

I've been asked this by several of my shooting buddies thinking about ELR cost factor. Yes, it is a LOT of powder per case, the Bullets are more, and the Brass is expensive. Unless it's your ONLY gun, it's cheaper to own. I dont put nearly as many rounds down my 300PRC or 338Imp per year as my 6BRA. The Cheytacs and Barrets are another level though!!!!

 

[William Vogel]

If you’re asking questions like these I only assume you don’t load any ammunition at this point. My recommendation would be to build something like a 308, 6.5 Creedmoor or a 6 Dasher and get really accurate at 1000 or 800 yards. All these cartridges will do it and could easily get 1 MOA results at 1000 and teach you at reduced cost per round. The brass initially is the greatest expense but getting 12-15 reloads brings the cost down to less than primers. Factory loads will most likely never be as accurate.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

If you’re asking questions like these I only assume you don’t load any ammunition at this point. My recommendation would be to build something like a 308, 6.5 Creedmoor or a 6 Dasher and get really accurate at 1000 or 800 yards. All these cartridges will do it and could easily get 1 MOA results at 1000 and teach you at reduced cost per round. The brass initially is the greatest expense but getting 12-15 reloads brings the cost down to less than primers. Factory loads will most likely never be as accurate.

I reload 6 creed, 223, 223ai, 204 ruger, and 17 hornet. I have never even attempted to figure out what it costs to shoot them. Especially considering all the crap i own that isnt required but i purchased anyways like my amp annealer, creedmoor scale, and so on. My 6 creed is not really cutting it at 1 mile and there is a target at 2 miles if i want to try it.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I could afford to put together or have built any rifle I want, but can I afford to also shoot it? I suspect there is a balance between capability of the cartridge, cost, and budget to practice. Yes, I own a calculator, but I suspect one of you already has the answer. What is the approximate price per round for the small to big magnums using premium components like lapua brass and berger bullets?

6.5 prc and similar short mags

300 prc and similar long mags

300 norma variants

338 lapua variants

375 cheytac

416 barret

The 6.5 PRC is going to be the cheapest of those and the very reason I went with it after contemplating a 338. I figure the 6.5 PRC doesn't reach out as far as the other, dealing with smaller case volume and bullet size, but does ok out to 1200 yds. Currently, I've got 16 firings on my Lapua cases that appear like they'll do a few more. Given this 16 firings and the current price of the components, I figure my current cost in component replacement would be ~ $1.40 per round. But currently, with what I paid for, it's costing me ~ $1.03 per round (not calculating any "lost opportunity cost". . . and I should have enough not to have to purchase any replacements for a couple years (shooting 1,200+ rounds per year).

PS: That's all just based on the basic component purchase prices plus tax. The other cost not accounted for is cost of consumables like case lube, tumbling cleaners/media, propane for annealing, barrel replacement, etc., which all can vary depending on the caliber you choose.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I always thought that, the 7mm SAUM was, the Best, "all around" L-R Cartridge for,.. the PRICE / Accuracy.
Do Enjoy, my 6.5 Creed, tho ! ( $.75 to $82 Cents, a Round, Load / Bullet, Dependent ) And NO Recoil W/ 130 grain.
If, I was younger and I shot Past, 850 yards much,.. I'd build, a 7 SAUM,.. in a New York Minute !
7mm Bullets, Have Awesome BC's !
The 7PRC "Reaches Out" even further and Components are, still at, a "Descent Price" Level.
True ELR,.. IS,.. a "Rich Man's Sport" with, $3.00+ Per Shot, MINIMUM and with, Needing, 3, "Spare Barrels"
Price out, some, .375 Cheytac or, .37 XC Components, BEFORE building, a Rifle.

 

[SKWERLZ]

My 338 edge
Brass=2.64
Primer=.07
Powder(N570)=.62
Bullets(solids)=1.50
4.83

My 37XC project is a bit over $5

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

My 338 edge
Brass=2.64
Primer=.07
Powder(N570)=.62
Bullets(solids)=1.50
4.83

My 37XC project is a bit over $5

Yep,. About what, I thought,.. $5.00 a Round for, the "Competitive" ELR Ammo !
The 7 PRC and 7 SAUM, Look Better at,.. the "Closer Ranges",.. every Day.

 

[SKWERLZ]

I always thought that, the 7mm SAUM was, the Best, "all around" L-R Cartridge for,.. the PRICE / Accuracy.
Do Enjoy, my 6.5 Creed, tho ! ( $.75 to $82 Cents, a Round, Load / Bullet, Dependent ) And NO Recoil W/ 130 grain.
If, I was younger and I shot Past, 850 yards much,.. I'd build, a 7 SAUM,.. in a New York Minute !
7mm Bullets, Have Awesome BC's !
The 7PRC "Reaches Out" even further and Components are, still at, a "Descent Price" Level.
True ELR,.. IS,.. a "Rich Man's Sport" with, $3.00+ Per Shot, cost and with, Needing, 3, "Spare Barrels"
Price out, some, .375 Cheytac or, .37 XC Components, BEFORE building, a Rifle.

I’m also a believer that 7SAUM or 280 AI is the perfect do everything cartridge an far cheaper and easier to shoot than a 338 or 375.
My first choice for helping a new shooter wanting to get in the mile club.

 

[std7mag]

Cost per round for reloading isn't my problem.
Finding someplace to stretch it's legs past 400 yards is.
The 1,000 yard ranges near me don't want those kinds of rounds shot at their range.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Cost per round for reloading isn't my problem.
Finding someplace to stretch it's legs past 400 yards is.
The 1,000 yard ranges near me don't want those kinds of rounds shot at their range.

Man, that is a rough life. NV is still accepting Patriots. You can shoot 5 miles just about anywhere if you got a howitzer to do it with lol.

 

[davidjoe]

Primers jump to $2 a piece with the .416 and 50.

Standard presses can handle a .338 but are too short for the Cheytac variants. Bigger press required.

The caliber where solids can finally lead lead in BC is .375.

While a Chertac is fairly listed as second to the 50-based cases, there is a huge gap between them.

The increments are about 14 grains on the list between cartridges until the 50 family, with the BMG adding more than 100 grains to the Cheytac.

The 416 Barrett ammo is 8/10’s the overall performance of Hornady 750 A-Max ammo at 11/10’s the price.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Primers jump to $2 a piece with the .416 and 50.

Standard presses can handle a .338 but are too short for the Cheytac variants. Bigger press required.

The caliber where solids can finally lead lead in BC is .375.

While a Chertac is fairly listed as second to the 50-based cases, there is a huge gap between them.

The increments are about 14 grains on the list between cartridges until the 50 family, with the BMG adding more than 100 grains to the Cheytac.

The 416 Barrett ammo is 8/10’s the overall performance of Hornady 750 A-Max ammo at 11/10’s the price.

Holy smokes, thanks for the summary. I think the norma mag or lapua is about the most I could actually afford to shoot.

 

[hpshooter]

I will have to check with a shooting buddy who competes, and won, the King of 2 Mile a couple years ago and see what his 416 Hellfire cost per round to load.

 

[SKWERLZ]

Cost per round for reloading isn't my problem.
Finding someplace to stretch it's legs past 400 yards is.
The 1,000 yard ranges near me don't want those kinds of rounds shot at their range.

West coast is pretty good for that.

 

[SKWERLZ]

Primers jump to $2 a piece with the .416 and 50.

Standard presses can handle a .338 but are too short for the Cheytac variants. Bigger press required.

The caliber where solids can finally lead lead in BC is .375.

While a Chertac is fairly listed as second to the 50-based cases, there is a huge gap between them.

The increments are about 14 grains on the list between cartridges until the 50 family, with the BMG adding more than 100 grains to the Cheytac.

The 416 Barrett ammo is 8/10’s the overall performance of Hornady 750 A-Max ammo at 11/10’s the price.

I have a friend that shoots 416/50bmg.
Primers are insane for it now

 

[jackieschmidt]

I am just about finished with my ELR build, 338 Lapua Ackley Imp.

I would think the 338 Lapua or Ackley Imp would be the last of the “reasonably priced” set up. Brass is about $3 a piece, or about $8 a piece if you want to start with loaded factory ammo to fireform. Regular lead core Bullets are readily available from quite a few manufacturers at humane prices.

 

[std7mag]

I have a friend that shoots 416/50bmg.
Primers are insane for it nowView attachment 1638915

More than the cigars??