Are my observations correct or do I have my head up my butt?

[Infrequent Shooter]

I must be missing something here, I have never found a single factory round that is capable in firearm I own that shoots close as good as I load myself. But every rifle I own is capable of better than .5 moa accuracy.

He'll I can't even buy 22LR as good as I tune, for less than $20 a hundred. But any rimfire ammo I shoot, I run through my Waltz die, and improve it, that includes Lapua Center X.

I also never paid more than $1.20 a hundred for primers, those were new Federal 205M for my 6mm ppc BR rifle. My 6BR and 222 Rem. Target guns, as well as my 17MK IV (try buying ammo for that with a tight NK) shoot just good with $8.00 a hundred Reminton 7 1/2 primers. Plus most all my rifles are tight NK.

My handguns, well forget it, if you could buy as good, in many cases its not even loaded. Like in the 45 Colt my own 340 grn WFN @ 1270 fps is only available from one supplier at that power level and wieght. A box of twenty cost more than I can load 300 rounds for, I have only time in my bullets and no money except about $2.50 for the amount of tin bulion I add to a 20# pot. And once again factory will not shoot as good as my under 3/4" at 25 yards groups.
View attachment 1507041

My 357 with its 180 grain WFN HP, is about the same, except I can't even buy that bullet!
View attachment 1507035

I won't carry on any further, but I will say my 327 federal with 140 WFN HP would be impossible find, let alone anything factory that could shoot as well or in that power range is only a fantasy.
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Price the 475 Linebaugh crap they sell, I doubt I could even afford to shoot it if I didn't reload!

Like I said, I know im doing something different, but then again, I never dreamed of buying any ammo, for any centerfire, to me its just a waste of money, let alone way more expensive, and in most of my situations, not even possible to buy what shoots best.

Beautiful SS Ruger. Very nice. gosh, I could read a SA thread for an hour a day. An another hour a day for N frame revolvers. and of course the very nice Colt revolvers.

 

[std7mag]

I have yet to see factory 250 Savage ammo sitting on a shelf loaded with 115gr Berger VLD.
Nor 257 Roberts, 257 Roberts AI, 25 WSSM.

280 Rem with a 100gr Sierra HP Varmint?
Ditto 284 Win, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm WBY MAG.

Personally I don't pay for shipping.
If the local distributor/wholesaler doesn't have it, i wait.
Last time i bought primers from them i think it was $64 a brick. Bought 3.

When i picked up my Taurus Judge, it was $68 per 50 for the cheap box of ammo.
I get 185gr Missouri LSWC in 500 box for $38, and use them in my 45 ACP also.

 

[AccelR8]

Twenty-thirty years ago I was still casting handgun bullets. At the time I had a lot of contacts in automotive repair shops and I was getting all the wheel weights I could process, and then some. I no longer have those contacts and shops are now recycling all their wheel weights (getting $ for them). It costs me as much to buy casting alloy as it does to buy ready-made bullets.

But then there's the same predicament alluded to in this thread about factory vs. hand loaded ammo; I can buy factory bullets but then I have to compromise, not getting exactly the bullet I want.

Truth be told though, I quit casting for the most part because of time constraints. There just wasn't enough time for everything and casting, while enjoyable, was the least beneficial thing. I still cast for specialty bullets but that's infrequent.

 

[cmysix]

Starline lists their 30-06 brass at 48 cents + shipping for 250 cases, (223 at 29 cents). Powder 50 grains per load is 140 load per pound if I'm correct, that's 39 cents per load + shipping, 13 cents for a primer. That's a buck + shipping per round for 30-06. If I buy at 1.45 per piece and reload at 1.00 + shipping on both and only shoot 100 rounds a year that's a lousy $45. Quite frankly not worth 1/2 hour of my time. My 8MM Mauser is about the same cost wise but I do shoot it more.

If I apply the math to my 6MM Remington, (I shoot that more) but I can save a great deal, the cost of loading is less than 1/2 of the $2.25 per round from the factory. Saving maybe $250 a year so maybe or maybe not worth it. However, accuracy and velocity make it worth it.

My 444 Marlin cost from the factory $2.70 per round, I can load that for far less but it only gets shot 10 to 20 times a year. There's barley $25 savings.

My 450 Marlin 500 grain loads can't be bought at any price. So handloading it is.

My 359 Norma are $7.59 per round, and I can load them for well under $2.00, again I only shoot those 100 times a year, saving $500, worth my while. However, that throat is custom cut so handloads it is.

All my custom stuff I'll have to hand load for but, I'm going to load for fewer cartridges, shoot more wildlife photography and work on those grandkids. My 6MM ARC for my gas rifle I believe will eat only factory ammo, as will my A2 in 5.56.

BUDDY you asked! now you want to argue? GOOGLE it and do the research and then buy away at the prices you found!

 

[searcher]

Yeah - it all depends on the caliber one shoots and the type of bullets you want to use. I used to reload EVERYTHING. I no longer load for 9mm pistol or .223 'plinking" ammo. It is just so cheap, it really doesn't pay to do so, I don't think. I was at the range one day and a fellow came over, showed me his 300 Rem Ultra Mag and was complaining about the cost to shoot it. And he probably shot 100 rounds that day. Before the end of the day, he arranged to meet me at my house after we ordered all the reloading gear for him (pretty basic stuff). I think we calculated his break-even was only a few hundred rounds of ammo to recoup the cost of the gear. I started reloading when I was 14 to feed my .44 Magnum pistol - and it all paid for itself in short order. Nowadays, I buy individual tools that cost far more than my initial reloading setup and when averaging the cost of all the "must haves" I have bought - I can no longer claim I'm saving a ton of dough. And I'm not going to see a "lifetime" of getting huge returns on the stuff I've been buying - as I'm getting up there in years. But having repeatable accuracy or great hunting loads for my rifles makes it all worthwhile. It has been a lifetime hobby and I don't regret it at all. And loading up 1,500 rounds of varmint ammo at a time still puts me ahead from a cost standpoint. The cost of premium hunting ammo in large calibers is getting pretty darned high.too!

 

[Heavy Metal 1]

IMHO one can't really put a monetary value on your time spent reloading unless the time you spent reloading you would have spent in a money making activity. Now again IMHO I can put a monetary value on my EFFORT. Although I have not bothered to do the financial calculations it may be cheaper to cast and coat my own handgun bullets instead of ordering them online, I just don't want to put in the effort to do so even if the cost savings would be significant.

 

[TaperPin]

If someone is burned out on reloading and just doesn’t enjoy it, just stop. There’s no reason to have to justify it beyond that. It’s ok to not reload.

For someone who enjoys reloading the cost/benefit isn’t ever questioned.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Yeah - it all depends on the caliber one shoots and the type of bullets you want to use. I used to reload EVERYTHING. I no longer load for 9mm pistol or .223 'plinking" ammo. It is just so cheap, it really doesn't pay to do so, I don't think. I was at the range one day and a fellow came over, showed me his 300 Rem Ultra Mag and was complaining about the cost to shoot it. And he probably shot 100 rounds that day. Before the end of the day, he arranged to meet me at my house after we ordered all the reloading gear for him (pretty basic stuff). I think we calculated his break-even was only a few hundred rounds of ammo to recoup the cost of the gear. I started reloading when I was 14 to feed my .44 Magnum pistol - and it all paid for itself in short order. Nowadays, I buy individual tools that cost far more than my initial reloading setup and when averaging the cost of all the "must haves" I have bought - I can no longer claim I'm saving a ton of dough. And I'm not going to see a "lifetime" of getting huge returns on the stuff I've been buying - as I'm getting up there in years. But having repeatable accuracy or great hunting loads for my rifles makes it all worthwhile. It has been a lifetime hobby and I don't regret it at all. And loading up 1,500 rounds of varmint ammo at a time still puts me ahead from a cost standpoint. The cost of premium hunting ammo in large calibers is getting pretty darned high.too!

I did too for 9mm. I bought from a local small manufacturer. I ran into a double charge. what a mess. now I weigh all my rounds to make sure there are no double charges. I didn't even bother to complain. i put on some new grips and I have moved on.

 

[Dave M.]

Starline lists their 30-06 brass at 48 cents + shipping for 250 cases, (223 at 29 cents). Powder 50 grains per load is 140 load per pound if I'm correct, that's 39 cents per load + shipping, 13 cents for a primer. That's a buck + shipping per round for 30-06. If I buy at 1.45 per piece and reload at 1.00 + shipping on both and only shoot 100 rounds a year that's a lousy $45. Quite frankly not worth 1/2 hour of my time. My 8MM Mauser is about the same cost wise but I do shoot it more.

If I apply the math to my 6MM Remington, (I shoot that more) but I can save a great deal, the cost of loading is less than 1/2 of the $2.25 per round from the factory. Saving maybe $250 a year so maybe or maybe not worth it. However, accuracy and velocity make it worth it.

My 444 Marlin cost from the factory $2.70 per round, I can load that for far less but it only gets shot 10 to 20 times a year. There's barley $25 savings.

My 450 Marlin 500 grain loads can't be bought at any price. So handloading it is.

My 359 Norma are $7.59 per round, and I can load them for well under $2.00, again I only shoot those 100 times a year, saving $500, worth my while. However, that throat is custom cut so handloads it is.

All my custom stuff I'll have to hand load for but, I'm going to load for fewer cartridges, shoot more wildlife photography and work on those grandkids. My 6MM ARC for my gas rifle I believe will eat only factory ammo, as will my A2 in 5.56.

We don’t reload to save money, and anyone who tells their friends and family they reload to save money is in complete denial. LOL. Just start adding up the amount of money you have tied up just on your main reloading bench, not even counting equipment you bought and don’t use anymore.
Dave

 

[R&B]

For me hand loading isn't so much about trying to save money as it is being able to shoot quality consistent ammo. I also enjoy learning about how the system works (what my rifles like). The other reason is I have some autonomy when it comes to what I shoot. I haven't found any 7mm x 61 S&H, 6.5 x 47 L AI or even 6mm Remington on the shelf at any of the local ammo supply establishments in my area. I have weird taste and I enjoy forming brass to solve problems. Interesting rifles sometime come in strange cartridges so hand loading is a plus. As mentioned earlier this is a hobby.

-R&B

 

[SSL]

Besides the enjoyment I get from chasing accurate loads, I do agree that certain cartridges (in my case) would be just fine buying off the shelf...if I wasn't set up to load already.
No more than I shoot my .280 Remington or .30-06 Springfield and the size of the intended targets, factory would be fine.
My .17 Remingtons, .223s, .22-250, .243, .38 Specials, .44 Magnum, .45 ACP and .45 Colt are all best tuned and shot with my own loads. Most due to the sheer volume of use and accuracy requirements, while the 7 BR is just too darned hard to find. Besides, I find it relaxing.
Honestly, other than .22 LR and 12-gauge shells (and defense ammo to 'lawyer-proof' myself as much as I can), I haven't purchased factory rounds for well over 40 years. If I buy a new rifle or handgun that I don't already load for, I buy dies and components at the same time.

 

[Old Navy]

Not about money for me. It is a hobby.

 

[Richard Jones]

We don’t reload to save money, and anyone who tells their friends and family they reload to save money is in complete denial. LOL. Just start adding up the amount of money you have tied up just on your main reloading bench, not even counting equipment you bought and don’t use anymore.
Dave

Say it ain't so!!! But, so true...

 

[David Milisock]

After I retired I thought I'd have lots of time, NO! Between my family, photography and shooting I ain't got shit! So something has to go.

Like many shooters when I buy a new firearm I get equipment and supplies for reloading. In the modern world sometimes reloading is a win, 357 Sig is an example of a win as are several of my custom bolt rifles.

I didn't buy the 357 Sig to shoot 9mm+p but most factory loads are just that. To match the good 357 Sig loads, (which cost a fortune) is feasible by handloading.

The 6mm ARC is borderline, I only want an AR platform and mine shoots very well. I'm not going to be able to improve accuracy nor improve performance without bolt thrust issues. The amount I shoot my rifle verses the miniscule savings per round reloading

So I have to choose between my time and family wins over reloading. Hopefully the wars will end soon.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I start loading at 14, over 60+ years ago. From day one it was never about saving money but about building more accurate ammo for my second handed Savage 340 in .222 to shoot groundhogs with. A few years back I bought a Mossberg 458 BM to hunt deer in some states. First 2 bucks I shot the Hornady Black worked fine. I was not happy with 2 inch 100 yard groups. Researched the development of the cartridge and started loading. Now shoots an inch or less and gained close 300 ft per second that really reduces the drop of 250 gr bullets. It has never been about money but accuracy.

 

[Big Mc]

Many years ago when I was young and so was the convertible Malibu reloading for my field firearms gave me premium ammunition at a cost less than regular Joe factory ammo and a lot less than good factory ammo. It was more accurate, cost less, performed better on game and was more than worth the time invested.

Today the same can still be said for my specialized cartridges, 6MM Remington, 450 Marlin and 358 Norma Magnum to name a few.

However, 5.56, 6MM ARC, 308, 30-06 as well as a raft of handgun cartridges, not only can you buy good shooting factory ammo, but it now can be done at a cost that negates the investment in the time it takes to reload.

My most recent cases in point are the 6MM ARC and the 30-06. My AR15 in 6MM ARC at 100 yards will average around 1/2" over 10 or 20-5 shot groups with factory 105 Hornady Black, (I own 2 lots of factory ammo) and it's very consistent. My handloads are no better and only cost about 10 to 15 cents a piece less.

I was loading up some 30-06 from inventoried materials and looked to buy some more supplies and very much the same thing can be said about the cost.

Granted with a self loader that may be shot a lot that 10 to 15 cents a piece adds up but for the very large aspect of field work in many calibers reloading may be a thing of the past for me.

It also points to the concept of the newer cartridges with better manufacturing control possibly being in the same situation in terms of ammo costs.

Back in the day people would load to save money. Not any more. The rabbit hole is very deep. I get a warm and fuzzy feeling when i load. Tommy Mc

 

[dryhumor]

I don’t smoke, might drink a finger or two of whisky ever now and then, so I load and shoot.

I try factory ammo once and awhile, more out of curiosity. And once in awhile, it shoots well, not great every time, but well. It’s just hard to justify spending money when you have components.

I sized, trimmed and prepped, and loaded 11 out of 37 cases this week. Two and a half CDs timewise. Jimmy Buffet, Robert Earl Keen, and U2. Going to run a comparison between Fed GMM and Fiochhi primers through a 7mmBr. A caliber that seems destined to obsolescence, but one I enjoy as an easy to load and tune close deer cartridge.

The thing about finding factory ammo that works well or great. Is that pressure mounts to buy a few hundred rounds of the same lot. Then meter it out sparingly during hunting season, cause you can bet they’ll discontinue it. Ya ever noticed those secondhand factory rifles for sale with 4-5 partial boxes of ammo with? That’s kind of an indication that spending a $hundred or better finding accurate ammo might not work out.

Time is valuable though. We only get a minute’s worth… And Crappie are biting.