Are the days of saving money with handloading
- Thread starter Ironworker
- Start date
Even at todays component prices, I save money (not considering the time).
Assuming re-used brass, the savings are about 16 cents per round 9mm ($0.20 vs $0.36), $1.80 per round .500 mag ($1.45 vs $3.25), $0.78 per round .44 mag ($0.42 vs $1.20). Still worth it in my books...
Assuming re-used brass, the savings are about 16 cents per round 9mm ($0.20 vs $0.36), $1.80 per round .500 mag ($1.45 vs $3.25), $0.78 per round .44 mag ($0.42 vs $1.20). Still worth it in my books...
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
You reload your own ammo = you shoot more. Easy as that. 
You tailor your ammo to shoot bug holes.
And not one of my rigs will chamber Factory loaded ammo. (except my 22 RF and gas guns)
Not wildcats as much as SNUG SAMMI fitting. Snug fit means less brass movement when resizing.
And looking back a few years, 8# jugs of AA 2230C Data powder were CHEAP at about $75.00 to $80.00 ea. Think I went thru about 10 or so till they didn't make it anymore. Switched to AA 2230 and kept on keeping on. Got to feed those gas guns.
You tailor your ammo to shoot bug holes.
And not one of my rigs will chamber Factory loaded ammo. (except my 22 RF and gas guns)
Not wildcats as much as SNUG SAMMI fitting. Snug fit means less brass movement when resizing.
And looking back a few years, 8# jugs of AA 2230C Data powder were CHEAP at about $75.00 to $80.00 ea. Think I went thru about 10 or so till they didn't make it anymore. Switched to AA 2230 and kept on keeping on. Got to feed those gas guns.
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I see a couple of posts about 45 Colt ammunition. I remember years go pre-Cowboy Action Shooting a box of 45 Colt was in fact expensive compared to more common loads like 357 and 44 Mag.
If you already have the equipment, then yes you probably can save a few $$ reloading. The most expensive part in bullets and brass with the brass being reusable. I have to agree that 9mm and 5.56/223 is probably not cost effective because being the most common rounds these loads are relatively inexpensive.
Some rounds you do not have any other option than to load your own. We have a Remington pump in 32 Remington, and a Model 8 in 25 Remington, both loads have been discontinued for many years now. I load the 38 Super mainly to shoot more. Have you all seen the prices of 32-20 ammo? Yes, I make my own.
Time is money but at the moment I have the time besides that I like to reload.
If you already have the equipment, then yes you probably can save a few $$ reloading. The most expensive part in bullets and brass with the brass being reusable. I have to agree that 9mm and 5.56/223 is probably not cost effective because being the most common rounds these loads are relatively inexpensive.
Some rounds you do not have any other option than to load your own. We have a Remington pump in 32 Remington, and a Model 8 in 25 Remington, both loads have been discontinued for many years now. I load the 38 Super mainly to shoot more. Have you all seen the prices of 32-20 ammo? Yes, I make my own.
Time is money but at the moment I have the time besides that I like to reload.
RegionRat
Gold $$ Contributor
This question and answer has cycles where at times a category may be cheaper to buy than to load, but because there are huge cost differences in different ammo types, there isn't a single answer.
This metaphor is like discussing rimfire ammo where there is a huge difference in the cost of low quality plinking ammo versus high quality ammo that matches your rifle or pistol for group size in competition.
The difference in those two rimfire situations have huge consequences in costs and availability for example where the answers range from a cheap, quick trip to the local store, or one that takes many months, shipping or travel costs to get the lot testing run, and ends up costing factors more.
Getting back to centerfire reloading versus purchase....
If there is no factory loading that matches your needs, I will call that "custom ammo" for a moment.
There are really very few places to buy "custom ammo", but there are some.
While they (custom ammo services) exist, it is not an easy option for someone who wants to shoot with any regularity. Because those businesses have to cover their overhead, license, liability insurance, labor, etc., this is not cheap ammo.
There is a huge difference in the cost of bulk plinking rifle ammo versus custom rifle ammo and there is also the issue of logistics where custom ammo isn't something you flip a switch and it shows up on your doorway, but then again reloading equipment and material can also take a lot of planning and time.
That means for some of us, we have the choice to accept factory ammo, work with custom ammo shops, or get with the reloading program. The vast majority of folks who want a custom load will end up loading it rather than buying it.
So for the performance end of the rifle question, there is a strong reason to reload.
If for example the question is aimed at regular handgun ammo, then there have been times where factory ammo prices were lower and this was a tougher question. If you live long enough, you will see this balance swing up and down.
This metaphor is like discussing rimfire ammo where there is a huge difference in the cost of low quality plinking ammo versus high quality ammo that matches your rifle or pistol for group size in competition.
The difference in those two rimfire situations have huge consequences in costs and availability for example where the answers range from a cheap, quick trip to the local store, or one that takes many months, shipping or travel costs to get the lot testing run, and ends up costing factors more.
Getting back to centerfire reloading versus purchase....
If there is no factory loading that matches your needs, I will call that "custom ammo" for a moment.
There are really very few places to buy "custom ammo", but there are some.
While they (custom ammo services) exist, it is not an easy option for someone who wants to shoot with any regularity. Because those businesses have to cover their overhead, license, liability insurance, labor, etc., this is not cheap ammo.
There is a huge difference in the cost of bulk plinking rifle ammo versus custom rifle ammo and there is also the issue of logistics where custom ammo isn't something you flip a switch and it shows up on your doorway, but then again reloading equipment and material can also take a lot of planning and time.
That means for some of us, we have the choice to accept factory ammo, work with custom ammo shops, or get with the reloading program. The vast majority of folks who want a custom load will end up loading it rather than buying it.
So for the performance end of the rifle question, there is a strong reason to reload.
If for example the question is aimed at regular handgun ammo, then there have been times where factory ammo prices were lower and this was a tougher question. If you live long enough, you will see this balance swing up and down.
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
Like a lot of older folks like me, we bought supplies when we saw a bargain. Guys that have been to my shop know that I have climate control in my shop, so my very old $5 a pound powder still works good. I loaded some 50AE a couple weeks ago. Saved my Grandson's bud a lot of money. I enjoy loading or supervising a friend or their family with their hunting ammo. It ain't all about the money.
IF I were willing to accept the performance of commercial ammunition I might not reload but I can load 308 rounds at roughly $1 per round vs FGMM ar $1.50 and get equal or better performance. Plus I enjoy the time spent developing a load and actually loading. Have I recovered the cost of all my reloading equipment? Damned if I know or care. Same goes for my leaf blower, riding lawn more, table saw, etc. I do what I do because I enjoy it.
farmerjohn
Gold $$ Contributor
When I started reloading in the mid 50s you couldn't find a box of 22-250s in Arkansas, infact I don't know if they were even factory loaded then or not. Anyway I've always loaded for everything I shot, rifles, shotguns, and handguns upgrading equipment along the way, so I don't know any other way. I've been using out of my stock pile of supplies and trying new stuff when it comes along, like bullets or new powders. So guess to me buying store bought shells would be like buying store bought firewood, just never crossed my mind... John
I would say starting out from scratch-No-because of the cost of reloading equipment and the cost of supplies ( if they can be found).I have reloading for 50+ years-during which I acquired lots of equipment and bought tons of reloading supplies in bulk even before hazmat fees.I will never have to buy any reloading components in my lifetime
and my grandson should have plenty to last for years. Guess I am one of the lucky (Blessed) ones.
wildcatter
Silver $$ Contributor
I can buy 1000 pistol primers for under ............................................ $100.00
I have brass so that .................................................................................... $-0-
I can buy 1# Hp-38 or WW-231 good powder for a 9mm ......... $32.00
5grains is a descent load for the lighter and hot for the heavy.
that will load 1400 rounds!
I pour my own 115 and 124, scrao lead is not hard to come
by for less than $2.00#, 2# will make 112 of the 124 grn
20# would be more than needed to make 1100rounds................. $40.00
I now have spent $172.00 and can assemble 1000 rounds, of better more accurate ammo than I can buy 20 boxes of the cheapest most inaccurate ammo for which it's tough to find it for $10.00 a box. But this why I have not bought factory ammo in over 40 years!
My premium handloads @ $172.00 a thousand are the best you can find! or buy chit that aint worth shooting for $200.00 a 1000, if you really can find it at all or when?
I also have proven over that past 40 years cast in handguns is remarkably better than Jackets! I have both, and in anything from 32 long to 475 Linebaugh will never get a jacketed bullet in any handgun I own! target or hunting, quality cast bullets return better velocity, better performance, better accuracy, and less pressure weight for weight doing it!
Now lets really get serious,, 6mm BR Norma. 6x47 Lapua, 222 Remington, 17 Mach IV. let me see any ammo worth shooting in one of these rifles sell for even $1.00 a cartridge. I haven't seen any 1 for that, some are over $2.00 a round.
The joy of realoding is it is still cheaper, and still better for any purpose, as well as repeatable for the duration of the barrel. I determine the lot I can load and stock.
1000 primers ............................................................................................................ $100.00standard to $140.00 Match
1000 of the finest hand made bullets ............................................................. $300.00 under 80 grains $600.00 over
powder charges vary from 20 grains 17 cal. to 40 in the Lapua, my 6mm AI uses 49.0 grn. less than 8# loads
1000 rounds the most expensive powder I can get for $325.00 for 8# That means I can assemble the finest Long range am for $965.00 using 1 $130.00 worth of the best brass made.
$1095.00 comparable factory ammo is over $170.00 for 50, or $3400.00 and way inferior to what I load!
Short range most premium ammo and much better than you can buy,, uses less than 4# of powder or less than $150.00, 140.00 205M per 1000, and $300.00 for the finest hand made match bullets,,, $590.00 with $130.00 dollars of the best brass to load them in. $720.00 per 1000,
6ppc $35.00 per 20 $1750.00 a thousand. if you could even find it, my bet is if you did, double that!
222 Lapua $3400.00 per 1000, I load better ammo in mine for less than the 6ppc cost me,,, again about $700.00 per 1000, pretty big savings!
Ya, I hate paying these prices, but if I don't it cost me more, and I would be stuck shooting ammo that far inferior to what I would load, and costing way way more.
I understand new shooters don't have multiple presses, bullet lubrasizers, molds, furnaces, dies, calipers, micrometers, etc etc. but neither did I. What I did have that many shooters then and today don't is drive to create the best ammo money could buy first of importance, and second was to do it cheaper so I could shoot enough to learn how to be a proficient shooter as well as loader.
The longer one buy's factory ammo, and relies on that for his hobby, the less likely they will ever be either, a proficient shooter or capable of producing ammo most would consider worth shooting! The more money that is wasted on store bought ammo, is the less that is investing in the things that make the finest shooters in the world exactly that,, the finest.
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Run away 1shot, run away!! LOL Funny video though.
I thought reloading was just part of parcel of the hobby. I have to reload to feed, myself, my wife, my two sons, and the older ones girlfriend, as well as my wifes friend that now seems to be getting into plinking.
As part or my current arsenal, I bought a 30-06 Tikka with a pretty decent scope, however I was not able to get even close to the sub MOA accuracy claimed, so I thought to try reloading. Since I have only just got the license for this, and thus have only just been able to start reloading, I am going to do my first "load development" shoot this pm.
I am getting the sons girlfriend to do the trigger pulling as she is the best out of all of us with a long rifle, so once I have a load dialled, I will see if I am any better.
THen through circumstances I ended up having to take an AR15. I bought some Lapua Brass and Bullets for this thing, and have decided I am going to try and treat it as a precision rifle, as slinging lead down range is just too expensive, so when that license comes through I will also try some load development.
I am quite a nerd, so the whole reloading thing has become quite a rabbit hole and despite attending a few courses, the only thing I am realising is, how little I know. It really seems that the whole reloading thing should be more of an apprenticeship as the reality is it takes time and experience to get things right.
This is a little alarming when every second page of the dillon manual tells you how you will surely die and blow yourself up! Anyway, thus far I have loaded loads of 9mm which is my volume product. It seems however that there is always something more that is needed.
Got Dillon, but no good for rifles, so bought RCBS for that. Then realised need powder dispenser scale thingy, but now need annealer and case timer and many other goodies.
I must say that the whole experience is adding a lot to the shooting, and despite my wife being quite resistant initially, she is now taking herself to the range and meeting her mate for plinking and cuppichinos.
I am very new, but it seems like there is a lot of upfront capex and I am hoping that calms down from here, and then only the consumables are needed. Right now our biggest issue is getting hold of primers, which are like hens teeth here.
As part or my current arsenal, I bought a 30-06 Tikka with a pretty decent scope, however I was not able to get even close to the sub MOA accuracy claimed, so I thought to try reloading. Since I have only just got the license for this, and thus have only just been able to start reloading, I am going to do my first "load development" shoot this pm.
I am getting the sons girlfriend to do the trigger pulling as she is the best out of all of us with a long rifle, so once I have a load dialled, I will see if I am any better.
THen through circumstances I ended up having to take an AR15. I bought some Lapua Brass and Bullets for this thing, and have decided I am going to try and treat it as a precision rifle, as slinging lead down range is just too expensive, so when that license comes through I will also try some load development.
I am quite a nerd, so the whole reloading thing has become quite a rabbit hole and despite attending a few courses, the only thing I am realising is, how little I know. It really seems that the whole reloading thing should be more of an apprenticeship as the reality is it takes time and experience to get things right.
This is a little alarming when every second page of the dillon manual tells you how you will surely die and blow yourself up! Anyway, thus far I have loaded loads of 9mm which is my volume product. It seems however that there is always something more that is needed.
Got Dillon, but no good for rifles, so bought RCBS for that. Then realised need powder dispenser scale thingy, but now need annealer and case timer and many other goodies.
I must say that the whole experience is adding a lot to the shooting, and despite my wife being quite resistant initially, she is now taking herself to the range and meeting her mate for plinking and cuppichinos.
I am very new, but it seems like there is a lot of upfront capex and I am hoping that calms down from here, and then only the consumables are needed. Right now our biggest issue is getting hold of primers, which are like hens teeth here.
I enjoy being out in the shop and going through the different reloading processes. I especially enjoy load development, finding the right bullet seated just to the right length, getting the OCW worked out……it’s all enjoyable. I suppose I do save few bucks especially considering the price of “premium” hunting ammo. But first and foremost I reload for accuracy and optimum performance. It’s fun too.
I am an old man. I don't drink, stopped smoking and no longer spend time racing the streets on my motorcycle. Not wealthy but not poor. Of course I am retired and have been so for a long time. My time has no monetary value. It is mine to use as I please.
My one and only hobby is shooting and reloading. I will never recoup the cost of reloading. That's not why I do it. Forget the cost of powder, primers brass and firearms. How much does joy and happiness cost? They say you can't buy happiness. I beg to differ. Spending money to have fun is worth every penny.
Yes the components are expensive. So is the equipment needed to load ammo. I just paid about $1200.00 on a scale my mind told I couldn't live without. Didn't need it but I had to have it. Many of you will see something you just have to have and you will gladly hand over the money.
A hobby is just that. If you can't afford it then walk away.
My one and only hobby is shooting and reloading. I will never recoup the cost of reloading. That's not why I do it. Forget the cost of powder, primers brass and firearms. How much does joy and happiness cost? They say you can't buy happiness. I beg to differ. Spending money to have fun is worth every penny.
Yes the components are expensive. So is the equipment needed to load ammo. I just paid about $1200.00 on a scale my mind told I couldn't live without. Didn't need it but I had to have it. Many of you will see something you just have to have and you will gladly hand over the money.
A hobby is just that. If you can't afford it then walk away.
Yes, those day are over BUT:
Most of us reload to fine tune our ammo to our rifles for precision shooting. Most of us shoot a lot so being able to manufacturer a consistent supply of high quality ammo is critically important to staying active in the sport.
Some even enjoy reloading as a hobby, I don't. For me it's a necessary process like cleaning a rifle, neither of which I "enjoy."
But, it's undeniably essential for most of us.
Today, there is a lot of high-quality factory ammo on the market that is capable of shooting excellently. However, the problem finding one that work well in your rifle can be a trial-and-error and expensive process. Then once you found a fit, securing a constant supply can be problematic.
For me, reloading is essential to maintain my participation in the sport.
Most of us reload to fine tune our ammo to our rifles for precision shooting. Most of us shoot a lot so being able to manufacturer a consistent supply of high quality ammo is critically important to staying active in the sport.
Some even enjoy reloading as a hobby, I don't. For me it's a necessary process like cleaning a rifle, neither of which I "enjoy."
But, it's undeniably essential for most of us.Today, there is a lot of high-quality factory ammo on the market that is capable of shooting excellently. However, the problem finding one that work well in your rifle can be a trial-and-error and expensive process. Then once you found a fit, securing a constant supply can be problematic.
For me, reloading is essential to maintain my participation in the sport.
3Ackleys
Gold $$ Contributor
I load for most of the reasons listed, but to answer the question. A box of 416 rigby is $255 on midway. I can load the same 20 rounds with the same bullet for $56 not including the brass. If I include new brass it is $133 per box. So there can be savings. Not that I shoot my 416 that much LOL.
I just so clearly remember cheaper components' prices. I, like everyone else, primarily load for precision and custom ammo.
My reloading and rifle/parts expense centers around 3-4 different times of the year. Black Friday is one of them. My time is my own seeing how I'm retired now. When I build ammo the quality differs a little depending on the discipline I'm building it for. In my mind I can not purchase the same quality ammo I'm loading at a value that makes it not worth reloading. I'm with Jackie, tho I'm sure I haven't even come close to loading as much or as long as he has. Yesteryear is gone. Prices in the now time may get a little bit better, but I'm not holding my breath. I enjoy shooting every week and will continue to do so.
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