Cost per round for Reloading

[JEFFPPC]

This is like tracking mpg in a vehicle. Cost is irrelevant. If your here and want to go there you have to have enough gas. Same deal with reloading and shootingn except I see no mention of barrel wear and replacement cost. Very big item nowdays. Remenber, the penny you pich today is nothing your going to take with you at your end. The mrmory of the enjoyment you might have had spending that penny, perhaps priceless.

 

[JJE]

I got into reloading to learn more about shooting and as a hobby. I can reload 168 gr smk for maybe 80 cents. In theory cheaper then manufactured store bought ammo. But if you factor in my time I’m paying way more then that. Didn’t get into reloading to save money because I’d be very disappointed If I did.

 

[Link]

And fity cent a round for barrel wear for some tubes ;} And some never shoot great. ,{

 

[CJ6]

It's a good thing we're not talking the price per pound for fish when you go fishing.

 

[SKWERLZ]

It's a good thing we're not talking the price per pound for fish when you go fishing.

No kidding!

 

[284winner]

What would you say is the cost to produce 20 rounds of rifle ammo.

Say compared to a box of store bought ammo.

I already know this is a cheaper way to go, just trying to get a prices
comparison.

Looking yesterday at .22 Creedmoor per box of 20 between $39.xx - $56.xx

Sad to say this but factory loaded Hornady 300 PRC w/225 ELD-M (Box of 20) is cheaper than rolling your own today. It's a sad day in reloading when this occurs. Still the ultimate accuracy in reloading so there's that. 70.00 reloads/60.00 factory per 20. That price does drop per 100 after each loading due to brass cost breaking down.

 

[Bronsin]

When someone asks me how much an activity costs, I give them the same answer I gave to people when they asked me about racing a Top Fuel Dragster or Nitro Funny car, If you have to ask how much it costs then you can't afford it.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

There are online reloading cost calculators that make it easy but I think most on this site are handloading for results more so than cost. Some cartridges, it's a lot of work to break even on, eventually and you'll have to load a lot of ammo before your savings pay for everything. But there are cartridges that are super high to buy loaded ammo for, that you can save significantly on. You won't save much on 223 or 9mm stuff vs cheap factory ammo but something like a 416 Rigby for example, you can save a lot, fast. I just won't shoot one enough to add up. Lol!

Norma African PH 416 Rigby Ammo 450 Grain Woodleigh Weldcore Jacketed

Designed specifically for hunting dangerous game, Norma's PH ammunition is focused on delivering devastating bullet momentum with high sectional density...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[jelenko]

Sad to say this but factory loaded Hornady 300 PRC w/225 ELD-M (Box of 20) is cheaper than rolling your own today. It's a sad day in reloading when this occurs. Still the ultimate accuracy in reloading so there's that. 70.00 reloads/60.00 factory per 20. That price does drop per 100 after each loading due to brass cost breaking down.

How do you get to that $3.50 per round cost? Hornady brass is $1.20 per round, the bullet is ~ $.50, 70 gr of powder would be close to $.40, primer at $.10 => ~$2.20/round => $44.00 for 20 of them.
As you mentioned, it distorts the cost of reloading to include the full cost of the brass. Assuming three reloads => $1.30/round => $26.00 for 20.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

How do you get to that $3.50 per round cost? Hornady brass is $1.20 per round, the bullet is ~ $.50, 70 gr of powder would be close to $.40, primer at $.10 => ~$2.20/round => $44.00 for 20 of them.
As you mentioned, it distorts the cost of reloading to include the full cost of the brass. Assuming three reloads => $1.30/round => $26.00 for 20.

Yep, gotta factor in brass life. That's why I often say that Lapua is the cheapest brass on the market, if you don't lose it. Lol!
You can also factor in bbl life to get your truer cost...but I don't recommend it!

 

[shortthroat]

My cost per round is about $2.35 per rd. using components I purchased before the big price jumps. I load .50 bmg using 647 M33 ball pulls, 230gr. wc860, LC once-fired brass, and CCI-35 primers. Best price for factory new rounds is a little under $5.00 per round for 70 rd. quantity IMI when on sale from Midway with shipping, but you do get the new brass and an ammo can. My reloads shoot just as well as this new factory. Midway is asking over $1 each for primers now. I bought a thousand for $.35 with haz-mat included a few years back, I think from Natchez Supply.

When I load Hornady 750 gr. A-tip bullets, my cost is higher, about $4 per round if I watch for sales and use factory seconds from Midway for about a buck apiece. These have more than doubled to around 3 bucks each if you can find them and have to pay shipping and tax. Using factory second solid bore riders costs another buck or two per bullet. Still Hornady factory A-tip loaded rounds are going in the neighborhood or $10 per round today.

Finally, if for some reason you want to shoot Denver Bullets Raufoss rounds expect to pay about hundred bucks a round.

So when I want to save money plinking, I just load .338 LM.

 

[284winner]

How do you get to that $3.50 per round cost? Hornady brass is $1.20 per round, the bullet is ~ $.50, 70 gr of powder would be close to $.40, primer at $.10 => ~$2.20/round => $44.00 for 20 of them.
As you mentioned, it distorts the cost of reloading to include the full cost of the brass. Assuming three reloads => $1.30/round => $26.00 for 20.

I based that cost on today's powder, primer, bullet and brass cost for me. Powder has been 60.00 per pound plus( including haz mat). Brass is 180.00 per 100. Tough not to include shipping for l components purchased. Use to be able to order and buy all from one location. Not today. I can buy as many boxes of factory ammo from one location and shipping is a one time cost. I based my prices on exactly how much I spent on all items purchased and shipped. Also on what the same would cost from the factory ammo purchased and shipped to my home. As I said the cost comes down obviously with using the brass many times over. Initial costs are as high or higher than factory with prices I've been paying for components. Sorry you are actually correct on the brass. Apples to apples, I'm off a bit. I used Lapua brass since it's what I use. The 1.20 brass price is accurate for Hornady brass