I was asked If it was economical to reload?

[BigBolt]

We got into a discussion if it was economical to reload? I reload some large rounds .500 S&W mags, 45/70 and 30/30 along with some 40 S&W and 9MM. For the large rounds there is savings for the smaller rounds others is small savings however, there is a catch in the reloading game.

The initial outlay cost of the required equipment is the real cost. Typically, when you buy a press with dies, a scale, a tumbler, books for reloading, case cleaning equipment you could spend a minimum of $500.00 just to start if you are frugal. Then buying powders, primers, cases and heads for your rounds could be an additional a couple of hundred additional bucks. Also, it will take shooting thousands of rounds to break even.

Reloading is more like a sickness once you start you will never stop as there is no AA for reloaders. I have been reloading for 40 years. So, most of my equipment has long been paid off by savings. But the catch 22 is old stuff breaks down and you will need to buy new stuff to replace it.

Yes, eventually it will be cheaper to reload mainly large rounds. Treat reloading as a hobby not as a money saver in the beginning. It is no different than building your own furniture which I do too. By time you spend thousands on the equipment and woods to make the furniture it takes a long time to make your investments to pay back.

 

[Bat Rastard]

When I have been asked if reloading saves money, I have always answered no. You will shoot a lot more though.

 

[762plinker]

no, you have a new hobby and you can shoot more and maybe better

 

[3Ackleys]

416 Rigby is $10-$15 per round if you can find it. I load it more economically than that.

 

[Cecil S.]

Time will always answer the question based on the amount you shoot. Once you over come the investment and buy wisely you will reap the benifits. I always follow the coast of box ammunition.

 

[ASD9055]

Depends on the cartridge.
300WBY factory loads. $6/round. My equipement has been paid off long ago, so now it costs me less than half that. (That accounts for case, bullet, primer and powder in today's prices)
If you were to start today, unless you shoot a lot, it will take a long ttim to recover your initial expenditure.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

For me, reloading has nothing to do with money. I reload to get the most accurate ammo available. I could buy most ammo cheaper that it cost to reload, but will I get those tiny little groups with commercially built ammo? I don't think so.

 

[SecondsCount]

I started reloading over 30 years ago and paid for the reloading setup the first year. Seeing what "match grade" ammo goes for these days makes me cringe.

The only ammo I buy is 22LR, shotgun shells, and 7.62x39.

 

[ASD9055]

I started reloading over 30 years ago and paid for the reloading setup the first year. Seeing what "match grade" ammo goes for these days makes me cringe.

The only ammo I buy is 22LR, shotgun shells, and 7.62x39.

And to add to that, 7.62x39 when it was Russian surplus was really cheap. Banned now.

 

[MUP]

It kinda is economical for me, as I'm certain it cuts down on the amount of BP meds I would be taking.

 

[K22]

Given the existing situation today, and I have been asked that question, my answer is it depends.

For guys who like to shoot steel and are not concerned with precision beyond hitting a gong at "X" yards I would say no. That goes for pistol shooters too. Ditto hunters. The factory ammo today is light years ahead of when I began reloading in the late 60's.

For guys who are interested in precision shooting, then I believe it's worth the hassle since you can tailor ammo to your rifle. For the ultra-precision games of benchrest and long range it is probably a must.

The economical side of it is tricky. With the cost of components and lack of availability it's problematic. But the same can be said for factory ammo, cost and consistent supply of something you found that shoots well.

With today's prices, it might take a while to amortize the initial costs to reloading equipment. But, if you are young enough and committed to the sport, plan to shoot a lot, and precision is important, then I would say, yes, go for it.

 

[jelenko]

And to add to that, 7.62x39 when it was Russian surplus was really cheap. Banned now.

But, wouldn't it be a gas if Russian surplus ammo was still available?

 

[nksmfamjp]

It can be, but it tends to drive you to shoot more, buy more loading tools, buy more guns, buy a bigger truck, buy a club membership or 2, buy an extra safe…..yea, it saves money

 

[jackieschmidt]

I try to avoid the term reloading.

I prefer the term Handloading, as the main purpose is to end up with the most precision ammunition possible.

 

[Rick Ratzlaff]

NO! My dad told me 60 years ago that "you will shoot two times as much". Wise dad!

 

[SteveOak]

I like reloading almost as much as I like shooting. It is satisfying to know I loaded the round myself.

I also like being able to load the bullets I want and use clean powder.

 

[Hammer]

There is no, I repeat, no cost savings in reloading.

Started with a $9 Lee Loader and a plastic mallet sitting on the living room floor.


Since then...

It has cost me millions. Had to buy a Rocky Mountain ranch to have a testing facility. Had to buy airplanes to fly to prairie dog towns to test bullet expansion. Multiple trips to Africa to test bullet penetration.

It would have been much cheaper to take up Thoroughbred horse racing.

 

[209jones]

I started reloading, to be able to use Partitions for hunting, nobody loaded factory back then. Been thru a decent number of guns and cartridges since, many guns I would not have bought, some disciplines I would not have partcipated in, if I didn't reload. And I've never worried about having the right bullet in a round for the purpose at hand, I put what I wanted in them. Haven't worried about ammo shortages or krap batches of factory ammo either.

 

[DiRTY DOG]

The typical RCBS kit type reloader will indeed save $$ per round loaded vs factory ammo. Might take a few years to break even depending on quanity. 20 years ago I spent $500 on my first reloading setup and it paid for itself in a few months vs factory ammo. I was shooting a moderate amount.

A lot harder to say you "save" if you use premium machinery . You won't save much if you spend ten thousands on custom dies, lab grade powder measures, the best presses, high end annealers, and all the gizmos. That stuff is "required" to make high performance ammo that no factory can provide.

Sure is tempting for the amature to upgrade to the latest and gratest reloading gear.

 

[WyleWD]

Given the existing situation today, and I have been asked that question, my answer is it depends.

For guys who like to shoot steel and are not concerned with precision beyond hitting a gong at "X" yards I would say no. That goes for pistol shooters too. Ditto hunters. The factory ammo today is light years ahead of when I began reloading in the late 60's.

For guys who are interested in precision shooting, then I believe it's worth the hassle since you can tailor ammo to your rifle. For the ultra-precision games of benchrest and long range it is probably a must.

The economical side of it is tricky. With the cost of components and lack of availability it's problematic. But the same can be said for factory ammo, cost and consistent supply of something you found that shoots well.

With today's prices, it might take a while to amortize the initial costs to reloading equipment. But, if you are young enough and committed to the sport, plan to shoot a lot, and precision is important, then I would say, yes, go for it.

+1^^^ I agree with this post.

If you normally shoot 300-500 rounds per year and mechanically inclined it should be a consideration, or if in some form of target shooting then it becomes a necessity as opposed to economical.

A few months ago I walked past the "Factory Loads" shelves and looked at some prices and had sticker shock. $60 for a box of 20??!!! JMHO. WD