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Reloading Cost vs. Factory Ammo

Given the cost of ammo today is it feasible/cost effective to reload your own ammo? I shoot 9mm,40 and 7mm08 I am looking to pick up the lyman ultimate kit , I for one am tired of paying close to 50 bucks for a box of 7mm08 thats not in stock a lot

Thanks
N5ATK
 
I have been reloading for 40 years. I started with a bunch of used stuff that a ol guy sold me, I still use the press, scales, primer tool, dies and some other stuff. I did buy a new electric powder thrower [well worth it]. Brass etc.
 
Depends on the cartridge and how much you shoot. Also, you’ll have to amortize the cost of reloading tools.

Current average retail prices for pistol primers are 9-12 cents/per, and a little more for rifle (especially large rifle which you’ll need for 7mm08). Cheap bullets for pistol can be had for less than 10 cents per, while good rifle bullets can cost 40-60 cents per. Powder is running close to $50/Lb. I’m going to assume you can reuse brass you have or can pick up at the range, so I’m deliberately going to add nothing for brass (a good thing as rifle brass can cost over a dollar per case). All that said, you could expect to pay ~20 cents for components to load 9mm. As you can buy factory 9mm for 25 cents per, I don’t think loading 9mm is really cost effective right now. 60-80 cents per 7mm08 components is more reasonable if your preferred ammo is running well over a buck a round. On the other hand, you’ll have to buy (at a minimum) a press, dies, powder measure, calipers, vibratory tumbler and media, media separator, sizing lube, priming tool, you’ll also have to amortize several hundred dollars for the gear across however many rounds you load.

You should also look for someone to coach you as you start reloading just for peace of mind and safety. Once you get comfortable, you can potentially load better ammo than what you can buy. So, if you get into this, you could consider starting to load for rifle (as it’ll be the only one that is cost effective in the short term) or get yourself set up/trained up for rifle and pistol to be ready for the inevitable future where ammo you want is unavailable or unaffordable.

Last advice, if you do decide to go forward with this, plan on trying to stock up on components. Even now, some components are difficult to come by, so you can’t plan to just drop by the local gun store to pick something up when you need it. Long term benefit is in cost averaging and simple availability - for example, I can load 9mm when I need to for less than 13 cents per round as I still have stocks of primers I bought for 4 cents, and bullets I bought for 6. I’m going to predict that the current “crazy” prices we’re all bitching about will seem cheap by comparison during the next ammo shortage...
 
Also... if you do load for Rifle, get at least 8lbs of powder at a time. Lot variances can make a big difference, and re-developing for a new lot is burning powder you could be shooting for real.

I learned this the hard way. I used to buy Varget 1 pound at a time and wonder why my 1000 yard come up would change a full mil.
 
There are two levels of reloading in my opinion:

1. To produce economical ammo and have a consistent supply of adequate ammunition especially for those who shoot a lot.

2. To produce finely tuned ammunition for a specific firearm (s) for precision shooting such as precision target shooting, benchrest / long range competition, etc.

I first got into reload over 50+ years ago for the purpose described in "1" above for handgun ammunition. Back in those days, one could save a substantial amount of money once the reloading equipment was amortized.

Once I go into precision rifle shooting, I evolved into purpose "2" described above albeit for long range precision varmint hunting. While I don't go to the level that some do, I nevertheless can produce precision reloads tuned to my rifle that meet my needs. The major advantage is that I am able to have a consistent supply of tuned precision ammo. I also shoot a lot, about a thousand centerfire rifle rounds a year.

The "turd in the punch bowl" is the supply chain shortages of recent years which is a challenge to maintain a consistent supply of components but even with this challenge, through careful load testing, it is not difficult to develop alternative combos to retain a consistent supply precision reloads.

Bottom Line: I would only recommend reloading today for those dedicated to precision shooting. "Blasters" playing Rambo and gong shooters I believe would be better served with factory bulk ammo. While not the "rocket science" that some of the net experts seem to promote, there is a learning curve to reloading and it is more suited to individuals that have a personality of attention to detail and are skilled with using tools.

I hope this helps you make your decision.
 
Since you didn't specify how many rds you would like to shoot, or what the use would be.
7000 grs per pound of powder
Handgun 5-10 grs ish per rd(1400-700 don't spill)
Rifle 40 gr + per rd.( 150-175 reloads)
Use these to calculate other components needed to finish up powder. And how much to purchase based on use.
Bullets prices run a WIDE range. Typically .20-1.00 each
Primers 8-12$ per 100.
Safety, safety, safety-- handling, storage, loading has some risk to both you(home) and firearms.
 
Maybe depends on cartridge.
I shoot only 223. My total component cost per round is ~ $.40. Because I compete, I need match grade ammo which is just over $1.00 per round.
A very rough estimate to set up reloading would be $1500 - including a Dillon 550. It would take me 2500 reloaded rounds to save the $1500.

Here's a link to a reloading cost calculator
https://ultimatereloader.com/tools/reloading-costs-calculator/

You'd need to price out the cost of powder, bullets, brass and primers.
Note that VV powders are now going for ~ $300/8lb.
 
Well said @K22. Having entered the firearms/shooting/loading pursuit during the pandemic, the only addition to his advice is that if you like shooting and intend to continue at current levels or expand those in the future, that you make an informed decision before you NEED to. I.E., if you decide to get into handloading, make that decision soon and start getting stocked/set up/trained ASAP. If you additionally or alternatively decide to go the factory ammo route, start stocking (DEEP) ASAP.

During recent ammo shortages, you couldn’t buy the ammo you wanted at ANY price. The only people shooting were those who had stockpiled ammo in earlier years or who had stockpiled reloading components. The only people who REGULARLY shot were those who had stockpiled deep. I don’t know how much “I do shoot a lot” means in your posts, but suggest that you do a simple calculation of number of rounds you shoot/week (or the number you would want to shoot/week if you weren’t constrained), and then extend that to see how many rounds you would need to stockpile if you couldn’t get that ammo for a period of a year or more. During the recent shortages, some specific brass cases have been unavailable for more than 2 years, bullets couldn’t be found for over a year, and primers had to be obtained tray by tray at ridiculous prices. When I started out, the concept of buying ammo by the case was extravagant. Now, buying 50-80 lbs of powder at a time, bullets in 10K lots, primers by the case, and rifle barrel blanks in pairs is the norm. If you don’t know when you’ll be able to find your next box of 9mm, or available 9mm ammo is going for .85/round (no joke), you’ll be amazed at how small a stockpile consisting of “a case of 9mm” will seem.

Good luck to you!
 
Avid Reloader's,. Learn to Buy, on the "Dips" and Sales of Components, in ADVANCE of, Need and "Hoard", them for, Tough Times ! Also we Wait and Look for, Deals on Seconds of, Bullets that, we Use.
I have, a very Accurate, G-34 Glock 9mm with, the Marksman Barrel and a Holsun sight, that I use, 124 grain, Horn XTP's in and bought, 500 "Seconds" from Midway that, are as Nice as, any Firsts, that I Have.
Those Bullets and 5.1 grs of, WW-231 Powder bought YEARS ago, make for some CHEAP / accurate, Shooting !
To get Deals,.. you Must Have,.. Patience and Shop like, a Miser !
 
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For 9mm plinking rounds, unlikely. For 10mm plinking rounds, maybe. For rounds that use a specific premium bullet, more likely. For 7-08, if you shoot enough, definitely, especially if you want to shoot a premium bullet.

Cartridge manufacturers are doing it to make money. You can use less powder if you use a faster powder. Less powder = less cost/cartridge = more profit. I like using cleaner powders and ones that are most suited for the application rather than how many cartridges I can get out of a pound.

That being said, I enjoy reloading almost as much as I enjoy shooting. It is especially enjoyable when I shoot well with cartridges I have loaded.

The only cartridge I shoot that I do not reload is 380 ACP. I don't shoot enough of it and they are really small and difficult to handle. I do have dies, brass and bullets for it though.

If your only reason for reloading is to save money, it is probably not for you.
 
With the cost of components and equipment right now, I'd only take this on if I wanted to reload for enjoyment.

The cost effectiveness of it is for us long time reloaders who have stocks of components bought years ago.
While I agree couldn't the same thing be said when we started? Seems like every passing day inventory we bought years ago is saving us 300% or more now.
 
While I agree couldn't the same thing be said when we started? Seems like every passing day inventory we bought years ago is saving us 300% or more now.
Yup,. I Bought most of, My Powder and Primers, Plus a Lot of Bullets,.. 4 years Ago
My Staball 65 Powder averages, $34.00 a Pound, it's Now, $52 lb at the Local Gun shop.
Split 5,000, Fed GM-210 M's with, Son at, $75 per M ( Wish that, I'd a Bought, MORE, Now ! )
I Load 6.5 Creed and 6 mm XC,. pretty Cheaply,. STILL !
65 Creed,. 43 grs, Powder $.21 cents, Bullets .40 Cents, Pr's .08 cents = .69 cents a Round X 20 = $13.80 per Box !
Ammo Shoot's into, the Low 3's to, 1/2 MOA,.. every Day ( Operator Dependent )
 
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I have been asked this question by several of my buddies. I tell them that most reloaders don't really save money; we just get to shoot twice as much. I tell them they can get started with $750-$1000 for a set of reasonable tools. I can reload 260 Rem and 6 ARC for just under $1 per round. Factory ammo would be closer to $2 per round. I compete monthly and load up 100 rounds for each match. Then I shoot weekly at my local club and shoot about 40-50 rounds per visit. That's a total of 300 rounds per month. I wouldn't want to be paying $600 per month for factory ammo. Plus I wouldn't be competitive at my matches with factory ammo.
 

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