The cost of shooting just in ammo/components

[Kalitrazescapee]

I agree, in my experiance if you're loading 35+ caliber magnums or dangerous game loads for custom bolts or big lever rifles $1.75+ a round is a possibility using recycled brass. I'll have to do a price check!

My large caliber rounds aren't for Africa so I use ww lead heat treat and if necessary load with holy black.
Bullseye goes a long ways,2400,4198, and I have enough magnum powder and ammo.....now looking for a shooting buddy close to Lewis county KY.
I don't want to use it all up,but as a senior,don't want it sold at estate sale for dime on the dollar.

 

[David Milisock]

My large caliber rounds aren't for Africa so I use ww lead heat treat and if necessary load with holy black.
Bullseye goes a long ways,2400,4198, and I have enough magnum powder and ammo.....now looking for a shooting buddy close to Lewis county KY.
I don't want to use it all up,but as a senior,don't want it sold at estate sale for dime on the dollar.

Hard cast make decent bear loads, I'm told you, must stay away from old Marlin micro groove barrels. I have an older 444S Marlin, so I shopped for some decent 300 grain. I've built a heavy game bolt rifle so when the 300's are gone I'm back to 265 or the FTP tipped for it.

Back when I had my 450 Marlin custom bolt built, I ran across a gun shop that was closing and managed to get 3 boxes of 500 grain solids and 3 boxes of 500 grain soft points at a fair price then, nearly free now. I'm not sure if my boy or my grandson will shoot them up so they might end up in a sale someday.

 

[wboggs]

Is interesting in that it paints something of a picture on what it costs these companies to test stuff every year, even if the material costs were 1/2 of what Frank figured them at, it adds up in a hurry over the number of cartridges they have to test in a given year, with the cost of facilities, test equipt, labour and investment in components, it isn't a small percentage of expenses.

That is the reason I get computer generated loads from Berger when I ask for info. The manuels loaded with data that we are used to are going to be a thing of the past. I'm saving mine and not buying a lot of new components unless there is a greatly superior reason.

 

[FNSafari]

That is the reason I get computer generated loads from Berger when I ask for info. The manuels loaded with data that we are used to are going to be a thing of the past. I'm saving mine and not buying a lot of new components unless there is a greatly superior reason.

When I loaded ammo for our first moose hunt 23 years ago ( 30-06 FN produced Mauser action), I used my 45th edition Lyman load manual. I picked a load of 55 grains of IMR4350 and a 200 grain Nosler Partition bullet (the old semi-round nose). I have seen nothing close to this load/cartridge/bullet combo in any new manuals.

The load performed flawlessly, the primers were somewhat flat, but not anywhere near flat and the cases extracted effortlessly. Stretch was minimal and expansion .200 ahead of the base about .001. No modern manual is anywhere near this recipe. Never use any stated load without checking recommended loads in a manual and then reducing the max 10% at least. Pressure can go up depending on chamber size, freebore and the internal capacity of the brass you are using.

 

[FNSafari]

A dollar a round sounds expensive for handloads

As you can tell I have not bought components in awhile

To feed my 30BR score rifle it costs....

Powder - .246
Bullet - .52
Primer - .08

So .846 for the 3 one time use consumables + .035 = .881 per pull of the trigger, or close to that.

Lapua cases - 100 (if you can find them) are about $140 or 1.40 per case. Assuming they are cared for properly I expect 40 firings a case. So that is .035 per firing.

 

[Tangent]

When I loaded ammo for our first moose hunt 23 years ago, I used my 45th edition Lyman load manual. I picked a load of 55 grains of IMR4350 and a 200 grain Nosler Partition bullet (the old semi-round nose). I have seen nothing close to this load/cartridge/bullet combo in any new manuals.

The load performed flawlessly, the primers were somewhat flat, but not anywhere near flat and the cases extracted effortlessly. Stretch was minimal and expansion .200 ahead of the base about .001. No modern manual is anywhere near this recipe.

30-06? I keep my eyes open for old reloading manuals but don't see many about.

 

[wboggs]

When I loaded ammo for our first moose hunt 23 years ago, I used my 45th edition Lyman load manual. I picked a load of 55 grains of IMR4350 and a 200 grain Nosler Partition bullet (the old semi-round nose). I have seen nothing close to this load/cartridge/bullet combo in any new manuals.

The load performed flawlessly, the primers were somewhat flat, but not anywhere near flat and the cases extracted effortlessly. Stretch was minimal and expansion .200 ahead of the base about .001. No modern manual is anywhere near this recipe.

The media hype about all the new bullets, brass, and long range shooting has led to people being insecure. Most of it is not even revelant to the average hunter.
Obviously, the serious competitive target shooter must stay up to date.
Your reloading costs are about the same as mine but I have not taken equipment costs into consideration.

 

[FNSafari]

30-06? I keep my eyes open for old reloading manuals but don't see many about.

Yes 30-06. I have added that to the original post. That load is safe in my rifle. I would never use it in another rifle without starting 10% lower and working up carefully. You should do the same imo.

 

[FNSafari]

The media hype about all the new bullets, brass, and long range shooting has led to people being insecure. Most of it is not even revelant to the average hunter.
Obviously, the serious competitive target shooter must stay up to date.
Your reloading costs are about the same as mine but I have not taken equipment costs into consideration.

Bill,
Neither did I. I've had the tools so long I can't remember the original cost but at this stage of the game it wouldn't be much.

 

[Tangent]

Yes 30-06. I have added that to the original post. That load is safe in my rifle. I would never use it in another rifle without starting 10% lower and working up carefully. You should do the same imo.

Absolutely, I never try to copy anyone else's loads whether by word of mouth or on the internet.

 

[FNSafari]

The interesting thing is the discrepancy between that 30-06 IMR 4350 load from the early 1970's and what is in the books published today.