Cost benefit analysis for reloading
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Parhams0508
Well-Known Fanatic
Thank you! This should be a sticky.
Tigerstripe
Well-Known Fanatic
as a long time reloader i dont think this author has it all right. after 40 years of loading i still dont have 700 dollars worth of reloading gear.
when loading for match bullets he is buying small, 100 rds? a friend and i got 500 each match 308 and they were cheaper than what he said. but for target and fun you buy by the 1000s. buy primers by the case.
you can buy a high dollar loader but you dont have to. i have a sinlge stage, a stand alone powder measure and scale, and a Lee progressive. before i got the progressive i had a Lee semi progressive. ( with the semi the dies and turret turn, the pregressive the dies dont turn and the shell case does.) the semi is in the bone yard now but with those loaders ive loaded many 1000s of rds.
one was about 75 bucks and the better newer one was about 125. i probably bought the last one late 80s or early 90s. then there is a case trimmer and die sets. i broke the neck sizing depriming rod on my Lee 223 die about a week ago. called Lee and told them. all they wanted was my name and address to send me a new one. i know i bought the dies when i got my first AR in 1981.
when i shot IPSC i know i would shoot less than 100 per match every month but i would shoot at least 1000 45s a month practising. then there was 9mm, 38,357,44 mag and the exs 380. also 30-06, 223 and lastly 308.
now, with a machine gun, its mostly 223. at least a third the price of new ones.
so i say there is no analysis needed. want to do some shootin? RELOAD!!
when loading for match bullets he is buying small, 100 rds? a friend and i got 500 each match 308 and they were cheaper than what he said. but for target and fun you buy by the 1000s. buy primers by the case.
you can buy a high dollar loader but you dont have to. i have a sinlge stage, a stand alone powder measure and scale, and a Lee progressive. before i got the progressive i had a Lee semi progressive. ( with the semi the dies and turret turn, the pregressive the dies dont turn and the shell case does.) the semi is in the bone yard now but with those loaders ive loaded many 1000s of rds.
one was about 75 bucks and the better newer one was about 125. i probably bought the last one late 80s or early 90s. then there is a case trimmer and die sets. i broke the neck sizing depriming rod on my Lee 223 die about a week ago. called Lee and told them. all they wanted was my name and address to send me a new one. i know i bought the dies when i got my first AR in 1981.
when i shot IPSC i know i would shoot less than 100 per match every month but i would shoot at least 1000 45s a month practising. then there was 9mm, 38,357,44 mag and the exs 380. also 30-06, 223 and lastly 308.
now, with a machine gun, its mostly 223. at least a third the price of new ones.
so i say there is no analysis needed. want to do some shootin? RELOAD!!
biganimal
Well-Known Fanatic
I'm sure glad I am not the author of the article because he spends way too much money to shoot
I reload because I cannot buy factory ammo for the price I pay to roll my own
for example my target load for the 45/70 is as follows
brass is used so no cost
paid $3.20 per 100 primers so thats $0.032 per rd
paid $17 per lb (in bulk) use 20 grs of 2400 for a cost of $0.049 per rd
I cast my own bullets from free lead so no cost there
total cost per rd is 8 cents per rd or $8.00 per hundred
I don't put a value on the time to cast or reload because that is recreational time and I don't consider it work
I reload for every gun I own with the exception of the rimfires and I enjoy similar savings on most unless I buy bullets which I do when loading the .223's
I reload because I cannot buy factory ammo for the price I pay to roll my own
for example my target load for the 45/70 is as follows
brass is used so no cost
paid $3.20 per 100 primers so thats $0.032 per rd
paid $17 per lb (in bulk) use 20 grs of 2400 for a cost of $0.049 per rd
I cast my own bullets from free lead so no cost there
total cost per rd is 8 cents per rd or $8.00 per hundred
I don't put a value on the time to cast or reload because that is recreational time and I don't consider it work
I reload for every gun I own with the exception of the rimfires and I enjoy similar savings on most unless I buy bullets which I do when loading the .223's
Chili
Well-Known Fanatic
For me it works out to about 55%+ savings per box if I buy factory bullets. If I cast the bullets myself the price drops to a about 2 or 3 dollars per box. I have to reload. It's the only way I can afford to shoot.
I'm still working on getting all my stuff together for reloading (I'm a newbie), but I plan to make an excel spreadsheet to track what I am spending for the setup, and to see when the break even point is. This is really just for my own information. Not sure if you can really adjust for inflation, or the 'fun' factor. I like knowing how stuff works and it's hard to put a price on that...
On a side note, I just got the Lee reloading press (bought 2nd hand a while ago) mounted yesterday, and I think either I'm missing a part, or it doesn't necessarily come with the unit. Gotta do some Google-Fu now...
On a side note, I just got the Lee reloading press (bought 2nd hand a while ago) mounted yesterday, and I think either I'm missing a part, or it doesn't necessarily come with the unit. Gotta do some Google-Fu now...
kg4kpg
Well-Known Fanatic
I'd sure like to start reloading eventually. My weapons rack is expanding so I imagine it has to be a cost saver when shooting multiple calibers.
Red Hat
Well-Known Fanatic
Not only is reloading a cost saver it will be a life saver when ammo is no longer on store shelves!
Midnight Raver
Well-Known Fanatic
Boy, you ain't kidding. If everybody thought that ammo was both expensive and scarce back in early 2009, you can just imagine what cost and availability will be like in the new year! :x
biganimal
Well-Known Fanatic
Oh have times changed!!!!
saw .223 ammo on Armslist going for a buck a round....................HOLY CRAP!!!!!
just reloaded 200 rds of .223 for a total cost of $24
saw .223 ammo on Armslist going for a buck a round....................HOLY CRAP!!!!!
just reloaded 200 rds of .223 for a total cost of $24
Tigerstripe
Well-Known Fanatic
On a side note, I just got the Lee reloading press (bought 2nd hand a while ago) mounted yesterday, and I think either I'm missing a part, or it doesn't necessarily come with the unit. Gotta do some Google-Fu now...
did you find out whats missing? my first Lee has been canibalised to keep my second Lee going. i may have a part you need.
did you find out whats missing? my first Lee has been canibalised to keep my second Lee going. i may have a part you need.
Chili
Well-Known Fanatic
If you have a an android or iphone, there are plenty of free reloading cost calculators.
Tigerstripe, I believe the parts I am looking for are the small and large primer arm assemblies.
http://www.titanreloading.com/lee-bp2889a-primer-arm-assembly-small
The Lee site seems to be down...
Unfortunately, I'm not in a financial position right now to put more money into reloading right now...
http://www.titanreloading.com/lee-bp2889a-primer-arm-assembly-small
The Lee site seems to be down...
Unfortunately, I'm not in a financial position right now to put more money into reloading right now...
Tigerstripe
Well-Known Fanatic
where are you? near philsons range?
i figured that was what it was.
the loader i canabalized used that and the one thats working does not use it.
if you are close ill give it to you. i have 0 $ to ship.
i figured that was what it was.
the loader i canabalized used that and the one thats working does not use it.
if you are close ill give it to you. i have 0 $ to ship.
PCShogun
Well-Known Fanatic
I do not shoot a large quantity of ammo, but was wanting to reload some of the harder to find rounds, such as 8*56R Hungarian, .45LC, 7.62 TOK, and .303 Brit.
Is the handloader a good idea if I'm only going to be shooting 50 or so rounds of each per month? I'd really like to be able to reload for "Emergencies" too but want something relatively portable.
Is the handloader a good idea if I'm only going to be shooting 50 or so rounds of each per month? I'd really like to be able to reload for "Emergencies" too but want something relatively portable.
11B3XCIB
Well-Known Fanatic
PCShogun said:
I just bought a reloading set up. I bought an RCBS single stage press but got a digital powder scale; only 200 rounds loaded (9x19) but the powder scale has been worth it's weight. The big reason I wanted to load 9mm is because I shoot a LOT of subsonic ammo through a suppressor, but I still like to buy a box or two of factory new 9mm when its on sale for $10/50ct.
I would check and see how common the dies are that you want to reload. Most dies regardless of brand, unless they are an odd thread pitch or size, will work in a single stage of a different brand. I say this because some of the obscure calibers may not have a lot of selection. I just emphasize double check and make sure that the dies fit the press you choose. Individual shell holders may be a different story. I have an RCBS hand primer and I know RCBS shell holders fit in it AND the press, but I don't know about shell holders from a different brand. Fortunately, these are cheap and work with many calibers: my .223 shell holder also holds the .380ACP I am going to load for my wife.
Honestly, if you are on the fence about reloading, I'd do some QUICK homework and decide if it's right for you. If it is, I would make every effort to start accumulating the equipment, researching powder loads and charges for your calibers and taking detailed notes. Even if you have to search far and wide for dies for your calibers, at least by researching the ingredients you can have a stock of powder, primers, and bullets waiting on everything else.
