Ok here we go. I have never reloaded any type of ammo and have no equipment to do it with. My question is would it be cost effective for me to buy reloading equipment for a 5.56, 9mm, and maybe a .45 or keep buying ammo at the store? I don't want to do it just for the cost aspect I am also interested in it. All of my hunting rounds are federal premium I love these rounds. But who knows maybe one day I can hand load my hunting rounds also.
bullet prices vs buying reloading equipment
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I would never tell anyone that reloading saves you a ton of money. It is a hobby to most with several benefits associated with the hobby. In my opinion, reloading just allows you to shoot more for the same $ spent. If I did not reload, I certainly would not shoot as much as I do. other benefits include the self-satisfaction you get when you are putting YOUR rounds down range - the ones you actually put together. And finally, reloading does allow you to develope loads custom to your particular firearm. A hobby with benefits YES - a MONEY SAVER, probably not ... Most of us just find that we shoot more ...
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Just started myself.. Lets say your shooting federal premium then your spending 35 bucks per 20 on average.. so that is about 1.75 a round.. If you reload then the bullets cost you about 30 bucks or 50 so that is 18 for a box of 20 a pound of powder costs about 30 bucks and you can probably get 100 rounds out of that so that is 6 bucks primers are negligile.. Assuming you keep the brass from the federal premium shells your spending about 22.00 for a box of 20 on reloads. So that is about 13.00 savings per box.. Not counting the initial investment.. My guess is if you factor every thing in. You'll probably save about 5 bucks a box over the long run..
I'll put my $.02 in for the pistol rounds, as they are a little different and that's basically where all of my experience has been.
If you buy in bulk, you can load the pistol rounds for a little more than half of what they cost in the store. Of course you have your time that must be factored in along with everything else. As has been mentioned, you won't so much save a ton of money as you will be able to shoot more.
I know you didn't ask about .40, but I will use it as an example since I have the figures handy. 9mm is cheaper brass and bullets, and slightly cheaper on the powder. .45 will cost more on the bullets and the brass can be significantly higher, a good source is can make a big difference.
nonnieselman posted in a thread currently a few down from this one that the current price is $12.47 for .40 at Walmart. I am 99.9% sure that is for a box of 50, as it is a very good price these days, so that would be $13.34 / 50 with tax out the door.
The prices on components are up recently, but as for prices I could go out and bring home today: Brass is $25/1000, primers are $30/1000 (bought by the case of 5000), bullets are $104/thousand (180 FMJ, lead is cheaper), and powder is about $20/1000 (calculated using an expensive powder choice, but one I prefer). That comes out to $8.95 / 50.
Drop to lead bullets and cheaper powder, and it could be done for about $7 - $7.20 / 50. Similarly, if you wanted to load defensive-type bullets like Golden Sabers, XTP's, etc, the price would be significantly higher. This is what I have noticed with rifle stuff, too. The "premium" bullets cut down on savings a good bit.
Hope that helps some.
If you buy in bulk, you can load the pistol rounds for a little more than half of what they cost in the store. Of course you have your time that must be factored in along with everything else. As has been mentioned, you won't so much save a ton of money as you will be able to shoot more.
I know you didn't ask about .40, but I will use it as an example since I have the figures handy. 9mm is cheaper brass and bullets, and slightly cheaper on the powder. .45 will cost more on the bullets and the brass can be significantly higher, a good source is can make a big difference.
nonnieselman posted in a thread currently a few down from this one that the current price is $12.47 for .40 at Walmart. I am 99.9% sure that is for a box of 50, as it is a very good price these days, so that would be $13.34 / 50 with tax out the door.
The prices on components are up recently, but as for prices I could go out and bring home today: Brass is $25/1000, primers are $30/1000 (bought by the case of 5000), bullets are $104/thousand (180 FMJ, lead is cheaper), and powder is about $20/1000 (calculated using an expensive powder choice, but one I prefer). That comes out to $8.95 / 50.
Drop to lead bullets and cheaper powder, and it could be done for about $7 - $7.20 / 50. Similarly, if you wanted to load defensive-type bullets like Golden Sabers, XTP's, etc, the price would be significantly higher. This is what I have noticed with rifle stuff, too. The "premium" bullets cut down on savings a good bit.
Hope that helps some.
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Correct.. 50 round box.. I have a spreadsheet ill post up soon.DBChaffin said:
You put in your factory ammo with tax and the amount of rounds. Then the reloading equipment price and compents. The end it gives you how many rounds you get to shoot to "Pay off" the reloading equip. then how much you save per round, per 50,per 1000..
Nice. Look forward to seeing it.
At current prices, I would have to load nearly 15K rounds to pay off my setup (Dillon Super 1050 bought used and added K.I.S.S. bullet feeder). My seldom used Dillon 550 would of course be paid off with a lot fewer rounds. I almost said "paid off a lot faster", but that isn't really correct. If the components were sitting there, it wouldn't even be a race. Both have been worth every penny though. Besides, for the first few years I had them, I was able to load the same bullets for less than $4 / 50. Ah, the good ole days... I still have a lot of brass, some primers, and a few bullets that I obtained significantly cheaper than the prices I quoted above too, which doesn't hurt.
At current prices, I would have to load nearly 15K rounds to pay off my setup (Dillon Super 1050 bought used and added K.I.S.S. bullet feeder). My seldom used Dillon 550 would of course be paid off with a lot fewer rounds. I almost said "paid off a lot faster", but that isn't really correct. If the components were sitting there, it wouldn't even be a race. Both have been worth every penny though. Besides, for the first few years I had them, I was able to load the same bullets for less than $4 / 50. Ah, the good ole days... I still have a lot of brass, some primers, and a few bullets that I obtained significantly cheaper than the prices I quoted above too, which doesn't hurt.
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Well i dont think there is a way to add an attachment..
I finally found my calculator, if anybody wants it just Emial me..
[email protected]
I finally found my calculator, if anybody wants it just Emial me..
[email protected]
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I f you start casting bullets the cost of a pistol round is $.04 per shot. $2 per box of 50. You can't bast that in the stores I shoot a LOT of pistol and revo;ver ammo and I could not do it unless I reloaded and cast bullets.
Doug
Doug
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Im getting into casting soon. Prolly next week :lol4:
Respectfully, is the "$.04 per shot / $2 per box of 50" per round or just for the bullets, i.e. $40 per thousand for the bullets compared to the $104 I quoted above for FMJ?
If it is per round, I definitely need to talk to you to find out where I should be getting my supplies. My current price for primers alone is very close to $.03 per shot or $1.50 per box of 50 rounds. That only leaves $.50 for brass, powder, and the aforementioned bullet.
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$.4 per round is for lead bulleted ammo . The bullets being casted by the shooter.
Doug
Doug
Gotcha. That is a pretty good price. I have always figured that you can reload with store bought components for a little over half of the cost of factory ammo, and that casting your own bullets would save you about half the price of the purchased bullets.
I have thought seriously about getting into casting, having been around it some with my brother some when he was casting his BPCR bullets. My problem is my time is a premium and I am impatient, so I would need some serious multi-bullet mold and setup to even consider it. I can pretty easily load 1000+ an hour with my current set up. How long would it take to cast that many? How much would it cost roughly to get setup casting?
The other problem I have is the smoke. I know it makes no difference for many folks and many applications, but in the games I shoot, the smoke is a pain. I've always just paid the premium and shot jacketed or, less often, coated lead (like the Black Bullets or the newer Bayou Bullets). Is there a readily available lube that doesn't smoke as bad as others?
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smoke
I solve this problem by casting outdoors. You have to watch the weather closely because one drop of rain will empty a 20 pound pot, VIOLENTLY
I solve this problem by casting outdoors. You have to watch the weather closely because one drop of rain will empty a 20 pound pot, VIOLENTLY
Roger that on emptying the pot violently. I have heard stories of perspiration or a drop from a tree overhead that definitely got my attention.
Actually though, the smoke I was referring to is that generated by shooting cast bullets. If there are multiple shots from one position and no breeze, it is a hindrance in the games I shoot, especially if the sun is low, either in front or at your back.
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