Reloading Costs

[Bhobbs]

Because a bullet to shoot is a bullet to shoot. I know if I put oh your saving money loading match ammo for $.60 a round some a hole is going to say well he could save more just going white box because in all its $.50 a round..

He could actually SAVE more money going white box....... But can save more in quality with reloading is what I meant... But everyone would rather call FUD than ask if that's what I meant............

You cant assume everyone on here is going for match loads when they reload..

That's why I said if you are going to reload blasting ammo don't waste your time.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

You save money over time, and you get to load things with what you want, not just what you can find on the shelves at the local Big 5. I reload a lot of oddball cartridges, so it is actually worthwhile for me. When was the last time you saw .43 Mauser or 6.5x53R in a store? Or online for less than $50 a box? For that same $50, I was able to get dies and some brass. For a few dollars more, I added bullets, brass, and primers. For the cost of 2 boxes of ammunition, I was set up to load several hundred rounds. Yes, there are up-front costs. But you can also get away with a Lee Classic loader kit, some pick up brass from the range, and the expendables (powder, primers and bullets) from many online sources, and be up and loading as much as you want for less than $60. No, it isn't as fast as a bench press. But it gets you into it for cheap.

-Mb

(edit) Here is a link to a classic loader.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=735723

[Bug Splat]

To be honest don't get into reloading for $$.... Get into it if your looming to make the best ammo possible and are willing to spend countless hours of your life reloading.


Because you will never save $$ if you factor in the amount of your personal time put in and equipment.... I only bought reloading gear to make match loads for 1000 yards and because I enjoy it as a hobby.

Because if you get into it for cost savings then your going to not enjoy it and not produce the best ammo possible. I'm not saving $ and don't mind but when I send down that bullet I know what it's going to do and know I made that.

I agree 100%! Bulk ammo is cheap especial if you order with friends. If you don't care what you shoot, reloading is not for you. 99% of people I know don't reload for the saving over bulk ammo they reload for the quality. The best factory match ammo is junk compared to highly tuned loads from your garage. Factory match ammo is made for guys too lazy to reload their own

[Whiterabbit]

I reload blasting ammo.

If I didn't, when I bought boutique barnes bullets, loaded max loads of large quantities of powder and expensive primers into rounds, they would ALSO shoot like blasting ammo.

In short, blasting ammo is practice. Noone buys a table saw and builds a house on the first time out with it.

[17+1]

Maybe not cheaper overall (hasn't been for me), but it's been cheaper per round. It's led to me shooting more in general...I used to shoot once a month before...been shooting 2-3 times a week for a while now.

When you load for 2 shooters that shoot some type of match (40-80 rounds on average) almost every weekend, it ends up being a lot cheaper. I've figured I can load for about half the price of what comparable factory ammo costs.

IE; 55 gr. M193ish loads with LC bullets cost me about 15 cents a round to load. Would cost about 30 cents a round for 55 gr. PMC, which doesn't even shoot as well. Same story with match ammo.

[Droppin Deuces]

Maybe not cheaper overall (hasn't been for me), but it's been cheaper per round. It's led to me shooting more in general...I used to shoot once a month before...been shooting 2-3 times a week for a while now.

When you load for 2 shooters that shoot some type of match (40-80 rounds on average) almost every weekend, it ends up being a lot cheaper. I've figured I can load for about half the price of what comparable factory ammo costs.

IE; 55 gr. M193ish loads with LC bullets cost me about 15 cents a round to load. Would cost about 30 cents a round for 55 gr. PMC, which doesn't even shoot as well. Same story with match ammo.

This is pretty much what I've experienced as well, except I don't shoot any more than I did before I started reloading. In fact, I probably shoot a little less(I used to shoot a lot...), so I've been saving a **** ton of money.
I haven't had to pay for brass yet, since I get it from the CHP on their range days and from other shooters. I may even have to start giving some away myself.
If you look around, you'll find crazy prices on powder, but again, since I don't shoot as much as I used to, I could buy from Turner's and still save.
Bullets are everywhere for super cheap. If you're a plinker, just buy pulled bullets. But I shoot once every couple of weeks and maybe 150 a session, since I try to learn and make the most of every shot. So even the match grade stuff is pretty cheap. I can make "match" ammo for an average of $5-$8 less per 100 than cheapo factory 55gr. stuff costs off the shelf.

Whenever I see the ammo pricess at Walmart nowadays, I always think to myself: "Hahaha..."