HAZMAT + Shipping: is handloading really cost effective?

[varanidguy]

The trick is to buy in much bigger bulk to offset the HAZMAT or to buy locally to avoid the extra fees.

That really depends on the place. Local gun shop here in the High Desert charges $37 for a pound of rifle powder and $7 for 100 primers...

Ordering online, providing it's 8 lbs of powder, or even 1000 primers at a time, is still cheaper than buying from them...they have ludicrous prices.

[Divernhunter]

You should not reload. Buy factory ammo and be happy.

Price is not the only reason for reloading.

As other said buy in large amounts. I buy 4-6 jugs(8lbs each usually) at a time. Primers: leave out one jug and fill that spot with primers. Yes that is legal. If the company will not do it buy from someone else.

So it is simple I will reload and you buy factory. We can both be happy. You can send all reloadable brass to me so it is not littering the shooting range or your home. That will be 'going green" and make more people happy

End of discussion.

[Michael in California]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I guess the initial steps I will take is to:

1. Actually shoot all of my Blazer Brass. I have 1000rds.
a. The only range near and easily accessible to me is Jackson Arms located in South San Francisco.
b. I will need to check their policies on collecting brass at their indoor range.

2. Once brass has been collected, find where I can purchase primers and/or powder locally.

2a. And/or find a reloading club in the Bay Area.

3. Evaluate if reloading my own brass is worth it for me.

I only have one gun, my 1911 for SD/HD and range time (accuracy, malfunctions and drill sustainment).
I don't shoot competitively but I would love to get into it once I graduate (2 more years). So realistically, I may only shoot between 200-400 rounds per month while still in school.

One question - I remember when I was in the Corps, we collected brass every time we went out. I remember reading that we should only re-use brass once. However, I am almost positive that we re-used our brass more than once. Not 100% positive so if you are/were former military or LE please correct me. How many times do you guys re-use your brass?

Certainly evaluate whether reloading makes sense for you. Casual shooting may not make reloading your thing ever.

I buy primers/powder online and buy enough so that the hazmat charge is no big deal. 10lbs of powder and 5000 primers for $38 hazmat fee amortizes to under $2 per box/bottle. Shipping kind of works out the same too. So if you can't get powder locally for less than $4 over mailorder, buy online.

Of course, there is no sin in buying local and paying a premium to start with or if you just like the vendor.

I only have to buy powder/primers every two years or so at my rate of consumption.

I do reload for cost, so cost is important to me. I'll pay for my press and other gear in 4k of 9mm. Less including the 30-06 and .45 I'm starting to reload.

I also am starting to see the slippery slope into reloading to shoot more.

[VetUSMC]

I found this:
http://mnsl.info at Reeds indoor range.

I am going to give them a call and visit soon. I definitely see myself doing this and if I get really SERIOUS about competitive shooting, I think it is a no brainer to reload my own ammo.

First and foremost - Shoot all of my Blazer Brass for its brass

Thanks everyone.

[Eljay]

Definitely start collecting the brass. Even if you decide not to use it, you can give it away, sell it, or turn it in for credit at some places.

Personally I buy powder in 4 pound jugs, and even with expensive power (N320) and hazmat it's maybe a penny or two per round. It's really the least of my problems. Bullets are something like 10 cents each, lots of options there. Primers I just ordered at Cabelas with free shipping and $20 hazmat and you really don't have to buy many to make it cheaper than buying locally.

You don't save a lot on some very popular calibers (9mm, 223) but for .45 ACP it only costs me maybe two cents more to load versus 9mm. And yet the loaded ammo cost is very different...

[stand125]

I can remember that my first reload kit was for 45 ACP. I wanted to spend as little as possible incase I never really loaded more than a couple boxes. I spent $30.00 on a LEE CLASSIC LOADER, $1.99 for a Harbor freight plastic slide caliper and bought the powder that the chart listed for 200 gr lead bullet so I did not have to use a scale. The bullets where 200gr rnfp from Missouri bullets and they where accurate as hell. Primers and a lb of powder was local and the brass was free from the range. Now I buy all my powders, primers and bullets in bulk since I load quite a few calibers and hazmat/shipping usually only adds 1 or 2 dollars per lb or box when I buy from Powdervalleyinc.com.

[ultracovert]

If you can buy locally, the first time you reload your per round cost is down to $.15. Or $152.26 per thousand. One of the benefits to REloading is that you are reusing your brass. You may not see much saving in the initial loading of a batch of brass but over time it makes a big difference. Most of us who reload have found we don't save any money, however we shoot alot more for the same money.

[VetUSMC]

Most of us who reload have found we don't save any money, however we shoot alot more for the same money.

That is always a good thing.

I realize that I was not really going to save money as I may shoot more by reloading my own rounds, but having the ability to shoot more rounds with your own hand loaded rounds compared to what it would have cost when buying factory ammo is what makes hand loading appealing to me.

Also, even if I am not able to shoot more due to work, family or school, I see how hand loading will still save you a little money... in the long run. I don't ever plan to sell my 1911 so I will ALWAYS be sending rounds down range. How much, only I can answer that.

[not-fishing]

Most of us who reload have found we don't save any money, however we shoot alot more for the same money.

Really depends on what your reloading for.

My 300 wby 180 gr TSX copper cost $75 per box of 20. I reloaded a rifle specific prepped set @ $15 per box of 20.

Then there's my 30.06 M1 Garand Nosler steel silhouette loads that ran $0.50 each instead of $1.50 each. and my reloads group better

If I didn't reload then my two sons and I couldn't shoot IDPA competitions with the 8-10,000 rounds we shoot each year. The cost is mainly the bullets, primes are only 3 cents each and I get around 1,500 rounds per pound of powder. Of course I buy powder in 8 lb jugs with one 8 lb jug just for my 45. Heck the last 8 lb jug of Universal Clays I bought (38 special loads) cost me $240.00 and that works out to only 2 cents per shot for powder.

and my 45 brass lasts a very, very, very long time

[SacJDog]

Be careful with Blazer brass with small primer pockets. There are a few manufacturers that have small primer pockets on 45 ACP.

[ar15barrels]

HAZMAT + Shipping: is handloading really cost effective?

Most of the responses so far have missed the important distinction in the original post.

"Handloading" is making new ammunition with all new components.
"Reloading" is making ammunition with used cases.

HANDLOADING pistol cartridges is NOT cost effective.
RELOADING pistol cartridges is absolutely cost effective.

[stand125]

When I shop around and buy in bulk I can get a box of 45acp down to about $6.00 for 50 rounds.

[VetUSMC]

Be careful with Blazer brass with small primer pockets. There are a few manufacturers that have small primer pockets on 45 ACP.

Just took out one box to check and there is nothing on the Blazer Brass box that indicates dimensions. Only weight of the round at 230 grain. Other than comparing the primer pockets of Blazer Brass with other .45 rounds, how can I tell?

Hopefully, if I do get into hand loading my own rounds, I am not stuck with 1000 brass casings that have primer pockets that only few manufactures accommodate. Which, probably means the primers required for this brass will be more expensive. Although, I guess primers are so cheap anyways so it may not matter.

[pdoggeth]

Be careful with Blazer brass with small primer pockets. There are a few manufacturers that have small primer pockets on 45 ACP.

^ This. I almost forgot about the duplicity of small primer pockets for 45 ACP.

Yes, for 45 ACP, you will have to be a little careful about the brass, since a couple of manufacturers produce them with small primer pocket holes instead of large.

[Mtn folk]

That really depends on the place. Local gun shop here in the High Desert charges $37 for a pound of rifle powder and $7 for 100 primers...

Ordering online, providing it's 8 lbs of powder, or even 1000 primers at a time, is still cheaper than buying from them...they have ludicrous prices.

Ouch! A new shop in big bear city is asking $38/1000 primers and I thought that was too much.