WHY Reload?!?!?

[rivercityshooter]

So I got all my reloading equipment for 9mm and .223 but now that I have everything I need I have started to actually look for reloading components. I have done that math an I am not really not seeing the savings. I can buy a box of 55 grain PMC bronze 20ct for $6.49 from my LGS that comes out to just over .32 cents a round. I can buy a box of 500 reloads from LAX AMMO for $147.13 that's .29 a round. Now I can buy my FMJ projectiles for .233 for $16.99 for a box of 100 of 55 Grain. That comes out to just over .16 cents a bullet. Powder will be about .09 cents a round and primers add .03 a round. I already have brass. So to reload it comes out to about .28 - .29 cents a round. Dont get me wrong this is just plinking rounds and I understand that but that is about all I really do.

I understand that reloading is great if you want to really fine tune your ammo to your gun but like I said I am really just into plinking. I mention the LAX ammo because its all brass and I have never had a problem with it. Like I said I am only into plinking with my friends and my kids. Am I missing something? I have always been told that it is about half the cost to reload than it is to buy out right. I do think it will be cheaper to reload for my Mosin and get away from the steel case that I am shooting and I would like to work up a load for that rifle but that is in the future when I actually learn more about reloading. I have scoured the internet trying to find components cheaper but after you figure in S/H cost AND wait time I am almost where I am at now with my LGS so I would rather give him the business. Don't get me started on 9mm. I can but a box of 50 rounds brass cased from my LGS for $10 everyday so that is .20 cents a round I can reload for .18 cents but then you I have to figure in my time to clean and actually reload this ammo. I am like a lot of you I have kids a house a dog to walk a wife a job and cars to maintain NOT to mention guns to clean. I don't have a lot of time for reloading.

So at this point my question is: Is reloading more for the love of the hobby at this point? Is it just a great tradition I can learn and pass down to my son and daughter? The only real way I can see reloading saving me money is if I cast my bullets like I have started doing for muzzleloader there again the time factor gets involved also.

PLEASE dont get me wrong I am not *****ing about having to reload it is actually very relaxing and fun when I have my friends over and we are sitting about shooting the breeze maybe even therapeutic just I don't see it as saving me money. Please if someone can point me in the right direction of sites that I can get my components for less please help.

[Fordtrucks]

Venture out into other calibers and ull realize the savings. Yes it has been stated many many times that 9mm and .223 are not the most fruitful calibers to reload, a quick search would have given plenty info on that.

Do more big game calibers and maybe some precision target shooting and ull see the savings instantly. Even hunting loads with lead free bullets are a huge savings over store bought.

[orangeusa]

I haven't recently done the math on 9mm, but larger calibers 45ACP, 45C, 44mag (assuming you are reusing brass are not that much different in price reloaded, but drastically different from professional reloads, and even more so for new. 44maG can be 90 cents a round new. Reloaded, pennies more than the cost of the lead.

Sorry, I haven't worked up prices in a long while. I worked down in calibre just due to a availability. Which has gotten better, but prices HAVE gone up on new 9mm.

Also, you need to up the quantity on your bullet purchases, bullet prices are all over the map. For 9mm, a lot of components can be founder from folks who have overstocked or getting out.

.

[hermosabeach]

38 special
44 mag

The mass produced / military calibers are cheap to purchase....
The less common rounds make more sense to reload...

For hunting, you can build up a load at a level your rifle to get maximum accuracy....

Match .308 is $1-$1.50 / round


And when you are able to buy bullets in bulk, you save a lot more than in the small boxes....

[edgerly779]

Your paing to much for .223 bullets should around 10 bucks a hundred. powder for 223 should be around 20-25 per pound.

[highpower790]

Buy in bulk!Max out the hazmat,divide costs of each item,keep what you want and sell balance to friends.

[opos]

I shoot big bore handguns and oddball rifle calibers...I can load 45 Colt with nice accurate loads for a fraction of what run of the mill factory ammo is..if I could even find much variety in factory loads....My 25-06, 7.62x54r and 7x57 Mauser are available but I can load much better (for the intended purpose..I don't hunt) with recoil that is reasonable for a 78 year old man with arthritis...the factory stuff in PPU is available and not overly costly but I can get a number of good reloads with that brass and get what I want....I have no AR type guns so not into large quantities of needing ammo for those.

I don't load 9mm nor 9mm Mak.... I don't load .40 but I do load .45acp...also load 44 special (don't shoot 44 mag) for much less and get nice accuracy...I do load 38 special and 357 mag to suit my style of shooting...saves just a little (especially 357 mag) but the fun is in the loading...not in the money saved on these.

For me the loading is just an extension of the hobby...I grew up hunting and didn't understand the plinkers and target shooters...today I plink and target shoot as I'm too old and beat up to hunt any more...but through it all..I've loaded to fit the situation.

[pacrat]

You pricing is skewed. Just off the top of my head I checked RMR for 55 gr FMJ

http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/224-556-55-Gr-RMR-FMJ-Boat-Tail-NEW-1000-Ct-224-55-RMR-FMJ-BT-New-1000.htm

8.2 cents per bullet. And that is delivered to your door.

You can also beat pricing on primers and powder you quoted with some shopping

[Ubermcoupe]

Just wait until next year when ammo prices double... (kinda/sorta/not-really kidding )
For custom pistol loads (in my case), it's a must. I can dial up or down my own needed loads for whatever I want. I can make crowd pleasers, or fun hot loads, or powder-puff loads.

I buy my blaster 9mm ammo.

The key is to buy components, in quantity, when they are cheap.

[Pauliedad]

I started so I could be in control of my ability to shoot.
Cost saving were not the primary reason. As it turned out, I really enjoy reloading and have branched out to way too many different cartridges.
If you're pressed for time and only plink 9 and 223, then stock up on factory for now, and pile up the components for the next panic and you'll be covered.
I will say that my reloads are substantially more consistent than any factory new ammo I've shot.

[Darthyogurt]

Monmouth reloading has 55 fmjbt hornady, for about .076 per round.

However, I haven't found a formula that makes this accurate yet. Though it ends up costing me about .18 a round, reusing brass and sweat and tears

Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Tapatalk

[Darthyogurt]

You pricing is skewed. Just off the top of my head I checked RMR for 55 gr FMJ

http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/224-556-55-Gr-RMR-FMJ-Boat-Tail-NEW-1000-Ct-224-55-RMR-FMJ-BT-New-1000.htm

8.2 cents per bullet. And that is delivered to your door.

You can also beat pricing on primers and powder you quoted with some shopping

What are you getting for moa on that bullet and what powder? I can't get my hornady 55 fmjbt to get less than 3"

Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Tapatalk

[oddjob]

Besides what you and people mentioned here there is also the question volume of shooting you do. In my case I shoot USPSA, GSSF, 3-gun and steel matches. I shot a steel match today that used close to 200 rounds. There is a degree of savings, but it does allow more volume shooting.

Time is important. It was so important I bought a Dillon 1050 when my kids were smaller. The 550 wasn't cutting it.

here's a nice reloading calculator for reloading....http://handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

FYI...My 9mm loads cost me .9 cents per round

[jericho89]

Bulletheads.com $75 per thousand 55gn fmj shipped to your door

[orangeusa]

I never understood the CALGUNS saying (probably mangling it) "you don't save money reloading, but it allows you to shoot more" Whaaaa?

.