Is reloading worth it???

[jfred90]

I've asked myself the same question... is reloading worth it? Recently, I begun to investigate the issue more thoroughly and created a spreadsheet which I used to answer this question.

If you'd like to put your own values into this spreadsheet, you can download it here. It is in Excel format so you'll need a program compatible to open it. The numbers already on the sheets are samples and should be replaced with your costs for components and retail comparison numbers.

Try it out and PM me if you have any feedback or suggestions.

[11Z50]

I used to be an avid reloader, cranking thousands of rounds out on my Dillons every chance I got. I would then go on blast-a-thons with my best buddy when we had a few days off, bring all the brass home and do it again. I did get twice to 4 times the ammo for the price of factory, and reloading was a great hobby for me.

That was when I was in the military, actually had time off, and nothing better to do.

When I went into business, I did well and made some real money. I soon noticed that my beloved Dillons were gathering dust, and that if I needed ammo, I'd just go buy it. I realized that when I had a chance to make money, I should do so. When I had a rare chance to take some time off, I had other demands for the time. I could squeeze in time to reload, or to go shoot, but not both. I could purchase ammo for a very reasonable rate, and could afford it. The spare time I used to spend shopping for components, polishing brass, prepping and loading was just not there anymore.

I just purchased 10k rds of 9mm from Natchez for less than $8 box, shipped. I couldn't load it for that, even if I factored in my spare time at a minimum wage value.

I may start reloading again at some point in the future when I slow down a bit, but for now, it's better for me to buy than reload.

[xrMike]

Recently, I begun to investigate the issue more thoroughly and created a spreadsheet which I used to answer this question.

If you'd like to put your own values into this spreadsheet, you can download it here. It is in Excel format so you'll need a program compatible to open it.

Try it out and PM me if you have any feedback or suggestions.

Very cool sheet, and thanks for providing it to the collective.

I will input some of my real numbers later today to see the results.

The only thing I noticed is that you don't have a column for "Hazmat fees" in your "Powder" and "Primer" rows, but now that I think about it, those fees could easily be accounted for by adding them to "S&H" column.

Thanks again, I've saved your sheet to disk for future use.

[CAL.BAR]

Seems like if the gov decides to do their huge tax increase on ammo that it might be almost necessary for some of us to keep shooting.

. . .because the politicians are too stupid to think about bullets, brass and powder?

As goes pre-made ammo, so goes reloading. Don't fool yourself.

[bohoki]

. . .because the politicians are too stupid to think about bullets, brass and powder?

As goes pre-made ammo, so goes reloading. Don't fool yourself.

also i dont see why reloaders are encourageing people to start reloading

if the reloading population suddenly doubled imagine the shortages and price increases

so on behalf of reloaders

i say dont start reloading its a major effort of time and large expense for start up cost and at the end of the day you might have a couple boxes of reloads that are far inferior to the still relativly cheap factory manufactured ammo

also if you even fire one round of reloads in your firearm the warranty has been voided

and as you bend down to pick up your empty brass imagine the back strain and potential poison oak from teh quest of a far flung case

then there is the storage of hazardous explosive materials (why else would they charge a haz-mat fee)

then there is the possible excessive exposure to heavy metals handling lead and cleaning of the brass

and the uncalculated costs such as cleaning media and case lube

[xrMike]

Yeah, what he said!!!

[ar15barrels]

then there is the storage of hazardous explosive materials (why else would they charge a haz-mat fee)

Smokeless powder and primers are considered "flammable solids", not explosives.
They don't explode without being confined.
In an unconfined state, they just burn.

Blackpowder is an explosive though.

[Fjold]

I received a box of primers that were labeled "Solid Explosives"

[CSACANNONEER]

I received a box of primers that were labeled "Solid Explosives"

I believe primers are explosives but smokeless powder is clearly a flamable solid.

[xrMike]

The explosive compound in primers (lead styphnate) is a "primary" explosive. Primary explosives release their energy very quickly, faster than the speed of sound, and so they create a shockwave. The ability of an explosive to release its energy that quickly is called "detonation".

Smokeless powder is considered a "secondary" explosive. The energy is released much slower, slower than the speed of sound. So they don't detonate, but "deflagrate" instead (meaning they don't actually explode; they just burn super-fast, and don't create a shockwave like a primary explosive).

ETA: Years ago I worked for a company that made air bag initiators for the auto industry. My boss schooled me on the difference between the two.