Economics of reloading

[IronsightsRifleman]

I've decided to dive into reloading for my .30-06 Garand. Today I bought a Lyman turret press and some Lee dies. A little later I started wondering how many rounds I'll have to process before my investment breaks even. After running the numbers I'm now wondering what the hell I was thinking. Well, just so you can all see what an idiot I am, here's what I've figured:

IMR4895 smokeless powder
1 lbm, $62 (lowest local price)
1 lbm = 7000 grain
Typical 30-06 load = 45 gr (approx.). That works out to
155 cartridges / lbm powder
Powder cost: $0.40 per cartridge

Hornady .308 bullets, FMJBT 150gr
100 box, $31
No one has them in stock, but that would be the price if they did. So...
$0.31 per cartridge

Federal 210M large rifle primers
$84 / 1000 (Midwest)
$0.084 per cartridge

Excluding tax, brass, labor, amortization, and incidental expenses, the reloading total is:
$0.80 per cartridge.

Now, let's looks at some retail ammo prices.

PPU .30-06 Springfield 150gr FMJ
400 rounds, $410 (Lucky Gunner).
$1.10 / round

Looking at AmmoSeek, I see a lot of S&B 150gr soft points on sale for as low as $0.71 per round.

So, best case, reloading will save me $0.30 per round, worst case it will cost me $0.09 per round. Best case, I should break even on the reloading equipment around 2000 rounds if I ignore expenses and my time. More realistically, I would have been wiser investing in a boat.

Someone please tell me this reloading plan is a good idea.

[MajorSideburns]

What were the prices of those factory PPU rounds in 2020? $3, $5 a piece? Sold out everywhere? The economy of things can change quite easily. Handloading is a good skill to have, it's always a positive to be more self sufficient. But it's true that right now loading your own doesn't make much financial sense, if you are just talking about plinking ammo for the most ubiquitous off-the-shelf caliber in America. For people with more exotic calibers or high precision demands there are still considerable savings. Loading your own also gives you the flexibility to tailor your rounds to your specific needs or rifle. If you really want to see savings for just punching holes at 100 yards then you can try switching to cast lead projectiles. I also suspect there are a couple less obvious issues at play with the current pricing of components. This is just guesswork but I think reloading powder has been in short supply the past couple of years as the suppliers have prioritized the ammunition factories over the retail reloading market. So the cost on reloading powder may be artificially experiencing upwards price pressure due to a constricted supply with heavy demand. I also think the cost on completed ammunition has not risen in kind to the appropriate level to reflect the increases in material and labor costs. I think many of the ammunition vendors, like many other retailers of all categories of goods have been eating much of the inflation costs and not passing the full price increase to the consumer, which they can't do forever. I don't see the price of factory ammunition going anywhere but up in the future. So keep cranking that lever!

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Reloading is its own 'hobby.' Thus, it isn't simply about 'saving money.' It's about a commitment to a related hobby which compliments and supplements another. Thus, your time isn't a 'cost' factor.

With that said, you've already worked out that you'll be saving up to 30 cents a round depending on the load you use. Over time, that adds up. But, that's the key... 'over time.' You aren't immediately going to save the cost of your equipment. The 'up front' cost of buying in bulk, rather than 100 rd. boxes can create questions. You see, that's another angle.

You're quoting 31 cents a bullet per 100 rd. box. If I go to Midway USA, I can get two, 500 rd. boxes for $279.98 or 28 cents a round, if we ignore things like the price of shipping, sales tax, etc. (I can't guarantee Midway allows this, but some do, so let's not get hung up.) That's almost $30 per 1,000 savings difference right there. I could go with MidSouth Shooters and pick up 150 gr. FMJ's for $60 in 250 packs or $240 per 1,000. That's 24 cents a round or a $70 difference.

That's part of the 'exchange' for reloads vs. factory. You have to be able to commit to larger or 'bulk' purchases, up front, to truly save overall. In a sense, it's like shopping at a Costco or some other bulk retailer. You spend more 'up front,' but save over time.

It's also an example of why 'buying local' isn't always the best option. I used to travel an hour, one way, to purchase powder at a distinct savings over the 1 lb. cans the local outlet had. In those days, with gas as cheap as it was, the price of the trip paid for itself in just getting out of town. Today, the Internet compensates for the increased gas prices, at least to some degree.

This is an example of why the expression... buy cheap, stack deep... exists. With what I have on hand and given the price I've paid, I can shoot fairly cheap compared to factory ammo these days. I've also got 'enough' of most things (sadly, not 'all' things) that I can ride out many of these increasingly frequent shortages with their inflated prices without having to pay through the nose.

Now, the 'added' bonus of reloading is being able to 'dial in' a load for your particular firearm. This is something not really all that possible with factory loads, at least for the most part. For some, it is actually "a" or "the" primary reason for taking up reloading.

Then there's the... "I can have what I want and as much of it as I need when I want" aspect. Decades ago, I worked up a load in .30-06 that would shoot 1/2" all day, everyday and it cost me about half of what premium factory ran at the time. The same held true, even more so, with handgun ammo which, along with certain rifle loads, were used in competition shooting. Not only did it allow more practice, I didn't have to worry about the local stores being out of sufficient quantities for both the practice and the match.

As with any new hobby, it will seem more expensive than it should... initially. Even in the moderate future, you'll likely find new equipment which may better conform to your 'style' and sink money into that. But, once you've got it and have a good feel for the process, you'll then start exploring how to cut down on costs. Once you've got that dialed in, you're on your way.

You'll have an hobby you can pursue when you can't physically go out and shoot. It's just that it will allow you to prepare to shoot. Then you get to shoot. Then you begin to obsess over collecting all your brass. Then you begin thinking in terms of... "If I tweak the charge or change the bullet weight or what about bench rest primers or if I normalize the flash holes or..." As I said, it becomes a hobby unto itself which compliments and supplements the hobby of shooting.

[BIGOX]

Of course reloading is a good idea it usually starts with economics but soon develops into custom loads. But $62 for a pound of power, Damn. $0.30 on projectiles, ouch. I hope you've been saving your brass. At least primers are at a decent price. I assume you purchased the equipment new. If you purchase Hornady they have a rebate going you can get free bullets. Next time shop around and ask for advice before purchasing.
Best advice I can offer is to slow down purchase a good reloading manual and read it before making other purchases. I usually recommend a good used single stage press like a Rockchucker or lee classic cast for around $100 maybe less. New calipers and new digital scale or a good used older beam scale. Brass preparation tools. Take your time collecting these items while hunting for better deals on components. Buying in bulk is definitely the way to go.
When purchase online use coupons, promo codes and free shipping & hazmat specials. Midway usa still dose the birthday discount. If you lived further north in Ventura county I could help you get leadfree bullets really cheap. Check out some outdoor range with clubs they usually sale reloading supplies also.

[baih777]

If you learn to reload with accuracy in mind.
Your will have consistent groups within a inch or less.
Compare your costs to match grade ammo.

If you think all there is to it. Is just put powder in and then press a bullet.
Your will be disappointed.

It's a hobby. Never cost effective.

[hundy]

For me it is definitely a hobby, but at times it was very cost effective also. I can remember at least 3 different times when we had "ammo droughts" all my co-workers were complaining they could not fine 9mm anywhere. I had plenty and never had to consider standing in line for a chance at 10 boxes on the shelf.
Occasionally, I would ask if anyone wanted to go shooting and they did not want to use the stock they had, as it would be hard to replace.
Today, you can find almost anything you need, but I fear that will change again as it always seems to.

I reload pistol rounds on a progressive for two reasons. One is to have plenty in stock, and the other is to be alone with my thoughts. I play my music and relax.

I reload rifle rounds on a single stage as I want certain qualities for each rifle. Some are hard to find calibers and when found are expensive.

It's definitely a hobby, but it pays off when there are shortages and for hard to find calibers.

[kcheung2]

You need to shop better.

https://www.powdervalley.com/product/hornady-308-30-150-grain-full-metal-jacket-boat-tail/

There's plenty of other powders that work & don't cost $62/lb.

And you need to change your mindset. Buy in bulk. If you just want 1 sandwich, you don't go to Costco to buy a triple loaf pack, 2 gallons of mayonnaise, and a gallon of mustard. Likewise, buy the 500 round pack of projectiles & an 8 lb jug.

[baih777]

You need to shop better.

https://www.powdervalley.com/product/hornady-308-30-150-grain-full-metal-jacket-boat-tail/

There's plenty of other powders that work & don't cost $62/lb.

And you need to change your mindset. Buy in bulk. If you just want 1 sandwich, you don't go to Costco to buy a triple loaf pack, 2 gallons of mayonnaise, and a gallon of mustard. Likewise, buy the 500 round pack of projectiles & an 8 lb jug.

Thanks, just ordered two 500 pc boxes.

[ar15robert]

These days certain rounds cheaper to buy others well reloading is still king. I load .556,30-30,300wm,10mm,45. The 5.56 ain’t saving as much anymore the others yeh I’m saving good.

I also bought a 9mm recently well 2 of them and to me not worth the cost to adapt my press and buy components. My 10mm it’s definitely nice to make full power loads and save money. As for 5.56 the increase in powder and primers is making an impact. When I started it cost me 105 bucks to make 1000 rounds of m855. 30 bucks less if I wanted standard 55 grain bulllets.

[edgerly779]

There are a lot better prices out there than what you are quoting. Powder is around 40 bucks a pound bullets 30 cal fmj for 140 per k I have .40/ 10mm cal bullets in sales

[Sandspider500]

Cost me about $6 per 20 to reload for 32 Winchester special.

[kris smith]

I got into reloading as a way to pass time. Several years on I?m still a green pea but I have gotten to shoot and own some cool things you can?t buy ammo for anymore. That being said I just created a spread sheet for each caliber I reload since I culled a lot of rounds and have it broke down by powders available and typical published max loads to see what powders to buy when I?m powder shopping. I have also logged all my current projectiles in there so I know what they cost me and what to look for on sale and will do that with primers when I get around to buying more or seeing what I have in my stack. Market right now you?re just gunna be saving a bit on average over factory ammo. But in bad times I was making my 9mm for the price I was buying it years ago when off the shelf stuff was touching 1$ a round. And I got into reloading heavy when supplies were at the lowest

[Featureless]

Although I have been reloading for 50 years or so, reloading is neither a hobby nor an economic consideration. It is an insurance policy. The relatively small investment I have in a couple of reloading presses, powder scales, dies, bullets, powder and primers (I save my once fired brass) provides me with an ammunition supply beyond whatever factory ammo I may have on hand.

Your firearms are worthless without ammo. If I run out I can always make more.

[JackEllis]

I live about 40 miles from an ammo retailer in Nevada and about 90 miles from the closest one in California. Reloading doesn't really save me that much money, if any, but if I need .223, .243 or 30-06 ammunition I can walk down a flight of stairs and crank some out.

During the pandemic, savings wasn't an issue. It was all about availability and I didn't have that problem.

[Revoman]

Yeah, don't forget that the 'new 11% ammo tax will hit July 1 this year. Reloading components are exempt from that stoopit tax.
Reloading to me is a great pass-time that produces excellent ammunition that works well in my firearm.
As others have stated, think big when buying components, no 1 pounders (which are actually 14 ounces for most manufacturers by the way). Go 4 or 8 pounders and save money. Buy everything in bulk, during the scarce times, you'll have what you need if you do.