Reloading/Handloading worth it?

[Cokebottle]

I priced out some stuff at BassPro the other night.
$20 for 100rds 9mm
$20 for 100rds casings

After seeing that, I didn't bother looking for primer and powder cost... it doesn't seem to be worth hand loading, even using used brass with new WWB available for $23-$30/100.

What am I missing?
Availability issues aside...
At what caliber does it become economically worthwhile to hand load?

[3GunFunShooter]

It really depends on how much you shoot. I have been told that you really do not save money reloading because you just are able to shoot more.
Where it really does is allow you to find a load that shoots in your gun better than factory ammo. In the pistol sports, IDPA and USPSA, you can get your loads just above the minimun power factor and shoot faster with less recoil.
For my 223 long range I can load for about $.35 and finding factory Black Hills 77gr & 69gr is over $1.00 per round. Plinking ammo I can reload for about $.17 per round. I do not factor my time in any cost. With 9MM I have a cost of about $.14 per round. I was lucky I bought 10,000 small pistol primers & 5000 Small rifle primers 4 years ago when it was much cheaper.

[five.five-six]

I use plated boolits. I make .45acp for about $0.13/squeze


that is $13/100 tax (or shipping) included

lead boolets are about 1/2 that much


and yes, re-use brass several times

[Cokebottle]

Okay... sounds like long rifle and .45 (the direction I'm heading, other than a .357m for carry), it's worthwhile.

[swerv512]

i figure it like this:
1 box of FGMM 308 costs about $35-50 = $1.75 to 2.50 per round

1lb powder about $30 = 130-150 round = $0.20 to 0.25 per round
1k primers about $35 = 1k rounds = $0.04 per round
500 rds rifle about $150 = 500 rds = $0.30 per round
50 rds rifle brass about $20 = 50 rds = $0.40 per round
so.... you come out to about 1 dollar per round for the first batch. once you reuse the case you're down to about $0.60 per round of premium versus almost $2 bucks...

[5ohguy]

Totally worth it. Even for 9mm. Depending on the gun and charge, you can reuse brass 10-15 times. But why buy brass for plinking when you can go to your local range? Go late near closing, use some basic etiquette, and you'll have all the brass you need.

I just started to reload 45 acp and calculated that each round is costing me less than 13 cents to produce. That's about 6.50 for a box. I'm saving roughly 70% reloading. My loads are more accurate and consistent. Also I feel less penny pinched when I go to the range.

I got into it really slow and had a friend introduce me to the hobby. I read a lot and made sure I knew what I was doing. I bought my press (Dillon 550) and didn't load my first round until 2 months later. I was wearing gloves, squinting, and praying I didn't screw anything up and sure enough, the first batch went boom without a hitch.

It's been a really rewarding hobby for me. It was overwhelming at first, but I took things very slow and made sure I knew everything I needed to know.

[Cokebottle]

Sounds like it might be worthwhile, especially since I'm planning to move into the higher calibers.

Is BassPro overpriced on the boolits at $20/100? I don't remember the configuration or the weight... I was just comparing that to the last time I stocked up on WWB at $16/100 from Wally World. Still have about half of that left, but I'm planning to restock soon.

[freakshow10mm]

Buy in bulk. Buy powder in 8lb kegs, primers in cases of 5,000.

Get brass free off the range floor. Shoot it 10 times or so before it gets used up.

Buy bullets by the 1,000 or more. Lead is cheaper and casting your own is cheaper yet.

You have to try hard not to save 50% off big name factory ammo by handloading.

[Fjold]

I use lead bullets for my 40 S&W for USPSA shooting and I use 4.5 grains of powder (1,550 rounds per pound). I buy primers and bullets in bulk so my cost per 100 is about $8

[cortayack]

Its worth it if you got the time! You got to make time....I load .38, .357 and .45acp.....It costs me $5-7 for 50 rounds. Factory ammo runs around $19 to $26 for 50 rounds for the calibers above. You do the math...

[DougJ]

Definitely worth it! I just got started reloading less than a month ago. I've been saving brass for years thinking that one day I would reload. After coming home from Iraq in May to a ridiculous "ammo shortage", having a new Kimber Custom II commemorative and a Pro Carry with little to no ammo was pissing me off. Then when I could get .45 for a price that didn't include bending over I was hesitant to shoot it since it was going to be hard to replace.

I got a Lee Classic Turret and all the goodies, and the math said that I would pay for all the equipment in less than 15 boxes of ammo. I bought components in small quantities but it's still only costing me $6.63 a box of 50. In the last 20 some odd days I've loaded 12 boxes, and shot more than I have been able to in quite some time. No fear of being out of ammo! Saturday I shot 100 rounds, and with my Sunday morning coffee I loaded 100 rounds to replace it.

I'm SO glad I started reloading and I can only say I wish I had done it sooner.

[Rwnielsen]

And it's fun
I'm not a really good shot anymore due to my eyesight but I love reloading.
I take my time and knock out about 500/hr (650 Dillon), checking powder, crimp, OAL. I clean my brass really well and put out accurate, consistent good looking rounds. It's a labor of love in many ways. I shoot and record chrono speeds and put it on the box label with the other details. I go to the outdoor ranges mostly and share ammo with some of the folks I meet there.
Lots of times they'll help me sweep up the brass for the next go-round. It's a win-win situation.
I once figured about $25/100 45acp 200-230 FMJ, plated is less, lead is cheaper still
I've made 44 mag (full house) XTP- JHP that were over $60/100
If you factor in the equipment.... I may not live long enough to break even.
I do however know what works in my guns and can duplicate it any time and....I really enjoy doing it.

[popeye4]

Look at it as a hobby unto itself. Yes, it feeds your shooting, but there can be so much more to handloading that it can take on a life of its own.

Remember, there is a startup cost, so you might have a hard time justifying the initial expense from a cost savings angle alone. I bought my first press over 30 ears ago and I can't remember what I pad for it (if I didn't buy the press, I just would have bought more beer in those days), but I've certainly gotten my money's worth in entertainment.

[Cokebottle]

Remember, there is a startup cost, so you might have a hard time justifying the initial expense from a cost savings angle alone. I bought my first press over 30 ears ago and I can't remember what I pad for it (if I didn't buy the press, I just would have bought more beer in those days), but I've certainly gotten my money's worth in entertainment.

Ya... I was looking at that last night and "accessorizing" a Dillon 550B to reload 38sp, 9mm, .45acp, 223rem, and 7.62x39 can easily grow to over $800 with the add-on trays.
A good used press would absolutely be the way to go.

[ar15barrels]

I priced out some stuff at BassPro the other night.

$20 for 100rds casings

Pick up brass at the range for free.

Cast lead bullets for $54/1000
Primers for $30/1000
Powder for $20/lb is $10/1000
Viola, $94/1000 rounds of 9mm.