Has anyone run the numbers?

[anyracoon]

You never really reach the break even point. At least I won't, just when you get close you find a new gizmo to add to the reloading toy collection. To me reloading is relaxing. I enjoy going out to my shop in the evenings after dinner, spending quality time with my Blue Koolaid presses.

[rogsworld]

Another thing to consider is if you buy bulk and keep stock of components like me then when the ammo shortage comes again you can still shoot as much as you want.

[SLO_Ryan]

As has been stated, it depends on what you are loading.

You will break even much faster loading uncommon rifle calibers (like .378 Weatherby) than you will with common pistol calibers, like 9mm.

For shotgun shells, its the same thing - it takes much much longer to break even loading 12ga than .410.

[goodlookin1]

- $400 bare minimum reloading equipment
- $30 match grade 50 bullets
- $50 100 never fired brass
- $5 for 100 match grade primers
- $25 1 lb powder of your choice

- Reloading and customizing your rounds perfectly so they are taylor made for your chamber: Priceless

[FieldsofFire]

It would take me about six months to break even on my 550B going through about 1k rounds per month. I'm still in my first year of handloading though so next year, I should be able to get the cost down even more in terms of price per round.

Six months or not, the ability and machine are invaluable to me right now. I have ammo when I want it, and don't need to hop into the car right when I hear the local Wally World has some ammo in stock, nor do I have to pay $20 for a 50-round box of factory FMJ at the local wherever.

[Nessal]

the best part of loading is that I can tailor up some loads WAYYYYY more accurate than commercial stuff ANYTIME I want. It's a great feeling that you're not tied down by your local walmart.

[Rwnielsen]

You never really reach the break even point. At least I won't, just when you get close you find a new gizmo to add to the reloading toy collection. To me reloading is relaxing. I enjoy going out to my shop in the evenings after dinner, spending quality time with my Blue Koolaid presses.

Amen, well said

[Fyathyrio]

Teaching the wife about reloading...

I did the math when I did my research and totalled up my original purchase. I came up with about 5000 rounds to break even also. Then as I bought more gadgets and shot more I realized that I'm not gonna do the math anymore! I'll never catch up but I enjoy shooting more!

[CSACANNONEER]

Well, there is no break even point! If I reload my own hardcast bullets, my cost of loading .25acp, .38S&W, .38/.357, 9mm, .45acp, .45LC is all about $2.50-$3.00/ box of 50. I've loaded and shot 10s of 1000s of rounds and I have yet to "break even". I find myself spending more on components than I did on loaded ammo. But, I shoot a hell of a lot more now.

[J-cat]

You will shoot a lot more though which ends up costing you just as much or more than you are currently spending.

That's only if you load on a progressive.

If you load single-stage, you won't have any time to shoot more. You'll actually shoot less, and prolly more accurately as well.

[otteray]

Savings between a 20 round box of accurately sized reloads and $59 Winchester 38-55 factory loads is about $56

[GetBulletsandBrass]

P345dude and anyone who is looking to crunch numbers, send me your e-mail via PM. I will forward to you a price chart that you can use to compare the cost of reloading versus factory ammo (does not include cost of reloading kit)

You'll be able to invest in a good reliable reloading set-up without breaking the bank as well. Depending on how much you load, you can save money whether you're loading only 20 rounds per year or 50,000 rounds per year.

If you're are looking to at getting started on reloading, attend our class that is being held tonight at the 10th street indoor range in San Jose.

The address is:

San Jose Municipal Firing Range
1580 South 10th Street
San Jose, CA 95112

When:

Monday, January 18th at 8pm. (arrive early for parking).

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

[jwest]

Try this....

http://www.10xshooters.com/calculators/Rifle_Reloading_Cost_Calculator.htm

Sideline Shooter

Nice link Sideline Shooter! Ran a quick calc - was surprised it turned out better than expected...

[Fjold]

One round.

You can reload to try to save money but I do it because I can make ammunition that out performs any factory loads in my rifle.

302 yards with my handloaded 375H&H using a 300 grain TSX and 67.5 grains of IMR4064

[powaybob]

Some one posted a cost analysis in the Handgun forum, which prompted me to do my own for .45 auto. Here is what I posted there, which I think is on topic for this thread.

Here is my analysis on a per round basis.

Cabelas for powder, primer, and bullets
Bullseye, 1lb or 7000 grains for $33. 5.5 grains per round is $0.015 per round
CCI LPP, 1000 for $33, $0.033 per round
Berry's 200 gr flat point plated, 350 for $33, $0.13 per round

Conevera's Once Fired Brass, 1000 for $53, $0.053 per round.

Total material cost per round: $0.23

In theory, the second thousand would be reduced to about $0.18 per round since you do not have to buy the brass, and assuming you can recover all you fired (good luck with that!).

If you have $500 in your new press and dies, and assume over the life of the equipment you will produce 1000 lots of 1000, the amortized price per round is $0.0005 for the equipment, so it is actually negligible in the unit cost per round. Even at $1000 worth of equipment, cost per round is $0.001. (Lots of luck using this argument with your wife to get a new press- don't giver her my number!)

New ammo:
Gilbert's Guns, Federal American Eagle 250 round bulk pack (delivered) $115 or $0.46 per round

RM Ammo Bitterroot Valley Ammo Co, 500 rounds (delivered) $200 or $0.40 per round


Bottom line: Reloading costs half per round of new Federal ammo and 58% the cost of new BVAC.

Now if you include labor cost, using $50 per hour, the cost per round looks much different for 1000 rounds.
If you can produce per hour:
100 rds (10 hrs, labor $500, matl $230) total cost $730, cost per round $0.73
200 rds (5 hrs, labor $250, matl $230) total cost $480, cost per round $0.48
250 rds (4 hrs, labor $200, matl $230) total cost $430, cost per round $0.43
300 rds (3.3 hrs, labor $167, matl $230) total cost $397, cost per round $0.40
400 rds (2.5 hrs, labor $125, matl $230) total cost $355, cost per round $0.36
500 rds (2 hrs, labor $100, matl $230) total cost $330, cost per round $0.33

So if you value your time so much that you must include it in the cost of your reloading product you have to be very efficient to achieve the cost of factory ammunition. You have to produce at least 250 rounds an hour to be competitive with factory target/plinking ammo.


Years ago I had a fishing buddy, who on the way to buy a new outboard motor, said "You can't put a price on your fun."

I think I am having fun while I reload and shoot what I load, and I learn from my mistakes. It provides quiet time activity for me when I can shut off all but the task at hand.