Plated or non plated brass

[Nick1236]

I was more wondering what you factored into your equation.
For my math I just do powder, primer and bullet.

When I add a new caliber I factor in the costs for new dies, shell plates, case gauge and any other equipment plus brass to get a total for my first thousand rounds, after that I just factor, powder, primer and bullets.

I only did the math for the FIRST 1000 rnds. After that, it gets cheaper no doubt.

[tujungatoes]

$119.00/k FMJ bullets from precision delta
$18.86/k Power pistol @ 6.0grn
$21.00/k Win LPP
---------
$158.86/k = $0.15(8)EA. lets say you buy brass at $70/k thats still only $0.23EA for the first 1K.

Don't add in any tooling. You own that stuff, it should not be considered consumable.

[Fishslayer]

Can you show your math please mines cheaper...

Using new .45ACP brass = .40/round.

I don't bother figuring because I use used brass that costs between dirt cheap and free.

I got into reloading not only because of the $$$ savings but also reloading assures me I will HAVE ammo. I got back into guns about November '08 (imagine that. ) and at that time finding handgun ammo was an iffy proposition and $1/round for .45ACP wasn't unusual to see.

Edit: Where are you finding new .45ACP brass at $70/K? What is it? AMERC?

[tujungatoes]

Edit: Where are you finding new .45ACP brass at $70/K? What is it? AMERC?

I wasn't thinking new. just kind of ballparking some once fired.

But $0.40/k is still high. even with new starline brass it'd only be $0.30/k

[Nick1236]

the cheapest brass I found was at brassman. $61.50/500 once fired.

where are you getting $70/k?

[AIMSMALL]

the cheapest brass I found was at brassman. $61.50/500 once fired.

where are you getting $70/k?

gunbroker.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=211189040 1000 pieces with buy it now of $90 free shipping

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=211866913 3000 pieces with buy it now $155 + $20 SHIPPING

There's lots more on there too, you just have to look and be patient.

[uscbigdawg]

There's zero significant difference between nickel and regular brass cases. Loading 38 Super at 172 power factor (and having back in the day loaded it at 178 power factor), will tell you that one didn't last longer than another. Both would have primer pockets get loose before the case mouth split.

On the brass, just keep your eyes open and you don't have to factor in the price of the brass in your per round price as it's a renewable item. At average power 45, you can figure you're going to get more loads than the brass is worth out of it since generally most folks are loading low/medium pressure plinker rounds.

Rich

[bumpo628]

Powdervalleyinc.com has once fired mixed headstamp brass at $68 / K

[HighLander51]

At a range a while back I ran into a guy that told me he didn't reload nickel plated brass as it wore out his sizing die.?

Nickel is harder than carbide? Where did that come from...

For practice shooting, what we call ghetto ammo, it makes absolutely no difference. If you have to pay for brass, try to get once fired. Mixed head stamps are fine.

[AIMSMALL]

I really prefer matching headstamps, primer pockets do vary from my experiance and I've found that when setting up to prime mixing headstamps can cause primers to be seated shallow, or too much which can cause damage to the primer.

I would seperate headstamps and reload all of one brand then switch to the next brand and adjust my equipment.