cost of reloading, is it worth it?

[neomentat]

I'm trying to figure out the cost of reloading ammo since prices has been sky rocketing lately with no end in sight.

I shoot .45acp, .40s&w for my handguns and generally buy reloaded ammo at the cost of $85 per 500 rnds of .40S&W 155gr TMJ reloads and $110 for 500 rounds of .45acp 230gr TMJ reloads.

How much will it cost me to handload the same amount of ammo for each caliber if I'm also buying used brass? How many times can a brass case be reloaded? and how much minimal initial investment I will need to make for reloading gear to get started?

I have no experience in handloading ammo what so ever, please help me decide on going the route of handloading or no. I shoot about 2k rounds of .40 S&W, 1k rounds of .45acp, few hundred each of .223 & .308 as well as 1k rounds of 12 gauge for skeets per year. i wonder if reloading tools is a good investment based on my low yearly volume.

[ar15robert]

It will pay off soon i load for .223,30-30.300wm,and .45 acp.For the rifles i use a rockchucker kit it is not as fast but i can inspect at every stage as well as have every round consistent.I use to do my handgun rounds but went with a dillion square deal kit for .45 it is alot faster for sure but its only a 1 caliber deal.it cost me about 100 bucks to do 1000 rounds of .45 a couple of years ago might be a lil more depending on cost of the bullets i use the westcoast brans 200grn swc.

as for rifle .223 use to run me about 105-110 per 1000 rounds for 62fmjbt(ss109) buying bulk components.that was a few years ago when i bought the components too i use 69 sierra match kings for my ar so its more i used the ss109 for plinking but have bought some 55fmjs in smaller quanitys in the past couple years

buying in bulk is where you can save.I have plenty of brass also from friends i shoot with who dont reload been doing so for almost 10 years but i use to shoot alot back than so it paid off really fast for me and able to make a good load for each gun i have

[PistolPete75]

dl550 is the way to go for you if you decide to reload. however, if your only shooting your stated amount, i wouldn't spend the time and money into reloading. if you want to shoot more, i say yes!!!

[SVRider]

Cost is one issue....In the end, plan on spending about the same, but doing a lot more shooting for the money.

I look at it as a part of the whole shooting experience....hand crafting and tailoring your own ammo.

....good thing to do at home when you want to just forget about everything else...sit down at the reloading bench and forget about the day.

If you don't have lots of spare time though, it might be better to just bite the bullet (as it were) and buy factory loaded ammo.....just depends on where your priorities are and how much time you can spend shooting and loading...

[TMC]

I'm with PistolPete75, with your amount of shooting just buy it. If you were shooting that amount per month (there are allot of folks who do) then you need to reload.

[PLINK]

I say start saving up for reloading. With these ammo prices you will probably start shoting less and that is not good.

I reload .45 ACP and .40 S&W at about $5.50 a box. I use BC moly bullets and Tite Group for .40. I use BC moly bullets and Clays Universal for .45 ACP. The brass was range pick up or ebay (they don't let you sell/ buy brass anymore).

I am going to start looking into .308 and .223.

Being able to tune your loads and make ammo when ever you want = Priceless.

For everything else there is Wally World.

[ar15barrels]

The general rule is that for high volume cartridges like 223/308/9mm, you can load for about half the price of the cheapest new ammo if you save your brass or pickup other people's brass at the range.

Less common cartridges like the magnums or even common rifle catridges will be considerably less expensive to reload than the price of new ammo.

In the end, you will not save ANY money by reloading, but you will shoot at least twice as much, if not more for the same money.

That's the reality of it.

Starting out right is expensive, but pays dividends for years to come.

[Fjold]

Straight wall pistol cases will last a long time as long as you don't over work the brass when belling it to seat bullets. I've got 45 ACP that has probably been reloaded 50 times. I'm still shooting from a crate of brass that I got for free in the early 80s.

You don't save any money because you shoot a lot more and you find all the neat new reloading equipment to buy.

I have four turret presses set up for reloading and a brand new Dillon 550 waiting to be set up.

[bohoki]

i reload 45 and 30 carbine

the stuff you have to buy after you have your equipment

primers i pay $2.50 per 100
powder its about $20 per 1000 rounds
bullets this is the apples and oranges time
if i bought fmj they cost $60 per 500 or moly lead for $30per 500 for 45acp
i only use fmj stuff from wideners for my carbine and its $60 per 1000

brass well its called reloading for a reason

when factoring in everything reloading 45s cost me either $5 or 7 a box of 50
the 30 carbine about $6 a box of 50

but when you buy loaded ammo you can subtract a bit of the cost knowing you are getting once fired brass and the potential for factory warranty coverage
there also is your time you have to value such as scrounging your far flung brass inspection

so many variables to consider to me its worth it also its a hobby and mentally relaxing

i came around to reloading when my 30 carbine went more than $10 a box
and i regret not picking up my carbine brass

i'm starting to regret not picking up all my 308 brass now but i got a bit of australian surplus left

and i'm regretting every day not buying more talon 50 bmg

[50ae]

Brass can be free if you know where to get it. Find somebody going through a police academy and see if they can get a few buckets of brass for you. As far as projectiles go, you could make your own for rather cheap. When your that far into the game then it is nearly free to go shooting.

[sargenv]

These days it is pretty much cheaper to buy rather than reload shotshells. With a bag of shot going for over $30 these days, it's just not really worth it unless you need something specific that no one loads, and that's kind of a rare occasion. I have all the tooling and a supply of shot that I picked up before the price increases, and with time lacking these days, it's easier to go buy a case of Rio's or walmart Federals for $35-$40/250.

As for the rest, I think most everyone else has it covered pretty well. I'll burn 80-100 rounds of 308 in a match, so reloading is the only thing keeping me happy.

[Fjold]

You can make high quality ammunition that is more accurate in your rifle cheaper than you can buy it. To me, that's worth it.

[Novadesigns]

I save a ton reloading. AND I can shoot more for less money too, especially at today's prices.

I can load highly accurate 185gr SWC 45ACP ammo for around 9-cents around. Compare that with 32-cents a round for low-grade WWB ball ammo at WallyWorld.

[T-Bear]

3 Hours of my time and I have 3,500 rounds finished for .40S&W, .45ACP, .38Special.
Cost of .45:
3.18 per 50
63.00 per thousand

Cost of .40:
2.74 per 50rds
54.80 per Thousand

This is what I have been paying for my rounds, Now the cost of 45ACP will go down even more, since I step into the casting ring.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

What's your secret?? That's almost 1200rnds an HOUR!!! Best I can do is 700-750rnds an hour of 45acp......