Final cost on 223 ammo

[johncmng]

I am thinking about reload my own ammo and want to know what is the total cost to doing your own? How much can I save on a 223? Is it worth the investment when I'm going to be shooting 100 per month? My reference on price is the PMC for $0.30

Thanks in advance

[joelogic]

Its not, shoot Wolf.

[rumblebee]

reloading for 100 per month? You may break even in about 50 years or you'll end up shooting more!

[Black Majik]

I just loaded some .223 with Hornady V-MAX 50gr, which would give me sub .5 MOA groups at 100 yards.

Breakdown of cost is:
.17 Hornady VMAX 50gr
.03 Federal 210 primer
.08 Varget 26.8gr

This is with picking up brass, so that is free. $0.27 a shot, but it is ridiculously accurate. While I don't save much, it's nice to know you're shooting match grade ammo for cheaper.

[rsrocket1]

Reloading cost calculator

At 1200/year, probably about 2 years to recoup your cost. Here's a quick and dirty calculation assuming a $100 Lee Breechlock Challenger Kit and about $100 in dies, and other accessories.
If it's inappropriate to share a screenshot of this, please let me know and I will take it down.

[grant22]

The savings is inarguably there, it's just that .223 (rifle rounds in general) require a lot more steps and therefore lots of time. So the question will be, is the time spent making these rounds worth the savings.

I believe your $ 0.30 per round of PMC is on the low side. I think more typically they are in the $0.35 area.

I'm currently making really strong plinker rounds that also double as ok precision rounds for $0.21 per round (first reload) and $0.15 per round thereafter (since the case cost .06 each).

My recipe/components:

LC once fired @ $0.06 ea (if you already have cases, it's even cheaper)
H335 powder @ $0.04 ea
CCI Primers @ $0.03 ea
Hornady 55gr @ $0.08 ea

Obviously the cost of .223 reloading equipment varies by brand and method and has to be factored in, also.

Basically, I have the time and am glad I reload .223. It costs less, is pretty accurate, is fun to make, my gun is cleaner after operating, and I am independent of what the ammo market is doing (as far as cost of commercial ammo).

[FashionBiff]

My view is to reload for the enjoyment of it. I used to load my shotgun shells because 8-12 boxes a week was very spendy. I enjoyed it, it gave me time to focus on something besides work and other stuff. Do it to give yourself the satisfaction of doing it, do not get hung up on cost (unless your trying to buy lead in California) and do it because it gives you something else to enjoy that is firearms related. Just my opinion, try it you may love it.

[Ukiahgunnut]

My view is to reload for the enjoyment of it. ... I enjoyed it, it gave me time to focus on something besides work and other stuff. Do it to give yourself the satisfaction of doing it, do not get hung up on cost (unless your trying to buy lead in California) and do it because it gives you something else to enjoy that is firearms related. Just my opinion, try it you may love it.

I totally agree with this post. Enjoyment and a new challenge are the reasons I reload. Savings depends on all sorts of factors and not a simple 21 cents per round, or whatever. I take on challenges like reloading for the enjoyment of it and not the $$ savings.

UGN

[Maltese Falcon]

I totally agree with this post. Enjoyment and a new challenge are the reasons I reload. Savings depends on all sorts of factors and not a simple 21 cents per round, or whatever. I take on challenges like reloading for the enjoyment of it and not the $$ savings.

UGN

Me three... I just started the reloading biz after many years of shooting and stockpiling ammo.

Kind of like the difference between having sex and making love.

Cost I assume will recover over the initial tears.

.

[XDRoX]

It doesn't make sense from a monetary standpoint to load 223 for plinking. Same with 762x39.

[mike51392]

It doesn't make sense from a monetary standpoint to load 223 for plinking. Same with 762x39.

what he said - if you reload heavier match type ammo (match projectiles proper case prep) then you really see the savings - if your reloading cheap plinking ammo (cheap projectiles ,as long as it goes bang preping) save time and money shoot wolf

[Lead Waster]

reloading equipment tends to be a time/money tradeoff. There is lots of equipment to make things faster, not all worth it of course, but it's available but expensive.

For instance, brass trimmers can be expensive. Some tools can be chucked into a drill press (if you have one) or done by hand. The more elbow grease you use, the cheaper it will be and the longer it will take (and be more tedious).

At the lowest most labour intensive level are the Lee Loaders that you smack with a hammer, and at the top end are the progressives. Middle ground are single stage presses and turret presses.

So you can load .223 really cheap if you don't mind spending 2 minutes to make a single round with a hammer!

I bought my reloading stuff when I was single, so I bought medium level stuff (Dillon 550B, rockchucker) that is sunk cost and I don't even factor equipment cost in anymore.

The longer you do it for, the cheaper it is.

Just keep ALL your brass, and scrouge brass too. If that guy next to you is just going to dump his brass...why don't you ask for it! Boom, you've just saved yourself a couple of bucks!

[paul0660]

require a lot more steps

I know nothing about reloading. What are the extra steps rifle vs. pistol, and does it have to do with stepped casings (like .357 sig and 7.62 tok)?

[gottarollwithit]

Keep in mind, steel cased Wolf ammo can be hard on your hardware. The stuff is cheap though!

Yea, you can recoup your initial reloading start up costs. You'll do so faster if you buy used reloading tools and surplus components. For a hundred rounds/month that you're just gonna be plinking with, you could get away with a couple hundred bucks in Lee stuff and a pair of digital calipers from Harbor Freight.

Don't reload for the money. The time that you invest in the hobby is worth something as well... Reload because you'll be able to produce handoads, hunting loads, precision rifle stuff, etc. While it can be repetitious, it's a pretty cool hobby.

Also keep in mind, if you reload for 223, you'll likely find yourself reloading for other calibers in the future. Now that i roll my own, i don't really care anymore about frivolously burning ammo or letting others squeeze off a few mags.

[Cowboy T]

I reload both for the money and for the better ammo. It's a double-win.

That Wolf/Tulammo .223 with the steel case won't hurt your gun one bit. Seriously. A buddy who owns a Mini-14 has been regularly shooting Tiger .223 (steel cased, Eastern European) in his gun for the last 11 years--basically, ever since he's owned it. No problems.

I'd steer clear of anything lacquer-cased, like Brown Bear. You don't want the lacquer melting off the case in your rather warm chamber and gumming up the works. Doesn't "hurt" anything, but you'll need to clean your gun more often to avoid jams, *especially* with AR-15's. Mini-14's are somewhat more tolerant of this, at the expense of some potential for precision.