Basic value of once fired brass

[eckerph]

???????? I can reload 9mm, .38 special/.357 and 45acp for between $2 and $2.50 a box. Can someone tell me where to buy loaded ammo that cheap. Yes, I do cast my own bullets.

I'm at about $5 a box of 50 but i dont cast my own bullets. The last time i went to Wal-Mart i paid $29 for hundred round win white box(.45 acp). Thats almost 3X the cost of my reloads.

[CSACANNONEER]

heck if you cast your own bullets, that takes it to a whole new level. might as well make your own gunpowder at that point.

I didn't start casting just to save money. I really started casting to ensure a constant and consistant supply. It seemed like every time I needed more bullets, I had to buy a different type from a different manufacturer. Now, I have loads that I like and I don't have to keep changing them. I'll look into making powder and primers if OSHA ever tries to prohibit shipping it again.

[duenor]

I got forced into reloading because of the steel jacket / steel core fire ban.

[ar15barrels]

OK, so here is a better question you guys can help me with. Several people I have talked to have said 9/40/45 arent really worth reloading cause you can get target ammo so cheap. Wal-Mart has cheap ammo, so is it really worth it? Course, to answer my own question I shoot between 1000-4000 rounds a month. The problem is, I have a brand new baby and a wife that doesnt understand my obsessio....er...hobby with guns Even with a progressive loader wont it take hours to load that kind of brass? Unfortunately, I have a little bit more money than time in life right now

I'm reloading 9mm for $62 per 1000.
1000ct component prices as follows:
$20 primers
$37 cast bullets
$5 powder

That's 3.10 a box of 50.
Jacketet bullets could be used and the price comes out to $4.25 a box.
What do they cost at walmart?

I'm reloading 45ACP for $79 per 1000.
1000ct component prices as follows:
$20 primers
$52 cast bullets
$7 powder

That's 3.95 a box of 50.
What do they cost at walmart?

On a Dillon 650, it's expected to load about 800 rounds an hour.
That 4000 rounds a month would take you at least 6-7 hours when you figure in time to sort brass you picked up off the ground and put it into a tumbler to be cleaned before you load.

Only you can decide what your time is worth, but above are some good numbers to see what it would cost you.

The real savings can be had in rifle cartridges.
Price out a box of 30-06 or 308 and the savings are even better.

[Corbin Dallas]

Agreed.

I load 9mm/357SIG/40S&W, all JHP except 357SIG is FMJ FP

My cost ------------------------ Walmart prices

9mm is .07/ea ($3.50/50) ------ (WM price - $9/50, $17/100)
40 is .11/ea ($5.50/50) -------- (WM price - $16/50, $30/100)
357sig is .09/ea ($4.50/50) ---- (WM price - $25/50)

The math is easy!

[Prc329]

I reload. But hey, wife and baby are more important especially around the diaper/feeding time.

I do all my reloading after 9:30pm. Once both the kids are in bed and my wife is reading I hit the garage for some quality time.

[xrMike]

I'm at about $5 a box of 50 but i dont cast my own bullets. The last time i went to Wal-Mart i paid $29 for hundred round win white box(.45 acp). Thats almost 3X the cost of my reloads.

That's about the same savings I'm getting with my .45ACP reloads, using 200gr lead semi-wadcutters.

[sargenv]

I was pricing it by the case from http://www.buyammo.com and it came to about $250/1000 for 45 acp ball ammo shipped to my address in the bay area. Cheaper than WWB, and in the case of the person shooting it, he needed jacketed bullets due to a polygonal rifled barrel in his XD. I think with current prices of jacketed bullets (montana gold) if he loaded it himself the cost was in the range of $170/k. If he got back all his brass, he could sell it (this was Fed Am Eagle) he could potentially recoup about $50/k which would bring total cost down to $.20/round.

If you can cast, well that's great, I currently load Bear creek bullets since I don't have the same issues as my friend with the polygonal rifling issue.

[kstrongsyj]

OK, so you guys got me fired up again about trying reloading.

So, for someone that know absolutely nothing about it, where do I start? Are there any good "kits" to get me going. It sounds like I will have to go progressive, jsut for the type of round I want to do. Videos? How did you all learn?

[sargenv]

Personally, I did by reading as many loading manuals as I could. Speer, Sierra, Hornady, etc. Also it didn't hurt to have a friend who was into it. Best bet is to see if youy can find someone with the equipment and have them teach you. Maybe have you try their setup first and see what you might like. I started years ago with a Rock Chucker since it was all I could afford. My wife saw how much time THAT took and smartly bought me a Dillon 650 since she actually wanted to see me sometime, this was about 10 years ago. I still use my Rock Chucker for small volume things like 308 ammo or working up a small batch load of pistol ammo. You could probably garner a lot of info off this forum. I'd be happy to teach you, but alas, you are a significant distance away from me.

[CSACANNONEER]

Unfortunately, you are too far away for me to show you. Keep this thread going and someone local may step up and offer to help you! Also, you could try your local gun shops. One of them might be able to help you out. I would suggest starting with a Dillon 550.

[ar15barrels]

Due to the auto indexing and powder check capability, I think that the 650 is the best Dillon press to start with.
It's just a better and faster press as well.

[kstrongsyj]

That is kinda what I am looking for. I am not afraid to spend a little extra to get the right press from the start. I want something easy to use, FAST!, and affordable if possible. Any really good DVD's you guys can suggest? I found a million of them of course, but anybody have experience with any? I have learned over the years that reading is not a good way for me to learn something new, I am a visual person...

[ar15barrels]

I would seek out people in your area using whatever press you buy.
Beg, sucker or pay them to come over to your place for an hour and help you set it up and get it going.

Hopefully they are 10 year veterans of reloading and they will have all kinds of little things to teach/show you.

I have 8 Dillon presses and I have 4 setup at all times that I teach on as well as loading my own ammo of course.
If you were in southern california, I would tell you to come on over...

[kstrongsyj]

I appreciate that. Sometime I travel down for work if I do I will look you up.

So I am confusing myself, there are SO many different things out there. Doesnt anyone make a kick *** all inclusive starter kit that has everything?