relaoding cost of .223

[rbahri5206]

so i was doing the math on reloading .223 and its comming up almost the same as buying it am i doing something wrong in my math, im getting about $11.00 per 50

[Full Clip]

If you're trying to make "cheap" ammo, you're kinda defeating the purpose of reloading: You're making much better ammo for the price of cheap ammo.

[rbahri5206]

If you're trying to make "cheap" ammo, you're kinda defeating the purpose of reloading: You're making much better ammo for the price of cheap ammo.

yes thats true i did not think of it that way, im not gonna be shooting wolf ammo, great point

[drifter2be]

If you're trying to make "cheap" ammo, you're kinda defeating the purpose of reloading: You're making much better ammo for the price of cheap ammo.

I call BS. I know plenty of people that reload for the sole purpose of cheap ammo, myself included.

To the OP, you need to shop around for components. I can load 62gr FMJ .223 for about $0.15 per round, which is almost half the price per box of 20 of steel cased tulammo at walmart. I can make .45 for $6.50 per box of 50, and .380acp for $6 per box of 50.

On the flip side I can make defensive loads using good hollow point bullets for about 1/4 the cost of off the shelf ammunition using the exact same bullets.

ETA, I can get 8lbs of WC844 powder for $92.50 shipped, a box of 1000 primers for $27 with tax, and 1000 55 or 62gr FMJ bullets for $85 shipped. I don't count the cost of brass in my total because the cost of the brass is split between a dozen loadings which brings it down to under a cent per time I reload.

[damndave]

Are you going to be making plinking or match ammo?

Shop around and buy in bulk. You will be looking around a 50% savings from commercial ammo if not more.

[the86d]

I reload 55 grain for about $0.109/each, M855 for about $0.16/each.

I could save more if I could buy in larger QTYs.

[ejhc11]

I know my ammo is consistent, accurate to 1/2" moa, and cheaper than if I could buy it at any store. 75gr Hornady BTHP, Varget, and WSR primers. Its custom tailored to your gun and your shooting style which makes it priceless but at lower cost than factory ammo.

[XDRoX]

I quick reloading 223 and just buy it now.

For me it was no fun because it takes so damn long to process the brass. I typically like to buy quality components, not the cheapest stuff I can find. So like you I was spending about 22cents a round to reload it. When I can buy the stuff for under 25cents a round online shipped to my house. So loading 223 got old real fast.

Not to mention the brass cracks in like 6 reloads. I have pistol brass that I've loaded 60 times and it's still reloadable.

People that relaod 223 either have a lot more time than me, or are loading bench rest target rounds. I only plink with 223, so for me it's not worth it to reload.

[XDRoX]

I do remember having reloading parties in my garage a few years back. El_Nino619 would bring over his two brothers and his nephew. So including me there were 5 guys loading in my garage. One guy was on the trimmer (we used a drill press), one guy chamfered and deburred (one of those RCBS stations), one guy swaging (on a single stage), one guy loading (on a progressive), and one guy watching for quality control and just helping things move smoothly.

Those were fun nights. We'd load a ton of rounds. IMO that's the only fun way to load 223.

[the86d]

If you get factory seconds for blasting ammo, and other stuff for accuracy, you can still have 2x the ammo thugs will if SHTF, for half the price...

When Obama's looney economic strategy dig us deeper, I will worry, but it is cheaper to stock up on components than to buy factory (once you have the press), and LC range brass is free...

I go QTY 1st (for now), THEN quality second.

[HKMadness]

I'm in the same boat as Chris. I started reloading with .223, but I honestly haven't loaded any in about 6 months, before that, a couple of years. I got thousands of 9mm, .45, .38, and .357 cause they are a breeze to reload, but .223 just isn't worth the effort in MY case, ymmv. I just buy the ae stuff at wm, I don't even really shoot my ar any more, as I prefer my ak, I feed it the yugo stuff.

I sold 3k 55 grain bullets in the market place, i have about 200 sr primers, and about 800 .223 cases in my garage. No powder, don't know when I'll ever do .223 again.

[morrow]

Reloading cases that stretch (mostly rifle) is a world of difference from reloading cases that don't stretch (mostly pistol) due to the several 'layers' of brass processing required. Without the right tools this can be a very time consuming chore. 223 stretches but it's also probably the cheapest necked cartridge you can buy, so you don't save as much loading on that than you do say 30-06.

You need to weigh if buying supplies in bulk + processing brass is worth it to you or not, to not save all that much on 223. I personally have tools to make brass processing quick, so I reloading 223. Couldn't imagine doing it without, though.

[em9sredbeam]

I call BS. I know plenty of people that reload for the sole purpose of cheap ammo, myself included.

To the OP, you need to shop around for components. I can load 62gr FMJ .223 for about $0.15 per round, which is almost half the price per box of 20 of steel cased tulammo at walmart. I can make .45 for $6.50 per box of 50, and .380acp for $6 per box of 50.

On the flip side I can make defensive loads using good hollow point bullets for about 1/4 the cost of off the shelf ammunition using the exact same bullets.

ETA, I can get 8lbs of WC844 powder for $92.50 shipped, a box of 1000 primers for $27 with tax, and 1000 55 or 62gr FMJ bullets for $85 shipped. I don't count the cost of brass in my total because the cost of the brass is split between a dozen loadings which brings it down to under a cent per time I reload.

Where are you getting your bullets from? I am looking at getting into .223, but not sure where to order bullets from.

[AAShooter]

. . .I personally have tools to make brass processing quick, so I reloading 223. Couldn't imagine doing it without, though.

How did you get setup to make brass processing quick? I would be interested in what you did.

[XDRoX]

How did you get setup to make brass processing quick? I would be interested in what you did.

This is a start. It's a Dillon case trimmer.