Getting into reloading

[asm_]

Since you ask for the cost of 5.56... Here you go.

Brass - Free, you just have to spend time pick them up at the range.
Powder - $72 for 1000 rounds (assuming you load 26g per round with powder at $19/lb)
Bullets - $120 for 1000 rounds (assuming you load 55g bullet)
Primers - $37 for 1000 rounds (small rifle primer)

$72 + $120 + $37 = $229 for components only.

By the way, the price quoted above is current best price component. You are not likely to find those prices in your LGS. Buy online and buy in large batch to save haz. mat fee.

Of course, there is cost of the equipment. You can spend from few hundred dollars (Lee) to $800 plus with Hornady or Dillon where sky is the limit. They are all automated to a certain degree. What you are paying more is the reliability and after sales customer service.

Don't forget other support equipments such as tumbler, media sorter and for rifle round, case trimmer, deburr etc.... They can add another few hundred dollars easily.

I say for 223, you'll likely be looking at at least 6500 rounds before breaking even, assuming the price of factory ammo continue to be at $500 per 100 and if your initiate equipment cost is around $1500.

[noplay6978]

After you spend gobs of money on every little must have component (dies, shell holders, hand primer, primer pocket cleaner, tumbler and media, chamfer and deburr tools, case trimmer, scale, measuring devices, funnels, reloading books, bullet puller, reloading blocks and double disk for lee powder dispenser, it does get cheaper to make bullets, but you get to tailor your bullets to you and your gun, instead of taking whatever walmart has left on their shelves. If your goal is to make 1000 custom bullets, you can and its terribly addicticting.

[Solus]

the more you spend the cheaper itll get in the long run. thats all i can say... For instance I now cast my own boolits and get free or close to free boolits. So that also lowers the cost of reloading.

[msand951]

Heres to get you started check natchezz.com to see if in stock. Get a turret press kit. look up youtube videos on this press.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/622290/lee-4-hole-turret-press-with-auto-index-value-kit

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/776391/lee-deluxe-3-die-set-223-remington

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/107333/lee-case-length-gage-and-shellholder-223-remington?cm_vc=sugv1776391

calipers from harbor freight. Buy little at a time it will build up from there . you just have to start. I started just doing 38 super on a single press. I have a progressive press now and also due 9mm, 38super, 45, 38, 357, 3006, 3030, 223, and cast for most of those . But for know start with reloading first , casting is another hobbie.
feel free to mod this list guys if i missed something. I did it with budget in mind.

[Enfield47]

T-800, check out one of the reloading clinics to see if reloading is for you. If it is, you will have a new habit, uh I mean hobby to spend your paychecks on.

I'm new to reloading and just loaded my first rounds last Sunday at the OC reloading clinic. It was a great experience to be able to learn firsthand how the equipment works and how to use it. Books and videos are great but they can't replace hands on knowledge and oversight by others with reloading experience. Pick up the book The ABCs of reloading to get a feel for what is involved in time and expense. The best part about reloading is knowing that you are making better ammo than factory made stuff for less money (not counting your time and initial investment).

[ricemanff]

T800 where are you located? Even tho the prices are elevated you can still save a little money reloading. More importantly you will have control of the product you are shooting. Good luck in your decision. I'd recommend a Dillon just my 2 cents. I have a 550 and 650 I think the 550 is a little easier to set up.

[stilly]

Depends on how much you have to pay for components. With the components I have in my garage that I bought a couple years ago I reload 556 for around 23cents per round. I suspect from all the posts around here components are harder to find today than a couple years ago and probably a bit more expensive. The rule of thumb use to be that you can reload for about half the price of Walmart ammo.

A $100 single stage press will produce 50 rounds an hour.
A $150 turret will produce 150 rounds an hour.
A $500-$600 Dillon will produce 400-600 rounds an hour.

The Lee Classic Turret is the best bang for the buck press. Especially for 223/556.

There are no restrictions on ordering powder but if you live in an apartment or any ther type of attached home there are limits on how much powder you can store. But it's like 20 pounds, which would load approximately 6k rounds of 556.

For a complete Lee Classic Turret set up for 556 with everything you'll need you're looking at around $200-$250 for the equipment.

Hope that helps.
Any other questions just ask.

+1

+
Oh no! not another one of these threads that has sucked me in!

I was at ammo bros (15 fwy) today and they had blue dot for $30 a bottle (YIKES!), international clays, lil gun and something else, long range or something and reloader 17, then they had an 8lb bottle of something, Vivavitouri 20nC3PO (green top) or something for like $229 and 4lb bottles of LILGUN for $99.

Lee Classic Turret rules!

[Bumslie]

Stilly. I can't wait til the next ie reloading class to meet your nutty ***

[msand951]

A clinic would have been great when I started. If there is one near you go for it. When I started, I learned the basics from a book and step by step by the die set-setups. Its not hard . Wish Youtube exsisted back then too.
here some videos.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lee+turret+press+223&oq=lee+turret&gs_l=youtube.1.3.0l10.10492.13240.0.17164.10.8.0.2.2.0.122.802.6j2.8.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.F8_Ii4RAKyg

I agree with dillon they are the best in my opinion but cost $$$$.

[rm1911]

I bought my dillon square deal b over 20 years ago. I can't even tell you what I paid then. In fact it was before the whole Internet thing and I remember actually calling them. Anyway point is it still spits out rounds like a machine. Last couple of days I cranked out over 1200 9mm and about 1000 45. So if you're worried about the hardware price if you buy good stuff it'll last you a lifetime. Figure you'll be reloading on it 20 years from now and then another 20. And then another ...

If you're thinking "gee ammo prices suck I better start reloading" then you're on the wrong path. And now is a sucky time to start since you will be trying to load on whatever is available rather than working up different loads and what not to fit your needs. It's art and skill. Crafting good ammo takes time.

Reload to get more intimate and in tune with your guns. Reload to have much wider variety and availability. Reload because despite the panic components are more accessible than ammo. Reload because its another fun and enjoyable part of our sport. If you shoot alot or want to shoot more yes reloading does save a lot of money. But my presses are also peace of mind and kind of an insurance policy.

[Divernhunter]

No I never asked those questions. I wanted to reload so I could shoot more. I started in the early 1960s as a kid.
I have also found over the years when someone starts reloading and is only concerned in costs and how much will I save that they usually do not last at it.
I am just trying to save a person the trouble of getting the stuff, especially now, then trying to sell it later and loosing money.
Bottom line is you will never save any money reloading. Your spread sheets are crap because at the end of the year, each year, you will spend as much or more total dollars reloading. Yes you will shoot more and maybe cartridges you would not have if you did not reload. However you totel cash spent will be as much and usually more than if you did not reload.
Do NOT get into reloading to save money and if you need to know the per cartridge costs before you atart you probably will be better off not reloading. Many years of reloading and working with others about reloading has taught me this. Say what you want but that is a cold hard fact.

[Germz]

I was think about trying my hand at reloading considering the price of ammo. Couple questions i had:

What would be the approximate price per round made of 5.56?
What is the best low priced automated as possible machine?
Is there restrictions on ordering powder?

Thanks for your help.

[uhlan1]

I make 9mm for about .16-18 a round, depending on which bullet, primer and etc. Free brass. But I haven't saved a dime. I shoot more. I have to have every manual out there. This doo-dad and that doo-dad. I get free brass, have tons of .380, .38, .357 brass. I principally shoot 9, .40 and .45. Only have my wife's Bersa .380 which I don't care for so I ordered .380 dies and am looking for a Sig or Walther in .380. Have buckets of .38/.357 brass so I got dies for that. I don't even own a .38/.357. Now I'm looking for one of those as well. Heck,I don't even particularly like revolvers. And I need to buy boolits.

I didn't get into reloading to save on round cost, I can afford the ammo. I'm still sitting on 15k factory (no it is not for sale. heresy! heresy!) Principally got into it as a buffer against scarcity in panics and as a hedge against the lunacy of Sacramento.

Reloading can be frustrating and has a long learning curve (I'm kinda stoopid).
Made some .40 S&W ladders yesterday and took them out. Disappointing and have to figure out why (recoil spring on CZ TS I suspect, on the low end).

Unless you shoot a whole lot, which I do, getting into reloading to save money is a mistake. Panics end and you'll never recoup your investment.
But, if you shoot a lot, if you want to make ammo more accurate than anything a factory produces, if you can enjoy it as much as shooting, it's the way to go.
If it is a chore, a believed necessary evil, don't do it. have to have the "bug" for it. I don't reload for what I need to shoot, I really enjoy reloading and am sitting on a 25k surplus just in what I have made. I spend more time reloading than I shoot and, like I said, I shoot a lot.
I'd sell the TV's for more components but the wife would shoot me.

[Sennasixty8]

Uhlan1 is spot on, again!

[Mtn folk]

I was just looking at my bench. The press was the cheap part! :-)