Buy brass or complete ammo?
- Thread starter gfpd707
- Start date
- Status
jwrowland77
Member
Well, when I bought my new .308, a factory round has never been inside the chamber. I vote for buy brass and reload.
When I buy a new firearm that is chambered for a cartridge that I do not load yet, I usually buy some factory ammunition.
In part, it is to get brass, but I also like to run factory ammunition over the chronograph for a base line.
But, by far, most of my cases come from new or once fired sources.
In part, it is to get brass, but I also like to run factory ammunition over the chronograph for a base line.
But, by far, most of my cases come from new or once fired sources.
Blue68f100
Member
I've done it both ways. It all gets down to what I can find the factory ammo for. If you can get it for a good price that makes the brass cost cheaper go that way. Other wise just buy the brass.
Lost Sheep
Member
I buy loaded ammo
I buy loaded ammo to get my brass. It gives me a head start on the whole load-shoot-load-shot cycle.
I suppose if you were VERY concerned about brass quality you might try to find a brass supply that was more precisely manufactured than what is used for factory ammo, but other than that, I know of no reason.
I once did a calculation to figure out the monetary equivalent value of virgin brass, purchasing once-fired brass or buying factory ammo in order to get reloadable brass. The differences were negligible.
Lost Sheep
I buy loaded ammo to get my brass. It gives me a head start on the whole load-shoot-load-shot cycle.
I suppose if you were VERY concerned about brass quality you might try to find a brass supply that was more precisely manufactured than what is used for factory ammo, but other than that, I know of no reason.
I once did a calculation to figure out the monetary equivalent value of virgin brass, purchasing once-fired brass or buying factory ammo in order to get reloadable brass. The differences were negligible.
Lost Sheep
gonoles_1980
Member
357 brass is hard to find at a reasonable price right now...
if you're in need of brass, buy cheap factory, just make sure you don't get aluminum.
if you're in need of brass, buy cheap factory, just make sure you don't get aluminum.
Toprudder
Member
I was under the same situation with my GP100. I have been reloading 38spl for it, since 357 brass has been hard to find. I shot some factory ammo to get started. About a year ago, I signed up on Midway to be notified when Starline 357 brass was in stock. It finally happened a couple of weeks ago, I was able to order 500, at $0.17 each. Within minutes, they were out of stock again.
One place where you can buy once fired 357 brass is Diamond K. It costs more than what I just paid for new brass, though.
One place where you can buy once fired 357 brass is Diamond K. It costs more than what I just paid for new brass, though.
moxie
Member
I like to start out with at least one box of ammo. I like to check it over the chrony, check OAL and neck OD. Good data to have. If it's crimped ammo, like the .357, I like to get a good visual on the crimp.
I have done both. If I am somewhere and have to buy ammo, I get something reloadable. With 9mm, before I had a lot of brass on hand I used a rule...If I could buy ammo like Winchester White box at Walmart, it was 23.99 for 100. Well, they sell their new brass for around 21.99 a hundred, hardly any different
pricewise. Now I have so much brass I dont buy ammo unless I am somewhere I have to. Used once fired brass is way reasonable, and once you have several thousand, you are good. Once in a while I will buy a thousand Starline brass in calibers I load, and so forth.
If you are just starting out, always save your brass, and the brass of your friends who dont reload. Buy a couple of thousand once fired, throw in your own saved brass, buy a thousand here and there to add in, before you know it you will have plenty.
russellc
pricewise. Now I have so much brass I dont buy ammo unless I am somewhere I have to. Used once fired brass is way reasonable, and once you have several thousand, you are good. Once in a while I will buy a thousand Starline brass in calibers I load, and so forth.
If you are just starting out, always save your brass, and the brass of your friends who dont reload. Buy a couple of thousand once fired, throw in your own saved brass, buy a thousand here and there to add in, before you know it you will have plenty.
russellc
Grumulkin
Member
I recently aquired a barrel for which loaded ammo is cheaper than empty new brass so, I bought loaded ammo.
GBExpat
Member
I am usually guided by price of ammo available vs components cost.
THe Dove
BOOMER SOONER!!!
I too have done both, but I prefer to roll my own from the start. I hate buying factory ammo.
The Dove
The Dove
Just go buy yourself factory ammo and get a free round out of it. Just make sure you buy the same kind if you're that worried about any variances, but, in a straight wall case, there really isn't any.
If this were for a bolt-action gun built and setup for long range, then I would suggest you buy fresh brass. That's about the only situation where I see the point. In fact, my buddy gave me siht for trimming my .357 brass after I fired it once from the factory.
Watch out, you can waste a lot of time and money trying to get too much out of reloading, just my .02
-Robb
If this were for a bolt-action gun built and setup for long range, then I would suggest you buy fresh brass. That's about the only situation where I see the point. In fact, my buddy gave me siht for trimming my .357 brass after I fired it once from the factory.
Watch out, you can waste a lot of time and money trying to get too much out of reloading, just my .02
-Robb
splattergun
Member
If I have not already collected the brass from the range, or if I can't find any brass at the range or to buy, When I buy a new-to-me caliber I will buy loaded ammo, mostly for the brass, but also to get a feel for 'standard' loads. Otherwise, I prefer to shoot my own.
See this thread. Not gonna find to much 357 Mag brass laying around the ranges. It's expensive to buy loaded ammo. Try some o the Amazon for new Starline brass. If not available try for some once fired brass.
When ammo was cheap I would buy a few boxes of loaded ammo but those days are gone.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=767911
When ammo was cheap I would buy a few boxes of loaded ammo but those days are gone.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=767911
I buy brass in bulk on gunbroker.com. I buy 500-1000 cases at a time. 357 ammo isn't that hard to find once fired. Lots of ranges sell the brass. I sometimes ask the guys shooting in the bay's around me if I can collect the brass. I bet last trip I got 150 each of 9mm 38 special 357 and 45acp
ColtPythonElite
Member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2011
- Messages
- 10,475
I have bought exactly one box of factory .357 in 25 years of .357 shooting. I still have 5 rounds from that box. I got some of my brass as range pickup, but finally had to buy some used brass to get the supply amount I wanted.
I have never bought factory .44 ammo and probably haven't found a dozen pieces of brass on the ground at the range. Even buying it used was tough. A few years ago, I bite the bullet and ordered 1k pieces from Starline. I am glad I did.
I have never bought factory .44 ammo and probably haven't found a dozen pieces of brass on the ground at the range. Even buying it used was tough. A few years ago, I bite the bullet and ordered 1k pieces from Starline. I am glad I did.
32_d3gr33s
Member
when i started reloading for 9mm, i bought 1000 rounds of factory ammo so that i could use the cases. I still have 900 rounds left of factory from when i bought it 2 years ago. i vote just buy brass...
I was recently searching for .300wm brass. Not much available and what I could find started at $90/100 and up. I found a sale on Win Power Point ammo at $85/100, so I bought the ammo. Now I have to decide whether to pull the 150gr bullets and reload or just shot them and load.
The great benefit in a revolver is the ease of recovering your fired brass. No chasing it all over the range, just dump the cylinder into a box or range bag. Buy a couple boxes of WWB or other lower cost .357 ammo and you'll have a ready supply of brass while searching online for more once-fired and range scrounging.
Which results in it being a bad caliber to shoot if you rely on range brass, and vice versa. Easy to lose auto cases, but easy to find, easy to hang onto revolver cases, but you don't find as many.
Funny how that works.
That and the fact there is a lot more 9MM, .40, and .45 shot than most revolver calibers.
Funny how that works.
That and the fact there is a lot more 9MM, .40, and .45 shot than most revolver calibers.
Sunray
Member
How do you get a free round out of buying factory? Just curious.
Try the gun shows for brass. Assuming there are any near you.
Range pickup brass is a gigantic gamble. You have no idea what has been done to that brass, how it was loaded or anything else about it.
Try the gun shows for brass. Assuming there are any near you.
Range pickup brass is a gigantic gamble. You have no idea what has been done to that brass, how it was loaded or anything else about it.
- Status
Similar threads
