Economics of Reloading

[jmorris]

Less than I have spent on guns but a correct answer would probably even scare me.

That said, I could sell every press I have for more than they cost me new before I used them for decades.

The two these we bought 39 years ago.



Even after loading hundreds of thousands rounds, are worth more today than they ever have been. Put an SD in the "for sale" forums for $140 and it wouldn't last long.



Thanks to that lifetime warranty, my old one is just as good as a much younger one and stay running like new with the ongoing support.

I really don't worry much about equipment costs because those can be recovered and then some, when I want to stop.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Less than I have spent on guns but a correct answer would probably even scare me.

That said, I could sell every press I have for more than they cost me new before I used them for decades.

The two these we bought 39 years ago.

View attachment 1188584

Even after loading hundreds of thousands rounds, are worth more today than they ever have been. Put an SD in the "for sale" forums for $140 and it wouldn't last long.

View attachment 1188586

Thanks to that lifetime warranty, my old one is just as good as a much younger one and stay running like new with the ongoing support.

I really don't worry much about equipment costs because those can be recovered, when want to stop.

I’d like to know how many kilowatt hours of electricity you’ve consumed automating everything. Whenever my lights dim I think there he goes again.

 

[jmorris]

I just picked up a Dillion Square D press last week all set up for 9mm, $400

Verifies my point.

 

[anothernewb]

the short answer to the economics of it. is Yes.

The economics of scale applies as well. go full wall mart and don't look back.

 

[black mamba]

I've been reloading for over 43 years, and am still using the original press, powder measure, scale and case prep kit I bought back at the beginning, so low cost. Add in 7 or 8 more sets of dies and a few new gizmos and I'm still well under a grand for equipment. Now if you include bullets (7500) powder (31 pounds) and primers (7000) the total is something I'm grateful my wife does NOT know!

 

[jmorris]

I’d like to know how many kilowatt hours of electricity you’ve consumed automating everything. Whenever my lights dim I think there he goes again.

LOL, I don't know that either but keeping my hands occupied has saved an untold number of beer's lives, that might even save more than just money. Not to mention most of my projects are actually fairly cheap, if I don't have to pay myself by the hour.

 

[Remington1911]

So you don't think the bullet can be important to accuracy/consistency?

No it's not. I can and do tune my loads for the properties I value such as recoil, accuracy, low flash, etc. Can't do that grabbing a box off a shelf at Bass Pro.

No, I am saying you don't have the choice in bullets when buying factory ammo. Does anyone load a "high end" loading for "pick your caliber" using a Speer bullet, Berger bullet, Hornady bullet......

NOPE, you get one choice and that is it.

That is what I was saying.

 

[Highland Lofts]

One of the pole questions should have been 5,000 to 10,000.

I do tell new reloader's the room was filled over the course of 35 years, so don't freak out.

I'm in this part of the group.
I'd doesn't matter,it's all extra money and I'll probably shoot a bunch of the powder & primers , the rest of the suff can be sold for what I paid for it. Maybe a little more, maybe a little less. I won't lose much and I have my pole of gold while I can enjoy it.
You only have one go around in life, make the best of it.

 

[d31tc]

Less than I have spent on guns but a correct answer would probably even scare me.

That said, I could sell every press I have for more than they cost me new before I used them for decades.

The two these we bought 39 years ago.

View attachment 1188584

Even after loading hundreds of thousands rounds, are worth more today than they ever have been. Put an SD in the "for sale" forums for $140 and it wouldn't last long.

View attachment 1188586

Thanks to that lifetime warranty, my old one is just as good as a much younger one and stay running like new with the ongoing support.

I really don't worry much about equipment costs because those can be recovered and then some, when I want to stop.

If guys like you unload your reloading all at once, the reloading market will crash and my conclusion is void.

Costs will only matter to me up until the point that, A - I win the lottery. Or B - I’m essentially where I want to be with my reloading goals. Then hopefully my self diagnosed OCD will let me put my list away and I can move on in blissful naïveté.

To all you super user reloaders out there, please give me a heads up before you flood the market.

 

[d31tc]

I’d like to know how many kilowatt hours of electricity you’ve consumed automating everything. Whenever my lights dim I think there he goes again.

It could be me mucking up an electrical project…

It’s good to have friends who not only remember , but understand, what twinkle, twinkle, little star, V is equal to something something means.

 

[higgite]

I have managed to accumulate 5 presses that I'm estimating ballooned my total up to over $3000. I’m not sure how or why I did that, but it seemed like the right thing to do at the time.

 

[d31tc]

I have managed to accumulate 5 presses that I'm estimating ballooned my total up to over $3000. I’m not sure how or why I did that, but it seemed like the right thing to do at the time.

It happens like this - you need a case trimmer. There is an equipment lot for sale that has a case trimmer - and a press - and a powder measure, and...You get the point. You buy the lot for the "case trimmer", and, BAM!, you have another press - and powder measure - that you will sell - to help you buy, wait for it, a case feeder and bullet feeder. Someday.

 

[Chuck R.]

I never bothered to add it up, but between loading for 40+ calibers and 4 gauges, not to mention casting it's pretty substantial.

I'm up to 6 presses and several of the calibers are wildcats with custom dies. I've got a "few" Paul Jones bullets molds that I had cut special for my BPCRs and my Harrell's powder measures alone are over $700. The "little stuff" calipers, micrometers, runout gauges etc. also add up.

But over time.. not that big of a deal as it kept me out of bars etc.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

It could be me mucking up an electrical project…

It’s good to have friends who not only remember , but understand, what twinkle, twinkle, little star, V is equal to something something means.

W=v•A
And F=m•a

Wattage and Force. The basics of modern life.

I’m more hesitant to add up what I’ve spent on food and cooking supplies. You can butcher a medium to large animal with a basic sharp knife but you can’t get the best results. I didn’t get my collection of Kai and Shun knives for cheap but I would not give them up easily. Same goes for the Vitamix, Joule, Food Saver, Triple ovens, and all the -32 freezers we’ve bought over the years.

If you’ve never used a quality chef’s knife this won’t make sense but if you have, and you know the labels Shun and Kai, then you know what I’m saying. I’ve spent way more on knives than reloading gear and don’t regret a penny of it.

 

[Soonerpesek]

I have put quite a bit back into the economy in my reloading endeavors.............................

 

[ballman6711]

I started with a single stage press kit about 5 years ago, cost was $200 plus $20 shipping (Hornady kit on clearance). I added a set of dies and a shell holder for about $60. Total cost was $280. The kit came with a book, powder measure, etc, so I didn't have to buy that stuff separately.

Today, I have about ten books, four powder measures, sixteen die sets, not sure how many loading blocks, three aluminum powder funnels, plus little bits and pieces that I wanted to get. Probably about $1400 in total, maybe a bit less, maybe a bit more.

I've built three different loading benches, one in each place I've lived over the last several years, not sure what lumber and such have cost for those.

I enjoy reloading and treat it as a hobby, so I really don't worry too much about the cost. I suppose I could sell my stuff and recoup some or maybe all of the cost, but I doubt I ever will.

What I've spent on components easily doubles what I have spent on equipment, and being honest I've probably spent three times plus on components.

I have saved money on a per round basis, but I wouldn't say I've saved money overall. I have shot more than I would have if I had bought factory ammo, and I've shot during the pandemic when ammo was unavailable, and I've shot as much as I wanted every time I went to the range. That to me is where reloading becomes worthwhile, as well as having the ability to load for guns that I can't find ammo for, or it cost a couple of dollars for each shot.

chris

 

[DMW1116]

W=v•A
And F=m•a

Wattage and Force. The basics of modern life.

I’m more hesitant to add up what I’ve spent on food and cooking supplies. You can butcher a medium to large animal with a basic sharp knife but you can’t get the best results. I didn’t get my collection of Kai and Shun knives for cheap but I would not give them up easily. Same goes for the Vitamix, Joule, Food Saver, Triple ovens, and all the -32 freezers we’ve bought over the years.

If you’ve never used a quality chef’s knife this won’t make sense but if you have, and you know the labels Shun and Kai, then you know what I’m saying. I’ve spent way more on knives than reloading gear and don’t regret a penny of it.

Over the years I’m in the same boat. Reloading supplies, not so much. I’ve definitely spent more on knives that reloading gear. Supplies is probably more than both knives and gear combined.

 

[Bartojc]

I got started reloading relatively late in life as I was almost 50. I learned quickly that there are no economics to it. I know I saved my initial cost of the press and dies in about a year. Reloading and shooting became more of a hobby and its a slippery slope. One enables me to do the other. If I'm counting pennies I'm probably in the wrong hobby. I understand everyone has a limit and a budget, well, most of us anyhow, but reloading is never going to save you money but it will enable you to enjoy more shooting per dollar. Most of the time you'll end up shooting the difference plus much more. You'll buy more presses, more weird cartidges ( because you can reload and don't have to worry about factory ammo), and its downhill from there....

-Jeff

 

[d31tc]

I got started reloading relatively late in life as I was almost 50. I learned quickly that there are no economics to it. I know I saved my initial cost of the press and dies in about a year. Reloading and shooting became more of a hobby and its a slippery slope. One enables me to do the other. If I'm counting pennies I'm probably in the wrong hobby. I understand everyone has a limit and a budget, well, most of us anyhow, but reloading is never going to save you money but it will enable you to enjoy more shooting per dollar. Most of the time you'll end up shooting the difference plus much more. You'll buy more presses, more weird cartidges ( because you can reload and don't have to worry about factory ammo), and its downhill from there....

-Jeff

Hmm?? Maybe I should buy that M&P Shield Plus Optics Ready 30 Super Carry...

 

[d31tc]

W=v•A
And F=m•a

Wattage and Force. The basics of modern life.

I’m more hesitant to add up what I’ve spent on food and cooking supplies. You can butcher a medium to large animal with a basic sharp knife but you can’t get the best results. I didn’t get my collection of Kai and Shun knives for cheap but I would not give them up easily. Same goes for the Vitamix, Joule, Food Saver, Triple ovens, and all the -32 freezers we’ve bought over the years.

If you’ve never used a quality chef’s knife this won’t make sense but if you have, and you know the labels Shun and Kai, then you know what I’m saying. I’ve spent way more on knives than reloading gear and don’t regret a penny of it.

But none of those rhyme with "star"? Still confused. However, F=ma - that I understand. I appreciate when the sum of the forces = 0. That means I designed it correctly. Unlike a bunch of electrons going every which way.

 

[FROGO207]

I am now retired! In my past I have been a baker, auto body mechanic, plumber, hydronic heating expert, sparky, and service Tech. Of all those things the only constant over the past 45+ years is my reloading. I will not even venture a guess what I have amassed over the years is actually worth but the ability to reload 35 + calibers and 5 shot shell GA is a comforting thought all things considered in the current times. Might even be priceless at some point.

 

[CoalTrain49]

Simply put, unless you're a business that is amortizing your investment for tax purposes, your first reloaded cartridge cost you approximately $2390.20. All the rest cost 20 cents. You're welcome.

I've never really thought about that way but those first few years of reloading can be mighty expensive per unit.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I am now retired! In my past I have been a baker, auto body mechanic, plumber, hydronic heating expert, sparky, and service Tech. Of all those things the only constant over the past 45+ years is my reloading. I will not even venture a guess what I have amassed over the years is actually worth but the ability to reload 35 + calibers and 5 shot shell GA is a comforting thought all things considered in the current times. Might even be priceless at some point.

5 shot shell gauges? I had to stop and think about that for a minute. There are only 4 in common use. There is however a shotgun caliber, the 410. I guess you could call it a 67 1/2 gauge if you wanted. And I still could be off base. you might load 10 ga. for alligators or something.

 

[FROGO207]

5 shot shell gauges? I had to stop and think about that for a minute. There are only 4 in common use. There is however a shotgun caliber, the 410. I guess you could call it a 67 1/2 gauge if you wanted. And I still could be off base. you might load 10 ga. for alligators or something.

Well there's 10, 12, 16, 20, 28, and .410. Although the 16 ga is a vintage Lee loader and all the others are MEC600.
The 28 is for my brother.
The 10 GA is for "somthing", mostly letting others hurt their shoulders with homemade slug loads and some increasingly rare goose hunting forays. It truly does reach out and touch when needed though LOL.

 

[Blue68f100]

I would say it's been cheaper than my fishing hobby. With boats and gear it's a never ending battle. I spent over $3K repairing a $1200 boat from the 80's. But I did not like anything on the market that fit my needs. What I had as worked for 40+ years now it ready for another 40+ years.

As for as reloading/aka gun hobby, I added a lathe and end mill so I'm surly in deep.