jmorris
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
- Messages
- 24,280
I would say it's been cheaper than my fishing hobby.
You know how to make a small fortune in auto racing? Start out with a large one...
Makes "gun stuff" as a hobby, cheap in comparison.
I would say it's been cheaper than my fishing hobby.
Can we shoot more for less? Shoot the same amount, cheaper? I've at some point tried to convince my wife of all three scenarios but I'm sure shes never believed me.No one ever saved money reloading. Ever.
$25/1000 primers…..$23/bag for shot…….i’m richSounds like you’ve spent a small fortune to save a few dollars.
Yeah like 45 Colt is probably a lot better to reload than 9mm as far as saving money goes. Cause geeze 45 Colt ammo is ridiculous...... Even our cost as an FFL is dumb.I also think it depends on what you are reloading.
Sure. Hornady Match Grade ammo uses high end bullets, ELD-M's in the 6.5CM loads. And it's good ammo, almost as good as my reloads using the same bullets.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......
In gun related stuff, I've probably spent $15,000 to $16,000. Today, I know I could recover all of those costs and then some if I were to liquidate all of my shooting gear. Sure, if I had put that money I spent on guns into Amazon stocks at the IPO, it makes my opportunity cost of buying gun stuff look really expensive, but I won't do that. I'll just be happy I'm not into auto racing. I'll agree - gun stuff is pretty cheap.You know how to make a small fortune in auto racing? Start out with a large one...
Makes "gun stuff" as a hobby, cheap in comparison.
High end Hornady bullets, not one by anyone else. That is the point I am not sure I am getting across, if you like everything about the hornady but want another 10 grains in bullet weight, you are out of luck, now yes I have not checked so they could, but I doubt you are going to find one with a speer bullet, or norma, or....................Sure. Hornady Match Grade ammo uses high end bullets, ELD-M's in the 6.5CM loads. And it's good ammo, almost as good as my reloads using the same bullets.
High end Hornady bullets, not one by anyone else. […] I doubt you are going to find one with a speer bullet, or norma, or………..
Speaking as one who matches your history and utilization of original press, powder measure, scale and case prep kit, I have to say your bullets, powder and primers are “rookie numbers, you need to pump those numbers up”!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!
I was in the 3K to 4K range but I've been in the game for close to 40 years. I initially started out with a Lee anniversary starter kit for $60 and loaded a butt load of ammo on it successfully. Start small then work your way up if you enjoy it like any other hobby.First, I'm going to say this isn't about comparing the cost of reloading to the cost of buying ammo. Before I started reloading, I was looking at that cost and the start-up cost of buying the equipment. That mostly went out the window once I started reloading. Now it's become a hobby and, a bit like buying guns, looking for deals for things on "The List".
And like the guns I've bought, I keep a spreadsheet on what I have, what I paid, what I sold and for how much.
I've been patient (read "slow") in acquiring equipment and getting my reloading up to where I think I want to be (I'm way past where I "need" to be). Part of the reason for being "slow" is I've made a list of things I want, and then look to find it used. If I can't find it used, then I wait for a decent sale, or look for the lowest price.
Where does that put me? To date, I've spent a net of approximately $2,390 on reloading equipment. This does not include consumables or components. Recently, I input estimated used resale values into my spreadsheet. After looking at ebay prices, sorted for lowest price sold and forum trading post prices, I think a reasonably conservative estimate of what I could sell my equipment comes out to be $2,210. Admittedly, I will likely never sell my equipment. That will be up to my heirs, and they might not be as patient as me in trying to realize the value of the equipment I've hoarded. Did I say hoarded? I meant acquired (I mean really, how did I wind up with 5 uniflow powder measures? )
To add the cherry on top, the cost of equipment factored into the cost per round over time becomes negligible the more rounds I load . How's that for rationalizing another $1,000 of equipment remaining to buy that is on "The List"? .
My logical conclusion is everyone thinking about reloading should ignore the cost of equipment. OK that might be a fallacy argument; you should do your own research and draw your own conclusions. I don't want anyone out there to get in trouble with their significant others. And yes, I know - those are rookie numbers...
I went back to the first press and dies I was given in 1973 for my 13th birthday, updated to current MSRP (replacement value) and deducted the loss-of-use cost back to 1987 when the box containing the press fell out of a trailer onto US1 and shattered.Are we supposed to include back up equipment in just because storage at alternate locations or just what we use today.