Agreed. Someone once asked me what I figured the pheasant I hunted cost per pound. They were serious. I laughed and said even though I harvested 125-150 wild birds a year, I'm sure you could buy prime rib for much cheaper. I also said that I'd continue to gladly pay the price for my birds.
Hello from the colonies
This is our future, ladies and gentlemen.
lol speak for yourself, Virginian. Florida was a Spanish colony.
Sorry, product of biased teaching.lol speak for yourself, Virginian. Florida was a Spanish colony.
Yep - down to the last, old, worn smooth, pennyAre we supposed to include back up equipment in just because storage at alternate locations or just what we use today.
. And on a spread sheet. With dates. And where purchased.One of my favorite jokes, posted in another thread, but it relates here, I think:
You sound a lot like me. I started reloading 45 Colt in early 2022 because I couldn't find ammo to buy and I didn't want to starve my guns. Being a retired banker, I went thru the entire cost analysis of what each round would cost me assuming I re-used brass from factory ammo I've already shot. Not taking into account the $600+ in Lee Classic Press and extras I bought for my little ammo factory, I figured I could make a round for about half of what I would pay on-line, when you include shipping, taxes and FFL fees. But like you, I found it was a pleasurable "hobby" for a retired 69 year-old guy to indulge in. I would branch out to load other calibers but I'm already sitting on a nice stash of factory ammo for all my other guns. My kids can decide on that option when I'm gone!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"?
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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...
Well said!See the car in my to the left in my avatar? I'm 55 and have had it since age 15. Bought it for $1,300. It's been worked up from being really slow and rusty, to a 13, 12, 11, 10 and 9 second car with multiple engine/trans/rear end combinations. I don't DARE add up how much has been spent. I could easily buy a house. lol
But, when it comes to passion projects, it's not about the money. It's about the fun and enjoyment!
If you're not enjoying your money, you're missing out in life!
Live responsibly, but don't be a miser. Can't take it with you!
I think the way I read it is that many of us started reloading to save money. So doing the math might have been important on that first press. But to the folks like me that found they enjoyed the hobby, subsequent purchases were not scrutinized nearly as closely, if at all. When I bought my Dillon RL1100 with a Mr. Bullet Feeder 1.5 years ago, I didn't do any of the math. I shoot a lot so I figure it'll pay for itself at some point, but that was really not a consideration. Plus I got good money selling my Dillon 650 (should have kept it!).
Good one. I lived in MN for 35 years and could tell Sven and Oly jokes for hours. I have the accent down pat. I still do that around campfires here in the Ozarks. Those guys and Lena are funny folks.
That is a great value, especially for a starter. But from what I've read, they can be putzy too. Plastic parts breaking and/or wearing out. Little adjustments, etc. My first metallic reloader was an RCBS ammo master progressive. Loaded on that for a lot of years. Good press, but it too was putzy. Seemed like every time I went to use it, I had to tweak something. But I produced a lot of ammo from it and was overall pretty happy with it.
If not the sharpest tools in the shed.
