getting started with .45 ACP

[ScottsGT]

OK, I've been reloading .45ACP for a while now, but just today I priced out bullets, primers, brass, etc... for 500 rounds for a friend that finally got a Colt Gold Cup that is going to be shooting with me. To get started, it comes to $150.00 for 500

I can also send him to Wal-Mart and buy 10 boxes at $13 per 50 for a total of $130.00 for 500. Sounds cheaper to start out shooing factory loads.
Am I missing something?

 

[Luggernut]

Brass is expensive but can be reused many times, certainly so for normal .45 cases. I buy lots of Walmart ammo and save the cases for future reloading. My club never seems to have much used .45 brass lying around otherwise I'd use that.

 

[BsChoy]

I am going to shoot up a few hindred winny white box and used that brass over again...

 

[SASS#23149]

I don't know about now,but

the last time i bought .45 acp at our walmart,the wb stuff was about 20.00 for a hundred round box.If yours has that it's an even better way to get started.
That was a year ago so things may have changed,but worth looking into.

did you cost out using cast lead,or jacketed bullets.Lead is cheaper by far and shoots just fine.Little or no leading at acp velocities.

 

[shadowalker]

Did you price it for new brass? If you are open to it you can purchase some once fired brass and save a considerable amount.

I purchase same stamp brass on ebay pretty routinely and have had very good experiences with it.

 

[taliv]

what bullets did you buy? gold plated?

$42 for 500 230g fmj here http://hi-techammo.com/
$12.75 for 1lb of titegroup and
$19 for 1000 cci large pistol primers here http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/
$30 for 500 once-fired brass (mixed) here http://brassmanbrass.com/inventory-002.html


you can get all that a little cheaper too if you look for sales, buy in larger quantities, etc

 

[azredhawk44]

OK, I've been reloading .45ACP for a while now, but just today I priced out bullets, primers, brass, etc... for 500 rounds for a friend that finally got a Colt Gold Cup that is going to be shooting with me. To get started, it comes to $150.00 for 500

Seems pricey.

Boolits: Berry's mfg. 250 should cost around $23, free shipping. 230gr plated RN. 2 boxes @ $46.
Powder: titegroup or unique @$17 for a pound. That should do over 1000 rounds.
Primers: $20 for Winchester or CCI, take your pick, 1000ct.
Brass: Once fired midway grade 1 45acp, 500ct: $25.
Total: $110 plus shipping or tax. Berry's won't charge you shipping. Your next batch of 500 will only cost boolits, since you have powder, primers and brass. $46.

Of course, 500rds of WWB @ walmart will cost about $115 (5 x $23 per 100rd box).

Your call. I'd reload after I already had brass. Wouldn't suggest starting off with virgin brass unless you have some sort of purpose for doing so (hot loads or experimentation).

 

[highlander 5]

Buy the WWB and reload the the brass. No need for Jacketed bullets use cast bullets you'll be fine. rough guess on the cost .07-.08 cents a round

 

[taliv]

how do you know he has no need for jacketed? maybe he shoots at an indoor range? maybe he shoots a glock?

 

[ScottsGT]

Beakdown priced at Sportsman warehouse. No sipping costs involved.
Brass $17 per 100
Primers $2 per 100
Bullets $35 per 500
WST powder about $23 for small jug (pound?)

I know the brass is the high dollar start up part,so that's why I'm going to recommend he start out buying factory loaded, then we'll reload once fired brass. Oh, he's shooting a Colt GCNM
I've been reloading my .45ACP for several years now, and I've never priced it out down to the round, just buy what I need and refill the brass.

 

[PsychoKnight]

how do you know he has no need for jacketed? maybe he shoots at an indoor range? maybe he shoots a glock?

for a friend that finally got a Colt Gold Cup


Aside from that; online purchases of primers & powder always incur a hazmat charge of $20 (most) to $30 (MidwayUSA, they charge $20 +$10+ $20 +$10+standard shipping$9-12, if you order both powder & primers, comes to $70 shipping for $60 worth of powder/primer), so to make only 500 rounds buying local powder/primer is cheaper - only cost effective for bulk 8 lb cannisters and several bricks of primers at once, and not w/ a vendor that charges two separate hazmat fees and two separate spcl handling feesfor powder+primer. Some charge actual freight ups ground charges (hi-techammo) which is real expensive compared to flat rate priority mail $8.10 up to 70 lbs (lockstock.com), or direct from manuf which includes shipping (berrys mfg).