Is reloading worth it threads....

[splattergun]

I load for 7 calibers, mostly rifles but also.357 and 38-40. I do save on the cost of ammo, but not on the cost to set up; I figure it costs roughly $100 to set up for a new caliber and that is a consideration when buying a new gun. Recently, I bought a Star BM 9mm, and the $100 I'd had to spend on setting up for reloading 9mm bought 5 boxes of plinking ammo. As long as it's that cheap, I'll continue to buy it vs. load it. In the case of my 38-40, factory "cowboy " loads are $90/ box. I can load them for about $25/ box. So it's trade off, honestly. Buy supplies or loaded ammo, both are costly so pay your penny and take your chances.

Mac

Yeah, I include the cost (and these days, availability) of new dies and any needed components that I don't already have in the cost of buying a new firearm.

 

[jmr40]

I started reloading after buying a 338-06. Factory loads were almost non-existent, and the ones that were available were $70 for a box of 20 rounds at a time when common cartridges were $20 for 20 rounds.

I've since sold that rifle and everything I currently own shoots common, readily available ammo at reasonable prices. I do still handload, primarily for 6.5CM and 308 with a few 30-06 loads. I don't do it to save money. But to get better quality ammo. I can load premium bullets, get better accuracy, and often a little better speed. I don't shoot any of those in high volume and may only spend a few days a year at my loading bench.

I don't try to load for 9mm, 45ACP, 10mm or 223. I do shoot those in higher volume, especially 9mm and 223 and I might save a little by handloading for them. But my time is worth something to me. I'm retired and can work a few hours part time and use that money to buy factory loads for those rounds cheaper than I can buy components and spend the same amount of time loading them. Economically it is cheaper for me to just buy those rounds.