Just priced out powder, primers and bullets......

[DustyGmt]

But if you shoot a lot, or don't want somebody telling you what ammo you can buy, or how much of it, then reloading might be in your future. It's about independence and self-sufficiency.

This ^
That's a significant factor for me, my OP probably came off as only being concerned with the economics of it. The truth is shooting stuff is really my only hobby/passion, I prefer an afternoon of shooting more than buzzing the trails in a snow machine or 4x4. I like the idea of having components on hand for a few reasons, one being that if I have loaded factory ammo it beckons me and I go through it, I start getting nervous when I get down to 500rds of 9mm because that's essentially when I won't shoot anymore until I get more.

I haven't been a reloader but I know that one exists in me and once I get into it I will really enjoy it. Buying a pound of powder here and there and a box of bullets on sale from time to time can really add up. I know because there are times I ran through cases and thought I was down to my last but forgot about the stash of 50rd boxes that accumulated from picking up a box here and there while out shopping years prior or when I squirreled away a few boxes every other time I sliced open a fresh case only to find that I had alot more than I thought.

More than a few times when going through my stashes i got an ear to ear grin when i came across long forgotten ammo. I see reloading components as being no different and being well stocked for a dry spell in the market gives me the warm fuzzies, especially when I can help out a friend or neighbor who didn't take the initiative. It's not often, but sometimes shooting by yourself can get boring, the upside to shooting by myself is that I usually shoot 2x better

 

[allisd17]

Regardless of the brand or caliber, I have never found commercially available "match grade" ammo that even comes close to the accuracy of my handloads.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Regardless of the brand or caliber, I have never found commercially available "match grade" ammo that even comes close to the accuracy of my handloads.

Some of the Black Hills ammo was/is pretty darn good.

 

[W.E.G.]

Get into handloading for the hobby and enjoyment. That's the only good reason for it.

If your primary motivation is to "save money," let me tell you, you can FORGET ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.

As it pertains to money, at best, you'll only get to shoot more.

I love the hobby so much that I've seriously injured myself pulling on that press handle.

I'm OK with that. I did it doing what I loved.

 

[Captain*kirk]

This ^
That's a significant factor for me, my OP probably came off as only being concerned with the economics of it. The truth is shooting stuff is really my only hobby/passion, I prefer an afternoon of shooting more than buzzing the trails in a snow machine or 4x4. I like the idea of having components on hand for a few reasons, one being that if I have loaded factory ammo it beckons me and I go through it, I start getting nervous when I get down to 500rds of 9mm because that's essentially when I won't shoot anymore until I get more.

I haven't been a reloader but I know that one exists in me and once I get into it I will really enjoy it. Buying a pound of powder here and there and a box of bullets on sale from time to time can really add up.

I can tell you this much, for sure. Reloading gear will never get any cheaper. I bought my first RCBS master reloading kit over 30 years ago and still going strong. I've added new gear and fancy gee-gaws every year and even a second press. I shoot a ton of .45/70 for three different rifles including black powder Sharps. Once you get started it's a hobby unto itself, gives me plenty to do on those crappy winter/spring days when shooting is either out of the question, or no fun at all. If you have a reloader existing within you already, just get on with it and don't fight it.
I will add, don't necessarily go with the cheapest gear. Mine has paid for itself many times over and being RCBS is guaranteed for life. Something to consider.

 

[DMW1116]

The most savings is loading for my 357 Blackhawk and my 30-30. 30-30 is just gone still and $40/box when spotted. I load cast for target shooting for $4.50/box of 20. 38 Special and 357 Mag are cheaper than 9mm to load, while factory ammo for both is $30/50 rounds. When comparing 115 grain range ammo for 9mm to my hand loads using 147 and 135 grain subsonic loads, I can still load cheaper, but not by much. If I compare factory 147 grain 9mm, my loads are about half.

My hand loads in all my pistols are enough of an improvement over factory in terms of accuracy, I can tell the difference shooting off hand. As long as the cost breaks even, I just can’t walk away from that.

 

[W.E.G.]

When folks cite to the big-boomer cartridges, I have to wonder, how many of those are you REALLY shooting in a year?

Now, handloading DOES allow you to make them LESS of a boomer, and more tolerable to shoot. So there's definitely THAT to be said for handloading.

Everyone shooting 45 ACP bullseye pistol is shooting pop-gun loads. Nobody is shooting full-power ball ammo anymore. I love shooting my 45 ACP with my handloads.

I pop-gun the loads I shoot in the 686 too. Very slow. Almost no recoil.
If I want to make everyone on the range cringe, I've got some hot loads that I shoot in another .357. Fun to do that once in a while for old times sake.

 

[Captain*kirk]

When folks cite to the big-boomer cartridges, I have to wonder, how many of those are you REALLY shooting in a year?

I shot 40 of my .45/70 loads a few weeks back. Going by retail prices, that's about $150.00 worth. Guarantee it didn't cost that much to load them. Nor the 20 rounds of 7mm RM I shot afterwards. If you buy on sale, in bulk, you can still save money. But that's not why I do it.

 

[2ndtimer]

I have just about finished off this powder container I bought during one of the previous “panics” when nothing else was available on the shelf. Hadn’t tried it before, but the shelves were bare of my regulars and prices were climbing so I grabbed it. Turned out to work great in 9mm and .357 and I am so glad it worked out. So it turns out that the good old days were less than 5 years ago looking at the price!

 

[.38 Special]

Well, not really....

My AR.

My muzzleloader, which isn't a flint lock, to be true - that's next.

Well, you are the exception that proves the rule. Weirdo.

 

[ballman6711]

When folks cite to the big-boomer cartridges, I have to wonder, how many of those are you REALLY shooting in a year?

I use to shoot them quite a bit, both my .454 Casull and my .480 Ruger. That was before I started reloading so it was factory ammo. I would shoot a box (or two if I had it) about every third range trip, and I usually went to the range twice a month back then. So a box of twenty every other month would be 120 rds. That would be a very conservative estimate, 200 rds a year would be more likely. In all honesty price and availability were what kept me from shooting them even more. At $16~$20 for twenty rounds it was expensive ammo, and it could be pretty hard to find.

Now, not so much. Four, maybe five, cylinders a year in the .480, five rounds per cylinder, so around twenty shots or so per year. H-110 under a 370gr rnfp will get your attention real quick.

chris

 

[Lennyjoe]

There’s definitely a benefit of reloading most of the rifle cartridge, especially 45-70, .300 WSM and the likes as I see ~$50 ish per 20 rounds is nuts. I have a bunch of brass, bullets and primers for pistol calibers and .223 and .308 and only reload them en mass when I’m bored.

 

[Laphroaig]

One plays this game like the stock market, when it's down you jump in both feet and hope for the best.

No body can time the stock market. If you are sitting on the sidelines waiting for the recession that was supposed to happen you've lost a lot of money. (It will happen, but who knows when?)

Dollar Cost Averaging is a better strategy in both pursuits. Shop around and buy in bulk when you need something because it's never going to get cheaper, I'm still using components that I bought years ago for a fraction of what they cost today. I complained then that they were too high but bit the bullet and it's paying off today. I've heard a lot of talk about waiting until primers come down in price. Good luck with that.

I'm not sure that it's worth the investment if your sole purpose is to load .223 55 FMJ or 9mm 115's but match grade ammo, premium hunting stuff, or obscure cartridges still make financial sense to me. Once you're set up the blammo is just icing on the cake. A couple of years ago that was even hard to find. I could go down into the basement and make it when ever I wanted some.

 

[AJC1]

No body can time the stock market. If you are sitting on the sidelines waiting for the recession that was supposed to happen you've lost a lot of money. (It will happen, but who knows when?)

Dollar Cost Averaging is a better strategy in both pursuits. Shop around and buy in bulk when you need something because it's never going to get cheaper, I'm still using components that I bought years ago for a fraction of what they cost today. I complained then that they were too high but bit the bullet and it's paying off today. I've heard a lot of talk about waiting until primers come down in price. Good luck with that.

I'm not sure that it's worth the investment if your sole purpose is to load .223 55 FMJ or 9mm 115's but match grade ammo, premium hunting stuff, or obscure cartridges still make financial sense to me. Once you're set up the blammo is just icing on the cake. A couple of years ago that was even hard to find. I could go down into the basement and make it when ever I wanted some.

As an example I don't shoot a lot of 6br anymore because I don't have a big range. The local pawn was clearing out 108 eldm for 19.98 a box. I cleared them out. Look for the "correct stock price" don't wait for the index fund to bottom out.

 

[peeplwtchr]

I wouldn't reload 9mm if I didn't train with it so much. It costs me 14 cpr to reload it, so I save about $120 per month. That's using Unique powder, which is about $40+ per lb..

.223 costs me 38 cpr to reload with 75gr match bullets and varget. 1/3 moa accuracy all day long.

.308 costs me about 90 cpr, using SMKs, BR2 primers and IMR 8208. Accuracy is currently <.3 moa, and will get better once I play with seating depth.

No factory rifle ammo is as good as my loads in any of my rifles. I also haven't found any powder in factory ammo to be as temperature insensitive as the powders I use, which is very important where I live. So yes, it's cheaper on all counts for me, accuracy is better, and I now have lots of time for hobbies so that isn't a factor.

And as others have said, self sufficiency is a factor for me too.

That's why I reload.

 

[Roc_my_tims]

I inherited powder, brass, bullets, dies, and loaded ammo, and I have a friend with a full reloading bench setup, which he generously allows me to use. Otherwise, I wouldn't have started. And even with those advantages, I've spent hundreds of dollars to get started.

I hear hundreds and feel guilty for the thousands I've spent and always to busy to shoot let alone reload. But it is an awesome awesome hobby.

 

[Ritchie]

Reloading gives you the ability to make usable ammunition with a variety of components. Which is useful when you can't always get what you want.

Pat's Reloading - Prices

 

[Bearded Phil]

It's all about the cartridge.

I can load 45-70 at $4.30/20 with my home cast 398gr bullets (lead free from local tire shop).

N120 that I got at at $515.85/16lbs including tax at the local reloading shop, puts the rate of cost/grain at $.0046/gr

So my nice and easy load of 24.9gr, with a $.10 large rifle primer is 21.5 cents a round (maybe add 2.5 cents for cases, bought 250ct new Starline at $.526/case. I expect to get at least 20 loadings out of them at this level if not more).

Cases included or not, compare that to the average 20rd box of 45-70 that you can get right now that's priced $50-55/box.

Now I load mine light so they're enjoyable to shoot, so I'll take 40 rounds out for an afternoon of shooting at least once a month. That'd be $100-110 for an afternoon with factory loads. To do that every month that'd be at least $1200 a year. I can do it for $103ish and enjoy the rifle and cartridge more (who wants to shoot 40rds of factory 45-70 in a day anyway? ).

The cost saving there is huge, as is with all the other cartridges I load, 38 spl, 357 mag, 30-30 & 38-55 win (can't even get 38-55 win factory these days!).

I got components and equipment for .223/5.56 when I first started loading but I haven't even shot the last ladder I loaded a year ago. Semi-auto's just aren't as fun for me as my lever actions. And the cartridges the lever actions shoot are a significant saving handloading my cast bullets over factory, and more accurate too.

OP you just have to decide where the best use of your money for reloading components is and what you want to get out of it. How you shoot with also be a factor and may change when you load more. I'll take 50rds of 357 Mag rifle loads out for a Saturday and spend 2-1/2 hours shooting them, taking my time with each 5 shot string, making each out count. I'll shoot 10rds a relay and admire the scenery or chat with RSOs or other regular members at my range (outdoor in AZ so when the weather is nice it's a sight to take in).

30-30, 38-55 & 45-70 I load in batches of 40rds, two 20rd boxes. Same firing cadence for those 40rds is a 2 hour day. When you take the time to load each one you may find it slows you down on your shooting. It does for me at least, and makes each shot all that much more rewarding.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

It's all about the cartridge.

I can load 45-70 at $4.30/20 with my home cast 398gr bullets (lead free from local tire shop).

N120 that I got at at $515.85/16lbs including tax at the local reloading shop, puts the rate of cost/grain at $.0046/gr

So my nice and easy load of 24.9gr, with a $.10 large rifle primer is 21.5 cents a round (maybe add 2.5 cents for cases, bought 250ct new Starline at $.526/case. I expect to get at least 20 loadings out of them at this level if not more).

Cases included or not, compare that to the average 20rd box of 45-70 that you can get right now that's priced $50-55/box.

Now I load mine light so they're enjoyable to shoot, so I'll take 40 rounds out for an afternoon of shooting at least once a month. That'd be $100-110 for an afternoon with factory loads. To do that every month that'd be at least $1200 a year. I can do it for $103ish and enjoy the rifle and cartridge more (who wants to shoot 40rds of factory 45-70 in a day anyway? ).

The cost saving there is huge, as is with all the other cartridges I load, 38 spl, 357 mag, 30-30 & 38-55 win (can't even get 38-55 win factory these days!).

I got components and equipment for .223/5.56 when I first started loading but I haven't even shot the last ladder I loaded a year ago. Semi-auto's just aren't as fun for me as my lever actions. And the cartridges the lever actions shoot are a significant saving handloading my cast bullets over factory, and more accurate too.

OP you just have to decide where the best use of your money for reloading components is and what you want to get out of it. How you shoot with also be a factor and may change when you load more. I'll take 50rds of 357 Mag rifle loads out for a Saturday and spend 2-1/2 hours shooting them, taking my time with each 5 shot string, making each out count. I'll shoot 10rds a relay and admire the scenery or chat with RSOs or other regular members at my range (outdoor in AZ so when the weather is nice it's a sight to take in).

30-30, 38-55 & 45-70 I load in batches of 40rds, two 20rd boxes. Same firing cadence for those 40rds is a 2 hour day. When you take the time to load each one you may find it slows you down on your shooting. It does for me at least, and makes each shot all that much more rewarding.

Yup. I’ll take a Colt Official Police out to the ditch with a full cylinder and two speed loaders and come back with a full cylinder and two empty speed loaders. I can burn up a whole morning from after breakfast to just before lunch walking out and popping a few pinecones then meandering back. I don’t know - nor do I care - what 12 rounds of .38Spl costs me.
I ne’er understood mag-dumping.

 

[W.E.G.]

I'm not gonna last long enough to be able to talk about the "good old days" when large rifle primers were "only 17 cents each."

I'm out the door with no parachute.
The fresh air is behind me, and the smell of fresh-cut hay is getting stronger every second.

As pertains to ammo and reloading supplies. I'm almost good until I'm worm food. Well,... really I'm more than good already. But I just keep buying stuff because it entertains me. Which probably isn't a good thing. All things considered. Right now I've got inbound a Turknelli 1014 from GoneBroker, a service rifle mount/scope combo from Palmetto, and a case of buckshot from Velocity.

I can stop anytime.

When I stop smelling hay, I'll be stopped whether I like it or not.
They say the pain stops then too. I guess St. Peter might have something to say about whether that happens.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I'm not gonna last long enough to be able to talk about the "good old days" when large rifle primers were "only 17 cents each."

I'm out the door with no parachute.
The fresh air is behind me, and the smell of fresh-cut hay is getting stronger every second.

As pertains to ammo and reloading supplies. I'm almost good until I'm worm food. Well,... really I'm more than good already. But I just keep buying stuff because it entertains me. Which probably isn't a good thing. All things considered. Right now I've got inbound a Turknelli 1014 from GoneBroker, a service rifle mount/scope combo from Palmetto, and a case of buckshot from Velocity.

I can stop anytime.

When I stop smelling hay, I'll be stopped whether I like it or not.
They say the pain stops then too. I guess St. Peter might have something to say about whether that happens.

I was told way back during a hard recovery, “Pain is God’s way of letting you know you’re still alive.”
Have fun until it stops being fun. Then do something else. My favorite hobby is gourmet cooking and I’ve been experimenting for the last ten years with new-age techniques like submersion cooking, vacuum bags, freeze drying and other weird stuff. My wife loves it and I really enjoy the challenge. Sometimes a new thing bombs - oh well. That’s why there’s peanut butter and crackers.
I think if I can’t shoot anymore I’ll go back to sewing on the hand-operated Singers. Quilting is a lot more expensive than reloading but I don’t see the Feds kicking down my door to take away my seam ripper anytime soon.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I was told way back during a hard recovery, “Pain is God’s way of letting you know you’re still alive.”
Have fun until it stops being fun. Then do something else. My favorite hobby is gourmet cooking and I’ve been experimenting for the last ten years with new-age techniques like submersion cooking, vacuum bags, freeze drying and other weird stuff. My wife loves it and I really enjoy the challenge. Sometimes a new thing bombs - oh well. That’s why there’s peanut butter and crackers.
I think if I can’t shoot anymore I’ll go back to sewing on the hand-operated Singers. Quilting is a lot more expensive than reloading but I don’t see the Feds kicking down my door to take away my seam ripper anytime soon.

My next door neighbor is a quilter...thought you sounded familiar.

She heard my brass tumbling one day and thought I was stone polishing. I didn't reveal the true horror.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I'm not gonna last long enough to be able to talk about the "good old days" when large rifle primers were "only 17 cents each."

I'm out the door with no parachute.
The fresh air is behind me, and the smell of fresh-cut hay is getting stronger every second.

As pertains to ammo and reloading supplies. I'm almost good until I'm worm food. Well,... really I'm more than good already. But I just keep buying stuff because it entertains me. Which probably isn't a good thing. All things considered. Right now I've got inbound a Turknelli 1014 from GoneBroker, a service rifle mount/scope combo from Palmetto, and a case of buckshot from Velocity.

I can stop anytime.

When I stop smelling hay, I'll be stopped whether I like it or not.
They say the pain stops then too. I guess St. Peter might have something to say about whether that happens.

Saint Peter was giving a tour to some new arrivals. As they approached a small clearing they saw a gathering of grumpy old men. He told the new folks to be quiet. Who are they one asked? Those are reloaders said Peter, they think they're the only ones here.

 

[twarr1]

Yup. I’ll take a Colt Official Police out to the ditch with a full cylinder and two speed loaders and come back with a full cylinder and two empty speed loaders. I can burn up a whole morning from after breakfast to just before lunch walking out and popping a few pinecones then meandering back. I don’t know - nor do I care - what 12 rounds of .38Spl costs me.
I ne’er understood mag-dumping.

You don’t enjoy continuously firing your M4 full auto until the barrel melts?!

NEVER understood this fad.

 

[lightman]

Like the others have said, you can find cheaper prices. I use Midway, Midsouth, Powder Valley, American Reloading, Rocky Moutain Reloading (RMR), Blue Collar Reloading. There are many other reputable places. It pays to shop around.