Plinking, the cost of reloading vs cheap ammo

[crracer_712]

Do any of you really save money by reloading you own ammo vs just buying the cheap stuff at Walmart?

I'm not seeing a savings and just wanted to know if there are people that have a system down that would be a really good reason to reload if you basically just plink.

I reload, but still buy cheap ammo when available (which is not always the case at my local Walmart).

Mainly I reload for the enjoyment of it and to learn something new.

 

[unwise11]

Depends what chambering, .308's? Yeah, and I load with better components, but I doubt I could beat the Tula 9mm stuff, I load .223 but I don't know how much it costs me yet..

 

[rfwobbly]

Heck yea I save money! It probably has a LOT to do with the caliber you're talking about, as to the exact savings, but there are always savings.... unless you are buying new brass every time.

Why don't you start with the caliber and what your component costs are.

 

[[email protected]]

You dont save money just shoot more.
9mm berry 115 rn 6.75 box
40 s&w berry 180 rs 9.50 box
38 special 125gn 4.50 box (i cast the bullet)
223 55gn hornady sp 4.40 box (20)

 

[USSR]

The two most expensive components in reloading are the brass case and the bullet. Since you typically get multiple uses out of the brass case, that lowers the cost of that component on a per round basis. So, that leaves the bullet. Once you start casting your own bullets, the REALLY big cost savings come into play.

Don

 

[amlevin]

Unless 9mm starts selling for less than $5/box I am saving money by reloading. I also get to shoot a better quality ammo than the cheap stuff that has been available. I use real powder in my loads. Some cheap ammo is so filthy when it is shot I swear that the manufacturer is using a mixture of gunpowder and coal.

As for Rifle Ammo, the cheapest .223 ammo available so far sells for well over $250/thousand. My reloads in this caliber are $0.15/round.

.308 has yet to have good cheap ammo. The milsurp may be good for making noise but accuracy sure leaves a lot to be desired.

My feeling is that if one needs to make excuses to start reloading, they aren't ready to do so yet. The benefits are obvious so one needs to either do it, or don't.

 

[guzzi]

reloading savings

If you shoot a lot, you will save by reloading.

My wife and I sail through about 17000 rounds per year. This is for practice, competition, and classes. This is also for multiple calibers.

So yes, I save money, and a bunch of it.

 

[Uniquedot]

Just did some plinking yesterday with 9mm and 38 specials as well as 357 mag. Each box for these calibers were loaded with my own cast bullets and cost less than $5.00 per box of 50. Yes i definitely save money loading plinking ammo.

 

[Gooseman]

I just calculated that materials for 100 rounds of .45 ACP practice ammo would run me about $13.70 using current pricing (and dividing the cost of my brass by 10 firings).
If I cast the bullets and/or use once fired brass, the cost drops even further so compared to paying $33.00 for a hundred rounds of Winchester white box, reloading looks pretty good.
If you factor in the cost of your labor, on a single stage press especially, then reloading does not look as economical but if you are on a tight budget reloading might allow you to shoot guns that would otherwise have to sit home in the safe.
The bottom line is that if you are going to reload you should enjoy it for it's own rewards or it will never seem worth it to you.

 

[GLOOB]

You dont save money just shoot more.

Before I started reloading, I thought this was just a smart-aleck comment.

 

[cavman]

http://www.10xshooters.com/calculators/Handgun_Reloading_Cost_Calculator.htm

I can always refer to this calculator to look at what I am spending reloading compared to what I am spending by buying at the store.

As a Bullseye shooter, I need to get the best group I can with my pistol at 50 yards. Also, because there are timed, sustained-fire portions of the match as well, getting a load that is nice at the 25 yard line that has a nice, managed recoil that still shoots a nice tight group as well, is equally important.

A lot of Bullseye shooters have different bullet weight and types for the 50 yards (such as JHP 185 gr) and the 25 yards (less expensive 200 gr LSWC). So, reloading allows for customizing your rounds for differing situations.

As for the OP: Besides the "customization" of my reloads to suit my requirements, it is a lot less expensive to shoot on a per round basis compared to buying from the store.

That said, I spend a lot of money on ammo, but the number of reloaded rounds per dollar is WAY higher than the number of rounds for that same dollar if I bought the ammo from a store.

 

[crracer_712]

I hadn't thought about rifle ammo when posting this, but yes, I agree, lots to save loading 30-06 and .243 for me there. I was mostly thinking pistol ammo, such as 9mm and .40 S&W.
I think I could see .380 being more economical to reload since it's kind of pricey to buy.

Without casting your own bullets, how are you all getting your costs below 10 bucks per 50 rounds on the 9 and .40? I re-use brass, I typically buy cheap ammo that has brass I can reload so no need to buy new brass (except for rifle brass). I haven't broken down the cost of powder yet, primers are costing me about 3.5 cents each. Bullets are the highest cost for me, 9mm not too bad, but it seems like I'm reloading for about the same price as cheap ammo.

 

[Walkalong]

Before I started reloading, I thought this was just a smart-aleck comment.

We all started with the best intentions of saving money, but we all end up just shooting more, which is not a bad thing.

 

[HOWARD J]

Years ago I saved a lot of money by reloading--we had Uzi's,9mm carbines,etc.
Today it is just a hobby--I like to fool around with new bullets, equipment, etc. I don't save any money but I could care less.
Retired 12 years it is a great time killer..............

 

[jcwit]

I started reloading to save money years and years ago, and it worked for a long while even with the increase in shooting. Now however the price of gas has curtailed the amount of shooting I do as I see no reason to spend $24 to $32 a week to travel to the range. And NO I do not need a hybrid van, both my cars average 35 MPG.

 

[45taurus]

crracer 712-

Without casting your own bullets, how are you all getting your costs below 10 bucks per 50 rounds on the 9 and .40? I re-use brass, I typically buy cheap ammo that has brass I can reload so no need to buy new brass (except for rifle brass). I haven't broken down the cost of powder yet, primers are costing me about 3.5 cents each. Bullets are the highest cost for me, 9mm not too bad, but it seems like I'm reloading for about the same price as cheap ammo.

The following is .40cal

50, MBC 140g TCFP Brinell 18 bullets($77 per 1000) $3.85

250g(around 5.0g per case) of w231 $0.64

50 Primers $1.50

once-fired casings that are laying around.....Priceless $0.00

Thats $5.99 for 50 rounds of .40cal ammo.

Per round-----$0.12
50 rounds-----$5.99
100 rounds----$11.98
500 rounds----$59.83
1000 rounds---$119.86
10,000 rounds-$1,198.60


Here is for 9mm(i'll save you the details...ok really to save me the hassle...)

Cost / 50----$5.69
Cost / 1000--$113.83


Both 9mm and .40cal can easily be done below $6 per 50.

Even less if you buy your bullets,primers,powder in major bulk. And that is without casting your own bullets!

 

[bubbacrabb]

You can get bullets much cheaper than that. Precision delta is like 140ish for 2000 115grain fmj shipped to your door. I think thats about the cheapest I've personally found for FMJ, I only use them for my glock barrels. Everything else I've been using missouri bullets they're cast, much cheaper. Now though, with the help of my neighbor that works in a tire shop I have 3 5 gallon buckets full of wheel weights so casting my own is in my near future.

 

[GLOOB]

Not only do I shoot more, but I spend way too much time picking up, sorting, and prepping brass.

I went out and bought 4 more speedloaders for my revolver in an attempt to help me shoot more and sort less. So far, so good. I'm not quite Jerry McCulik, yet, but I'm getting the hang of it. I finally realized speedloaders are easier to load than magazines, too. You just have to find a decent way to carry them. The other thing is, they're cheap and somewhat universal, between guns. You can't have too many. Sorta like Glock mags.

So by reducing my downtime, I guess I just found a way to blow...er, save even more money!

 

[EddieNFL]

In addition to saving money, some of us load rounds you won't find at Wally World....or the LGS...or via internet sales.

 

[cfullgraf]

Do any of you really save money by reloading you own ammo vs just buying the cheap stuff at Walmart?

I save money on my ammunition by reloading. Whether my cash flow changes, that is a different story.

Also, i enjoy it as a hobby itself.

 

[Yarddog]

"[I finally realized speedloaders are easier to load than magazines, too.]"

NOT]> There is a few PROS can come close, 16 rouns under 8 sec. is not bad, Not too many Wheel Guns can do it, W/O Moon Clips ; )
Y/D

 

[dc.fireman]

Do any of you really save money by reloading you own ammo vs just buying the cheap stuff at Walmart?

I'm not seeing a savings and just wanted to know if there are people that have a system down that would be a really good reason to reload if you basically just plink.

I reload, but still buy cheap ammo when available (which is not always the case at my local Walmart).

Mainly I reload for the enjoyment of it and to learn something new.

I'd always wondered if I were really saving money, and then I was shown this
site :http://10xshooters.com/calculators/index.htm

Give it a look, it might answer a few nagging questions.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I shoot a lot of .38/.357 and .45 ACP. My reloading costs is 10 to 12 cents a round. If I ever find loaded ammo that cheap, I'll buy it. Until then, I'll keep working out my right arm...LOL.

 

[Epoxyoyo]

I started reloading this past fall after spending $30 a box for 7mm-08 when I could find it. Re-loading costs me about $12 a box now and I don't have to worry about finding any plus I can tune the ammo to the rifle.

 

[crracer_712]

I'd always wondered if I were really saving money, and then I was shown this
site :http://10xshooters.com/calculators/index.htm

Give it a look, it might answer a few nagging questions.

That's awesome, thanks! Looks like I am saving about 2.50 per box of 50 on my 9mm. I messed up on my last .40 bullet purchase and bought some JHP, which increased the price quite a bit. Oh well, something new to shoot and a new recipe to figure out.