Stupid Question

[TimM]

I have been out of the reloading game for going on 20 years now. When I did reload it was not really an effort to save $, it was about working up accurate loads that my rifles liked. However, now $ is tight and I am considering getting back into reloading.

These days I am not so much into rifles (still have them and still enjoy them) but I do enjoy shooting my .45s, .38s and .357s and I want to start competing in handgun events. I am looking at a Lee Turret Press as I am not going to be pumping out oodles and oodles of ammo. My question is - percentage wise, how much money can you save reloading vs buying ammo off the shelf these days?

 

[Iron Sight]

Its confusing to me at the moment because the prices on projectiles has increased a bunch$$ just very recently.

 

[Dirtypacman]

I only started reloading last summer - picked up a Dillon 550. I currently reload for .45, .40, and .38. Just over the course of the summer I saved myself about $150 in ammo costs and got to shoot alot more then if I had been buying manufactured ammo. It will probablely take me about 2 or 3 years to get a return on my initial investment but I usually only shoot every other weekend. Buying materials in bulk will help keep the cost down overall.

 

[Crimp]

I'm certain there are a lot of loaders that save much more than I do by buying in bulk, but I figure my .45 ACP costs this way.

My brass is no cost. I have thousands that I've scrounged from the range and always pick up more each visit.

(Today's price per round)
Powder from local gun shop: $0.022
Primer from Walmart: $0.027
Bullet from mail order: $0.104
My time - priceless!
Total: 15.3 cents a round. ( $7.65 a box )

I also use a Lee Turret and usually load a batch of 100 rounds at a setting which takes me around an hour or a bit more. You could add in walnut shell for the tumbler, depreciate the press and dies, add the cost of using the pistol range, the electric to light up your loading bench, etc., but I don't really care. Handloading is one of my favorite hobbies and gives me great satisfaction.

If money is tight, you might not save a bunch, and the initial investment must be considered, but you will save in the end - given that you continue shooting the amount of ammo you do now. Unfortunately, it seems the more ammo you make, the more you'll shoot!

Good luck!

 

[DragonFire]

Crimp has prices about right. Alot depends on prices for components where you are, unless you do online purchases. Factory prices also depend on where you live, how big a quantity you buy in etc.

I bought a dillon Square-Deal-B, and recovered my initial outlay in about 6 months. It all depends on how much you shoot.

I went with a progressive press since it would be cheaper in the long run (than starting with a single-stage and then buying a progressive). I can comfortably do 300 round an hour (and could do more if I really tried). I tend to do alot of reloading over the winter months and not so much in the summer (when I can be outside shooting).

Its not a matter of if you will save money (if you don't count your time) but how much you save.

 

[Steve Koski]

About 50%, more if you use lead bullets.

 

[Asherdan]

I'll go along with that 50% answer. That's about where the number fell for me when I started reloading 44 mag, 45-70 was more like 75%. My total outlay for tools and materials was $525 and got me through the load development phase. By the end of that I had a premium hunting load I'm happy with and a good practice load settled on in both calibers and I had just about broken even cost wise on the initial investment. Now I've got 150 hunting loads in each cartridge boxed up and waiting and am only producing lead practice loads that I buy material in bulk for, so the savings percentage is much greater. My shooting budget goes a heck of a lot farther than buying factory ammo.

 

[1911NM]

I save about 50% also, buying components in small lots locally. If I cast my own, and bought in large lots looking for cost savings, I have heard of up to 75% depending on caliber. Right now, I load primarily for competition using a .45acp, and use a progressive press because like the poster said, "my time- priceless". I can reload enough for a week of practice and competition (min. 500rds) in a couple of hours of an evening, and not rush with it.

 

[RustyFN]

I would say at least 50%. The best way to save money is to buy in bulk. Look at Powder Valley and Graf & Sons for powder and primers. I buy Wolf and Magtech primers because they are quite a bit less than other primers. Try to go in with some friends in the area and make a group buy. I do that with a few friends and we get some great prices. You can buy 50,000 primers for one $20 hazmat fee, or 50 pounds of powder or 50 pounds of primers and powder mixed. If your order is over $500 at Graf's they will give you 5% off of the order. Hope this helps.
Rusty

 

[Roccobro]

Graf's gives free HM if you order over a certain amount of primers and powder. The 5% goes on top of that.

Justin