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Posted: 11/18/2011 9:07:50 AM EDT
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Ok guys I am interested in learning more about reloading. I have never done any reloading but I am looking into it as a more cost effective means of building up a defensive ammo supply for both 5.56/308 as well as some pistol calibers. Here are a few questions for you guys but please feel free to chime in with any input or threads I ought to check out.
What is your average cost per bullet for reloads? (I know it varies greatly based on what you load but I would love to get an idea of whether or not it will be more cost effective) What is your time per load? (I'm sure this is entirely based on the equipment you use) Is reloading a practical means of producing ammo or is it more of a chance to build small production specialized loads? What is a best guess of start-up cost for a basic reloading station and supplies? (I have looked at the Hornady and dillion offerings briefly) I know these are frustratingly basic questions but I know that I can count on you guys to help me get my ducks in a row. Thanks in advance for any input you may have. |
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Quoted:
Ok guys I am interested in learning more about reloading. I have never done any reloading but I am looking into it as a more cost effective means of building up a defensive ammo supply for both 5.56/308 as well as some pistol calibers. Here are a few questions for you guys but please feel free to chime in with any input or threads I ought to check out. What is your average cost per bullet for reloads? (I know it varies greatly based on what you load but I would love to get an idea of whether or not it will be more cost effective) ~40% of retail comparing same components What is your time per load? (I'm sure this is entirely based on the equipment you use) ~50rds/hr including all prep...single stage eta: faster for pistol Is reloading a practical means of producing ammo or is it more of a chance to build small production specialized loads? yes and yes What is a best guess of start-up cost for a basic reloading station and supplies? (I have looked at the Hornady and dillion offerings briefly) ~$400 for single stage I know these are frustratingly basic questions but I know that I can count on you guys to help me get my ducks in a row. Thanks in advance for any input you may have. This has been my experience. Also, check the tacked FAQ thread tacked above |
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Personally, I really don't save any money in reloading. If you're considering getting into reloading to save money, you shouldn't. You'll spend more on the supplies and components than you think, not to mention all the time it takes to prep and make ammo.
I reload because it's fun, I can't get to a range as much as I would like (who does). So reloading gives me an opportunity to be doing something with my guns. When I do make it to a range I like to try out the different recipes and experiment with the loads. |
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Personally, I really don't save any money in reloading. If you're considering getting into reloading to save money, you shouldn't. You'll spend more on the supplies and components than you think, not to mention all the time it takes to prep and make ammo. I reload because it's fun, I can't get to a range as much as I would like (who does). So reloading gives me an opportunity to be doing something with my guns. When I do make it to a range I like to try out the different recipes and experiment with the loads. Then you're doing it wrong. You may shoot more, therefore spending more money, but the loads should be less. ex. I load and equivelant to Federal Gold Medal Match 308 for about 95 cents/rd...that's $19 per 20. That same box of factory ammo costs $40. If you don't add in the cost of brass its 55 cents. cost calculator eta: the savings is less for handgun rounds |
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First thing is, read through the information at the top of the forum. There are Resources and a tacked thread that will answer nearly all of your questions.
Start here: http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=486 http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=400 |
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Personally, I really don't save any money in reloading. If you're considering getting into reloading to save money, you shouldn't. You'll spend more on the supplies and components than you think, not to mention all the time it takes to prep and make ammo. I reload because it's fun, I can't get to a range as much as I would like (who does). So reloading gives me an opportunity to be doing something with my guns. When I do make it to a range I like to try out the different recipes and experiment with the loads. Then you're doing it wrong. You may shoot more, therefore spending more money, but the loads should be less. ex. I load and equivelant to Federal Gold Medal Match 308 for about 95 cents/rd...that's $19 per 20. That same box of factory ammo costs $40. If you don't add in the cost of brass its 55 cents. cost calculator eta: the savings is less for handgun rounds This! My cost per round is much lower-30-45 percent of retail. My rounds are more accurate and suited to what I am using them for as well. I shoot a lot more so I do not spend less but I am much happier! Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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I can reload match quality 223 for under 30c and 9mm defensive ammo for ~15c a round with top quality components.
Its worth it over match rifle or defense 9mm ammo, but Ill continue to buy cheap ammo for plinking, practice, and short range matches. I spent over 700$ getting my initial setup, all things considered. Very time consuming, but its kind of fun. |
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Speaking strickly for cheap blasting ammo:
If you shoot a lot of pistol the savings can be pretty steep. I shoot 45 acp - the cheapest deal on gun-deals right now for Tula is $.25/rnd, but without even trying hard to find deals on components I can load for $.12/rnd with lead bullets. ($38/500 bullets locally, $.03/each primer, and $.02/rnd powder). For 223 the savings are not quite so good. You can get the cheap stuff for about $.20/rnd. It's hard to reload for less than $.15/rnd for me. I buy pulled 55fmj's for about $65/1000 shipped when available, and that helps out a lot because otherwise you are looking at a few cents more each. If you want to save substantial money you are going to have to scope for deals and buy cheap and stack deep when you see them, use surplus powder etc. If you are buying Hornady bullets by the hundred, powder by the pound, and primers by the 1k you aren't saving any money (but you will have a lot higher quality and more accurate ammo). Once you get into match grade rifle ammo, or anything other than 223 or 762x39 the savings really start stacking up. |
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Quoted: Then you're doing it wrong. You may shoot more, therefore spending more money, but the loads should be less. ex. I load and equivelant to Federal Gold Medal Match 308 for about 95 cents/rd...that's $19 per 20. That same box of factory ammo costs $40. If you don't add in the cost of brass its 55 cents. cost calculator eta: the savings is less for handgun rounds I disagree. Prices below don't include brass prices. For pistol, you're more likely to lose them than you are to wear them out. With rifle (.223 in an AR, for example), you're probably going to scrap your brass in 3 or 4 reloads. With .223, you're limited to some sort of jacketed or plated bullet ($80 per 1k), lots of powder (~$65 worth), and $30 in primers. You're looking at $175 before brass cost compared to $300 for regular brass cased. With .45, you can shoot cast lead (185gr for roughly $90 shipped from Missouri Bullet Company) with nice little loads of Titegroup (5.5gr is $14 for an $18 bottle), and CCI primers ($30) is $134 per 1k. The cheapest you can buy ANY brass cased .45 is roughly $300. Per my math, saving $165 per 1k of .45 is greater than saving $125 per 1k of .223. Even if you buy 230gr FMJ's from Precision Delta ($129 IIRC), you'll only spend $175 per 1k. Still saving $125 over internet deals, and saving $175 over buying at Walmart. Pistol pays much faster than rifle for blasting ammo. For "match" ammo, you'll save more compared to off-the-shelf match rifle ammo. |
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If you reload premium bullets you save a lot more than if you reload fmj's. Compare the price of Federal Gold Medal Match to reloaded .223/.308 using the same Sierra bullets and you are way ahead if you reload. The same goes for quality hollow points in handgun ammo. Simply buying surplus 115 grain 9mm fmj's on sale is hard to beat when you consider your time and equipment costs.
In the end I could have purchased a boat load of ammo for what I have tied up in equipment, supplies and time spent. However, I have complete control of the end product and my ammo shoots well enough to win tournaments out to 600 yards provided I do my part. I wouldn't go back to store bought even if I hit the lottery. |
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Quoted: Ok guys I am interested in learning more about reloading. I have never done any reloading but I am looking into it as a more cost effective means of building up a defensive ammo supply for both 5.56/308 as well as some pistol calibers. Here are a few questions for you guys but please feel free to chime in with any input or threads I ought to check out. What is your average cost per bullet for reloads? (I know it varies greatly based on what you load but I would love to get an idea of whether or not it will be more cost effective) My rule-of-thumb is, my reloading cost is 25% to 50% of whatever brass cased factory ammo, whether it's $.35 FMJs, or several dollar per round match ammo. I don't shoot steel cased ammo except in my SKS. What is your time per load? (I'm sure this is entirely based on the equipment you use) For pistol ammo, time is very short per round, just pull the handle on my LNLAP. For rifle ammo, brass prep is what takes the most time. Is reloading a practical means of producing ammo or is it more of a chance to build small production specialized loads? Yes What is a best guess of start-up cost for a basic reloading station and supplies? (I have looked at the Hornady and dillion offerings briefly) You can get started for as little as $100 for a basic single stage. A Hornady LNLAP or Dillon will run about $1000 to get started. As has been said, you won't actually save any money, you'll just get to shoot 2 or 3 times more. One of Murphy's corollaries is, All the money gets spent. Expenses meet or exceed income. |
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What is your average cost per bullet for reloads? (I know it varies greatly based on what you load but I would love to get an idea of whether or not it will be more cost effective) I reload match-quality 223 with heavy (expensive), accurate, effective bullets for about $0.25 per round. Cheaper bullets would cost much less. What is your time per load? (I'm sure this is entirely based on the equipment you use) I get about 300 rounds of rifle ammo per hour. When you first start out, you will probably get about 100 per hour but your rate will build quickly. Is reloading a practical means of producing ammo or is it more of a chance to build small production specialized loads? It is, absolutely and primarily a means to produce top quality ammunition at the lowest possible cost! The specialty loads are just that, a specialty. Most people load a single, basic recipe that they load in large volumes. What is a best guess of start-up cost for a basic reloading station and supplies? (I have looked at the Hornady and dillion offerings briefly) While start up costs can be as low as a few hundred, consider that even spending a thousand bucks, you will recoup your cost very, very quickly. I would bet you break even or are ahead of the game on cost in your first year. Of course, the time to recoup cost is dependant upon how much you shoot. Alternatively, I'll say this, you will break even in just a couple of thousand rounds (depends upon what you cartridge you shoot). Thanks in advance for any input you may have. I hope this helped. Go for it! |
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Thanks everyone for all of the responses!!! You have definitely peaked my interest so how about recommendations on a good starting setup? I see that there are several kits available so which one would you recommend Buy the best tools you can afford. You haven't mentioned your budget. For single stage; Lee = good Lyman = Somewhere in here RCBS / Hornady / = Better Redding = Best Two schools of thought in buying reloading equipment. 1. Buy Lee to see if you like this hobby, and maybe later upgrade your equipment. 2, Buy once cry once. Get "Better or Best" to start with. Kits; know that no kit has everything you will need, so plan for that. Go up to Reloading Tools and Accessories, copy off the list of needed equipment, you will see what I mean. |
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Thanks Dryflash and everyone for all of the input
I will be checking out the list and starting to price everything out... I get the feeling it will be a lengthy process of buying things as I have the income to do so. Maybe Santa will bring me some reloading goodies this year 
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!! |
| More expensive to reload. Some of my loads, 45-70 especially running premium bullets probably run close to $4 a round. I doubt any of my stuff is under $2 a round. Premium brass, primers, scales, dies, etc, causes it to add up. Not cost effective to load but my ammo is 10x better at least than factory. I would agree on the 50rnds per hour single stage, using no powder drop, balance beam scale. |
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