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Posted: 1/19/2015 9:40:52 PM EDT
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Hi guys. I am clear on the process of reloading but this is the first time venturing out on my own. My plan is to doa bulk amount of the cheapest plinking rounds in .223 and 9mm and then eventually dial in some precision .223.
What I'm asking some direction in is this; 1. What is generally my lowest cost acceptable powder? 2. How about the cheapest bulk bullets? 3. Who has consistently low prices/reasonable shipping prices? 4. Are there cheap components that I really must avoid? I'm excited, tinkering gun hobbies are just as fun as shooting to me. Thanks guys! |
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Search here http://ammoseek.com/
I recently got some Hornady 55gr FMJ from http://monmouthbrass.com/ |
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Quoted: Hi guys. I am clear on the process of reloading but this is the first time venturing out on my own. My plan is to doa bulk amount of the cheapest plinking rounds in .223 and 9mm and then eventually dial in some precision .223. What I'm asking some direction in is this; 1. What is generally my lowest cost acceptable powder? Wherever you can find it, you will have to do your own search, you have much competition. 2. How about the cheapest bulk bullets? You will have to do your own search, to find venders go to the top of the page and look in LINKS. 3. Who has consistently low prices/reasonable shipping prices? You will have to do your own search, not a lot of difference. 4. Are there cheap components that I really must avoid? Americ cases any caliber. I'm excited, tinkering gun hobbies are just as fun as shooting to me. Thanks guys! Start watching the "where to find" thread at the top of the page for components. You will have to act fast. Don't start a thread asking where to find powder, bullets, ect. I will lock it fast, as you must use the tacked thread for these questions. As it is your questions are skirting the line on this already. Do some reading at the top of the page. FAQ's, Tutorials, ect. Welcome to our hobby.
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Quoted: Search here http://ammoseek.com/ I recently got some Hornady 55gr FMJ from http://monmouthbrass.com/ Use the tacked thread.
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Here's what I run - I assume it's a pretty popular recipe and runs between 18-25c per round (not including brass) Bullet: Hornady 55gr SP w/cannelure (~10c ea.) Powder: Hodgdon H335 (~8c per charge) Primer: CCI #41 or CCI #450 (~4c per) When it comes down to it - bullets are about the same, give or take a few bucks. For me 10c/ea is acceptable and I don't spend much time getting below that price. I buy them in 1k bunches and typically visit the following: MidwayUSA midsouthshooterssupply PrecisionReloading (haven't been here in a while) You can also watch gunbot.net - I used it a lot during the shortages. Powder and Primers I buy locally from an awesome couple that has a small business. I place my orders a few months in advance if the powders/primers aren't in stock and just wait to be contacted. It takes some advanced planning but it beats calling or visiting gun shops every few days to see what they have. If you shop around enough you can likely find better deals to lower the cost. I think it was MidSouth a few months back that waved the HazMat fee because they had so many primers and no powder. I stocked up on Small Pistol and Small Rifle for around 3c per. -Millbarge You are fine. dryflash3  |
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Good recipe.. Cheaper and easier to find 55gr powder is Alliant 1200-R.
OP, when I started shooting, I just wanted to blast away. Once I started reloading, I realized how much more accurate my rounds were compared to the cheap crap bulk ammo I could buy at Walmart. Then I realized it's not worth blasting. For the rounds you want to make, the "fixed costs" (die, press, trimmer, etc) to make the quantity you want to make will overwhelm your cost per round in the beginning.. I would focus on worrying about that up front assuming you haven't. Then concern yourself with cost per round in terms of consumables. Hornady FMJ or SP are the standard in terms of cheap good accurate 223 rounds. For 9mm, go with lead or plated and your costs will be very low. Although, I got an especially great deal over the holidays on Hornady FMJ 115's. My cost was near plated which was fantastic. Lyman 49th if you haven't read it yet. Good luck! Quoted:
Here's what I run - I assume it's a pretty popular recipe and runs between 18-25c per round (not including brass) Bullet: Hornady 55gr SP w/cannelure (~10c ea.) Powder: Hodgdon H335 (~8c per charge) Primer: CCI #41 or CCI #450 (~4c per) When it comes down to it - bullets are about the same, give or take a few bucks. For me 10c/ea is acceptable and I don't spend much time getting below that price. I buy them in 1k bunches and typically visit the following: MidwayUSA midsouthshooterssupply PrecisionReloading (haven't been here in a while) You can also watch gunbot.net - I used it a lot during the shortages. Powder and Primers I buy locally from an awesome couple that has a small business. I place my orders a few months in advance if the powders/primers aren't in stock and just wait to be contacted. It takes some advanced planning but it beats calling or visiting gun shops every few days to see what they have. If you shop around enough you can likely find better deals to lower the cost. I think it was MidSouth a few months back that waved the HazMat fee because they had so many primers and no powder. I stocked up on Small Pistol and Small Rifle for around 3c per. -Millbarge You are fine. dryflash3
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djryan13 - Thanks, I didn't even think about recommending a reloading manual. I'm a fan of the Sierra Manual myself. I love the layout and the 3-ring binder. I was able to download/print/add the 300BLK data they posted online. It looks like it came with the book. I also have a Hornady Manual - I'm not sure what I don't like about it - but for some reason I rarely pick it up. -Millbarge
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Quoted:
Here's what I run - I assume it's a pretty popular recipe and runs between 18-25c per round (not including brass) Bullet: Hornady 55gr SP w/cannelure (~10c ea.) Powder: Hodgdon H335 (~8c per charge) Primer: CCI #41 or CCI #450 (~4c per) When it comes down to it - bullets are about the same, give or take a few bucks. For me 10c/ea is acceptable and I don't spend much time getting below that price. I buy them in 1k bunches and typically visit the following: MidwayUSA midsouthshooterssupply PrecisionReloading (haven't been here in a while) You can also watch gunbot.net - I used it a lot during the shortages. Powder and Primers I buy locally from an awesome couple that has a small business. I place my orders a few months in advance if the powders/primers aren't in stock and just wait to be contacted. It takes some advanced planning but it beats calling or visiting gun shops every few days to see what they have. If you shop around enough you can likely find better deals to lower the cost. I think it was MidSouth a few months back that waved the HazMat fee because they had so many primers and no powder. I stocked up on Small Pistol and Small Rifle for around 3c per. -Millbarge You are fine. dryflash3
You're the man!!! Been hoping to finally find a post like this that lays it all out. I know the mods keep wanting me to go through the stickied threads and tacked posts, but it's so damn confusing to an utter beginner. Going through all the dozens of suggested online stores... then realizing you have no friggin clue how many rounds of 5.56 or 9mm you can get out of a pound of Varmint something something gunpowder makes it a hair yanking experience. Spent an hour getting nowhere before giving up last night. |
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Johnson, the main cost that I have found I have control over is the brass. Everything else of similar quality is going to run pretty close in costs.
It's brass that can be anywhere from free (range pickup where allowed) to brand new if you think you "need" it that way. Then there's how you treat your brass and how many reloads you get on each case, and you can get even more if you want to anneal. You can get maybe 4 or 5 reloads on once-fired brass if you don't supercharge it, and annealing after that will get you maybe 10 more loadings on it. The bottom line is that I've found that it's the cost of brass that will determine your overall economical cost of shooting. |
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Quoted:
Going through all the dozens of suggested online stores... then realizing you have no friggin clue how many rounds of 5.56 or 9mm you can get out of a pound of Varmint something something gunpowder makes it a hair yanking experience. Spent an hour getting nowhere before giving up last night. Grains are a unit of weight just like a pound is a unit of weight. The term grain does NOT mean "one kernel of gun powder", it means "one grain" of weight. There are 7000gr in one pound, so just do the math. If for example your charge is decided upon to be 27.5gr, then 7000 divided by 27.5 = 254. That means that you can figure you would get 254 rounds to one pound of powder, or 2036 rounds from an 8 pound keg. Of course, there will be some spillage and the usual "not perfectly exact" charge setting, but you get the picture. |
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Quoted: You're the man!!! Been hoping to finally find a post like this that lays it all out. I know the mods keep wanting me to go through the stickied threads and tacked posts, but it's so damn confusing to an utter beginner. Going through all the dozens of suggested online stores... then realizing you have no friggin clue how many rounds of 5.56 or 9mm you can get out of a pound of Varmint Varget something something gunpowder makes it a hair yanking experience. Spent an hour getting nowhere before giving up last night. You need to get a couple of books that explain the reloading process and the components to a beginner. First is ABC's of Reloading. Tells how to reload, pick out reloading tools, and explains components. Then get a good quality reloading manual, I suggest Lyman 49. Both are about $20 each. eta, this is one of the threads you can find at the top of the page, http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/263380_Everything_You_Wanted_to_Know_About_Reloading_But_Was_Afraid_to_Ask.html |
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Here is what I am doing for 9mm loads:
Bullets-Xtreme plated 115 RN, lots of [email protected] each Powder-HS6, 6.5 grains, $28.00/[email protected] Primers-CCI [email protected] .13 per round for range shooting rounds Not sure what my 223 rounds are, as I was given 2000 bullets free!. |
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9mm, 115gr lead will be cheapest, plated/coated will be next cheapest. Bulk is almost always best price wise.
I like 4-4.5 grains of Unique which tends to be pretty cheap as far as powders go. Accuracy and cycling matter, paper doesn't care how hard you hit it. Whatever small pistol primer you can find, I shop them on price and availability, they make too small a difference for most to see. 223, 55fmjs are usually cheapest, and fine for short range action type competition, or plinking, Hornady's offering is generally considered best in the class. I like lightish loads of H335, Tac, or Exterminator, with 55s, all fairly low cost, good metering, capable of very good results. I shop my .223 plinking primers by cost and availability as well, light loads and no need of MOA accuracy lets me get away with it. There is one primer by Remington that isn't suitable for .223 IIRC. Buy a manual, Lyman 49th is great. Always work up in your firearms, and retest when changing components. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Hey thanks to everyone. I really do appreciate the help.
I do have a manual already, Lyman 49th. It came in the package deal I bought which also included: 1. Lee Classic Cast Breech Lock Single Stage Press 2. Lyman 1200 tumbler. 3. Lyman universal case trimmer. 4. 1000 CCI small pistol primers. 5. Lee small pistol priming tool. 6. Lee small rifle priming tool. 7. Lee perfect powder measure. 8. Lee .223 die set. 9. Lee 9mm die set. 10. Lee deburring tool. 11. Lee chamfering tool. 12. 100 LC once fired .223 brass. 13. 6lbs of Lyman green corn cob media. All in all, I thought it was a great deal to start out for $150 from a guy who decided not to use it. It was all new in box. Again, thank you everyone for helping me start this new hobby. I am sure I will be asking many more questions. |
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Quoted:
Hi guys. I am clear on the process of reloading but this is the first time venturing out on my own. My plan is to doa bulk amount of the cheapest plinking rounds in .223 and 9mm and then eventually dial in some precision .223. What I'm asking some direction in is this; 1. What is generally my lowest cost acceptable powder? 2. How about the cheapest bulk bullets? 3. Who has consistently low prices/reasonable shipping prices? 4. Are there cheap components that I really must avoid? I'm excited, tinkering gun hobbies are just as fun as shooting to me. Thanks guys! As for powder, the difference in prices for various smokeless powders is relatively small, you might as well buy the best powder for each cartridge and be done with it. Most name brand gunpowders are in the $20/lb range, with Norma and Vihtavuori more like $30/lb. For the .223 I prefer Benchmark and for the 9mm P I like Winchester Super Field. One more suggestion, only load as many cartridges are you expect to shoot in one range session. That way you are not stuck with a load that performs poorly in some way. If your firearms are particularly accurate, I predict you will quickly gravitate from blasting ammo to pet loads. - CW |
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Quoted: Hey thanks to everyone. I really do appreciate the help. I do have a manual already, Lyman 49th. It came in the package deal I bought which also included: 1. Lee Classic Cast Breech Lock Single Stage Press 2. Lyman 1200 tumbler. 3. Lyman universal case trimmer. 4. 1000 CCI small pistol primers. 5. Lee small pistol priming tool. 6. Lee small rifle priming tool. 7. Lee perfect powder measure. 8. Lee .223 die set. 9. Lee 9mm die set. 10. Lee deburring tool. 11. Lee chamfering tool. 12. 100 LC once fired .223 brass. 13. 6lbs of Lyman green corn cob media. All in all, I thought it was a great deal to start out for $150 from a guy who decided not to use it. It was all new in box. Again, thank you everyone for helping me start this new hobby. I am sure I will be asking many more questions. Never use the Lyman red media, it contains red abrasive you will hate. (walnut) The green media will work well. Read the first part of Lyman 49, it's a great "how to reload" read. Nice deal on your equipment. |
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Quoted:
p: Its OK to buy cheapo bullets, e.g., pulled down 55 grain FMJs for the .223, but brass, powder and primers are another matter. I suggest you start with quality .223 brass from Winchester, Remington or Hornady. Starline makes good pistol brass, also Winchester and Remington. Once fired Lake City military brass is OK too, but you need to remove the crimp in the primer pocket. Since good brass can be reloaded many times, buying substandard stuff is a false economy. As for powder, the difference in prices for various smokeless powders is relatively small, you might as well buy the best powder for each cartridge and be done with it. Most name brand gunpowders are in the $20/lb range, with Norma and Vihtavuori more like $30/lb. For the .223 I prefer Benchmark and for the 9mm P I like Winchester Super Field. One more suggestion, only load as many cartridges are you expect to shoot in one range session. That way you are not stuck with a load that performs poorly in some way. If your firearms are particularly accurate, I predict you will quickly gravitate from blasting ammo to pet loads. - CW Quoted:
Quoted:
Hi guys. I am clear on the process of reloading but this is the first time venturing out on my own. My plan is to doa bulk amount of the cheapest plinking rounds in .223 and 9mm and then eventually dial in some precision .223. What I'm asking some direction in is this; 1. What is generally my lowest cost acceptable powder? 2. How about the cheapest bulk bullets? 3. Who has consistently low prices/reasonable shipping prices? 4. Are there cheap components that I really must avoid? I'm excited, tinkering gun hobbies are just as fun as shooting to me. Thanks guys! As for powder, the difference in prices for various smokeless powders is relatively small, you might as well buy the best powder for each cartridge and be done with it. Most name brand gunpowders are in the $20/lb range, with Norma and Vihtavuori more like $30/lb. For the .223 I prefer Benchmark and for the 9mm P I like Winchester Super Field. One more suggestion, only load as many cartridges are you expect to shoot in one range session. That way you are not stuck with a load that performs poorly in some way. If your firearms are particularly accurate, I predict you will quickly gravitate from blasting ammo to pet loads. - CW Yes I am sure it won't take long to start dialing in pet loads. I just finished an SPR build and have started a 700 short action project also. I figure blasting ammo is a good start in learning the reloading in-and-outs and then go from there. |
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