Thread: friends asking how much for load development

Its good that you have actually put a realistic figure for 4 days work. Too many of us dont charge enough for our time and time aint something you can buy some more of if youre short. And price the components at todays retail rate, not what you bought them for, cos you will have to replace them for yourself at todays rate. If they pay for the dies, then I'm assuming that they get to keep them once you've completed the load development. But you need to include a fee for the use of your dies, if you use your dies. Which can then be a pita cos you have them set for your loads and have to reset them each time you use them for another rifle.

Personally i dont load for anyone else other than my brother because although i enjoy it, i cant charge enough to make it worthwhile. If your doing it cheap to help a mate out and dont mind taking a loss then thats fine, or loading up something generic for a bush gun is a different story but say you have someone that wants a finely tuned long distance load sorted, Im sure we are all well aware of just how many hours you can blow through in the shed & at the range trying different combinations & then shooting them. Even just simple load development doing it properly with 1 particular bullet and powder config, by time you factor in all the hours involved, especially if the rifle is fussy and takes alot of pissing around to get it to shoot, Could easily blow through 10 hours without even trying and if i was to charge someone 10hrs for load development + consumables, travel costs to range etc at what my current labour rate is, they would have a heart attack. So for me, im better off to just go to work.

I have given up loading and developing loads for other people, it's just fraught with issues and everyone thinks it's easy/doesn't take long and have no appreciation for how much time and effort go into it. Happy to teach people what I know, that's a different ball game

Originally Posted by dannyb

I have given up loading and developing loads for other people, it's just fraught with issues and everyone thinks it's easy/doesn't take long and have no appreciation for how much time and effort go into it. Happy to teach people what I know, that's a different ball game

Yeah 100%, same here ive given up as it just eats your time and becomes a pain. Now i just tell people that they can come to me and ill teach them or buy the gear and ill come teach them. Id rather go hunting than load for others

im happy to teach also, but i get time when i get time, and half the time no one wants to cam hang out for a while during load development...

Had the same mate. Ive hosted reloading class - entry to advanced level. Some die hard supporters will appreciate it, but for most reloading is as boring as watching paint dry.

I charge $1250 for load development - which is way to little - especially if I have to travel 4 times to Kaitoke(4.5hr of driving - thats not even including time spend shooting and cleaning.)

I was thinking - I could host some reloading classes again..

Originally Posted by Jaco Goosen

Had the same mate. Ive hosted reloading class - entry to advanced level. Some die hard supporters will appreciate it, but for most reloading is as boring as watching paint dry.

I charge $1250 for load development - which is way to little - especially if I have to travel 4 times to Kaitoke(4.5hr of driving - thats not even including time spend shooting and cleaning.)

I was thinking - I could host some reloading classes again..

I'd be keen for that

your mate buys the components...and comes and does the reloading under your supervision on your gear....works the best for me.its a pain in the arse having little bits of others components in the cupboard with my own...you buy it and keep it and bring it with you works far better.

Sorry for the double post gents.

it was worth reading twice.

Originally Posted by Jaco Goosen

Sorry for the double post gents.

Fixed

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

it was worth reading twice.

want me to put it back

and here was I being nice and polite for once.....after seeing 6.c cm comment on heart attack...I COULD have said...if I had to pay for enough components for dannyb to do a load develpment for me...my wallet would be protesting before he was done and I would possibly be having heart failure at how much and how long it was taking........ but Im honest enough to know it would be money well spent,and the end result would be perfect in every possible way..far to good for a heathen bush hobbit like me!!!!!
its just as well we arent all the same of life would get boring.

Clearly I'm too cheap

Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

Clearly I'm too cheap

Lol, keep telling yourself that!
You probably are for what the client gets though.

Sent from my SM-A226B using Tapatalk

I load for a couple of good mates. They cover their equipment and components costs but as good friends I do the loading on me. They come lend a hand when they can and I show them how to do parts of the process. I limit it to only good friends for the time reason though and they return the favour when the day comes as good mates do. I’ve had others offer to pay for me to reload but the time I need to get to the range which isn’t close by just isn’t worth it for me amongst other life stuff atm.