Thread: Is reloading much cheaper??

Hi all
Sorry for the rather obvious and I’m sure often asked question but is it much cheaper??
I’ve a 6.5CM which after shooting a bit to find it’s favourite ammo is only fired (infrequently)in anger at beasties.
Recently bought a 30-30 which is a heck of a lot of fun to shoot and half the price of the creedmore factory ammo, but that said want to shoot it more often. So my question is as indicated, is reloading that much cheaper (fine tuning accuracy aside, don’t think I could shoot better than the factory ammo allows me)
Cheers
FP

Yes but no.......................yes it can be cheaper in that you can load more ammo for the same $100 bucks vs buying factory but since you are reloading you tend to shoot more because its cheaper.

I have always reloaded and only rarely if ever brought factory ammo but recently brought a 308 and just been using factory ammo rather than load anything for it apart from specialist subsonic stuff.

You will be able to make cheaper ammo, but you will end up buying more rifles and shooting more.
You also need to be shooting quite a few rounds to spread the cost of the equipment over.

Originally Posted by Cigar

You will be able to make cheaper ammo, but you will end up buying more rifles and shooting more.
You also need to be shooting quite a few rounds to spread the cost of the equipment over.

What he said is exactly my situation

It can be but then you will likely spend more in the long run.

For you loading lead projectile loads for that .30-30 fun gun might make for cheap plinking if can buy bulk hard cast lead projectiles.

It's a hobby and short of loading cheap target rounds you can tailor hunting loads with premium projectiles.

Beware, it's a slippery slope.

yes and no, its am extension of the hobby, theoretically you save more as you spend less money per a round, but you end up shooting more, plus you end up buying new reloading equipment as it becomes a hobby in itself, and then youve got to ask the real question, how much is your time worth?

Mate was paying $86 for 20 rds 308 Win Superformance 150gn SST.

At $100 for 100 projectiles in May, $86 for 500gm AR2206H and $0.21c replacement cost of primers per each it worked out from memory around $37 to reload 20 of his once fired brass. Component prices have increased but so has ammo. Just run the numbers.

Of course this does not count the investment cost of a well equipped reloading bench. For a 30-30 however and any mainstream calibre at sub 150m ranges, I'd just use a Lee Loader to load hunting rds. Lee Loader, box of pills, can of powder, couple of hundy primers and you'll bring meat home for years. If your any good lol. Minute-of-deer, or pig, or goat, is not hard to achieve with a Lee Loader. And lots of fun.

Or just make friends with someone already in the game...

From my study, reloading is cheap than buy from shop, but cost your time & efforts. For those professional shooter, reloading is a fun just like I do all my fishing rigs, one cm longer or shorter could make difference ( assumptions by results). I like 6.5mm, as well 8mm, if there could be enough people like those, there are many ammo factories in east Europe, say we have 100 buyers, then we can manage from there.

Ah - Shooting is a hobby - the more toys, the better. IF you think it is cheaper, you will shoot more, and enjoy more.

Yes - get the reloading gear. I did some years ago, and had great fun buying cheap 270 projectiles(by the many hundred), powder by the 4kg container (cause it cheaper), primers by the thousand.

Now, my shooting is totally free, and i still have enough compenentary to see off a couple of 1,000 rounds a year for the foreseeable future.

Oh - I did seem to end up with many more guns as well, but hey, I didnt need to buy much ammunition.

I've got a 6.5x55 which is basically the same as what you've got. Provided I didn't buy too much gear (didn't happen) my break even mark was around 800 rounds. I allowed $4 per round for factory ammo and reloaded is $2 per round.

Originally Posted by Magnetite

I've got a 6.5x55 which is basically the same as what you've got. Provided I didn't buy too much gear (didn't happen) my break even mark was around 900 rounds. I allowed $4 per round for factory ammo and reloaded is $2 per round.

$1800 buys a lot of reloading gear....

Like everyone else says, its cheaper per shot but you do shoot more. If you stayed with the basics and a simple press you would save money but you often end up down the rabbit hole.

Prior to taking up reloading I would shoot 2-300 rounds a year, now the addiction had taken hold its 5-6000....

The cheapest option is finding a mate who has the gear already..

The best value reloads I ever did were in .223. Bulk 55gr Rem SPs, W748 powder I was given by an old clubmate, free brass c/- a "Govt Dept"... You could blaze away without damaging the wallet. Were prob about 15c each then which is about 8yrs ago. My current .284 comp gun is over $3 every time I pull the trigger if you include barrel depreciation. Burned off 100 just on the weekend.

My reloading costs for .308
Case amortization (assume 10 reloads) $0.16
Barrel replacement (assume 5000 shots) $0.20
Powder (approx varies a little with load) $0.40
Primer $0.10
-----------------------------------------------------
Subtotal $0.86

Projectile cost $0.50 or $1.00 depending on type.

So my average load is either $1.36 or $1.86 per round, tuned to my rifle.

Is that cheaper that bought ammunition? Probably, but I've never bought factory ammo.

I don't include amortize the cost of reloading gear as I load 2500 - 4500 rounds per year.
The loading gear has paid for itself (I hope).

I actually get over 10 uses per case and over 5000 rounds per barrel.
Primer, powder, projectiles and cases are bought in large lots to reduce the price.

It’s cheaper if you have a mate that is so far down the rabbit hole that they do it for you.

The best way to think of it is that it is the same as the question ‘is meat cheaper when you hunt it yourself’.

Yes (If you shoot numerous deer with a cheap .303 from the bush at the back of the neighbours farm.)

No (If you have to make multiple trips with upwards of $3k of hunting kit onto public land that takes 2 hrs to drive to and you maybe get a skinny yearling once or twice a year.

In either scenario you loathe buying from the supermarket.


Same with reloading.

You can be up and running with a Lee hammer kit for under $150 iirc, cheap reloads but limited options.
Or
>$1000 gets you properly into the process but you need to reload about 2000 rounds minimum to make your money back on the investment in gear.

In either scenario you loathe buying factory.