Just did a cost comparison for 416 rem mag. Cheaper than dirt has a box of 20 at 118/box. Cost for reloading with new cases - $52! Since new cases are not available I used the price of 375 H&H cases. Components priced at Midway. Guess this is enough reason to reload especially in the larger calibers....

Despite the extra cost I like to buy at least 40 round of factory ammo to start with.

They provide an accuracy benchmark for the rifle and you can get straight into breaking in the barrel and sighting it in.

Any defects in the rifle will show up with approved ammo and the shells can be reloaded later and the carry boxs can be used to take ammo overseas.

Waay back when I started reloading, I computed that I could load 100 rounds of 30-06 ammo for the cost of a single box of store bought. My wife was the first one I told.
Having determined that, I closed the books and never addressed it again. But over the years, I have bought every jimcrack and geegaw know to man for relaoding as well as several rifles with all the money I've saved by reloading.

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
Just did a cost comparison for 416 rem mag. Cheaper than dirt has a box of 20 at 118/box. Cost for reloading with new cases - $52! Since new cases are not available I used the price of 375 H&H cases. Components priced at Midway. Guess this is enough reason to reload especially in the larger calibers....

Even better when you take into account the fact of loading the cases several times before you have to buy new ones.

it pretty much seems that the more the bullets cost the more dramatic the savings is. i got into reloading for a couple of reasons. one being to do it as a hobby. another reason was i had 2 calibers that i could not find a box of bullets for locally and hunting season was fast aproaching. i load pistol and rifle. the 9mm i don't save all that much but it is noticable. iirc i think i can load them for about $130/k versus buying monarch at $10.50/box 50 which is $210/k plus tax. so still a decent savings but not as much as even .223 i loaded 1k for about $175 versus about the cheapest brass cassed i have seen was $375 so quite a bit better savings. its even better once you get up in caliber. i haven't shot my sks since starting reloading because theres really no savings reloading it but i cant make myself go buy a box of bullets now.

I reload because I refuse to pay half the cost of the box for new brass. I also like to fiddle with different powders, different charges and different bullets. I like to know what's in the casing...