Its much more than I thought it was!!!

30-06
standard bullet $10.60 per box with new cases, with reused cases $6.60
Premium bullet $24 per box with new cases, reused cases $20 per box!

375
standard bullet $21.60 per box with new cases, reused cases $12.60
Premium bullet $31.40 per box, with reused cases $22.40 per box!

std bullet = hornady, premium bullets = swift a frames

cost of cases calculated at buying 500 case lots
powder in 8lb cans
std bullet per 100
premium bullets per 50

* prices taken from Cabelas catalog and does not incl. cost of shipping & tax!

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
30-06
standard bullet $10.60 per box with new cases, with reused cases $6.60
Premium bullet $24 per box with new cases, reused cases $20 per box!

I'm just making sure I'm reading this the way I should: To purchase off-the-shelf ammo is $24/box and to reload a box of comparable ammo is $20?

Still well worth it to me. I know I'm getting consistancy round after round and I never found a box off off-the-shelf ammo (premium or otherwise) that could print groups as tightly as handloads. Plus, occasionally buying reloading components seems much cheaper to my finiance dept, which is very important to my hobby.

Money saved is secondary to my desire to reload. Besides I've never been able to find ammo loaded just the way I wanted.

I'm not sure where you buy but this is from Midway:
.30-06 Fed.Prem. 180grNP = $28/bx
handload w/ new brass = $18/bx
handload w/ 5xfired brass = $14.66
.375h&h Fed.Prem. = $52/bx
handload = $26.40
handload w/5x f.b. = $20.32

I see a ton of savings especially when you get away from std. calibers like .270, .308 & 06. Plus, as said, you get to tailor the load to your rifle. Shop around, buy in bulk, you'll save even more.

Don`t let my wife see this. She claims I bury $100 in the dirt everytime I go to the range, this will just validate her.............

Beside it is a hobby. Men have hobbies! Hobbies aren`t suppose to to be cheap.

Women have crafts! Crafts like sewing and toll painting are meant to save money.

Some just don`t seem to get the difference.......

Plus, what if you want a projectile/velocity combination, tailored for your particular firearm, unavailable from an ammo manufacturer? Ask them to custom load it for you?
I understand manufacturers spend millions developing accurate and safe ammo, but they will also have to make money on their product. So, it's simply a case of diminishing returns. I get a quite few jollies from fiddling with reloading equipment. Even decision making processes involved in component purchasing and manufacture [e.g. casting] prove interesting and personally satisfying.
I don't imagine ammo manufacturers [except the R&D guys] quantify the "enjoyment factor" involved in load development.
I mean to say, anyone can front up to the gun counter at X-mart and purchase a box of ammo. Usually by pointing to it or by telling the sales person to look on the third shelf and so on...the checkout person can't find the price, drops the box because it's heavier than they expect, and then ask if you're going to go shooting....
Where's the FUN in that? The FUN is priceless.
Albatross.

When you get away from stand. cal. such as 06 or .270 the saveings is HUGE! try buying .30/.378 Weath. for $20. (loaded with 1X brass)

I buy alot of suplus ammo from overstocks and go to gunshows wher i can usually find some good deals on bullets and reloading stuff. I havent saved any huge amounts but I do know what is coming out of my barrell when i pull the trigger. Plus if you are shooting for longer ranges it really helps to customize your loads to your rifle. I have consistantly outshot my buddies 7mm weatherby magnum at 300 yards with my savage 270. It should be a testamony to the benefit of relaoding and to the accuracy of a savage barrell over an overprice firearm. if you are doing it just to dave money it really doesnt benefit until you shoot alot and often. But look at it this way, at least you are not out at the local tavern.

I've found over the years that I'm not saving much because it's become a hobby and I do a lot more shooting. I probably shoot in excess of a 1000 rounds a year. I can use better components and my loads are always more accurate and perform better than store bought ones. I've been reloading since 1973 and my equipment has more than paid for it's self. But I can pick and choose my bullets etc to come up with what I feel are better loads than are available commercially at a substantial per box savings.

Not sure why he is buying components from Cabella's, but if those are the prices he is paying, I would look elsewhere...

Here is what it cost me to load several different calibers, with "premium grade" bullets:

.22-250 Remington
TOTAL COST PER ROUND $0.19
TOTAL COST PER 20 $3.75
TOTAL COST PER 50 $9.37
TOTAL COST PER 100 $18.74
TOTAL COST PER 1000 $187.40

6MM Remington
TOTAL COST PER ROUND $0.23
TOTAL COST PER 20 $4.51
TOTAL COST PER 50 $11.27
TOTAL COST PER 100 $22.54
TOTAL COST PER 1000 $225.38

.25-06 Remington
TOTAL COST PER ROUND $0.25
TOTAL COST PER 20 $5.04
TOTAL COST PER 50 $12.59
TOTAL COST PER 100 $25.18
TOTAL COST PER 1000 $251.80

7MM Remington Magnum
TOTAL COST PER ROUND $0.32
TOTAL COST PER 20 $6.24
TOTAL COST PER 50 $16.05
TOTAL COST PER 100 $32.11
TOTAL COST PER 1000 $321.07

.30-06 Springfield
TOTAL COST PER ROUND $0.29
TOTAL COST PER 20 $5.77
TOTAL COST PER 50 $14.43
TOTAL COST PER 100 $28.86
TOTAL COST PER 1000 $288.62

.375 H&H Magnum
TOTAL COST PER ROUND $0.50
TOTAL COST PER 20 $10.07
TOTAL COST PER 50 $25.17
TOTAL COST PER 100 $50.35
TOTAL COST PER 1000 $503.47

9MM Parabellum
TOTAL COST PER ROUND $0.19
TOTAL COST PER 20 $3.85
TOTAL COST PER 50 $9.63
TOTAL COST PER 100 $19.26
TOTAL COST PER 1000 $192.63

And the list goes on and on...

Prices taken from Midway, rounded up. Hasmat fee nor shipping included. (who pays hasmat anyway)

Brass- 50 for $11. per case .22 each You should be able to reload at least 10 times
Cost = .02 per round.

Powder- XMR 4064 (what I use for the .308) One pound for about $18. 7000/45 (my load) = 155 loads per pound.
Cost = .10 per round.

Bullets- Sierra 168 grain MatchKings. 100 for $21.
Cost = .21.

Primers- WW primers 1000 for $18.
Cost = .02

Total cost per round = .35
Total cost per box = $7.
Cost for Federal loaded with 168 grain MK = $26.

One item left out. Labor
Cost of loading and shooting = priceless.

Bill Mc, Cost or loading and shooting = PRICELESS

Yes that about sums it up. I was taught as a young boy that if you want something done right... then do it yourself. Mostly this has proven true, especially when it comes to reloading.

Here's some reloading costs for my Kimber 45 ACP.

Lee Casting equipment.....cheaper every time I use it.
Thinned out Lee Tumble Lube.....virtually nothing.
Recycled range scrap [some else's commercial hard-cast!].....FREE, falling out of a berm.
Pine resin for flux.....FREE.
Pine stick from the same tree.....DITTO.
Brass: 2000+ x 45 ACP [various manufacturers].....FREE, on the ground.
Ammo Boxes, used once and thrown away.....FREE.
A "brick" of primers, on special at Walmart.....about 1.3 cents each.
Propellant, say 4 gn Red Dot [Walmart special, $13/pound].....about .75 cents.
So, excluding; equipment costs, electricity, wear and tear, some carby cleaner, an old tooth brush, a tin can or two, and my time, I'm looking at less than 3 cents per round. No doubt I could further reduce propellant costs with bulk surplus powder. I have one of those brass catcher thingies as well.
Anyway, I can put 5 of these 3 cent rounds into a 1.1 inch group at 25 yards, which speaks volumes for Kimber, and Lee.
Albatross.

I think a lot of people get into loading thinking of saving money but it is more of a hobby for perfectionist to craft their own loads.
Here is another way to compare cost. I load 120 TSXs in my 7mm08 with Varget powder and CCI BR2 primers. How much would I have to pay Remington to create that for me? It ain't going to happen. Your comparison of cost is like comparing apples to oranges.

Well tomorrow morning I will be at the range where I will be shooting 40 rounds of 375 H&H loaded with Barnes TSX and banded solids. Plus 40 rounds of 6.5x284 loaded with the 142 grain SMK's. Plus about 20 rounds of 22.250 and 20 rounds of 223.

I figure it won't cost me more than greenfees for a round of golf or 1/2 hour in a strip joint. At least at the range I don't cuss and swear as much or get into as much trouble with Wifezilla.

45 Colt and 44 mag would break the bank and be wimpy if not handloaded.

45acp and 9mm factory ammo is good enough and cheap enough.

.223 factory ammo is plenty powerful and cheap, but not accurate enough.

There are no factory loads for 8x57mm with Barnes Triple Shock bullets.


What does it all mean?
There are many reasons to buy or to handload ammo.
Cost is just one.

quote:

Originally posted by ricciardelli:
Not sure why he is buying components from Cabella's, but if those are the prices he is paying, I would look elsewhere...

.30-06 Springfield
TOTAL COST PER ROUND $0.29
TOTAL COST PER 20 $5.77
TOTAL COST PER 50 $14.43
TOTAL COST PER 100 $28.86
TOTAL COST PER 1000 $288.62

.375 H&H Magnum
TOTAL COST PER ROUND $0.50
TOTAL COST PER 20 $10.07
TOTAL COST PER 50 $25.17
TOTAL COST PER 100 $50.35
TOTAL COST PER 1000 $503.47


And the list goes on and on...

Come on Steve, where do you get "premium" bullets for .25c each????? Maybe Nosler blems, but they aren't available for every caliber in every weight.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Mc:
Prices taken from Midway, rounded up. Hasmat fee nor shipping included. (who pays hasmat anyway)

Brass- 50 for $11. per case .22 each You should be able to reload at least 10 times
Cost = .02 per round.


Powder- XMR 4064 (what I use for the .308) One pound for about $18. 7000/45 (my load) = 155 loads per pound.
Cost = .10 per round.

Bullets- Sierra 168 grain MatchKings. 100 for $21.
Cost = .21.

Primers- WW primers 1000 for $18.
Cost = .02

Total cost per round = .35
Total cost per box = $7.
Cost for Federal loaded with 168 grain MK = $26.

One item left out. Labor
Cost of loading and shooting = priceless.

(who pays hasmat anyway) how do you get around it.....or is that a funny?

Also check out midway usa. The biggest problem in your first post is when you said cabelas. Don't get me wrong, I like Cabela's, they offer stuff I can't get anywhere else but they are not the place to shop for reloading components.

I'm paying $11.15 a box for my .375 H&H reloads when I reuse the brass. That is ordering the bullets from midway and buying the powder and primers from the local gunstore. powder by the pound and primers 2 or 3 hundred at a time.

Were I to have him include a 8lb can the next time he reorders powder for the store it would be cheaper. Ditto for primers by the thousand. But I'm still in load development for my 375 so I don't justify 8 lb cans yet.

I don't save any money reloading but I shoot alot more. And $11.15 vs. $32.99 for comperable factory ammo at the gunshop means I get to shoot my 375 2.96 times as much for the same $$. And when your a 26 year old cop with a young family thats a big deal.

500 jeffery (and 505 gibbs)
assuming 10 reloads per case, premium bullets

35¢ case
1.25 bullet
36¢ powder
3¢ primer
$1.99 per round

cost new? $20-22 bucks each


470 NE ... 22 bucks a round new, $1.85 reloaded, with premium bullets

use cast bullets and surplus powder on the 500 Jeffe? 81¢

there's rounds I don't bother reloading... 9mm, 223, 7.62x39 ...

and then there's what I normally shoot... bigger stuff


and it all started with the 358 winchester...

1.75 vs 45¢

jeffe

Cast lead bullets: $15/500 bought locally, so no shipping.

Red Dot Powder: $90.00/8 lb, I drive to the store and don't charge myself for gas or a hazmat fee, because I was going there anyway.

Federal Magnum Large Pistol Primers: $20/1000

Brass, reloaded 20 times: <$0.01/ea

Cost per round: $0.06
Box of 50: $3.00
Box of 50 factory 357 rounds: $12

My savings per box are $9.00. A morning at the range saves me $54.00 (one bullet box filled to the top holds about 300 loaded rounds). If I learned anything from Bill Clinton, it's economics. So, 10 Saturdays at the range, and I had enough saved to pay for my Dillon RL-550B with some extras. I've actually used my savings from reloading to buy some nice firearms.

H. C.

quote:

(who pays hasmat anyway) how do you get around it.....or is that a funny?

No funny. Buy powder and primers from the local gunstores or at the gunshows. Unless you're buying in extreme bulk.

From Midway Catalog.
Powder can be ordered in any mix of brands, type and weight not to exceed 48 lbs. total order (4 lbs. Minimum). Each order incurs a set shipping fee of $9.99 and a Hazardous Material Fee of $20.00.

There is a lot of ways to save on reloading, when I go to the range and my buddies go along shooting the same caliber, they don't want to reload so I ask them if I can have the brass and would they save the brass for me, also you can talk to some of the dealers in your area and ask what it would cost to add componets to thier regular order payed for in advance, some will work with you, especiall to cut down of HAZMAT FEES, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

A lot of the time especially at public ranges and even some clubs the guys will give you the brass because they just don't want to mess with it, WHAT RELOAD OH NO I JUST BUY MY SHELLS!!!!!

I've been loading premium 30-06 rounds for $11.54 a box of 20. That's w/ accubonds and once fired R+P brass from a gun sighting company that sells brass pretty cheap.

Considering that Premium Factory loads cost around 30 bucks for the same loads, I say it's a pretty good deal to roll you own.

Not to mention much less run-out, better charge consistency, and better accuracy.

The only thing I reload that is not cost effective is shotgun shells. Components have gotten so expensive that you can by factory rounds cheaper than you can by the supplies to load the shells.

Reloader

Was bored to death in an endless meeting last week and looked for something better to do. Rummaging in my briefcase I found the invoice of my last Sinclair consignment and made up exactly this calculation. Under the premise that reloading equipment and cases (fired & reloaded 8 times) are already written off I came to the following result:

6.5 x 55 SE: $ 0.33/rd
.308: $ 0.32/rd
8 x 57 IS: 0.37/rd

Components used: Sierra Matchkings, CCI BR2 primers, Varget & RL 22, re-calculated on the lb.-price.

As my neighbors started to doze off, I pulled out the Sinclair catalogue and made up an even more interesting calculation: I wanted to find out the break even point, i. e. the point when the reloading equipment starts to pay off (as compared to factory ammo). I started on the basis of the RCBS kit (which I had in the beginning and used for many years), the above mentioned components and Lapua cases. This is what I found out:

.308: payoff after 520 rds (vs. Federal GMM)
8 x 57 IS: payoff after 734 rds (vs. Federal)

Using the spent cases I had collected the result was even better: 463 rds (.308) and 663 rds (8 x 57 IS). Together with the same amount of 6.5 for my Swede this is what I fire in less than half a year.