I am just getting into reloading and only doing so for one caliber to start with. I have been using Nosler bullets in my 270 Win reloads at a price of 63 cents per bullet, and at that price by the time you add primers and powder, you are not "saving" enough money for me to justify spending the time to load the ammo. I had a friend tell me about buying "blemished" or "second" bullets at considerably less cost, and I received an e-flyer from Midway advertising some. I splurged and bought 1800 at 12 cents each.

I had to buy more powder and primers which I bought locally, and with my "cheap" bullets and full retail on powder and primers, I have gotten my cost per shot down to 35 cents per shot. I had been buying Winchester Supreme Accubonds at $30+ per box for my son and I, so I am tickled to death at my reloaded price.

That being said, my friend has already warned me that, though I may be saving per shot, I will start shooting more and probably spend the same in the long run. Oh well, the price of having fun!

check this out.

Jeff;

When you speak of "Nosler bullets" at 63 cents each, you are obviously speaking of one of Nosler's high-end bullets such as their Partitions.

Federal factory rounds from Midway using Nosler Partitions are in the $35 area for 20 rounds, or almost two bucks per round.

There's absolutely no point in using top-notch premium hunting bullets in year-round plinking or practice, and there are MANY superb .270 bullets available for under 25 cents each...Hornadys, for example.

You're definitely on the right track now,
though!

Enjoy.

Since i have 06 brass, my cost is $9/box when loading 165SSTs, would hate to pay 20Plus for the factory SSTs, OUCH!

Hornady 130 gr SST's cost me about .23 per bullet. I have saved enough brass that they make reloading work for me. Still plan to do a little more research into buying those factory second or blem type bullets. Are they consider blems just because of cosmetic apperance or is bullet performance negativley impacted?

Before I made the switch to cast bullets and cartridges I found Speer's run of the mill soft point and round nose soft points killed critters real well. It's been a while since I dropped hunting, have Whitetails and mule deer gotten bigger and tougher in the past 20 years?
Jim

Hey Jeff,

Your friend is correct. You won't save any money in the long run, but you will shoot a lot more!!

Did you factor "reloading" into your cost? Divide the cost of your brass by at least five.....

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by Bren Mk1:
Jeff;
There's absolutely no point in using top-notch premium hunting bullets in year-round plinking or practice, and there are MANY superb .270 bullets available for under 25 cents each...Hornadys, for example.

You're definitely on the right track now,
though!

Enjoy.

When it comes to deer and pronghorns and even black bear the old (and cheap) Hornady interlocks are extremely good bullets!!!!!

When one factors in his time the cost of reloading changes.....but I do it this way.....If I wasn't reloading, I'd be at the bars drinking, chasing women, getting DWIs on the way home, burning gasoline and raising insurance and etc. etc. etc.....

In the end, I save so much money reloading that my guns are all free!!!!

You won't be saving any money but you will be shooting more for the same money and spending more quality time with your son shooting and reloading. Both of you will become better shooters/hunters.
What are you hunting with the .270 that you need a premium bullet? Also, don't forget, you can use a plain jane cheapo for your practice bullets and switch to the high dollar bullets for your hunts.

quote:

When one factors in his time the cost of reloading changes.....but I do it this way.....If I wasn't reloading, I'd be at the bars drinking, chasing women, getting DWIs on the way home, burning gasoline and raising insurance and etc. etc. etc.....

Ah yes, whiskey and women.

Unless you are buying factory ammo with premium bullets, the brass is the single biggest cost component. As Bob pointed out, you should get at least five loadings per piece of brass and maybe quite a few more than that. That will be a considerable savings over time.

There's also the value of your time, which is probably considerable. But it's a great hobby and also one that you and your son can share. I also derive great satisfaction from getting a gun to shoot really well.

LWD

Jeff Sullivan,

Reloading is a hobby. None of the folks I know ever stopped at the basic equipment for loading only one caliber. True, you can go whole hog and invest in every gadget, stockpile supplies, etc. Then your budget can fly out the window. I guess it's the same with any hobby. I worked with a guy who flew model airplanes. After some time, he needed a bigger thrill. He started investing more and more time and money until today he creates custom planes powered by chainsaw engines that have the ability to outrun his remote control in 2 seconds...sometimes never to be seen again as they just keep on flying out of control until the fuel runs out.

So it's up to you just how deep you wish to get into this hobby. Remember, no ones twisting your arm to use expensive nosler bullets.

Search function 'shootersproshop' for another source of nosler seconds.

Thanks for the advice. I am only reloading for 270 for now. I have trimmed my caliber collection down to 4 majors(22-250, 30-30, 308, and 270 Win) and will end up reloading for all of them as I get everything figured out.

I am only using the Nosler Partitions for hunting not plinking but have switched to the SST's since I have so many for so cheap.

As for the price of my time, I am now reloading while I watch TV which is turning non-productive time into something productive. I am counting my time as free.

reloading a 270 win, you won't see much difference in cost because the 270 ammo is about the cheapest rifle caliber avaliabe along with the 30-06.
When you start getting into calibers like 45-70, 338 win, and of the RUM or weatherby calibers that start at $35 a box for the cheapest stuff, then you start to save a good amount.
The whole shooting more thing is true though. when I bought factory ammo, I would only shoot 20 rounds because it was so expensive. no I shoot upwards of 100 rounds each time because I can afford to make more ammo than buy it.

I will have to say that if " Your " not saving money reloading , then either your not shooting enough or your loading incorrectly !.

If one is planing on an Elk or Deer hunt once or twice a year and spends $$$$ on reloading equipment then YOUR NOT saving any money what so ever !.

How ever if your shooting K's of rounds a year in what ever calibers ( Excluding Rim Fire Ammo ( then I can't help but see where one wouldn't save $$$$ over years of loading .

Besides half if not more of the fun is " Building " that special load for sub MOA shooting .

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

I've tried many times over the years to figure out whether & how reloading has been, is, or will be, saving me any money.....

-Sure individual rounds are cheaper if I load them myself.
-Sure, I shoot more.
-Sure, that makes me a a better shot so I miss fewer snimals wjen hunting...which saves me some money over paying for a hunt and MISSING.

-Yeh, but then wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy meat at the bitcher shop?

-True, but by hunting I can get both meat AND recreation, which MAY reduce the cost of each. It's certainly cheaper than my wife's addiction to Grand Prix jumpers and polo ponies.

Anyway, I finally said "To hell with all this niggling! Pretty much everyone in my (low)economic class spends everything they earn, no matter what. So, if I'm gonna spend it all anyway, I might as well spend it doing what I like, when I like, and where I like."

That is, it boils down to all my money being gone...the question being simply what do I want it to go for?

Guess what? that means I attend lots of gun shows, reload a lot, hunt whenever the mood moves me, and try to shoot one or more of my rifles at least once a week.

And I no longer waste time worrying about where I may save a nickel or a dime doing any of it. I reload because I can, and I LIKE to!

Check out the Nosler Shooter's Pro Shop for their 2nds. Supposedly they are blemished, but danged if I can see any blems on mine and they shoot fine too. I've stocked upon upon their Partitions in 270, 30, and 375. I think I spent about 20-25 cents for the 270 and 30 cal Partitions and about 40 cents for the 375 Partitions. That's about half of what their 1sts costs.

So, you can shoot a premium bullet all the time if pay attention.

A few good sources for components:

Graf & Sons

Nosler Bullets

Powder Valley

Widener's

Regards,
hm

I know I save money or that is what I tell my wife. Currently I am relaoding and shooting my 300 win about 30-49 rds a week. I am shooting Accubond 2nds, with 75.5 gr RL 22. I have my seating depth figured out and this is going to be the "LOAD", so I can save even more buying powder in bigger lots. After hunting season I will start working on my -06, I want to see how it shoots RL 22 and if I get a good load with it even more savings. But for me it isn't about the money, shooting and reloading and visiting with you guys here is my "THERAPY", this is my get away without ever leaving my basement. It allows me to re gain and maintain my sanity after the daily and weekly grind. That my fellow constituants is " PRICELESS" Thank you

I find reloading/handloading to be a very productive hobby.....by which I mean I feel like I have accomplished something even if all I did was resize a bunch of brass.

Shooting at the range is very theraputic for me.

I do feel the need to compulsively buy more components.

Maybe more range therapy will help!

Cheers,

Dan

When I first got married, I told my wife all about the benifits to reloading. Cost savings, not at the bar, etc.

Well... Now she knows that any time I buy a gun, you have to add in the cost of dies and such! But in the end, if you shoot alot, you can make back the cost of the dies and press very quickly. I figure my .308 costs me about $0.80 per shot (with newer brass), while factory loadings of the similar bullet will be about $1.45. Since I shot a lot, I have saved a lot of money!
Of course I shoot about 5 times more than I would with factory ammo.. But that is what keeps me from going golfing.

Jeff;

"I am now reloading while I watch TV."

This statement SHOULD have set off alarms all over this forum, but apparently it didn't.

Hear me on this. Even experienced handloaders with decades of loading behind them CANNOT AFFORD the possible lapse of concentration caused by outside influences. As a relative newcomer to the hobby, neither can you! That TV that seems so important can cause you to make a mistake that could haunt or even kill you or someone else.

DO NOT DILUTE YOUR CONCENTRATION WITH THE STUPID TV!

When dealing with primers, powder, CHOICES involving same, HANDLING issues involving same, and 60,000 psi pressures CAUSED by same, you are abdicating your responsibility if your devotion to the tasks at hand are in any way diffused, especially by your own choice.

If your devotion to the TV is so deep, you need to get some other hobby than handloading. A casual approach to the forces we deal with is dangerous.

I won't apologize for my strong words here, but I write them in hopes that you will see the reasoning and protect yourself and those around you.

Very interesting reply's..... I too got into this to save a bit....Not sure if I'm seeing the savings as yet....But, I found a great way to stress relief; having fun; found a great bunch of people to share ideas with...I am not reloading for 223; 9mm; and soon for my 45....

I really dont care if I save anything...cause "I'M Having Fun"

Suds

quote:

I really dont care if I save anything...cause "I'M Having Fun"

Now you're catching the fever.....great.....it's a good past time!

quote:

Originally posted by Bren Mk1:
Jeff;

"I am now reloading while I watch TV."

This statement SHOULD have set off alarms all over this forum, but apparently it didn't.

Hear me on this. Even experienced handloaders with decades of loading behind them CANNOT AFFORD the possible lapse of concentration caused by outside influences. As a relative newcomer to the hobby, neither can you! That TV that seems so important can cause you to make a mistake that could haunt or even kill you or someone else.

DO NOT DILUTE YOUR CONCENTRATION WITH THE STUPID TV!

When dealing with primers, powder, CHOICES involving same, HANDLING issues involving same, and 60,000 psi pressures CAUSED by same, you are abdicating your responsibility if your devotion to the tasks at hand are in any way diffused, especially by your own choice.

If your devotion to the TV is so deep, you need to get some other hobby than handloading. A casual approach to the forces we deal with is dangerous.

I won't apologize for my strong words here, but I write them in hopes that you will see the reasoning and protect yourself and those around you.

Bren,
You are quite right about charging cases and seating bullets. However sizing, priming, trimming and deburring batches of brass can be done with minor distractions of music, radio or even television. If you have carefully laid out your cases and the appropriate primers a ball game or such should not be a problem with batch priming cases. Of course priming should only be done while wearing some type of safety glasses.


When the powder is out I don't allow any distractions. At least that's my $.02.

No distarctions for me. No TV no radio No talking to the wife. Iff she needs something she calls down and I go up when I get a minute. I don't want to get" blowed up"

Bren Mk1,

I couldn't have said it any better! And I won't apologize for being harsh, either.

Reloading takes all your concentration. It's not like tying a wet fly where being mindless while watching Oprah won't hurt you, or cost you that trophy buck.

Save the multi-tasking for when you're behind the steering wheel.

The best gun is one that you have taken care of and worn out.
To wear one out you have to reload.

At US$94.50 a box for the 338-378 Weatherby factory ammo, reloading will make that $24.80 a box... That is based on reloading the existing once fired factory brass... Add $45.00 when I have to buy new brass and that is still cheaper then the $5.00 a shot for factory ammo... I have a good selection of once fired factory cases to reload at this point and the cost of the "donner" ammo cost about as much as the reloading equipment did.... I will have the equipment paid for in short order....

Ken....

Hey ; Albert Canuck ( -Yeh, but then wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy meat at the bitcher shop? ) YES it would be !. But then take Dan H 's advise because if not what do you think a shrink would cost ?.

Besides YOU love to hunt it's not just about the gun or money or pulling the trigger , or even reloading the ammo " it's the EXERCISE !." Well ok the camaraderie with fellow hunting partners .

I don't know how much a lb. I paid for that Alaskan Salmon but I know I could have purchased a couple of Nice Rifles and Scopes for what one trip cost me . Then again People up Alaska way need money to !. I really love going there I just wish they needed a little less , so I could go more often !.

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

I usually have a CD in on low while reloading. So I don't hear other noises in the house and get distracted.

What is funny, is that I can't listen to Bach's "The Passion" without thinking of reloading!

quote:

Originally posted by NEJack:
I usually have a CD in on low while reloading. So I don't hear other noises in the house and get distracted.

What is funny, is that I can't listen to Bach's "The Passion" without thinking of reloading!

Better than salivating when you hear a bell ring.

quote:

Originally posted by Winchester 69:

quote:

Originally posted by NEJack:
I usually have a CD in on low while reloading. So I don't hear other noises in the house and get distracted.

What is funny, is that I can't listen to Bach's "The Passion" without thinking of reloading!

Better than salivating when you hear a bell ring.

Fabulous!!!

You spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars on that rifle that you just had to have, and now your worrying about a few cents per round!

When I started gathering info on reloading a few months back a guy told me to forget about saving $$ and just get ready to shoot a lot more and watch your groups get smaller and smaller. It has since the became just as much of an addiction as shooting. "Honey, I have to go to the basement to restock the furnace".....an hour later I come back upstairs she says...gee the furnace sounds a lot like your press clicking".........oops.

quote:

Originally posted by 28sstony:
You spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars on that rifle that you just had to have, and now your worrying about a few cents per round!

I also own a $45,000 pickup, but I can barely afford to put diesel in it.

When one throws away a piece of brass after firing a factory round, one is discarding about 65% or more of the cost of that cartridge.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jeff Sullivan:
I am just getting into reloading and only doing so for one caliber to start with. I have been using Nosler bullets in my 270 Win reloads at a price of 63 cents per bullet, and at that price by the time you add primers and powder, you are not "saving" enough money for me to justify spending the time to load the ammo.QUOTE]
Even at your listed price for components, you are still loading a premium round for $17/20. I'm not sure you can buy them for even close to that. High powered rifle rounds are where I save the most money.

Not only the cost benefits or being able to shoot more...

I also like the fact that I can assemble about whatever ammo style I want!...

Want a downloaded round with a ballistic tip on it... or a TSX instead of a plain old corelokt?

Reloading gives me all the flexibility I want or could ever ask for....
If you count up your benefits being a reloader with deer hunting.. magnify that about a dozen times for varmint hunting!

Burn thru 500 to 600 rounds in a day out of a bolt action 223 out varmint hunting.. and see what that would cost you for factory ammo, vs handloads.. and compare the accuracy difference to boot!!!

handloading can also give a rifle a lot more flexibility that can't be purchased off the shelf with store ammo...

all of those are benefits one can't fit a dollar value too.....

I bet you I have 40 boxes of factory ammo that is well over 10 yrs old, that I haven't shot, because I started handloading... ever since, I haven't shot factory ammo except for rim fires.. or a couple of times that 223 ammo was on sale, that the price was so low.. the primer powder and bullet were free... as it was as cheap as I could have just bought the brass for...

I am also surprised tho, that few people purchase factory ammo on sale before a fall hunt, in say an 06 with a 150 grain corelokt and then pull the bullet and re install a partition or TSX or something like that....

I have done that for a few people.. a cheap way to get some premium ammo...

quote:

Originally posted by Winchester 69:

quote:

Originally posted by NEJack:
I usually have a CD in on low while reloading. So I don't hear other noises in the house and get distracted.

What is funny, is that I can't listen to Bach's "The Passion" without thinking of reloading!

Better than salivating when you hear a bell ring.

Well yes, but my wife wonders why I have the look I do when we go to the yearly Bach concert at a local college.