Altho I shoot and hunt a fair amount I do not reload for my rifles or shotguns. I recently got a 9.3x74R Chapuis and wonder if it's worthwhile to consider reloading for this? I have absolutely no reloading equipment so would have to start from scratch.

Does anyone know approximately what is the per-round cost of reloading this caliber?

Oxon

Look at websites, catalogs or local dealers for prices on factory ammo and also components that you like. Then, add up the costs of bullet, primer, powder and case. On the second loading, the case is free. The savings usually come from reusing the cartridge case, which is the most expensive part.

The other part is to amortize the cost of your loading equipment over how many years you expect to be shooting. Loading for another cartridge then costs you only for dies and a shellholder.

If the numbers do not favor reloading, rework your assumptions until they do by adding in the enjoyment factor of "rolling your own". Taking game with your own reloads is far more satisfying.

Actually, you won't save anything by reloading. You will shoot that double rifle so much more that the savings will fly downrange. You have a DR, enjoy it to the max.

Thanks - I do hear you and understand those issues - I don't need another compulsion unless it makes economic sense and I cannot judge primer/powder/bullet costs since I've no experience with the process.

The Zen part I get; the bucks part I don't.

I'm pushing 70 and don't have a 20-year horizon and maybe I should just forget loading and do more shooting?

Oxon

quote:

Originally posted by Oxon:
Thanks - I do hear you and understand those issues - I don't need another compulsion unless it makes economic sense and I cannot judge primer/powder/bullet costs since I've no experience with the process.

The Zen part I get; the bucks part I don't.

I'm pushing 70 and don't have a 20-year horizon and maybe I should just forget loading and do more shooting?

Oxon

If you can afford to buy enough factory ammo to shoot as much as you like then don't bother trying to learn how to reload.

465H&H

Never viewed reloading as a way of saving money. My view point is I can make better ammo that is designed for the rifle and situation at hand than any factory could.

Been reloading for 42 years and have never shot an animal with a factory round in my life other than rimfires. Starting to get back into bullet casting as well so I can taylor make a practice round for my awaiting 450 Nitro.

I say go for it. Buy all the stuff and give it a whirl. It is immensely satisfying especially when you down your first animal with your own reloads

I'd look at it from a "How many 9.3X74R rounds do I intend to fire. Unless you are going to fire over a hundred rounds a year, I'd stick to factory ammo.

Don't know what factory costs, never bought a box, but to reload a box would be
bullets--$4 PRVI 286gr ($10 for Hornady)
primers---$0.70
powder--$5.00
Brass--$20.00 (eliminate this second loading)

So for $36/42 per box you can load a box the first loading and $10/16 per box next time. Equipment to load will probably set you back $150. Checked Midway and Hornady ammo was $64/box, so you would save $24 on the first box of reloads and $48 on the second. You can pay for your equipment in about 4 boxes of ammo. Other bullets will cost more. Nosler partitions about 3x than the Hornady bullets, but the ammo is also $30/box higher.
As said, you won't save money, you will shoot more and use up the savings.

I have been reloading for over 10 years and YES it makes economic sense.

That said, I will tell you what an old guy who is long dead told me about reloading when I started.

"Don't think you are gona save any money, you will still spend the same amount of money on shooting, which will be the most you can spend.
The only difference is you will shoot 3 to 4 times more on the same amount of money"

I have found this to be very true!!

I'm just a regular working man who loves rifles. I honestly could not afford to shoot any of my guns (except maybe 223 and 30-30) if I did not reload. I bought a Lee press kit (came with press, scale, powder measure, priming tool) for $100 a few years ago and do all my loading on it (17 fireball to 458 win). I have never seen the need for a more expensive press as this one does everything I need really well so far.

When I go to the range I shoot mainly 375 ruger (because I really like it). Here is a breakdown of what it costs to shoot it.

Speer 2471 235gr bullet: $0.40 each
Reloader 15 powder: $0.20/shot
Primer: $0.03/shot
Case: $0.70 each/10 min. loadings = $0.07/shot

Total: $0.70 a shot or $14 a box. My gun has never had a single factory shell through it. It is even cheaper to load 458 since I can use cast bullets.

I can't imagine not loading since it is such a huge money saver for me.

Matt

The start up cost will be realized in a couple hundred rounds for that rifle, or for more than one rifle shorter time. There is an old saying among prolific shooters, that goes like this, "You won't save any money by hand loading, you will just shoot twice as much for the same price!" I add to that with in most double rifles you not only gain the cost savings but also become very efficient with your double rifle, a fact that in some cases may actually save your life, or that of someone else.

Thank you, guys. This is all extremely helpful to me in trying to process the alternatives.

I also discover that there are many more bullets available than there are in loaded cartridges!

I'm starting to try to learn something about the various presses on the market.

In the 9.3 in particular, you have to reload (or buy custom loads) if you need solids. If you don't need solids, then you are unlikely to use enough ammo to justify reloading. This stuff is relatively cheap. Besides, the gun is likely regulated for Norma factory ammo and if you reload, you may not be able to get your loads to regulate.

Just another perspective here, and probably not a very popular one, but here goes: I've been reloading for over thirty years, for numerous cartridges. I don't like it, but it lets me get the maximum amount of shooting per dollar spent. I reload almost exclusively for shooting practice, using mostly factory stuff for hunting purposes. I don't get the satisfaction from it that many seem to, and could easily equate reloading to refueling my car...gotta do it, don't expect to enjoy it. BUT...you get a lot more shooting if you do it, and, as mentioned, you can put together some of the (very few) types of loads that can't be purchased.

Here is another way to look at it. Again this probably depends highly on how much you shoot. I shot 400+- rounds of 375 this year plinking, goofing around, learning a new rifle, and having fun blowing up pumpkins and milk jugs.

If I did not reload:
20 boxes X $48 = $960

Reloading:
20 boxes X $14 = $280

Granted I am plinking with the cheapest bullets I could find........but I guess I don't feel the need to blow up a pumpkin with a $2 bullet.

Matt