I can make super cheep range/practice ammo using my own molded and coated bullets. After scrounging brass, and molding and coating bullets I can get down to $7.50 a box, about 50% retail. What costs money is carry/self defense ammo, at $25-$30 for a box of 25... I can load high velocity cartridges sporting Hornady 115gr XTPs for about $20.00 per 50. That makes it affordable to practice with your carry ammo, otherwise you're just shooting range ammo, and hoping you're on target with your carry ammo. You can buy brand new Starline brass, match grade primers and powder, name brand bullets, hand weigh and measure everything, and hand load one at a time on an arbor press with boutique dies, and get about the same performance as good match grade factory ammo. How much time and money do you have? I probably loaded and shot 5000 rounds this season, using an old Lee challenger single stage press. It took a lot of time but I kept myself in ammo. I know a guy who probably went out 3-4 times this season, shooting factory ammo...and has 3 Dillon 750s set up on a bench for 223, 9mm, and 45acp. that he's maybe made 1000 rounds in total. He works 50 hrs a week, has money and no time. The other thing is caliber. It's hard to match prices on 9mm or .223/5.56, but it starts making a difference when loading pistol cartridges like .357mag, or .44mag, or pretty much any rifle cartridges, like 3006/.308 or hi powered rifle like 22-250 or 300win mag. Usually around $2.00 a round to buy, but can load many for less than $1.00 a round. I can buy Hornady match ammo for my 6mm ARC at Sportsmans Warehouse for $28.00/box 20. I can handload the same exact cartridges (Hornady brass, too) for $16.00/box 20. Is it worth it? The factory ammo shoots .52 moa and my ammo shoots .42 moa. What's the difference? Now a days, unless you're bored, buy your ammo at the store. It's less messy, no records to keep, all those ladder tests, pet load data, and don't forget the cost of Machines, tools, and components. Kinda reminds me of going into the gun store to buy ammo, and leaving with a gun...and ammo. I have almost every reloading tool you can get, less an electric powder drop, and a dial indicator for testing run out. They've all paid for themselves 100x over, some I've owned for 40 years
@@elwhastrummer I've had this channel not quite 4 years and that is the longest response I've ever had. There is a lot of good information in your post. I know you say don't mess with reloading at the same time you say you've been reloading for over 40 years Andrew reloading gear has paid for itself 100 times over . In the end it's a time and cost analysis and the choice you have to make yourself. Thanks for watching and taking the time to form a very detailed comment.
Depends on when you bought all of your supplies. In my case I have powder & bullets from back in 2018. Time to reload is a relaxation for me, I'm Retired.
I started reloading for the hobby and to have inventory. I've long since paid of my equipment with material savings. I'm making range 9mm for material cost of 7 bucks a box of 50. Because I got a great deal on Hornady XTP I am making defensive ammo for about 10 bucks a box of 50. The time, Hey, everyone needs something to do on those winter days when the cold wind howls and there's only about 9 hours of sunlight.
@@OLDSOLDIER6 I had a furnace tech in the cellar, He saw my reload setup and asked if I reloaded 9mm. It turned out that he had two boxes of 100 Hornady XTP BULLETS someone had gifted him thinking they were ammo. I got them for a song and dance. I have a decade or more worth of defensive rounds. For range ammo I'm using either Berry's Bullets or some of the inexpensive powder coated that's available. I've had no issues plated or powder coated in pistol or carbine and it is so much cheaper than FMJ. Also working through a 4 gallon container of Winchester 572 that I bought for about $110 a couple years ago and some CCI primers that were obtained before the jump to $80 for a thou.
Heck yea! As I'm retired time isn't an issue, I generally figure out the cost per 1000 for pistol and 100 for rifle. I run Dillon presses 550C & Super 1050, so it's easy to run 100s. 9mm & 40 S & W, is free for picking up at the range. I'm a brass goblin at the range, I almost always return from the range with more brass than I started with.
Time is definitely an issue. Now that I'm retired, I have time to do the things I enjoy, like reloading. And putting this channel together. If you have the two progressive reloaders you mentioned, you are into it. Thanks for watching.
@@OLDSOLDIER6 Hornady Match 338 LM 180+ taxes(10 per bang). Reloads run 3 $ per, with my SD & ES beating the factory. I'm just getting the familiarity with it, before I start video'ing it. It's a big change from my usual calibers, I dont want to cast shade on a weapon system that definitely doesn't deserve it.
@PlayingWithFireOutdoors I have resisted the urge, so far, to buy a .338 LM. I,ve also avoided the cost and the cost of feeding it. Would love to see your content.
10 bucks (approximately) works out to 20 cents a round ( which you know). I thought about doing the comparison per round, but decided to go cost per box and let the old hands cipher it out. Thanks for watching.
At $15.00 a box x2 = $30.00 per 100 or $300 per 1000…I pick up all the once fired brass I can use, buy primers at .05 per primer, and BLUE BULLETS 147 gr at .09-.11 per bullet and win 231 or HP-6 at 3.2 gr …works out to about 16-17 cents a round…the cost of my time is 0 , I’d rather reload than watch BS on the news cast!!!!! The only expense to reloading is getting the initial cost of the equipment….a Dillon or Hornady LNL is expensive, the scale,gauges,cleaning equipment,dies,and odds and ends is where the real cost is…Because my wife and I both practice and shoot IDPA, we go thru A LOT of ammo…. and it’s unbelievably FUN !!!!!
Yeah, I go thru a lot of ammo. Yes, I really enjoy it as well. Look at it this way: The more you reload, the less the cost of the reloading equipment per round.
As I said, my wife and I both shoot a lot so the recoup time for our equipment and necessities was a relatively short time and now we are just saving and shooting( we don’t save any we just shoot more)@@OLDSOLDIER6
Here in UT I currently get magtech for $12 after tax. Roughly $2 of saving per 50 rounds is not worth it in my opinion. I would rather save bigger margins with my time for some of my other calibers such as 44 mag, 30-06, 7.62x54, 30-40 Krag etc. some of these going as much as $1-$2.50 per round.
In Southern California it’s $15 to $20 a box of 50 round nose plinking ammo And $20 for a box of 20 jhp and up So yes it worth reloading . And the plus not running out if you have the components
I lived in California for a number of years. Due to the political climate, there are other issues. But you are correct, I agree it's worth reloading and it is a huge plus not running out as long as you have components.
I think your economics are close and savings per box close enough. However I do not agree with discounting the cost of the reloading equipment. Additionally, "chasing" brass and cleaning it is another factor to be considered. Hence unless you are a high volume shooter an argument can be made that it is not worth the effort and total all in cost.
That is indeed one school of thought. However, as long as you have components, you can manufacture ammunition, regardless of what the supply chain is experiencing.
Liability , what works for someone in a new firearm can destroy an old worn one. Break open a reloading manual and you can get it figured out with a ladder test.
It only makes sense when NYS adds a background check fee on every single purchase of a box of cartridges. Skip the silly fee by reloading, but it costs the same.
So it wouldnt really be worth it unless you have access to the equipment already. Buying the equipment and getting into it would have a very long payback time if you didnt value your time. If you factor in time there is no payback being that close in price.
Time is definitely a factor. I have time now that I'm retired. Before, not so much. If you amortize the cost of the equipment over a lifetime and reload a lot, its more cost effective.
@@OLDSOLDIER6 My Dillons have paid for themselves in the first year. My 550s churn out short runs under 500. My 1050 turned out multi thousand lots of various calibers. Sure conversion kits cost, but boy are they time savers. The 1050 takes a bit to set up so it sits a bit, but a friend who shoots IPSC drops by and rents some time on it. MMM tastey drinkable payments !
@@OLDSOLDIER6 Curious too... Just wondering 'what' was the clickbait because all I saw was factual... They might've have a virus on their phone or computer is my guess...
I never consider my time. When I’m reloading I would just be sitting on the couch if I had nothing to do.
Not a factor for you then.
I can make super cheep range/practice ammo using my own molded and coated bullets. After scrounging brass, and molding and coating bullets I can get down to $7.50 a box, about 50% retail. What costs money is carry/self defense ammo, at $25-$30 for a box of 25... I can load high velocity cartridges sporting Hornady 115gr XTPs for about $20.00 per 50. That makes it affordable to practice with your carry ammo, otherwise you're just shooting range ammo, and hoping you're on target with your carry ammo.
You can buy brand new Starline brass, match grade primers and powder, name brand bullets, hand weigh and measure everything, and hand load one at a time on an arbor press with boutique dies, and get about the same performance as good match grade factory ammo. How much time and money do you have? I probably loaded and shot 5000 rounds this season, using an old Lee challenger single stage press. It took a lot of time but I kept myself in ammo. I know a guy who probably went out 3-4 times this season, shooting factory ammo...and has 3 Dillon 750s set up on a bench for 223, 9mm, and 45acp. that he's maybe made 1000 rounds in total. He works 50 hrs a week, has money and no time. The other thing is caliber. It's hard to match prices on 9mm or .223/5.56, but it starts making a difference when loading pistol cartridges like .357mag, or .44mag, or pretty much any rifle cartridges, like 3006/.308 or hi powered rifle like 22-250 or 300win mag. Usually around $2.00 a round to buy, but can load many for less than $1.00 a round. I can buy Hornady match ammo for my 6mm ARC at Sportsmans Warehouse for $28.00/box 20. I can handload the same exact cartridges (Hornady brass, too) for $16.00/box 20. Is it worth it? The factory ammo shoots .52 moa and my ammo shoots .42 moa. What's the difference? Now a days, unless you're bored, buy your ammo at the store. It's less messy, no records to keep, all those ladder tests, pet load data, and don't forget the cost of Machines, tools, and components. Kinda reminds me of going into the gun store to buy ammo, and leaving with a gun...and ammo. I have almost every reloading tool you can get, less an electric powder drop, and a dial indicator for testing run out. They've all paid for themselves 100x over, some I've owned for 40 years
@@elwhastrummer I've had this channel not quite 4 years and that is the longest response I've ever had. There is a lot of good information in your post. I know you say don't mess with reloading at the same time you say you've been reloading for over 40 years Andrew reloading gear has paid for itself 100 times over . In the end it's a time and cost analysis and the choice you have to make yourself. Thanks for watching and taking the time to form a very detailed comment.
Depends on when you bought all of your supplies. In my case I have powder & bullets from back in 2018. Time to reload is a relaxation for me, I'm Retired.
@@GShileikis Me too. It's great.
I started reloading for the hobby and to have inventory. I've long since paid of my equipment with material savings. I'm making range 9mm for material cost of 7 bucks a box of 50. Because I got a great deal on Hornady XTP I am making defensive ammo for about 10 bucks a box of 50.
The time, Hey, everyone needs something to do on those winter days when the cold wind howls and there's only about 9 hours of sunlight.
@@phild8095 7 bucks per 50 is some of the lowest I've ever heard of. 10 bucks per 50 for defensive ammo is insanely inexpensive. Well done.
@@OLDSOLDIER6 I had a furnace tech in the cellar, He saw my reload setup and asked if I reloaded 9mm. It turned out that he had two boxes of 100 Hornady XTP BULLETS someone had gifted him thinking they were ammo. I got them for a song and dance. I have a decade or more worth of defensive rounds.
For range ammo I'm using either Berry's Bullets or some of the inexpensive powder coated that's available. I've had no issues plated or powder coated in pistol or carbine and it is so much cheaper than FMJ. Also working through a 4 gallon container of Winchester 572 that I bought for about $110 a couple years ago and some CCI primers that were obtained before the jump to $80 for a thou.
Heck yea! As I'm retired time isn't an issue, I generally figure out the cost per 1000 for pistol and 100 for rifle. I run Dillon presses 550C & Super 1050, so it's easy to run 100s. 9mm & 40 S & W, is free for picking up at the range. I'm a brass goblin at the range, I almost always return from the range with more brass than I started with.
Time is definitely an issue. Now that I'm retired, I have time to do the things I enjoy, like reloading. And putting this channel together. If you have the two progressive reloaders you mentioned, you are into it. Thanks for watching.
@@OLDSOLDIER6 so 7 months later 1k of Ginex run 200+ Cdn. Ouch! I also purchased a lb of H1000 129!
@@PlayingWithFireOutdoors Ouch! That's crazy!
@@OLDSOLDIER6 Hornady Match 338 LM 180+ taxes(10 per bang). Reloads run 3 $ per, with my SD & ES beating the factory. I'm just getting the familiarity with it, before I start video'ing it. It's a big change from my usual calibers, I dont want to cast shade on a weapon system that definitely doesn't deserve it.
@PlayingWithFireOutdoors I have resisted the urge, so far, to buy a .338 LM. I,ve also avoided the cost and the cost of feeding it. Would love to see your content.
Most reloaders calculate cost per rounds. Your math using 50 rounds is valid but a little confusing to an old reloader.
10 bucks (approximately) works out to 20 cents a round ( which you know). I thought about doing the comparison per round, but decided to go cost per box and let the old hands cipher it out. Thanks for watching.
I do my figuring per 1K for pistol and per 100 for rifle
At $15.00 a box x2 = $30.00 per 100 or $300 per 1000…I pick up all the once fired brass I can use, buy primers at .05 per primer, and BLUE BULLETS 147 gr at .09-.11 per bullet and win 231 or HP-6 at 3.2 gr …works out to about 16-17 cents a round…the cost of my time is 0 , I’d rather reload than watch BS on the news cast!!!!! The only expense to reloading is getting the initial cost of the equipment….a Dillon or Hornady LNL is expensive, the scale,gauges,cleaning equipment,dies,and odds and ends is where the real cost is…Because my wife and I both practice and shoot IDPA, we go thru A LOT of ammo…. and it’s unbelievably FUN !!!!!
Yeah, I go thru a lot of ammo. Yes, I really enjoy it as well. Look at it this way: The more you reload, the less the cost of the reloading equipment per round.
As I said, my wife and I both shoot a lot so the recoup time for our equipment and necessities was a relatively short time and now we are just saving and shooting( we don’t save any we just shoot more)@@OLDSOLDIER6
Here in UT I currently get magtech for $12 after tax. Roughly $2 of saving per 50 rounds is not worth it in my opinion. I would rather save bigger margins with my time for some of my other calibers such as 44 mag, 30-06, 7.62x54, 30-40 Krag etc. some of these going as much as $1-$2.50 per round.
Your opinion is as valid as anyone's.
In Southern California it’s $15 to $20 a box of 50 round nose plinking ammo
And $20 for a box of 20 jhp and up
So yes it worth reloading . And the plus not running out if you have the components
I lived in California for a number of years. Due to the political climate, there are other issues. But you are correct, I agree it's worth reloading and it is a huge plus not running out as long as you have components.
I live in Kanuckistan, unless I buy the cheapest mystery ammo, I'm saving over 6 $ per 50.
I think your economics are close and savings per box close enough. However I do not agree with discounting the cost of the reloading equipment. Additionally, "chasing" brass and cleaning it is another factor to be considered. Hence unless you are a high volume shooter an argument can be made that it is not worth the effort and total all in cost.
That is indeed one school of thought. However, as long as you have components, you can manufacture ammunition, regardless of what the supply chain is experiencing.
Why are you not disclosing your grain?
Liability , what works for someone in a new firearm can destroy an old worn one. Break open a reloading manual and you can get it figured out with a ladder test.
This.
It only makes sense when NYS adds a background check fee on every single purchase of a box of cartridges. Skip the silly fee by reloading, but it costs the same.
Personally, I feel a background check for ammunition is nonsense, but you're entitled to your opinion.
yes it is cheaper .. and your ammo will be more accurate than factory ..
Absolutely
So it wouldnt really be worth it unless you have access to the equipment already. Buying the equipment and getting into it would have a very long payback time if you didnt value your time. If you factor in time there is no payback being that close in price.
Time is definitely a factor. I have time now that I'm retired. Before, not so much. If you amortize the cost of the equipment over a lifetime and reload a lot, its more cost effective.
@@OLDSOLDIER6 My Dillons have paid for themselves in the first year. My 550s churn out short runs under 500. My 1050 turned out multi thousand lots of various calibers. Sure conversion kits cost, but boy are they time savers. The 1050 takes a bit to set up so it sits a bit, but a friend who shoots IPSC drops by and rents some time on it. MMM tastey drinkable payments !
Primers are 10cents a piece everywhere I look. I don’t know how you’re paying 5?
On sale. Lucky I guesss.
@@OLDSOLDIER6 guess I’ll have to keep looking, I’ve found em for 8cents but it’s online so the shipping and hazmat fee make it not worth it
Cheapest I've found in 24 is 8c a pop...however I did just get some powder on sale and no hazmat fee!
clickbait
How so?
@@OLDSOLDIER6 Curious too... Just wondering 'what' was the clickbait because all I saw was factual... They might've have a virus on their phone or computer is my guess...