Reloading - calculated savings

Jun 2011
15
0
W. Richland, WA
I am certain that this has been done many times before, but had to try for myself. Thought I would do an assessment of what it costs me to reload several different calibers of handgun ammunition and compare against commercial ammunition. The first thing I noticed was that most calibers cost the same to reload, except for the 9 mm.

These are average costs and I made numerous assumptions. For example, I used Winchester Autocomp powder, loaded to the middle recommended value in all calibers. I also assumed that one could get 8 reloads per piece of brass. Free range-brass will of course improve your savings by about $20 per 1000 reloads.

I estimate that it cost me about $800 to purchase all of the non-consumable reloading equipment such as progressive loader, dies, digital balance...

You will save ~$330 per 1000 reloads in 10 mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP and 44 mag (on average), compared to same amount of factory ammunition
You will save ~$189 per 1000 reloads in 9mm, compared to same amount of factory ammunition

It will require 2500 reloads to pay for the non-consumables in 10 mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP and 44 mag (on average)
It will require 4200 reloads to pay for the non-consumables in 9 mm
 
Jun 2011
15
0
W. Richland, WA
...and why not?

Who cares?
Reloading should NOT be about saving money...
If you enjoy doing something and save money doing it- why NOT? I agree that if one does not take reloading seriously and can not devote one's full attention, then one should probably not reload. But to dismiss the savings aspect makes no sense to me. That's like saying "Working on your own car should NOT be about saving money." Perhaps reloading is a metaphysical endeavor for you that transcends monetary gains?
 
Jan 2013
123
0
Silverton, OR
If you enjoy doing something and save money doing it- why NOT? I agree that if one does not take reloading seriously and can not devote one's full attention, then one should probably not reload. But to dismiss the savings aspect makes no sense to me. That's like saying "Working on your own car should NOT be about saving money." Perhaps reloading is a metaphysical endeavor for you that transcends monetary gains?

I went to college for auto tech.

I HATE WORKING ON CARS. I do it all the time and for only ONE reason.

MONEY. the less money I spend on something like replacing the front suspension on my Dakota the more money I have to spend on something I do enjoy.

Quote for R&R 4 Ball joints and both Tierods and an alignment $850.00

Parts bought locally $275.00
Time less then a weekend
alignment after new parts installed $55.00

I bought a Remington 870 Express Magnum 20ga Compact and put $200.00 down on a Winchester model 1897 12ga 30" Full takedown DOM 1905.
 
Jan 2009
1,318
1
Kirkland, WA
But Mark, time is money. You either had to take some of your billable time (and you have exorbitant rates ;) ) or you had to give up "life time". For me, I'd rather pay than lose a weekend these days.

That being said, my son and I have spent time doing re-loading and we both enjoyed it thoroughly. The savings? Actually, I don't think there was much -- if any. But the loads we did were also very high quality. And for me, it was spending time with my kid that was the real "value".

Which brings up the point I believe Mr. nolyj was getting at. The quality of the rounds. Most people that I know who are re-loaders are pretty particular about the components going into the rounds. I don't know any that just buy the cheapest stuff (but I could be wrong). Comparing the cheapest range rounds to super high-quality reloads might not be a fair comparison...
 
Jan 2009
371
0
Washington on the wet side
Reloading starts out as a money saving endeavor but then turns into a craft where the exquisitely tailored load preforms at the optimum for the the weapon your shooting it through. a work of art that achieves the perfect shot time and time again. Whos book of range stats and bullet configuration become as cherished to some as the bible is to others








That is my take of course i could be wrong
 
Dec 2012
356
0
Lacey, Wa
Reloading starts out as a money saving endeavor but then turns into a craft where the exquisitely tailored load preforms at the optimum for the the weapon your shooting it through. a work of art that achieves the perfect shot time and time again. Whos book of range stats and bullet configuration become as cherished to some as the bible is to others








That is my take of course i could be wrong

nailed it
 
Jan 2009
196
0
Marysville, WA
Reloading would be 100% about saving money... for me.

But like Richard said, time is money. There's absolutely no way reloading is cheaper when you factor in time lost. Now if you enjoy it, that's a different story. If you are creating a superior product than what is commercially available (and that's important to you), that is also a different story.

I'm not bench-rest shooting for group size. I'm turning large orb-shaped fruit into sweet chunky rain as if dog himself had too much whiskey and projectile-vomited his fruit salad.
 
Jan 2009
870
0
Lynnwood, WA
once you figure in time....yeah, it's likely a wash.


unless that time was taken from watching tv, then, even if it costs you many hours per bullet, it's worth it.
 
Jan 2009
1,318
1
Kirkland, WA
Reloading would be 100% about saving money... for me.

But like Richard said, time is money. There's absolutely no way reloading is cheaper when you factor in time lost. Now if you enjoy it, that's a different story. If you are creating a superior product than what is commercially available (and that's important to you), that is also a different story.

I'm not bench-rest shooting for group size. I'm turning large orb-shaped fruit into sweet chunky rain as if dog himself had too much whiskey and projectile-vomited his fruit salad.
Speaking of doing dog's work, how about we go kill some produce (and that helmet I have sitting on the bench)?
 
Jan 2013
123
0
Silverton, OR
But Mark, time is money. You either had to take some of your billable time (and you have exorbitant rates ;) ) or you had to give up "life time". For me, I'd rather pay than lose a weekend these days.

That being said, my son and I have spent time doing re-loading and we both enjoyed it thoroughly. The savings? Actually, I don't think there was much -- if any. But the loads we did were also very high quality. And for me, it was spending time with my kid that was the real "value".

Which brings up the point I believe Mr. nolyj was getting at. The quality of the rounds. Most people that I know who are re-loaders are pretty particular about the components going into the rounds. I don't know any that just buy the cheapest stuff (but I could be wrong). Comparing the cheapest range rounds to super high-quality reloads might not be a fair comparison...

I drive dump truck for a living I haven't made money working on cars for maybe 37 years and that was a lube mech in a service station. Sorry if I gave the impression I was a Mech.
 
Jan 2009
870
0
Lynnwood, WA
one thing I realized one day:

reloading .38sp was almost negligible savings, but for .357mag it was a far bigger increase in savings per round, difference of nickles and dimes per round

your bigger rifle calibers, you could save quite a lot for a comparable round! saving quarters and half dollars per round!
 
Jul 2011
124
0
Seattle
You can load pistol cartrages almost indefinatly. 8x is waaaay low.


I reload to make the loads I want to shoot, and to save money. Which bullets you use makes the biggest difference in cost savings. Lead/moly projectiles cost a lot lest than FMJ/TMJ/JHP from a place like Montana Gold.

The biggest deal for me is availability and flexability. I can go to the shop and churn out a few hundered "hot" loads, or take the same components and down load to target loads so soft the bairly recoil.
 
Jan 2013
123
0
Silverton, OR
You want to see the money aspect of reloading look at a caliber like 30-40Krag

1. you are lucky to find it in the best of times
2. its only offered in 1 or two loadings
3. on average its $39-42.00 for a box of 20

I can load anything from a 130 gr to a 220 gr slug in the same speed range as a .308 when I do it my self.

And on average depending on the slug I can save between .90 cents to a $1.10 PER ROUND loading myself.

So a box of 20 costs roughly 1/2 what a factory load costs.


.30 M1 is another caliber you can not only save a small fortune reloading but produce loads never available from any factory .

Like using a Sierra 125gr FPHP (30-30) with H110 or 2400

The only centerfire ammo I buy is Shotgun ammo and soon as construction season starts I'm going to start doing that myself as well.
 
Jan 2009
1,318
1
Kirkland, WA
I drive dump truck for a living I haven't made money working on cars for maybe 37 years and that was a lube mech in a service station. Sorry if I gave the impression I was a Mech.

Actually, that was my mistake. I saw your name and thought you were Hawker for some reason.

You're all good!
 
Jul 2011
124
0
Seattle
Actually, that was my mistake. I saw your name and thought you were Hawker for some reason.

You're all good!

Hehe, funny, I was reading your post and thinking "Richard sounds like me, I won't work on my cars anymore, not worth the time." LOL
 
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