Reloading vs off the shelf

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dogsinky

New member
Has anyone taken the time to break down the actual cost of reloading your own ammo vs the cost of store bought ammo?

Not counting the initial cost of start-up (press,dies etc.) as some may take the least expensive route and some may go first class all the way.

Just as an example say a box of 20 Winchester Super X 22-50,55gr. pointed soft point cost $18.00 do you know the cost to load a comparable round using component cost (brass,bullet,powder,primer)only?

I know the personal feeling of loading your own means as much to some as any cost savings,but before I start any metallic loading I would like to know if there are some savings to be seen.
 
If you use your brass only once cost is 12.70 for 20 rounds.
If you use your brass 5 times the cost is 6.62 for 20 rounds.

This is based on the following costs:

Powder 20.00 per pound. (use 35 grains per round average)
Primers 25.00 per thousand(edit to show per thousand -vs- per hundred)
Bullets (Winchester as mentioned) 13.00 per hundred.
New brass 38.00 per hundred.

I usually can load, using premium bullets, for around 1/2 the cost of cheap factory ammunition.
 
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I have figured it out without the brass because i either had brass from stuff i had fired or i had found it at the range or people had given it to me. but for the price with out brass it is 5 bucks per 20rds. i am loading a 40gr vmax with 39.5gr varget with a winchester large rifle primer. before i started loading i was paying 21 a box. as for my 223 it is about the same price and i shoot a 69gr sierra matchking. i buy all my supplies in bulk. last primers i bought were 25 per 1k, 8lbs varget for 140 and bullets range depending on what im buyin.
 
the mor eyou reload and shoot the more savings adds up, but i have not looked at exact numbers cuz i dont want to know. LOL with all the money into equiptment etc im still working on paying for it in the long run with savings over factory ammo
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Originally Posted By: buckhalljrIf you use your brass only once cost is 12.70 for 20 rounds.
If you use your brass 5 times the cost is 6.62 for 20 rounds.

This is based on the following costs:

Powder 20.00 per pound. (use 35 grains per round average)
Primers 25.00 per hundred thousand
Bullets (Winchester as mentioned) 13.00 per hundred.
New brass 38.00 per hundred.

I usually can load, using premium bullets, for around 1/2 the cost of cheap factory ammunition.

Adjusted your quantities.

It costs me $12.09 for 20 very, very accurate 22-250 rounds.
 
Only time I added the cost up was with the .223 and it cost me .35 per round with reusing brass. So $7.00/20 for Nosler BT's that shot perfect in my gun compared too the $9.00/20 UMC! Just remember the more you can buy in bulk the more you save!

But since I started reloading I don't save anymore money then buying factory loads! I just get to shoot twice as much!
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Quote:,but before I start any metallic loading I would like to know if there are some savings to be seen. Based on that statement and without the initial set up cost, my rifle rounds (.223 & .204) cost about $0.30 per round, using premium components..

Premium rounds at retail will cost me, on an average, $1.00 per round...

It will depend on how much you plan to shoot, as to whether it will 'save' you money, as you really have to depreciate your equipment in the equation, over a given time period... say five years... even though most of it will last the majority of your life, the exception being any electrical components..

Let's say that your equipment has a new value of $500 (high), That's $100 per year depreciation, or $8.33 per month and you shoot 20 rounds (1 box) each week (average thru the year), that's $6 times 52 = $312 for reloading components + $100 for equipment... That's the equivalent $1040 of factory ammo at $1.00 per round...or a savings of $628...per year...

If you are one of those hunters that buys two boxes (40 rounds) each year and uses one to verify sights at various times, and the rest for actual hunting... Stick with your factory rounds and costs...you can't justify the cost of reloading...
 
I done the figures for my reloading and come up with a $21.76 save for every 20 rounds I reload. WOW I thought, that is one heck of a savings. Little did I realize at the time, I am really not saving a dime. If I didn't like to shoot so much this would be great. I think everyone here will agree that it just pushes you to shoot more, ALOT MORE..
 
I shoot more because i reload so its prolly a wash as far as money goes but i shoot better than i would if i was buying ammo so ill stick with reloading.
 
You will not save a lot. But you will shoot 5 times as much. I am cheap as [beeep]. The cheapest I can reload 223 for is about $0.18 a round/$18 per 100/ $3.60 per 20. I buy once fired LC brass by the 1K, and split it with friends. I buy midsouth varmint nightmare bullets in bulk. I buy powder by the 8# jug. I buy powder and primers from powdervalley and split the hazmat with a friend. The difference is that I can work up a load for my gun, and even with cheap as [beeep] bullets get 0.5 MOA 5 shot groups consistently. For factory ammo that.
To be honest it has actually cost me a boatload of money, because if I were buying factory I would only use centerfire for hunting/sighting in and I would target practice exclusively with my .22lr. Now I bring a 223 with me everytime I go to the range. [beeep] I just built a semi custom savage 223, and am considering ordering a 6x45 barrel for it. I wouldn't have even built that gun, let alone buy another barrel if I didn't reload.
 
I do save money. Quite a bit in fact.

Take my 30-06 for instance.
Factory 165g sst's run me right at 30$ for 20 rounds.

A box of 100 165 sst's cost me 28.99$ lets call it 30$

24$ for a 1lb can of powder (roughly 100 shots for my 06)
3$ for primers


That is roughly 57$ for 100 shots, vs. 30$ for 20 shpts
 
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It costs me more to reload - I try this bullet, then another, then another, etc. Same with powders and primers. The local fire dept probably would stay a block away from my place, if it catches fire!!!
Mark
 
I read this post last night. I don't know where you guys are buying "good" store bought ammo so cheap. Look at the new flyer out of Midway, Cabelas,BPS, yada, yada, yada. Good ammo is crusing at $30 a box for the little guys and $50 or more for the shoulder breakers. Lets not even look at the lead free factory stuff.

Primer 3 cents
30 gr. Varget 8.4 cents
a GOOD bullet 30 cents (lead free bullet 37/60 cents)
 
I agree that reloading saves money, which leads to more
shooting. And yes the fire department will want to stay
back from my ammo dump if she burns. But for me reloading
is more about therapy than saving money. My loading room
is about 200' from the house, which keeps the wife, kids,
and grandkids, away unless they REALLY need me. I have
a TV, and a bathroom there. So after a long day of work,
I retire to the loading room to let my mind settle while
I work on brass prep, load development, gun cleaning, gun
upgrading, gun repair, etc. It is kind of like quilting.
My wife runs around to area shops buying "Fat Quarters" for
new quilt projects. Instead of making quilts, I make ammo.
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Everyone needs a hobby.

Squeeze

P.S. On the topic of ammo cost, just look at 20 rounds for
your favorite rifle, using a Barnes TSX or some other "premium"
bullet. You can easily save enough for a case of good beer,
in loading one box of premium bullets rather than purchasing
them.
 
Im with Squeeze reloading is my therapy,it takes my total attention so i forget about everything plus i really enjoy it. I dont have a bathroom in mine yet but my closest neborugh is 1/2 a mile away lol.
Steve
 
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