Thinking about getting into reloading... does it save money?

P

pd_buster

New member
I have a Savage 12fv 22-250, and I can get a box of the Winchester 45 gr, 40 ct for about $19 w/ tax. I do a lot of PD 'hunting'. If I got into reloading, it would be to save money. Right now I am paying about $.48/ea round. Is getting into reloading going to save me enough $$$ to make it worth it? Thank you, PD_Buster
 
I am not really sure what 'alot of pd shooting is' but for me it breaks down something like this
cost of ammo using factory loaded rounds for one trip $350

cost of using my handloads $120

do the math..............I never have tried to use factory loaded rounds for prairie dogs...I couldn't imagine.
 
I got into it simply because I couldn't find factory bullets i wanted to shoot. I wanted to try 70 grains in my .243, and i couldn't find anywhere local to buy them. Plus, every gun is different, and the handloader is able to 'tune' the load to find something his/her gun likes. Now I'm working on loads using 55 grain ballistic tips that don't tear up fur too bad- having pretty good luck testing on g-hogs. steve
 
It's tough trying to justify going into reloading with the thought of saving money. I'd be hard pressed to show a savings and I've been at it a long time. When you factor in all of the loading equipment bought and used, or some bought and unused, you find you have a lot of money tied up in equipment and tools.
So, for me anyway, I never consider saving any money by reloading. I reload to find the best bullet and accuracy in a rifle I am loading for, given the type of hunting I'm doing.
Please don't delude yourself by thinking you'll save any money reloading. That might be good propaanda to feed your wife, but just add up the cost of "all" of the equipment and tooling and expendables, then estimate how many rounds you shoot each year and come up with a payoff point and you'll see what I mean. Also, you'll be buying more stuff along the way into the future too.
Don
 
Ditto with Martyn4802 and you have to figure you time involved. For me the advantages are usually much more accurate ammo, the satisfaction of "rolling your own", and the time spent at it is very relaxing. Great way to spend winter evenings. I would encourage you to go for it. It will also open a whole new door for you in this forum, right guys?
 
Martyn has is right in that you will not save that much money by reloading if you factor in the cost of the equipment needed. But then again, you only need one press for many sets of dies. The brass, the most expensive part on a cartridge, can be reused many times. Many powders are interchangable between differant calibers. You will save money by reloading, but the up front costs can be large. I recommend that if you have a friend who reloads, ask if you can look at their set up and maybe try some of it out. I started reloading to save money, and I did. My father-in-law had an old press he sold me for helping with his roof. I bought my first set of dies used at a gun show. All I had to do was buy bullets and powder as I already the brass. Then I started loading for additional calibers and updating equiqment as possible. It is a great past time and you can really get some excellent results from guns that others will give up on. I say go for it. It will pay off in the long run.
 
Guess I'll disagree with the others. I shoot 2-3000 rds of rifle ammo each year. That's ignoring the pistol ammo I shoot on top of that. I can easily save 0.30 on each round based on current prices for new ammo. That's somewhere between $600 and $900 each year that I save. If I had to shoot nothing but factory I would have to cut back. The fact that I get ammo "dialed" for each of my rifles is a plus.

Good reloading equipment, when taken care of lasts a lifetime. For starters you don't need all of the "whiz-bang" stuff and you can do well with just the basics. I look at the equipment as a long term investment. So, depending on how much you shoot, you do the arithmetic.
 
Thanks for the input everyone...

By 'a lot of PD shooting', I mean I go about every other weekend, depending on the weather, and usually go through a box of 40. Of course, I would do more, if I could get the ammo more inexpensive...

I can do the large upfront cost, if it is going to save me enough money in the long run. I'd like to be able to go PD shootin and not hear $.48 dropping everytime I shoot... I could always get most of my $$$ back out of the equipment someday, too.

Has anyone here ever figured about what it costs per round for reloading a 22-250? Roughly?

The time it takes isn't really a prob, like greg223, I find reloading shot shells relaxing...

imbuckshot... 70gr in a .243? I bet that kicks a little...

I see there is a couple of Colorado people that replied to my Q, would any of you be willing to show me your setup? I am a pretty new rifle owner, so I would also like to watch you clean your rifle sometime, too. I do reload and clean my shotguns, but rifles are new to me...

Thank you! PD_buster
 
I strongly doubt that you'll save any money by reloading. It's a very enjoyable hobby and will probably lead you to buy more rifles. From time to time you're going to want to upgrade your reloading equipment also. You're probably going to shoot a lot more once you start reloading so your cost of components will soar. Your cost per shot will be less than factory ammo, but if you're firing 3 times as much your total cost will be more even though reloading. I wouldn't let the extra cost deter me from reloading. Just don't expect to save any money. It is however a good excuse to present to the wife if you need to. She'll probably believe that you're saving money. I doubt that anyone else will. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal
 
Well lets see (and I'll try to be on the high side)
22-250 Remington
Primers $0.02 to $0.03 /shell, 3 cents/shot
Powder 1lb=7,600gr 30 to 35gr/shoot $17 or $18 per can, 8.2 cents/shot
Slugs 50gr V-Max 250ct box Midway $27 , 10.8 cents/shot
Brass Rem 500ct $85.00 17 cents/shot

Total per Shot 39 cents/shot or $39/100
Second Reload goes down to 22 cents/shot or $22/100
since you already have brass.

"pd_buster" paid $19/40 or $47.50/100

Check my math but you'll save with the first shot.
Let alone all that good stuff mentioned in the posts above.
 
Oops stopped in the middle
Complete new Reloading Outfit Est Cost $500
Estimated Savings $20 per 100 shots
Conservative Breakeven Point somewhere over 2,500 rounds
 
pd- Having read everybody else's posts since my 1st, i'd tend to agree with the majority that you probably won't save much money, at least in the short term. But i also encourage you to go ahead with it, i really don't think you'll be disappointed. Like i said before, i wanted specific bullets (70 gr.) and it was about the only way to get it. PD- nah, it don't kick too bad, that's the beauty of it.. load 'em as hot as you want, or in the case of my 55 grainers, as slow as you want, as long as you can maintain accuracy. I didn't mention that i also load for my .44, and after the initial cost, that move was an attempt to save $$ (It seems i can go thru alot of that in a hurry). Once the initial cost is out of the way, it doesn't hurt too bad, and if you do get into another rifle, it won't kill you to start loading for it. Good Luck in whatever you choose..
 
I have been wanting to get into reloading for awhile but never had the time since I coached football. I am no longer coaching so now I have TIME. I have bought everything to get started reloading, minus a few small items, on Ebay or websites like this one. I have $150 wrapped up in my setup and that includes 4 sets of dies. I just need the powder and bullets and I am set to "relax" and enjoy myself.
 
I have a local guy who reloads for me.
for my 243 wssm I pay just under 13 dollars for a box of 20 rounds loaded with 39g of varget and 58g vmax bullets and virgin brass. With reloads I think it is $7.80. With prices like that I cannot justify buying my own equipment.
 
I think you can justify reloading ammo like 300 Weatherby or 450 Marlin very quickly on a cost basis if you shoot a lot .Standard calibers like .223 ,30-30 , 30-06 its a lot harder to justify .Expensive equipment is not required but the more heavy duty equipment lasts forever.There is plenty of used stuff around as well.
 
YES YOU CAN SAVE MONEY RELOADING....unless you are old and/or in poor health, planning to kick the bucket in the next couple years.

The fact is, I bought my reloading press (RCBS Rock-chucker), Scales (RCBS 5-10) and Lee auto prime many, many years ago (1970's). In fact, the Auto prime is the "new" addition to my setup and I bet I've had it 20 years. I don't use electronic scales or power trimmers. Stick with the basic needs and you won't have to invest a ton of money.

Buy a good Cast Iron press and decent scales along with good dies, a primer setup, champher tool, loading blocks (2), plastic neck brush, primer pocket brush, some motor mica, decent case trimmer, case length caliper and case lube and go for it.

I have loaded a pickup bed full of pistol ammo and probably 8,000 - 10,000 rounds of rifle ammo as well.

I've loaded so much stuff that the cost of the equipment has long since been worked out in savings.

Now add to that the joy of rolling loads that woop the socks off factory offerings, which brings more confidence and you reap the full benefit of reloading.
 
Save money?

You are joking, right??

I went into this abiss in 1975.

I thought it was about saving money. Man was I wrong.

What I got for my bargin is a new and challenging new hobby.

Never looked back either.

Now the original Q.

Do you save money by reloading.

If you don't shoot more than you do right now. YES!! YOU WILL SAVE MONEY!

But what I did not understand (fortunately) is that I SHOOT MUCH MUCH MORE NOW!!!!

Very satisfied reloader!! (Three 44s)
 
I do believe every post on this topic is true. Not a fallacy in any.

Weather you save money or not depends on how much and what you shoot and how exotic you get with the reloading equipment.

Reloading is the only way you can get the best accuracy and the exact combination of bullets, cases, etc. you want. If you shoot a fair amount, you may save money. If you are particular about your shooting, you will never regret reloading.

Jack
 
Yup...try calculating the difference between factory loads and reloads for a 44 Mag pistol and a 257 Weatherby rifle like I used to shoot........it don't take long with those calibers to recoupe the cost of equipment even with moderate use.
 


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