Actual costs and savings: Reloading pistol ammo

Post by **evan price** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:13 pm

On this and other forums I have been talking about reloading. I am not an old timer, I just got into it last year. But I am a quick learner. People are always asking what it costs to reload, how much do you save, etc.
If anyone wants to share their actual cost of reloaded ammo here, feel free, to help others make a decision wether or not reloading is worth it.

I'll start the ball rolling:

Components costs are based upon items purchased within past 30 days and still listed as available at respective vendors, 20JAN2008, nothing hoarded from when stuff was "cheap". I do not cast my own boolits.

>>Edit to ad: Nothing was purchased in "obscene" large quantities. Primers by the 5k, powder in 8# keg, projos at 2k or 3k lots.

All projectiles are hard-cast lead. Primers are Wolf. Powder is Titegroup. Brass is range-pickup.

9mm Luger
125-gr RN, 4.4gr powder
Projo: 4.25¢ Primer: 2.0¢ Powder: 0.75¢
Total Cost per round: 7.0¢
Total Cost per box/50: $3.50

.38 Special
158-gr SWC, 3.5gr powder
Projo: 4.45¢ Primer: 2.0¢ Powder: 0.65¢
Total Cost per round: 7.1¢
Total Cost per box/50: $3.55

.357 Magnum
158-gr SWC, 5.1 gr powder
Projo: 4.45¢ Primer: 2.0¢ Powder: 0.95¢
Total Cost per round: 7.4¢
Total Cost per box/50: $3.70

.45 ACP
230-gr RN, 4.7gr powder
Projo: 5.45¢ Primer: 2.0¢ Powder: 0.85¢
Total Cost per round: 8.3¢
Total Cost per box/50: $4.15

.44 Magnum
240-gr SWC, 9.7gr powder
Projo: 5.45¢ Primer: 2.0¢ Powder: 1.75¢
Total Cost per round: 9.2¢
Total Cost per box/50: $4.60

JU-87 · Post by **JU-87** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:29 pm

You can drasticly reduce the cost if you cast your lead bullets.

.45 ACP
230-gr RNL, 4.7gr powder
Proj: 0¢ Primer: 2.0¢ Powder: 0.85¢
Total Cost per round: 2.85¢
Total Cost per box/50: $1.42

Iadmit,I'm not including the cost of electricty, so round up the cost
to $2.00 a box!

Still,you did a great job showing the savings of reloading.

Birdman · Post by **Birdman** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:47 pm

I'm sure this is posted somewhere on this forum, but this looks like another good place for the "handloading cost calculator".
Calculator
You are confusing me with them cent signs. How did you type that anyway? I can do the degree sign, like 10ºF.
You guys related to George Vaccaro? (Verison Math guy)
Verison Math

cgs500 · Post by **cgs500** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:07 pm

I just happened to look at 45 ACP last night at Gander Mountain and it was 119.00+ tax for 250rds of UMC! Evan, you have 20.75 for the same qty., thats at least 100.00 savings just in one shooting session.

I am not able to give an accurate break down since I have primers and powder from a few years ago. I do cast .357 with shielding lead (pure)from a wire manufacturer and linotype (sp) from an old print shop that is out of business.

I like the process of reloading and it is a hobby in itself. My 5 yr old son likes to help reload as well, he is a pretty good casing and shell inspector. We just set up a shotgun reloader today and loaded 200 rds. Again I can't give an accurate as I got 75 lbs of shot and a couple pounds of powder and primers with the press.

One of his comments was "I love reloading with my best buddy". You can't put a price on that.

Oh Yeah, thanks for the link Birdman

Post by **evan price** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:19 pm

Right now I figure my savings as, based upon the cheapest prices I can find anywhere:

9mm: Saving $5/box, $100/k

.38 special: Saving $8/box, $160/k

.357 Mag: Saving $15/box, $300/k

.45 ACP: Saving $10/box, $200/k

.44 Mag: Saving $25/box, $500/k

Multiply that by what I know I shot last year:
9mm: $200
.38 Spec: $160
.357 Mag: $150
.45 ACP: $400
.44 Mag: $250

Total Savings $1160.00 using reloads over factory ammo last year.

Would I have shot that much if I didn't reload?
Well, maybe. Reloading allowed me to focus on heavier calibers I didn't shoot much. I intend to do a lot more revolver shooting now. I did shoot about 10K .22LR's though.

The absolute best thing is even though I took a big hit buying reloading machinery/dies/etc, I was able to sell off my surplus brass to generate enough funds to actually pay 100% of my reloading gear.
In effect, it cost me $0 to get into reloading (except for needing the money at startup, which was recovered by selling brass). All I am out is components now.

Post by **evan price** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:21 pm

Loading large rifle (.308, 6.5x55, etc) for about 25¢ each if I can find good deals on projectiles, otherwise it's 37.5¢ each, until my brass splits..

Cent sign is ASCII 155.

You can't directly enter them in bbcode but I generated the list offline in Wordpad and just cut/paste and viola. Or else find a page that has (¢) on it somewhere and cut/paste/insert. Like this post, for example.

Birdman · Post by **Birdman** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:56 pm

Hey thanks!
¢¢
I put my 2¢ in...or my .02$ in.

Post by **evan price** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:08 pm

JU87: What does your lead cost you when you cast, do you need to pay for lead, flux, etc?

Post by **Jake** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:33 pm

Your numbers look pretty darn close to mine Evan.

I did have to shell out for my Lee Pro K's, but I have recouped that.

The savings for me has allowed me to shoot a whole lot more.

I like to participate in IDPA and PPC events. Pistol League I just shoot .22 LR from my S/W 22A with 5.5'' barrel.

I'm pretty stocked on 22 ammo for a while.

I've switched to buying lead bullets for 9mm and .45.

I have enough stock on hand to last me a while in FMJ bullets, but I'll be buying a couple after market barrels that will allow me to shoot lead in the Glocks. That will set me back a couple hundred dollars total.

Again, with the savings of reloading, they're all ready paid for, theoretically.

Whirlwind06 · Post by **Whirlwind06** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:46 pm

I'm running about 8 cents a round for 9mm right now.
That is using hard cast lead.
I plan on a bulk purchase in about a month or so of Wolf primers and Unique powder and that will put it at about 6 cents a round.
That is about the best I can do right now.
Still less the 1/2 the price for WWB for walmat

weakhand luke · Post by **weakhand luke** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:56 am

"What does your lead cost you when you cast, do you need to pay for lead, flux, etc?" wonders Evan.

I have about 400 hundred pounds on hand now and my average cost is about 15¢/lb. Good stuff, too. Flux doesn't amount to anything. I use a tiny piece of beeswax, cigar butts, sawdust, used motor oil, whatever.

Yep, that's the way I like to do it.

1/2 Fast · Post by **1/2 Fast** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:25 am

Evan,

What reloading equipment (brand/setup) do you use?

I restocked my ammo stash yesterday with trips to wally world and Dick's. I'll be able to buy food again in about a month I think.

Thanks

mauser · Post by **mauser** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:37 am

Whirlwind06 wrote: I plan on a bulk purchase in about a month or so of Wolf primers and Unique powder and that will put it at about 6 cents a round.

Where do you find Wolf primers? I have not seen them anywhere.

I used to use Unique for 45ACP but it is so dirty. I switched to Clays and it is incredibly clean. Same thing I use for 12 gauge so it is convenient too.

Whirlwind06 · Post by **Whirlwind06** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:51 am

mauser wrote:
Whirlwind06 wrote: I plan on a bulk purchase in about a month or so of Wolf primers and Unique powder and that will put it at about 6 cents a round.
Where do you find Wolf primers? I have not seen them anywhere.

I used to use Unique for 45ACP but it is so dirty. I switched to Clays and it is incredibly clean. Same thing I use for 12 gauge so it is convenient too.

http://powdervalleyinc.com/

I find if I set the OAL to the min OAL Unique is not to dirty.

shooterwolf · Post by **shooterwolf** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:59 am

Whirlwind06, how are the Wolf primers working out?
I've been meaning to try them.

I did try Magtech primers, they shot and loaded a lot like Win., no misfires.

Shooterwolf.