How much do you save?

[LarryP]

Curious how much a box you reloaders save by doing it yourself? Whatever the most common caliber size is.
I know reloading cost have gone up to.

[mmcnx2]

Well that is a complicated question.

Powder, primer and bullets run me around $0.10-$0.15 a round, depending on the load I only use jacketed bullets, no lead or plated - which would save some money.

I also don't use any range brass so you have to add that cost and it varies widely based on how many times you expect to reload it. 45 ACP can go 10 uses, 38 super loaded to major only 3. So brass costs vary a lot, on average I estimate mine at $0.04 -$0.06 per use. So my recurring cost are about $0.20 per round.

However you do need equipment and you really should amortize it across the rounds you expect to reload. You can do it conservative with a simple single stage press kit for about $300 or go full bore with a progressive with all the goodies and have close to $2000 tied up in a rig. Then add about another $100 for a chrono because you really should not reload without one and another $200 for odds and ends like case cleaner, case gauge, micrometer and case lube.

So in the end if you shoot a few hundred rounds a year it is tough to say you save money when you factor in the hardware. If however you shoot more then reloading can save you a bunch.

[Ghost]

Zero, you just shoot more often.

[andrewP]

9mm would have to get down to $7 per box of 50 rounds to equal my cost to reload it. That's using range brass (free). As mmcnx2 said, if you have to pay for brass, you won't save as much. If you're willing to go to bare lead bullets and/or cast your own, you can save even more.

It takes a minimum of several thousand rounds to break even on the cost of the press and associated equipment, so weigh that into your decision-making process as well. If you're someone who shoots a few hundred rounds/year, it may not be worthwhile from a financial perspective, but if you shoot a few thousand/summer, the savings add up pretty quickly.

What caliber(s) are you looking into loading, and what types of components would you like to use? Are you able to allocate enough money at once to buy components in bulk? (This saves lots of money vs buying them in smaller quantities.)

[grimbeaver]

By far my most economical is my light 357 loads coming in at about 13 cents a round to reload. So I figure I'm saving about 25 cents per round vs buying 38 special. Full power 357 magnum loads come in around 25 cents a round so probably saving about 25 cents a round there too. I reload 9mm though last time I did the math I think the savings was pretty minimal with my cost at around 17 cents a round.

I honestly have not been in this long enough to wear out any brass. Though my understanding is the light 357 loads are pretty easy on the brass and I can expect quite a few loads out of them. The magnum loads I'm watching closely but have only loaded twice so far as I don't shoot the heavy loads as often.

For me part of it is being able to make loads that I could not buy off the shelf. My light 357 loads are pretty equivalent to 38 wad cutters but without the smoke and mess of shooting lead.

I also reload shotgun in 12ga, 20ga and 28ga. The 28ga I save a small fortune by reloading. The 12ga and 20ga I do more for fun but also again I can make loads that you can not commonly buy off the shelf. For example recently I've started shooting skeet with 12ga 7/8oz loads running fast at ~1350fps.

[Hmac]

For me, the cost savings wasn't enough to offset the time, space, hassle, and equipment expense. To do it right, it actually became a hobby unto itself. I'd never criticize another man's hobbies, but I didn't enjoy enough about it to go to the trouble of staying in.

[Rodentman]

Yes, reloading has become the prominent aspect of my shooting hobby. Like cooking, there are always new recipes to try and experiment with. Reloading gives me an opportunity to have an hobby with which my disability doesn't interfere, and I can be creative and have pride in the results. Savings? I don't save anything. I never really did a hard core calculation of what it costs me to reload. I haven't priced ammo nor bought any except rimfire in years.

[Erud]

I doubt if I've saved anything over 15 or so years of reloading. I also pretty much hate doing it. Unfortunately, no one makes the ammo that I need for my purposes, and with the amount of money I have sunk into it, I'm pretty committed at this point.

[JJ]

For the most part, cost savings is not a huge factor for me. The value of reloading IMO is the ability to put together custom loads, tailored to your gun, or purpose.

Yes you can shoot more, for the same investment, but it takes a long while to get to that point. unless you are shooting exotic calibers, your off the shelf common calibers don't save you a dramatic amounts.

I load around 10k of rifle ammo a year, I won't ever say I love to do it, but I do not mind it. I like high volume sessions with the rifles, and I like calibers you just can't buy off the shelf.

[shovelheadmike]

The link below will put you in the ball park.

http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

For my 45 ACP..... powder $18.00 lb.,primers 1000 $28.00,bullets 2500 $228.00 ...comes out to $0.13 a round.
I do not have the cost of my equipment or brass added into this,....I had a friend that would only shoot factory ammo and he would give me his brass. Also I picked up 5 gal. bucket of once fired match brass some time ago,so I'm set for a while.

Greenbikemike

[Bearcatrp]

Zero, you just shoot more often.

Exactly. I don't save crap on plinking ammo. But when it comes to XTP bullets for my 40 or match rounds for my 308, save about half the cost. I enjoy tweeking my own loads instead of buying different commercial ammo to find the right one. If your storing your ammo to prepare for SHTF (if it ever comes) then you can save some bucks. Think I have been to the range 15 times this past year. If you have your own private property to shoot, then your really saving some bucks there. Reloading is more of an enjoyment than savings for me even though I cuss when I do brass prep due to time it takes. Its not worth it if you don't shoot very often. Trying to convince my brother in law not to do it with his busy schedule. Offered my reloading equipment to use when he is in town instead of buying a setup. If your retired, one of the best time consuming things to do!

[LarryFlew]

Off hand without calculating every size and shape I reload I'd say 50% but then you add in what others have mentioned, I shoot a lot more. Last but not least at all is the other mentioned item, it is a hobby in itself. Reloading is relaxing for me. Some get to collecting reloaders and becoming a brass hog. I have 3 reloaders (2 progressives for 45 and 9) and one turret press with many heads for everything else from 44 mag to 32 in pistol and 223 and 300 blackout in rifle. Have more brass than I will use in the rest of my life and still finding more. Early years of reloading I would even go to the range during the week just to collect more brass. Now I buy and sell a lot of once fired brass which is another hobby in itself.

[OldmanFCSA]

I've saved cost for many years by reloading, but when factoring in equipment cost ...................
Well, let's see.

In my enclosed 50CAL Reloading Trailer:
RCBS AmmoMaster II for 50BMG
Lyman Single Stage
Lee 50BMG press with change-over

In my 34' X 48' Reloading Shop:
RCBS AmmoMaster II for seating custom 50BMG projectiles
RCBS AmmoMaster II for Sizing 50BMG
RCBS Rock Chucker - newer model
RCBS Rock Chucker - My original press circa 1976
Redding T-7 with 5 upper turret plates
Dillon 550B - small primer setup - many calibers
Lee Classic - my depriming station - modified

On a Lee Tower:
Lee Single Stage press - 9mm sizing dies
Lee Single Stage press - 9mm expander die
Lee Single Stage press - 9mm seater die
I use this for teaching reloading to new reloaders.

On another reloading bench:
Dillon 550B - large primer setup - many calibers
Herters Cast Press - Heavy Duty - brass swaging dies
Herters Cast Press - Heavy Duty - bullet swaging
Herters Cast Press - spare for whatever

On storage shelves for repair or sale:
RCBS Junior Press - needs toggle
Herters Cast Press - needs cleanup and handle & linkage
MEC 12 guage 3" setup
MEC 12 guage 2.75" setup
MEC 20 guage
MEC 410 caliber 2.5" setup
Unknown shotgun press (?C&H???)

I load about 47 different cartridge types and have a hard time parting with my toys.

Reloading is MY HOBBY - my passion - my addiction.
Hopefully no one gets as addicted as I've become.

[bnelson06]

I started this hobby thinking I was going to save money too. It has turned into a great HOBBY. Do not start reloading to save money.


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[TSKNIGHT]

Started reloading 357 mag in 1982 the same time I started shooting silhouette, moved up to 44 mag a year or so later.
And the hobby grew...
.38 special
PPC with 9mm and 45acp.
Tailored rifle rounds: .223, .22-250, .243, 25-20, .257 Roberts, 250-3000, 25-06, .270, 30-30, .308, 30-06, 45-70, 50-120.
Mild to wild 45 Colt.

Things have slowed down a bit. Currently I load for:
.38/.357, 9mm, 45 Colt, .223, and 30-30
Much easier to manage for inventory.