How much do you save?

[MNblockhead]

Are there clubs or groups or classes that introduce ammo reloading? I really can afford another expensive and time-consuming hobby, but ammo reloading is another skill I've always wanted some exposure to. Would be happy to pay for time and materials for a session or two, just for the experience and opportunity to learn more about ammo.

[mc762x54R]

Are there clubs or groups or classes that introduce ammo reloading? I really can afford another expensive and time-consuming hobby, but ammo reloading is another skill I've always wanted some exposure to. Would be happy to pay for time and materials for a session or two, just for the experience and opportunity to learn more about ammo.

Not sure, I learned from my father in law, books, and youtube.

I load premium bullets when I load 223, for less than 30 cents a round. To buy the good 223 is anywhere from 50 cents to almost a buck a round.
I get vastly better accuracy than anything I could buy, for less money.

357 mags cost me maybe 17 cents to load, and are almost 50 cents a piece to buy today.
9mm is only a few cents less, so the savings isnt as much, but still 15 cents is better than 26.

[andrewP]

Are there clubs or groups or classes that introduce ammo reloading?

Unless he's stopped doing so, OldmanFCSA, who posted in this thread, teaches reloading to new folks. I'd PM him and ask. (If I ever get into reloading rifle cartridges, I intend to inquire about a class from him myself, as I know there are significant differences to learn vs the pistol stuff I'm comfortable with.)

[OldmanFCSA]

Are there clubs or groups or classes that introduce ammo reloading? I really can afford another expensive and time-consuming hobby, but ammo reloading is another skill I've always wanted some exposure to. Would be happy to pay for time and materials for a session or two, just for the experience and opportunity to learn more about ammo.

Yes, I am available for your FREE lessons on How to Reload Ammunition Yourself (??? maybe I should write a book???)

Read the reviews in the Reviews section of this Forum, they will tell you of my abilities and training techniques.

I expect payment for components used, and a large donation to my Heating Fund please.

Please e-mail me at: OldmanFCSA@aol.com for my detailed contact info, and a short list of my requirements for training.

Plan for a full day, or several hours, or several days. It all depends on what you want to learn and how much you are able to absorb. Bring your firearms for cartridges you want reloaded.

What cartridges do you want to learn on first? Pistol? Revolver? Rifle? ???

[crbutler]

Depends on what you mean by "save"

I have probably amortized the costs of the equipment some time ago.

For IPSC/USPSA I will typically run through 5,000 rounds of ammo for my open gun. Last time I saw 9x23 Win ammo it was $42/box. I reload it for $5/box from the components I have on hand now. Replacement of components and buying new brass every few cycles through probably doubles that. Other, more common handgun stuff is cheaper than the race gun ammo.

For rifle- 3 gun I can find cheap .223 for around $10/box. I am loading premium components for $8/box, assuming I use range pick up brass.

Hunting ammo- this is all over the place, but expect to have the price be less than half what you pay over the counter. My buffalo/DG ammo is maybe $30/box (given .416 Rigby ammo over the counter is around $200/box unless you are using Hornady- it is a dramatic savings, and allows one to practice with the same stuff you hunt with occasionally.)

Shotgun, clay target ammo is right around $5/ box, which is more or less what you can find promo ammo for at the stores.

Hunting lead loads cost maybe $8-9/box to reload but are pretty time consuming to make (what with multi peice wads, buffering, etc.)- but still cheaper than factory at $25/box for premium stuff.

Hunting non tox- steel is probably minimally cheaper than the factory stuff, but again, you have better QC and can make what you want- but not really saving money.

I cannot find the bismuth loads I make for sale anywhere. Roughly similar stuff is $30/10 shells... While the shot is expensive ($200/7#) you can beat the factory price by close to half. Hevishot is worse, and at this point I don't mess with it that much. There are some other tungsten pellets out there that do save you a bunch over hevishot.

As to saving, reloading can be pretty spendy to get in to if you want to be able to make a lot of ammo with not so much time (progressive presses, fancy scales, etc.) but a bottom end lee loader is probably under $30, and will turn out usable ammo. Single stage press set ups will probably run around $250 all inclusive except supplies. You can spend several 10's of thousands of dollars if you want also (to essentially be able to be an ammo manufacturer...)

So as to shot per shot, yes you can save money. It gives you good control of what you are shooting, and is reasonably safe as long as you can follow directions.

Of course, you will probably end up shooting more, and will stockpile components, so most folks end up actually spending more money by reloading- but gain a hobby.

[Seismic Sam]

I save a ton of money. Got into it 43 years ago with a Lee Whack-a-Mole kit for $7.56 and laboriously loaded thousands of rounds of 9mm and 45. Had lots of time and very little money.
I have kept my expenditures down by staying with a six station turret press, and considering the number of exotic calibers I load, and with calibers like 500 S&W and 50AE, and 338 Rem Ultramag you can break even on a basic reloading setup in about 5 BOXES of ammo. 500 Smith is $2.50 a round, 338 Rem Ultramag is $4.00 a round! With other calibers like 10mm, 357 Sig, 9x23 Winchester, and 45 Super, you save money and also avoid the problem of limited availability of this ammo, plus a lot of 10mm is watered down crap. It has been a pleasant hobby for 43 years, so it's a permanent part of my life, but I keep it simple.

[chopper]

bought my first rock chucker and basic reloading stuff around 1970 but started reloading around age 16 using my dads stuff and over the years have added different calibers and upgraded scales and tools, I do save money and shoot alot more but it is a hobby that I love to do so the enjoyment to me out weighs the cost of equiptment I have bought over the years. and I still use my rock chucker as my primary loader.