Cost of reloading vs factory loads.

[jeff_gibbons]

My experience is that reloading is a hobby and has never been economically viable. Especially if I consider the cost of my time.

But I still do it for large rifles for the fun of it.

Everything else (pistol, 223 etc) better to visit an online retailer.

 

[memtb]

Just as an example, “if” I were to purchase ammo from one of the major retailers, for my “retired” hunting rifle....the price for a 20 round box starts at the upper $50.00’s and goes to near $100.00, depending upon the type of bullet used. I can (and do) load with a somewhat expensive “premium bullet, to slightly higher velocities and slightly more accurate cartridges for under $30.00/box of 20. Add to this the pleasure and satisfaction (hobby) of hand-loading.....it’s a “no-brained” for me! The vast majority of our firearms have “never” had a round of factory produced ammunition fired through them!

Then if you “figure-in” my present hunting rifle cartridge.......factory ammunition cannot be bought! It’s a hand-load proposition “only”. Though as an AI cartridge, I can fire factory ammo in it...if I had to! So, if you were to “ever” want to start shooting some of the “dozens” of different “wildcat” cartridges popular today....they are hand-loading “only”! memtb

 

[VikingsGuy]

Then if you “figure-in” my present hunting rifle cartridge.......factory ammunition cannot be bought! It’s a hand-load proposition “only”. Though as an AI cartridge, I can fire factory ammo in it...if I had to! So, if you were to “ever” want to start shooting some of the “dozens” of different “wildcat” cartridges popular today....they are hand-loading “only”! memtb

Which AI? I just bought a 280 and am looking forward to loading for it when the snow leaves us.

 

[memtb]

Which AI? I just bought a 280 and am looking forward to loading for it when the snow leaves us.

VikingsGuy, It’s a .375 AI. Loading for your 280 AI will likely be a little less expensive than for my AI! Good Luck with your 280 AI, I’ve heard nothing but “rave” reviews about the cartridge! memtb

 

[coloradoguy]

Depends on what you are reloading for. I second that if you know what you are doing, reloading gives a huge performance edge as you are tailoring your loads to what your gun wants. I chalk it up as I’m reloading match grade for the same cost or less than cheap factory ammo. Not to mention it is fun seeing how a change in charge or seating depth or primer can change the way your gun shoots. It’s an adult science project finding that sweet load that your gun wants.

 

[VikingsGuy]

This has come up before so I will stick to the Reader's Digest version of my past responses - in short, it takes high volume shooting and a disciplined price focus to save money reloading. For the average hunting round it is not cheaper, but rather is done as a hobby, to maximize performance, to load for an atypical cartridge or to have more control over bullet selection.

 

[mtmuley]

Any of you guys that don't save money by handloading feel free to send me your brass so that I can. mtmuley

 

[Don Fischer]

You want to save money handloading get a Weatherby cartridge of some flavor and shoot premium bullet's in it. Use an inexpensive Lee single stage press and dies and Lee powder measures. I started with the Lee Load All hammer type set in a 7mm Rem Mag shooting 175gr Herter bullet's. They didn't shoot real well but killed everything I hit with them! Then the ammo i made was less expensive than what I could buy and I didn't shoot all that much. I'm much better set up today and even though I don't buy all the gadgit's, I'm never gonna break even loading. And I use mostly standard cup and core bullet's! Yet for some strange reason I doubt I'll ever break even! Now if you inherited all the tools and don't shoot a lot you might just save a couple bucks. Knowing what I do about it now, I'd do it all again!

 

[GlockZ]

On most of the cartridges I reload for, I've calculated a savings, there are a few that I feel I break even on. But going forward and seeing prices on factory ammo going up, I think the savings will increase.

 

[Preacher shaner]

I don't reload my self. But have a couple of friends that do. They won't think twice before blowing through 150 rounds trying to find a load that is one hole. And that's with any thing they shoot. So they spend lots of time and money.
I get them to work a load up for me I tell them to stop at anything under moa. And I buy Nosler. That are not cheap. Like I am putting together a rem 700 in 3006. I am buying 165 gr partitions that are blems. I have so far 100$ in 250 of the bullets. If I buy two boxes of that load I am at 90$.
It all in what you want.
I want T bone my budget say ramen noodles. So i make it work. The 3006 will only ever get the 165 partitions and every time I get them on sale that's what I will buy. . It would be cheaper to shoot corelock

 

[FLS]

It can save you money if you are a high volume shooter and you buy components in bulk.
I load 9mm, 45 ACP handgun ammo on a Dillon progressive. +/- 5K rounds a year. A few years ago it was 2-3 times that. I was shooting a couple of matches a month and practicing 2-3 times a week.
I load +/- 1500 rounds of precision .223 and 6.5 Creedmoor a year. Maybe half as much .308.

Premium hunting ammo is so good now it’s hard to justify the time and effort to load it anymore.