Cost..How low can you go?

[300WSM]

Would love to see how low some of you fellow loaders are getting your ammo. I know this is kind of a loaded question so lets make sure when answering to note whether it is hunting or target. For example loads you might be running out of a Mini or AR are probably lower than what you are shooting from your bolt action varmint or deer rig. Cost per 20 or 50 or per round.... however you want to do it.
I will post mine a little later.

 

[Wincheringen]

.40 S&W, 9MM, .45 ACP is $4.50 a box (50)

.223/.204 is about $.28 each for varmint/target stuff, $.23 or less for plinking/3gun stuff.

shotshell is $1.80 per box (25), I make my own shot, lead is virtually free since I just have to haul it.

Bigger centerfire is more expensive but I don't care what it costs, its just a hobby for me.

 

[nvbroncrider]

If you have brass looking at $72 per 300 of 223. For 280 looking at $40 per hundred. That's a high side estimate.

 

[Divernhunter]

I do not keep track. I just load what I want and try to get the best price on componants when I buy. I am loading with stuff(bullets/powder/primers) that I have had for many years(like early 1970's) for some of my ammo.

 

[SJB358]

I do not keep track. I just load what I want and try to get the best price on componants when I buy. I am loading with stuff(bullets/powder/primers) that I have had for many years(like early 1970's) for some of my ammo.

Same here, I try to cut costs by buying 2nds when they are on sale.. I also need to start buying 5lb containers of powder to minimize costs a little more, but overall, I have no idea. Too much is probably the best answer...

 

[joelkdouglas]

I believe less than what to costs to buy high quality factory or Nosler-custom type ammo.

But not much less. Just today I was looking at a concentricity gauge again.

 

[Guest]

Cost to handload is something I sat down to figure out after a challenging discussion with a good friend who does not handload. What I came up with is based on 6 loads per piece of brass, and may be a little high now, as primers are now $30 per 1000 versus the $45 per when I did the calculations. Here's what I found:

For simple rifle handloading for common rounds using remchester brass, and bullets in the $30-35 per hundred range, cost per 20rds is $8-9 per 20.

Move up to premium bullets at $35 per 50, and better brass (Hornady/Nosler/Norma/Lapua) and magnum charges, and you're looking at $14-18 per box of 20rds.

For comparison, it's about $25 for factory equivalents for the common stuff, an it's anywhere from $35-90 for the premium stuff. That includes loading for Weatherby rounds, too.

 

[Elkman]

Here is my example which is probably on the low end. I opened a box of Speer of 100, 150 gr. 308's the other day, the price on the box was $7.95. I loaded it into Winchester 308 brass that my sister gave me when her husband died. So far a I have pulled about 80 bullets from those cases. I loaded these cleaned, sized, preped for loading, with Remington $11.95 per box (1000) primers and some $13.95 IMR-4064. This puts me at about 20 cents a round if my math in my head is right. I still have several hundred 180 gr. Herters bullets in unopened boxes. As I mentioned somewhere the other day. By as much as you can as cheap as you can "now" because in 40 years it will be a bargain.

 

[SJB358]

Here is my example which is probably on the low end. I opened a box of Speer of 100, 150 gr. 308's the other day, the price on the box was $7.95. I loaded it into Winchester 308 brass that my sister gave me when her husband died. So far a I have pulled about 80 bullets from those cases. I loaded these cleaned, sized, preped for loading, with Remington $11.95 per box (1000) primers and some $13.95 IMR-4064. This puts me at about 20 cents a round if my math in my head is right. I still have several hundred 180 gr. Herters bullets in unopened boxes. As I mentioned somewhere the other day. By as much as you can as cheap as you can "now" because in 40 years it will be a bargain.

That is what I tell my wife Bill! Sometimes the wifes just don't understand our "frugalness"

 

[PJGunner]

I still have a couple of boxes of Sierra bullets made in Santa Fe Springs California. :shock: Now how old are those. :?: :?: :?:
I have five boxes of 7x57 brass, new, unloaded and unfired marked Herters in Herters boxes. I note they say made in Sweden and have always wondered if Norma made the brass for Herters? No matter. The boxes do look quite cool.
Paul B.

 

[Richracer1]

I've never tried to calculate the cost per 20 for my loads, but with 4 RUMs using Nosler bullets and Fed GM215M primers, I know it's cheaper than the slim selection of factory rounds for these calibers. The 30-06 & 308 I have the loading costs vs. factory stuff isn't as much of a savings.

Also, how can you put a $$$$ value on taking big game with loads YOU developed for your rifle vs. using what ever came out of the factory? This IMO is priceless.

 

[Rhoden101]

Just depends on the caliber, here is what I figure.

.223 Rem - about $0.50 per round with new brass and varmint bullets.

.25-06 Rem - about $ 1.25 per round with new brass & premium bullets

.458 Lott - about $3.35 per round with new brass & North Fork Bullets

When reloading fired brass cost goes way down from here.

Rhoden101

 

[300WSM]

I have a few cost to share and more to follow....

If I use new brass and then discard them after one shot I am still significantly cheaper than buying factory premium/supreme loaded ammo. I can load a box of 300 WSM with 180 gr Ballistic Silver tip bullets, new rem/win brass, fed gold medal primers and of course the powder used for $25 a box of 20 almost to the penny.

firing # two and beyond with the same brass brings that down to $11

The average covering 500 loads would be $345 or 13.80 a box

Isn't it just super super super how you can accomplish so much from such a fun thing to do.
The satisfaction of loading ammo...performance over factory...cost savings which is tremendous as some people have shown...the mental celebration of killing something with your load...shooting that amazing group with your load...etc etc!!

 

[joelkdouglas]

Alrighty, finally got around to figuring out what it really costs to load a round. Assumptions: I'm not figuring costs I consider "sunk", like the press, dies, etc. However, those are not an insignificant cost of reloading. Below is just the component cost.

Brass: Lapua 30-06 brass, $120 for 100 rounds. If I load the brass 8 times (usually lasts longer than that), that comes to 120 / 100 = $1.20 / 8 = $0.15 each for brass

Bullet: Nosler 180 grain Partition, on sale at MidwayUSA, $26.49 / 50 = $0.53 each for hunting; I use Custom Competition for practice and range, $76.99 / 250 = $0.31 each

Primer: I use CCI LR due to their high availability and my positive experience with them; $29.49 / 1000 = $0.03 each

Powder: I use Ramshot Hunter for 180-grain .30-06 rounds; 8 lbs is $140.99, plus $25 HAZMAT fee from MidwayUSA (unless I can find it locally, and then it actually costs more than if I just bought the 8 lbs); $166 / 8 lbs = $20.75 per pound. There are 7000 grains per pound, and I need 58 grains per round. 58 / 7000 = (8.2857 x 10-3) x 20.75 = $0.17 per each for powder

Brass: $0.15
Bullet: $0.53 hunting, $0.31 practice
Primer: $0.03
Powder: $0.17
Hunting round: $0.88
Practice round: $0.66

180-grain ammunition costs: Remington bulk normally runs $1 each for a round that I would probably not shoot at an elk unless I lost my ammunition and had to make an emergency purchase at a gas station. I've got nothing against this ammo, but I'm a bullet snob.

I used to hunt with Federal Premium, $2 each for Partition bullets.

Nosler ammunition is $2 each.

When trying to "save money", let's say your equipment costs $500. Press, dies, gauges, measuring devices, powder dispenser, etc. $500 won't get you everything you want, but it would easily cover stuff you needed, and get you a couple high quality items.

You need to load $1 - $0.66 (practice rounds) = $0.34; 500 / 0.34 = 1470 rounds of practice ammo to make up the $500.

Likewise, you would need to load $2 - $0.88 = $1.12; 500 / 1.12 = 446 rounds of hunting ammo to make up the $500.

Can you save money reloading? Yes. Is it realistic that you will actually save money? That's up for you to decide.

But it's also a hobby. If I weren't spending it on reloading / shooting / hunting I would be spending it on something else. I tell my wife she's lucky that I chase bulls and bucks and not other women.

 

[Guest]

I've long said that handloading doesn't actually save any money. Oh, it's going to cost less per round, but the issue then becomes, you just shoot a ton more! I shoot several hundred rounds per range session across numerous rifles and handguns. Before handloading, I'd shoot a couple of groups (6-10rds) from a couple of rifles and a couple of boxes of handgun ammo (50rds apiece) for a total of 110rds max. Heck, I go through 200-300rds of handgun ammo on a day at the range, now. Much less the 80-160rds of rifle ammo. I can take 6-8 rifles out, and shoot groups of three, rotating rifles, and I have little or no down time for barrel cooling, as the first one is cool by the time I get through the others. Makes for a very enjoyable day. And a lot of opportunity to get good with a rifle...

You won't save money handloading. You'll just shoot a lot more.

 

[300WSM]

I've long said that handloading doesn't actually save any money. Oh, it's going to cost less per round, but the issue then becomes, you just shoot a ton more! I shoot several hundred rounds per range session across numerous rifles and handguns. Before handloading, I'd shoot a couple of groups (6-10rds) from a couple of rifles and a couple of boxes of handgun ammo (50rds apiece) for a total of 110rds max. Heck, I go through 200-300rds of handgun ammo on a day at the range, now. Much less the 80-160rds of rifle ammo. I can take 6-8 rifles out, and shoot groups of three, rotating rifles, and I have little or no down time for barrel cooling, as the first one is cool by the time I get through the others. Makes for a very enjoyable day. And a lot of opportunity to get good with a rifle...

You won't save money handloading. You'll just shoot a lot more.

Without a doubt it is cheaper to hand load. The more premium the load the bigger the savings compared to factory. Of course all the fun and satisfaction is priceless.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I figured out my costs for most handloading and they are close to what Dubyam stated ($12-18/box) based on using bullets that are <$30/100 bullets. However, if you are loading premium bullets (Partitions or other custom bullets) in a caliber like the .338 or .35 Whelen, you are spending $16/box of 20 for premium bullets only, unless you buy seconds. I use seconds and digital weigh sort bullets whenever I can find them. Add Norma or Nosler cases to this tab and you are up to $25-$30/box for this quality level of big game hunting ammunition which is still cheaper than the $60/box (or more) that comparable factory ammo will cost at anywhere near retail.

I have had all of my loading equipment forever, so I am not amortizing that at all.

 

[Coyote Hunter]

$2.50 per 20 rounds, .45-70 plinker loads

300g or 350g Oregon Trail LaserCast bullets
13.5g HS-6
1167fps and 1097fps respectfully


Lots of fun to shoot and very accurate. Recoil in a scoped Marlin 1895 is around 6 foot-pounds if I recall correctly.

My girls love these loads.

On water jug tests, these loads out-penetrate most everything else I've tested and the only thing that might be close is a 500g Speer African Grand Slam Tungsten at around 1500fps. (The Speer AGS went out the side of jug #9 while the LaserCast repeatedly exited the last jug, #12.) Should make excellent varmint control rounds for short range work (skunks, coons, home defense, etc.)

 

[Guest]

I figured out my costs for most handloading and they are close to what Dubyam stated ($12-18/box) based on using bullets that are <$30/100 bullets. However, if you are loading premium bullets (Partitions or other custom bullets) in a caliber like the .338 or .35 Whelen, you are spending $16/box of 20 for premium bullets only, unless you buy seconds. I use seconds and digital weigh sort bullets whenever I can find them. Add Norma or Nosler cases to this tab and you are up to $25-$30/box for this quality level of big game hunting ammunition which is still cheaper than the $60/box (or more) that comparable factory ammo will cost at anywhere near retail.

I have had all of my loading equipment forever, so I am not amortizing that at all.

Charlie, I think you're right. Recalculating for current brass, bullet, and powder costs ups my current loads to about $24 per box of 20rds for the 270Wby or other higher priced to load rounds. And you're correct, even that is a huge savings over factory stuff with comparable components.

I still don't save any money overall. I just shoot two to three times as many rounds...

 

[Oldtrader3]

I do not save any money either, I just shoot more for the same budget.