High cost of setting up for a new rifle

[Guy Miner]

Just some thoughts, from one who's been there. A buddy of mine was a little surprised at how much more he had to spend, once he got his first hunting rifle, a .270 Win in a Rem 700:

3-9x Leupold Rifleman $200
DNZ mount: $50
Nylon sling: $30
gun case: $25
three boxes of factory ammo: $70

$375, just for what I'd call the bare minimum.

I think he's still going to get a cleaning rod, patches, brushes, solvent and lube, which will likely set him back another $50 or so... That will take him to roughly $425.00 above the cost of his rifle.

He's a little fascinated by my handloading setup... Uh Oh... I did tell him that I don't have any dies for the .270 Win, and that he'd have to buy his own as well as components. He's welcome to learn and load at my bench...

Dies: $30

I think that starting from scratch, a guy has got to figure $400 - $500 above the cost of the rifle, just to be decently set, and you'll notice that my buddy didn't spring for an expensive scope, sling or rifle case... Could have easily added another $500 to the cost if he'd gone for a more expensive scope, a Turner sling and a high quality case.

***************

When I shop for a new rifle anymore, I barely glance at it if it isn't chambered in a cartridge I'm already set up to load. If I have to buy dies, brass, bullets, and maybe even primers and powder specifically for that new cartridge, I know I'm going to be out several hundred dollars, or more.

A bare-bones decent die set is about $30
500 bullets, let's say Sierra Matchkings for practice: $200
100 bullets, high quality hunting, let's say Nosler Partitions: $70 (if I pay full retail)
100 cases, Win or Rem: $50

I'll assume I've got powder and primers that will work. There's $350 just to get going on handloading for something, without going crazy on high quality dies, or match grade brass!

*****************

In recent years I've done this with the .375 H&H, .300 WSM, and the .257 Weatherby... Each of them required the purchase of dies, brass and bullets - and let me tell you - those .375" bullets don't come cheap! Also, with the .257 Wby and .300 WSM I went with Norma brass. Ouch. Good stuff, but... Ouch!

Luckily I was able to buy a bunch of stuff for the .375 from a couple of old buddies who used to hunt with .375's in their younger days. The rifle also came with a set of dies, as well as some brass, bullets and even loaded ammo. That saved me a huge amount of money.

Likewise with the .300 WSM - the used rifle came with dies, brass, bullets and even some loaded ammo.

So - my recommendation when some nice, shiny, sparkling new toy beckons? Slow down, think hard and figure out all the costs first! :grin:

 

[jmad_81]

I'm a big fan of the "package deals" that come with brass, dies, and bullets on a good used gun. I have found over the years that I need to quit selling the dies for the guns that I am selling. So far I have sold three or four different rifles and dies that I have eneded up owning again and had to buy new (or some good used) dies for :roll:

I have a few friends at work that are wanting to get into the LR shooting, not hunting, but just shooting gongs and yotes. They are asking me what they can get for the $500 range, I have a hard time telling them that $500 is just getting them started. They don't load their own, and really don't know much about rifle shooting at all (they are great bow hunters!).

You are right though, a guy has to budget those things in or you will end up over budget by several hundred $.

 

[JD338]

Good points Guy.

Remember when reloading was cheap? :wink: I also remenber gas being $0.40 per gallon too !:mrgreen:
I hold on to all my dies, never know when you might need them again.

JD338

 

[Oldtrader3]

I guess that I would be able to spend $375. on getting started with a new caliber just buying bases, rings, Forster dies, sling and reloading supplies, assuming starting from scratch. I have a few or three extra scopes laying around or that would be another $400-$500 for something that I plan to keep and use for the many years.

 

[Coyote Hunter]

While there is a downside to owning multiple rifles chambered for the same cartridge (you need to keep handloads separate or load for the shortest throat), there are ways around it. I got lucky on my first two .30-06s but had the throat reamed on the third. Also pretty lucky on my two .308's - the first had the shorter throat and the loads for it work fine in the second.

One of the upsides to buying rifles in the same caliber but chambered for different cartridges is the ability to reuse bullets and usually powder. My safe has rifles chambered for .308W, .30-06, .300WM and there is a lot of crossover in bullets, primers, powder.

Last February I bought a Ruger #1 in .280 Rem. Already had primers, powder and lots of 7mm bullets because I've been shooting and reloading for a 7mm RM since '82. Just needed dies, brass and a scope.

 

[nvbroncrider]

I bet that's a sweet rig in the #1. How does it shoot?

 

[Desert Fox]

Wait 'til he start shooting the 338 Lapua. :shock:

When I first got the rifle, I got carried away buying 200 rounds of Lapua brass and 500 rounds of 300 grain SMK and 8 lbs of Retumbo. That took some creative explaining to the wifey when the CC statement arrived.

 

[buckfever]

I've just made an order through midway for a barrel scope and some other goodies and that was about $800 good thing I load for a buddy's 300 rum I don't have to buy dies and brass then I told my wife how much more money I needed for the gun smith. I guess women will never under stand :grin:

 

[Elkman]

Guy

Great post, thats one of the reasons I own so many 7mm's and .308. Not a lot of duplication involved.

 

[Coyote Hunter]

I bet that's a sweet rig in the #1. How does it shoot?

Very nicely! The previous owner had it nickel plated and had a Moyer trigger installed. Haven't killed any clay pigeons at 600 yards yet but haven't had a range session with it when the wind was cooperating.

 

[Guest]

I tend to be a packrat, as well. I've got dies, brass, and bullets for a number of rifles I don't own - either because I got the dies/components when I was helping a friend work on a rifle or because I sold the one rifle I've ever regretted purchasing. Interestingly, I didn't regret purchasing the rifle because it was not suitable for the purpose I intended. I regretted it because it was a poorly made Rem700 that would not shoot worth a crap. I will own another rifle in that chambering as soon as I find one I want at a price I like. Beyond that, I have this gut feeling that as soon as I get rid of a set of dies or something I'll end up tripping over a rifle in that chambering and need the equipment again. And prices just keep going up, of course. I have some duplicate dies I'm going to put up for sale soon, I suspect, but other than that, I keep most everything because you just never know.

As to Guy's original question, I certainly think about the cost of getting set up to shoot a new rifle when I'm looking. I ran across a very nice Ruger 77 in 300SAUM the other day that I could have picked up for a song. Nice wood, factory rings included, looks like it's been out of the box maybe ten times. But brass is expensive, and harder to find by the day, and I already have three .308cal rifles, so despite my liking the rifle and the chambering a whole lot, I passed. By the time I bought the rifle for a song, I'd still have to pay the band to the tune of something like $300 for a scope, $50 for dies, and $60 for brass. I have plenty of suitable bullets and powders. But a "cheap" rifle suddenly becomes an $800 adventure, in a hurry. All to squeeze this rifle in between my 30-06 and 300'bee. And yet, I know it's still there, and I hear it calling to me. It's got a very nice wood stock - as Ruger sometimes manages to put on their 77's - and it's in near new condition. But the overall price is just so much more than the rifle. For new shooters, I always recommend an old standby cartridge - 270Win, 243Win, 30-06, 30-30WCF - and tell them to stock up on ammo and keep their fired brass to load at my bench. But even then, best case, a new shooter is still looking at $500-700, depending on what rig they want. There's just on cheap way to get into shooting centerfire.

 

[usmc 89]

you can definately spend some money if you want to in the shooting game.

 

[Wincheringen]

I stocked up today... its definitely not a cheap hobby!

The last few scopes have been in the $450-$600 range, although I can scrounge scopes off rifles I don't shoot much anymore. I've been fortunate to get some pretty good deals on barely used stuff too.

 

[BK]

So - my recommendation when some nice, shiny, sparkling new toy beckons? Slow down, think hard and figure out all the costs first! :grin:

That's it! I'm not buying any more new rifles!

 

[cloverleaf]

Got the Cabelas bill tonight. The flyer says the have an RCBS reloading set up on sale for $800.00 Its the fancy stuff, but seriously :shock: :twisted: :roll: I guess you could spend most of it all at once if you want. CL

 

[DrMike]

That's it! I'm not buying any more new rifles!

I just love rash statements such as this. I'll give you seven days, Kurt.

 

[BK]

I was wondering if someone would call me on this! Actually, It will be minimum of two-and-a-half weeks, since I'm back in the People's Republik of Kalifornia right now. There's a Rigby in the classifieds that's kinda calling me...

 

[DrMike]

You worried me, there, Kurt. I thought you were going Kalifornia on me for a moment.

 

[efw]

I'm with you on this one, Guy!

I've gone through a bit of a lifestyle adjustment recently and had to accept this reality, but decided to cobble something together.

I haven't taken pics yet, but using a Savage 110 action I've had for several years, a take-off factory tupperware, factory take-off barrel, and an old scope and hardware I had lying around, I built my 7 & 9 yo boys a pretty sharp looking .243 Win! It was completed the other night, borrowed a dremel today for bedding, and gonna test fire next week!

Of course the expensive part will be MY range testing... I had to get some Nosler brass & 95 gr VLDs to try, in addition to the many other 6mm bullets I already had lying around ! I just can't KISS!!!!!!! ARGH!

Oh yeah... while scrounging for the boys' project rifle I found a BEAUTIFUL Boyd's JRS stock in XXX French walnut and a commercial lr mauser action. Then I saw a "257 Bob vs. 6mm Rem" discussion going on another board and before adding my $.02 I noted that another member was rebarreling a mauser 98 in 6mm Rem to Bob. I PM'd him to ask if he'd sell me the take-off and he said no, but he'd give it to me for the cost of shipping! Catch is that he doesn't know when he'll have that tube pulled, but for that price who cares!?!?!?! Its a light sporter-taper Douglas!

WHEW HA! Two rifles cobbled in one year, AND both in the same caliber so I don't have to expand my bullet selection!!!

 

[BK]

You worried me, there, Kurt. I thought you were going Kalifornia on me for a moment.

Well, I AM still thinking about having a traveler/hippie paint a stock tie-dye (NOT!!!).

I'm kinda getting mixed signals as to how long this dog-and-pony show is going to last. I've been toying with the idea of bringing some sort of shooter down here, just to have something to play with on weekends. I don't think secure storage is an issue, and if so, I can leave it with my cousin who lives about 15 minutes away. Most logical would be a Ruger .22 pistol, so I could throw on a red dot or scope if I want to, but I've also been thinking about maybe a heavy barreled .308, to shoot at stuff far, far away, down in the desert. Probably should have thought about this a long time ago.