Does Reloading pay?

[webyourbusiness]

This argument comes up so often it needs to be a sticky with someone posting up-to-date pricing once in a while...

Does it pay to reload even a small caliber like 9mm - to me, yes... but ONLY if I consider the time spent reloading a zero-cost item to me - or - better yet, I consider it time spent in part of my hobby - ie, I actually consider my time spent reloading as a NEGATIVE COST - but really, consider cost spent reloading as ZERO cost... Use range pickup or just buy a thousand once fired casings to get going... I saved mine from my boxed ammunition... buying new brass for range plinking is a silly thing to do, especially as 100 winchester new brass is about equal to 100 winchester white box at walmart (buy the WWB, shoot it once and the reload your own spent brass - you KNOW it's history!).

I also assume that I am amortizing the cost of the press out at a penny per round - that's going to pay me back for my Dillon 650 and accessories over about 10,000 bullets - or... at this rate I reckon I shoot 200 rounds per range visit, twice a week - in a year I might visit the range 50 weeks in the year, so in less than 6 months I have shot 10k rounds... yes - you WILL shoot more rounds when they cost you less!

Here are my figures as of TODAY - based on two possible scenarios:

1. Shooting Precision Bullets 115gr FP (coated lead bullets)
Precision Bullets 115FP - Case Price = $197.00 for 3500 bullets = $0.056 per bullet
WSP Primer - Sportsman's WH where they have some whacky 8.4% public improvement fund tax total (I hate this) = $27.99 per k = $30.34 with tax and that's $0.03 per primer.
Powder: Titegroup - 14 oz can - Sportsman's WH 4.4gr per round, 14oz can gets 1392 rounds per can at $16.80 including the whacky tax or $0.012 per round in powder.

Add in $0.01 for brass cleaning supplies (media and polish - and I think this is GENEROUS in applying more cost than I need)
Add in $0.01 per round for my press/dies/other tools/books - and that's because I have a Dillon 650 - you can cut this in half if you go simpler.

This makes my lead bullets cost about $0.119 - or $5.93 for - or - $11.87 per 100.

Scenario 2:
If you don't want to get worried about lead and your barrel - shoot Berry's plated - 115gr FP again (today's price from their website, including shipping and lead surcharge) = $301.56 for 4 packs of 1000 = $0.075 per bullet.

Use the same powder, primer, cleaning and press fees and I find that 50 cost $6.89 and 100 cost $13.78

Last week my Walmart was wanting $17.52 for 100 Winchester White Box + 6.7 taxes = $18.69 for 100 rounds.

I happen to have Berry's from before the last round of price increases - but using today's prices, over 10,000 rounds I am about $500 ahead. In a year I have bought/paid for my press and am more than $1000 ahead.

Seriously - 9mm is a low-cost ammunition, and I can get quite a long way ahead shooting 400 rounds a week... you need to decide if you will recoup the money over 3 months, or 3 years. But know this ... when you are paying 2/3 of the cost of cheapo ammunition, you will shoot more of it... it just works out that way...

If you shoot higher costing loads (.40, .45 ACP, .45 GAP, others and rifle calibers) - the savings are often as much as 2/3rds of the cost of "factory" ammunition.

If you cast your own bullets, the "savings" in terms of raw $$$ will be even more - but factor in more time.

Consider this - whatever your hobby - be it cars, firearms or hot air ballooning - it has a cost, which is mitigated by the pleasure you derive from the time spent involved in that hobby... if you enjoy reloading, the time is not a factor when computing the "cost". But take that further... you can't change the factory ammunition at all - it is a fixed item.. you can change you reloads to suite your style - want max-loads, you got them... want soft shooting sub-sonics to use with your can... you got them... want to change the powder up and try a faster or slower burning powder - you buy a pound and TRY IT!!

Beware though... reloading can be a sickness just like any hobby... you WILL spend money getting into this part of the equation...only you and your banker can control how much!!!

[Anvil]

When Koski gets over here he needs to copy and paste his sticky from GTR to GP. It is after all his.

[freakshow10mm]

If I were him, I'd copy/paste. Then clear the whole post and just put '.....' there for the minimum count.

[Bush Pilot]

I choose not to reload, it's dangerous and all the gun manuals say not to shoot reloaded ammunition. With factory ammo you get a new gun (no questions asked) if there is a problem.

[MullahElRon]

You could sew your hand together with that pillow quiltin' you've been doin' too.

[Bush Pilot]

Been there, done that, got the stitches (no pun intended)

[Steel Talon]

I ponder this myself.

I agree. I shoot more for the same price new. However I've been at this many years and I truly have chit load of gadgets, dies, presses, scales, books, components and brass. It takes up a lot of man-cave space and is hard to keep track of. So have I truly made a savings?

I could probably sell off half of the stuff and not even notice a dent. I've sold off alot of brass but I buy more components with the dollars I get. This alone keeps Lady Steel very happy.

I have the same problems with my fishing gear, my MA weapons and my power tools:)

Peace
Steel Talon:coolgleamA:

[BigSlick]

If we can get enough sticky topics explaining the basics for newbies in this section, I will go thru each post and clean up all the extraneous posts and make this a reference section.

Then we can maybe keep from seeing the same basic questions posted all the time.

Videos, cost vs payback spreadsheet, SS vs turrent vs progressive etc..

All da stuff in da Newbie sticky Koski put up before and more, but with some better formatting and the posts kept lean and clean.

Maybe the newbies will read some of th estuff and them move over to the Reloading Central forum

Save everyone some time ;)

[jawjaboy]

Y'all straighten up here now. Axct right. I had a large day. Jtrade wore my ass out. He learn'in.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g194/jawjaboy/IM000666.jpg

[918v]

I reload to relax.

Relaxation is trerapeutic.

Therapy usually costs money.

Reloading, as an activity, therefore pays.

Look at it this way:

You get home from work where some SOB angered you. You feed yourself and then prepare to feed your finely crafted firearm. In the process, you forget about the SOB as you concentrate on the various steps involved in assembling your rounds.

Or you can pay for therapy at a rate that far exceeds your hourly income.

I'd rather reload.

[MakeMineaP99]

Between watching TV, drinking or doing other mindless activities, I'll clean my guns and reload.

Unless the company has me on the clock, it's the same oppurtunity cost.

[GLOCKENNBOOMER]

I do it for the exercise of going out to the range and bending over to pick up brass, and coming home with a bucket of brass.

[Tack]

no one shoots at my range... if they do it is some caliber that I have no use for. It is more a range for the zumbo fans... they do not like me. Switching this year to a more EBR friendly range where hopefully there will be some brass available. I am tired of seeing posts of "I get all kinds of .40 brass for free so I throw it away, or charge people 50$ for 1K pieces"... Sometimes it can pay to reload, other times it is just another hobby of it's own right. I prefer shooting JHP pistol rounds, I also prefer shooting Sierra Match Kings in rifles. It can get expensive, but compared to the accuracy of off the shelf ammo.... reloading owns it all.

[MullahElRon]

Y'all straighten up here now. Axct right. I had a large day. Jtrade wore my ass out. He learn'in.


When you gonna let him use the good press?

[Steve Koski]

Reloading allows me to either:

a) Spend less and shoot the same amount. Note that you don't really "spend less" until you've bought all of your equipment, and a first full stocking of components. So you may not save a dime until you've been going for 6 months or so.

b) Spend the same amount (or even more) but shoot a LOT more. This is what generally happens. Shooting is fun, so if you can do more without breaking the bank, most do it.

[HiddenEyes]

I keep track of reloading like it was a business. Right now it pays me $40.00 an hour to reload and nobody is taking any taxes out of that because it is money saved.

Now I will admit to having a slightly over built reloading operation that gives maximum bangs for the time invested. (Pun fully intended.)


Mr. HE:cool:

[jawjaboy]

When you gonna let him use the good press?

He is! :)

[ddeaton]

It keeps me away from the $6000 hookers

[mbradst]

It keeps me away from the $6000 hookers

for real.

[creophus]

JJB, why ain't your student wearing safety glasses? Safety first!

[SWAMPMASTER]

ooops

[SWAMPMASTER]

Hey JJB it looks like he is going to knock the calipers off the bench

[jawjaboy]

Safety glasses be on da table. Advise. All I can do. I ain't a wrestlin hisass down and put'n 'em on him.

Calipers were a lil precarious there. Damn.

[PsychoKnight]

It will affect your home liability insurance if something should happen to him, while on your property, under your direct supervision. Plus, all the damn paperwork you have to fill out for multiple agencies/institutions, not to mention the noise and glare from the sirens/horns/emerg.lights.

[mitchshrader]

i did the numbers and i'm a tightwad. i want ammo stockpiled in case some fool legislator decides to put a dollar a round tax on it, or any similar confiscatory regulation. It has cost me about 1500 total so far to buy 'stuff' for reloading, from a standing start, and the ammo that represents costs more than 1500$ if i just went and bought it, at least a little bit more.

reloading used brass will make it happen faster, but i wanted some new brass on hand, for handgun and rifle both, just cause, and some premium bullets the same reason. NOW they're affordable, barely, and later they'll be less affordable. compared to 5 years from now, these are the good old days.

I bought ammo for a while, before i bought reloading equipment and components. i'm still buying the odd batch of ammo. it's not like i'm in love with work, the price is anywhere from 1/3 less to 40% less with NEW COMPONENTS, and a bunch cheaper with cast bullets and used brass. likely overall, less than half by any count.

if you shoot, reload. if you INTEND to shoot, reload. if you want your KIDS to shoot, reload. if you don't reload, can I have your brass?

[ede]

I reload to relax.

Relaxation is trerapeutic.

Therapy usually costs money.

Reloading, as an activity, therefore pays.

Look at it this way:

You get home from work where some SOB angered you. You feed yourself and then prepare to feed your finely crafted firearm. In the process, you forget about the SOB as you concentrate on the various steps involved in assembling your rounds.

Or you can pay for therapy at a rate that far exceeds your hourly income.

I'd rather reload.

same here there's nothing more relaxing than sitting with the TV or radio on and loading ammo. it also allows you to enjoy your shooting intrest away from the range and out of the weather.

[Rick]

I need ammo that is about 167 to 171 PF for the games that I play.

I'd pay more than factory ammo prices to get that ammo. I make my own,

Please don't tell the factory...................

[Steve Koski]

I looked at 100 packs of Winchester White Box at Walmart last night, $26.99 + tax ($28.75). Yikes. That's almost 29 cents a shot ! ! ! So a 250 round match costs you $72 in ammo alone.

Yes, reloading does pay.

[Glooooock]

Most trickle up in gear quality and costs over the years , Life is great with a bolt action rifle and one set of dies in the press .

Then you get a pistol / semi auto , with a thirst that cant be quenched .

If I had it to do again ,I would buy a 1050 / 10 pounds of powder / 15K in primers on my first day . Buying retail at low volumes take out a lot of the saving , you still have better quality / accuracy . So the gains aren't only cost savings.

[lcarreau]

I am one of the folks that got into reloading to support my shooting hobby, but became a shooter to support my reloading hobby. I understand the arguments folks make, but for me, reloading did not save money, but it has been very much worth the effort and money put into it. I still love reading LM threads. :)

[FireCop203]

Here's something I ran across awhile back. It tells me how much money I'm saving by reloading.

Handloading Cost Calculator (http://handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp)

[HotGuns]

I reload because Liberals hate the thought of me making my own ammunition.

It scares them to the point of not sleeping well or not being able to poo-poo at the prescribed time.

That is the main reason that I reload. Of course I like to shoot large amounts of ammo to increase my killing ability and that too scares some of the sheeple.

When some politician, Presidential wannabee or some minor figure of authority gets on the bood tube and explains to his peers how dangerous I am because I own guns and can make my own ammo, I smugly sit back in my recliner and smile and I know that I am doing my job just to piss them off.

[918v]

You're right.

Early this morning, a liberal got drunk and **** on himself. He was muttering something about reloading. So I found him a new home.

[chewy]

Reloading don't pay, I save a crap load compared to buying factory stuff though, which I done in about a decade. Now that I'm castin' my own boolits the savings are quite ya'at'eehigii.
Why I reload? Well, I'm a cheap bastard. Also, gives me time to chat with the lady and have us both doing some case preppin'.
Gets out shootin' a whole lot more.
Gives me an extra somethin' to do during the winter.
Certain amount of pride in shootin' your own boolits and loads.
I just like reloading. I've never been the type that sits on his rear watchin' the idiot box, I gotta at least be preppin' some cases since I reload in stages (don't know if I'll ever graduate to progressive).

[HotGuns]

You're right.

Early this morning, a liberal got drunk and **** on himself. He was muttering something about reloading. So I found him a new home.


Yep.
A conservative would have **** in the grass where the dogs go and then passed out on the sidewalk. Its about responsibility ya know.

Libs, on the other hand, expect someone else to clean up their mess.

We did an imprompt survey once of drunks that got arrested and spent the night in the tank.Most of the ones that puked in the car were Democrats.

The Republicans seemed to be able to hold it longer and at least wait until the door was opened to puke.

and NO...I aint making that up.
Go figure...:skep:

[MakeMineaP99]

You a cop, HG? I thought you worked in the nuke plant as a machinist?

[HotGuns]

Part Time/Reserve Deputy. Pope County Sheriffs.
Part time when I get paid. Reserve when I don't.

If I wanted to cut my pay by a factor of 5...I would do it full time.

Keeps me off the couch and puts a bit of "spice" in my life.:yikes:

The Nuke plant pays the bills. Whatever I make from playing po-po goes into my gun fund.

[918v]

Everyone should be in the reserves. That way criminals would be overwhelmed. It would be like those scenes in the movies where everyone draws down on you.