Savings realized with reloading

[wapit_eater]

With the cost of .233 skyrocketing, I'm curious what the re-loaders are paying per cartridge to reload?

I will be shooting .233 with a 16" barrel & a 40 SW.

Mostly plinking

-Tom

[Irving]

Mostly plinking

-Tom

With some lethal force self defense every once in a while?

[wapit_eater]

[UZI]

if the situation presents itself...DEFIANTLY

[UZI]

[currahee]

Well, to reload 500rnds of .223 with FMJ, it costs me about $100 per 500rnds.

$35 for powder(almost 2lbs of TAC @ $17 a lb)
$50 for 500 Hornady 55grn FMJ
$15 for 500 SR primers
Brass I dont pay for- go to your nearest range and pick some up for free-If its left there it will be factory once fired usualy- reloaders pick up thier brass when done mostly.
A couple-few hours of work and *poof* 500rnds of ready to fire .223 for half the price of what you can buy if you can find it instock.

[theGinsue]

I have a simple Excel (2003) Spreadsheet (23K) that helps to identify the "Per Cartridge Cost" as well as a "Cost of a box of 20" and "Cost of a box of 50". You have to know how much you spent bullets, brass (even of it's $0.00), primers and powder.

If anyone is interested in it, just PM me your eMail addy and I'll forward it on to you.

[gnihcraes]

Sounds about right, I calculated my recent reloading costs at $246.00 per 1000. That is high because of the purchase of once fired brass. Next time will be less $70 for the brass.

kc.

[a77ssii]

If you want to save more $$ reload steel. I've been doing it for about 2 years now and probably around 4K rounds down range with no problems at all. Inspect all cases before reloading, typically after the 3rd or 4th reload they get a hairline crack in the neck. I live 10 minutes by ATV from the Harris Park shooting area so I have an unlimited supply, I use one of those telescopic magnets with a 5gal bucket. There's been times I've left with 2000+ pcs.

[jerrymrc]

I am still able to get 55 and 62Gr bullets for $80 per K. Far cry from the IMI bullets @ $40 per K but I still have some of those left. I am still loading at $105 per K of .223

Once that stash runs out the next 5000 will be about $150 per K. I am still @ $170 per K for .308

If you shop smart right now buying once fired brass the first K of .223 should be $205 or so. re use the brass once and the next batch is $155 so the cost for 2000 rds of .223 would be $180 per K. Finding the load your gun likes that is better than what you could buy at three times the price= Priceless.

I have reloaded some steel cased (wolf) just to see and they size just as easy as brass.

[wapit_eater]

How many times can brass be reloaded?

How many times can steel be reloaded?

[a77ssii]

That's the kicker Wapiti. You can BUY .223 brass and reload many, many times. I honestly haven't counted but I know I'm beyond 5 reloads on most brass. Whereas you can typically pick up all the steel you can carry for free and reload typically a max of 4 times (sometimes 3). They size the same and crimp the same but the biggest difference I've found is every time I reload brass I have to trim but I've never trimmed a steel case even on the 4th reload so there is a time savings on the steel. But you do need to keep them dry or you'll end up with a box of rust. At this stage of the game for me the steel outnumbers the brass in .223 probably 5 to 1 at my bench simply because I can jump on the quad, run back to the range and come home with about 2000+ rnds which will net me about 1000rnds reloadable after sorting out damaged and berdan primed ones. All for about .75 in gas. Plus what is not reloadable heads to the dump rather than creating the trash dump in the forest.

[wapit_eater]

I appreciate all this great info.

How does one know when the life of the brass/steel has been met?

Can yuz guz recommend a good starter kit?

I think it would be great to learn the processes, the science, and do some reloading...seems good for the mind, and good for the pocket book.

-Tom

[a77ssii]

If you pick up any good reloading book like the ones from Speer or Hornady they actually have pics of backed out primers, split necks, seperated cases, etc. Inspecting is 99% common sense, if there's damage other than minor denting, trash it. There are alot of AK's chambered in .223 which upon ejection dent the casing. I reload as normal and when fired from an AR or my bolt action the case is reformed and the dent is gone. Typically on the AK casings the side where the dent is will eventually get a crack which is easy to pick up when inspecting. As to the reloading equipment I would suggest a set from RCBS, I have a mish-mash of Lee, Redding, Lyman and RCBS and by far my favorite is RCBS although I am planning on trying one of the Lee progressives for .223 since they are only around $180.

[a77ssii]

BTW, Wapiti reloading is about 50% common sense, 30% patience and 20% borderline psychotic attention to detail. For example after about 500 rnds I have found one of my AR's likes 55gr Remington FMJ's, CCI primers and BL(C)-2 powder. I have ??lbs of powder that all gave me alot of fliers, big groups or insufficient pressure to reliably work the bolt along with hundreds of different bullets that gave me hideous groups. Luckily I have another .223 that will swallow any bullet with any powder at any pressure without having any bad effects on accuracy. Each rifle is different. My .300 Win Mag groups 12"@100yds with Nosler's, 8"@100yds with Barnes and 1.25"@100yds with Combined Technology all running the same gr wt of bullet and powder but my 7mm-08 groups 4" with Combined Technolgy and 1" @100yds with Noslers. The finicky AR likes middle of the road powder charges but my bolt action .223 want full max pressures (I have special boxes for the bolt action rounds). That said I would suggest also buying a Load Book for the cartridge you want to reload and slowly working through it until you find a load your rifle/pistol likes. It's time consuming and can be $$ but IMO well worth it.

[nontactical]

I am still able to get 55 and 62Gr bullets for $80 per K. Far cry from the IMI bullets @ $40 per K but I still have some of those left. I am still loading at $105 per K of .223

Hey where can you get bullets for either of those prices?

[jerrymrc]

Hey where can you get bullets for either of those prices?

The IMI bullets were purchased a few years ago. The $80 for 55 and 62Gr are current prices where I get them. Brand new not pulls.

[jerrymrc]

I appreciate all this great info.

How does one know when the life of the brass/steel has been met?

Can yuz guz recommend a good starter kit?

I think it would be great to learn the processes, the science, and do some reloading...seems good for the mind, and good for the pocket book.

-Tom

As I did and as I recommend anyone starting out get this. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=121744

Some of the items you will use forever and some you may want to upgrade in the future. Like the powder measure. It is great for stick powders but only so-so for ball. I use an Auto disc for ball. I still have my challenger press but I now have the classic cast turret press.

"reloading is about 50% common sense, 30% patience and 20% borderline psychotic attention to detail"

This is so true and that is why I firmly believe everyone should start out on a single stage. You need to understand the how and why of each step of the reloading process.

[gnihcraes]

Pay for the better reloading equipment - I started with Lee equipment and didn't have much fun. Got out of reloading for 10 years and now I'm back using RCBS (used) and love the equipment. I think the lee equipment made the reloading more frustrating than productive. They have good dies, but the presses are a little on the cheap side.

just my 2 cents. Kc.

[Hoser]

Pay for the better reloading equipment

Cry once and get the good stuff.

If its painted blue or green, you should be ok.

[jerrymrc]

Pay for the better reloading equipment - I started with Lee equipment and didn't have much fun. Got out of reloading for 10 years and now I'm back using RCBS (used) and love the equipment. I think the lee equipment made the reloading more frustrating than productive. They have good dies, but the presses are a little on the cheap side.

just my 2 cents. Kc.

Have ya tried the new classic cast series? If anyone ever gets down to the springs I would love to have you try my turret press.

[C Ward]

Buy good equipment and if you take up reloading to save money your headed down the wrong path . You won't save a dime , you end up shooting more .
Reloading steel cases is asking for trouble but if you are willing to destroy a 1k dollar rifle because you are to cheap to get brass cases to reload knock yourself out .

[theGinsue]

I bought a few hundred rounds of 38 Spcl last summer and could only find it with steel cases. This really disappointed me because I WONT reload steel cases (heard too many horror stories).

[a77ssii]

I heard them too but figured most of them were 3rd or 4th hand, just like when I bought my first AR. Found a Vulcan V18, everyone who never owned one said they were junk. I've put +/- 2000rnds through it with no problems at all, unlike the Colts and Armalites I've been around and they are "the best". Just about every round that's been run through my AR's has been reloaded steel case, after reloading steel I honestly hate reloading brass because of the trimming. I've got 3000+ rnds of sized and primed brass sitting in ammo cans that is actually discoloring it's been sitting for so long (no it's not for sale).

[gnihcraes]

Have ya tried the new classic cast series? If anyone ever gets down to the springs I would love to have you try my turret press.

haven't tried the classic cast, I do think it would be a much better press than the aluminum ones. I just never liked the feel of the lee O press and then I tried the manual indexing lee press, it wasn't any better. The steel ram moving through the aluminum just doesn't feel or move well. I purchased a used RCBS RC and it's smooooth and works great.

kc.

[nontactical]

The IMI bullets were purchased a few years ago. The $80 for 55 and 62Gr are current prices where I get them. Brand new not pulls.

Okay, and where is that?

[gnihcraes]

I recently purchase .224 55gr soft point at the tanner gun show for 82.50 1000. + my entry fee... didn't think that was too bad a price... think it was from Dad's wholesale or something like that..

kc.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

So this is obviously and old thread... But I was wondering with current prices of materials what it is costing to reload .223 ammo today?

[gnihcraes]

$50 for 500 FMJ 55gr, $23 lbs powder, $12 ($23 1000) primers, existing brass $0.

should get about 500 rounds made for that price I figure currently. $85 per 500?

just a quick guess on what I've recently seen prices at for the components.

[cstone]

I normally check ammoengine.com to check ammunition prices. I know they don't always list the lowest prices, however they are usually pretty close and it is a good way to filter for specific types of ammunition.

Is anyone aware of similar resources for buying reloading components? Are there any particular vendors who regularly sell decent components at the best prices? Are there any particular vendors to completely avoid regardless of prices?

I appreciate any information you can provide.

[jerrymrc]

http://www.goldenwestbrass.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=12 I like the GWB bullets. $90 for 62's and $85 for 55 grain. I am still loading cheap but I saw this coming years ago.

Sometimes ya just have to bite the bullet so to speak. Reloading components do not go bad. It has also been a rare occasion when they have gone down in price. If you see a sale buy. [Coffee]

[rondog]

I don't know what the cost was per each, but I'm glad I got all that brass filled up! My shoulder hurts now.....

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/ammo%20and%20reloading/DSC_0407.jpg

[NitroxBoss]

I don't know what the cost was per each, but I'm glad I got all that brass filled up! My shoulder hurts now.....

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/ammo%20and%20reloading/DSC_0407.jpg

Ok Really who doesn't love a little bullet porn!

Nice pile!

[gnihcraes]

I love bullet porn. One of the favorite things about reloading - all the shinny bullets and brass like shown above. Love it!

[PSS]

If you order 5000 55gr bullets from wideners for $380 it's free shipping which brings it to $76 per 1k. I ordered 5k primers for $15.50 per k and 8 lbs of Tac for $125 from Powder Valley. LC once fired Brass was about $65 per k. 24 grns of tac gives me 2,333 loads so it's $54 per k. So about $215 for the first k and $150 after.

[rondog]

I was having trouble getting any decent photos of that pile, it was very hard to capture the depth of it and just how damn many there are there. Nearly filled two .50 cal. ammo cans clear to the top, just dumped in loose. I should be good on .223 for awhile!

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/guns/ammo%20and%20reloading/DSC_0402.jpg

[Hoser]

10,000 pcs of 300 Whisper/Blackout brass.

http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac105/puebloshooter/Reloading%20Stuff/DSC02515.jpg


$5,000 worth of Sierra bullets. Thirteen 500 count of 6.5 142 bullets had not shown up yet.

http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac105/puebloshooter/Reloading%20Stuff/DSC02720.jpg

[coop68]

10,000 pcs of 300 Whisper/Blackout brass.

http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac105/puebloshooter/Reloading%20Stuff/DSC02515.jpg


$5,000 worth of Sierra bullets. Thirteen 500 count of 6.5 142 bullets had not shown up yet.

http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac105/puebloshooter/Reloading%20Stuff/DSC02720.jpg

At times Hoser i feel you load and make more ammunition than some small ammo manufacturing company's based on the picture you post of your reloading set up and well above [Coffee]!

not gonna lie i am totally jealous! [BooHoo]

put's what i do to shame! lol

[rondog]

Hoser wins!

[Hoser]

I went on a bit of shotshell reloading bender before Dove season and the last Sportsmans Team Challenge. I had 2,000 lbs of shot in the garage that I bought back in 2005 or 2006. A bunch of us bought several tons. It came out to about $12 a bag. One bag loads about 350-400 rounds.

All this ammo, about 10,000 rounds, ran me about $2.75 for a box of 25. Today factory AA or STS is around $8-9 per box. At todays shot prices I can load it for around $5 a box.

The different colored hulls tell me what is in it. Red, 1 oz of #9 or 8.5 target and dove ammo. Green, 1.125 oz of #7.5 for all around. Grey, 1.125 oz of #6 for hunting. Gold, 1.125 oz of #5 for hunting and IPSC. I have 3 buckets of 28 gauge and one bucket of 410 up in the garage that I didnt feel like moving.

http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac105/puebloshooter/Reloading%20Stuff/DSC02770.jpg

[coop68]

Hoser wins!

AGAIN[Kick3]

[jarhead]

Montana gold 55gr FMJ. 3500 - $273

[ShooterJM]

I seriously need to start reloading.