223 worth reloading?

You see Colten,

The question of "worth it" is relative as I mentioned in post #9 and others have said. I am an economist for a living (pH.d Kansas state university economics and Mathematics 2013). As an economist we add a dollar value to traditionally non-monitized notions and we call it utility.

If handloader "A" could buy factory match grade .223 for $1/round and reloads it for $2/round and the two are identical in every way: though handloading is more expensive we would say he gets at least $1/round in utility from reloading for whatever reason.

Now we know that in practice there are many other advantages to reloading and quite often the variables are not ceteris paribus, the question of "worth it" depends on who you ask.

Again, though, as I said in post #9, there are economical advantages when comparing match grade factory loads to hand loads, but the reverse is true for bottom end quality ammo.
 
A quick search shows 1000rds selling for $320 or $.32 each . I load my 1 moa shooting 55gr plinking loads for $.20 a round . That to me is a pretty good savings . I included the price of brass when loaded 5 times in my price . If I tried I'm sure I could get that down to $.15 a round if I bought crappie bullets and used powder I could find at $21 a lb but I think $.20 a round is a price just about anyone should be able to load 223 for .

So yeah for me it's worth it . Although I am in the middle of prepping out 800 LC-16 cases right now and I'm 2hrs into it with likely another couple hours to go . I still need to trim an remove primer crimp . So I get that some feel it's not worth the time . I'll add I don't prep the most efficiently as far as time goes . I'm sure I could cut my prep time in half if I needed to .

When not working I don't have a lot going on so I find an hour here and an hour there and slowly pluck along and next thing I know I have bunches of brass ready to load
 
If your all ready a reloader, then yea why not? The get in cost is not much.
5.56 cases are pretty much free. Primers are around $30 a thousand and the last time I purchased 55gr bullets. I got them for $69 a thousand.
Sure its less than 3 bucks per 20 rounds. Thats still cheaper than steel.

If your not already a reloader then you need to factor in how much will you shoot and do the math.

My self I reload and buy cheap ammo when its on sale and shoot both and stock up on the excess.
 
I reload as a hobby just because I'm bored. What else am I going to do at night when the wife and kid go to bed? :D

But seriously, it depends on how much you shoot. If you shoot quite a bit, it could save you money over time. If you don't, then it may not make much sense to invest in the reloader and other accessories needed to reload .223.
 
There is another pretty cool thing about reloading in general . I like the fact I can in relatively short order just load up some rounds and go shoot . No wondering who has what in stock . What the price is or if it will shoot well in my firearm . I can just take a quick look in my data book for the components I have on hand and load what I've already determined shoots best with those components .

Friend calls up and says lets go shoot tomorrow . No problem load , load .load - shoot shoot shoot :cool:
 
I dont run anything under 75gr bullets in my 5.56 rifles so I actually save quite a bit reloading for them. I think my match loads cost me the same as the cheapest factory loads.
 
My, my, my, how the conversation has changed in just a few short weeks. I love our freedom and our country. A few weeks back people were talking about what might happen if a certain candidate were to be elected, visa vie, shortages, future outcome of the 2nd Amendment, etc. People were thinking about, if not already procuring components and ammo "just in case." Now people aren't worried about the immediate future, supplies are good and so the conversation gets moved to the back burner.

Frankly, if you enjoy hand loading, then seriously consider doing so, not for the financial aspect, rather for the enjoyment of being able to do it when you please, as you please. Many can and have made comparison of their cost to load v. cost of the market for manufactured rounds. It's irrelevant. If (or when - depending on your own prognostication) we ever return to the days of shortages, you won't be asking if it's worth it to re-load, rather where you can procure supplies so that you'll be able to do as you wish.

Best of luck.
 
Mark Glazer

Mark, I appreciate your comments from a political standpoint. But the real question is "does it make sense to reload 223". I've reloaded lots of handgun ammunition. Now that I'm older it seems I enjoy reloading more than shooting. I did start the process to save money. I was supporting 5 shooters at the time. I don't really know if I saved a penny when I look at all the equipment I now have on hand. Just bought a set of Makarov dies and don't even own a gun for it. Recently I ventured into reloading .223. I must say it is not yet "fun". Tumble, de-prime, remove the crimp, trim to size, lube case, reload, do the plunk test, then finally remove the lube. "Whew"! I haven't checked my per round cost but after reading all the posts I think I will buy commercially. This thread has provided valuable insight.
 
I have looked at some of the pricing posted and it seems a bit high. I have 1/2 MOA 55gr SP that breaks down to:
S&B Primer - $20
Case - free Lake city once shot
Powder - $57
Bullets 55gr - $97/1000 (on a 3500 purchase)

I have about 17.5 cents per round. I only shot about 400-500 rounds of it last year.
 
yep , between $.15 and $.20 should not be a problem to load 223 for . I don't see any factory loads even coming close . Saving $100+ per 1000rds is nothing to dismiss .
 
I have looked at some of the pricing posted and it seems a bit high. I have 1/2 MOA 55gr SP that breaks down to:
S&B Primer - $20
Case - free Lake city once shot
Powder - $57
Bullets 55gr - $97/1000 (on a 3500 purchase)
Click to expand...

Um, you are either underestimating, or you are finding some outstanding deals. It takes about 4lbs of powder to load 1000 rounds. At $25/lb that's $0.10 /round in powder. Then like you said, about $0.10/bullet. You may be able to get cheap primers for $0.02 per round. That is still $220/thousand which is the same price as wolf steel cased. And if your going to all the effort, why not spend $300/thousand and use some higher quality primers and bullets?
 
There are a lot of reasons why it's "worth it" to me. And my "plinking" rounds are at $.22 each. Target rounds are $.10 more.

I can buy my components in manageable chunks. Don't often have $350 laying around for a case of ammo but $80 for 1000 bullets is no problem. $30 for 1000 primers, no big deal.

It's more fun to shoot better groups.

I keep up with my processing. Decap, clean and sort after each range day. Or when there is enough brass to run a load in the wet tumbler. Don't let it become a chore for me.

It's fun going to the range to learn about new loads.

When I factor in my time and the cost of equipment it would never be cheaper than buying factory ammo. But it's pretty dang close to break even. And it's a hobby. And I'm going to be shooting anyway. :)
 
I bought/buy Winchester 55gr FMJ-BT at the gun show for $70 per 1k , Primers $26 per 1k , powder was $26 a pound . Brass is $.01 per case if loaded 4 times ( which I get many more then that ) so they're really close to free . But for this tally I'll say 1 cent per case

$.07 bullet
$.10 powder
$.03 primer
$.01 cases

$.21 a round or $210 per 1k no shipping .

My hand crafted loads will/do shoot better then any steel cased ammo I've ever tried . To be fare though I've shot maybe 500rds of steel cased ammo in 223 so I'm not sure how good it can be . I can say I had more function issues in the AR platform with that 500 then I have had in the thousands I've loaded using brass .

If you save your money , wait for the deals and buy in bulk . You can load some very accurate 223 plinking loads for much less then anything out there . I do understand that some guys value there time more then I do and that is more then a reasonable way to look at this . So if the shooter feels it's a better value ( regardless as to why ) who am I to say different . It's really a perspective thing .

Before I started reloading . Every time I'd fire my gun I'd say there goes $.32 down the drain . Now that I reload , after each shot I say . I just saved $.10 . My firearms are going to go bang if I reload or not . I might as well save some penny's per shot if I can . There again though . I don't count my time in the equation . I don't consider my time in most other things in my life . EXAMPLE : Let's say my worth is $50 an hour . When I get back from shopping for food I don't think I just lost $50 because of the time it took . It does not cost me anything to read the paper even though I'm "wasting" time doing so . Those types of things are always done on my "free" time . Not unlike reloading .

There again I'm a low key guy that chooses to have very little going on out side of work , Family and close friends so I likely have a little more of that "free" time to work with .

It's all about your perspective ;)
 
I'm certainly not quibbling or arguing,just explaining why I priced components a bit higher.
I do not doubt you can find deals at gun shows.Can you repeat the deal in a few months?
I based my prices on accessible market.

A couple of months ago,Hornady 55 gr FMJ's WERE under $9 a hundred.On sale.Midway
Today, everyday price,about $12.50. That price is accessable.And,IIRC,free shipping over $99.
Primers? I do not doubt you can beat $50 per 1000.There is reasonable debate about primer sensitivity for AR reloads.You might get away with anything.There are knowledgable people who recommend only mil-spec primers in an AR. If you price those at Midway,they exceed $40 a thousand.(CCI)Hazmat fee rears its ugly head.Sometimes gunshow prices are higher than LGS prices. I have heard Tula makes a good mil-spec primer,cheaper.I have not tried them.Maybe.But by the time you pay shipping and or tax,the CCI milspec will likely be 4 to 5 cents.
I based powder cost on a 25 gr of Varget charge,buying 1 lb,local.The hazmat thing,plus my LGS stocks few 8 lb jugs..
I loath buying one lb jugs of rifle powder.But that is what many people have access to.
I did E_Z math in my head.7000 gr a lb.4 loads per 100 gr,280 rds a lb. If I choose $28,with tax out the door,I'm close.The EZ math thing.$28,,,280 loads,10 cents.

For the purposes of my post,its just a ballpark,and I'm fudging toward rounding up in cost.

You can beat my prices,I can easily get my prices.
So,we are describing a range of component cost.No big deal,just a different approach

I can do that at my LGS today.But I got in on a group buy of 8 lb jugs,so,yes,my cost is considerably lower.
Free brass? Well,it is possible. For some people.I know where I can buy approx. 3750 pcs,delivered,for just under $200.That is a deal I can do,today.

I'm trying to give numbers the OP can do,today.
 
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For one firearm occasionally fired. I don't see a benefit in its reloading.
But ~Tired of feeling trapped in a house or apartment with overwhelming female/kids companionship.
Without a doubt Hand Loading for a Derringer or perhaps not owning a firearm even will surely change that disturbing phobia to a non issue.

Hand loading is subject that appeals to a certain kind of individual involved in the shooting sports. It isn't a team sport and yet has more interest to many of us than reading a daily newspaper or remembering the stats in the Financial or Sports page.
Frankly: Hand loading. You learn as you do. And that is what keeps one's interest in doing year after year. For some individuals a lifetime challenging hobby.
 
i will put my .02 in.

I reload for 223 bolt actions and 9mm handgun as well as 44mag. I do save money on it and I like reloading. a lot of guys throw the you don't save money because you shoot more comment out but if you think about it if you shoot more for less money than you saved money.

I have a varmint barrel 223 I couldn't get to shoot less than 3 shots in a half dollar at best so I took that bullet and did a lot of research and purchased the powder-about 290rds for LBS at $24. whoever is paying $40 for 1k primers is getting ripped off because I pay $32 at 3 places for cci magnums and $30 for standard and cabelas even sells S&B primers for $25. save your cases and buy bulk bullets. now I can put 5 shots that I could cover with a quarter at 100yards and no factory ammo has ever let me do that.

as far as my time being worth anything what else would I be doing sitting on the couch watching TV? I don't count time.

oh and I also load 9mm for about $6-50 which is half what I pay a store and it takes me about 20min to crank out 50rds. better than spending an hour round trip to drive to walmart and stand at the counter for 20min for help and pay $12-14 per 50.

you will be able to shoot more, more accurate and develop another hobby.
 
i have a sdb for pistol and just recently bought a 650 for rifle. I primarily shoot 5.56, 7.62, and 30-06. As others have stated, I love my time at the bench. I have gotten to the point that I like reloading more than I like shooting.
The real cost savings occurs when you get into the .30 caliber. 5.56 not so much.
 
We can all partially agree with Duke. I enjoy the planning, research, and trial and error behind reloading. Physics is my favorite physical science. Reloading also made me a better shooter.


But I do not like the act of reloading more than shooting. There are actually several things I world rather do than trim and deburr cases. My favorite part of reloading is testing, which is where all my meticulous attention to detail is revealed.

The way to determine if you just truly like the a activity of reloading, or if it more about saving money/ more about better accuracy is this: If you could get the same performance for the same cost and in the same quantity in factory ammo as you do reloading, would you still do it?

It is a hypothetical question since we know you can make match grade ammo for 33% or less than you can buy it..(my .338 LM I can make match grade ammo for 20% of what I buy it for) and it won't have the same COAL etc. But if you could buy the ammo with exactly the same characteristics you would hand load for, at the same exact price you reload it for, would you make it or buy it?

I believe I would buy it because I generally like my time to be productive in some fashion and if I'm not enhancing accuracy or saving money then there really isn't any point
 
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5whiskey said:
But, I have very accurate ammo capable of 1moa for about 2/3rds the price of bulk ammo that I know will not be as accurate or reliable. Plus reloading is a hobby. I enjoy it, when I have enough time to partake.
Click to expand...

I don't reload. Reloading requires some important virtues I don't have, so someone else did it for me.

Although it may have saved a little money, the real benefit was a round perfectly tailored for accuracy in a specific arm. That's something I can't buy off the shelf.
 
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