Assuming one reloads enough to buy slips of 5000 primers and powder in 8 lb quantities, even the premium priced military sensitivity spec primers for gas guns are about $0.04/each (Federal GM205MAR or CCI #41 from Graf & Sons; this is with $8 shipping and $10 hazmat fee currently) and powder about 0.08 (H335; appropriate for a 0.07 cent bullet and assuming you got it in the same order as the primers so the hazmat is shared) then with a 0.07 cent bullet, you should be at 19 cents before counting brass amortization. If your brass is free, gathered from the range (frequently the case with .223/5.56 brass), then there is none. If you get ten reloads out of new Starline brass, you're adding about 0.02 to that price.
Are you even bothering reloadin 223?
- Thread starter Chainsaw.
- Start date
Marco Califo
New member
Call me cheap, but you do not need to use SMK, etc.
Midsouth is selling Hornady 55 gr bullets for $19 per 250, or $0.076 each. I bought 5k Tula 556M primers on my last Powder Valley order. Good thing because they are not available since the Russians invaded Crimea. I can't remember the exact price, but I believe it was under $100 ($0.02 each). I ordered a lot of powder at the same time, so the Hazmat was spread (still under $0.02). Surplus WC844 powder at $100 for 8 lbs., 26 grains is $0.046 per each. Add $0.008 for shipping/HazMat recovery
$0.076 55 FMJ bulk
$0.020 Tula primer
$0.046 WC844
$0.008 Allowance for freight recovery
-------------------
$0.150 per round or $3 for 20.
So yes, I can reload cheaper than bulk. But when that bulk is Norma USA new for $6.65 and you keep the brass, and save the time, done that, too.
But when it is just my choice, of what I want to reload, my costs can double to $6 for a box of 20.
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/search?SearchTerm=2267
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/dept/ammunition/rifle/223-remington
Midsouth is selling Hornady 55 gr bullets for $19 per 250, or $0.076 each. I bought 5k Tula 556M primers on my last Powder Valley order. Good thing because they are not available since the Russians invaded Crimea. I can't remember the exact price, but I believe it was under $100 ($0.02 each). I ordered a lot of powder at the same time, so the Hazmat was spread (still under $0.02). Surplus WC844 powder at $100 for 8 lbs., 26 grains is $0.046 per each. Add $0.008 for shipping/HazMat recovery
$0.076 55 FMJ bulk
$0.020 Tula primer
$0.046 WC844
$0.008 Allowance for freight recovery
-------------------
$0.150 per round or $3 for 20.
So yes, I can reload cheaper than bulk. But when that bulk is Norma USA new for $6.65 and you keep the brass, and save the time, done that, too.
But when it is just my choice, of what I want to reload, my costs can double to $6 for a box of 20.
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/search?SearchTerm=2267
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/dept/ammunition/rifle/223-remington
Never got into reloading to save money, and as soon as I factory in my time I would be upside down, no matter the caliber. And if I'd factor in all my reloading gear and supplies, I would have to reload for well over 20 years to break even.
Reloading is my passion, and I do a lot of ballistics with different combinations, and always aim for quality.
Reloading is my passion, and I do a lot of ballistics with different combinations, and always aim for quality.
When I first started reloading I thought the same thing . My thought was work up a load with match components and see how well the firearm and I shot . Lets say that's a consistent 3/4 moa . Ok now I just load FMJ's and shoot 1.5 to 2 moa and who cares , I know I and the rifle can do better right ???? WRONG ! It took 1 or 2 times out with that mind set and me only being able to shoot 1.5moa+ to abandon that train of thought . If I'm not shooting moa or better at 300yds I'll pack up and leave because something is clearly wrong that day .
I have a fairly new 18" AR build that shoots Winchester 55gr FMJ-BT bullets I got at the gun show great . I'm talking .8moa 5 shot groups and 1.2moa 10 shot groups . None of my other AR's shoot any 55g FMJ-BT that well including my National match build . Not sure what it is about that bullet and that barrel but they love each other lol . To top it off , the barrel is a $99 PSA barrel that I had no expectations of it shooting that well . It shoots SMK's better but not really much better . Needless to say those bullets are set aside for that rifle now and I only have about 800 left . :-(
Anyways , I want to be cheap but my ego wont let me
Marco Califo
New member
I thought that the topic was, "How cheap can you load cheap ammo?" as opposed to buying cheap loaded ammo. Please reread the last two sentences of my last post. I "can" and "have" done it. I found it to be accurate enough to hit 1" red dots at 100 yds fairly consistently. They make the same noise on steel plate targets as cheap bulk.
I buy quality bulk ammo rather than making my own cheaper, if I am busy at work for example.
I prefer to load quality ammunition to meet my needs, which are generally not available as loaded.
I buy quality bulk ammo rather than making my own cheaper, if I am busy at work for example.
I prefer to load quality ammunition to meet my needs, which are generally not available as loaded.
Marco , sorry if I came off like I was challenging your last post , I was not . Only pointing out how I once thought shooting cheap factory ammo would be totally cool for me . It turned out I was unwilling to except the larger groups on average I got with the cheap factory ammo . I just used your quote as a starting point to point out my inability to except cheap ammo . It had nothing to do with anything you wrote specifically .
armoredman
New member
I never factor time into it - I'd waste that time doing something dumb like watching movies or playing video games. As for cost, I don't have the mold for the 5.56mm yet, using some given to me, and powder coating them myself. As soon as I can get the mold I'll be casting my own. With friends that like to shoot my guns and ammo, and like to help buying components, I am reloading right now for the cost of the electricity to run the lead pot.
Reply to Metal god
The cost of 69 gr Matchking bullets is from the price label on 10 boxes of Sierra bullets I bought several years ago.
Latest internet price at Cabela's is $0.239 per bullet for a box of 500. My, how cost has inflated!
I am behind the times and should update my figures.
The cost of 69 gr Matchking bullets is from the price label on 10 boxes of Sierra bullets I bought several years ago.
Latest internet price at Cabela's is $0.239 per bullet for a box of 500. My, how cost has inflated!
I am behind the times and should update my figures.
See i factor my time. If I was anal about it, 223 still would be barely worth reloading. I have a family/young kids at home and my spare time is limited. I enjoy reloading... But some of it is tedious and not as worth it. 45 and even 9mms is worth my time... Loading with cast. Loading 9mm i figure im getting paid 15 bucks an hour to do my hobby (i save .10 per round over bulk ammo, and can load 150 an hour). With 45 I'm almost at 20 bucks an hour. 357? Probably closer to 30. 223? Like 7 bucks an hour until we figure in that anything that shoots as well as my reloads are .50 a round. Then I'm up North of 15 bucks an hour again.
Reggie Perrin
Inactive
I do all my loading on a single stage, and concerning the plinking/blasting grade stuff I bought cheap and stacked deep a while back, so its not worth my time to reload 193/855 type ammo. I loaded up about 800 cheap 55gr soft points I had a while back just to get them off the shelf (and onto another shelf as loaded ammo
) and it seemed to take forever.
For the cost of the blasting factory ammo and the time required on a single stage press, I have better, more accurate bullets I can load.
If I had a progressive, I might load the cheaper stuff, but I don't shoot enough of it to justify the cost of the press and my present stockpile will likely last several more years.
) and it seemed to take forever.For the cost of the blasting factory ammo and the time required on a single stage press, I have better, more accurate bullets I can load.
If I had a progressive, I might load the cheaper stuff, but I don't shoot enough of it to justify the cost of the press and my present stockpile will likely last several more years.
armoredman
New member
I couldn't afford to "buy it cheap and stack it deep", wish I could have, so even .223 blasting ammo gets done on the single stage. What the heck, it kills time.
m&p45acp10+1
New member
I roll my own for .223 and those are loaded on a single stage. The loading is not the part that consumes the great amount of time. Trimming does for me. My brass is all range pick up. I put Hornady cases to the side for my bolt action Savage. Those are full length sized once. Then are neck sized after that. My I feed the AR15 mixed head stamp.
The cost is less even with cheap 55 grain bullets purchased in 500 counts. The premium stuff I can load myself at a fraction of the cost. Also it fills my time doing something rather than sitting at the desk on the net, or in front of the TV.
The cost is less even with cheap 55 grain bullets purchased in 500 counts. The premium stuff I can load myself at a fraction of the cost. Also it fills my time doing something rather than sitting at the desk on the net, or in front of the TV.
So today/yesterday the 4th of July I was sitting around pretty much doing nothing and I thought "it's a nice day I should do something" . Now it's the 4th of July what can I do , hmm let me think 
Hey I know , since I live in CA what could be more American then loading up a couple hundred 223/5.56 rounds for my AR-15 It sounded like such a cliché I had to do it
Hey I know , since I live in CA what could be more American then loading up a couple hundred 223/5.56 rounds for my AR-15 It sounded like such a cliché I had to do it armoredman
New member
Amen, sir.
JeepHammer
Moderator
I hope someone loads 5.56/.223, I just got the first shipment of 55 grain .224" diameter bullets in!
The mail man hates me, 42 pounds per 5,000 from Bob's bulk bullets.
I took a 2 wheeler, I knew what was coming...
If you go to Bob's, keep in mind shipping is included in the price.
They came 5,000 in a box, the piece count scale says I got between 250 & 500 extra in each box!
Nothing like free bullets!
The mail man hates me, 42 pounds per 5,000 from Bob's bulk bullets.
I took a 2 wheeler, I knew what was coming...
If you go to Bob's, keep in mind shipping is included in the price.
They came 5,000 in a box, the piece count scale says I got between 250 & 500 extra in each box!
Nothing like free bullets!
Master Blaster
New member
I reload it for accuracy and I can load match grade components and tailor them to my rifles. So it is worth it since match grade ammo is very expensive and hard to find, and factory ammo cannot be adjusted for my rifles. I also get some satisfaction from shooting my own hand loads.
Personally, if I lived in CA, what could be more American than loading up a U-Haul and moving to Free America, where normal people can buy all the guns and ammos they want... even if it has a bayonet lug! But I feel your pain, and you can only do what you can do... loading some 5.56mm is the Next Best Thing!