Is Reloading too Expensive?

jmr40 said:
My time is worth money too. I'm retired, but work part time. In the same amount of time I spend loading ammo I can work and earn more than enough to just buy it. Before retiring I often picked up a 2nd part time job to earn extra money too.

I bought all of my loading gear 2nd hand from a guy who no longer shot or loaded so I don't have a ton of money invested in gear. But even at that I don't figure I'm saving much money by handloading.

It isn't worth my time to fool with common rounds like 223 or 9mm even at todays prices. Yes, loaded ammo has gone up in price, but so has the price of components.

I do load for centerfire rifle cartridges other than 223 however. I do it because I can get a bit better accuracy and often a little more speed than factory loads. And can load a more expensive premium bullet for about the same cost as cheap factory loads. I do it to get a better end product, not to save money.

At the time I bought all of my gear I had just bought a 338/06 and factory loads simply weren't a practical option. If someone just wants to own an oddball cartridge then it handloading is often the only real option. But those odd ball rounds are uncommon for a reason. Something far more common does the same job.
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I have been saying this forever. People say the time is free, but I could work overtime or a part time job instead of loading and my ammo, so that has to be factored in.

That is also one of the reason I got a progressive press. It has saved me a TON of time. 100rnds used to take me close to 1hr on my single stage, not including brass prep. Now its down to about 15min.

I have to disagree on the idea of not loading common rounds, mainly rifle. 223, 308, 30-06 are not crazy expensive. This is mainly due to the fact that, once tuned, budget rounds can become close to match ammo. and if you compare match ammo to hand load you will save a LOT.
 
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My time is worth money too. I'm retired, but work part time. In the same amount of time I spend loading ammo I can work and earn more than enough to just buy it.
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I spend my time at work for income. When I come home, I am on my own time. That said, I can't buy the ammo I shoot. When I reload .357 for example, I shoot for an accurate 158g SWC at around 1100fps over the chrono. My preference! You can't buy that. Being able to make your own loads to one's needs is the cat's meow.
 
I think only saving I made reloading was buying enough to last thru times like what happening now. When I started reloading 50 plus years the only saving over buy factory was reusing existing cases. Also you had to spend money up front to save.

I don't get big days shooting PD's but still get 150rds each day vs 300/400 use to get. One of the gun clubs I belong to close range to enlarge pistol range and you never know there was ammo shortage.
 
Probably a function of how often you shoot and your accuracy requirements.

I have an entire room filled with reloading gear and components. Loading and shooting every day I probably couldn't use what I have in my lifetime. And yet I never seem to have the primers and powder I need.

It's more like an addiction IMO; and like any addiction you'll spend whatever it takes.;)
 
Its SAD!!>> Ive read the posts and next time one asks me I would say take up Knitting or reloading for your state of MIND!> But lets put it this way a 1LD of 4350 imr for 12 bucks are gone!! Brass>Good>luck!>> NO!

Those Glory days of reloading are GONE! Enjoy

Remember some time back in the RAGS> shoot and shooing 22 swift a 22_250 > 223> thousands of rounds on the GOF!!>>not anymore!! Why??? MMM
 
Before I started reloading, I shot to sight in the guns and hunt.

I would wager that I averaged less than 30 rounds a year, total, except for my varmint gun (.204). I probably used 80-100 rounds in that.

Back then, I bought factory rifle ammo for between $20-$30/box.

I spent over $500 on my initial reloading purchases, and the only rounds I "save" significant money on are the ones I most likely wouldn't even buy if I hadn't started reloading. It's hard to say you're really "saving" money if you're spending money to build ammo you wouldn't have bought if you weren't reloading.

Even just straight up cost comparison, I probably save an average of $10/20 rounds... so at that rate it would take me 10+ years to make up my initial purchase.

If only I hadn't spent more than the initial purchase on additional tools since. Chronographs, case gauges, trimming equipment, various trinkets and doodads...

This, besides that fact that I have fired uncounted hundreds, probably thousands, of rounds I would never had fired if I weren't reloading. I fire more *test* rounds than I would have ever fired total shots before I reloaded.

Far from saving me money, it has cost me in the thousands.

On the other hand, it was never about saving money for me. I did it because I *wanted* to reload my own ammo and I *wanted* to shoot more rounds and different rounds... try finding .243AI in Cabela's....

In that sense, I don't care what it has cost.
 
Shadow9mm said:
I have been saying this forever. People say the time is free, but I could work overtime or a part time job instead of loading and my ammo, so that has to be factored in.
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I respectfully disagree.

If you would otherwise take a second job but your reloading time prevents you from doing so, then your time spent reloading is costing you money. I don't work two jobs, I have no interest in working two jobs, so time I spend reloading is time I would otherwise spend tinkering with an old Jeep or doing something on the computer. My reloading time is free -- and I suspect that's true for a lot of people who reload.
 
Aguila Blanca said:
I respectfully disagree.

If you would otherwise take a second job but your reloading time prevents you from doing so, then your time spent reloading is costing you money. I don't work two jobs, I have no interest in working two jobs, so time I spend reloading is time I would otherwise spend tinkering with an old Jeep or doing something on the computer. My reloading time is free -- and I suspect that's true for a lot of people who reload.
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Couldn’t have said it better myself. What would you enjoy more, working another stupid job or relaxing while reloading. I also don’t completely buy into the amortization of equipment aspect since at some point it can be resold used to recover a good portion of your initial investment, I would think recovering at least 50% of costs.
 
I doubt most people that take two jobs is because they just like working. I sure as hell would not take a second job to afford re-loading etc. I get it that a lot of folks like re-loading as a hobby. However, A lot of things to consider. Space, conditioned room etc. And other hobbies. I prefer to be outdoors when possible. Scout deer all year round, during normal pre-riot days, spending time shooting outdoors was a big thing. I love nature even more than shooting. Spend a lot of time in the woods and last year invested in a nice camera. I also want to pick up primitive camping again. And of course there is fishing. I live on the coast with great Ocean and many lakes to do just about any fishing I like.
And while many love to reload as a hobby, many get bored with it.
My personal opinion is to start with a very low cost hand Press, scale and hand primer for starters. Just focus on one box of 50 and do in stages. Then move up the ladder if you still like it. Investment is small and you will always have the hand press for special occasions. JMO I actually enjoyed the hand press and still do.
 
Dad and I bought a single stage Hornady press kit back when I was a teenager in early 80s. I used that orange O press until last year when I decided to splurge on an Iron press. Still using the same beam scale and powder dispenser, and hand priming tool. Sure I've bought dies down through those years, but I've more than 'paid' for the reloading tools over the thousands of reloaded cartridges compared to commercial ammo. I never felt the need to try different presses, or electronic gadgets like scales, dispensers, etc. For me then, it was a 'one time' investment. Use it, until there was a reason not too... which has never came. Only reason I bought the iron press was I had a little extra cash and I wanted to try the easy lock system. Turns out I like it, so retired the orange press after many years of service. I don't envision buying another press in my life time.

That said, reloading is as expensive as you want to make it.
 
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Its SAD!!>> Ive read the posts and next time one asks me I would say take up Knitting or reloading for your state of MIND!> But lets put it this way a 1LD of 4350 imr for 12 bucks are gone!! Brass>Good>luck!>> NO!
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Obviously.
If your state of mind is stuck in the '80s, then you definitely won't be saving money.

Remember some time back in the RAGS> shoot and shooing 22 swift a 22_250 > 223> thousands of rounds on the GOF!!>>not anymore!! Why???
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Apparently, because you didn't save the brass to reload.

Be proactive and plan ahead.
Reactionary reloaders always fail to find it worthwhile.
 
Aguila Blanca said:
I respectfully disagree.

If you would otherwise take a second job but your reloading time prevents you from doing so, then your time spent reloading is costing you money. I don't work two jobs, I have no interest in working two jobs, so time I spend reloading is time I would otherwise spend tinkering with an old Jeep or doing something on the computer. My reloading time is free -- and I suspect that's true for a lot of people who reload.
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I agree , a relaxing hobby to me , and makes for a sense of satisfaction at making your own .
 
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Originally Posted by rg1
Not much savings on common calibers
When you can find it, 9mm round nose is selling for a buck to a buck-fifty per round. You can still reload for a lot less than that (if you can find components).
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Around here basic 9mm RN is running about $18/50...........
 
I dont particularly like reloading. I do like the results.....accurate ammo in forms that I cannot buy. I can shoot more than I could afford to if I did not load my own.
I have fifteen presses - rifle, pistol and shotshell - distributed over four reloading benches in two homes. Much of what I have has been given to me by people who tried reloading and did not pursue it.
I am extremely lucky in the component department....most of the folks who gave me equipment also gave me components. In effect, much of the ammo that I use costs me only my time.
 
This idea of “saving money” is a red herring to me. Shooting is my hobby.

When I was shooting league .45acp I would load three boxes of cast semi- wadcutters under a pinch of Bullseye every week. Accurate target loads. At that time, you simply could not buy that.

I was also shooting skeet. I loaded two boxes of 7/8 oz. 12 gauge loads for my 686 Ultralight every week, reusing the shells, not throwing them away. (Which I now regret trading, but kid was in college.) but at that time, it was a load I could not purchase. 20 gauge light load in a common 12 ga. shell.

My 30-30 contender? You think 30-30 doesn’t benefit from pointy nose bullets or fancy ballistic tip hunting bullets? Where can I buy 100 grain plinkers with 3 grains of bullseye? I had fun with that rifle, shooting everything from popgun loads to... well over saami spec bullets.

.357 Maximum? The incremental cost of that is zero except for the brass. It was fun learning about “too much of a good thing.”

The whole idea of saving money is silly. The cheapest thing is get a second job and give up shooting as a sport. What kind of life is that, living only to work and hoard money?

No, at present I am looking forward to tossing some 180grain cast bullets over a bit of Unique down the 100 yard range from my 30-06. Subsonic. thut thut thut. Maybe toss in some 150 g. Plastic tips, see how they group at low speed.

It’s not cheaper, it’s part of my hobby.
 
I have learned far more about guns and ammo and am a safer gun owner since I have started reloading for myself. This is a craft for me as I can customize my ammunition within legal limits to make it do whatever I need it to do. I can, with good adherence to process, produce better quality & more consistent ammunition than most non-mil factory ammo. I have invested much in my reloading gear. With what I've got I can produce 50 rounds of high quality FMJ ammo for my .40 for about $4 in materials. I can make custom JHP's that perform better than factory for around $7 / 50. So will I " save $$$ " over the lifetime of shooting - undoubtedly yes if I STOP buying toys and tools now..... ;-)
 
I began reloading in 1975. I didn't take up reloading to save money. I did it because I wanted to. I was going to college on the GI bill, so I certainly didn't have extra cash.

I presently reload for 340WBY, 300WBY, 6.5-284, 7MAG, 223, 44RM, 357. Way back then I was reloading for a couple of buddies. There were 300WM,7.7Jap, 6.5-55, 30carbine, 9mm, 30-30, 45-70 and 380.

The only reason I have bought commercial ammo was to get the brass. 300WBY, 150gr soft point was $25 a box at the local Scheels. I bought 3 boxes. You couldn't get new WBY/Norma brass for that price at the time.

Reloading centerfire and sharpening knives is therapeutic for me. It occupies my mind and my hands. There is considerable satisfaction in producing quality ammunition. You get to see the results, in either a very small group or a very dead Mule deer.

We all know that the cost is a very important aspect. You can justify the price in the volume you are able to shoot and if you enjoy shooting as much as I do, the cost becomes a secondary consideration.

I have spent more in a year on cigars than I did on my basic RCBS kit back in 06.

Can you put a price on joy? There are people I know with some very expensive hobbies such as powerboat racing. They justify the cost with the joy they receive in the process.
 
I don't save any money ... but I sure do shoot a lot more for the money I spend .

The other aspect is ... this is my hobby and I enjoy doing it . I even take pleasure in casting bullets , sizing and lubricating them . Having all the bullets I want ... all the ammo I want ... special loads for special tasks ... making custom tailored ammo you could never buy ... it is all rather satisfying .
Gary
 
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