Start Reloading or Keep Buying 1000 Bulk

S

SeniorXJ

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We'd all love to hit the range more, but are held down by the cost of ammo. So what's the avg savings on say cost per round or per 50 round box on 9mils & 45's? I'm also trying to figure out the break even point where for example, after 1 or 2k rounds of reloads vs money spent on cheap range ammo equals out?

With 1100 rounds thru my Ruger SR9, & only a few hundred with my 45acp Hi-Point Carbine, the only reason those numbers aren't doubled is cause a 1000 round bulk buy of 9mm is around $225, & near double for 45acp. My thought is that I can use the bulk buy money & use it for setting up shop. I trust my mechanical skills, but of course this will be a learning process with learning curves.

Hope this topic hasn't been talked to death as I did do research but figured I'd just outright ask u fine folks!

Thanks!
 
I think I can save a dime by reloading on each round of 9mm and double the savings on your cost of .45 ACP. I also expect my reloads are far superior to low quality bulk ammo.

This does not take into consideration the cost of my reloading equipment, it was paid for years ago, nor does it account for my personal time. I find reloading even after years of doing so to be relaxing and enjoyable.

My purchases of bullets, primers and powder are always done in bulk. This saves on price and spreads out shipping and HAZMAT cost for primers and powder. Brass can be reused numerous times, and I loose far more than I ever wear out since I shoot in fields and woods vs. ranges.

Others have additional savings by pouring their own bullets.
 
I've never done the math. I've been loading my own for 31 years and I haven't saved a dime - I just shoot more.

Yes, this topic comes up frequently.

The abbreviated version is this: If handloading is something you think you would enjoy doing, then you should look into it. If it isn't something you would approach as a craft and hobby in and of itself; and your only interest in doing so would be to save money, then the better choice is to continue to buy ammo in bulk.
 
I reload 9mm at 45 ACP. Truth - I don't save, I shoot more, but that is so much fun and I get more practice, don't worry as much about cost. I ran out of powder and had a hard time keeping the inventory up so I could go out and shoot.

Another plus with the reloading gear - sometimes factory (WWB) were not feeding in my 1911. I don't have the problem with handloads and in fact started checking any 45ACP factory loads before going to the range. Sometimes they are a little fat at the neck causing the chambering issue. I make 'em all straight now.
 
Reload, reload and reload some more. You'll enjoy a lot more shooting. Let a man buy a 1000 rounds and he'll shoot till he runs out. Teach a man to reload and he'll never stop shooting.:D
 
I reload for sumpthin like twenty different cartridges. Some of them are absolutely non-gettable at any store, and usually any mail-order.

I'm able to custom load cartridges from gallery plinkers to full house mag power.

I'm able to reduce the cost of the bullet, which is the most expensive component of a cartridge to half price for commercial plated or cast; or even to almost free for my own cast.

I'm able to reduce my rifle group size by half compared to any factory ammo I have tried.

I'm able to take these rifle shells, and drop an elk with them, and pretty much feel like Mathew Quigley.

And back to the cost consideration, I'm a tightwad about a lot of things, and yeah reloading is a very economy based choice for me. jd
 
As others have said, reloading just for the cost savings especially 9mm and 45 is not really worth it. You have to want to do it or else it will be a really time consuming chore. I personally love being able to control every aspect of my ammunition and knowing everything that goes into it.

I have only been reloading for about one year. I don't save any money, I just shoot more, but I also enjoy shooting more. And most of the time I'm just as excited to get to my reloading bench as I am to get to the range.
 
even if i am buying bullets and not casting, i pay less than half what you do for 1000 rounds of 9mm. a thousand rounds costs about 12 bucks in powder, 35 bucks in primers and 80$ in bullets, which could be even cheaper if i bought lead cast. plated bullets are a great deal. depends on how much you shoot, if a 100$ savings per 1k rounds is valueable to you, then go for it. if you start casting your own bullets, it'll blow your mind how cheap it is, i think i figured around 5c a round for small pistol stuff, assuming you have the brass already. i usually tell folks if they shoot more than 3-4k a year, it'll pay off signifigantly. if not,it may not be a great investment. i find that very few people actually go through more than a couple thousand rounds a year.
 
Hope this topic hasn't been talked to death
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It has. For 9 mm it is not worth it. For 45 Auto, maybe. For rifle ammo it is definitely worth it. Depends on how much you shoot per year.

But you have to consider the amount of time you will be spending at the bench and learning how to reload. And the amount of time it takes to make the ammo.

It is a hobby all by itself and one I enjoy, but is not for everyone.

Stay safe and be well.
Jim
 
Current local prices have 9mm 124gr fmj at $12.99 per 50 rounds. I can reload those same 50 rounds for $3.79 in components. Closer to $8 per 50 if I use commercially available bullets instead of my own cast bullets. I'd say it is worth it. 45acp is definitely worth it also.
 
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I have loaded 45 ACP for as little as $18/1000, some of the ammunition I load costs more than cheap "bulk" factory ammunition. So there can be significant savings or it can even be more expensive.

If you really want to save money, casting will help.

Then you have to factor in time, yes you can get equipment that can do it all for you but then your not saving a nickel, just shooting a lot more.
 
It has. For 9 mm it is not worth it.
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Yes, this topic has been beat to death. I was not going to respond, but to make a bold and blanket statement like that, is not fair.

Unless a purchased box of 9mm gets below @ $7, it is worth it when talking about components alone and depreciating your equipment cost.

The wildcard factor is your time. That alone will answer your question as if it is worth it to YOU.
 
My cost for 9 mm is .11 per round-.067-.07 per per bullet .03 for primer, and .01 for powder and for 45 acp .1085-.11 per bullet and the primer, powder cost is the same. So $110 per 1K for 9 mm and $150 per 1k for 45.
At today's prices I can shoot 9 mm cheaper than 22 lr.
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I posted this on a different thread
 
If you are only into it for the savings on ammo, then it is simply a job like any other job, and when you calculate the actual "savings", the pay is damn poor.

But if you like to make stuff, get off on the details and possibilities of what you can do, and really like the "feel" of free ammo (I just ordered $200 of bullets and brass, but when I load them, I will not feel like I am spending a penny, especially since my powder has been on the shelf for years), then you have a hobby, not a job. And everybody knows that a hobby you enjoy is worth whatever you feel like spending.
 
There was a thread very recently in which a couple of people got into a wee-wee contest about how to account for the time and opportunity costs of reloading. If you are going to look at it in the manner of an MBA, then neither reloading nor most other hobbies are worth it. If you approach it as a craft-type of hobby, and only look at the price of raw materials, then it is a hobby that more than pays its own way.
 
If you are going to look at it in the manner of an MBA, then neither reloading nor most other hobbies are worth it. If you approach it as a craft-type of hobby, and only look at the price of raw materials, then it is a hobby that more than pays its own way.
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Well stated TailGator. Better than my attempt.

It really is that simple.
 
I started out loading 45 ACP. I calculated everything out before buying any equipment and figured all of my equipment would be payed for with what I saved by reloading at about 33 (50) round boxes or 1650 rounds of 45 ACP. I now load 45 ACP for about $6.98 per box of 50 rounds. I have since started loading 9 mm for $4.08 per box of 50 rounds. I shop around for deals on powder, primers and bullets and buy in bulk which enables me to keep costs low.

All my equipment was purchased new. I hand picked everything and did not buy a kit. I bought a Lee Classic Turret press, Lee dies and a RCBS 1010 scale and all of the extras needed. Now when I add a new caliber I only need to buy dies and a $10 turret plate.

I am definitely saving money by reloading and more importantly I love doing it. It is a great hobby for me. I do shoot more but am spending a lot less money per round. I can now afford to shoot more because I reload.

For those who say they reload and do not save because they shoot more need to look at cost per round to reload vs buying factory ammo. Do the math. Definitely cheaper to reload. I do not account for labor cost to reload or a cost per hour I spend shooting. Reloading and shooting are both hobbies.
 
You can use a business model to calculate the cost and savings of reloading . The important part about that is you must use the correct model . That model must consider the business in question has no payroll and will never sell the product they make. Therefore never have any money coming in to off set the cost to produce there product .

Now that we have the correct model to work from . Is there a way to save any money . Well lets start with those businesses that only buy the products they use in completed form ( avg shooter ) . How can those businesses ( avg shooters ) save money . Well they instead of buying the product in completed form can buy all the components of the product individually in bulk at a lesser cost then the completed product . They then can put the product together them selves at a savings . That savings at some point will off set the cost of equipment . Remember they are spending the money anyways to buy the completed product and have no payroll .


That brings me to my next point .

The I don't save money , I shoot more argument . Why is that used as a non money saving argument when it can't be used anywhere else . Try to use that logic using a different product and some how you're not saving money . " I make my own clothes . The problem is I didn't save any money doing so I just wear more clothes" :confused:wait what ???? If you are able to have more of something for the same price you were paying . That is saving money . "I used to get one gal of milk for 5 dollars . Now I get 2 gal for 5 dollars . I don't save any money , I just drink more milk :p
 
I read so many times that 9mm wasn't worth reloading I believed it.
I'm loading 9mm at $6.00 per 50. IMO, I think getting in to reloading JUST for 9mm is worth it.
 
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