Karys
new member
Posts: 4
|
Post by Karys on Feb 19, 2008 15:51:24 GMT -4
I've only been reloading for the last five years or so and I only reload pistol rounds. Factory rifle ammo serves me fine for now since I hunt deer more with a bow or flintlock. I got into it for the same big reason everyone else did, cost. Last year I shot 28,000 rounds of pistol ammo. The year before that I shot 36,000 rounds. It scares me to think what it would have cost me to shoot that much factory ammo. One other benefit I haven't seen posted yet is quality control. I inspect my reloads 100% and I have yet to have one jam or not go off when the hammer drops. Some of the "less expensive" ammo brands out there can't claim that.
|
|
|
Post by billt on Feb 25, 2008 10:18:13 GMT -4
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If your intrested, this is a cost breakdown for the 2,350 rounds I finished loading the other day. A fellow on another forum, who was intrested in reloading for his AR-15's had asked me. The brass was mixed headstamp. CCI, Remington, Winchester, Lake City, S&B, and a few others I'm forgetting. This brass was obtained from on line sources on the web. I processed it all the same. First I resized and deprimed all of it with a RCBS Small Base Sizing Die. Then I processed all of the primer pockets on my Dillon 600 Super Swage, because some of them were military with crimped primer pockets. I then trimmed all of them to uniform length on my Giraud Powered Case Trimmer. After that they went into the tumbler for several hours and received a polish with ground corn cob and Dillon Rapid Polish added to the media. The final step was to run it through my Dillon and crimp with a Lee Factory Crimp Die. They turned out very good. My total investment in this batch of .223 was: Brass---------$20.00 total. (It was free, but I paid the shipping). Powder-------$65.00 for 8 pounds of AA 2230C. (25.0 Gr. per load X 2,350 = 58,750 Gr. 58,750 divided by 7,000 Grains per pound = 8.39 pounds of powder total.) Primers-------$59.38 for 2,350 primers @ $25.00 per thousand. Bullets-------$172.21 (2,350 Winchester 55 Gr. FMJBT from Midway) Boxes--------$52.00 for 100 boxes and trays from Midway. (Actually $26.00 because I used only 47.) Grand Total = $342.59By comparison the 1,000 rounds of Remington UMC FMJ in .223 pictured above cost me $371.00 delivered from Natchez. Reloading can be extremely cost effective but you must find good scources, and buy in bulk. Here are 2 very good scources for brass, bullets, and powder. Bill T. www.gibrass.comwww.patsreloading.com
|
|
|
Post by billt on Feb 25, 2008 10:23:02 GMT -4
www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=411471&t=11082005This is from Midway's website. Granted Barnes Bullets are more costly than FMJ's, but we're talking over $50.00 a box with shipping! At that price the 2,350 rounds I have reloaded above would cost $1,880.00! I don't know many varmint shooters who could afford their hobby long at a dollar a pop! Ammunition cost in .223 especially, is insane. It's not "if" you reload, but rather "how much". Bill T.
|
|
onager
lodge member
Posts: 244
|
Post by onager on Feb 25, 2008 17:15:59 GMT -4
You got me beat.
|
|