Reloading advantages?

[Shooter98]

Ok, please excuse the naiveness here, but I was wondering at what point in my shooting hobby does it become beneficial to start reloading as compared to store bought ammo? Examples. I can buy 30-06 ammo at Walmart right now for $16 a box for Remington Core Lokt 180 gr and doing some simple figures looking at bulk reloading supplies it would cost me about $14 a box of 20 to reload my own. This does not factor in the cost of purchasing the reloading equipment.

I currently reload shotshell using a Mec jr that was given to me 20 years ago by my father and I'm still only saving about $1 per box of 20 shotshells ($4.97 a box of 7 1/8 trap loads at Walmart).

Again, please excuse my being a rookie at reloading, I just would love to hear all the different side here. Thank you,

Mike.

 

[MTBULLET]

It depends on several factors.
Does a "box or 2" of factory ammo cover your shooting needs?
Is factory ammo accuracy good enough ?
Do you already have enough "hobbies" ?

Reloading is not just about savings (but there ARE savings).
Ive been reloading for over 40 years, so I think I've saved a lot of money, and it has allowed me to explore options to find the most accurate load for each rifle and handgun I own or use.

And. it's fun !

 

[dud]

better accuracy shoot more for less.plus it is rewarding

 

[Shooter98]

It depends on several factors.
Does a "box or 2" of factory ammo cover your shooting needs?
Is factory ammo accuracy good enough ?
Do you already have enough "hobbies" ?

My wife and I do mainly bench shooting, although I am wanting to get into PD hunting. We typically consume about 4 boxes of ammo each per month. Hers is 270, mine is 30-06. Our distances rarely exceed 300 yards. As far as accuracy, I'm not sure if factory is good enough because in my 25 years of shooting I've never shot anything else so I wouldn't know. My rifle is holding about a 3/4" group at 200 yards with the Federal ammo I buy.

I have way too many hobbies yes, lol.... but this is my only "constant" hobby.

 

[Shooter98]

better accuracy shoot more for less.plus it is rewarding

Well thanks for that, I never would've guessed.

 

[gr8whyt]

I have way too many hobbies yes, lol.... but this is my only "constant" hobby.

To me, shooting without reloading would be like going to Hawaii on vacation and not getting out of the hotel. You're missing lots of the interesting parts of it. I have not bought a factory box of ammo in 20 years, and I hope I never have to again.

You don't need to go top shelf to get started. Go to the local pawn shops. Get a good press and scales. Shop around for the basic dies you need. Used are every bit as good as new. There's lots of used stuff on the LRH forum here. Then later on if some area or another intrigues you (and it will) then you can get more detailed. But above all, have fun with it. Don't let some nuance like neck turning or sorting your brass get you down. You can take on as much as you want when you feel it's right.

-- gr8whyt

 

[fj40mojo]

Better accuracy and velocity, bullet selection, economy, fun, recycling if you're inclined to be a little green, been doing it as long as I've been into shooting, can't imagine not doing it.

 

[Harvey/ Ga]

Ok, please excuse the naiveness here, but I was wondering at what point in my shooting hobby does it become beneficial to start reloading as compared to store bought ammo? Examples. I can buy 30-06 ammo at Walmart right now for $16 a box for Remington Core Lokt 180 gr and doing some simple figures looking at bulk reloading supplies it would cost me about $14 a box of 20 to reload my own. This does not factor in the cost of purchasing the reloading equipment.

I currently reload shotshell using a Mec jr that was given to me 20 years ago by my father and I'm still only saving about $1 per box of 20 shotshells ($4.97 a box of 7 1/8 trap loads at Walmart).

Again, please excuse my being a rookie at reloading, I just would love to hear all the different side here. Thank you,

Mike.

Hmmmm you didn't show your math, but I can't see the cost per bullet being over 45 cents each, depending on cost of powder, primer and bullet. Amortizing the cost of decent reloading equipment is another thing. It's almost a hobby in itself, and also depends on how much you shoot.

 

[johnnyk]

Yeah, I'm not "jiggy" on your math either. Not counting the cost of the reloading gear and assuming you have brass, components are running approximately, $25.00 for 1lb of powder, $30.00 for 100 bullets and $4.50 for primers. That's $59.50 for enough material to load 100 rounds. That comes to $ .59 per round and that's $11.80 per 20. Prices will vary depending on deals you find and buying in bulk, but not by much.
Not including personal defense (pistol) ammo, I also haven't bought factory rounds in over 30 years. That's not because of accuracy or reliability but because of possible/probable litigation.
My rifle handloads are designed and tailor made for my rifles. 3" groups is the worst any of my rifles have done and 1.5" is the best. This is at 500yds with factory rifles. JohnnyK.

 

[lever-hed]

Ok, please excuse the naiveness here, but I was wondering at what point in my shooting hobby does it become beneficial to start reloading as compared to store bought ammo? Examples. I can buy 30-06 ammo at Walmart right now for $16 a box for Remington Core Lokt 180 gr and doing some simple figures looking at bulk reloading supplies it would cost me about $14 a box of 20 to reload my own. This does not factor in the cost of purchasing the reloading equipment.

I currently reload shotshell using a Mec jr that was given to me 20 years ago by my father and I'm still only saving about $1 per box of 20 shotshells ($4.97 a box of 7 1/8 trap loads at Walmart).

Again, please excuse my being a rookie at reloading, I just would love to hear all the different side here. Thank you,

Mike.

..if cheapness is your main goal, then buy the Wal Mart stuff, by all means.. there is no hard and fast rule..

 

[Shooter98]

Yeah, I'm not "jiggy" on your math either. Not counting the cost of the reloading gear and assuming you have brass, components are running approximately, $25.00 for 1lb of powder, $30.00 for 100 bullets and $4.50 for primers. That's $59.50 for enough material to load 100 rounds. That comes to $ .59 per round and that's $11.80 per 20. Prices will vary depending on deals you find and buying in bulk, but not by much.
Not including personal defense (pistol) ammo, I also haven't bought factory rounds in over 30 years. That's not because of accuracy or reliability but because of possible/probable litigation.
My rifle handloads are designed and tailor made for my rifles. 3" groups is the worst any of my rifles have done and 1.5" is the best. This is at 500yds with factory rifles. JohnnyK.

How are you not "jiggy" on the math? It's very simple really, stop excluding the cost of the reloading equipment and the brass. Those items must be purchased and their cost absorbed into the net cost of initial reloading. At $16 retail for a box of "store bought" factory ammo, and the gross cost of 20 rounds of factory equivalent hand loaded ammo being roughly $14, it would take me nearly 400 boxes (of 20 rounds) of handloads to simply recoupe the cost of a decent reloader and all necessary equipment. That's allowing me $800 for ALL the equipment to reload. Anything after that 400 boxes then would be money saved. Easy enough, right? Mind you I'm looking at it from a retail (not wholesale) factor plus being a benchshooter that's happy with 3/4" moa from factory loads. If I was determined to get my moa's much tighter, well then of course custom hand loading would be the only way to go, without regards to cost.

 

[7 loader]

The cost For my hunting loads is $14 per 20 and that is for premium ammo not corlockt. The accuacy went from 2.5 inch groups with factory to 3/4 with hand loads. The best reason for me is the pride in kwowing that I took a animal, hit the ''X'' ring or nailed all but 5 0ut of 40 skeet with my work.

 

[dud]

800 for the equip and components is way to high

 

[jimbires]

My wife and I do mainly bench shooting, although I am wanting to get into PD hunting. We typically consume about 4 boxes of ammo each per month. Hers is 270, mine is 30-06. Our distances rarely exceed 300 yards. As far as accuracy, I'm not sure if factory is good enough because in my 25 years of shooting I've never shot anything else so I wouldn't know. My rifle is holding about a 3/4" group at 200 yards with the Federal ammo I buy.

I have way too many hobbies yes, lol.... but this is my only "constant" hobby.

my honest opinion is, if your shooting factory ammo at $16 per box ,and getting 3/4" @ 200 yds . I sure wouldn't be buying any reloading stuff . I'd be buying and shooting factory loads and never give it a second thought .