Cost of reloading

I may have missed a post but I did not see mention of depreciating the cost of the reloading equipment (press, dies, calipers, scales, remers, trimmers etc. As I look at my reloading room and all the stuff needed to do good handloading I know my costs are a lot higher than the cost of brass, powder, bullet, and primer. No matter what I tell my spouse!
 
I started reloading 58 year ago. Powder was under $2.00 a pound, primers were about .50 per hundred. 100 bullets were about $3.50 per box of 100. I put together a per cost per round this morning. I make it out at about $1.60 per round presently. I generally purchase powder by 8 lbs at a time. I try to get different powders purchases at one time to cut down on Hazmat cost. Long story short my costs are about $1.60 per round. Figuring on 5 uses of case, generally I get twice that much or more. I looked up Trophy Grade ammo, and its running about $2.75 per round. I will take my hand loads over any Trophy grade any day. Reloading is a labor of love, and expanding knowledge on performance of your firearms. I keep my eyes open for brass that the other shooter is not taking it with him after shooting at the range. If he doesn't want I ask if I can have them. Generally I get it free. Some I use and others I traded for other brass. Take a 308 Norma Mag I shoot. Try and buy ammo or brass for that rifle. Generally you can't, but you can resize 300 Win Mag brass to conform to my rifle. I have started to have a 6mm-06 build. There isn't any brass for the cartridge let alone dies for that round either, but I can get it built for me. I am a hand loader until I die. The only thing I buy is 22, 17WSM ammo factory made. I have had rifles built for me for years now. Now I am going in deeper into rifle building, with wildcat build.
 
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I load for economy. One of my favorite rounds in 375 H&H. Do a comparison for the cost of a loaded round to a reloaded round keeps me in reloading. Some of the black powder stuff runs $5.00 or so for a loaded round. I can made good cartridges economically.
 
clemens said:
I am not concerned about costs I have opportunity to by a 90% turn key 338lm or build a rifle.
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Then not sure why you asked the question??

If your purely getting into reloading to save money then dont start imo!

To get a true round cost some other factors you need to work into the overall cost is all the reloading equipment you buy as well & then your time.

I was lucky I got a lot of my reloading gear from the USA when our $AU was close or on parity so I saved a fair bit from what the price was here on dies, powder dispensers, etc but even then if I tallied up all my gear with brass its probably about $3000 of gear or more?

I know guys who keep track with a sliding scale with an XL spread sheet but to me the most important thing is its an enjoyable hobby within a hobby & I tailor my loads to get the most out of my rifles accuracy wise.

I can still recall the fuzzy feeling I got inside when I shot my 1st fox, my 1st pig, my 1st deer from rounds I put together myself, tested them & improved them to get them to all shoot 1/2 moa.

Thats a feeling you cant put into money terms!
 
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Right: The challenge has many facets depending on ones shooting interest. Sure enough I got money tied up in equipment. Based on rounds loaded the cost per round in gear is in cents. Today I shot one hundred and fifty rounds in a handgun match. The match was a challenge. I cast my own bullets. This is another challenge. I have worked up my loads that is yet another challenge. I'll be back to the rifle shorty. That will be a built up 256 Newton. This rifle is more nearly like a wildcat. Forming cases and working up loads are challenges.
 
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When I first got into reloading, I did all the figuring in the world to see how much it would cots, and how much I'd save. Ha,ha,ha. Save,,,, I was so naive. I've spent way more on equipment, components, etc, I haven't saved a nickel, because I shoot far more now than I ever have. So I gave up looking at cost. As others have said, its a hobby, I enjoy it. And yes, that first deer I shot with my own reload, I still get a smile inside me just thinking about it.
 
Like others have mentioned I thought I would save money when I started reloading and I know for a fact that the per round cost is still cheaper than I would have spent on factory ammo for the cartridges I shoot, but I have spent so much more on components and gear than I ever would have if I stuck to factory. If I just stuck with the components I have I could probably shoot for 10 years without buying anything else and even including the gear it would average out way cheaper. But I always get excited and have to try the newest powders and bullets and brass and keep building rifles in new cartridges that I really don't need. But that's the fun in it. I still think I can make top quality ammo cheaper per round than standard quality factory stuff. I feel the same about rifles. I can buy a factory rifle cheaper than I can build one, but for what I spend building one I can get a better rifle than an equivalent cost factory gun.
 
manitou1 said:
What 280ai are you selling?
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Rem 700 remage 26" stainless with radial brake. Manners stock with flush cups. No idea on round count. Bipod not included. Leopold rings 30mm.
david g ranes said:
My wife loves horses to so much it cost her 6 broken ribs broke back broke collar bone and a punctured lung isn't it sweet. David
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That's deducation
 

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epags said:
I may have missed a post but I did not see mention of depreciating the cost of the reloading equipment (press, dies, calipers, scales, remers, trimmers etc. As I look at my reloading room and all the stuff needed to do good handloading I know my costs are a lot higher than the cost of brass, powder, bullet, and primer. No matter what I tell my spouse!
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It's funny that I have learned, that I have had to figure in some other coast into my reloading. Say for example:
A new scale set up for the reloading room costed me a new Washing machine and dryer for the wife.
Plans for next years custom rifle project, $8.500.00 budgeted with NF scope. Will also cost me a NEW CAR. DAAA
Who would of thought. REALLITY.
 

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