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Fiocchi 168gr Match King .308 50rd Battle Pack $1.25/rd [$62.50] [Center Mass Firearms]
http://www.centermassfirearms.com/i...hi-168gr-match-king-308-50rd-battle-pack.html
Hornady Custom 308 Win 168 Grain BTHP Match - 400 Rounds $1.50/rd [$599.99] [Surplus Ammo]
http://www.surplusammo.com/308-win-168-grain-bthp-match-hornady-custom-400-rounds/
Federal Sierra Match King 200 Rounds of .308 Win Ammo - 168gr HPBT $1.94/rd [$387.50] [BulkAmmo]
http://www.bulkammo.com/bulk-308-win-ammo-308168grhpbtsmkfed-200
http://www.centermassfirearms.com/i...hi-168gr-match-king-308-50rd-battle-pack.html
Hornady Custom 308 Win 168 Grain BTHP Match - 400 Rounds $1.50/rd [$599.99] [Surplus Ammo]
http://www.surplusammo.com/308-win-168-grain-bthp-match-hornady-custom-400-rounds/
Federal Sierra Match King 200 Rounds of .308 Win Ammo - 168gr HPBT $1.94/rd [$387.50] [BulkAmmo]
http://www.bulkammo.com/bulk-308-win-ammo-308168grhpbtsmkfed-200
GunBot find 223 5.56 AR-15 ammo in stock
Select your caliber, look for the "In Stock" button, go to that site and order it immediately. If you don't find what you want, keep watching as it updates very frequently and in-stock ammo can appear/disappear very quickly.
Select your caliber, look for the "In Stock" button, go to that site and order it immediately. If you don't find what you want, keep watching as it updates very frequently and in-stock ammo can appear/disappear very quickly.
Here is some good 150gr HPBT @ $1/rnd
Silver State Armory .308 Winchester 150gr HPBT 20rds SSA10084-N150
Silver State Armory .308 Winchester 150gr HPBT 20rds SSA10084-N150
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Yea except that componets and dies are harder to get than loaded ammo.
That and its a huge waste of time. If your time is valuable that is...
If you think reloading is a huge waste of time you must not shoot much. I would much rather pay .20 a round than 1.50 and have better ammo at .20 a round
I have no problem finding anything except primers, and I'm able to get them 1k at a time at the LGS (that's all they'll sell at a time).
In the last month, I've picked up 2k of 168gr .308 SMKs and 1k of 180s, almost 1k .264 pills in a couple flavors to find what my new rig will like, and 1200 Hornady match 75 gr .224 HPBT, and I paid normal prices for all of it.
Bought powder for .260 and .308 the other day at LGS, stocked up on 26 lbs of powder for .223 from Natchez 3 weeks ago, etc.
Just bought .260 dies; FL resize, Lee collet die, Lee factory crimp die, etc.
I'm busier than $hit with work these days (solo independent computer consultant) and I make time to reload; it keeps me in touch with shooting even when I can't get to the range, and unlike all my shooting friends, I have all the ammo I need and more.
As for my time being valuable, I bill out at $80/hour, but I still would rather reload than buy ammo.
Joe
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Assuming you have brass and are buying at retail I would expect around .60 a round for brass (I just figured out the cost of components to reload 1000 rounds of .308 using varget and 175gr smks using prices off midwayusa. Brass would increase the cost obviously but reloading still produces ammunition tuned to your exact rifle which is a great advantage. Its also a hobby in and of itself. There is something quite satisfying about reloading your own ammunition and then taking it to the range and shooting it.
To the OPs question gunbot is definitely your best bet right now plus maybe slickguns.
To the OPs question gunbot is definitely your best bet right now plus maybe slickguns.
Amortizing the cost of brass over its useful life including your powder, primers and the bullets I figure slightly higher than $.60 a round but I am quite certain that there is no way I can even come close to reloading for $.20 around and I like to think I'm quite savvy when buying reloading components.
I'm behind my rifle shooting this as I type (well, almost as I type. Barrel is cooling). This ammo is around 300+fps slower than it should be. Getting 2300fps from a 16" semi.
Just FYI
This is good info indeed. I've been trying to find other options for match ammo too as prices for Federal gold medal have gone off the roof (plus are pretty hard to find these days). Actually for an inexperienced shooter like me it may not even be smart to be practicing with SMKs (and rather get my skills honed first with less premium stuff).
My old cost worksheet says I was reloading 308 Match for 18 cents/round.
This was when 8lbs for varget was $115, primers were $90/k, etc.
Using current prices each round is about 60 cents so those numbers from B3dlam is pretty much right on the money.
This was when 8lbs for varget was $115, primers were $90/k, etc.
Using current prices each round is about 60 cents so those numbers from B3dlam is pretty much right on the money.
I actually see his point.
Whats the hourly min wage?
About $8 an hour?
I spend in total, probably 2 hours per 100 rounds ensuring perfect sizing, trimming, powder measuring and loading, then checking consistency with a runout gage.
Thats $16 plus component prices. Right now components are $32 per 100 projectiles, $25 per lb powder, $30 per 1000 primers and $70 per hundred for good brass.
Even without shipping and hazmat, that means if you value your time at only min wage, to load 1000 rounds its cost you around $505 without brass or time. Adding time its then a $160 on top.
So excluding brass, I would be breaking even on time and materials at $665 per thousand.
And I don't have to collect brass, worry about getting components or losing any time. And thats if you already have brass and the reloading setup.
So I see his point, but I myself choose to reload because although I dislike losing the time, I prefer the increased accuracy afforded by loading specifically for that rifle, and I also like the fact I can still buy components when no-one can buy loaded rounds.
I see how for some people, that trade off is not worth it.
Whats the hourly min wage?
About $8 an hour?
I spend in total, probably 2 hours per 100 rounds ensuring perfect sizing, trimming, powder measuring and loading, then checking consistency with a runout gage.
Thats $16 plus component prices. Right now components are $32 per 100 projectiles, $25 per lb powder, $30 per 1000 primers and $70 per hundred for good brass.
Even without shipping and hazmat, that means if you value your time at only min wage, to load 1000 rounds its cost you around $505 without brass or time. Adding time its then a $160 on top.
So excluding brass, I would be breaking even on time and materials at $665 per thousand.
And I don't have to collect brass, worry about getting components or losing any time. And thats if you already have brass and the reloading setup.
So I see his point, but I myself choose to reload because although I dislike losing the time, I prefer the increased accuracy afforded by loading specifically for that rifle, and I also like the fact I can still buy components when no-one can buy loaded rounds.
I see how for some people, that trade off is not worth it.
Brass is reusable. So say 5 times reloading each piece.
.70 cents/5 reloads = .14 per load.
So 100 rounds = $14 brass + $32 bullets + $4 primers (todays pricing) + $19 powder (45 grains each at $30 per pound) = $69 per 100 rounds.
And match ammo from above for Federal is $1.94 per round.
So 100 rounds factory = $194. Reloading $200 - $69 = $125
2 hours per 100 rounds is $62.50 per hour "pay."
How much do you make per hour?
Reloading pistol, I can net over $300 per hour savings.
.70 cents/5 reloads = .14 per load.
So 100 rounds = $14 brass + $32 bullets + $4 primers (todays pricing) + $19 powder (45 grains each at $30 per pound) = $69 per 100 rounds.
And match ammo from above for Federal is $1.94 per round.
So 100 rounds factory = $194. Reloading $200 - $69 = $125
2 hours per 100 rounds is $62.50 per hour "pay."
How much do you make per hour?
Reloading pistol, I can net over $300 per hour savings.
it sure seems to make sense just based on the cost savings let alone the increase in accuracy and catering your own load to fit your rifle.the cost savings is one of the main reasons I started reloading and as you can see I can save you a ton of money.
Unless you work 24hrs. day at your profession, you're not looseing money reloading in your offtime. That is and has always been a stupid comparison.
Okie
Okie
Do you also factor in the time you spend behind the gun as your total cost? For a lot of guys reloading is as much of a hobby as the actual shooting.
Back to the OPs origional question you mentioned work requires factory ammo from which I conclude you are likely a professional marksmen likely relatively small police department? You might try contacting someone like blackhills directly and seeing if you can place an order directly through them they might be able to bump you up in the line if the purchase is for a duty rifle.
Back to the OPs origional question you mentioned work requires factory ammo from which I conclude you are likely a professional marksmen likely relatively small police department? You might try contacting someone like blackhills directly and seeing if you can place an order directly through them they might be able to bump you up in the line if the purchase is for a duty rifle.
Using my own once-fired brass I can reload Berger Hybrid target bullets over Varget for $.685 a bang. That $685/1000. Plus 20 hours of my time (all told) at $8/hr (you don't pay taxes on minimum wage, right?) that's a grand total of $845 per 1000 rounds, or $.845 a bang for competition-grade ammo that is custom-tailored to my rifle.
That's less than the ammo I bought for host brass (at last November's pricing, mind you, nevermind today!), and way better quality.
That's less than the ammo I bought for host brass (at last November's pricing, mind you, nevermind today!), and way better quality.
i can send my brass to sw ammo, and get same quality for .75 each plus shipping. might have to wait a bit, but i usually do this in the 500-1000 quantity. im all for reloading if you are in to that, but im too darn busy working to reload. i make way more money working than saving by reloading....now on the other hand if i was in to reloading and really loved it, it would not matter at all cause id be doing something i love...
night eagle
night eagle
I load mostly during the winter because I am not out at the range as much. I absolutely hate the friggin cold! But I do shoot at least once the month as required (during the winter). So I spend my time loading when there is not much to do because it so friggin cold. I really don't factor my time as a cost because I would be watching TV or doing some other useless thing if I wasn't at the bench. I will load during the summer some when I dip into my 5.56 stash but that's just to keep it up to a level where I want. I get my brass free from the department and I have about .54 a round for .308 match grade ammo, my 5.56 MK 262 clone is even cheper because I was given 5K of SR primers. All I have to pay for is bullets and primers. Cant beat that...
I seen the writing on the wall in November and I bought more componets than I needed just to make it through they year and then some. I loaded everything I bought for .308 and now I will add more 5.56 to my stash as I get bored. Only thing I didn't get was enough pistol supplies but I'm okay there really. Damn I love this hobby....
I seen the writing on the wall in November and I bought more componets than I needed just to make it through they year and then some. I loaded everything I bought for .308 and now I will add more 5.56 to my stash as I get bored. Only thing I didn't get was enough pistol supplies but I'm okay there really. Damn I love this hobby....
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Shooting bad ammo at distance when learning is a waste of time and barrel life. Was the miss you, or the ammo?
Before the panic, how much (price per round) could you get decent affordable factory match .308 ammo for?
Here in Houston I could buy Federal Gold Medal Match 168gr BTHP for ~$20 per 20 plus tax. Hornady Gmax 168 (Amax match load with green tip) was around $26 per box.
I stopped into another gun shop yesterday and they had FGMM 175 BTHP for $44.95. At another gun shop Hornady match 168 BTHP were marked at $39.99. I let both stores hold onto the stock they have.
Based on the numbers that I just ran through excel (and I may be off by a few %) I can load cartridges tailored to my gun in virgin lapua brass with varget powder, cci primers, and hornady 168 AMAX bullets for $26.67 per 20. That does not count my time investment, however, reloading is something of a hobby- though one of more necessity than pure joy. But, then again, right now I can load ammunition faster than I can drive around and find it locally- at any cost- so the time cost is a wash.
I stopped into another gun shop yesterday and they had FGMM 175 BTHP for $44.95. At another gun shop Hornady match 168 BTHP were marked at $39.99. I let both stores hold onto the stock they have.
Based on the numbers that I just ran through excel (and I may be off by a few %) I can load cartridges tailored to my gun in virgin lapua brass with varget powder, cci primers, and hornady 168 AMAX bullets for $26.67 per 20. That does not count my time investment, however, reloading is something of a hobby- though one of more necessity than pure joy. But, then again, right now I can load ammunition faster than I can drive around and find it locally- at any cost- so the time cost is a wash.
That's good to know - I'm new to LR shooting and was worried I'd need to spend a lot more than that for decent match ammo.
I wish I had the time, space, and means to reload, but I'm stuck buying factory ammo.
I just hope the prices start going down soon.
Love those guys who don't reload. I politely ask to pick up their once fired brass, so it's free to me. The cost of the range is about as much worry as I have. And yess, I'd just be watching TV so reloading earns me some credits.
Silver state armory has some 308 in stock. Best deal is 150 round blems packs of 150HPBT for $142. It will give you "6-8" week back order possibility message at check out, but the next morning I got a shipping notice. 750 rnds headed to the casa. They have some other stuff in stock too.
Breeze
Breeze
You have a good point. Nonetheless it is good to get real-world feedback from people with more experience on what brands of factory ammo are good options. Makes deciding which brands to test on my gun more manageable.
Talking about brands, Southbreeze, any feedback on SSA ammo? Sounds like a good deal on those 150's. Wish they had blems packs on 168 or 175 to keep as close to what I have stored right now.
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