Time To Start Reloading?

[DamnYuppie]

I consider myself pretty new to the whole shooting game. As such up until now I have been shooting factory ammo, specifically Black Hills 178's. I feel they work really well for me overall. The downside is they are hard to find and not really cheap when I do, about $1.40 a pop.

I figure for the cost of a case of that ammo I could buy a reloading set. This one from Cabela's looks good and is only $550 after rebate. I have been keeping the brass from the Black Hills and have about 650 pieces. So I would need more for primers, bullets, and power but probably not more then $200 outlay upfront.

I am not really looking to get an accuracy gain from reloading as I think my form and technique are my limiting factors and not the gear/ammo at this point in time. So for me it is a purely economical decision. So should I bite the bullet and get the gear or just switch to Southwest at about a $1 a pop?

 

[JSFG]

Re: Time To Start Reloading?

I reload a match quality .308 168gr SMK for about $.60 per round

Bullet $.28
Powder $.17
Primer $.05
Miscellaneous case lube, flitz, etc. $.10

That's pretending that brass is free because I already bought loaded rounds.

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: Time To Start Reloading?

I posted this a while back, "To buy Blackhills loaded with 175 Sierras, your price is 500/$722 or $1.44 each. To load your own brass they same round will be 46 cents each with good shopping. Try to find components with out paying shipping, promotion or local. Buying in bulk brings the price down, so does buying with friends you can share hazmat or shipping costs. Basically, you can load 1000 match rounds for $460 by reusing your brass. To buy a 1000 is $1444. That's $984 that can go into equipment over a year. Even if you look at Winchester white box at 13.00 for 20 that's 65 cents a round and $649.50 a 1000 and $450 to make 1000 loaded with 150's. So depending on your shooting that's a $200 savings."

Component costs: 175 $33/100 or $145/500, .33/.29 per bullet,
Primers .03, Powder .14, makes .50/.46 per round.

Now, since you are loading one round at a time and doing it by hand not on automated eguipment that runs at 1000's of runds an hour you'll get more consistancy and lowed extreme spreads. For example Black Hills match 77 grain has a spread of 43 feet per second, my hand loads run 32 to 35; SD for BHA was 18 mine was 12. Not hugh differences but improvements.

 

[MALLARD]

Re: Time To Start Reloading?

if you value your time you probably wont save to much money.

 

[DPRoberts]

Re: Time To Start Reloading?

I recently started reloaded and have been kicking myself for not having started sooner. I can't help but think that every 1$/pop FGMM round I've ever fired was at least 40 cents wasted over the <.60/ shot I can load it for now. Also its easy to get caught up in the cash whirlwind that is reloading, but you don't have to spend 600$ on kit to start producing good ammo. My start up cost was <400$ with enough components to load 100 rounds of 308 and 223. With my 120$ lee deluxe turret kit, a couple good case prep tools, and dies I've been producing ammo that produces consistently better groups than Fed GMM ever did in my 700p.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: Time To Start Reloading?

I'm currently reloading from my stash at $0.42/round with accuracies essentially identical to FGMM. (assuming more than 10 reload cycles on Win brass::I am currently getting 30-ish reload cycles the way I reload).

By the time you reload your 500th round, all of the reloading gear and ancilariy tools will have paid for themselves.

Don't forget a tumbler, a hand primer, and a device to measure the shoulder position so you can set up teh die correctly.

 

[Drifter]

Re: Time To Start Reloading?


Absolutely, start reloading if you like to shoot a lot. I bought that same kit about 12 years ago, it is a good starting point.

If I were to do it over again I would piece mine together to speed up the process, but the rock chucker is a fine press.

 

[DamnYuppie]

Re: Time To Start Reloading?

Thanks for all the feedback. I am going to grab a book or two then start getting the equipment. My feeling is that I would like to give it a go, if I don't like it at least I will have an informed opinion as to why.

Any recommendations on dies and calipers? If it helps to know the rifle I am using it is a Sako TRG-22.

 

[felderthewelder]

Re: Time To Start Reloading?

I started Reloading and it only furthered my addiction. I now have to buy more cool stuff and shoot more because of it. But do I care? Nope, in my opinion Reloading is part of shooting. I find it very satisfying and fun to load the ammo you shoot. It is a good red blooded American thing to do.

 

[Johnny Lately]

Re: Time To Start Reloading?

I've always been happy with Redding dies

 

[3fingervic]

Re: Time To Start Reloading?

Here is a handy link to find out cost per round.

http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

 

[doc76251]

Re: Time To Start Reloading?

DY,

Check the reloading section here on the Hide. There are some very fine articles on reloading that you can view for free and get you started so that you can ask intelligent questions and make an informed decision when it comes time to plunk down $$$ for gear.

Cheers,

Doc