Why reloading isn't cheaper

[hunter63]

This came from another forum see if you think it's true or not;

http://homesteadingtoday.com/showthread.php?t=242423&page=2

Macybaby

QUOTE
No, you can not save money reloading!

First you start out getting a cheap 12g press off ebay. Then you need some new charge bars and powder bushings and other extra stuff. Then you decide you need a 20g one too. . Then since you want to shoot your reloads, you need more clays and something to toss them. (And your wife needs a couple nice double barrels so she can shoot with you)

Then you pick up a cheap rifle press, which leads to die sets and scales and calipers and trimmers and stuff I don't even know what it is. Then you need more room, so take over the area that was suppose to be your wife's big storage closet. Which needs shelves and a small gun cabinet and other stuff. And then you need a few more presses so you don't have to be changing die sets all the time . . .

And of couse, you need to "test" what you load, so you need a chronometer, and wind tester, and a thing to hold the gun in place while you shoot. Hopefully you already own a skidsteer if you decide you now need a shooting berm in the back yard.

But it still does not end! Once you have developed loads for the guns you have, you start looking for new guns in caliburs you don't have die sets for, and soon you need a big safe, and then two years later you need ANOTHER big safe, and then you need a bigger room so you remodel the upstairs after son moves out for an even bigger reloading room (which you discover is not quite big enough once you move everything in). And finally, since you "reload" and it's cheaper, you shoot about 3 times the ammo you would if you purchased it.

Disclaimer - I am glad my husband has found a hobby he likes, and I'm glad he keeps me well stocked with 9mm and .357 rounds. But like most hobbies, you don't really "save" money. We'd have a lot more money if we never got into this gun stuff to begin with LOL!!

Cathy ( who is really as big a gun nut as her husband)
QUOTE

[RangerRick]

A lot of truth there Cathy. These damn guns can put a hole in your pocket. I keep telling Sweetie that it's an investment.

;D

She's a good wife and laughs along with me. Anyhow, with the price of ammo going through the roof it is possible to be kinda competitive unless your shooting the bottom of the market Wolf ammo. You can save a bit more if you cast your own bullets but it's all relative as there is the element of time and boy can I spend lots of that reloading. Oh well, it does keep me out of the bars and pool halls so factoring that in I probably save a whole bunch of money and have a lot fewer lumps on my old head.

;D

Rick

[kawalekm]

Yup, have to agree! The worst part is starting to think of a new gun to buy to test a new load you're dying to work up. The load books will do that to you. Here's a pic of the right side of my loading bench. Just the right side, it doesn't show the scales and presses on the left side!
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/kawalekm/reloadingstation.jpg
Well, at least all this stuff is worth more than Beanie Babies!
Michael

[Lanark_Sixgunner]

You do have a bit of a point, but we all must practice self-control!

Best

[Eaglesnester]

So true, but just think of all the fun you can have. At over 100 bucks a box for 300 Weatherby 180gr Nosler Partitions I still am fooling myself that reloading is cheaper than store bought. I live in Canada and the merchants sock it to us on assembled rounds as well as reloading components.

[hunter63]

I really laughed at this story, but my favorite part was:

Quote>
Hopefully you already own a skidsteer if you decide you now need a shooting berm in the back yard. <Quote

Oh, Honey I need a skid steer............................

[zachweiss]

It may not be the cheapest route at this moment....but

Re-loading will be a good source of income/barter if there are ever shortages or bans on shells.

[sawyerob]

It "depends"... The guy with the 300 wby. is going to save a lot of $$ reloading for it, over store bought prices... BUT, the guy with a 12ga., just looking for some ammo to shoot isn't...

SO, like i said... It "depends"...

Rob

[mtl272]

time is the most expensive thing any of us have, but time spent teaching the next generation the value of doing something right can teach them to take pride in what they do in life.plus not only does it make them more self-reliant,but more free. i think that we need to be passing on many of the skills listed on this forum and teach our children the real history of this country , not the liberal big govt crap their learning today......sorry started to rant...reloading cheaper or not has a value the same as you may apply to sewing or what ever you do that you can share with the next gen. i could not put a price on the time spent with my daughter reloading she 8yrs. old ..no i don't let her seat primers or powder cases yet she mostly sorts, decaps and tumbles. well thanks for letting me be apart of you discussion, god bless america.

[kawalekm]

Yes, very well stated. It is cheaper to buy ammo then to make it. It's cheaper to buy bread in the store than knead it yourself. It's cheaper to buy a can of tomato sauce than growing your own. It's cheaper to buy a sweater in the store than knitting one yourself.

But, once Wal-mart closes, I'll be the only one around putting freshly canned sauce on freshly kneaded dough. I might even be wearing my sweater when doing this.

[rice paddy daddy]

OK, everone, time to 'fess up! How many of ya'll have ammo for a gun you don't even own, just in case you DO buy one?
I had a box of Norma 8X57 (8mm Mauser) I stared at for over 20 years until I bought a Yugo capture Mauser 98 earlier this year! ;D

[WRTN]

Yes, very well stated. *It is cheaper to buy ammo then to make it. *It's cheaper to buy bread in the store than knead it yourself. *It's cheaper to buy a can of tomato sauce than growing your own. *It's cheaper to buy a sweater in the store than knitting one yourself.

But, once Wal-mart closes, I'll be the only one around putting freshly canned sauce on freshly kneaded dough. *I might even be wearing my sweater when doing this.

Both mtl272 and kawalekm, very WELL said. I couldn't agree more. I would add that if you shoot a LOT, reloading in many cases does save a good bit of money. I reloaded shotgun shells when I was shooting skeet and sporting clays competitively many years ago in Germany. A box of shells at the Rod and Gun Club cost about $6 back then, on the Germany economy even more. I figured my reloading cost at about $3 a box of 25. The last few years I was shooting, I would shoot over 10,000 rounds of 12 gauge alone. That saved me a LOT of money. Plus I had a real nice easy recoiling load with an ounce of #7 1/2 shot, a windjammer wad, and using SR7625 in a Winchester AA shell. 20 and 28 gauge and .410 bore cost even more to buy than 12 gauge but I didn't shoot enough to justify the cost of buying another Hornady 366 with all of the bushings and components.

[kawalekm]

OK, everone, time to 'fess up! How many of ya'll have ammo for a gun you don't even own, just in case you DO buy one?

Umm,, well, do reloading dies count too? I bought a nice set of titanium nitride 44Mag dies on sale for 25$. I went out to buy my first 44Mag after that.

One of the neighbors also gave me a big bag of surplus 7.62mm Tokerof (spelling). I just applied for a C&R license, so maybe I can buy a handgun for that cheap too!

[shadowwalker]

UH, I got eveyone beat. When I was 18 in 1976. A friend of my dads was transfering over seas and was to be gone at least five years. He let me buy all of his reloading stuff for $300.00. I got enough RCBS reloading equipment and supplies for 17 rifle,15 pistol, all different calibres. I didn't even buy powder for almost 7 years and almost 10 before I bought my first box of 100 bullets. I also got his shotgun reloading stuff for 12,16,20,28,410. I still havent had to buy anything but primers. My shotgun primers got wet in a basement about 12 years ago.
I consider my reloading a very calming effect on myself. I think a few hours of shooting time is far better than laying on any couch and spilling my guts to a stranger for a couple hundred bucks a session.

[martialcanine45cal]

Actually, based on the number of rounds I have supplies for, it will work out to be much cheaper, equipment investment included. Rounds are much cheaper with more volume of supplies purchased and loaded.

The problem with reloading is you tend to shoot much more after you get proficient at making rounds, and that's where you spend more in the long run.

But you know what, I love the hobby. Even I knew I was losing money, I'd still do it.

There is no better sense of pride and fulfillment then holding up a perfectly built round you made yourself. And shooting it only guarantees more pleasure on the bench!!!

To me, it's one of those special things in life. God bless it.

[JeffColorado]

*It "depends"... *The guy with the 300 wby. is going to save a lot of $$ reloading for it, over store bought prices... *BUT, the guy with a 12ga., just looking for some ammo to shoot isn't...

*SO, like i said... *It "depends"...

*Rob

I respectively disagree, I spend $4.76 to reload a box of 1oz, 1,300fps loads that cost $9.90 at the local Wally World. Now with lead coming down, it's even better. Just have to know where, and how to buy the components.

[DM]

I respectively disagree, I spend $4.76 to reload a box of 1oz, 1,300fps loads that cost $9.90 at the local Wally World. *Now with lead coming down, it's even better. Just have to know where, and how to buy the components.

1 oz. 12ga. loads at my wally world were $5.79 a couple days ago when i was there. Sometimes i see them cheaper than that... So, i guess it depends on where you live...

DM

[JeffColorado]

*1 oz. 12ga. loads at my wally world were $5.79 a couple days ago when i was there. *Sometimes i see them cheaper than that... *So, i guess it depends on where you live...

*DM


Those are the cheap steel base Federal or Winchester loads, I won't put steel based loads in my guns - Try pricing Remington Nitro Sporting clays - different story all together. Plus even at the cheapo price, I get top of the line loads for a dollar less a box based on your price.