Discuss handloading, reloading and presses here.
 #157  by dave_in_delaware
 
I know most people start reloading in order to save some money (compared to buying manufactured ammo). But of course reloading requires an initial investment in equipment....

I was just curious as to how many rounds you had to reload before you actually "broke even" on your reloading equipment investment?

I guess after that point all the "savings" goes into shooting more, right?
 #166  by myopicvisionary
 
It really depends on what caliber you are reloading. Generally, rifle will garner more savings faster. Try pricing some rifle brass from the catalogs! If you reload lead bullets you will save faster. When I first got into reloading, I was turning out .45ACP 230gr RNL for about $3.00 a box of 50! My friends and I were heavy into IPSC at the time and made bulk purchases of the J&D lead bullets at X-Ring Supply. I think I still have about 3,000 of those bullets left! I saved a bunch of money by reloading 7.5x55mm Swiss for my K31s. Some calibers you are not going to beat by much. Ball ammo in 9mm Parabellum at Wal-Mart comes to mind. But if you are a rifle or pistol competitor, reloading is the only way. Just keep track of your costs for components and compare what the cost would have been if you bought factory ammo instead. The savings will rack up quickly. My initial setup of two pistol calibers paid for itself in a year! After that I still kept track to see how much more I could shoot for the cost I would have paid on ammo. Was I loading .45s for a third of the cost? Or was I able to shoot three times as much? You decide.
 #182  by radnor
 
Well... Little background first. I bought a Dillon 550B, 45 & 9 dies, quick change kits, RCBS 1500 combo, all of the little accys for the 550b. At the time of purchase I needed to load 8,000 rounds of 45 to break even. This INCLUDED the cost of the 8K primers, powder, and projectiles.

I know your saying 8K of rounds.... Well, 100/wk is what 1 1/2 years to break even. :D
 #183  by radnor
 
dave_in_delaware wrote:I know most people start reloading in order to save some money
You will shoot more... There goes the savings right down the :toilet: oops down range.
 #196  by Sprat
 
as stated it depends on the amount of shooting and the amount of retrieved brass, with me after I clean and resize its MINE. I would say that since I started reloading 10-15 years ago I only buy ammo off the shelf for carry only and suplus for pull down and reloading into boxer cases.

forget X-ring, millers and cabelas or whoever buy from Midway, Graf and son, huntington, great surplus projectiles and brass was available from venders in the back of shotgun news, if you like guns and extra's get shotgun news this is where the dealers get their stuff. I NEVER BUY FROM DEALER's, why give them your hard earned money. I buy powder and primers at gunshows ( Valley Forge for example) so I can get a selection of vendors, but I prefer T&T reloading from PA and buy in bulk

I prefer Lee products (Thats me) though I do have other company products, I load a numerous calibers small pistol. small rifle and large rifle and never looked back
 #80635  by bluedog46
 
I know what? I think there is alot more intrest in reloading on the board now than probably ever before.

Could there be a run on ammo? A socialist governmnet trying to restrict freedom?
 #80640  by whatevah
 
I've got a good inventory of my handgun ammo (and a 500rnd case on the way) but I've been thinking about getting into reloading. I heard that some shops in PA actually have powder and primers in stock, might have to make some calls next week.