Cost effectiveness of reloading

[RSB]

Depends on the projectile you're looking for.

I'm seeing Barnes Pro-Hunter 110gr for $38/100 and Hornady V-Maxes for $26/100

At the weights you're looking at, less selection, but the priciest (TTSX 95gr) is $90/100. Lots of choices at under 50cpr

.277

In-stock best prices for 277

ammoseek.com

Good point, but the point of reloading is to craft, increase accuracy, save money and above all else, SHOOT MORE! I too cringe at premium bullet cost and FMJ's too, Oh my God! as always work up your load with your chosen grand bullet, but the rest shoot FMJ or cast for practice. That's been working for me since my early days.

 

[BHPSteel]

Good point, but the point of reloading is to craft, increase accuracy, save money and above all else, SHOOT MORE! I too cringe at premium bullet cost and FMJ's too, Oh my God! as always work up your load with your chosen grand bullet, but the rest shoot FMJ or cast for practice. That's been working for me since my early days.

True,

But we don't know what Greg's aiming to achieve. If he just wants to warm the barrel up or shoot "pretty good" ammo, he can do that with 30 cent pills.

In my case, for my milsurps I usually reload with Speer Hot-Cors because like with fine whiskey, I can't tell the difference once I'm using "medium-good" components. If I could shoot worth a damn, I'd probably reload using Sierras (ideally bought when they were on a deal from Midway)

I bought some copper coated 30 cal projectiles recently that have a really thick coating that'll let me drive 'em at 1800fps and still hold pretty tight groups at 200 yards. That really warmed my cheapskate, inner Scots heart.

Edit: 12cpr, just to make y'all jelly.

 

[RSB]

True,

But we don't know what Greg's aiming to achieve. If he just wants to warm the barrel up or shoot "pretty good" ammo, he can do that with 30 cent pills.

In my case, for my milsurps I usually reload with Speer Hot-Cors because like with fine whiskey, I can't tell the difference once I'm using "medium-good" components. If I could shoot worth a damn, I'd probably reload using Sierras (ideally bought when they were on a deal from Midway)

I bought some copper coated 30 cal projectiles recently that have a really thick coating that'll let me drive 'em at 1800fps and still hold pretty tight groups at 200 yards. That really warmed my cheapskate, inner Scots heart.

Yes, I miss the days when cheap .224 and .308 FMJ's were plentiful and cheap. Used to buy plinking stuff from Widener's. They were dry so long, I quit watching for restocks.

 

[greg vess]

Starting new today. Too expensive BS!!! It's no different then when I started in 1989 in earnest. I started in 87 with a Lyman 310 tool and a set of 38 dies dipping bulls eyes for cast bullets. When I started reloading I bought used and slow equipment. It got me started and provided all I needed to learn. As time went on I would upgrade here and there. You can do the same today which makes it easier with Market Place and all the online places we didn't have pre internet days. I once bought a Lyman Tru-line Jr. for $35 from Gun List, with the factory box. My first orders were on paper pages pulled and filled from a Midway mailer using a cashiers check. Reloading is the same today as 35 years ago. A MEC Mk5 Jr. for $75 is a better deal then when I paid $30 for the same in 1989. No you can't buy primers for $13 per K, no shot for $9 a bag. So jump in, just test the water slowly, and don't rush to get to the deep end.

I already reload and have a good bit stocked up. I just want some lighter, faster and built for max damage..

 

[greg vess]

I was just complaining about the cost of decent projectiles. I will look around see what else I can find.

Depends on the projectile you're looking for.

At the weights you're looking at, less selection, but the priciest on that list (TTSX 95gr) is $90/100. It's on offer from other sellers at as low as $68/100

Lots of choices for other brands at under 50cpr.

.277

In-stock best prices for 277

ammoseek.com

Now go find me someone who even offers loaded ammo using the TTSX. If you want to buy premium ammo for that caliber, it'll REALLY make your eyes water. Assuming anyone does.

I already have a few hundred rounds each of ttsx and Sierra Pro Hunter loaded up I just wanted to get some more going. It seems that's one of the only rounds I could find in the low weights. Where I was looking you could buy the bullets for 38 cents a piece but then by the time tax and shipping hits you are right there at 100 bucks.

 

[BHPSteel]

Well, that's slightly different isn't it. Shipping and tax is something you'd be paying on loaded ammo too if you bought it online. The secret of course is to find a place that ships with a fixed rate (or no rate), and watch for good deals when they arise.

That website I linked will give you pretty good coverage of what there is "out there" at any time. Looks like for your bullet weight, Barnes are the only players in town.

There are browser tools I use to watch a certain place that sells 'pulled' powder in bulk. When they get something that is close to 1680 or Varget, it sells out REAL fast. But I also used it for .311 bullets when they were as rare as hen's teeth.

A tool like that will help you spot when there are deals to be had.

 

[BIKER13]

deal with a boutique caliber you better expect to pay boutique prices. I only reload 308 cost effective? prolly not but it aint real expensive. Powder prices got stupid but so did primers.Wanna play You pay

 

[cire0309]

I got into it last year because of 300 Blackout. Was out at the range two days ago with a buddy who has a 7.5" BCM 300. He had some 2A Warehouse 200 grain subs which weren't cycling in his gun. They felt anemic but cycled in my 10.3 inch 300, they were only making ~950 FPS. Gave him some of my hand loads (220 gr Spire Points making about 1075 FPS) and they cycled fine in his 7.5" gun. There's so much variability in factory loaded ammo so hand loading is definitely the way to go for tailoring rounds for different guns.

Saving money really depends on caliber also. I load a lot of 38 special, which is much cheaper than buying factory stuff, even in bulk. Also, rounds like the 70 gr. TSX in 5.56 and the 110 gr. Tac-TX in 300 Blackout are much less expensive if you hand load, even when Barnes wants an arm and leg for projectiles.

 

[1006]

After adjusting for inflation : The guns are cheaper, the ammo is more expensive.

I still reload for everything I shoot. I just wait for good deals and shoot whichever caliber seems the most economical. Lately, the 243 is cheapest after finding a good deal on some bastard, discontinued bullets.

 

[LARGO9]

Stop all the wars going on in the world and prices will start dropping like a brick.