Walmart Ammo Experience

[Jackie Graham]

I'm in Lawrenceville. I'm very curious about strider12's quote of 0.08 cents per 9mm round. I would assume the FMJ bullet alone might be that much.

I think he would have to be reloading Cast bullets at that price. It will cost you at least $0.04 for the primer and powder. That only leaves $0.05 for the bullet. If you cast your own you might be able to do it for less. I cast .40 and .45 for around $0.035 to $0.04 per bullet.

 

[strider12]

I think he would have to be reloading Cast bullets at that price. It will cost you at least $0.04 for the primer and powder. That only leaves $0.05 for the bullet. If you cast your own you might be able to do it for less. I cast .40 and .45 for around $0.035 to $0.04 per bullet.

Bingo. Cast is the way to go.

 

[Laufen]

I'm in Lawrenceville. I'm very curious about strider12's quote of 0.08 cents per 9mm round. I would assume the FMJ bullet alone might be that much.

I think that's 8 cents a round. Otherwise, count me in.

 

[GA_Dude]

I doubt I'd be casting my own bullets. About how many times can a brass cartridge be reloaded?

 

[Jackie Graham]

I doubt I'd be casting my own bullets. About how many times can a brass cartridge be reloaded?

Typically 8 to 10 with loading them in the low to moderate range. I know some guys that claim they have loaded the same brass more than 15 times. I usually load mine until I see any splitting or cracking in the case or mouth.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

9mm with current pricing

Primers $30.00 per 1000 3¢ per each
Powder $30.00/lb 7000 grains per pound, @6 grains per cartridge round up to 3¢ per cartridge
Bullets $65.00/1000 (cast lead, average of a quick net search, shipping cost not included, assume source locally) 7¢ per each
Casing $0.00 assume sourced from existing stock or scrounged off the range

Primer 3¢
Powder 3¢
Bullet 7¢
Case $0.00
Your time $0.00
Total 13¢ to load (not including cost of dies, press, scales, etc.)

I used to load 9mm for 7¢ or 8¢ a round back in the late 80's/early 90's but you aren't going to do it now unless you're sitting on components you bought a ways back or are casting your own bullets.

 

[GA_Dude]

9mm with current pricing

Primers $30.00 per 1000 3¢ per each
Powder $30.00/lb 7000 grains per pound, @6 grains per cartridge round up to 3¢ per cartridge
Bullets $65.00/1000 (cast lead, average of a quick net search, shipping cost not included, assume source locally) 7¢ per each
Casing $0.00 assume sourced from existing stock or scrounged off the range

Primer 3¢
Powder 3¢
Bullet 7¢
Case $0.00
Your time $0.00
Total 13¢ to load (not including cost of dies, press, scales, etc.)

I used to load 9mm for 7¢ or 8¢ a round back in the late 80's/early 90's but you aren't going to do it now unless you're sitting on components you bought a ways back or are casting your own bullets.

Thank you for that cost breakdown. I guess this thread has turned into a buy vs reload discussion. I've been doing a little research on reloading and at 13¢ per round versus 40¢ (or more) per round I'm sure the equipment payback would add up quickly. Do you have any suggestions regarding which press to buy? Any other advice?

 

[dlciman]

GA Dude it all depends on how much you reload. For example if you are an occasional shooter then a single stage press will work but takes more time to complete whereas a progressive press can crank out a couple hundred rounds an hour. If you are serious about reloading then the progressive loaders on the market today are hard to beat. I am using a 35 year old turret press that was the bomb-diggity in its day but I just purchased a Dillon 550 that blows this thing out of the water. Buy quality used equipment if you can find it, but talk to someone you know that reloads and see if they will share some insight on their equipment and maybe show you how they are set up. I've been reloading since the mid 80's and there is no way I could afford to shoot otherwise. Now that me and the kids have got into cowboy action shooting we are looking at 1000 rounds of .38 special EACH week. I can purchase cowboy loads from Georgia Arms, when they have it, for $265.00 a 1000. My reloads are close to Dr Strangelove's figure except I only pay $21.00 for powder and $55.00 a 1000 on cast bullets so my costs are 9.5 - 10 cents per round. I use to cast my own bullets but it is another time consumer and not worth the effort, at least for me. I also moly-coat all my cast bullets which costs me nothing but 1 hour in the tumbler but saves ALOT of elbow grease when cleaning. As far as payback on your equipment it really depends on how much you use it. My equipment was paid for back in the early 90's and it is still in use EVERY week. So if you don't mind ordering your components online and waiting for them this is definitely the way to go. I order in bulk so that helps on the shipping and you can buy blemished bullets for a little over half price and save BIG time. If I'm shootin' steel at 25 feet I don't think you can tell the difference between perfect cast or blemished bullets. Do some research but I warn you it is addictive!

 

[GA_Dude]

Thanks for the advice dlciman. A few more questions. I assume people do not reload 22LR? If I were to get into reloading, I would do .380, 9mm, and possibly 0.40 cal. Do the same presses reload pistol and rifle ammunition? Lastly, I see some people are very meticulous, some oil the brass, others take an extra step in cleaning the primer hole by hand. How important are both steps? In Hickock45's video, he doesn't even talk about cleaning the brass. I'm sure there is good practice, and there are those that take extreme measures. I would assume I would start with basic reloading, not sure at this point if I would choose a single stage or progressive loader as I would expect to only shoot a few hundred rounds per week at the most.[h=1][/h]

 

[dlciman]

GA Dude .22 is rimfire and can't be reloaded. You can load any caliber on whatever press you choose. You just change out the dies. If you buy carbide dies you don't have to lube the cases. If you buy steel dies you have to lube the cases or they will get stuck in the die. I use a single stage press for long range shooting .308 and .220 Swift. I leave no details out and EACH case is prepped to perfection and each load is measured (electronically) and every cartridge is exactly the same. That is for shooting one hole groups off a bench. For everything else I use a progressive. Tumble the brass, fill the powder measure, load the primer tube, verify crimp and over all length, then pull the handle. Very fast and pretty accurate. Check every 50 rounds and verify that they're good and keep crankin'. All I can tell you is if you are planning on shooting just 100 rounds per week-average- that would be 5200 rounds per year. Let's see that's $520.00 if you reload or $2080.00 at your LGS. Now I don't know about you but that's a $1400.00 saving in the first year. I could afford the top of the line progressive for that! ALL brands of reloaders are good. Lee, Hornady, etc., but the cadillac is Dillon. It took me 30 years of reloading but after using one I must confess it is the best I have ever used and even after I messed it up and broke a part they replaced it absolutely free! I told them that I would pay for it because it was my fault and they said no. Great product, great company, great savings.