Reloading and purchasing ammo are completely different in terms of the cost to the user. In this video, we investigate which is cheaper. My recommended reloading setup for $895: backfire.tv/re...
Reloading holds a special place in my heart. Growing up, my late grandpap would sit in his chair, overseeing my reloading while telling an untold number of hunting stories that I just loved. I can't even tell you what I'd pay to get to relive a couple hours of reloading with him.
Being retired, the alternative to reloading is watching RU-vid videos (some of which are worth watching) and playing computer games. Or overeating. So I do not consider my time as 'chargable'.
As I agree with you about time reloading... For those who would argue for the notion of charging for time reloading... Look at the difference between your time cleaning & your money you'd spend getting your house cleaned. Figure out the value difference in percentage & that is public perception of what your time is worth.
@@OldManMontgomery how long does is take to reload say 50-100 rounds? I work full time, have kids, try to make it to the gym, so I'm pretty busy but I wanna start shooting more. I already know reloading will be a chore for me, so I'm trying to decide whether the time will be worth the money saved for my lifestyle before I go out and but equipment
@@thisguyiscool4826 "how long?" depends on type of equipment, nature of round (plinking ammo for handguns is pretty simple, rifle ammo for 1000 yard competition takes more time) and skill of loader, which increases with experience. If you're going to be loading and shooting pretty general ammunition, I would suggest a progressive for faster output than a single stage press. I have Dillon equipment, and at the risk of sounding like a paid spokesman - which I am not - I suggest the Dillon 550 type progressive loader. It will do any handgun round and many centerfire rifle rounds. Cost is a bit steep, but the guarantee cannot be beat and buying the dirty dog cheapest stuff provides one the dirty dog cheapest stuff. With that rig and some application, I would think 50 rounds in an hour or less would be easy. This does include the cleaning, trimming and such which will make itself known later on. One can work at one's own preferred pace, too. The 50 rounds can be done in less sizable batches, as well. Do five, get interrupted, then come back and do ten more. Sleep, do ten more. You get the idea. I will warn you the hobby is addictive and demands attention. But not substantially more than doing dishes and not breaking stuff.
Reloading is a very relaxing hobby. It gives me the opportunity to get really technical about things that actually make a difference to something I enjoy. Your new name for the Tube cracks me up. My brain exploded every time I see one of these videos filtered or blocked, yet watching someone get dismembered or permanently injured while riding a skateboard is perfectly fine
Yeah, and if you put a beat behind it and call it "a music video", you can talk about killing and display the most dangerous gun handling and get full monetization.
@@therevoman maybe the reassurance is knowing you’re not the only one who shares this sentiment. I’m sure there’s many more that agree. I understand if you downvote - lol.
When I started reloading I was told by an established reloader that once you have your setup you won't save money, but you will probably shoot more. He says he spends as much on consumables as he used to on factory ammo, and shoots far more.
You can still stock up the price will never come down I am currently loading 243W with 100 gr bullets that are over 40 yrs old they work aswellna the new stuff
For general plinking and just fun range ammo, the best $ savings I've experienced was with casting my own bullets. That drives the cost for say .357mag down to $3 or so for a box of 50.
I got setup for reloading about 8 years ago. I went the Dillon way and have never regretted it. Their warrantee is by far the best. I have had parts that I flat out wore out replaced no questions asked. I mainly bought my press for pistol reloading but have had excellent results reloading rifle. Component purchase sucks now. My sources where I used to purchase ammo components flat went out of business. You can't eat selling components if there are no components available. This is the longest drought that I can remember. The manufacturers bullshit about new hunter shooters buying all the ammo up is a lie. People are buying because everyone is afraid that the government is going to attack our rights and we don't know when we will be able to buy more stuff. I myself am primer poor. I have bullets, I have powder, I have brass and I have almost no primers. Now I have calibers I wish to load and can't find powder to load them certainly. I can tell you this I am not shooting anything for sport anymore. No more IDPA, no more 3 gun. IT SUCKS! FJB
Hey let me know exactly what you looking for or need. I can probably get it for you from good prices. Local store here in Alabama has everything. From reloading stations, primers, powders. Everything. I make my own launcher rounds (non lethal and legal) and I buy ffg powder and primers all the time. I've been wanting to get the reloading station to try doing 12 gauge shells
Like most I enjoy reloading as it lets you customize the ammo, as well it's a peaceful escape. Trick is to always stock up on stuff when it's plentiful (mostly primers and powder)
I have been reloading for over 40 years Taught to by my Father. And the best way to describe it is you can shoot about 5 times more for the same money . Of course my reloading equipment has paid for itself many times over So I don’t even factor that cost into it. And I get better accuracy and enjoyment out of it. It’s a great Hobby. Cheers
I love reloading, also as for "starter kits" I purchased a RCBS kit 32 years ago and over the years loaded thousands of rounds from 9mm to 444 Marlin, and it's still working perfectly. As a added bonus I can customize the load, to the rifle. Here a lot of factory ammo is around 3 to 4 dollars a shot.
With respect to the time spent reloading: consider that there is also some time associated with buying factory ammo, depending on how near or far you are from a purveyor of such stuff. I can easily reload several boxes of ammo in less time than it would take me to drive to a gun shop and back. And I won’t have burned any $5 per gallon gas either…
I agree; I'm also going to throw in there the issue of shipping cost....I've passed on a few 'deals' I've found online just because shipping would sometimes almost double the cost of the item. Lesson learned; if/when the market ever approaches normal again, I'll be investing in precious metal, if you know what I mean.
I think it depends on the cartridge. I save a lot of money reloading 300 WBY. I can reload that for under $2, factory ammo is around $4 to $5 a round. But the biggest reason I reload is for accuracy and I really enjoy doing it
I couldn’t agree more. I load for 300 H&H, and I’ve seen 20 rounds go for $100. Because I’m working with components I bought two years ago, my cost is about $1.30 a round with premium hunting bullets.
No one on RU-vid does Weatherby justice. So many good cartridges like 30-378 and others. I know it's expensive, but my experience with Weatherby has been fantastic. The Accumark is my favorite hunting rifle of all time. I've owned 6 over the years from 338-378 to 30-06.
The point of handloading in my eyes is and always has been to tune a load to my particular firearm for better performance (accuracy, power) and/or to use a bullet or configuration not available from the factory. I can load high performance bullets like Hammer Hunters to push the 223 Remington past its perceived performance limits, or I can make subsonics for quiet work, reducing the number of firearms I need to take with me at any given moment.
Exactly. It's not ever going to be cheaper than a company set up to make hundreds of thousands to even millions of rounds every day. It's not even going to be more consistent, you making it with a $500 scale and $100 press. But, It. Will. Be. Tuned! Even if you're a sponsored shooter, you will not get tuned ammo from a commercial manufacturer.
Right exactly. Nowadays you don’t save any money reloading. Reloading is only good if you wanna be able to choose how hot your round is and customize the power. Other than that all the supplies you’re almost spending more money on ammo for better ammo (that’s if you are good at reloading)
For common calibers you can load for about a 50% discount. For high end or oddballs that jumps to over 70%. Start casting your own projectiles, and you will save over 90%. My biggest saver right now is 500 Linebaugh. Factory ammo is about $4 per round. My cost is about $.20.
Yep. And some calibers have always been expensive from the factory, for what they are. 22 Hornet and 30 Carbine come to mind. Relatively expensive to buy factory loads, but due to the cheap bullets and small powder charges, very cheap to reload.
@@maadv7237 if you do an Apple to Apple comparisons between an established reloader and factory reloading is cheaper. Now is definitely not the time to get into it. I been reloading .338 Win Mag and have never bought a factory round because they have always cost about $3.50 each.
@@maadv7237 It still is. If you do something so stupid as to buy primers, or any components, on Gunbroker, then of course not. Primers are out there at fair prices, you just need to hunt them down.
416Rigby is currently between $7 -- $11 per round. Cost to reload? Approx. $.70 per round - with 400 grn solids and Norma brass mostly purchased at auction a half dozen years ago.
It's always comforting to know you can relax while others are panic buying ammo. Take a few bucks every time you walk through your neighborhood mom and pop gun store and buy some reloading components. Keep 'em saved back because another ammo shortage is coming. If you restuff 'em, you have no shortage.
I started reloading in 1976 to find the best load for my 22-250. Back in those days not every rifle would shoot less than 1 MOA without putting in the work. You get to shoot more when reloading and eventually save a lot of money.
I started reloading in 1975 for 357. I had a rockchucker mounted on 3/4" plywood C-clamped to the kitchen table, a pound of Unique, a set of Lee spoons, RCBS powder funnel, 357 dies (No one told me to buy 38 special) CCI primers, and 158 gr lead SWCs, 50 Winchester 357 cases. The spoons came with a chart of spoon size versus various powder weights. I chose one that was about 70% max. Those were my first 500 reloads. From there I bought a Pacific triple beam, Lyman 55 powder measure I still use. Today I still use the rockchucker for special rifles, have a MEC 750, and a Dillon 650 and a lot on ancillary stuff. My advice is buy one piece at a time. Talk to friends, read reloading manuals. Sierra is the best. Watch videos. Take your time. Don't take any advice from the big gun/sport stores. Most are BS artists. Good luck and good shooting.
its ridiculous how expense primers and powder got during covid. I can't find any good reason it's still so expensive. I am guessing the gun industry is learning from the oil industry, once they see that people are gonna pay the absurd prices why drop it back down
I got into reloading about 6 years ago, just as a curiosity. Now I’m addicted and sometimes shop for guns just in a caliber that I want to try to reload. My gear paid for itself a long time ago and I started stockpiling supplies before this craziness started. Very glad I did.
I know a guy who was in love with the 10mm. The reason he got into reloading was because he wasn’t satisfied with the factory loads. Soon he was selling 10mm to other people. Then he got into precision rifles and it just took off from there. Turned into a full time business
@@slowmotionbetterthannomotion. He could end up in jail. There are laws for manufacturing and selling ammunition. Even if it were legal, which it is not without a license, your friend is opening himself up to liability should someone claim the ammo they bought from him malfunctioned and caused injury. Not worth it!!!
@@johnb.6468 I don't believe that at all. I'm just trying to give some advise that will keep people from getting themselves in trouble. You or that other guy can do what you want. Th ATF are looking for reasons to make examples out of people.
I can say per cartridge it is quite a bit cheaper for me to reload. However, reloading has also caused me to shoot 50x more than I did before reloading. So 🤷♂️
@@gsxr1189 More like gets me away from everything for a little while. For me, time in the shop is almost as good as time in a blind, or a boat. I don’t think about work, chores, how flipping old and fat I’m getting, or any of that. Just making sure I do the same exact thing, as consistently as possible as many times as is necessary.
I did (roughly) this same financial break-down around 20-years ago...when primers were around $0.03, .223 projectiles were around $0.19, and powder was around $0.20 a charge...and assuming I could keep finding 'first-fired' brass (at my local range), it all came out around $0.42-$0.45 a load. Compared to decent 'match grade' .223, I was only gaining around $1 a box by reloading...but my big gainers were with my .300 Win Mag and .308 Win...all, to pay off a $300 RCBS Master Rockchucker Kit (with other accessories, around $500 total)...while the .223 (at the time) was a 'wash', it's the 'larger calibers' that often 'make the payment'. NEVER FORGET, that with powerful cartridges, however, you get a lot of brass 'wall thinning', so where you might get 4-5 reloads from a .223...that big .300 WM will thin walls out FAST (2-3 reloads, at MAX!)...so if you are buying brass, OUCH...so much for 'economy'...but if you are actually taking great care in your loads...NEVER FORGET, don't compare that 'super-economy' store-bought trash to what you are loading for a price-point...use top-end 'match grade' pricing...or else you are comparing Hyundai's to Rolls Royces as if they were equal!
Until the COVID shortages, I couldn't really see a reason to reload calibers such as 9mm, 38 special, .223, etc. These days? I can save money on all calibers.
I don’t quite understand your math. Since 2017 till this very day, I have saved hundreds and MORE hundreds of dollars by reloading. Trailboss, 125gr lrn, CA, 38spl= $5.50 box of 50. --- Trailboss, 200gr lrn, CA, 45 Colt= $6.80 box of 50. ---- Ramshot Enforcer, 125gr XTP hunting-self defense load= $13.90 box of 50.
Ramshot loads are 357 magnum. Forgot to list that caliber. High pressure, easy 12 reloads of brass. 38spl and 45 colt is always more than 22 reloads of brass. Low pressure.
I reload and enjoy it, even in normal times it is much cheaper that buying factory and I quite like the ability to adjust the recipe. I started with a Lee box set, some advise from friends and quite a few UTube videos when these thing were allowed. Anyway as always great content, thank you!
here in south african a hand loaded round costs me about half the price of a factory round, excluding time and equipment needed to load. But for me this is also just a fun process and i enjoy the time with friends. It's really satisfying to shoot my own loads
That's a commercial reloader. What do you think they pay someone to stand by a reloading machine and tip in brass, primers, powder and projectiles? Enough pay to quality check the disepense rate of the powder dropper every 50 ? Check for OAL? Nah, didn't think so either.... As a reloader of 30 years...I visually check each and every powder load...anything not kosher looking gets tipped out and a fresh charge put in the case..... I check every 50 rounnds that the test case contains the right amount of powder...ditto OAL.....
@@chrismartinez8393 The same can be said about the current used car market, but it's not really appreciating in value. This is only appears to be the case in times of hoarding and economic decline. Your equipment is not retaining value or increasing in value, but the currency is inflating faster than the equipment can depreciate. The depreciation still exists, it's just the money you used in the past was worth a lot more then the money right now.
@@StuninRub Not necessarily true, it all depends on the value increase relative to the current inflation percentage. So let's say that inflation is at 10% and the value of something increased 20% then it did appreciate but if both are at 10% then it didn't appreciate only the USD depreciated.
I started reloading when I was fifteen. I'm 77 now, and I still "roll my own" ammo. When I started 62 years ago, there was scant equipment out there. Mostly just presses; no Lee loaders, etc. I started out loading shot shells, and I made my own tools out of what-ever worked. I can't count the times when I could keep shooting while other folks were "out of ammo." When I arrive at the Pearly Gates, I'll probably still be carrying a box of ammo!
I am 76 now and started loading at age 12 .I grew up in a single parent ( mom ) household and lived in a time that neighbors looked out for each other ! My next door neighbor knew that I loved shooting and would invite me over in the evening to help him reload shotgun shells . I didn't get my first shotgun till 2 years later but loved learning how to reload ! He also belonged to a rod and gun club and would take along to the club meetings as they had junior memberships . There I interacted with adult and teenage people that loved hunting ,fishing all all things shooting ! A few of the guys took me under wing and tought me metallic reloading and I became hooked ! Those people made a great impact on my young life and I will be forever greatfull !
Yes reloading is a necessary skill. Especially these day. I bought an RCBS Rock Chucker kit in the 1970’s. I still have all the original components of that kit and I still use them all. I have recouped my original investment many times over. I bought a lot of primers, powder, and bullets in bulk back in the day and still have enough left to last the rest of my shooting days. Primers we’re a penny each, powder was about $5 a pound and bullets we’re about $5 for 50. It pays to think ahead. Young people getting started now should buy the best starter set they can afford and buy as many components, in bulk, as they can afford now so they can enjoy a lifetime of reloading. The prices won’t come down. Years from now these prices will seem so cheap and they will kick themselves in the butt for not buying more while they were cheap. You will be able to pass this stuff on to your kids and grandkids and they will enjoy cheap reloading too
parents bought me a complete RCBS kit with several dies (45 acp, 9mm, 30.06) at a garage sale for $25 bucks....also a new 36 oz Vaughn framing hammer (went thru three handles) back in 1968. Still have all of it including the hammer. Bought 45 long colt dies and a Lee Anniversary kit later in 1998. From there 303 British dies, 5.56 NATO, 300 Win Mag, 308, and lastly 6.5 Creedmore for the son-in-law. One thing about 30 cal is they can use the same bullets.
My Rock Chucker is from the early 80s, my 505 isn't much newer. Quality reloading equipment can last longer than a Kitchen Aide counter top mixer. SO, forever.
@@ErikS308 ....mine came from retired USAF Major Burns a B29/B52 pilot at March AFB and along with a reloading manual from the late 40's most likely was from the 50's. It's one of the things that I treasure are old books & manuals....I've even have Motor's Manuals from the 50's and they show photos of all the old 30's, 40's and 50's cars.
Whether I save money or not, I have found reloading to be cathartic. Spending a few hours a month going through the process of cleaning and prepping used brass, to reloading .223, .308, and 30-06. It’s a great escape.
I went with a Lee progressive loader for 9mm, 380 and testing with 5.56. And a Lee single stage for rifle. Cheap and so far I've reloaded around 2k rounds of 9mm. I was lucky to have purchased 5000 small pistol primers and 1000 bullets back when the last ammo shortage hit. Got powder and I was in business. I have paid for all the equipment, plus a few k more bullets and dies for 380, .308 and 30 06. Up until this I could not justify the price of the equipment, but now it is a paid for asset. Plus, I have all the ammo I need and it is a lot of fun!
Iraq Veteran 8888 made the point that reloading saves a worthwhile amount of money if you're loading specialty loads like hunting, match grade, and self defense loads. From what I've seen on pricing, this is about right. I've recently started loading 308, and the cheapest factory ammo I've been able to find is the M80 147 grain 7.62 Nato for about $1.26 per round. The cheapest hunting ammo I've seen is around $1.75 per round. By reloading, my material cost is closer to $1 per round (if not slightly less) if I don't have to buy brass, and just slightly more than the factory M80 if I do have to buy brass that roughly $0.50 per round minimum difference (factory loads with the same Hornady bullet my load uses is between $2-3 per round) goes a long way in the long term
Reloading for me is a hobby, it’s about the tightest groups I can get with my rifles ( within reason ). Reloading in Canada if you shoot often is definitely less expensive if your shooting pistol. Prices here in Canada are insane compared to what the good folks in the US pay. I have a progressive press, so it doesn’t take too much time. I always collect more pistol brass than I shoot at the range so brass isn’t a factor.
Shot my .243 today and put 2 5 shot groups in a 1/4 clover leaf with 2 seperate etsStill working the load. The only more accurate rifle I have is the.22-250
I just bought a 243 but finding ammunition is next to impossible around here. I've got 6 boxes of different bullet weights. I just wish I could shoot the gun more without worrying about getting more. I bought the gun mainly because I shoot left handed and finding a left handed bolt action was seeming impossible but finally found a store a hour away that had one in stock. I've always hunted with a 270 and love that caliber. I sure hope whoever took my guns a few years back is enjoying my Browning A bolt medallion that I owned. I will say though, I'm loving the 243 so far and the accuracy it has been shooting. I'm shooting nickel sized groups so far at 100 yards. I havent got the opportunity yet to stretch its legs yet but am looking forward that day for sure. Awesome caliber for sure!
It kills me how expensive it is to reload now. I used to buy my powder for maybe $25. 1000 primers $20. 500ct .44 cast for $19‐24. Today's costs are insane! Btw, I still have a box with a $23 tag on it.
I've had my reloading gear for thirty years. Nothing fancy, just good basic equipment which got started with an RCBS press. I still dispense powder loads the old fashioned way (a volumetric powder dispenser) and then trickle into a pan on a triple beam balance. (I am not exactly a high volume reloader! I go for consistency thus accuracy.) My point here is not so much the cost of reloading. Whenever reloading components went on sale back in the day, I'd load up. I knew which powders I wanted, which bullets I used and what primers I used. I have seldom had to buy brass as it's available at the range for the cost of picking it up. If you like Brand X brass, someone will be shooting Brand X factory loads. One weekend at my range must have featured "Federal .30-06 Days" because on Monday I picked up over 100 cases, all shiny and new. Powder and primers kept stored in a cool, dry place have a very long shelf life. Even after opening a container, it still can last decades. Unopened containers (properly sealed) if properly stored, I suspect will last longer than my lifetime. So, the point is, I'm still loading and shooting while many fellow nimrods have been forced to give it up for the duration. I have no opinion on the cause of the shortage of ammo and components because I don't care. It doesn't effect me. I'm down to my last pound of IMR 4350 but I've still got plenty of other powders, about 2/3 of which is unopened. So, when the supplies get up again, DON'T buy massive amounts. That will just creates another shortage. Slowly buildup an inventory. And when the next shortage hits (and it will), you'll be fine.
Buying a box of 50 9mm is cheaper than Buying the primers Buying the brass Buying the bullets Setting up shop Making things firerated And faster than waiting for it in the mail. The ammo companies are JUST like the oil companies. Why go back down when people will still buy it at the price you ask ??
If youre reloading 12g or 20g, it will take a long time to pay itself off If youre relaoding something like 28g or .410Bore, its tons cheaper especially that .410 can go up to 1 buck a SHELL. for 1 box of 25 thats 25bucks plus Tax. But as Backfire states it, reloading is a skill, a skill that Commietube doesnt want you to learn, because thats Self-sufficiency Life Style.
I do reload our waterfowl loads with ITX tungsten matrix, and it saves us a ton of $$$, especially when one shot will put a duck or goose down in one shot rather than one to knock it down and five to dispatch. It all depends on what you are loading.
You are correct about the criminally high prices for .410 bore shotgun shells. I have never understood the "why for". It is much smaller in case size, wad size, shot weight, powder amount, yet it costs $$$$. In automotive speak it would be like Chevrolet charging the same for a "Vega" as for a Four wheel drive, dual cab, Pick-up truck. I've bought a 20 gauge single-shot to teach the Grandkids how to shoot shotguns. The .410 ammo is too expensive, and easier to miss the target. I own Reloading presses for 12, 16, and 20 gauge. Considering the criminally high prices that the little shop in town wants for a box of Federal 12 gauge, #4 lead shot Pheasant loads , ( $33 for 25 shells ), I have to reload my own ammo.
I bought a shotshell press specifically for .410 bore and can easily convert it to other gauges, the press itself is the big expense but will have a pretty quick ROI.
You missed the point on why many of us reload. Many legacy cartridges that aren't really all that obsolete, are rarely stocked in local or even national firearm shops. Since the advent of semi-auto high capacity magazine rifles and pistols, everything is 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, 9 mm, and rimfire. My trip to the local gunshop three days ago, I found literally a pallet each of 9 mm and 5.56. I didn't find a universal de-capper die of any brand. .35 Creedmoor? Try finding .35 Remington.
Starting to see shelves at Academy once again fill up.....you can find 9mm, 380, 45acp, 223/5.56, 7.62x39, 308/7.62x51 and various others. 308 is $24.99/box which is why I chose it for my AR-10 build, plus they have plenty of 30 cal Hornady bullets for reloading.
Still can’t find 243 anywhere. :(. That is typically our family go to to keep ammo getting confused in the truck while hunting. I am using our bigger guns now to save ammo for the kids and wife.
@@terrybritton1355 ....Academy sells 243 (6mm) Hornady SST bullets for reloading.... I've got a 1968 Remington 700 ADL in 243 and the grandson got a 243 for his 11th birthday last year so I keep an eye out for that ammo as well. Great deer rifle.
Same ripoff prices as in 🇦🇺. Primers went from $ 218/5000 to $ 436/5000 ( Winchester) within a few months. No bulk buys, at least not at a good price and plenty of designer label ammo that’s probably the cheap shit in a pretty box 😂...... Happy new year big fella .. good video🦘
I’ve been reloading for many years and am very familiar with the economics of it-but it is great to see you break it down this way for people that don’t know what all is involved. Great little video. You can go to a restaurant and get a very good meal and pay a lot for it. You could also make the same meal at home, for less money, and customize it to your specific tastes. Just like reloading vs factory ammo.
Hi Jim. Another good video, as always. How much does your motorcycle cost? How much does it cost to go on a good ride? The same for cars, or a light truck or an RV? How much do you save to go hunting? minus (-) 500% or 10 times more per pounds for steaks or hamburger compared to beef from the store? Re-Loading is a recreational activity. IF you were going to do Re-Loading for a "job", you would NOT use the recreational shooter's reloading setup. Re-Loading is for fun and satisfaction, not for profit or to save money. I do enjoy doing the Re-Loading. It just adds significantly to the shooting of my various fire arms. Safe shooting!!! Have a great day!!!
I got into reloading when I bought my .257 Weatherby 10 years ago. I bought it to save money vs buying the then $80-90/box of 20 factory Weatherby ammo. I’ve said it to many - when you buy a Weatherby, they should sell you a reloading system with it! Originally, I bought an RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme kit. I’ve replaced almost everything but the press. Lots of information on what to buy, but more importantly was having a friend of mine show me how to do it. I definitely don’t regret getting into it - but plan on spending $800-1k in equipment. I now reload for my 30-06, my Dad’s .270, along with the Weatherby (when ND graces me with a lottery tag), and I now am very grateful for reloading abilities. I was fortunate to have bought supplies for all a few years ago as I now see all the shelves vacant for ‘06 and .270. It’s nice sighting in and printing clover leafs for all!
Once you start getting into the larger rifle or magnum pistol rounds, you can rack up some considerable savings while reloading. My budget buster is a 35 Whelen. When you can find the ammo, it is going to $2 or more per round. But it is a beast with pretty much any load your roll for yourself.
What 7mm Rem Mag ammo he buying that is $3.75 a round ($75 per 20 rounds)? I have bought 150gr hunting rounds for $32 for box of 20 in the last month. The most expensive box I bought recently was $52 for a 20round box of Norma's new frangible round in 7mm Rem Mag to test on coyotes.
I’d enjoy seeing a series on precision rifle loading and tools. I’m trying to get into it now. Move over to Rumble man. YT is going to be a ghost town IMO
Bolt Action Reloading & gavintoobe dish out valuable info.. From what I've heard, Rumble aint it either, unfortunately. They may be fine for 2A right now, but so was YT at one time.
Great if you have time. The $$ to purchase reloading and cleaning equipment. Check out the warehouses that sell your ammo. It's cheaper to purchase from places like lucky gunner than to reload. Especially if you donthave the time.😮
See… I think the Lee Breech lock challenger kit is like 95% there. I used the kit as it comes for years before lucking into an RCBS digital scale on the cheap. It’s reloaded hundreds of .243, .338LM, and .308 WIN and I don’t see me changing anytime soon for rifle cartridges. I have a Lee turret kit for pistol cartridges just for some speed, but the challenger would do just fine if I didn’t have it.
I was ready to make the jump into reloading last year only to find almost no reloading equipment available! Recently I seen that most things ( press, dies, accessories) are now available also we are starting to see primers again , I think I will start collecting the equipment now starting with press and dies 😁 Great video! 🇺🇸
I started a year ago this month and I was able to find all the components I needed and more (my wife would definitely say more). It did take an extreme amount of time searching all corners of the internet and buying primers from a local trading/ selling site. I actually ended up buying and reselling a lot of equipment and components during the last year. It is out there for sure, but I can understand why most people don't have the time needed to search for all the things one needs to reload.
At this point the most important thing for you to buy is your first good reloading manual and read and read it again. You'll learn so much more than you can pick up on UTube.
Bought Igman 9mm 124 grain FMJ in bulk for just 3.14 cents per round, you don't necessary need to waste your hard earn money. Although I like hollow points, FMJ will work if need to use it in an emergency.
Lol. “….3 boxes a year to shoot his white tail.” I understand what your trying to say it just made me picture some guy opening up on one lonely deer and ending up with a pound of ground meat.
Reloading has always been a viable option with the following benefits, you get to tailor make ammo for your situation, you get to shoot more because you saved money, you can knock out a box of ammo at 2:00am if you need to, you get to save money because you *don't* have show a profit and it's fun. I'm sure you can find other reasons for rolling your own.
To the opening question . The fast answer is:: traditionally ,it all depends on how much a person shoots ,as to how worth while it is to reload from a financial standpoint,as well as dictating what sorts of reloading stations you "should" have. The long answer :: If you do the standard :: get a new to you rifle , shoot a box of ammo or two, to try it the first time and sight it in. And maybe 5 shots a year after just before hunting season. Reloading isn't going to save you money, Even with the super inexpensive Lee portable hand press. It would take a decade to save in ammo cost, the same as you paid for that little press and that's assuming VERY expensive ammo was being used. On the other hand, if you will shoot 500 rounds just because you have a few hours to go shoot 500 rounds (😁) , or 1000, the reloading wotha progressive automated press will do great things after that same decade. The savings will be an order of magnitude more than the setup cost and the replenishing of loading component costs. I personally I just couldn't afford that much stuff, to just be able to go shoot 500 -1000 rounds , so I chose a rcbs rock chucker supreme kit with triple beam balance, got a lyman case trimmer and vibratory brass tumbler. It was about $700 at the time. I can't remember exactly the year. 2006 ? 2007? I got the actual first speer rockchucker supreme loading kit with number #14 loading manual ,for time reference . For just casual plinking and fun,I got boxes of various old bullets on discount or pulled surplus bullets ,picked brass and sorted by weight and water capacity. R15 was my universal go to for heavy bullet .223 to .375 h and h .it may not have been the most efficient with the outliers ,but it worked safely and kept plinking ammo simple. Though the 77 grain sierra matchkings w/ cannelure actually loved the R15 ,velocity and accuracy were excellent...but I digress because I miss doing that. The rcbs single stage kit made phenominally accurate ammo . Sort everything for uniformity , make sure the powder charge is exact and that's all. You'll have match grade target ammo at a fraction of the cost of normal factory ammo prices. Using premium hunting bullets your rifle likes and is suitable for your local game animal, gives you similar match grade accuracy with the enhanced terminal performance of premium projectiles at the cost of standard factory hunting ammo.match grade to me means sub .75 moa. Even if you can't achieve that level of accuracy personally, knowing you'll get the best you and your rifle are capable of is confidence inspiring . Which is another benefit of the handloading that goes beyond money. It's priceless to know you made something that performs exactly how you want and need it too, and that it won't let you down if you do your part. Anywho, if you shoot more than 50 rounds a week , it's worth getting a single stage press setup. Be consistant with all measurements , allow no variation that you can avoid . Neck/shoulder size only for manual guns, full length,small base resize for semi auto . Seal your primer and case neck with lacquer or nail polish and you will have ammo that always works and is better than anything off the shelf as it's tailored to your own gun,not made to be acceptable in all guns . It will save money .loading time however is far longer than on a progressive press. Sorry to blab , nostalgia has hit hard and I lost all my stuff to life's ebb and flow.
I've been reloading for years, I've always saved money and always shot sub moa. Try shooting a 338LM without producing your own, i put them together for 2.45 each. A box of similar factory will run 140.00 for 20.
About like my 7mm STW at around $8-10/round factory now. I'm not entirely sure what the cost would be for reload but from what I've seen it's going to be under $3-4
I'm still giving you a thumbs up, but that said, this video would have been more useful if you crunched the numbers on some common ammo like 9mm or 5.56. The gear is a capital expense so while it technically doesn't factor in, that was good of you to do so - one question though - did you factor the difference between reload and factory cost to determine the break even point or simply the factory cost? In other words, if the reload machine costs $800, it costs $1 to reload or $2 to buy factory ammo, are you saying it takes 400 or 800 reloads to break even? I would say 800 since you're spending $1 in materials to make the cartridge. Is time money? That depends. I do paper cartridges for my cap and ball revolver but that's because I value my time at the range (and the convenience of paper cartridges versus hand loading at the range) over the time I take making them at home. That said, is the cost per cartridge of hand loading brass ammo worth the difference in cost of just buying the cartridges? So looking around, I'm seeing reload time without using automated gear seems to be around 2-3 PREPPED rifle cartridges a minute, so let's just be REALLY conservative and say 1 round a minute when you factor in cleaning, inspecting, knocking out old primers and setting up and loading the press. That means with you saving at least a dollar a shot reloading or $60+ an hour. The next thing to do is subtract your hourly salary (good rule of thumb is that $2k a year = $1/hour so if you earn $50k a year you make $25/hour - roughly) to decide whether or not reloading really is worth your time. To keep math simple, let's say you earn $60k a year and thus $30/hour, meaning you're ultimately saving around 50-60 cents a shot or $50-60 per hundred - that's a good savings, for me at least. So yeah, unless you're swimming in cash then yeah, spending some time you would have otherwise wasted watching TV to reload ammo is a good and smart deal.
Good video, which I found through YT's suggestions, imagine that! I do not consider my time; reloading is quality time. I also don't consider the cost of brass as I use a mix of range and new brass as well as picking up the stuff I shoot. With the increasing cost of components, it may not be cost effective to reload but I appreciate that I am making rounds to my specifications. As far as that goes, I have never found new ammo using the specific bullets that I use for certain calibers.
When I'm reloading for my own use for range time, or to train up the kids and grandkids, mixed brass isn't a big deal. Plus we can tailor some different power loads for learning purposes. My eyes aren't good enough any longer for very long range shooting, so I am not doing bench rest ammo, mostly just plinking ammo.
Thanks I really appreciate you and your channel. I come from a time when there actually were Reloading shops. You could go into one and spend $20 and come out with everything you needed to reload rounds.
Ima weigh in here. I've been reloading for about 35 years. A good friend taught me how to do it and do it right,(safe),. I am pretty good at it and find it relaxing and therapeutic as many are claiming in these comments. It has a satisfying effect when you fire it. Having said that I switched to buying my ammo a few years ago and I'm all the happier for it. The factory stuff these days is accurate and consistent and even though it costs me some bucks , I spend wayyyyyyy more time shooting than I used to. Remember boys and girls, there's no one right way in life. There's just what makes you happy and what doesn't. Happy shooting everyone.
As a competitor I have to make my own ammo. I would go broke buying match ammo to compete with in just service rifle class. Mk262 boxed ammo is crazy expensive.
I think you have really expensive kit there. The scale, and press can really be cheaper versions. $500 should really be more than enough to cover most peeps reloading needs
Exactly, I bought an RCBS kit for around 300-350 and then bought extra stuff that either was not included or important things that I wanted to upgrade for another 150-200. Unless you want to pump out 500-1000 of rounds a week you will do just fine with 500 bucks worth of stuff or even less if your just doing some expensive hunting rounds like 28 Nosler or wby cartridges.
Yah, 500 bucks got me started. Then a few more die sets, a decapping die, a bulge buster kit, then some trays, a trimmer, a deburrer, a gauge block to check the caliper, and then lets reload shotshells, and a few other things and I'm up to about nine bills now. And I am still tumbling my brass by hand in a plastic jar. The next investment is a wet tumbler for about 100 bucks.
It's really good to look at the numbers. Thank you for always sharing the numbers. I started reloading 35 years ago when I inherited a rifle in .284 Winchester. Ammunition was scarce, even then, inaccurate and $29.99 a box!. I got an RCBS rock chucker kit and still have it. Back then it was just a hobby, like growing vegetables. Now it seems like a neccessary skill.
True, I am my own quality control for something that could blow up inches from my face. Do one thing at a time, follow known instructions, take no shortcuts.
Question would be First 1 ./ how much do you shoot 2./ cost of start up for reloading 3./ do you like your hobby //// I shoot a lot I cast a lot //// I reload a lot /// The cost of reloading a box 20ea of 45-70 cost me now $8 vs $45 to $65 dollars a box now and I have loaded 10's of thousands of 45-70
In the "before times," I started to pick up reloading components for 9mm to learn reloading. It was hard/impossible to break even with cost per round back then. Doesn't look quite so bad anymore. Plus as you said, I can customize my load (once I feel confident enough.)
@@GarfieldEnjoyer1878 For target work, Berry's plated bullets are quite cheap and usually sold in boxes of 250 or more. Recently picked up some Berrys FMJ .355 bullets that come out to 8 cents per bullet. SO at current prices add 8 cents for the primer and 2 cents for powder, so that comes out to 18 cents per round for practice ammo.
@@GarfieldEnjoyer1878 I use Berrys bullets for several calibers, including 45 Colt (which would also work with 45 ACP). In .452, you save even more per bullet.
Hey great video!!! Can you please. I enjoyed your recommended reloading setup. Can you make a video with what you think is the ultimate reloading setup. Thanks
I have a side business that pays $30 per hour. I would have to take time from the business to reload. With my beginner press kit it takes me 1hour per box. Reloading is not even close to financial worth it.
@@gusloader581 very true! I have a stash of reloading components but its better to pay the people that are fast at loading ammo and me to do what I do best. Most of my guns shoot factory ammo as good as my hand loads. Right now there isn't any ammo or reloading components so if I shoot its gotta come out of my stash of ammo or components.
@@northernoutdooradventures3883 - Hello. As I was typing during the TV commercials, I was watching an episode of guys who work as Heavy Equipment / Big Rig Tow Truck drivers in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia. ( The "Coq" highway. Near "Hope" B.C. ). In the winter months those guys work 24/7. On-call all the time from the R.C.M.P.. They would not have time to reload ammo except in the slower summer months. Sometimes we ( I ) forget that some folks do not work 8 hour shift jobs 5 days a week.
@@gusloader581 yeah the side hustle struggle is real. I work 12hrs a day 6 days a week. The rest of my time is for my wife and kids. Reloading is my least favorite hobby so it doesn't make sense for me unless I have to get ammo. But some people really like doing it so I guess it makes sense for them.
Young reloader me: Not gonna save all this 30.30 brass. I’ll never use it! 😀 Old reloader me: Nice! I just inherited an excellent lever action in 30.30 so now I’ll…. Aw darn it.
I reload mostly frontier era cartridges which were prohibitively expensive even before the shortage. A box of Winchester 45-70 was $50, give or take. I could load it for $20.
@@chrisharris6834 Try buffalo arms co. for bullets, brass and reloading dies. A regular RCBS rock-chucker press is what I use. You can either use black powder or any number of smokeless loads. What kind of rifle is it?
@@tonydeaton2890 awesome, thank you for the info. It’s a Winchester model 1886. I was considering using black powder. My shallow research into the gun says that a non chrome bore should use black powder(… but then again, do I trust google? I digress).
The main reason why I reload is because of availability of the rounds that I shoot. You can still get 25-06 pretty cheap (compared to other rounds) but it's impossible to find a sub-$60 box of 280 Ackley. I bought cases and bullets but had powder and primers and it's been pretty economical so far. That and I just enjoy doing it, even if I just load 10 rounds for testing
It's hard to find .257 Roberts ammunition too! I can load it up cheap and accurate, and keep dad's old rifle doing what it does best. Good luck with your .280 AI and .25 06. Good cartridges.
@@georgepatton9744 oh brother I feel sorry for you! Although my local Orscheln had some WAY discounted 338 win mag Nosler TG for about 45 bucks a box because Nosler changed the packaging. They also had 300 H&H, 7mm STW, and 300 SAUM all for 30 bucks a box
@@ryanharris6045 257 Bob is a cartridge that’ll always interest me but I can’t justify getting one while I have a 25-06, and I’ll always have a 25-06. The cartridge runs in the family 🤩
If you really want to save money, you have to do more work. You don't need most of the crap it's just nice to have. Unless you are loading spent rifle brass, you don't need a trimmer, or to remove burrs. You don't need a tumbler. All you need are dies, a micrometer, Lee dips or a scale, a press. The hand press is well under $100. I got all of that stuff for about $150. I will say I like the Lee dips, but you can't necessarily use any powder. The scale is highly recommended. I have some titegroup I had to substitute win231 because the dipper could not get the titegroup into the safe range. It was either way too much or way too little going by volume.
Reloading is my favorite hobby. I load about 24 different calibers. I really got into it in 2014 and I wish I kept a record of everything i bought to do it. I started with a Hornady progressive press vs start up kit. I’m glad I stocked up on components when I did. I can’t believe the prices on primers. 10-20 cent for a primer? It’s crazy. I paid 2-3 cent even at the end of 2019. During this covid and BLM times, Im still loading 9mm for 12 cent a round. 500 mag after 3 rounds on brass, I’m down to 50 cent a round. Two factors for me, 1. It’s a hobby, time don’t matter. 2. When there is some national crisis and Ammo shortage, I now have enough components that will outlast it. Probably will outlast my life.
All naysayers are correct-not worth the time! I will pick up your brass and buy the components you snicker at and will always have affordable ammo to shoot. Evan though my dad passed away 10 years ago I still get to spend time with him everytime the old handed down press comes out. Reloading was just a part of shooting like cleaning your guns. Yep, I'm a reloaded for life.
I've been "rolling my own" for 30+ years and it never was about the savings or perceived savings.. I love the science and technical aspects of reloading and I like to shoot.. Part of reloading is making your own bullets. Either by casting, jacketed bullet swaging, and other bullets making processes. Think about the last time you saw 357 Mag at your local gun shop and how much it was..... This week I did a little over a 1000 rounds of 357 Magnum. Most were loaded with powder coated lead bullets I made but I had both 125gr Berry's plated and 125 Hornady XTP HP I loaded. Finishing a batch of 180gr 357 Mag SP "Deer Slayers" to finish this season and have plenty for the next couple seasons for my Rossi M92. I also load ammo you didn't see much before the Scamdemic and now you never see. Ammo like 32 S&W, 32 H&R Mag, 38 Super, 44 Special, 357 Sig, and a really rare 41 Action Express.. I remember buying full cases of 5000 count Federal Gold Medal Match small and large pistol primers for $65 back in the late 90's.. Still got a box and half I'm about to use up on some 40S&W next week..
I had 40,000 Winchester primers I bought about 10 years ago go bad on me. I have much older primers that are still good. My Remington rifle primers I bought for my 45/70 are much older. They work great. But those 40,000 Winchester primers are no good. I am only telling people the truth. Not mad at the Winchester company, or anything else. But it is fact their primers went bad on me. Even put longer firing pens in several revolvers. Only helped. But didn't stop the problem.
@@alwaysfreedom9354 seen the same problem with Winchester primers, it's because they use a recipe that suffers from hydroscopic deactivation. You may be able to restore their function by drying them or using active dessicant and pull the moisture out of them. Or you can learn to reload your own primers as I have with a superior composition, I favor SINOXID based recipes. Cheers
That is why I store all of my primers immediately in sealed ammo cans with desiccant packs. Some people even go as far as to vacuum seal the boxes if they expect to not be using it for a long time.
"Commitube", I like that. Lol. Although it's not actually that funny in the large scheme of things, considering anyone with a dissenting voice is very often banned or shadow banned.
