Per 1000 Rounds, what is your bottom line cost?

[sabrecross03]

I'm curious to hear from others what it costs them to hand-load a pistol round (per 1000 rounds).

My pistol round of choice is 45 ACP. I load them as follows:, 6.6 grains of Power Pistol, mixed brass headstamps, CCI #300 primers. I shoot about 800-1000 per month.

My cost per bullet for 1000 45ACP rounds:

1. Brass- cost of range fee per shooting range (I pick-up my brass at the range and then some)
2. Bullets- free range lead, smelt, sell copper to buy Lyman #2, mix 4lbs lead to 1lb Lyman #2,
cast boolits)
3. Primers- .02 cents
4. powder- .03 cents
5. Lee Alox- < .01 cents per bullet
5. my time to do all this (priceless)
6. electricity and propane- < .01 cents per bullet

TOTAL COST:
$ .05- $ .06 per round
$ 50.00- $60.00 per 1000 rounds

[Roundnoser]

I'm about the same, except I swap components with friends who do not cast their own bullets. That pretty much covers all of my component costs, so I shoot for free.

...Thinkin outside the box!

[rockrat]

I buy my lead, so probably add $35 to your total.

[thehouseproduct]

I was given 20lbs of pistol powders, I'm at $25 in primers for 357/9mm/45acp/300 Whisper/308 ammo per 1000.

[canyon-ghost]

Gee, for the price of that 1000 rounds, you could buy two boxes of store bought ammo, a whole 100 rounds!

[MT Gianni]

32 long. 50 cases fired 20 times run $7.50. Primers with internet specials + shipping 5000 lots #23 @ 1000. 50% new foundry alloy @ $1 lb 50% scrounged free lead. 14.25 lbs for 98 gr bullets = $7.15. 2.5 gr powder, 8 lb keg @ $140. $4.38 for powder. $42.03 for all new components other than the 7 lbs scrounged lead.
38 special with scrounged cases and old lead @ 20 cents lb 150 gr boolit, surplus AA2 @ $11 lb. $6.25 powder, $23 primers, $4.40 lead = total cost of $33.65 per 1000. Unless I run the cost of the 65 molds, 2 sizers, two presses, 2 scales, powder dispensers, casting pots, electricity, LP and my time into the equation.

[sargenv]

For 40 S&W, I made the calc at about $80/1000.. Federal primers cost a little bit more..

[felix]

Biggest cost is that expended going to and from shooting locations. Figure 50 cents per mile minimum. So, how many rounds does that equal to? Must be added into the equation of total costs. On the other hand, what would be the cost of doing other NON-GUN entertainment instead? In my particular situation, the cost is prolly ONE dollar per round shot, no matter the caliber. Bottom dollar spent would be equal to the amount expended minus that returned for the IMMEDIATE sale of all gun stuff, including the guns themselves. Cost per round expended just might be a NICKLE per round. ... felix

[Dickenscpa]

I have about 66lb of completely free lead left. Bought my first ingots from a local guy here just during my lunch break today. $75 for 70lb of clip on lead and 33lb of stick on.

From free lead:
45acp - $45.71 per 1000
38spl - $43.43 per 1000
.380 - $41.14 per 1000

When I cast from this bought lead:
45acp - $73.57
38spl - $61.11
.380 - $55.22

Around my parts WWB in 45acp for 50 rnds is $32-35 per box. 38spl is approx $25 for 50 rnd box and .380 is $22 for 100 rnd box. So I'm saving a ton and enjoying a hobby at the same time.

Brad

[fredj338]

Since most of my lead is scrounged, bullets are free but for a bit of lube & elec, say 1c/each. Then 4.8gr of WST uner a 200grLTC, any LP primer, I am shooting 45acp for less than $50/1000 @ current prices. You should give WST a try, much better in the low pressure 45acp IMO than PP & cheaper in the long run as you use 28% less powder for equiv vel.

[runfiverun]

i live 2 miles from the range.
so thats negligable, the kids often walk cross country to it to save steps.
i just bought 1k 44 mag brass from starline which cost me 169 dollars shipping included.
so 169.00. plus primers at 130 per 5k= 26.00.
9.5 grs unique each round at 108.00 per 8 lbs =13.50 per lb 9.5x1,000=9,500 grs so 1.3 ish lbs
call it 18.00 in powder.
so far it's 169+26+18=213.00 plus boolits new lyman 4 cavity mold cost 84.00 +213=297
lead is still cheap cause i got it when it was free.
made my own lube for @3 bucks a pound.
adding in propane and such brings it up to about 1.5 cents per boolit.
so another 15.00 + 297.
so the total is $312.00
the savings starts on the next 1,000 rounds,, wait i forgot to add in the cost of the lapping compound for the mold so the total is $319.00 this thousand.
the next thousand will be 13.50 powder plus boolits 15.00 plus primers 26.00 = $54.50
not sure but i think even buying the brass and mold and if i paid 1.00 per lb for the lead [making the boolit cost about $30.00 with lube] making the total 342.00 buying everything.
it still would be cheaper than buying 1k loaded ammo.

[Defcon-One]

I'll use your format. What it costs me to reload 1000 rounds of 45 ACP.

I load them as follows: 5.2 grains of WW 231, Re-used brass (5X), CCI #300 primers. I do count my labor at $25/hr.

My cost per loaded cartridge for .45 ACP rounds:

1. Brass - (0.05 per case/5 reloads) = 0.01 per round.
2. 200 gr. SWC Bullets - (WW lead + Linotype + Solder) = 0.029 per bullet
3. Primers - .02 cents
4. Powder- - .02 cents
5. Electricity and Propane- < .01 cents per bullet (I'll trust you on this!)

TOTAL COST:
8 cents per round
$80.00 per 1000 rounds

6. My time per 1,000 = 2.5 hours * 25 = $62.50 (This is the real cost, fortunately I like doing it, but I think that you've gotta count it!)

REAL TOTAL COST:
14.25 cents per round
$142.50 per 1000 rounds


That is about $7.00 per box of 50, even if you count the labor. Not bad and I can't buy factory made for twice that, anymore! Please note that Lube is free for me.

[SlowSmokeN]

Bullet data price Grains/units Cost Per Grain/Unit

Primers $29.99 1000 0.030
Powder 8lbs $108.00 56000 0.001928571
Lead bullet $25.00 250 0.1 (store bought, Berry's)
Lead Ingot 1lb $0.75 7000 0.000107143


9mm grains Powder grains bullet primer
4 124 1
cost powder cost bullet Cost primer Total cost per round
0.01 0.1 0.03 0.14 buying bullets
0.01 0.01 0.03 0.05 buying lead
0.04 free Lead
Hope this makes sense, formatting not working for me bu basically
.14 if I have to buy the bullet ($140 per 1,000)
.05 if I have to buy the lead ($50 per 1,000)
.04 if I get the lead free ($40 per 1,000

[MT Gianni]

I'll use your format. What it costs me to reload 1000 rounds of 45 ACP.

I load them as follows: 5.2 grains of WW 231, Re-used brass (5X), CCI #300 primers. I do count my labor at $25/hr.

My cost per loaded cartridge for .45 ACP rounds:

1. Brass - (0.05 per case/5 reloads) = 0.01 per round.
2. 200 gr. SWC Bullets - (WW lead + Linotype + Solder) = 0.029 per bullet
3. Primers - .02 cents
4. Powder- - .02 cents
5. Electricity and Propane- < .01 cents per bullet (I'll trust you on this!)

TOTAL COST:
8 cents per round
$80.00 per 1000 rounds
6. My time per 1,000 = 2.5 hours * 25 = $62.50 (This is the real cost, fortunately I like doing it, but I think that you've gotta count it!)

REAL TOTAL COST:
14.25 cents per round
$142.50 per 1000 rounds


That is about $7.00 per box of 50, even if you count the labor. Not bad and I can't buy factory made for twice that, anymore! Please note that Lube is free for me.

What would you be doing with your time if not reloading or casting. I cannot bill out 24 hours of my time @ what my employer says I am worth.

[dnotarianni]

Brass free
Lead free Work throws it away and my second job has plenty of free WW
powder .02
primer .03
propane and electric .01
cost per round .06 or $60 per 1000

Labor free future son in law pulls the handle while I cast

Dave

[Murphy]

Ah hah!

WE DO SAVE MONEY AFTER ALL!

I knew this would prove to be the truth some day.


Murphy

[Mumblypeg]

Ah hah!

WE DO SAVE MONEY AFTER ALL!

I knew this would prove to be the truth some day.


Murphy

No, not realy... but my money hasn't run out yet so I don't know how much it cost. The other figures sound about right. Other than powder and primers and a little lube and electricity the other has been mostly free... oh... that would be lead.

[sabrecross03]

I'm retired so I'm cheap labor :wink:


I'll use your format. What it costs me to reload 1000 rounds of 45 ACP.

I load them as follows: 5.2 grains of WW 231, Re-used brass (5X), CCI #300 primers. I do count my labor at $25/hr.

My cost per loaded cartridge for .45 ACP rounds:

1. Brass - (0.05 per case/5 reloads) = 0.01 per round.
2. 200 gr. SWC Bullets - (WW lead + Linotype + Solder) = 0.029 per bullet
3. Primers - .02 cents
4. Powder- - .02 cents
5. Electricity and Propane- < .01 cents per bullet (I'll trust you on this!)

TOTAL COST:
8 cents per round
$80.00 per 1000 rounds

6. My time per 1,000 = 2.5 hours * 25 = $62.50 (This is the real cost, fortunately I like doing it, but I think that you've gotta count it!)

REAL TOTAL COST:
14.25 cents per round
$142.50 per 1000 rounds


That is about $7.00 per box of 50, even if you count the labor. Not bad and I can't buy factory made for twice that, anymore! Please note that Lube is free for me.

[runfiverun]

okay i just looked around.
the cheapest i could find was/is fiocchi [at graf and son's] 200 gr jhp 50 count box for $30.59
it was even cheaper than cci blazer aluminum cases at $32.99
so 100 of them would be $61.18 x 10 ='s $611.80 plus shipping.
so buying cases new,a mold new,and lead at $1.00 per lb still works out to just over half the cost.
good thing i didn't have to buy a set of handles too.....
now for the bad news,,, now i gotta shoot 1k rounds to start seeing some savings.....

[snglstack]

How can shootin a thousand rounds ever really be bad news...

[fredj338]

6. My time per 1,000 = 2.5 hours * 25 = $62.50 (This is the real cost, fortunately I like doing it, but I think that you've gotta count it!)

REAL TOTAL COST:
14.25 cents per round
$142.50 per 1000 rounds


That is about $7.00 per box of 50, even if you count the labor. Not bad and I can't buy factory made for twice that, anymore! Please note that Lube is free for me.
Not really, you count your time to shoot too? Even if you do count your time, is that net or gross/hr? If your time is really all that valuable, & $25/hr is not, then get faster/better equip. I can easily load 700ds of 45acp/hr on my 650. The effective savings vs buying 700rds of factory ammo is a min of $15/50 or $210/hr CASH/NET! I would have to make more than $350/HR to equal that rate. Even if you add in the add'l hour for casting the 700 bullets from free alloy, I would still have to make more than $175/HR gross to make reloading a break even proposition vs working & that aint gonna happen anytime soon.:drinks:

[runfiverun]

so your not runnin for office then??? :lol:
the bad part about the shooting 1k rounds is i might get to shoot 200 of them.
i get to cast,size/lube, and load them though.

[waksupi]

I was smart enough to pay attention to board members clear back in the Shooters.com days, that were seeing the writing on the wall. I stocked up back then. Paid at the most $20 a bucket for wheel weights, and was buying powder at $7-8 /#, and primers for $65/5000.
I kinda figure I have been shooting free for some years, and will for the rest of my life.

[KYCaster]

All this cheap ammo is great till the free/cheap stuff runs out and then you have to replace at the current market rate.

Free lead is getting awfully hard for most of us to find and you have to be careful that you don't get something that's already contaminated with zinc.

So.....realistically you have to figure lead at $1.00 per pound, primers at $35.00 per thousand, powder at $25.00 per pound, amortize the cost of the brass, casting equipment and reloading equipment, factor in the mortgage and utilities on your casting/reloading space, the mileage you rack up scrounging and buying components.........

.........aaarrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhh!!! It makes my head hurt just to think about it.

Casting, loading and shooting is my hobby.....it relaxes me and makes the world go away........that's priceless. :popcorn:

Jerry

[ElDorado]

From my database-

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb364/ElDoradoJeff/ForumPics/Capture.jpg

Brass is free. I think I figured $1 per pound of alloy. I'm still using the old Winchester primers that I bought years ago for $11.00 per thousand.

I never tried to figure power, my time, tooling, or anything like that. I just count components.

So, for 38 Special, it costs me $44.00 per thousand.

[captaint]

I don't know. About a year ago, I did the arithmetic, and I figured 6 bux per hundred. Not paying for lead - 20 loads on 45ACP cases. Either way, it just ain't fun shooting purchased ammo. I'm sorry, it's boring. I'd rather prove I know how to wreck a perfectly good load - or fix a bad load. That's fun. enjoy Mike

[Defcon-One]

What would you be doing with your time if not reloading or casting. I cannot bill out 24 hours of my time @ what my employer says I am worth.

First, I am self employed and I have never billed myself out at $25/hr. Having said that, I still think that you've gotta count your time. If you don't, your just fooling yourself about all of the savings!

For me and most here, time is money! I decide what mine is worth, you decide what yours is worth.

As for what I would be doing if I wasn't reloading or casting, probably something much more profitable. As I said, I enjoy it!



Not really, you count your time to shoot too? Even if you do count your time, is that net or gross/hr? If your time is really all that valuable, & $25/hr is not, then get faster/better equip. I can easily load 700ds of 45acp/hr on my 650. The effective savings vs buying 700rds of factory ammo is a min of $15/50 or $210/hr CASH/NET! I would have to make more than $350/HR to equal that rate. Even if you add in the add'l hour for casting the 700 bullets from free alloy, I would still have to make more than $175/HR gross to make reloading a break even proposition vs working & that aint gonna happen anytime soon.:drinks:


FYI: This was supposed to be FUN!

No, I don't count my time to shoot! That is a cost of UNLOADING and he asked about RELOADING.

Yes, my time is worth much more than that. I gave myself a big break because "I know me"!

I do have a Dillon RL550B, the total time included casting, sizing/lubing, loading, setup, clean up, etc. Besides, if I update my equipment, won't you want me to count that, too!

And last, I wasn't trying to "make reloading a break even proposition", I was answering his question, What is the actual cost to load 1000 rounds of .45 ACP ammo?

[1hole]

"My cost per bullet for 1000 45ACP rounds: 2. Bullets- free range lead, smelt, sell copper to buy Lyman #2, mix 4lbs lead to 1lb Lyman #2,"

Sounds like your cost per "bullet" is 'free'. ??

[sabrecross03]

Good catch! Really just paying for powder, primers, and fuel.


"My cost per bullet for 1000 45ACP rounds: 2. Bullets- free range lead, smelt, sell copper to buy Lyman #2, mix 4lbs lead to 1lb Lyman #2,"

Sounds like your cost per "bullet" is 'free'. ??

[Sonnypie]

Which 1000?

The first 1000 is very expensive. Sometimes maybe $5 a round! :holysheep

But then, the rest are free!
Because you have the equipment and supplies. :-P

[gotin]

For 230 gr .45

Lead at $0.30/lb - 0.01 per round
Wolf primers at $20/1000 - 0.02 per round
Powder at $17/lb - 0.013
Brass at $40 for 1000, 4 loads min - 0.01 (I can sell the old ones to the recycling center for $15/1000, when they start splitting)
Lube - 0.005

0.05 cents a piece, $2 for a box of 50, $40 for 1000. Since I'm building a bullet trap, very soon I'll not have to spend money on lead.
This is the only way I can afford feeding my guns.

[evan price]

My cost per loaded cartridge for 9mm Luger rounds:

1. Brass - Free range pickups = 0.00 per round (Actually, a net negative because I sell more brass than I keep)
2. 105 gr. SWC Bullets- from my 6-cav 105-swc mold = 0.00 per bullet
3. Primers - 1.8 cents
4. Powder- 0.8 cents
5. Electricity and Propane & Loob & tumbling media- Net FREE after selling the copper jackets from the bullet scrap and extra brass...and I am still using propane I got for free from salvaging expired grill cylinders dumped at my buddy's junkyard

TOTAL COST:
2.6 cents per round
$26 per 1000 rounds- About as cheap as shooting 22 LR!

Now, add in my time:

I pay myself as a Reloading Technician First Class, $500/hr.
I load roughly 250 RPH.
That means a thousand rounds of 9mm actually cost me $2026.

I can't afford to reload anymore!

[geargnasher]

The first one cost me about four large (not counting guns, safe, and the $2300 I just spent on my new gun room) and about 1500 hours of my time.

I have about a hundred bucks in three boolit traps so I can recycle my lead.

I walk 80 yards to and from my range, so that's about half a cup of coffee and a granola bar.

Brass is cheap to free most of the time.

I have a lifetime supply of lube ingredients for about $50.

So that leaves powder and primers, and other consumables like cleaning patches and the makings for Ed's Red, and a little pittance for the local electric co-op.

If I was on an absolutely cramped budget I could limit my shooting to .45 ACP and .38 Special for just the cost of powder and primers, and using budget components/ultralight loads I could get by with maybe $35/1000 for about a million and a half rounds before I had to come up with more brass.

Gear

[Budmen]

I got lucky got a good stash of ww for free
win 296 ball powder 10# for free
Range scrap cases free
All it costs me is .04 for primers

So .04 a shot for 44mag why shoot a 22 at all

[Budmen]

Just a question you guys are saying .02 or .03 for primers I figure your buying atleast 1k at a time but then dont you have to figure the hazmat shipping fees too again on your powder? Unless the local shops are just outrageous here in NY 4.50 per 100 for primers 40 per 1k and powder is around 31-33 for 1 #

[sabrecross03]

Yeah. For me, I have a buddy that buys the stuff wholesale and sells me the primers for $29 OTD per 1000. For the powder, I'll wait until there is a super buy, such as $20-21 for Power Pistol and I'll buy 8 pounds at a time.


Just a question you guys are saying .02 or .03 for primers I figure your buying atleast 1k at a time but then dont you have to figure the hazmat shipping fees too again on your powder? Unless the local shops are just outrageous here in NY 4.50 per 100 for primers 40 per 1k and powder is around 31-33 for 1 #

[MtJerry]

Here is an easy wat to calculate your expenses per round -

http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

[shdwlkr]

Last time I did this I figured everything in the brass, bullet, primer, powder, electricity, my time @20 and hour and for a thousand rounds I could have bought something like four or five boxes of commercial ammo.
But you have to keep a good watch on ammo also, I picked up some 5.56 for less than I could do it at home.
If you are a true reloader you keep your eye on everything and buy what is cheaper and save what you have for later when the stores are not available.

[fredj338]

First, I am self employed and I have never billed myself out at $25/hr. Having said that, I still think that you've gotta count your time. If you don't, your just fooling yourself about all of the savings!

For me and most here, time is money! I decide what mine is worth, you decide what yours is worth.

As for what I would be doing if I wasn't reloading or casting, probably something much more profitable. As I said, I enjoy it!





FYI: This was supposed to be FUN!

No, I don't count my time to shoot! That is a cost of UNLOADING and he asked about RELOADING.

Yes, my time is worth much more than that. I gave myself a big break because "I know me"!

I do have a Dillon RL550B, the total time included casting, sizing/lubing, loading, setup, clean up, etc. Besides, if I update my equipment, won't you want me to count that, too!

And last, I wasn't trying to "make reloading a break even proposition", I was answering his question, What is the actual cost to load 1000 rounds of .45 ACP ammo?

Def, you were the one that brought labor costs into the discussion, I am just trying to keep it real for all those guys that value their time sooooo highly.[smilie=f:

[fredj338]

Just a question you guys are saying .02 or .03 for primers I figure your buying atleast 1k at a time but then dont you have to figure the hazmat shipping fees too again on your powder? Unless the local shops are just outrageous here in NY 4.50 per 100 for primers 40 per 1k and powder is around 31-33 for 1 #

That includes HM & shipping. Wait for a sale, buy 10K, & you can get them for right @ $20/K delivered. I recently bought 10K S&B from Graf's for that. Went in w/ another guy & they waived the HM fee.

[bumpo628]

Just a question you guys are saying .02 or .03 for primers I figure your buying atleast 1k at a time but then dont you have to figure the hazmat shipping fees too again on your powder? Unless the local shops are just outrageous here in NY 4.50 per 100 for primers 40 per 1k and powder is around 31-33 for 1 #

If you buy from companies like www.powdervalleyinc.com or www.wideners.com there is only one hazmat fee when you buy powder and primers in the same order.

Check both to see which has the best deal for the particular components you need. You can save quite a bit on Wolf or Tula primers, btw.

[arjacobson]

I get lead for free-I buy primers by the 1000 and I lucked into 36 lbs of powder for $100.00.. So my real cost for 45's are probably around 3 cents each.....plus a few beers...:groner:

[evan price]

Just a question you guys are saying .02 or .03 for primers I figure your buying atleast 1k at a time but then dont you have to figure the hazmat shipping fees too again on your powder? Unless the local shops are just outrageous here in NY 4.50 per 100 for primers 40 per 1k and powder is around 31-33 for 1 #

I'd say prices near you are ridiculous.

You can get up to iirc 70# total on a single hazmat ticket. Order 50,000 primers and 2- 8# jugs of powder and amortize that S&H & HM over the whole thing. I use 1000 primers = 1# of powder in terms of a "unit" cost for amortizing the shipping.

However, my price was also based on using Alliant PROMO powder, which an 8# jug at my local gun store on the shelf is $90. Less if they run the "10%-off Alliant Powder" promotion. PROMO loads to Red Dot data by weight, not volume. I find that it uses old Green Dot VMD for Lee measures, YMMV. PROMO is a bulk shotgun powder intended for large-scale shotshell loading and it only comes in 8# jugs.

My local store also has specials on primers lately of $26/thousand on the shelf.

$18/thousand shipped for Wolf wasn't a bad price.

[Defcon-One]

Now, add in my time:

I pay myself as a Reloading Technician First Class, $500/hr.
I load roughly 250 RPH.
That means a thousand rounds of 9mm actually cost me $2026.

I can't afford to reload anymore!


The first one cost me about four large (not counting guns, safe, and the $2300 I just spent on my new gun room) and about 1500 hours of my time...... Gear

Boy did I open a can of worms here. I guess next we'll be counting the cost of our Birth, Education (couldn't do it without that) and the Food we eat before reloading. Oh and the Soap to wash your hands.....

I think that Evan Price is right: I can't afford to reload anymore!



Def, you were the one that brought labor costs into the discussion, I am just trying to keep it real for all those guys that value their time sooooo highly.[smilie=f:

fredj338: You win. From now on my time is FREE! Fortunately, now that I don't have to count my time, I can afford to reload a lot more! :veryconfu

[sabrecross03]

You have a darn good store. I don't have any of those near me.


I'd say prices near you are ridiculous.

You can get up to iirc 70# total on a single hazmat ticket. Order 50,000 primers and 2- 8# jugs of powder and amortize that S&H & HM over the whole thing. I use 1000 primers = 1# of powder in terms of a "unit" cost for amortizing the shipping.

However, my price was also based on using Alliant PROMO powder, which an 8# jug at my local gun store on the shelf is $90. Less if they run the "10%-off Alliant Powder" promotion. PROMO loads to Red Dot data by weight, not volume. I find that it uses old Green Dot VMD for Lee measures, YMMV. PROMO is a bulk shotgun powder intended for large-scale shotshell loading and it only comes in 8# jugs.

My local store also has specials on primers lately of $26/thousand on the shelf.

$18/thousand shipped for Wolf wasn't a bad price.

[williamwaco]

You don't say what powder you are loading but my .45ACPs cost me less than 0.01 per round for powder, other than that we are about the same.

4gr @16.25 per pound = 0.0093 per round.

I buy four pound canisters at gunshows for around $65.00 with no sales tax.

.

[fishin_bum]

For the new .40 XDm I just bought: Primers $31.70 per 1000 + Powder $20.95 per pound (4.6g=1300rd) + cast bullets free lead + range brass + electric casting, tumbling lighting heat etc. ? = $.06 +/- per round
For .357 : primers $31.70 per 1000 + Homemade black powder $40.00 per 20# + cast bullets free lead + Brass I got free + electric casting, tumbling lighting heat etc. ? = $.0356 +/- per round.

[ilcop22]

My .45 price is about the same... $0.0512/round.

[shdwlkr]

Heck if I counted all my molds, lead, powder, primers, brass, bullets loading press and reloading dies, gun safe, the electricity to keep it dry, all the firearms and my time for all this I would stop reloading.

Now I look at the cost of my brass, primers, powder, bullets and my time doing this just to see how much it costs me to reload compared to commercial loads. Now some of what I shoot commercial stuff that runs $3.00 per round so I can spend a lot to reload and still save money because it is still cheaper than commercial ammo.

Most of the time I don't even look at my time as it is relaxation for me so what value should I place on that. I know some who take expensive vacations, have expensive boats, snow machines, motorcycles, motor homes, 5th wheel trailers, etc. Which I don't have any of these and most likely never will. Just my choice as to what I want and what to do with.

[SlowSmokeN]

Heck if I counted all my molds, lead, powder, primers, brass, bullets loading press and reloading dies, gun safe, the electricity to keep it dry, all the firearms and my time for all this I would stop reloading.

Now I look at the cost of my brass, primers, powder, bullets and my time doing this just to see how much it costs me to reload compared to commercial loads. Now some of what I shoot commercial stuff that runs $3.00 per round so I can spend a lot to reload and still save money because it is still cheaper than commercial ammo.

Most of the time I don't even look at my time as it is relaxation for me so what value should I place on that. I know some who take expensive vacations, have expensive boats, snow machines, motorcycles, motor homes, 5th wheel trailers, etc. Which I don't have any of these and most likely never will. Just my choice as to what I want and what to do with.

Here's to relaxation :drinks:

[wv109323]

I am still shooting primers at $75.00 per 5000 and Bullseye at $49.99 per 4 lbs.
Range recovery lead. Range Brass
Lube about $4.00 per thousand.
Thats 1.5 cents + .71 powder=2.21cents per round or $22.10 +$4.00+ $26.10 per thousand