Reload cost per round

[Chronos]

Any idea what custom bullets cost?

Curious... I probably don't want to know though

There are some custom bullets manufactured in Australia, ken from copperhead bullets manufactures high quality benchrest bullets.

http://www.copperheadbullets.com/index.htm

In my 6br, 6ppc and .284w I use Berger bullets I buy from brt. They are high quality and very consistent in weight.

Have a quick look at this blog and you'll see many target shooters choose Berger over the others

http://precisionrifleblog.com/tag/berger-bullets/

Chronos

[Herdsman]

Curious... I probably don't want to know though

Actually not expensive looking a bit deeper into his site.

$120 for 200 or 250 bullets depending on the exact one.

Plenty of off-the-shelf bullets which are more expensive than that.

[handofcod]

Based on my estimates I'm saving about $1.60 a bullet reloading 165gr SST in 308. Plus I get to tune for my own rifle.

[Skadoo]

It's always cheaper. As long as you're not just shooting half a dozen rounds a year as an occasional hunter it pays for itself sooner or later.

Equally important, if not more so in my mind, is that you'll end up with a more accurate cartridge for your rifle.

And every needs a hobby... You could pay to kill 2 hours at the movies, or spend a few hours reloading. I know which I'd rather be doing

[Chronos]

Based on my estimates I'm saving about $1.60 a bullet reloading 165gr SST in 308. Plus I get to tune for my own rifle.

Bloody hell. That must be one of the most expensive factory .308 loads ever. If your hand loads cost you around 70c that would make the factory stuff $2.30 a shot or close to $50 a box.

Chronos

[SendIt]

Based on my estimates I'm saving about $1.60 a bullet reloading 165gr SST in 308. Plus I get to tune for my own rifle.

How are you getting that out of curiosity?

Lorgar's break down using 150gr SSt is only 94c.

Where you spending your extra 66c per shot

[Apollo]

He said he's saving $1.60 not spending $1.60 on reloading...!!!

Meaning he was spending near $2.50 per round for factory ammo based on the above figures. Bloody expensive factory ammo.

[SendIt]

Sorry, my mistake.

I glossed over the comments from handofcod and Chronos and misread.

[Aster]

As said $2.50 per shot is expensive factory ammo, not really a fair comparison for your 'average' saving to be had.

Around $30 per box is a fairer average I think. Not $50.

[handofcod]

As said $2.50 per shot is expensive factory ammo, not really a fair comparison for your 'average' saving to be had.

Around $30 per box is a fairer average I think. Not $50.

If you are reloading with cheap components then you should be comparing against cheap ammo yes. But if you are using premium projectiles and brass (not that SST's are premium of course) then you should be comparing that against premium ammo.

Since I'm using SST's and Lapua cases I'm comparing against similar quality ammo and last time I looked Hornady Superperformance with SSTs were going for $52 for a box of 20.

It has to be a like for like comparison if you want to really know what you are saving.

[Aster]

All true.

Just mentioning that those weren't 'average' prices so as not to put a new reloader off with talk of premium price ammo only

[Monty]

SST's are a pretty good bullet for the money IMO.

For a hunting bullet of course, not match accuracy.

But cheap per unit, accurate, and does the job on game at a distance.

[handofcod]

All true.

Just mentioning that those weren't 'average' prices so as not to put a new reloader off with talk of premium price ammo only

Yeah I can't believe people would spend $50 on a box of 20 rounds.... maybe people that only shoot twice a year. The one thing that they don't warn you about reloading is that it's cheaper than retail, but then you shoot a whole heap more too!

[petemacsydney]

Well bit the bullet and bought a Dillon...
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1314
Can't wait to get it!!!

[Apollo]

I thought you were reloading for a .308 Rifle .....

That Dillon is for Pistol Reloading .... ?????

[petemacsydney]

yeah, i got the rifle version

[Apollo]

Fair enough.

I've never had anything to do with Dillon and it shows. Just don't like the idea of them.

Hope it works out for you though.

[1290]

I put this reload cost calculator together a few years ago, it is a little complicated at first so I've protected the cells to prevent inadvertent deletions.

Instructions;
-Enter values in the pink cells
-Enter buy cost for your projectiles & powder & primers & cases
-Enter buy cost for the quantity of component purchased
-Projectile units must be one of either number or mass(kg) or mass (lb) [usually number of projs]
-$per is the buy cost for the amount of either projectiles or powder.
-Break down of component unit costs provided as well as final cost per loaded round in red cells.
-Cost per round option provided with 1 or 4 or 8 uses of brass with last column option to enter any re-use quantity (15 entered)
-Any questions or suggested mods please feed back else get loading!

Spreadsheet doesnt attach??

this is a pic, for what its worth

[petemacsydney]

thats cool.
there's a few out there in webland according to Mr Google...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... adingCosts
http://hhshootingsports.com/WireShots/archives/1793
http://ultimatereloader.com/tools/reloa ... alculator/
etc
etc

[Bark]

yeah, i got the rifle version

Lucky that. Buy yourself the wrong one and you've just got some display piece of modern art to put in the living room

[petemacsydney]

mate, if i got the wrong one i am sure the wife would tear me a new one.. i'm already concerned about her reaction when the parcel arrives! lol
luckily the funds come out of the secret account..

[Monty]

You just gotta get them to send the invoice separately so she doesn't see it when your toys arrive

PO Box?

[Tiger650]

It's always cheaper. As long as you're not just shooting half a dozen rounds a year as an occasional hunter it pays for itself sooner or later.

Equally important, if not more so in my mind, is that you'll end up with a more accurate cartridge for your rifle.

And every needs a hobby... You could pay to kill 2 hours at the movies, or spend a few hours reloading. I know which I'd rather be doing

A half dozen rds per year and you will not be able to hit a bull on the arse with a bucket of wheat.

Handloads are mandatory for really good accuracy and you have to shoot a lot to gain or retain proficiency.

Reloading is also excellent fun, a dummy like me can get into physics and toolmaking [sort of] and metallurgy and other arcane things.

[pomemax]

I thought you were reloading for a .308 Rifle .....

That Dillon is for Pistol Reloading .... ?????

Funny thing about the 650 Dillon they say its for a pistol or for rifle but they are the same. and you don,t need much room to set up for reloading
I have one set up for 9mm at the moment but i reload from .22 hornet to 300 wsm 7 setups in all, they cost a bit to get all set up but save heaps of time during a change over about 6-8 min and I am back reloading on a caliber change.
All your existing dies fit in a dillon so that,s save some $ another consideration people over look it time it takes to reload I reloaded at the weekend 600 9mm I was going slow in 2.5 hours i must find a way to fill primmer tubes lol

[holden4th]

I've got a Dillon 550B which is set up to load for .38 Super. I've only recently set this up and enjoy being down in the garage loading up rounds for my next couple of shoots. There's music playing, I've got a kegerator down there and I know what Is going into my rounds. Reloading is not hard with a manually indexing press like the 550B - less to go wrong. An hour and I've got 400 ready to go.

[Barrettmr]

As said $2.50 per shot is expensive factory ammo, not really a fair comparison for your 'average' saving to be had.

Around $30 per box is a fairer average I think. Not $50.

That $50 a box of 20 Federal powershock 150gr is the norm at my lgs. My loads are costing me around 95c to $1.05, so the saving is quite significant in my view.

[slickncghia]

factory ammo is a bit random pricewise.

Been seeing the Remington hog stoppers for $35-40 in the LGS in 30-06 with the Barnes 168gn as they were discontinued.

I couldn't make them for that price. the projectiles alone are $1.50

When I first started all I could find for cup and core were 37-42 and the barnes factory 168gn is still $82 for 20.

My 30-06 180gn cup and cores are 83-88c (hornady or sierra 180g sp) (take off 6cfor less powder in 308) not including brass. factory approx. $1.80-$2.20
My 178g eldx are $1.14 the Hornady factory eldx is $54/20 = $2.70

reloading really just costs you money though... you end up shooting way more and becoming a ballistics nerd and owning really obscure chamberings

its really fun though

[scoobs]

this spreadsheet seems pretty good for calculating costs per shot :

[Noisydad]

reloading really just costs you money though... you end up shooting way more and becoming a ballistics nerd and owning really obscure chamberings

its really fun though

Lol Even the obscure chamberings aren't weird enough after a while! I'm on the hunt for a "Smith carbine". They use a rubber cartridge and a percussion cap. Youtube it!

[Oldbloke]

If you need a xls sheet to calc costs just PM me.