Crazy - Factory Ammo vs. Handload Costs

[skipper907]

This will be a first for me. I picked up a new 6.5PRC barrel so I was looking at components and getting started. I want to shoot the 140 Berger EH bullet and use Lapua brass.

Well hey, Berger uses lapua brass, I wonder what the cost difference would be if I just buy their stuff to get 100 pieces of brass to get going?

I can find 20rd boxes of the factory Berger loads for $55. 100rds is $280. We will leave shipping out of it although it would skew the numbers to the factory ammo being even cheaper.

Here's my breakdown on the handloads
100ct Lapua Brass - $180
100ct Berger 140 Elite Hunters - $60
Primers - 10cents each - $10
Powder - We'll say $50/lb or roughly 40 cents per load - $40
Total - $290

Thought this was an interesting math problem and this doesn't factor in my time to reload either which seems to be more precious as the days go by.

Anyway, I figured some of yall would find some entertainment in this. I could use some Peterson and save $40 but I'd happily pay that $40 (or much more) for my time.

what about your cost of reloading equipment and the price of your time to do the reloading ? also the cost of trips to the range to test reloads ?

I am definitely not against reloading, I reload around a 2k rounds a year of rifle ammo for PRS shooting. However if your shooting a modern cartage it is going to be hard to beat factory and the accuracy you get.

My personal 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammo is factory it consistency shoots under an inch. Its not worth my time load it myself and the gains so marginal.

Reloading for hunting is not very cost effective UNLESS the ammo you shoot is NON factory and you are shooting less than a few hundred rounds a year.
Your time would be better spent shooting a 22lr or a 223 and just shooting more at a lower cost

 

[SloppyJ]

what about your cost of reloading equipment and the price of your time to do the reloading ? also the cost of trips to the range to test reloads ?

I am definitely not against reloading, I reload around a 2k rounds a year of rifle ammo for PRS shooting. However if your shooting a modern cartage it is going to be hard to beat factory and the accuracy you get.

My personal 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammo is factory it consistency shoots under an inch. Its not worth my time load it myself and the gains so marginal.

Reloading for hunting is not very cost effective UNLESS the ammo you shoot is NON factory and you are shooting less than a few hundred rounds a year.
Your time would be better spent shooting a 22lr or a 223 and just shooting more at a lower cost

Already have all of the equipment I need. The only thing would be dies. The time is a big thing and the main reason I posted this thread. The time going to the range is a non factor because I'd have to do that with factory rounds anyway and I'd feel like I need to go verify when I bought more to make sure it still shot.

I typically load bullets that aren't available in factory loadings but I've yet to find factory ammo that shot as well as handloads once the load was established.

As far as the .223 or practicing more, I get plenty of that and some matches to boot.

 

[SloppyJ]

Same can be said for factory though. Precisely why buying reloading supplies in bulk is easier.

The sooner you are able to buy same lot everything for one barrel, the easier things become.

Here’s an example: off blue collar right now

View attachment 773501
Plus 125 for 1k primers. ~1200 for the barrel.

Berger factory 140 EH for 65 a box, for 1k rounds is 3250 for the barrel.

That’s why I reload.

Agreed.

 

[Weldor]

what about your cost of reloading equipment and the price of your time to do the reloading ? also the cost of trips to the range to test reloads ?

I am definitely not against reloading, I reload around a 2k rounds a year of rifle ammo for PRS shooting. However if your shooting a modern cartage it is going to be hard to beat factory and the accuracy you get.

My personal 6.5 Creedmoor hunting ammo is factory it consistency shoots under an inch. Its not worth my time load it myself and the gains so marginal.

Reloading for hunting is not very cost effective UNLESS the ammo you shoot is NON factory and you are shooting less than a few hundred rounds a year.
Your time would be better spent shooting a 22lr or a 223 and just shooting more at a lower cost

I would still do some range time with factory ammo, Chrono and some long range, need chrono for my ballisics. JMHO.

 

[SloppyJ]

Got my order in from recoil gunworks which did a great job with pricing and shipping. This bondstrike next to a 108eldm in 6 creed.

 

[flathead#2]

Brown truck brought me a MEC600 Jr. the other day to go with my old Rock chucker.
Bismuth @ 60$ a box, - had to do something.

 

[hunter121212]

If I counted my time toward the cost, I wouldn't reload at all. But most of my reloading is either late at night when everyone else is asleep or I crank them out if we get a blizzard, so it's more 'found' time than anything. I shot a 257 WBY for a while. With most factory Weatherby loads about $4 each and reloads under $1 each, I saved enough with that rifle to pay for all of my equipment easily.

On another note, if I weren't a reloader, I probably wouldn't have learned as much about internal ballistics, and I would have been desperately looking for ammo during the covid ammo shortage instead of shooting from my stockpile of components. I see both of those things as priceless.