Economics of reloading ammo(e)

[pilot]

There is a lot of debate about the rifling in Glocks and such. You can usually get away with casting harder alloys for them.

As for case trimmers, you don't really need one to start out. Pistol brass usually doesn't stretch much, and 30-30 brass is easy enough to come up with, you don't need to keep it forever. If you anneal the cases now and then, they last longer, too.

[Andyinhilo]

Originally Posted by pilot

There is a lot of debate about the rifling in Glocks and such. You can usually get away with casting harder alloys for them.

As for case trimmers, you don't really need one to start out. Pistol brass usually doesn't stretch much, and 30-30 brass is easy enough to come up with, you don't need to keep it forever. If you anneal the cases now and then, they last longer, too.

You are correct that the straight wall pistol stuff does not usually need trimming. In my experience the bottleneck cases usually need trimming by the second loading.

I have worked extensively with Glocks and cast lots of different alloys trying to get them to shoot without leading. Never had any luck, so we made up barrels from Douglas blanks. No significant leading then but a lot of work.

[VegasKLRider]

Originally Posted by pilot

There is a lot of debate about the rifling in Glocks and such. You can usually get away with casting harder alloys for them.

As for case trimmers, you don't really need one to start out. Pistol brass usually doesn't stretch much, and 30-30 brass is easy enough to come up with, you don't need to keep it forever. If you anneal the cases now and then, they last longer, too.

As for the Glocks, I have had mixed results with lead and the polygonal rifling. Some of my .45 Glocks were immune to lead, others not so much. My 9mm and .40 Glocks tend to lead up pretty bad at factory velocities. I have ended up buying a couple of Lone Wolf barrels (around $100 each on sale) for practicing with lead.

I have never trimmed pistol brass- it wears out before it stretches that much. High pressure rifle brass (.223 and .308 among many others) will no longer fit in a chamber gage without trimming by the 3rd reloading typically. Lee case trimmers work well and are really cheap- but they aren't adjustable.

[pilot]

Originally Posted by Andyinhilo

I have worked extensively with Glocks and cast lots of different alloys trying to get them to shoot without leading. Never had any luck, so we made up barrels from Douglas blanks. No significant leading then but a lot of work.

I've been looking at aftermarket barrels for my 22. What twist did you use?

[_cy_]

Originally Posted by pilot

I've been looking at aftermarket barrels for my 22. What twist did you use?

that depends on how heavy a projectile you intend on shooting and how fast ...

[pilot]

Originally Posted by _cy_

that depends on how heavy a projectile you intend on shooting and how fast ...

I asked what he bought.

[Andyinhilo]

Originally Posted by pilot

I've been looking at aftermarket barrels for my 22. What twist did you use?

In the 9mm we used 14" and for the .40 16".

[Cumminsman76]

If I wanted to start reloading for just 45ACP whats the startup cost and cost of the finished rounds?

[urbancowboy]

Originally Posted by Cumminsman76

If I wanted to start reloading for just 45ACP whats the startup cost and cost of the finished rounds?

cost of reloading calculator:

http://ultimatereloader.com/tools/re...ts-calculator/


IF you can find the components these days...


i found that my cost, NOT including the press and dies, is around $18 per hundred rounds 45 ACP. (230 GR RN).

the cheapest "practice" ammo i've found is $18 per 50 rounds.

then add in the press and dies (easily in the hundreds of dollars). depends how fast you want to produce the ammo. a progressive press is much faster. the dillon square deal is $380 including one set of dies.

if you shoot a couple hundred rounds a year of several different calibers, probably not worth it.

if you shoot a lot, could be worth it. also, it's probably a good idea to view it as a hobby, not a money saver.

[Cumminsman76]

Originally Posted by urbancowboy

i found that my cost, NOT including the press and dies, is around $18 per hundred rounds 45 ACP. (230 GR RN).

How? When I priced stuff the bullets alone were over $18. What are you using?

[urbancowboy]

Originally Posted by Cumminsman76

How? When I priced stuff the bullets alone were over $18. What are you using?

i've been using berry's plated bullets for 9mm and 45ACP.

right now good luck finding them. i ordered 500 45 bullets from berry's a few months ago for $71. just got them last week. now i'm kicking myself for not ordering more at that time.



in the same price range also check ranier. montana gold is another company.

start keeping/collecting your brass now.

[FPGT72]

Originally Posted by urbancowboy

if you shoot a couple hundred rounds a year of several different calibers, probably not worth it.

if you shoot a lot, could be worth it. also, it's probably a good idea to view it as a hobby, not a money saver.

It also comes down to what you shoot. Price 30-40Krag, or 6.5Jap lately....you will reload it even if you only shoot it a few times a year.

[El Guero]

Originally Posted by Cumminsman76

How? When I priced stuff the bullets alone were over $18. What are you using?

A primer is about 3 cents, cost of Bullseye powder is practically negligible, lead bullet from Missouri Bullet Company is about 9 cents. If you leave out the price of brass, them you are loading for 13 to 14 cents apiece.

Cast bullets are the way to go unless you are making hunting ammo. If you shop around online you can find good prices, unfortunately powder and primers are hard to come by right now (at least the bullet casters will take your order!)

[ttpete]

Originally Posted by El Guero

A primer is about 3 cents, cost of Bullseye powder is practically negligible, lead bullet from Missouri Bullet Company is about 9 cents. If you leave out the price of brass, them you are loading for 13 to 14 cents apiece.

Cast bullets are the way to go unless you are making hunting ammo. If you shop around online you can find good prices, unfortunately powder and primers are hard to come by right now (at least the bullet casters will take your order!)

Why buy lead bullets? With a bottom dump lead pot and a lubricator-sizer, you can churn out bullets of any configuration at will. Why pay someone else to make your bullets?

[VegasKLRider]

Originally Posted by Cumminsman76

How? When I priced stuff the bullets alone were over $18. What are you using?

We buy in big bulk and it costs me about $10 per 100 for .45ACP using Berry's plated bullets FMJ hollow base 185gr. Of course my friends and I go in together and buy primers 1 Million at a time and bullets 10,000 pounds at a time so YMMV.
Of course the only reason that we have components right now is because we buy in that kind of bulk. Berry's is 2 years behind on orders and Winchester isn't shipping primers until 2014 at the earliest. Competitive shooting is beginning to be a dying hobby right now due to the shortage. Last year I shot 50,000 rounds... this year it is looking more like 5,000 rounds.