Economics of reloading ammo(e)

[toolfan]

I scored some primers.


I just reloaded my first 7 rounds, using a lee loader.


The super cool thing - it's economical, because I didn't pay real money for the primers!

[HardCase]

Originally Posted by toolfan

I scored some primers.


I just reloaded my first 7 rounds, using a lee loader.


The super cool thing - it's economical, because I didn't pay real money for the primers!

Seven rounds with a Lee Loader? Musta taken you about an hour then?

[Aurelius]

Originally Posted by HardCase

Seven rounds with a Lee Loader? Musta taken you about an hour then?

Sounds about right.

[toolfan]

40 minutes.

But that included set-up* and clean-up.




*which meant finding the damn thing.

[HardCase]

Originally Posted by toolfan

40 minutes.

But that included set-up* and clean-up.




*which meant finding the damn thing.

That's pretty darned fast with the Lee Loader!!

[toolfan]

Originally Posted by HardCase

That's pretty darned fast with the Lee Loader!!

I was excited. I get excited about new things.


On the economics - I just updated my excel nerdsheet - I'll pay for the lee loader after 500 rounds, assuming I continue to pay the exorbanate amount I paid for the first 100 bullets. ($23.49 for 100 speer TMJ round nosers. )



On reloading - what's the best way to measure OAL of a round nose cartridge? With a dial caliper, it's hard to ensure that you are on the end of the nose. I'm going to try a micrometer tonight and see if that's easier.

[HardCase]

Originally Posted by toolfan

I was excited. I get excited about new things.


On the economics - I just updated my excel nerdsheet - I'll pay for the lee loader after 500 rounds, assuming I continue to pay the exorbanate amount I paid for the first 100 bullets. ($23.49 for 100 speer TMJ round nosers. )



On reloading - what's the best way to measure OAL of a round nose cartridge? With a dial caliper, it's hard to ensure that you are on the end of the nose. I'm going to try a micrometer tonight and see if that's easier.

So in other words it'll pay for itself by about 2028??

On the OAL question, it isn't super-critical with most ammo, so I'm sure a caliper will do you fine although if you have a micrometer that's long enough for the round that would probably be better.

[toolfan]

2020 if I quit my job so I can reload full time...




Thanks!

[stunt clown]

I scored some primers yesterday as well!!

Cabela's must have had 40-50 thousand large pistol.

Now, if I could find some Bullseye powder I could actually make some something.

[HardCase]

Originally Posted by stunt clown

I scored some primers yesterday as well!!

Cabela's must have had 40-50 thousand large pistol.

Now, if I could find some Bullseye powder I could actually make some something.

There's other powder available. I think I've seen 231 which is similar to Bullseye.

Around here I'll occasionally see pistol primers, usually small but sometimes large as well. No rifle primers of either size in months, however.

[papalobster]

Every place around here (central WI) is cleaned out of all primers. I picked up a 1k box of WLP's, but I need some for the 357. I have about 100 now, and probably 400 for my rifle cartridges. Powder is available all over. I usually load up with Unique in the 44, I get more bang for the buck

[Mr Kawasaki]

Originally Posted by toolfan

40 minutes.

But that included set-up* and clean-up.




*which meant finding the damn thing.

It will get faster for you. I have a Lee single stage attached to my "bench" and I also have a Lee hand held press. I can run two operations at once that way (don't have room for a big press). Lee presses are so cheap I might just buy another one. Case trimming still seems to take forever though.

Lee Precision: The KLR of the reloading presses.

[Motor31]

Originally Posted by stunt clown

I scored some primers yesterday as well!!

Cabela's must have had 40-50 thousand large pistol.

Now, if I could find some Bullseye powder I could actually make some something.

Anything you would use bullseye for you can use red dot for. It is also a bulkier powder for similar weight of charge so much harder to get an overload. Since it's primarily a shot gun powder there isn't much of a shortage for red dot, green dot and blue dot all of which can be used for many pistol calibers.

[ShadyRascal]

Originally Posted by papalobster

I usually load up with Unique in the 44, I get more bang for the buck

Try Clays, about the same burn rate and it's not so damn dirty.

[papalobster]

Originally Posted by ShadyRascal

Try Clays, about the same burn rate and it's not so damn dirty.

But then I can't use the "Honey, I'll downstairs cleaning the guns" excuse

I have 3/4 canister left. I'll have to get some Clays, Unique looks like I've been shooting black powder!