looking for cheap ammo

[TheRising]

Cost is main reason I went to reloading....

Using Montana Gold bullets, CCI primers, Win 231 (4 lb cans) and range pickup brass.

my cost is about $13 per hundred for 45acp and $7 per hundred 9mm.

I probably could shave a buck or 2 off each if I could coordinate better on the group buys around here.

I paid for my press/dies/tumbler etc with savings from first 1000 rounds of 45acp I loaded and will save enough for a dillon 650 from loading about 2000 rounds each of 45 and 9.

This is by no means a derogatory post about reloading, but how much time do you spend actually making 100 rounds of 45 or 9mm? Shouldn't that be included into the total?

I only ask because I've always wondered about reloading and if it was really worth it.

Tiime is money?

[KBCraig]

This is by no means a derogatory post about reloading, but how much time do you spend actually making 100 rounds of 45 or 9mm? Shouldn't that be included into the total?

Only if you would be doing something to make money during that same time. If it's spare time, the dollar value of your time investment is zero.

Kevin

[Wildscar]

If someone wanted to get started reloading what would be the initial cost? Dosn't have to be exact figured or nothing just a guess'timate would do.

[NcongruNt]

I was looking into reloading stuff today... not sure reloading would work terribly well for me. I have 2 Mosin-Nagant rifles, and surplus 7.62x54R is not only dirt cheap, but reloading kits seem generally unavailable for this round. It's unfortunate, because I'd definitely be into reloading SP rounds for hunting if it made any difference in price.

For my pistol rounds, it does seem like there's equipment plenty available for reloading 9x18, but I don't see anything in cost-saving for this. Even brass-cased FMJ S&B ammo costs about 26 cents/round. Bullets for reloading by themselves cost about 16 cents/ea, then powder and primers on top of that. New brass by itself seems to run 30 cents/ea. A new 9x18 handload will cost 50 cents, and reloading a piece of used brass would cost about 20 cents (16 per bullet, and I'm guessing ~4 for powder, primer, and other stuff). It would take 6 reloads of each new case to match the cost of simply buying new S&B every time.

Maybe I'm just not seeing something here, but reloading doesn't seem all that economical for me. Maybe it's just me and my weird calibers.

[NcongruNt]

If someone wanted to get started reloading what would be the initial cost? Dosn't have to be exact figured or nothing just a guess'timate would do.

From what I've seen, a complete reloading press kit runs somewhere between $350 and $400 for the lower end models. On top of that, you have to buy a die set for your caliber, which looks to run about $50. So $400 to $450? I'm guessing it can be done cheaper, I've never reloaded so I don't know for sure.

[KBCraig]

You can start reloading for common calibers for less than $25. Many scoff at the Lee Loader, but the fact is, it was the only reloading "kit" available for decades, and it served quite well.

It's slow. It's not as precise nor flexible as other systems. You won't fine-tune a target load using a Lee Loader. But if you have brass and bullets, and powder and primers, the Lee Loader certainly works.

Now if time is important, you don't want to go that route. To set up a high-volume progressive system will cost at least $650-1,000, possibly much more. You can get by much cheaper by using a turret press.

Kevin

[Jeremae]

As I bill at over $100 an hour as a Software Architect and can load about 100 rounds an hour, my handloaded ammo is much more expensive than ANY factory pistol loads

My time is spent for the enjoyment (and I ENJOY pulling the handle on my press a LOT more than the handle on a slot machine) as I achieve a meditative state that is very refreshing as I must place my mind in a zen like Here and Now state to insure proper attention to the details but it doesn't not require much brain effort. I get a similar mental boost riding sport bikes at speed but it is a little more mentally taxing due to more decisions being required. You MUST empty your mind of all other cares, worries, thoughts etc.

I started out with the Lee Turret Press (but recommend the Classic Turret) and had everything I needed to load 45acp for less than $150 (but added a $50 case tumbler for brass cleaning)

As for loading the 9x18, Hornady XTPs are only 12.37 a hundred from Natchezss and brass can be reused until it cracks or more likely gets lost (although I mostly see 9mm luger brass which can be trimed down to 9 markarov). This gives you an approx cost of $15 a hundred. You could get a lot lower casting your own lead bullets.

Lee sells dies for the 7.62x54r and the Classic turret press has clearance to load 50bmg rounds.

[KRM45]

Bullets for reloading by themselves cost about 16 cents/ea, then powder and primers on top of that. New brass by itself seems to run 30 cents/ea. A new 9x18 handload will cost 50 cents, and reloading a piece of used brass would cost about 20 cents

When I first started reloading (about a year ago) I was spending too much on components too. The key though is buying bulk, and if you can shooting cast lead bullets. I know prices have gone up since the last time I bought, but I 500 cast lead .45 bullets for $27 last time... That's less than .06$ and it's .45...

[NcongruNt]

Bullets for reloading by themselves cost about 16 cents/ea, then powder and primers on top of that. New brass by itself seems to run 30 cents/ea. A new 9x18 handload will cost 50 cents, and reloading a piece of used brass would cost about 20 cents

When I first started reloading (about a year ago) I was spending too much on components too. The key though is buying bulk, and if you can shooting cast lead bullets. I know prices have gone up since the last time I bought, but I 500 cast lead .45 bullets for $27 last time... That's less than .06$ and it's .45...

How much do you consider "bulk"?

The prices I was getting were in quantities of about 200. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places... where do you go for your componentry?

[KRM45]

How much do you consider "bulk"?

The prices I was getting were in quantities of about 200. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places... where do you go for your componentry?

I was buying my bullets at a local retail store (Sportsman's warehouse) but I just ordered some from Midway USA. This time I ordered 2000, since I had to pay for shipping. There are lots of places online that you can order from.

[age_ranger]

I've figured I'm paying out about 50% for ammo after getting my reloader set up. It's almost paid for itself already. I'm buying 124gr 9mm bullets at $45 per 1000. Considering primers and powder (I pick up brass at local matches) I guestimate my cost per 100 at about $5.00. That's a pretty big savings and I can load them up snappy or light depending on what I want to use them for. I was against reloading at first because I didn't see the savings, but I'm a believer now. It's not just the savings, though. It's extremely gratifying to see holes in paper that YOU reloaded. Pretty cool stuff..........

[NcongruNt]

I've figured I'm paying out about 50% for ammo after getting my reloader set up. It's almost paid for itself already. I'm buying 124gr 9mm bullets at $45 per 1000. Considering primers and powder (I pick up brass at local matches) I guestimate my cost per 100 at about $5.00. That's a pretty big savings and I can load them up snappy or light depending on what I want to use them for. I was against reloading at first because I didn't see the savings, but I'm a believer now. It's not just the savings, though. It's extremely gratifying to see holes in paper that YOU reloaded. Pretty cool stuff..........

Where do you get your supplies? I'm not finding anything other than packages of 100 bullets in 9x18 (.363-.365). The lowest I've found is $7.35/100 at Widener's. I've found cheaper brass for $140 per 1000 at Midway.

Unfortunately, I'd have to search long and hard if I wanted to try and pick up brass left by others. 9x18 is not the most commonly used caliber around here (or really, anywhere besides eastern Europe). I've not met anyone else in person who shoots it yet. I'd be pretty much stuck with only collecting my own brass.

[Jeremae]

Brass: Well I guess you could trim 9mm luger brass down but best bet would be to buy enough new cases beyond what you have now to make a reasonable cache (say 1000) and pick it up as you shoot it. 9mm is a little more high pressure than 45 but you should be able to reload them at least 10 times or more.

Bullets: Never looked for 9mm mak bullets, try contacting people like Montana Gold, Ranier etc and see if they make them but don't list on their web page. You could try hard cast lead bullets but as has been said, they may require more effort to clean due to fouling of the barrel.

I'm sure there are forums dedicated to the mak where you could get some help.

You might look up the phone number for Coal Creek Armory in Tennesse, one of their employees blogs and she has maks. Maybe she could point you toward bulk suppliers.

[NcongruNt]

Brass: Well I guess you could trim 9mm luger brass down but best bet would be to buy enough new cases beyond what you have now to make a reasonable cache (say 1000) and pick it up as you shoot it. 9mm is a little more high pressure than 45 but you should be able to reload them at least 10 times or more.

Bullets: Never looked for 9mm mak bullets, try contacting people like Montana Gold, Ranier etc and see if they make them but don't list on their web page. You could try hard cast lead bullets but as has been said, they may require more effort to clean due to fouling of the barrel.

I'm sure there are forums dedicated to the mak where you could get some help.

You might look up the phone number for Coal Creek Armory in Tennesse, one of their employees blogs and she has maks. Maybe she could point you toward bulk suppliers.

It takes a little more than trimming for that. 9x18 is not the same kind of shape... it's more of a straight case than 9mm luger. Also, the bullets are significantly larger... 9x18 bullets are between .363 and .365, as opposed to 9mm luger, which is .355. You'd have to stretch the brass a bit to get it to fit. Starline makes 9x18 brass in boxes of 1000 for $116, and I think I'll probably go with that. Sierra makes FMJ bullets in 9x18, and that seems to be the best deal I can find ($7.35/100). With those prices, I could probably make them for about 21 cents/round, which is cheaper than the S&B i shoot. After a while, it should offset the cost of the press and equipment, especially after I start reloading brass.

[Jeremae]

My comment about trimming brass came from a cursory read of the mak page (I think you gave the link). Based upon those prices, yup about $21 per hundred the first time through the brass. You will need to be particularly certain of picking up your brass. After that it will be about $10 a hundred (which is still a couple dollars cheaper per hundred than my cost to load 45 acp although I could probably get down to that level).

If you spend some time searching online forums dedicated to maks or reloading and calling component manufacturers you may find bulk deals to bring your cost down. Good luck and if you do find less expensive suppliers please post here so any other mak shooters who are thinking about reloading will have the info available to them.