Why Load Common Rounds?

TGR · Nov 12, 2018

I reload a lot of 9mm on my progressive. It definitely pays. Got the costs down to 9-10 cents per round, and that’s for 147 subs with slightly over 130 pf that my Glock loves. That’s a load I’d never be able to buy off the shelf at a cost almost half the price of the cheapest Walmart ammo around. So I’m shoot much more often now than before I reloaded. Add in the other calibers like 38/357, 9mak, 9.3x57, 30-06, and 300 BLK and you start talking about significant savings.

I also find it relaxing...

Squaregrouper · Nov 14, 2018

OP here...
My math on .357 Sig was wrong- I can load it for ~19cpr; not 40cpr. I will be adding that round to my bench stat.

Jerry M · Nov 14, 2018

Because I shot 1,150 rounds of 6.5 Remington Magnum this year...

Good Luck

Jerry

teratos · Nov 14, 2018

squaregrouper said:
OP here...
My math on .357 Sig was wrong- I can load it for ~19cpr; not 40cpr. I will be adding that round to my bench stat.

Damn you. Now I want a .357 Sig.

Squaregrouper · Nov 14, 2018

teratos said:
Damn you. Now I want a .357 Sig.

Check the end of the P80 porn thread.
TargetsportsUSA has 50rd boxes of Speer Gold Dots for $20. I didn't ask why, I just went ahead and submitted my cc info. They arrived today.

After some pew pew fun, I will have brass to start loading (and DA has brass for me too)
FWIW- My Google-Fu has determined Lee dies are considered the best for that cartridge.

DaemonAssassin · Nov 14, 2018

squaregrouper said:
Check the end of the P80 porn thread.
TargetsportsUSA has 50rd boxes of Speer Gold Dots for $20. I didn't ask why, I just went ahead and submitted my cc info. They arrived today.
After some pew pew fun, I will have brass to start loading (and DA has brass for me too)
FWIW- My Google-Fu has determined Lee dies are considered the best for that cartridge.

As I get more brass in, I'll sort through it and set aside the 357 Sig for you.

JRussell87 · Nov 14, 2018

I like the idea of reloading for a couple of reasons

1. Shtf scenario it sets you up for a job and valuable skill
2. If ammo is scarce just make your own
3. Cut costs of 44 magnums substantially
4. More tolerable 44 mag for the wife

CombatAK · Nov 14, 2018

I reload because I am a Hooligan and they are enablers! 'Nuff said!!!

Bubba Willy · Nov 15, 2018

I have been reloading since the early 1990's . I have a RCBS Rockchucker that I use . I now have 12 different dies . I load for three different wildcats - 22 Cheetah MK 1 , 6mm-284 , and a 30-06 Ackley Imp. . I have several 1911's , and these are the firearms that I shoot the most . I went to the Handload Cost Calculator on line and put in 1 lb powder [HP38] - powder charge 5.6 gr - 1000 primers at $35.00 a box - cases 0 - 1000 lead cast bullets at .10 - I came up with .054 per round , $ 2.72 per/50 and $ 54.30 per 1000 . I went on Midway and the cheapest 45 ACP I saw was 230 gr Tulammo at .27 cents a round , multiply that times 1000 and you get about $ 270.00 as compared to $ 54.30 for handloads . I didn't count freight in because I get everything locally except the cast bullets which which I get from Penn Bullets , but I also didn't count frt in from Midway . I don't count brass in the price because I pick up a lot of free brass at a local range - I always ask before picking up someone else's brass - and brass gets used over many times . In 2014 I was shooting at the local range and a gentleman saw me picking up my 45ACP brass and came over and ask me if I wanted to buy some 45ACP brass , said he had a lot and said he never owned a 45ACP and said he would give me a real good price . Told me to bring a bucket. We met the following weekend and when he got dumping brass out of all kinds of containers it all but filled a 5 gal bucket . I will enclose a picture . If my math is off in any way let me know . The price isn't the only reason I reload , I have other reasons , but the main one is that it pleases me .

ras_oscar · Nov 25, 2018

To the op: everybody has their reasons, here's mine, in no particular order:

1. I remember the shortages that occurred when we got a new D president. I don't want to get caught short again.
2. Its fun
3. If cartridge prices go down, I can still choose to purchase and save my supplies. If I don't have supplies and dies on hand, I loose the choice.
4. The reloading process appeals to my mind for manipulating facts and figures. See also item 2.
5. Boxes take up more room in the ammo chest than a plastic bag of loosies.

85MikeTPI · Nov 25, 2018

squaregrouper said:
OP here...
My math on .357 Sig was wrong- I can load it for ~19cpr; not 40cpr. I will be adding that round to my bench stat.

There's no reason 357sig shouldn't cost as much as 9mm
To load. Check out rmrbullets for their in house 124 and 147gr
FN rounds for 7-9c each in bulk and during sales.

My advice for dies is to get a Lee carbide 40sw die and a set
Of hornady 357sig dies. Run the carbide 40 die first in your
Progressive followed by the 357 dies and never look back

Seabee · Nov 25, 2018

When I started reloading back in 1974, I could reload for half the price of store bought factory ammo mainly due to saving on the cost of brass. Back then, primers were $10 for a brick of 1000. Bullets in 7mm 160 gr were about $11-12 per hundred. Powder was running about $8-11 a pound depending on make and type. Reloading got popular and demand for components shot up and so did prices.
Now we have so much surplus ammo floating around that it is almost cheaper to buy it and burn it up.
I still reload for more calibers than I care to remember. I do it because I enjoy it. I also want that 1/4" tighter group. I want the best groups I can get because when there is an issue, I'll know it was me screwing up. I like knowing that my rifles are capable of one hole groups and I like the plaques I won with that handloaded ammo. I like seeing that hole in the deer exactly where I aimed it.

I watch guys at the range burning up 5.56 rounds by the hundreds, firing one every second or 2 at fifty yds, shooting 6" groups and thinking they're having a great day. For these guys, surplus ammo cheap is the ticket.

To each their own. Like anything else, its a matter of choice for all of us. Sorry for the long rant. Just my point of view from 42 years in the hobby.

j8064 · Nov 25, 2018

CombatAK said:
I reload because I am a Hooligan and they are enablers! 'Nuff said!!!

This ^^^

And it's true. :innocent0

Last time I counted, my collection requires over 30 different calibers to feed. Some are common calibers, but many need ammo you won't typically find on the shelf at your favorite gun store or Wally World. And it's not as if I shoot thousands of rounds per year of any one caliber. At Hooligan shoots there is usually a variety of firearms. Some may shoot common ammo while others may be much more exotic.

I can reload for every center fire caliber I shoot. For some I choose to buy cheaper plinking rounds. Example: My SKS and AK rifles shoot Wolf and Tula steel case rounds just fine so my nice brass-case rounds stay stashed. But my Hi-Point carbines really like the cheap 380, 9mm, 40 S&W and 45ACP rounds I build them for the cost of a primer, a few cents worth of powder, plated or home cast wheel weight boolits and the free cases y'all leave laying about the range. And my higher quality handguns shoot the same ammo extremely well and accurately at less the cost of factory ammo.

223/556 is common, right? I haven't purchased a box of factory ammo in many years because I reload much more accurate ammo for my AR's. DA pointed it out earlier: you cant compare the cost of your accurate reloaded ammo to the cheap plinking rounds shot for rapid-fire fun. It ain't the same thing. And, again, thanks for all those free cases y'all leave behind... we reloaders turn them into less expensive and very accurate rounds... :thumbsup:

As an enabling Hooligan I confess. I routinely reload common calibers for specific purposes. In my guns, my ammo shoots better than any factory ammo.

teratos said:
Damn you. Now I want a .357 Sig.

I gotta call time out on that! How many reloadable 357 Sig cases have you picked up at the range? Do you have enough on hand to reload and feed that new pistol properly? Whatcha gonna do when it gets hungry? :facepalm:

(

It only took 27 free 270 Win cases for me to have a T/C Compass at the range a week later... :innocent0

)

I'll keep asking when we Hooligans can expect your visit so we can be dazzled by your legendary hair...

:innocent0

Why Load Common Rounds?

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