Is reloading really worth it??
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,821
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From: South Dakota
Is reloading really worth it??
Well I just bought another gun to add to my small arsenal of hunting firearms, I bought a heavy barrel Savage .223, and set it up with bi-pod and a Simmons scope (i forget the size, but it is quite big).
Any way I'm looking at starting to run some serious amounts of ammo through this thing, in atempt to try to control some fury creatures that are wreaking havoc on our fields and pastures. I expect to be shooting a minimum of 500 rnds a weekend.
Right now I have purchased about 600 rnds of factory loads, and I am thinking about reloading those up a couple of times. But I dont have the equipment, but my neighbor (brother-in-law) does. I am currently also looking towards ebay to see if I can find some good used equipment. I have limited knowledge of reloading, but I have done a couple hundred 30-06 rnds using my Fathers equipment.
I guess I'm really asking is it really cost effective to reload, or would it better to buy remanufactured ammo like Black Hills, Ultra Max and others of this nature?
Any way I'm looking at starting to run some serious amounts of ammo through this thing, in atempt to try to control some fury creatures that are wreaking havoc on our fields and pastures. I expect to be shooting a minimum of 500 rnds a weekend.
Right now I have purchased about 600 rnds of factory loads, and I am thinking about reloading those up a couple of times. But I dont have the equipment, but my neighbor (brother-in-law) does. I am currently also looking towards ebay to see if I can find some good used equipment. I have limited knowledge of reloading, but I have done a couple hundred 30-06 rnds using my Fathers equipment.
I guess I'm really asking is it really cost effective to reload, or would it better to buy remanufactured ammo like Black Hills, Ultra Max and others of this nature?
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,011
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From: South Dakota
It can be cost effective if you don't fiqure in your time. Most people reload as a hobby and a means of trying up some different loadings than what is commercially available. When everything comes together for me I will be reloading. I have a 'Rockchucker' single stage press. Some people go all out with multi stage progressive presses. But I would like to keep the 'fun' in it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: South Dakota
Both brands of ammo you mentioned give superb accuracy out of all of my 223's. Reloading isn't cost effective in my opinion, but I am a perfectionist when it comes to shooting just like Rob nc 
I would suggest a Rock Chucker kit by RCBS.
I would suggest a Rock Chucker kit by RCBS.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,758
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From: colorado
you can find American Eagle(which is Federal ammo relabled).223 in a 55gr fmj boatail, or 50 gr hollowpoint for $4-$5 per 20. that is pretty cheap and it is good ammo. both shoot great in my Ruger mini-14, and my Panther Bull 20 ar-15.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 588
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From: AZ.
I have a Dillon 550 and reload six different calibers, rifle & pistol. If I consider the cost of equipment and supplies, for myself it's not cost effective. When I go out to my "gun room" to reload, it's an extension of the fun of shooting. I have a Ruger .223 #1 that I played around with a load until I could cloverleaf 4 out of 5 shots at 100 yds. I finally found the mix that was right for my rifle. Your loading equipment is a one time investment unless you upgrade. Even though .223s are about the cheapest ammo I can buy, I would still reload. When I do go shooting, the amount of rounds I burn has no cost consideration because reloads are so inexpensive. You mentioned you had a small arsenal, does it include a .44 Mag. I think my cost to load them with a JHP is about $.11. ...............Enjoy your new rifle.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 148
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From: Wherever the Navy says to
Kinda tough to figure if it is worth it from an econmical view. As an example, my .300 to load 500 rounds is about: (second column is for subsequent reloads) If you neck size, brass seems to last about 10 reloads.
Brass: $160 $000 Purchased 500 rounds is about $500
Powder: $ 90 $ 90 Cost of the reloading gear is
Primers: $ 80 $ 80 about $600.
Bullets $150 $150
total $480 $320
I haven't taken the time to figure this out to the penny. I get two distinct advantages from reloading. The first is a nice relaxing hobbyj. Secondly, my reloads are much more accurate than any factory round I have found. As an example, last year just prior to elk season, my wife and I each fired our .300s at an 18" steel gong at 450yds. With factory ammo, same bullet and same brass, we hit it maybe 4 of 10 times. With handloads, same bullet and same brass as factory, we hit it each time. Handloads are generally more consistent than factory, IMHO.
Brass: $160 $000 Purchased 500 rounds is about $500
Powder: $ 90 $ 90 Cost of the reloading gear is
Primers: $ 80 $ 80 about $600.
Bullets $150 $150
total $480 $320
I haven't taken the time to figure this out to the penny. I get two distinct advantages from reloading. The first is a nice relaxing hobbyj. Secondly, my reloads are much more accurate than any factory round I have found. As an example, last year just prior to elk season, my wife and I each fired our .300s at an 18" steel gong at 450yds. With factory ammo, same bullet and same brass, we hit it maybe 4 of 10 times. With handloads, same bullet and same brass as factory, we hit it each time. Handloads are generally more consistent than factory, IMHO.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
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From: Montana Territory
if oyu don't hot load the .223 cases they will easily last 15 -20 cycles.
the most important thing is, to keep track of the number of cycles, and to check them for hairline fractures. Don't re use split cases, even if its just a tiny split.
the most important thing is, to keep track of the number of cycles, and to check them for hairline fractures. Don't re use split cases, even if its just a tiny split.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Michigan
It depends how good you need it to shoot, I will tell you how my auto shoots
all groups are 4 shot groups.
american eagle ball- 1.5 at 100
Hornaday TAP or Varment- .75 at 100
My Hand loads- .25-.5 at 100
The hand loads are not much cheaper for me than the good factory loads
but I use $$ parts when I load, however if I need to range out to 200-300 yards it makes a BIG difference, you should be able to smoke woodchucks at 100 with ball, or cheap hollow points.
all groups are 4 shot groups.
american eagle ball- 1.5 at 100
Hornaday TAP or Varment- .75 at 100
My Hand loads- .25-.5 at 100
The hand loads are not much cheaper for me than the good factory loads
but I use $$ parts when I load, however if I need to range out to 200-300 yards it makes a BIG difference, you should be able to smoke woodchucks at 100 with ball, or cheap hollow points.
Thread Starter
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,821
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From: South Dakota
Right now I only have 2 rifles that I will consider running reloads in, the .223 Savage and my 30-06 Ruger (also have a M1 Garand, but will only run factory in)and possibly my 9mm pistol, but there is always room fro improvement 
I see that on ebay I can get into a Lee Reloading kit for ~$90 with shipping complete with every thing except dies, to me it sounds like a half ways decent deal.
I already have a boat load of factory brass that I have saved over the years, so brass is not an issue.
I see that on ebay I can get into a Lee Reloading kit for ~$90 with shipping complete with every thing except dies, to me it sounds like a half ways decent deal.
I already have a boat load of factory brass that I have saved over the years, so brass is not an issue.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 593
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From: Texas panhandle
I reload nearly everything I shoot, from 223 to 50 BMG. I agree with some of the others on the use of the reloading time for 'personal decompression' time. It may be some cheaper to reload unless your time has a saleable value. I did go buy some 308 match ammo about a month ago and was shocked at the price, $1 per round, I can shoot the 50 BMG for that kind of dough! I run a Dillon 550 and like it. The Rock Chucker seems like a Model T after running the 550. The only thing I use the RC for is swaging primer pockets and loading my 35 Whelen (which I shoot so seldom that it's not feasible to set up the 550 for it). The 550 will load nearly any caliber, except the 50, at about 400 rounds per hour (by myself) and that's a pretty good supply in a short time.
New User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21
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I have reloaded for years and recently bought the dies to reload my .223. I have never used them because most of the time, I'm just shooting to have fun and don't need super accuracy. I buy several thousand rounds of ammo at a time durring gun shows and it usually averages about 11 cents per round. When I figure what the bullet, powder, and primer cost, the minimal savings isn't always worth my time. If you are into long range shooting and require accurate ammo, then the only way to go is to load your own.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: St. Peter
You guys want gun shooting fun, try a muzzle loader. Now that is fun! Dump about 90 grains of powder in it, put the patch over the barrel, set a ball on top of it, ram it down the barrel with the god ol' ram rod, lift the gun in your hands, pull the hammer back to half ****, put on a primer, full ****, and let it rip. I love the smoke and the sparks it shoots out, especially when the sun starts to go down. I have a 50 cal. CVA rifle, that thing is so much fun!
Of course, you cant really argue with taking a sub machine gun, switching it to full goose auto, and squeezing off some rounds.
Of course, you cant really argue with taking a sub machine gun, switching it to full goose auto, and squeezing off some rounds.
