Ikarus1
Avtomat Krishna-kov
You need to arrange an opening, perhaps by nefarious means. Call in some drunk driving members leaving the Vineyard
How many rounds a week?
- Thread starter Millie
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It's easier than making chocolate chip cookies. There's only four ingredients but you just have to be REAL careful. Best way to start is by saving your brass. Check out Dillon reloaders. They offer a 100% satisfaction guaranteed no BS lifetime transferable warranty
Start with this- https://www.amazon.com/ABCs-Reloading-Definitive-Novice-Expert-ebook/dp/B004GUSBP6
I'm a fan of the Lee Classic Turret press. If you shop around, you can be in a complete reloading setup in the caliber of your choice for less than $300. A nice, easy to operate, reliable press that won't break the bank. I'm a perfectionist, so I like to use mine as an index-able single stage & run everything in batches. If you load more than one caliber, switching between calibers is easy-peasy & you can swap turrets in seconds.
I'm a fan of the Lee Classic Turret press. If you shop around, you can be in a complete reloading setup in the caliber of your choice for less than $300. A nice, easy to operate, reliable press that won't break the bank. I'm a perfectionist, so I like to use mine as an index-able single stage & run everything in batches. If you load more than one caliber, switching between calibers is easy-peasy & you can swap turrets in seconds.
I do reload, a lot, and I began reloading probably around the time I crested 250 rounds a week or so. No I dont really save any money, but I can shoot way more for the same cost.
I shoot between 750 and 1000 rounds most weeks. It's a combination of 9mm, 38 special, 357 magnum, 44 magnum, and 45 colt.
I shoot between 750 and 1000 rounds most weeks. It's a combination of 9mm, 38 special, 357 magnum, 44 magnum, and 45 colt.
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I shoot between 200- 300 rounds during a range session. I find more than that I am wasting ammo. It is 90% 9mm with some 45 ACP or 380 auto mixed in. I try to get to the range every week but it does not alway happen. It is not the number of rounds you send down range IMHO it is the quality of those rounds. Drills, focus, practical practice are more important than round count. If you are looking for quantity you should be dry firing more.
Remember practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. Every round should count even on a square range.
To the reloading part it is all about what calibers you are shooting. Right now you can buy brass cased 9mm for $.15 a round. Unless you are collecting and melting down lead you are not going to save any money reloading. 45 ACP & 380 auto are a bit different but when you factor in proper equipment and time in todays pro-buyer ammo market I would not start reloading.
I ran the number tonight and I am able to reload 124Gr 9mm for about $.09 to $.10 a round but could be buying at $.15. My equipment is long paid for but still I am only saving $5 per thousand and my time to reload that 1000 rounds has to be worth more than $5. Then again I just bought 10K primers so take my advice with a grain of salt.
Remember practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. Every round should count even on a square range.
To the reloading part it is all about what calibers you are shooting. Right now you can buy brass cased 9mm for $.15 a round. Unless you are collecting and melting down lead you are not going to save any money reloading. 45 ACP & 380 auto are a bit different but when you factor in proper equipment and time in todays pro-buyer ammo market I would not start reloading.
I ran the number tonight and I am able to reload 124Gr 9mm for about $.09 to $.10 a round but could be buying at $.15. My equipment is long paid for but still I am only saving $5 per thousand and my time to reload that 1000 rounds has to be worth more than $5. Then again I just bought 10K primers so take my advice with a grain of salt.
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After looking over the rest of the responses in this thread, I guess just because of the way I grew up always having land and shooting in my back yard or another family members back yard I never really put thought into how lucky I am to have a full steel target range behind my own home. I don't have to travel to shoot, just walk out back, that and reloading probably are the cause for my bulk shooting.
Yup each shot is like throwing a dime on the ground....
Most of the projectiles I load cost that much by themselves, but in lieu of paying $1.30-$1.60/round, I'm okay with that.
My wife and I shoot together, and at one time were going to the local indoor range once a week. We typically would shoot about 100 rounds each. Lately, it has been more like once every two weeks. Mostly 9mm and 45, but the wife has started training with a Ruger SR22 and that has improved her trigger skills. She burns about 50 rounds of 22 each trip, and usually about 50 rounds of 45. For me, it is whatever I feel like taking. Sometimes 45, sometimes 9mm, sometimes I just have to hear the bark of a 44mag or 460.
On the weekends, I try to go with a couple of my shooting buddies to the outdoor range (Frontline). I usually have some loads in various calibers worked up to test, but I almost always take my AR to shoot some accuracy loads, typically about 50 rounds per visit. For the cost of cheap plinking loads, I can load ammo that is much more accurate, out to 600 yards.
If you will be loading 9mm, reloading doesn't make any sense from a money savings perspective. On the other hand, if you want to shoot 357 or 44 mag then the cost savings start to make sense. Now I started out loading 40, 380, and 9mm, so the cost of the press was spread out over several calibers. I didn't really save any money, but I shot a lot more. Once you have the press, though, other calibers start to become more interesting and less cost prohibitive to shoot, as the only equipment you may have to add will just be the dies and trimmers, etc.
The real advantage to reloading, in my mind, is being able to customize your loads for your preference, or for reliability or accuracy with a given gun. You can't always buy that in factory ammo.
I told myself when I started that I was going to save money, but the main reason I started was the "ammo depression" mentioned earlier in the thread. But, then there was the powder and primer depression that soon followed. Luckily, I managed to buy enough powder and primers right before that, enough to keep me going. Now, I make sure I have enough supplies to last several years, in case it happens again.
Reloading is not for everybody. But I enjoy it, I look at it as a hobby in itself, instead of just something I have to do so I can shoot.
On the weekends, I try to go with a couple of my shooting buddies to the outdoor range (Frontline). I usually have some loads in various calibers worked up to test, but I almost always take my AR to shoot some accuracy loads, typically about 50 rounds per visit. For the cost of cheap plinking loads, I can load ammo that is much more accurate, out to 600 yards.
If you will be loading 9mm, reloading doesn't make any sense from a money savings perspective. On the other hand, if you want to shoot 357 or 44 mag then the cost savings start to make sense. Now I started out loading 40, 380, and 9mm, so the cost of the press was spread out over several calibers. I didn't really save any money, but I shot a lot more. Once you have the press, though, other calibers start to become more interesting and less cost prohibitive to shoot, as the only equipment you may have to add will just be the dies and trimmers, etc.
The real advantage to reloading, in my mind, is being able to customize your loads for your preference, or for reliability or accuracy with a given gun. You can't always buy that in factory ammo.
I told myself when I started that I was going to save money, but the main reason I started was the "ammo depression" mentioned earlier in the thread. But, then there was the powder and primer depression that soon followed. Luckily, I managed to buy enough powder and primers right before that, enough to keep me going. Now, I make sure I have enough supplies to last several years, in case it happens again.
Reloading is not for everybody. But I enjoy it, I look at it as a hobby in itself, instead of just something I have to do so I can shoot.
A lot of truth there. Not to get too off topic, but when I flew model airplanes competitively, I practiced every day. The more I practiced, it seemed the worse I got. I found out that when I skipped a couple of days, the next time I flew I did really well. So, I started practicing every day but stopped a few days before a contest, and did not fly any practice rounds at the events. I won a lot of trophies that way.
My wife already figured this out. But, she shoots, too, so she supports my reloading efforts. She shares the cost of bullets, I pay for the powder and primers.But here is reloadings dirty little secret, you will end up shooting 2-3 times as much ammo since its so "cheap" and never save a dollar. Please don't tell my wife this.
^^^^ Excellent advice. I agree on the Lee Classic Turret press. I have a Dillon on one end of my bench, and the LCT on the other end. The LCT is a great way to start and isn't expensive.
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"Will work for ammo, please help"
I believe your math is off. Loading at .10 per round vs buying at .15 per round, .05 x 1000 rounds would equal $50 savings on a case of ammo. Plus you could load the round how you wanted to, like hot defense loads or easy bunny farts for fun plinking. This is pretty much why I would reload even if it cost the same to buy factory ammo, just not a fan of factory stuff. That and I have a good bit invested in reloading equipment.
OP
Awww, poor you! I'm sure that will be a hardship for you! Lol. I hope the neighbors are patient, since doesn't it take months and more months to get one?shot 80 rds of 22lr in the backyard, then the new neighbors moved in beside my other new neighbors. Guess it's about time to get a can
Ikarus1
Avtomat Krishna-kov
I have another place to shoot....but the backyard has been nice for a good long while. And yea it takes months to get a form 1 approved
Yes I believe you are correct. And yes there is value in loading your own ammo to your spec but when you factor in the learning curve and equipment for a new shooter it’s not really a way to save money shooting 9 mm. Even if you save some money that money will go right back in the shooting. In the end you don’t save money you just shoot more and these days not as much as you used to work you put it .
I guess my point is when ammo prices are as low as they are right now what caliber is like 9 mm and 223 It is not a cost-effective time to start reloading. If you’re shooting a lot of 380 auto or 38 special your cost benefit is higher. 9 mm is just too cheap these days.
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If you shoot lead bullets and cast your own then reloading any caliber makes sense. I scrounge my lead and all I'm paying for is primers and powder.
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Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk
How quickly your reloading setup pays for itself definitely depends on what you're reloading.
I started reloading because of my .41Mag fetish & at $.15/rd vs. $1.75/rd, it paid for itself rather quickly. Cost savings on the .357 Maximum? HUGE, if you can even find loaded ammo. Starting with brand new Starline brass & 'expensive' gas checked boolitz, I'm at $.66/rd. When I reload that once fired brass, I'm down to $.17/rd.
Probably don't save near that much on .45ACP, but I can load up yer basic 230gr hardball, or screaming 200gr SWC for pennies per round & I don't have to mess with goin' out & buyin' it. I'm sure 9mm will be the same when I get to it next. Gonna load up a boatload of 124gr HP to mimic our (store-bought) carry ammo.
Besides, I invested very heavily in reloading components over the last few years & need to start making use of some of my stockpile.
At the end of the day though, you probably won't really save any money by reloading, but you will be able to get in a hell of a lot more shooting for your dollar.
I started reloading because of my .41Mag fetish & at $.15/rd vs. $1.75/rd, it paid for itself rather quickly. Cost savings on the .357 Maximum? HUGE, if you can even find loaded ammo. Starting with brand new Starline brass & 'expensive' gas checked boolitz, I'm at $.66/rd. When I reload that once fired brass, I'm down to $.17/rd.
Probably don't save near that much on .45ACP, but I can load up yer basic 230gr hardball, or screaming 200gr SWC for pennies per round & I don't have to mess with goin' out & buyin' it. I'm sure 9mm will be the same when I get to it next. Gonna load up a boatload of 124gr HP to mimic our (store-bought) carry ammo.
Besides, I invested very heavily in reloading components over the last few years & need to start making use of some of my stockpile.
At the end of the day though, you probably won't really save any money by reloading, but you will be able to get in a hell of a lot more shooting for your dollar.
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I typically shoot between 500-1000 rounds of 9mm/week depending on the days I work.
I don’t reload but I buy in bulk to try to make it last.
Bullets made from wax, with nothing but the primer for propellant. They also sell brass with the primer pockets enlarged slightly so you can reload the brass at the range.
https://www.waxbullet.com
I shoot every day. Every Day. Rain, shine, sleet, snow, Halloween or Quanza. I shoot around 200 rounds a week. This number can c r e e p to a thousand if there are visitors. I learn something Every Time I shoot. Sometimes it's what not to do. The Wizard COLD gets shot every day. Any try after the first try is just fooling yourself.
Where do you shoot?
I would love to have range at the house were I could do this everyday. IMHO shooting drills like The Wizard, The Casino Drill and The Test cold everyday is a great way to measure, sharpen and maintain proficiency. Most of us do not have that luxury. Maybe one day.
Combat Diver
Well-Known Member
Millie,
I shoot about 75 rds of 9mm and 200 rds of 5.56 a week here and when home however shoot around 5o rds pistol/day (range in backyard). At the amount your shooting .380 you may want to get a subcaliber gun to reduce some of the costs. IE since your main gun is a SIG238 consider a Browning 1911 which is a 80% scale size. Bit bigger but controls will be the same.
Next two issues we've touched on before. First consider setting up a range box to stop the .22LR in your backyard. Start saving your .380 brass as that is the most expensive part of reloading and can be used many times till you lose it. Simple cast lead round nose bullets will further reduce the cost. I cast my own .355 92gr LRN for my son's cz83. Need another mold as that is only a single cav. and need at least a double cav to increase the production.
CD
I shoot about 75 rds of 9mm and 200 rds of 5.56 a week here and when home however shoot around 5o rds pistol/day (range in backyard). At the amount your shooting .380 you may want to get a subcaliber gun to reduce some of the costs. IE since your main gun is a SIG238 consider a Browning 1911 which is a 80% scale size. Bit bigger but controls will be the same.
Next two issues we've touched on before. First consider setting up a range box to stop the .22LR in your backyard. Start saving your .380 brass as that is the most expensive part of reloading and can be used many times till you lose it. Simple cast lead round nose bullets will further reduce the cost. I cast my own .355 92gr LRN for my son's cz83. Need another mold as that is only a single cav. and need at least a double cav to increase the production.
CD