[RoGrrr]

Lemme say a couple things here
First, as if this hasn't been said before - you won't save anything by reloading. You'll just shoot MORE and burn up your savings.

Second - I spent about $2000 last year on another REAL 'spensive ree-loader. Granted, I shoot a LOT. I have paid for that machine so far (19 months) with the savings from it.

So I went out and bought some more equipment (one of those HIGH DOLLAR boolit casting mochines) and components (primers and powder) to load MORE AMMO with.

I'd gotten into pistol shooting and I had to go to the range and scrounge spent bullets from the backstop/berm (for that boolit caster). I take the crap home and smelt it into clean ingots with which I cast bullets. I can load a $25 box of 45ACP ammo for under $4 ! (tell me you can't save....)

So I SHOOT even MORE ! ^5 ! to me....

Oh, yeah. I can buy an extra 6-pack from time to time

Wifey goads me into loading so she can shoot more, too. At times, I get lucky

[454fan]

Originally Posted by Yunus

I shoot .40, .45, .223, .308 calibers for the most part.

Roughly how much does it cost to make a .45 or .223 round and how much time does it take? How much is an initial investment in equipment to be able to reload the 4 calibers mentioned?

I'm trying to consider and weigh the options to determine at what point reloading becomes cost effective.

I shoot a lot of the same as you, however I cast a lot of my own bullets,therefore my cost per bullet is .05 I gather up all the wheel weights that the local tire shops donate (,o cents) I have mould thats are 5-10 yrs old so they have paid for there cost many times. I gather brass from local firing range
(.o) cost so basicaly no cost except powder and primers

[Steel_Talon]

Originally Posted by 454fan

I shoot a lot of the same as you, however I cast a lot of my own bullets,therefore my cost per bullet is .05 I gather up all the wheel weights that the local tire shops donate (,o cents) I have mould thats are 5-10 yrs old so they have paid for there cost many times. I gather brass from local firing range
(.o) cost so basicaly no cost except powder and primers

I'm a CRB myself (cheap rat bastard) and believe that casting is a great option. But, it's takes a hella lot of time investment,tools and moulds, storage, scrounging and sorting. For me it's much more cost effective to buy "taylor made" lead bullets in lots of one thousand.
Good Karma
ST~

[DRSNINER]

I reload .38super,9mm,.40&.45acp pistol rounds,.308&.223 in rifle. Pistol stuff comes off a lee turret press. The rifles off a lee cast iron breech lock single stage. Savings sure thing,fun hell yes!!!!

[larrymac1]

This is an easy answer. Reloading becomes cost effective when you convience yourself it is.

[beaglesam]

Originally Posted by larrymac1

This is an easy answer. Reloading becomes cost effective when you convience yourself it is.

I convinced myself when I convinced my wife that I was saving money.

[JD1969]

Originally Posted by beaglesam

I convinced myself when I convinced my wife that I was saving money.

This is spot on!
My wife is the daughter of a CPA, they don't come much more.....shall we say frugal then her. Once I showed her how much it cost per round to buy factory and what it cost per round to reload, she was convinced. If she only knew the truth.

[srtolly1]

I had to do the same. I convinced her that the equipment could a lifetime purchase and the cost ammortized over my lifetime (which didn't seem like it would be long at the time).

[-06]

Brand new newbie here. The underlying reason that I reload is that if/when supplies of ammo dry up/restricted/outlawed I can still reliably defend my home/etc. Have 36 calibers that I can load and can cast many calibers. I do not use but just a few but that is not the object. I no longer burn a thousand rds weekly but enjoy loading as brass is procured. As for costs--check todays prices and then you can answer the question yourself. Lots of difference between $1+ per round and .20-30 cents.

[454fan]

when your ammo is 36.00 for 20
can't find any 25-06,22 hornet,454's.