Amount needed to reload in order to make my money back?

[Dangermouse]

I don't have an answer to your question, but as quality accurate ammunition is nearly a £1 a round (RUAG), it is less than it was last year and the year before that. So any purchases you do make now, may save you money over the long term if you keep at it.

But beware, as already mentioned, re loading is definitely a hobby in it's own right and one that I have often joked at as being an addictive one. The tools that you have listed above are the basics and you will probably find that you are still missing items needed to re load your first round. Your "dealer" will become your best friend and before you know it, re loading will be consuming more money than your shooting.
As you look through re loading catalogues like Sinclair's, you will see an endless number of tools and gadgets which will have you believe that they are necessary to make your ammunition just that bit more accurate than before / the competition. Very similar to Golf, Fishing and Photography in that aspect.

Good luck chasing the dragon,

DM

[dromia]

But beware, as already mentioned, re loading is definitely a hobby in it's own right and one that I have often joked at as being an addictive one. The tools that you have listed above are the basics and you will probably find that you are still missing items needed to re load your first round. Your "dealer" will become your best friend and before you know it, re loading will be consuming more money than your shooting.


DM

Absolutely, I shoot to handload rather than handload to shoot.

[M99]

I had a similar idea to you when I started down this long road !!!!

What a bad idea it was - I have no idea what I have spent on reloading bits and bobs - plus bullets in all shapes and sizes, powders etc - made up batches of each and shot them - tweaked them and shot them some more - I've now got a sweet .223 load and I am almost there with a 6.5 x 55 load too - next I'll do the .308 and then find a hunting load for the .223. Ah but then I have another .223 to load for too (Different twist rate - so that will need another load sorting!!) - it is never ending and I thoroughly enjoy the challenge and pleasure from reloading.

Mike

ah bugger I have a 9mm empty slot on my ticket - so when that gets filled that will be another set of dies etc

[phaedra1106]

may I ask,where do you get those Nosler bullets from, I use PPU 168s and would love to find cheaper,and if as you say better I think its time for a change

Hi Col smile2

Brought 2000 of them back from the US, $218 x 1000 from Sinclairs

http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/pid=3 ... on-Bullets

Wish I'd brought more 9mm as well but with 4 cases fully loaded to 23Kg each with a progressive press, stainless media case tumbler etc. etc. we ran out of luggage allowance

[TattooedGun]

I'm gonna go against the grain of what everyone else is saying: I do reload to save money, Primarily.
Its fantastic having the knowledge that the bullets are tailored for your rifle, and knowing that consistency is a key aspect to making up the round, but the cost of the press and the dies, atleast at my time of life is negligable, because, provided the law doesnt take our rifles away from us, I'll make my money back tenfold on the kit based on my age.
If I shoot 500 rounds per year (and I didnt pay for my press!) by your calculations alone it would only take 4 years to make back the cost of the kit I've bought so far, if that! and I bet I'll shoot more than 500 rounds a year, you know why? because its cheaper than factory ammo!

shoot more, you'll make the difference up quicker

[dromia]

Exactly you end up shooting more not saving money.

[TattooedGun]

And thats a bad thing because?...

[dromia]

No bad thing but you aren't saving money as per the OP (original post).

[Dr. Strangelove]

Handloading can allow you to shoot more for the £, give greater accuracy in your guns than bought ammunition because you can tailor the round and components to your rifle and application, it will help you understand and appreciate your firearms better.

I think the my inbuilt student self was thinking about reloading to save money as that's what we're programmed to do!

But looking at the replies, it seems as if I'll probably end up paying more per round than factory ammunition, unless I can buy in serious bulk from the states.

Which I can come to terms with - it'll mean that my ammunition is as good as possible and it'll be down to me to improve my shooting. Which will be easier if I've reloaded a shed load!

I think I'll get my head around reloading with FMJ first, cast boolits seem like too much to take on from the get go!

Thanks for the replies, guys!

[ovenpaa]

Reloading can be very rewarding however as you have already discovered it is not necessarily a way of saving money if you take into account the set-up costs involved. Also buying a ready made reloading system does not mean you have all the parts that best suit your type of reloading. From personal experience that first investment can be just the tip of the iceberg and you will very quickly find you need to replace or upgrade and even buy additional components.

Having said all this reloading for me at least completes the circle and it is very satisfying when you shoot your first 1" group at 100 yards with ammunition you built from scratch.