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

[John25]

I save money only on my .45 LC as I use my own cast bullets, and my .303 (marginal)

For my 6.5/284 and 7mm, I do not count the cost as it would be a silly price per round.

With the squillions of pounds worth of (not more reloading kit) I don't doubt that I have spent more on reloaded ammo than I would on factory ( the 6.5 and 7mm are not readily available, if at all, anyway)

That said, for the money, I prefer to reload for accuracy and consistency. Even my .45LC loaded with a Dillon are more accurate than factory.

Don't reload to save costs, reload to score better and get the extreme satisfaction of a skill learned and usefully applied.

:cheers:

[IainWR]

Having recently overseen the loading of 13000 rounds for the GB team to South Africa ...

In components (cheap cases from the NRA, cost price powder and primer from a sponsor, Sierra 2156s at factory cost with a sponsorship agreement) our ammo cost about about 50p/round. In effort (every charge weighed to 1/10th grain, every case cleaned, lubed, resized, neck turned, recleaned, checked, primed, charged, loaded, packed, labelled, boxed and palleted for shipping) we built about 30 rds/man-hour. Now the stuff went brilliantly - under half minute elevations. But I am pricing the surplus rounds for sale in South Africa at well over £1 each, and I still haven't settled the bill for reloading kit to the team members that supplied it and had to replace the bits we broke.

Frankly, if the conclusion of this community is that reloading doesn't save you significant money and my conclusion on test is that high-grade commercial ammo such as RUAG is close to the best handloads, I'm going to keep arguing for commercial ammo at the Imperial.

Iain

[desparado]

Hi,

In the end, you don't really save money, 'cos you tend to just shoot more as you get more enjoyment out of making your own more accurate fodder.
Some folk start out reloading to shoot and end up shooting to reload..

Cheers.

[artiglio]

Evening ladies and gents,

Got to agree with most of the above, reloading is never going to save me money, at least not for the forseeable future, but it extends the bounds of shooting as a hobby, in a way is quite relaxing, very satisfying when your loads shoot well and it opens up a whole new set of catalogues and websites to browse. Short of a new calibre to load for I've probably most of the loading gear I'll ever reasonably need, yet there is always something else that catches your eye and interest.
I certainly don't regret reloading but neither will I look too closely at the economics.

All the best phil

[Mr_Logic]

in all honesty, handloading does not save you money, not really. You can try to load just the ammo you'll shoot, but the problem is that by tinkering you make the gun more accurate, so it's worth tinkering. Tinkering means buying the odd box of bullets here and there, and the odd tub of powder here and there. Given that the odd = £50 a time, you soon spend a fortune. Factor in the cost of the kit and the time, and it's a right pain.

But even so, I wouldn't change it. I shoot F/TR, and I can't do what I do unless I reload. My hunting rifles shoot better for it too, so all told I have no choice now. But don't start reloading to save money, you won't. Shooting's expensive, and there's no getting round it. :(

[Alpha1]

Frankly, if the conclusion of this community is that reloading doesn't save you significant money and my conclusion on test is that high-grade commercial ammo such as RUAG is close to the best handloads, I'm going to keep arguing for commercial ammo at the Imperial.

I am so happy I dont shoot the imperial I could never be comfortable shooting ammo in a competion that had been built by some one else and having no idea how it had been assembled.
If I was going to shoot a comp I would have to have built the ammo my self no matter how much it cost.

[Mr_Logic]

RUAG doesn't come anywhere near in the F-class world, according to every single F-class shooter I've spoken to! Hence why we all reload!!

[Dangermouse]

I know of one F Class shooter who is using RUAG as he does not wish to re load. I have chronographed RUAG and was amazed at how consistent it was, certainly within home load variations. I do not have the figures here as a colleague made the notes in his book, but we both gave it the thumbs up as a good back up should we need it.
It is of course loaded to a standard length and is not made for individual rifles, which would keep most self respecting F Class shooters away, as well as only being available in 155gn at a time when many F Class shooters are going heavier.

I will agree that what is acceptable for one re loader is not acceptable for another, but I fancy that it would be more important to worry about the wind than any variations offered by this ammunition. Shame it is the price it is but then all quality ammunition is in that ball park at the moment,

DM

[IainWR]

DM

Just a small point. The RUAG 155 that the NRA supplies is a bespoke product. RUAGs main product in .308 is 168gr and upwards, including some extremely specialised sniper ammunition and a very high quality training round to match the specialist stuff. So if you wanted heavier RUAG ammo it should be available, though I do not know who if anyone retails it in the UK.

Iain

[ovenpaa]

Graeme at Sporting Services should have the RUAG Swiss P in stock, best sell your first born though as it makes Lapua factory stuff look cheap