The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Anybody know the current cost of reloading .223 ammo?

Depends on the base level you start from?

Used cases (free if already your own from buying ammo, or cheap once-fired) & cast bullets will have a much better per unit cost than new brass (std. or match) plus then you can also choose between cheap FMJ plinking bullets or high end match bullets - plus the bullet weight will add to the latter cost

What load were you trying to work out the cost for?
55gr FMJ are a good place to start to learn on...then go to something like the 52gr A-Max

ALL loads irrespective of new/used case & bullet factors, will need a primer (3p or so) & powder (weight dependant on powder type & bullet weight) - but you may be looking at 280 rounds per 1 lb of powder - so average of maybe 14p per round for powder = call it 18p for the primer & powder costs.

Moved here from The Muzzleloading forum.

Why not introduce yourself on the New Members forum Gluggs?

These are figures worked out rounding up to the nearest 1p and using the same cases 10 times,

PPU Brass (use 10x) 03p
Powder 12p
CCI Primer 03p
PPU 55Gr bullet 15p

So roughly £33/100 compared to PPU factory at around £50/100

While the cost saving is nice the main advantage is you can tailor the loads to your particular rifle and get more accurate ammunition :)

Don't forget the capital cost for all of the kit, it's not cheap even if you buy the more keenly priced stuff.

Lee Loader's are about £25.
Not fast, but they turn out good ammunition...plus are a useful way to both learn the process for a newcomer, as well as make up odd trial rounds later on without having to re-adjust all the other settings on more complex presses.

Charlotte the flyer wrote:Don't forget the capital cost for all of the kit, it's not cheap even if you buy the more keenly priced stuff.

But it is great fun trying to get the perfect round (I could just tweek it a wee bit more syndrome)