Rancho Roy Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Has anyone sat down and figured out what it costs per round to play this sport? (Reloading) I just did, and unless my math is wrong....It ain't cheap! Not counting brass expense I come up with per round: 45ACP = .23 38Spl= .18 38/40 = .20 Shot Shell (1oz)= .34 Interesting..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Jones, SASS 2263 Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Yep. Getting more expensive, but relative to factory ammo (if you can find it) it's a bargain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bill Burt Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Those numbers are very close to mine. .38 special at .18, and shot shell at .34. I have .45 ACP at .29. You're getting a better deal somewhere, probably primers...? That shot shell cost is why I don't bother reloading shot shell. It only saves about .08, or $20 a month at the rate we shoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rancho Roy Posted May 9, 2022 Author Share Posted May 9, 2022 Quote That shot shell cost is why I don't bother reloading shot shell. It only saves about .08, or $20 a month at the rate we shoot. The problem is getting low recoil shells...Have not been able to find Winchester 980fps shells for two years. I used to pay $64 for 250 after the yearly summer rebate. My wife can't handle the 1100-1200fps loads. And If I can find them, they are $120-$150 for 250 around here (New England)..... Quote You're getting a better deal somewhere, probably primers...? Lately I'm paying $90 /1000....I have a friend that works at Cabelas and he grabs me 1000 Federals whenever they come in. But he can only get 1000 and he gets no employee discount on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Duncan Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 41 minutes ago, Rancho Roy said: Has anyone sat down and figured out what it costs per round to play this sport? (Reloading) I just did, and unless my math is wrong....It ain't cheap! Not counting brass expense I come up with per round: 45ACP = .23 38Spl= .18 38/40 = .20 Shot Shell (1oz)= .34 Interesting..... My math is about 15 years old. 45 Colt was 50 cents per round. 100 round per match equaled $50. When the son show with me $100 per match. Reloading brought my cost down to 10 cents per round. Or 8 cents per round if I casted my own bullets (that was when wheel weights were free). Reloads I saved $40 a match, $80 including the son. I figured the Dillion Square Deal paid for it's shelf the first year. With today's increase in prices and based on above data I'd estimate reloading will save a Cowpoke roughly 70% over today's factory loads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rancho Roy Posted May 9, 2022 Author Share Posted May 9, 2022 I just calculated a standard state match with 10 main stages, three warm ups and four stages of Wild Bunch....(WB at 28 45ACP rounds a stage)....Main Match = $73.88 / WB = $41.12...Total $115....Not too bad for three days of fun. Could lose that in about ten seconds at a Casino! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Jones, SASS 2263 Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 1 hour ago, Rancho Roy said: The problem is getting low recoil shells...Have not been able to find Winchester 980fps shells for two years. I used to pay $64 for 250 after the yearly summer rebate. My wife can't handle the 1100-1200fps loads. And If I can find them, they are $120-$150 for 250 around here (New England)..... Lately I'm paying $90 /1000....I have a friend that works at Cabelas and he grabs me 1000 Federals whenever they come in. But he can only get 1000 and he gets no employee discount on them. Keep an eye out for Federal sub sonic shotgun ammo at 900 fps. I believe the item no. is TGM 12375. Firearms Depot has them in stock more than other places, but is out of stock right now. Ammoseek shows them available through a couple of dealers. Pricey compared to the "old days", but they're around. The Winchesters don't seem to be in production currently. Haven't seen any since last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gateway Kid SASS# 70038 Life Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 1 hour ago, Rancho Roy said: The problem is getting low recoil shells...Have not been able to find Winchester 980fps shells for two years. I used to pay $64 for 250 after the yearly summer rebate. My wife can't handle the 1100-1200fps loads. And If I can find them, they are $120-$150 for 250 around here (New England)..... Lately I'm paying $90 /1000....I have a friend that works at Cabelas and he grabs me 1000 Federals whenever they come in. But he can only get 1000 and he gets no employee discount on them. Had heard the LNLR were getting scarce but didn't know how scarce. I reload my own for the last 10 years of so and a pard mentioned he was low so I found some in the back of the shotgun shell pile (5 boxes) and gave them to him. (I was never going to use them) In the past he has kept me in once fired STS and Nitro so fair all around. Added... He brought me some Trail Boss as a sweetener though he didn't need to. It is good to take care of each other. Regards Gateway Kid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Spade Mikey Wilson Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 I'm one of the lucky ones. I'm still using reloading components that I stocked up on after the last shortage hit. My rifle/pistol .38 special cartridges have a cost of 11.5 cents each, and my 12 gauge shot shells have a cost of .21 cents each. I have enough stuff for another 3-4 years then all bets are off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roscoe Regulator Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 The dilemma now, aside from availability, is how much is too much cost? It is a costly sport that may leave some cowboys and cowgirls behind. The cost of ammo or reloading components and equipment are only part of what confronts our newer shooters. Nevertheless we still see new people with enough passion for joining in that they find a way to afford things, now or eventually. I am more concerned about availability. Discussing cost is an academic exercise, if key components of the sport are unavailable, or if limited supplies are only found (and in time) by pure luck, try as one might. Finding enough or a limit to justify HAZMAT fees and shipping is part of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rip Snorter Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 That any of us have inventory is a good thing, provided we can gradually replace components we have used. I have not found bullets to be a concern across several calibers. Powder and primers more of an issue. Moving forward my plan is to continue to use current inventory but also buy in reasonable quantity when components are available. As to the cost, I will do the best I can to keep things in balance and continue to shoot. I have never favored major matches, nor shot many in a year for some time so my situation is easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Bullweed Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 I cast .313, .358, .401, .430 and .452 bullets using lead that I find for $1.50/lb to free. My 20ga and 12gs shotshells are .06(primer) + .10 (powder) + .09 (wad) + .08 (3/4oz of shot) = $.35 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sun Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 It's really apples and oranges if the equated the cost of rounds are based upon old prices ($30K primers. $20- 1 lb powder, $30/500 bullets) and none of you all have included brass depletion. No matter what you paid for components then, you need to calculate costs at todays prices for a fair cost assessment. Otherwise, you just kidding yourselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 A new shooter came to a local match recently with three boxes of Black Hills .45's ($55/box). Yikes. I still have pre-pandemic large pistol primers but am just now about to start in on my "expensive" small primers. I don't want to calculate cost, nor even think about it. Nor gas prices. If I do, it's just depressing, and I would rather enjoy myself and concentrate on the good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkey Flats Jack Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 Just for this game. My smokeless .357 ammo is currently $0.073 per round or $3.63 per box of 50. My BP 44/40 is $0.022 per round and $1.09 per box of 50. My plastic BP shotshells are $0.166/ea or $4.15/box. That's with essentially free once fired hulls and reclaimed shot from a local trap range. My brass hulls reloads are roughly $5.75 a box because of the added expense of fiber wads, nitro cards and overshot cards. Now those are pre covid prices. Still using primers and powder I got at a store close out. I make my own BP and cast my .429 lead from free wheel weights another cowboy gifted me. I'm not factoring in brass or my time. I figure the brass and equipment has long since paid for itself. I'm not looking forward to adding up what the cost per round will be once I start using those $90/1000 primers and $40/lb powder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 i get it that a lot of folks are weighing cost/availability issues these days , my take on it is if it costs me more i still will reload my own to my spec , the cost is not really a factor - its more the availability of whayt i use that would concern me - if it costs me a bit more i still will reload and i still will buy my components when i find them , as much as i realize my attitude feeds the escalating cost in some folks minds im not willing at this point in life to change my ways , i have a powder or three that i deem acceptable , im not picky on primers and i have a lot of brass in hand , my bullet choice is what it is , ill buy them when needed - there is a criteria they need to fit , if in the end my rounds cost more than factory ----i do not care , if cheaper , great , i dont track it , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokin Gator SASS #29736 Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 New shooters buying ammo or reloading are in a pretty bad spot. Along with more experienced shooters who are just starting to reload. I would think there are a pretty good number of experienced shooters who have stocked up pretty well on ammo and reloading components in past years. But I have been surprised by some who should have known better but didn't stock up in anticipation of future problems. Out of the total number of gun owners a very small percentage regularly compete. A pretty high percentage that I know that do compete also reload. My experience has been that many who compete and reload have several years at least of primers and powder while continuing to buy bullets at about 8 to 12 cents or so, at least up until recently. Very few cast all their own bullets with free lead let alone make their own gunpowder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bill Burt Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 19 hours ago, Rancho Roy said: The problem is getting low recoil shells...Have not been able to find Winchester 980fps shells for two years. I used to pay $64 for 250 after the yearly summer rebate. My wife can't handle the 1100-1200fps loads. And If I can find them, they are $120-$150 for 250 around here (New England)..... Lately I'm paying $90 /1000....I have a friend that works at Cabelas and he grabs me 1000 Federals whenever they come in. But he can only get 1000 and he gets no employee discount on them. If you have a case of Remington Gun Club 1145 fps bring it to the GA State match and I’ll swap you for a case of AA LNLR for your wife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Catorce Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 9 hours ago, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said: A new shooter came to a local match recently with three boxes of Black Hills .45's ($55/box). Yikes. I still have pre-pandemic large pistol primers but am just now about to start in on my "expensive" small primers. I don't want to calculate cost, nor even think about it. Nor gas prices. If I do, it's just depressing, and I would rather enjoy myself and concentrate on the good stuff. Good stuff?…. as in “faster horses, younger women, older whiskey and more money!”…? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patagonia Pete Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 Time to dump all this stuff (excess guns … ones you are not keeping as BBQ conversation pieces (proof of how it used to be … etc) / Dillons that people will still pay you for) and buy a small 9mm conceal carry pistol … If you want to compete purchase an inexpensive competition gun and shoot 9mm in USPSA/IDPA (easy and cheap to buy bulk 9mm online … you can fire the gun while moving/get a magazine etc … what's not to like??). Take the money you make/save (while this stuff is still worth something) and buy an electric bike. When it gets bad enough … (for the large mobs of participants to continue to appear at our matches) the ranges will close (become apartment buildings) and places to shoot (other than drive-by neighborhood plinking) will be extremely limited. Send your excess ammo to Ukraine!! Do not watch this video!! This is not gun control … Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rip Snorter Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roscoe Regulator Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 28 minutes ago, Patagonia Pete said: Time to dump all this stuff (excess guns … ones you are not keeping as BBQ conversation pieces (proof of how it used to be … etc) / Dillons that people will still pay you for) and buy a small 9mm conceal carry pistol … If you want to compete purchase an inexpensive competition gun and shoot 9mm in USPSA/IDPA (easy and cheap to buy bulk 9mm online … you can fire the gun while moving/get a magazine etc … what's not to like??). Take the money you make/save (while this stuff is still worth something) and buy an electric bike. When it gets bad enough … (for the large mobs of participants to continue to appear at our matches) the ranges will close (become apartment buildings) and places to shoot (other than drive-by neighborhood plinking) will be extremely limited. Send your excess ammo to Ukraine!! Do not watch this video!! This is not gun control … Disrespectfully badgering the witness about a preconceived answer doesn't provide much that is useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 im already depressed by all that is transpiring , i agree we do not want to dissuade new shooters but reality is they will have to work harder for what they need than some of us did , that said , i would encourage everyone to continue and persevere , its what we live for - doing what we have a right to do peacefully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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