eagleguy said:
I thought about reloading but after looking into the initial kit price and supplies for the different rounds I use the expense didn't seem justifiable at the moment. However, if ammo keeps going up the way it is I might reconsider
I apologize for the repetition.
With a $110 kit
http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8710&dir=210|212|237|1009
plus $35 each for dies of your chosen chamberings you can reload your own (already purchased, if you have been saving them) empty once-fired cases. They can be re-used any number of times. (Bottle-necked cases have relatively short lives, but straight-walled cases can be used many many times. I rarely have to discard a case, usually losing them long before wearing them out.
Primers are 3 or 4 cents each bought by the hundred, 500 or 1000.
Propellant (gunpowder) can be had for $25 to $35 per pound and in the calibers you named, a pound will yield 500 to 1500 rounds, depending on the powder and which chambering you are loading.
As an example, $305 will buy that kit and enough supplies to load 1,000 rounds of 38 Special, 9mm or 380 Auto (plated bullets) (not counting the brass, which you already have, I think). That is $15.25 per box of 50 for 1,000 rounds. And the next 1,000 is $8.00 per box of 50 since the equipment has been paid for by the first 1,000, counting at $15.25 per box.
This does not count your time (say 10 to 12 hours to learn how and one hour per box, so 35 hours to get those first 1,000 rounds).
If you make the kit an auto-indexing turret press, your initial cost goes to $350, but your time to load changes. 10 to 15 hours to learn and 20 minutes per box, so about 17 to 20 hours to get those first 1,000 rounds and the next 1,000 is $8 per box of 50 and 7 hours time.
Factory ammo is certainly more convenient and I will not fault you for preferring it. But I am a dyed-in-the-wool reloader having bought my first gun and first press at the same time.
I can see the virtues of commercial ammo. I just don't weigh them as heavily as you might. I just encourage you to go in with eyes wide open and see the picture in its totality.
For myself, my defense ammo is commercially loaded. But all my practice ammo is loaded by me. It is what I choose and others make different choices. So bless them and bless you with whatever choice you make.
If this post doesn't nudge you enough, I wish you a Happy New Year, good shooting and good luck. If it does nudge you enough to at least be curious, I have a list of threads you might enjoy.
