tstuart34 , sticking with the topic caliber (9x19) ... I mentioned 115 gr FMJ. I likely shoot 1500-2000 rounds per year... so using my math (even if Al Gore fuzzy math), my cost would be $100-150 more for factory new... I think I figured that correctly. This pertains to my question of time involved in reloading this number of rounds (all components ready to go). How many hours in reloading the aforementioned numbers?
Well, for me, I can reload 100 rounds in about 5.5 minutes. (Yes, I'm geeky enough to have actually tested that.
) I could probably do it faster, as 1200 an hour isn't past what my machine can do, but I take the time to check each one for proper powder levels and don't really rush.
So, at my relaxed rate, I could easily reload your entire yearly ammo budget in under two hours.
Note: I have a Dillon Super 1050 and an electric primer tube refiller, so that speeds things up quite a bit. But back when I used a basic Dillon 550, I could still have reloaded all your ammo for the year in under 5 hours, and I used to reload SLOWLY compared to most people.
Since I can make ammo to my exact specifications (bullet weight, velocity, power factor, and OAL), it is definitely worth it. I don't even shoot 115 gr bullets any more, since my SD ammo is 124 or 147 gr JHP also, so the way the gun feels when I practice is pretty similar to when I shoot my SD ammo, and I know the gun will feed properly and be more accurate than I am when I practice.
I'm not going to get that shooting bulk 115gr ammo from someplace, factory or not. (WWB and Federal, to give two common examples, are MUCH more likely to be different from lot to lot, and Federal often won't make Minor power factor for USPSA, even out of a G34.)
I also shoot a lot more than 2000 rounds a year, so that means I save a lot more money, too. (Well, actually, I still probably spend the same amount, I just get to shoot a lot more for it.)
At 2000 rounds a year, it _might_ be worth it to buy a Dillon 650, but you won't break even for a few years. After that, though, you'll save money every year. Think of it this way: that $100 would have bought you another 700 rounds, which comes to 35% more rounds per year that you could have shot for the same amount of money.
....if I was rich, I'd just have Atlanta Arms and Ammo send me 10,000 rounds a month, and call it good. Failing that, though, I reload.
