NFOA MEMBERS FORUM

Ammunition & Hand Loading => General Ammunition Discussion => Topic started by: JimP on June 09, 2010, 02:24:01 PM

Title: Costs
Post by: JimP on June 09, 2010, 02:24:01 PM
Over at TFL, a new shooter asked me what the cost vs. savings on reloading .270 WIN were, and how long it would take to recoup equipment costs......

I did not know for sure what current prices are for loaded ammo...... so I did some research.....

Without buyin any of the components except primers in bulk, I found that you could load pretty decent rounds (WIN case, 60grains of IMR 7828, WLR primer,  130 grain Hornady Interlock  bullets) for 64cents ea., 31 cents less/round than you could buy that crappy Federal blue box stuff (18.99/box of 20)..... if you bought Core Lokts in bulk, you could save an extra dime each shot.....

I imagine powder could be had a lot cheaper, too, both by selecting a cheaper powder and one requiring (a lighter charge- IMR 4064 comes to mind), but the guy asking the question was a newb deer hunter and would be looking for best possible velocity/ energy.....

With an entry level Lee kit, it would take less than 300 rounds to pay for itself...... a Lee Loader less than 1/2 that.

....but, like I have always said, Handloading will not save you any money- you just shoot more.  Most guys don't shoot 300 rounds out of their deer rifles in a decade..... after I started rollin' my own, I have shot nearly that many rounds at prairie dogs in a weekend....