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....
