Author Topic: Most spectacular failed attempt at saving money on reloading (Read 1152 times)

Questor · « **on:** May 26, 2005, 05:12:16 AM »

What's your most spectacular failed attempt at saving money on reloading?

Mine was buying a factory barrel that needed a lot of load development to get it to shoot good. I should have bought a custom barrel and paid about the same and gotten a better barrel.

Then there was bullet casting, which doesn't save me much money given the cost of scrap lead around here, but takes a lot of time. Maybe if I get a windfall of good lead I'll return to it.

jcunclejoe · « **Reply #1 on:** May 26, 2005, 05:21:47 AM »

I bought 5000 wads for shotgun reloading from e-bay. I looked for a while and could only find data for a recently discontinued hull. They sat around for several years until last week when I threw them out.
I still have never loaded a single shotgun shell. I sold the loader since I wasn't using it. I still have several thousand shotgun primers on the shelf.
I'll just buy STS's when I feel like shooting the shotgun.

Joe

Robert · « **Reply #2 on:** May 26, 2005, 07:31:11 AM »

Shoulda sent the wads to me. I would gladly take the primers if it is legal to ship them.....

ricciardelli · « **Reply #3 on:** May 26, 2005, 11:36:37 AM »

My most spectacular failed attempt at saving money on reloading?

When CCI/Speer went up for sale I offered $3.98.

My bid was turned down...

:-D

Gregory · « **Reply #4 on:** May 26, 2005, 11:59:50 AM »

Quote from: Questor

Maybe if I get a windfall of good lead I'll return to it.

Your local tire store will probably give you wheel weights for free.

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2005, 02:00:54 PM »

That would have to be my Lee Progressive shotshell reloader. I like Lee. I use a lot of Lee stuff. I ain't never again gonna buy nothing from them that has more than four moving parts.

BruceP · « **Reply #6 on:** May 26, 2005, 03:54:52 PM »

Well maybe this is not really what you want but I would have to say it was my very first Lee press kit. Thats because it lead to all of the of the other "stuff" that clutters up my reloading room, some of which gets very little use (like my electronic powder measure) but cost a pretty penny. I guess it really lead even to my reloading room itself since we built our house after I started reloading.

I thought reloading was suppose to save us money
BruceP

beemanbeme · « **Reply #7 on:** May 26, 2005, 04:52:20 PM »

Shortly after the earth's crust began to cool I bought some 2nd hand reloading "stuff" and started saving money. I figured out that I could reload 100 rounds of 30-06 ammo for the cost of a single box of store ammo. With that information, I closed the books and have be saving money every since.
When I started reloading, I owned a 30-06, a .22 single shot squirrel rifle and a model 870 in 12 gauge. I now have two gun safes and a free standing 16x24 building to house all the guns and reloading "stuff" I have bought with the money I've saved.

wolfpack · « **Reply #8 on:** May 26, 2005, 07:31:40 PM »

I CANT TOP THAT ONE BUT I THOUGHT I WOULD SAVE A LOT OF TIME (TIME IS MONEY) WITH A DILLON 550 , SPENT ALL OF THAT TIME (MONEY I SAVED) ON CONVERSION KITS, BULLETS, AND POWDER.

Rick N Bama · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2005, 11:56:16 PM »

Quote from: BruceP

I thought reloading was suppose to save us money
BruceP

shhhhhhhhhh.......keep it quiet, my wife still thinks I'm saving money :roll:

Rick

Castaway · « **Reply #10 on:** May 27, 2005, 01:37:44 AM »

My most spectacular failed attempt at saving money on reloading was buying a press in the first place. I've never saved a penny reloading, just shot a heck of a lot more. I got obsessive and started collecting brass for a caliber I didn't have (45 ACP), then I had to buy a pistol, that led to another 1911, then another after that, then picked up a Colt 1917 to load for. Then I decided that since I reloaded, I might as well buy a Garand and do some 30-06's; 10,000+ bullets, powder and primers later hasn't put any money in my pocket. Then got a Blackhawk in 45 Colt to hunt with and had to buy a Trapper in the same caliber to save more money. A pair of 45 Colts begged for its big brother born in the same year and got a Ruger # 1 in 45-70. Wasn't satisfied with the 4 moulds I bought or jacketed bullets and got a custom mould. Twenty four pounds of surplus 4895 later, a bruised shoulder and loose molars I finally got a load I was satisfied with. Don't forget the other calibers that tricked me into saving money, will never have a 270 WBY again. 38's, 380's, 9mm's barely count in the tally since the bullets and charges are so small, but the primers can get expensive, especially during the primer drought in 93. Should have picked up knitting for a hobby.

Mikey · « **Reply #11 on:** May 27, 2005, 03:52:36 AM »

Castaway - LOLOLOL. T'is a slippery slope, ain't it pal, and this is comin' from a man who has slid all the way to the bottom - LOLOLOL. Mikey.

myronman3 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 27, 2005, 11:51:40 AM »

i would have to go with buying my dillon press(s). i looked high and low for a good deal, finally got tired and bought a 550b new from a local store. the NEXT DAY (!!!!!) saw a 650 for sale. for kicks, i went to look at it. the guy kept throwing stuff in on the deal until i just couldnt say no! so i come home with that. now a square deal is headed my way. the 650 has gone to live with my brother and the square deal will most likey go live with my dad.
the damn things are just too slick and i get a real kick out of using them.
since the day dillon #1 came home with me, powder, bullets, brass, and primers just dont seem to last nearly as long. but i do enjoy shooting that much more because reloading isnt nearly as much work. i also stopped loading at when i reached 2000 rounds per caliber.

now i am stocking up on components. it never ends.... :wink:

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 27, 2005, 05:18:00 PM »

Quote from: Questor

What's your most spectacular failed attempt at saving money on reloading?

Mine was buying a factory barrel that needed a lot of load development to get it to shoot good. I should have bought a custom barrel and paid about the same and gotten a better barrel.

Then there was bullet casting, which doesn't save me much money given the cost of scrap lead around here, but takes a lot of time. Maybe if I get a windfall of good lead I'll return to it.

Mine would have been the day i bought my first press and its been all down hill ever since

Tom W. · « **Reply #14 on:** May 28, 2005, 05:43:09 PM »

Like Castaway said, Collecting bullet molds, dies, presses, and brass that you don't have a need for, but hey, it can be reformed into something that I DO have. Why, not too long ago I found a whole bunch of .280 brass. I can reform it to make .270 or 30/06 brass. Nevermind that I have more brass than I can load taking up space in my loading room, all primed and ready to load, in color coded boxes from Midway. And my newest addition, a Ruger #1B in 7mm Rem mag, is need to get more stuff... bullets, dies, ammo boxes (the green ones with the handle from MTM), and of course, more brass.... and a tumbler, electronic scale, lubrisizer--which opens up a whole new world of bullet casting. And the list goes on... but saving money is nowhere to be found on the list. :roll:

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #15 on:** May 28, 2005, 10:59:59 PM »

when i replace my pos lee pro 1000 with a bigger pos loadmaster.

glock29 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 01, 2005, 09:11:24 AM »

ricciardelli:

I really like your bid of $3.98 for CCI/Speer.....thats about what I'd give for that corporation too. The only thing I ever buy from them is occasional primers.

Throckmorton · « **Reply #17 on:** June 03, 2005, 05:18:44 AM »

A Hornady 366 shotshell reloader.It was used so some of the problems could be attributed to that,but it is a huge press and the savings are so minimal it just was not worth it.Balky at times,has sieges of 'let's crush all the crimps for a while',and no case sensor.You'd better mount this baby inside a cake pan,or else!

On a good note about Lee,my Load all 2 just keeps on putting out shells.for YEARS.

tomaldridge · « **Reply #18 on:** June 03, 2005, 10:27:24 AM »

$10 for 2 5-gallon buckets full of wheel weights, $45 for a Production pot, $70 for 2 molds and sizers, and $10 for an ingot mold. Hours later, I had 100 good bullets for my .41 Magnum, and 100 for my .45-70 that won't shoot worth a damn!

Tom W. · « **Reply #19 on:** June 04, 2005, 06:23:16 PM »

Try a different bullet lube...

Flash · « **Reply #20 on:** June 05, 2005, 01:33:20 AM »

Buying Lee equipment

WD45 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 08, 2005, 06:23:24 AM »

HELP !!!!!
I'v FALLEN UNDER SOME OF MY RELOADING STUFF AND CAN,T GET UP :-D

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #22 on:** June 08, 2005, 07:18:39 PM »

Quote from: tomaldridge

$10 for 2 5-gallon buckets full of wheel weights, $45 for a Production pot, $70 for 2 molds and sizers, and $10 for an ingot mold. Hours later, I had 100 good bullets for my .41 Magnum, and 100 for my .45-70 that won't shoot worth a damn!

Naw, that was a wise investment. You just need us to walk you through the details.

Come over to the Cast Bullet Forum, and we'll take care of you.

ajj · « **Reply #23 on:** June 09, 2005, 02:42:39 AM »

Those of you who shoot competition have probably received one or more of those neat Sierra key rings at matches. You know, the chrome plated bullet with the hole drilled in it for the little key chain? Well, I had collected half a dozen over the years and it seemed a shame to waste them. Mine miked about .313 so I loaded them up for my SMLE with a medium charge of 4064. Unfortunately, the accuracy was terrible, they left a lot of funny residue in the barrel and I got some bad pressure signs. Next time I'm going to remove the little chains.