Cost to Reload

[Dixie Dude]

What is the approximate cost to reload .375 HH, .416 Rigby, and .458 Lott?  Exclude brass since once that is purchased, they can be reused several times.  I'm thinking average bullets for what these cartriges are intended.  I would like to know the breakdown for a box of 20 reloads.  I know each holds different amounts of powder.  If all used the same bullet type (not weight, but type), and the same powder.  I'm thinking the .375 HH would be the least expensive.  I would like to shoot often to become more familier with the rifle I eventually purchase. 

[Luckyducker]

Well, I read your post with mixed and opposing thoughts.  On the one hand you are trying to save money by rolling your own while you are shooting more.  I consider handloading strictly a hobby.  I take my loading seriously so don't get me wrong here, but if I tell you that I save one red cent by reloading I'd be lying through my teeth.  I have spent so much more by handloading than if I just went and bought the ammo that I can't even fathom the sum of it, and that is buying $50+/ box of shells for my 338RUM.  Now if you want the enjoyment of doing your own ammo thats great, although I have to warn you that this pass time is addictive and you will start out being frugal about what you need to just get the job done but as you get further into it you'll realize as I have that you have to feed you're habit.  I started out with just the basics, single stage press and press seating primers, no frills cause I was watching the spending.  Yeah right, now I have a progressive press and every time a new reloading tool hits the market I see if there is any way I incorporate it into my process just to give me an excuse to have it!  Stark raving mad?  You bet.  I won't even waste you're time or mine telling you how much you'll spend for the cartridges you mentioned above.  All I can say is try it you'll like it.

[quickdtoo]

Here's a handy calculator to find the answer to part of your question since it doesn't include the cost of equipment.

Tim

http://beartoothbullets.com/rescources/calculators/php/cost.htm

[beemanbeme]

I have no experience with the calibres you mentioned but @ 45 years ago, I figured out that I could reload 100 30-06 rounds for the cost of 1 box of 20 store bought.  I gave that information to my wife and closed the books on my reloading cost accounting.  Over the years, I have bought several rifles with the money I've "saved" reloading. 
In truth, what you get is more bangs for your bucks.  And  better ammo and you become a better rifleman since you can shoot more.  Plus the satisfaction of bringing game to bag with ammo that you have crafted for a particular job, not generic stuff off the shelf. 
Also you join the elite club of riflemen that can look down their noses and curl their lips at the "box a year" shooters that don't reload.

[Dixie Dude]

Thanks for the information.  I read somewhere else on this forum abouts someones pet .45-70 load.  I priced the bullets, powder he recommended, and primers at $6.34 per box of 20.  .45-70's sell for $20-50 depending on loads throught Cabelas.  These prices were through Cabelas.  So, I guess about 20-30% of the retail price of a box once the brass is purchased.  I'm going to have to get into reloading.  Cases of shotgun shells at Walmart are just a little more expense than reloading.  Almost not worth the effort for #8 shot loads for clay shooting.  However, rifle and pistol shells are a different matter, especially the larger calibers you use.  I also saw where someone is reloading 170 grain .30-30 loads into 7.62x39 brass for a semi-auto pig gun using an SKS.  This sounds like a good idea.  I bought the Lyman's book and am reading and gathering as much info as I can.  There is so much out there it is mind boggling and I want to buy what most are using and what works best. 

[lucky guy]

Last time I figured it out, without the cost of the press and dies, it was about .22 - .23 for a 223. That was about half what I was paying at the time for decent factory ammo in 50 round lots.  I shoot the 223 a fair amount so it's worth it to me.  I know it's not one of the calibers you're interested in but it's a reference point.   

I shoot the factory federal high energy rounds with my 308 .  I only use the rifle for elk hunting and shoot maybe 100 rounds a year.  For me it just isn't worth it to reload for that much use.

I came to the same answer you did on shotgun shells too, buying them at $4 per 25 for sporting clays, etc. I just can't see it.

[lucky guy]

I meant to add, I'm ok not counting the brass cost on a 223, but I'm not sure the same applies with the calibers you're talking about.  Maybe somebody can let us know how many times they can reload the big magnum caliber brass you're interested in.

[skb2706]

What is the approximate cost to reload .375 HH, .416 Rigby, and .458 Lott?  Exclude brass since once that is purchased, they can be reused several times.  I'm thinking average bullets for what these cartriges are intended.  I would like to know the breakdown for a box of 20 reloads.  I know each holds different amounts of powder.  If all used the same bullet type (not weight, but type), and the same powder.  I'm thinking the .375 HH would be the least expensive.  I would like to shoot often to become more familier with the rifle I eventually purchase. 

A better question to start with would be "what does it cost to NOT reload". As each of those rounds typically comes factory loaded with premimum bullets they can go for upwards of 5 bucks a pop.

Once you own the brass for either of those there can't be more than 25 cents difference between them for handloading.

[teddy12b]

Once you start reloading the costs never end.  I started with a Rock Chucker kit, then I got a wilson trimmer and all the fittings for it, then I bought RCBS chargemaster combo, then I just recently got a Dillon 550B and all the bits and peices to reload about 6 different calibers.  I started reloading because I had a 300 RUM.  I saved about $10 a box so it was easy to justify.  Realistically, the savings get swallowed up by all the equipment that you'll use.  I think I've broken even now cost wise, but I shoot a heck of a lot more ammo than I ever did before.  Keep in mind though that you can sell the reloading equipment someday so it does have a salvage value to it that you'd get if you ever sold it.

[Questor]

For 375H&H it's about 1/2 the cost of factory ammo. You need to factor the cost of brass in because it cannot be reloaded many times. I discard mine after four loadings. Some will reload it up to about 10 times. A pound of powder is only good for about 85 cartridges with the 375, so powder costs are a major factor with these big bores.

[Dixie Dude]

Questor,
You discard yours after 4 loadings.  Is the brass still good, or is it because you don't trust it?  I would use only once loaded new brass for hunting, but can't you reload many times for target practice until you are comfortable with the gun and your own pet load.  I was thinking of narrowing down my selection to two-three bullet types, maybe even one powder.  Use solids for dangerous game, expanding bullets for other game.  Maybe I'm wrong. 

[Questor]

I discard it because I don't trust it. And also because I don't want to fool around with case trimming and checking for incipient case head separation. For practice, I usually just shoot 5 or 10 shots at a session and then put the gun away for another few weeks. If I were practicing with it a lot, I'd keep two batches of brass: one for hunting which is new brass, and another for practice that I reload several times. In any case, it's pretty expensive brass and it doesn't last forever, so you do need to factor in the cost. I know a guy who shoots high power rifle and he loads his cases about 8 times before discarding them based on incipient case head separation and the number of times he has to trim the cases.

[Inrut24/7]

I load for the 270 wsm for groundhogs with h4350 and 110 grn v-max, like other people said you wont save much money if your always upgrading equipment, but for a caliber like a wsm and some other calibers which cost 30-40 bucks a box the savings are great and you will be saving money in no time.

[Questor]

Inrut24/7:

Not to take the thread too far off course, but what kind of results to you get on groundhogs with that bullet?

I used the 110 grain V-max on prairie dogs from a 270win and wooo-hooo! What explosive results! Lots of little rodent parts all over the place. Excellent performance in a cross-wind too, when compared to a .223.