.45 Colt for me.  Store bought is running about $1.15 each here, now.  I have about 50 lbs. of lead and cast my own bullets, so I save considerable.  Also reloading is relaxing.

I have the large supply of lead because I war gammed with 25mm and 15 mm lead figures, cast fishing weights and .54 balls for my Hawkin.  After I quit war gamming, I melted the figures down and cast bullets for .45 Colt.

Quote from: Jeremiah Jones on June 16, 2025, 09:50:56 AM.45 Colt for me.  Store bought is running about $1.15 each here, now.  I have about 50 lbs. of lead and cast my own bullets, so I save considerable.  Also reloading is relaxing.

I have the large supply of lead because I war gammed with 25mm and 15 mm lead figures, cast fishing weights and .54 balls for my Hawkin.  After I quit war gamming, I melted the figures down and cast bullets for .45 Colt.

OH MY GOD! Jeremiah, say it aint so!
There are enough miniature wargamers out there that I would have thought selling them to eager consumers with handfuls of cash smokin' their pockets would have gotten you more. Then that could have been applied to reloading stuff . . .

Quote from: River City John on June 16, 2025, 11:37:18 AMOH MY GOD! Jeremiah, say it aint so!
There are enough miniature wargamers out there that I would have thought selling them to eager consumers with handfuls of cash smokin' their pockets would have gotten you more. Then that could have been applied to reloading stuff . . .

All the ones around here want to play Warhammer or such.  There is no interest in Ancients or Rennaissance.

Quote from: River City John on June 10, 2025, 11:08:38 AMWhat calibers can you save money on by reloading?

All of them?

I couldn't reload 50 BMG for what PMC sells their line of cheap ammo for. I calculated 300 Win Mag as being in that same boat; the cheapest ammo for "mass market" big cartridges can be pretty darn cheap.

And then for smaller common cartridges, like 9mm, I only save money after reloading once-fired brass. I couldn't buy and load virgin brass for the price of what I can get store-bought cartridges. Maybe I could save a a couple cents per cartridge if I really worked for it. 

When I ran numbers for target 12 gauge shotshell reloading in the last couple years, it didn't make sense to reload for clay sports; component prices are quite high, whereas my club can still get a good bulk deal when they buy pallets of the stuff. And it only made sense at all assuming I wasn't paying for used hulls.


But there's no way I could ever afford to shoot factory 45 Colt. Reloading 45 Colt drops my $200 weekly ammo budget to around $40. 

I guess I'll weigh in on the subject. Reloading isn't just about saving money. It gives you the opportunity to "customize" your loads. You can experiment to come up with a load that works better in YOUR particular gun than what store bought ammo can deliver, and maybe even make it more comfortable for YOU to shoot.

Quote from: King Medallion on June 09, 2025, 08:24:48 AMReloading saves money?? Whoda thunk it? I personally reload for the enjoyment of it, the making of tailored ammo for a given firearm. Never have I tried to figger the cost factor.

Reloading never saves money.  It just allows you to shoot more for the same budget.

I can re-load 44-40 much cheaper than I can buy it in the store.

It occurred to me another caliber I load cheaper 38S&W.
I have two revolvers I enjoy shooting...
My 1919 Colt Police Positive & my 1944 #2 Enfield.
I'd have to buy it online with Hazmat added it's over a $1 a round.

I got an ammo can full of donor 38 special indoor range brass.
It serves both my 38 Special needs and bobbed to 0.98" the 38S&W need.

38 S&W
.361 Diameter
.38 S&W
145 Grain RN
Brinell 12
Bullet OAL .640 +/-
For .38 S&W
Price per box of 500 @ $.10 per bullet
Price: $50.50

  Well golly Gee Whiz

Since everything I shoot is loaded with American Pioneer Powder, there is absolutely NO "over the counter" option for any of the cartridges I shoot.  Iffin I wanna shoot, I absolutely hafta "roll my own."  Ergo, my cheapest option, and my only option, is to reload.  Burma Shave