Thread: Cost of Ammo

My mate runs a 6.5 Creedmoor. Rates it. His 6.5 PRC gathers dust in the gunsafe. He shoots quite a few deer. Mentioned he is running Hornady factory ammo at over $100 per box. Just about fell out of my chair. I have not bought factory ammo for many many years. Presumably the bigger the calibre the bigger the cost. I had a quick review of my PM's and was amazed how much I had bought off the Forum for reloading stuff and at quite a discernable cheaper cost.*Once you are out of the loop in terms of buying at retail you must lose sight of the "real" cost?

I agree that very frequently buying reloading components from our Forum members makes the most sense economically. It's always my first port of call when looking for something. I don't buy factory ammo. I can't afford it for the amount of shooting I sometimes do. The component I mostly need to buy from the LGS is powder so any dollars saved on Forum buys makes powder purchases just that much easier.

The last pack of factory ammo I bought, 20 rounds 375 H&H needed for brass, was damn near $200.00
Sticker Shock - not nice !

Originally Posted by TeRei

*Once you are out of the loop in terms of buying at retail you must lose sight of the "real" cost?

Yep, that's it. I think about buying factory stuff nowadays and quietly shudder.

I only buy factory ammunition now. I suppose the cost/benefit analysis relies heavily on how much you value your time

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

I only buy factory ammunition now. I suppose the cost/benefit analysis relies heavily on how much you value your time

or how much shooting you actually do. if you are a box of 20 a year then reloading is a waste of time.

Depaends upon the type of shooting you’re doing too I think. For instance, pest control stuff it makes sense to buy bulk 223 ammo from the likes of Belmont or wherever. It’s good enough to get the job done and saves spending hours reloading. I still do reload my pet loads such as 73ELDM’s, VMax and near-subsonics but prefer spending my time shooting rather than reloading. When landowner is supplying ammo or otherwise paying for it the likes of Belmont, Hornady or Fiocchi is the way to go.

I got into reloading early 80s when using a .303 a box got to $45-48.
I ran the inflation tool and $198 in todays money.
So about the same.
I haven't reloaded for years as ammo got cheaper, and I wasn't shooting as much.
I do have enough of a stash for a while and then may have to do it again.

https://www.inflationtool.com/new-ze...equency=yearly

yeah seems most "better brands" in the larger centerfire ammo is between $5 & $6 a shot these days. Punching holes in paper can be a pricey exercise, 3 shot groups suit me lol

reloading components arent exactly cheap either

Originally Posted by STC

reloading components arent exactly cheap either

Wait till you have to have permits for it all. Bet you it will get expensive (hope not). A guy posting a pack of bullets on here may be a bit naughty if you don't dona copper permit. Not sure yet

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

I only buy factory ammunition now. I suppose the cost/benefit analysis relies heavily on how much you value your time

Sorta like being in front of the tv? LOL.

Hornady Factory 223 73ELDM currently $3.50 per round, vs Reload cost of $1.62 (Not including Brass), so less than half the cost.
Even 55gr factory Fiocchi is $1.80 per round (50 pack), although I see Guncity has 1000 rounds on sale for $1200 at the moment, so $1.20 per round.
I would say reloading definately worth it if you are wanting to shoot "premium" projectiles.

The last time I bought factory ammo it was $55 a box PPU, and I cringed at that. I see it's now closer to $70 for the same. Thankfully I'm well stocked on reloading components for the next few years, so no doubt the next time I check factory prices in the future I will be in for a shock. Maybe I will just have to accept never buying factory ammo ever again, so long as powder and primers are in stock. Unless it's Chinese surplus for the 7.62x39!

I've started getting myself onto the path of reloading exactly for the cost reduction - but halted due to projectile availability, and time deficiency for the load developing/shooting (two kids under two, no time at all)

The loose intention was to stockpile a nice quantity of Speer 150gr BTSP projectiles and thus be able to practice more affordably (and regularly) out to 500m+ with a projectile more than adequate for anything short of 400 when the time comes. Alas, the bloody bullets are almost always sold out. Just as well, my pockets are often empty anyway.

If you do alot of shooting, sticking with a military caliber such as .223 or .308 gives you access to limitless cheap surplus ammo.
Sure it might be FMJ, but for the likes of pest control, its no real issue, a FMJ .223 will happily take down a wallaby.