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Reloading 223 cost
- Thread starter Stingray
- Start date
Hunter 257W
Well-Known Member
It's true that for any cartridge where ammo sells in 1,000 round quantities, the savings from reloading are minimal. A lot of the savings from reloading depends on your source for brass and how well you can recover and reuse it. If you are loading for a semi-auto that beats up and loses a lot of brass you lose a lot of the savings right there. You'd have to buy bullets in the big cases such as the Hornady 55 grain FMJ's that are something like 6,000 quantity and get brass used in as large quantities as possible to beat the 1,000 round cases of loaded ammo costs significantly. And if you are shooting such a quantity of ammo as that, it means that you need a progressive loader such as one of the various Dillons that cost as much as a rifle. There goes your savings for several thousand rounds of ammo. Guess what I'm saying is that if saving money only on a semi-auto 223 for all around shooting/practicing/self defense is your only interest in getting started into reloading ammo, you might not want to bother with it. On the other hand, if you think you might try loading for other rifles also then the other advantages of loading your own might be worth it to you later on. One big advantage I like about loading my own is that once I find a load that shoots well in one of my rifles, I have several hundred bullets, enough powder and primers to produce several hundred rounds of identical ammo. That way I'm not subject to not being able to find the load my scope is zeroed for if my ammo runs out the way I would be if i relied on factory ammo.
Hunter 257w is spot on.
If plinking Ammo is what you're after you won't beat the price of bulk ammo once you factor in your time. The advantage to loading is buildings the exact cartridge you want for your rifle. For example, I like the TTSX in 6.8 but it really shoots best at SPC II pressures. That cartridge does not exist to my knowledge without making it yourself, and if it were to exist would likely be $40 a box. I buy bulk federal for plinking with it. Literally cheaper than I can make it.
If plinking Ammo is what you're after you won't beat the price of bulk ammo once you factor in your time. The advantage to loading is buildings the exact cartridge you want for your rifle. For example, I like the TTSX in 6.8 but it really shoots best at SPC II pressures. That cartridge does not exist to my knowledge without making it yourself, and if it were to exist would likely be $40 a box. I buy bulk federal for plinking with it. Literally cheaper than I can make it.
JimFromTN
Well-Known Member
I have a rem700 pss in 223. I bought all of the components to reload several years ago and still have not started. The problem is I bought some cheap 55gr pmc ammo for it and it shoots well under moa. Some day I will rebarrel my rifle so it can handle the heavier bullets. Maybe then I will try to reload for it.
x2. And this really doesn't go for 223 but I can tailor loads for my daughter to shoot. She likes a 75 gr bullet over minimum powder in the 243. Eventually she'll get to full power loads.Urban_Hunter":1azfb3kg said:
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DaveB
Well-Known Member
I forgot....How quickly we forget.....
For a period of what, 2013 through 2016? you could not find .223 brass in the used or new marketplace. There was no such thing as factory ammo in 223. This was true of just about every caliber.
No small rifle primers or rifle primers of any size. No 50/55/60 grain bullets
No matter your choice of caliber or perspective on the political side be you a reloader or factory ammo guy, evaluate your inventory with a sharp eye.
Remember when there was no 22LR?
Remember what is was like to see nothing for sale.
For a period of what, 2013 through 2016? you could not find .223 brass in the used or new marketplace. There was no such thing as factory ammo in 223. This was true of just about every caliber.
No small rifle primers or rifle primers of any size. No 50/55/60 grain bullets
No matter your choice of caliber or perspective on the political side be you a reloader or factory ammo guy, evaluate your inventory with a sharp eye.
Remember when there was no 22LR?
Remember what is was like to see nothing for sale.
Hunter 257W
Well-Known Member
You're words speak great truth Dave! 
I won't forget the 5 year gun and ammo famine for a long long time. I was prepared except for 22LR, of which I only had around 5,000 rounds. I won't be caught like that again. Now is the time to buy while they are offering free Haz Mat fees, etc. to entice us to order. Don't wait till it's in short supply then beg others to sell you some of their stash on the cheap. But many won't worry about it until the next big shortage as you well know.
I won't forget the 5 year gun and ammo famine for a long long time. I was prepared except for 22LR, of which I only had around 5,000 rounds. I won't be caught like that again. Now is the time to buy while they are offering free Haz Mat fees, etc. to entice us to order. Don't wait till it's in short supply then beg others to sell you some of their stash on the cheap. But many won't worry about it until the next big shortage as you well know. brass magnet
Well-Known Member
Now is a good time to buy bulk, keep your brass, AR brass catchers are under $20.00. Stock up on primers, bullets, and,22lr. I never thought the day even reloading shops wouldn't have anything would ever come, until it did. I will not do that again. Good time to develop loads for specific rifles and stock components.
DaveB
Well-Known Member
I was on a gunbroker auction. There were 10 case of 5400 rounds each of CCI 22LR 40 gr. I bid on the last 3 of the 10 thinking I would lose all 3. I won all 3. Average cost each was right around 2.7 cents.
Still shooting these babies.
I like the plastic boxes. wasn't sure at first but they are the way to go.
Still shooting these babies.
I like the plastic boxes. wasn't sure at first but they are the way to go.
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Matador
Well-Known Member
I agree you don't save as much on reloading on popular ammo you can buy in bulk. I still think there is good savings on large calibers like 444 , 45-70, 500 S&W 375 win. 460 S&W etc. . It seems like the larger caliber ammo went up and never came back down much. Also as stated you can develop loads for your rifle and stockpile. Another thing I really like about reloading is the fact you can load for plinking, small game, and big game with the same rifle. For instance I downloaded some 150 grain 308 with 13 grain of red dot for my granddaughter to practice with and carry on the juvenile hunt. Rifle was a single shot breakdown Rossi.
