Does /k/ make their own bullets? How much has it saved you in money?

>>31170453
Once you get set up its defiantly cheaper to reload. Especially if with uncommon rounds like 8mm mauser.

>>31170453
>How much has it saved you in money?
None. I just shoot more. Help.

Seriously though, it's pretty much essential if you want to shoot rarer calibers. I mainly got into it because one day I want to own a Webley, which is nearly impossible to find ammo for since I live in MA.

My press and everything paid for itself after maybe
750 rounds of subsonic 300 memeout based on the cheapest being $1/round for a long time. Now they are down to about .60/rnd. I load for like .23 or something like that.
I save about $50-$100 per 1,000 5.56 vs current high prices. That take a LONG time on a single stage press, though.

imo it seems like reloading is only cheaper if you shoot clown calibers. shit like .223 and 9mm are so competitively priced that you probably aren't going to be able to make them yourself for cheaper.

I save money by making 7.62x51 match loads for my M1A over buying it.

>>31170655

I remember glancing at a video on youtube of a guy who reloads 9mm at 6 cents a round

>>31170599
>8x57
>uncommon
Lmfao.

>>31170655
>>31170731
Yep, I get about 8cpr for home cast lead 9mm.

>>31170655
i reload 9mm and 223 for half the cost I can buy them and I get match grade ammo compared to the cheapest garbage on the shelf. I go from factory 3-4 MOA groups to half MOA groups with reloaded 223 ammo.
I don't save money I just shoot twice as much. other calibers I save more.

>>31170453
I make 45acp and thinking I wanna do 223 this next year on a single stage press

Anyone load 7.62x39? Is it worth it when an ak will munch steel cased all day no problem?

>>31170453
Last night I drunk ordered 500 rounds of .45 for $45 with shipping included. 0.04 per round for primers, 1/2 of a cent for powder if that, nine cents for the bullet. I reuse the brass. so $0.14 per round. I can buy it for about $0.50 per round pre-loaded. I use a $30 press and $45 dies. I'm under $100 for my whole reloading setup, it probably paid for itself after my first 500 rounds.

>>31170453
For real uncommon ammo, it's a life saver.

For something as common as .22LR, no.

>>31170624
Hahaha mass fags BTFO
Actually stuck here help me too

>>31171761
>.22
Want to know how I know you don't have a clue about reloading?

>>31170453
I collect milsurp. I have to reload if I want to shoot most of what I own. Some of the rounds I shoot don't have much in the published reloading data category either.

>>31170633
>That take a LONG time on a single stage press, though.
Yup. If I valued my time it probably wouldn't be worth it, but the savings though. And nobody really carries the type of rounds I like.

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>>31170453
I'm loading extremely consistent 223/556 off my 650XL. Cost is right around 20-21 cents per rounds, and 'm getting sub MOA in most of my ARs.

I load precision ammo that's right around 1/2 MOA in my bolt gun. I was shooting 4" groups at 600 yards the other day. Maybe you could get that from Federal GMM, for $2.50+ a round. I'm doing it for 65 cents

>>31171927
I loaded up about 500 rounds on a single stage before I broke down and got a progressive.

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>>31172019

just getting into shooting have no idea what prices are or have ever been but my dad has taught me to use his dillon 550 hes had for 30 years and ive reloaded close to 300 5.56, 200 .223, and 500 9mm in the past 2 weeks. apparently he has dies for like 8 different types of catridges and hasnt payed for brass in 30 years he just picks up other peoples stuff and we process it and reload it. i only own one gun a 9mm mp shield but i think i need to get a .357 once i get better because he probably has over 1k brass for that for some reason

>>31172019
I loaded 500 rounds with one of those Lee classic loaders where you hammer the rounds into the sizing die. You also hammer the primers in. One went off in my hand and that's when I quit and bought the single stage. Some day I'll get a progressive but right now I'm still just glad I don't have to hammer rounds into a die and hammer them out. Then hammer the bullet in. Fuck those things. I see people ask about them and I try to steer them away, but I never see anyone talk about it after they make the purchase. Hopefully they listen.

6.5x47 lapua costs over $2 a round. I handload 0.2moa ammo for less than $0.50 per round. I save a lot of money.

>>31171142
He probably means quality 8mm Mauser

US factory 8mm doesn't even come close to German military loads

>>31171658
I've noticed steel cased fucks up the bluing on my rifles sooo

>>31171836
Ch4D makes the dies and there are a few people doing it. New tool released couple years ago just for .22.

>>31172454
>implying you should be firing full power 8x57 in shitty surplus rifles that you bought for $100
>implying anyone in the US will ever take the risk of putting out hot ammo for use in 100 yr old anything
>muh german military loads
>implying you even know what you're saying
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/310300/sellier-and-bellot-ammunition-8x57mm-js-mauser-8mm-mauser-196-grain-soft-point-cutted-edge-box-of-20

Here, now fuck off.

>>31172543
>out of stock

>>31171658
Only if you cast bullets for it. Otherwise you are lucky to match market.

>>31172615

>not true

>>31172543
Shitty surplus rifles? We're talking Mauser's here sunshine, they don't get any stronger than that.

>>31172589
>implying that's the only place to get it
It's S&B asshole, just order it from someone else.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/639644/nosler-custom-ammunition-8x57mm-js-mauser-8mm-mauser-200-grain-partition-spitzer-box-of-20
>muh price
You aren't going to be shooting full power shit at paper, otherwise you may as well just buy whatever is on the shelf. The target isn't going to die any time soon because you're spitting out hotter rounds at it.

There's plenty of custom shops that will load whatever you can think of too. If you really want to push an 8x57 to it's limits you can find it. I would never do it in a surplus gun.

>>31172644
>we're talking mausers here sunshine
>muh mauser is the strongest everrr
We're talking old ass surplus shit here, sunshine.

I have 5 7x57s, one being an original spanish mauser. Ask me if I ever even think about putting a box of hendershots through that fucking thing.

>>31172655
http://www.customcartridge.com/order/list.php?gval%5BProdCaliber%5D=8X57mm+JS&gval%5BProdUseGeneral%5D=Hunting&pricing=&action=Search

Have fun shooting it in your surplus guns. Let me know how fast it takes to get a sticky bolt whether it be from the loads themselves or from the bolt being shot through the back of your head.

>>31172626
Bullet 14 ¢
Primer 2¢
Powder 10¢

Total per round 26¢

Currently according to gunbot the price is running around 24-25¢ a round for steel cased shit before shipping.

Yes you can get components cheaper but when you add in your time and depreciation on the equipment you end up losing money compared to steel cased x39.

When you compare it to brass cased it is worth it though.

>>31172655
I handload hot 8mm Mauser with a 200gr SMK. 960 rounds later the rifle is still fine, but my shoulder is another story.

>>31172729
Well I'm glad you're alive.

I however, would never try to do that. I've seen people push it and completely dick their shit up because they went too hot. I really don't understand what the purpose of practicing with full power loads is. You're just going to give yourself bad habits.

>>31172729
I know that pain. I use the prvi 198 gr bullet and I also load it hot.

>>31172748
My loads are within CIP standards for the cartridge, which the rifle was designed to withstand. It's a Yugo Mauser which hasn't been shot by anyone before me. It's in good condition, is a good shooter, and is capable of hitting man sized targets out to 1km. I don't understand why the rifle's receiver would be any weaker now compared to 60 years ago.

>>31172802
This guy gets it. Also, there is a distinct difference between privi "8mm Mauser" and "8x57IS". The Former is an anemic babby round, whereas the latter is the real "this kills the man" deal.

>>31170731
Link?

>>31170453
Frogfag, limited to 1000 rounds per year per firearm, reloading is not only for saving money, it's important for me, I want to shoot with my guns.

cheap factory ammo for 9x19 goes for 26 cents (of euros) a round, it's the price of a casing (please no starline), new, from Winchester or Remington. So as I am currently stockpiling reloading components it actually costs me more to reload, but in the long run it should go down.

To bring it to minimal cost you have to cast your bullets with salvaged lead and pick up brass at the range. Choose the powder that need the less quantity for the reload recipe you choose, for example for 124 grains FMJ RN 9x19 you need 3.7 grains of N320 or 5.7 of 3N37, so you go for the N320, that's 2.42 pounds of powder less to buy for ten thousands rounds, about 100 US$

>>31172717
>when you add in your time and depreciation on the equipment
This isn't a video game. You can't just go into work for an hour and get paid whenever you feel like it. Opportunity cost is a very fallacious argument. You're not forgoing a paying job in order to reload. And what depreciation? You can make tens or hundreds of thousands of rounds or more before you have to even consider replacing things. Not only that, but if you're comparing it to steel case, steel degrades the barrel of the gun faster than the reloading equipment degrades and a new barrel costs way more than a new set of dies.

>>31172806
The receiver isn't normally the issue, it's everything else.

Things crack, have defects, etc. and most "mauser actions" that are using in custom rifle builds are thoroughly gone over. Most rifles may never have any issues, but there are some that do.

>>31171740
Xtreme bullets?

>>31172914
I personally have a cheap Lee press that is finicky and I allocate 1¢ around to its depreciation. I got it when i was much poorer and I intend to replace it eventually.

As for time, I enjoy reloading and don't factor time into its cost but I know a few people who actually do. I also tend to multitask when reloading by calling my grandmother and kinda talking to her (she has Alzheimer's so all I have to do is just give an acknowledgement every once and a while, it makes her happy).

I load 9mm with a single stage press. It takes a while though, can only crank out about 100 rounds an hour with the case pre preped and primed.

I've the time though. Not that I'd even factor the cost of time spent, since I'm doing it outside work hours anyway.

youre mother bitch Ha,Ha,Ha!

>>31172176
>uck those things. I see people ask about them and I try to steer them away, but I never see anyone talk about it after they make the purchase. Hopefully they listen.

oh god, I never knew this was a thing...i laughed so hard..all the internets to you!

>>31170453
Waiting on my Lee Classic loaders for 30-30 and .303 Brit. Along with them in the mail is CCI large rifle primers, 3031 powder, PRVI brass for the .303, and Hornady FMJ for them both.

How'd I do /k/?

>>31173221
You dun goofed, see: >>31172176

The utter bottom tier bare bones minimum you should go for is the Lee hand press, and even that is a massive step down from the not much more expensive single stage.

Anyone have a favorite load for 6.5 Jap? I have some load tables but want more input

>>31171142
The only 8mm you can find in my area is premium hunting loads at $35 for 30 rnds, if your lucky enough to find any. Nobody sells surplus or even new factory loads that don't require a you to take out a 2nd mortgage just to go to the range. That's why I reload.

>>31172717
Reloading threads are where people who reload talk about reloading. Stop posting when you have no experience.

Powder is the cheapest component. No way are you paying almost as much on powder as you do for a bullet. I don't know why you would buy powder on line in the first place, but you must be adding the $35 hazmat fee onto each pound of powder. Never buy one pound of powder online. Online is for buying 10-50 lbs.

Even cheap equipment can last 100's of thousands of rounds. You wouldn't bother exaggerating this hard if you had any experience with reloading. Just shut up and quit posting in threads you have no experience with.

>>31173259
Well fug

It'll be fine. I just wanted something to screw around with for a while, I'm gunna be upgrading in a month or so either way.

A $45 mistake is better than most I guess...

Is the powder decent?

>>31173398
On the brightside, reloading will only get better as you buy better equipment. Get a scale though. Those powder dippers are inaccurate as fuck. A full spoonfull measured around 3 grains when it said it would be 5.

>>31173456
Thanks, any suggestions there? Any I should avoid? I figure I'll just grab one of the decently rated ones on Midway then.

>>31173351
Do you just use tiny amounts of cheap ass powder?
A standard powder charge for me is around 34¢, just slightly more than the bullet. Firing larger cartridges it's quite easy to have powder be more expensive.

>>31173575
What kind of powder are you using and for what cartridge?

>>31173541
I used a cheap Frankford Arsenal scale for a while. Now I use a Hornady scale. I don't know what model. It was on sale and I didn't spend more that $20. When you weigh some powder, shake it a little and reweigh it. Sometimes it will vary by up to one grain. That's the best way I have found to overcome a scales inaccuracy.

>>31173575
define cheap ass powder. Most powders are priced similarly unless it's norma or VV, and even then those aren't that expensive.

And what do you even load?

>>31173575
That's RL15 in 30-06. Things like 300 Win mag take a fairly large amount of powder. Some of the bigger stuff I have is closer to $5 of powder per shot.

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>>31173351
And now I know you are just angry that I call you out on the x39 costs compared to steel. Been reloading for about 8 years now. Been casting for about a year now.
I would post a picture of my press but I am not home right now (give me an hour). For now settle for some musket bullets that I cast earlier this year.
Now for powder costs, check the loading data on x39, factor the number of loads you can do in a lb of powder.

Source for data: http://stevespages.com/310_1_122.html
(I will use h-4198) 7000 (number of grains in a pound) / 26.8 (make recommended load) = 261.19 (number of loadings in a pound) which makes 2089.55 loadings for 8lbs

Source for powder: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1009135435/hodgdon-h4198-smokeless-powder
189.99+9.99+19.99=$219.97 for 8lbs of h4198 from Midway

$219.97/2089.55=$0.1053

Yes you may be able to get a few bucks off for 8lbs of powder buy shopping around or a deal with no hazmat fee. You can even use a more efficient powder. Over 2000 rounds that effects the price per round quite a little.

Feel free to check my math.

>>31172122
Okay, but whats your question

Get a gp100. Even if you fuck up reloading and make bullets that resemble my mixtape, that gun can handle it.

>>31173647

You must be trolling. Even at $35 a pound, 46gr of RL-15 costs 23 cents per round.

If you're not buying powder in 8lb quantities, you're doing it wrong.

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I reload pretty much everything above .32 caliber in pistols and everything in rifle cartridges. The only shotgun I reload is brass carts with black powder for my older SxS. They are a hoot to shoot and super easy. Tons of smoke.

I have their reloading book and I like Hornadys ammo is this Kit worth the price tag(in regards to quality not cost of ammo)

https://www.amazon.com/Hornady-Lock-Classic-Deluxe-Reloading/dp/B007LV2LO4/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1472683361&sr=1-2&keywords=Hornady+Lock+N+Load+kit

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>>31170453

Yes.

No. Probably not. I think I may have finally surpassed the "upfront cost" barrier, but reloading is expensive in it's own right.

I don't really save any money, I just get to shoot more for the same amount.

Gonna save lots of money on my .35 Rem and .300 WBY Mag, though.

>>31172527

The fact that it was cited alone is enough to suggest what >>31171836 is saying.

"uh muh special snowflake possibility"

Literally no one is that stupid. Someone who reloads (and doesn't cast their own lead) would know damn well that 9mm or .45 could be just as good examples for that point.

>>31174051
And you must be an idiot. Prices are not uniform across the US let alone other countries.
The point being made was that powder can easily be more expensive than the bullet.

>>31170453
I've thought about handloading 7.62x54R, but surplus and factory ammo is usually pretty good. So I haven't felt the need to yet.

>>31170453
I reload 45 Colt, 303 British, 38 Special, 30-40 Krag, 308 Win, and 223. With the volume I shoot, I've probably saved close to $1000 at this point.

>>31170453
I reload 300blk for about ~40¢ a round and 357 Mag for ~30¢. I could go cheaper, but that requires bulk ordering and I'm making small batch hog hunting loads. I could probably shave about 5¢ off each by reducing powder charge and buying fmj bullets instead of SP in bulk.

Yes.
.38spl
9x18mm
9x19mm
.40 s&w
.357mag
.44spl
.44mag
.223
.300blk
.308 win
.300winmag

Ocasional loadings
.30-30
7.62x54
.243win
.270win

Always save dosh. I make specific loadings or buy super cheap components for large scale cheap loading.
I have a couple single stage presses, a shot shell press and a progressive.

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>>31170453
Yeah, I make my own bullets. I also reload them. Reloading saves you a lot of money but making your own bullets saves you even more.

Common pistol stuff like 380, 9, 40, 45, 38spl, I load for 3-4 cents a round

300blk 230gr subs 8 cents a round
300blk 150fmj supers 25 cents a round
500 mag plinkers 7 cents a round
500 mag full tilt magnums 18 cents a round
357 mag full tilt 8 cents a round.

Yeah, I save a shitload m80

>>31174811
Those bullets look nice! Details?

>>31174845
500 magnum starline brass polished to a mirror
CCI LRP
35gr AA1680
460gr powder coated cast lead bullet cast from straight clip on wheel weight alloy.

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>>31174845
fap fap 645gr cast lead hollow point. also have some 715gr solids.

>>31174234

what the hell do you pay for powder and how much do you use in your loads?

>>31174234
>prices are not uniform
...nigga the internet is a thing.

>>31170655

i need to get into reloading because even though i compete with .40, my gun likes longer OAL cartridges.

>>31174051

Sorry, I was taking into account places where people live in freedom.

>>31175491
Where do you live, you poor thing?

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>>31171584
This... This is my answer too... But add in 308, 40S&W, and most recently 300blk... I get almost distraught now if I mess up a bullet or primer when loading... Muh 3 cents...

>>31174935
Powder coated, cool. You do that yourself?

>>31176905
Yup, its all the new rage. Allows you to drive cast lead bullets 2600+fps opening up a lot of possibilities that were impossible with cast lead bullets before. There are no downsides

the best statement ive heard about reloading and economy is "you get more for your money".
which means every dollar you spend on reloading ammo goes further than just buying factory.
as far as saving money, it comes down to how much you paid for supplies and time it takes to make ammo.

>>31177017
What happened if you put a non coated lead bullet past 2600fps?

What's the powder coating process like?

>>31177241
Depends on alloy and lube.
I use White Label 2500 Plus with hard alloy and have never had leading problems in rifles

>>31174173
>>31174811
>>31173649

I can get on board with this autism. These cartridges are so sexy.

>>31177241
youtube search "powdercoating lead bullets" there are a number of methods. Most bullets I do the "shake n bake" method with airsoft bb's. Heavy bullets dont coat well with this method so I use an electrostatic powder coat gun to coat my 500 mag bullets.

Push a plain cast lead bullet too fast and you get lead deposits in your barrel. Could be a few little streaks at the throat, could be enough to fill the grooves of your rifling within a few shots turning your rifle into a smoothbore.

Powder coating is nice because it takes a ton of the guess work out of finding that perfect cast bullet load that shoots well yet wont lead your barrel. You dont need to worry much about lead hardness until you get over 2,000fps. You wont have smokey bullets like you do with lubed cast lead. Your gun and hands will be much cleaner when shooting. You wont be handling raw lead as you reload and when out on the range. Powder coating is slick. Coated bullets run 6-7% faster than a standard lubed lead bullet given the same powder charge.

>>31176240
KEK

>>31177409
Do you still need to lube the bullets if you powder coat them?

Do you think powder coated bullets would have been the norm if metal jacketing never came around?

>>31177409
I'm really on the fence about getting into powdercoating. For all its advantages, a day's worth of the powder puff 9mm load I use for 3 gun doesn't deposit enough lead that it can't be blown out by chasing with a mag of FMJ, and it takes me all of 30 seconds to lube 250 bullets vs how much time it would take me to shake coat, then separate and lay out the bullets for baking, plus the baking time.

It sure would be nice to not get so messy and reduce the lead handling though.

Where would you guys recommend I start if I wanted to get into reloading? Which cartridge should I start with?

>>31180138
No need to lube if you powder coat. who knows, they may be the new norm. powder coating bullets didnt really become a thing until just a couple years ago(Ok, I think ausfags have been using hitek coating for a while now). Federal recently started selling ammo loaded with red powder coated bullets.

jacketed bullets still have a purpose but I dont think I will ever need to buy any of them. Jacketed bullets can be more accurate than powder coated at extreme velocities and pressures. Powder coated bullets are good for most anything except belted magnums and high velocity low caliber bullets. Some people have success with 223, others dont. I just got all around that mess and load/ cast for 300 memeout.

>>31180509
I like the airsoft bb method because it gets a really nice thick coat and gives you a good looking bullet. there are other methods. you can shake em with just the powder in a vibratory tumbler then dump them on a screen in a pile. bake and break apart once they cool a bit. I just havent gotten around to trying that method yet. give it a try and you wont go back It is much cleaner than those nasty alox coated bullets.

>>31181881
So what bullets are good to case then? Just pistol rounds, and you should buy rifle bullets, or would larger rifles like in the .30 cal range or above be okay?

Is there any way to make your own jacketed rounds for like .223 and such or should you just stick to buying bullets for those?

>>31172914
>This isn't a video game. You can't just go into work for an hour and get paid whenever you feel like it.
Not him but I work IT as a contractor and basically I can just go and pick up a job off the postings and get paid, whenever I feel like it.

Or I can pick up some remote work from home. Sorry if that makes my life too video gamey for you.

>>31174811
>powder coated boolit
would buy in bulk/10

>>31181881
>belted magnums
What does that mean?