Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles cheaper to buy loaded ammo

well it isnt like we werent warned...65.00 a pound for imr 4350 at powder valley...just crazy

Sure is crazy, buy Federal gold medal primers

You'll have to learn to find it cheaper elsewhere.

It will still sell. I went to an auction 3 years ago where they had a bunch of reloading components and powder went as high as $100.00/pound then.

The only way it will go down in price is if no one buys it, and you can bet someone will…

Powder Valley often has the best prices. I saw a thread about a coming price increase after 1-15-24 but 65.00 a pound is crazy.

I fugure I can reload for $14 a box for .243 Win. and $18 for .270 Win. with all new components if I dont have to buy casings. I am sure my .223 rem is about $10 a box .. That is at $50 a pound for powder and $11 / 100 for primers .. I can get some powder for $40 a pound and small rifle primers for $8/ 100. However, I still have some post Obama scare primers I payed $3/100 ,, $15/100 for bullets and $6 lb. for some powder and I might never buy powder again. In protest, 99% of the time I pull the trigger , and arrow goes flying.

Stupid people, make stupid prices.

I can get H4350 for $43.00/ pound. There are other places that actually have powder and cheaper. Although it is hard to consider $43.00/pound cheap…

It’s never been cheaper to load my ammo than buy ammo—but then again I have rarely loaded for cheap ammo.
I make premium ammo, and I compare my premium loads to premium ammo. And I still come out ahead.

More so, I don’t think the full ammo price increases have shown up yet.

Not really

Depends.....if you have an obscure chambering, factory ammo prices are scary....if you can find it. 9mm and .223 are a little different.

Not for long; as soon as existing supplies are gone & they get new product, the prices will be up across the board.

If you need it & can still get it at that price, I'd say stock up fast.

MM

For sure. Wise words. I buy as much as I can handle and keep on hand. Nice thing is if you keep it stored decent, it lasts a long time.

It depends, 9mm ,556 fmj there are no savings. I load 556 soft point is worth it. Most of the other calibers I load 308, 3006 and 3030 it is more about availability. I also load 375 H&H. With 70 grain of 4064, a Hornady 270 grain soft point. It total less than $20 a box compared to $80.
Your mileage may vary.

You are doing it way wrong then. Its always been cheaper for me to load ammo. Especially after the initial cost of the brass. Way cheaper.

Exactly this^^^

There was a time, but now it's more about being able to put on your shelf what is not on the retail shelf.....

I am glad that I have had all of my reloading stuff for fifty years. I have enough loaded ammo and components to last basically the rest of my life-as long as I don't go out and burn it for "fun". I keep all of my rifles sighted in and that is about all of the shooting I do, except for what I use hunting. They have priced me out of the sport.

I have told a number of people that because of lack of components/high prices, and cost of reloading equipment, there is no logic to reloading for the average hunter. MAYBE if your fun is punching paper, it will still pay, but doubtful, if you do not already own all of the equipment. If you don't shoot much, it would take a lifetime just to pay for the equipment.

My recommendation for anyone that asks me, is to find some ammo that your gun likes, that will work for your application, buy as much of that as you can and be done with it. Sad times.

Fixed that for you.

Depends on one's mindset. I've never viewed handloading as a way to save money, rather as a fulfilling hobby - not a means to an end, rather the end in and of itself. If all I wanted to do was spit gallons of .22's through rapid fire guns, perform magazine dumps with AR's, and/or fire a couple shots a year when hunting then I would just buy the cheapest mass-market crap out there and, maybe, save a couple bucks and time - but oh what an empty existence that would be!