.223 Reloading - Cost effective?

**wrangler1120** · November 5th, 2015, 01:49 PM

Based off the last time i bought materials to load 223, my cheapest cost to load 1 round was $0.2766 and the most expensive was $0.3733. I made a spreadsheet that accounts for all materials (excluding brass, dies, press, etc). The variation is essentially which bullet and what powder & charge I'm using.

Figuring the average box of bullets is 20 rounds, it costs be $5.53 or $7.47 for a box. Yeah its worth it on cost alone, and the accuracy is better.

**Gunowner99** · November 5th, 2015, 02:42 PM

For plinking ammo it's hard to beat store bought recently.

**Fred762** · November 9th, 2015, 02:05 AM

I have finally decided that reloading rifle ammo, like .223 is really not worth the trouble. I do not varmint-shoot & so do not need ultra-accurate rds. I save brass and trade it in for discounts on comm'l reloads in .223 and also now for 9x19 pistol . It's just too dang much trouble to reload finicky 9mm pistol ammo when it can be bought for about a cheap as I can do it.

I have always been a wheel gun man and still shoot .38/.357 and so still like to load those myself...plus I still like reloading .45 ACP. I have found that the straight-walled pistol cases are MUCH easier to load.

G'luck!!

**BobGun** · November 9th, 2015, 10:47 AM

My current cost per round is .16. I buy everthing in bulk and all my equipment has long ago be paid off in savings. My last buy was 5000 primers at 19.95 X 5, 8 lbs of ArComp at 154.00, and 88.00 for a 1000 55gr Hornady FMJ. These prices included shipping except for the primers which I drove to Cabelas in Wheeling to get. I reload everything I shoot including shotgun shells. All my brass is range pickups so there is no cost for it. I save all brass whether I have a gun in that caliber or not so I can trade for brass that I shoot. I also might get a gun in that caliber so I would have the brass.

**wanneroo** · November 9th, 2015, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Fred762

I have finally decided that reloading rifle ammo, like .223 is really not worth the trouble. I do not varmint-shoot & so do not need ultra-accurate rds. I save brass and trade it in for discounts on comm'l reloads in .223 and also now for 9x19 pistol . It's just too dang much trouble to reload finicky 9mm pistol ammo when it can be bought for about a cheap as I can do it.

I have always been a wheel gun man and still shoot .38/.357 and so still like to load those myself...plus I still like reloading .45 ACP. I have found that the straight-walled pistol cases are MUCH easier to load.

G'luck!!

Yes with the ammo glut you do have to question reloading right now. I'm doing a bunch of 9mm right now because I have the components ready to go but even brass cased ammo has fallen to $8.95 to $9.95 a box.

**pyld** · November 9th, 2015, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by wanneroo

Yes with the ammo glut you do have to question reloading right now. I'm doing a bunch of 9mm right now because I have the components ready to go but even brass cased ammo has fallen to $8.95 to $9.95 a box.

Where are you seeing that price, shipped?

**Yellowfin** · November 10th, 2015, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by wanneroo

Yes with the ammo glut you do have to question reloading right now. I'm doing a bunch of 9mm right now because I have the components ready to go but even brass cased ammo has fallen to $8.95 to $9.95 a box.

I'd venture to say that the $9 a box ammo isn't as accurate, clean, or gentle cycling as what you can reload. Even if it was, $9 a box still isn't $5.50 a box.