The retail prices are for a box of 50 cartridges, and are from my local shop (in Middlesex County, Massachusetts) in September of 2012. \u00a0 The costs for bullets and primers came from online bulk retailers on the same day (prices include typical shipping and hazmat fees). \u00a0 I’m using $25 per pound for the cost for powder (this is a little high). \u00a0 The resulting reloads quoted below will be duplicates of good factory ammo. \u00a0 (I know it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, because the retail prices are per box, and the component prices are for bulk quantities, but bear with me here, I’m trying to make a point).<\/p>\n
Notice that you’ll save the least when reloading \u2018commodity’ calibers such as 9mm, 40 S&W, and .45 ACP. \u00a0 With these calibers, most of your cost savings will be due to the fact that you’ll be reusing your brass. \u00a0 Even so, if you shoot a couple of boxes of 9mm per week, you’ll more than pay for a basic progressive setup in the first year.<\/p>\n
The retail price for less common handgun calibers is much higher because the manufacturers make it in smaller lots, and the demand is lower. \u00a0 This is where reloading really pays off. \u00a0 For example, the retail price for .38 Super is more than double the cost of 9mm, however is costs only a cent or so per round more to reload .38 Super than it does to reload 9mm.<\/p>\n
The savings is greater still when reloading rifle cartridges. \u00a0 A couple of years ago, a friend bragged about the great deal he got on a barely used Weatherby rifle in .340 Weatherby Magnum which he planned to use for elk hunting. \u00a0 The bragging stopped when he found out that the ammo he wanted to use was going to cost $6 per round, and had to be special-ordered.<\/p>\n
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