6.5 reloading cost per round?

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POKE N HOPE

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Minuteman
Apr 5, 2018
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#1
Ok, I'm thinking about getting into rifle reloading, I have been reloading shot gun shells for some time so I have some reloading experience. But my question is, what are your cost per round for 6.5? I know that will depend on what brass, powder, bullet ect. Post you cost and what components you use. I'm trying to get a good understanding of just what type of cost saving reloading would provide. Also I really enjoy reloading. :)
 
#2
ELD .36/100=.36
H4350 28/7000*42=.17
CCI 35/1000=.35
Thats 57 cents per for normally priced goods that dont get reused, can be had cheaper on sale or with other components or in bulk.

Amoritize brass if you want, 110 bucks for 100 pieces of lapua, fired 10x is 11 cents per shot.
 
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#3
130 Norma .28
H4350 .17
CCI. .035
Lapua 260 (amortized per Spife) .1
That’s about $0.58 per round including brass cost for my 260. Nice to have a less expensive bullet perform well.
 
#4
With todays prices I'm not really sure there is such a thing as reloading for cost savings. What I do believe is that I reload for self sufficiency and for what I want not what someone else wants me to buy. I'm also not saying that there aren't good loads available, in fact I often try and at least duplicate theirs. Reloading is therapy and sometimes a way to turn your hair grey or pull it out all together.

If you're a tool junkie then reloading is for you because there are 100's if not 1,000's of new tools you will buy.

Just set aside some space and expect it to not be enough in 6 months or a year. :)
 
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#5
If you are referring to 6.5x47, there isn't much available for factory ammo, and what is available is pretty steep. 2.80 a piece for factory Lapua, which is even steep compared to a virgin piece of brass added in. For 338, forget about it, we are talking like $6 a shot
 
#11
POKE N HOPE said:
I'm trying to get a good understanding of just what type of cost saving reloading would provide.
Click to expand...

If you are looking at rifle reloading as a way to shoot cheaper, you might want to rethink that. Don't forget to take in to account the high cost to get into it. After you buy the press, dies, and other related tools the cost saving will most likely be gone.
 
#12
Agree with that … shooting cheaper, maybe not so much, but shooting PRECISION cheaper is possible, especially when you move away from the more common calibers. But the factory ammo is catching up quickly. The cost of tools also spreads out when you start on a second or third caliber. Better yet - load for some buddies.
 
#13
TxSteel said:
If you are looking at rifle reloading as a way to shoot cheaper, you might want to rethink that. Don't forget to take in to account the high cost to get into it. After you buy the press, dies, and other related tools the cost saving will most likely be gone.
Click to expand...

But spread over 3k rounds its not that expensive. 3k rounds of prime will run you 3990. Thats 1.33 per pull (hornady match 140 eld is 1.30 per right now on midway). Sure you can make some back selling brass so lets say 3500. At 68 cents per shot to reload 3k shots will cost 1980. That leaves you 1,520 dollars to buy reloading equipment with ( :eek: ) and break even.

Now, if youre only going to reload 1k rounds in your life and want to get equipment to do that quickly and painlessly then no, the cost benefit isnt there if we discard the benefit of having custom tailored ammo. But if someone is wanting to shoot well and shoot a lot reloading is the way to go if one can spare the time. And we all just sit around watching tv often enough, might as well multi task while you rot your brains with trailer park boys.
 
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#14
True spife, but everyone's situation is different. The cost of equipment will easily reach $1,000. For some it could take over a year to acquire all of the needed equipment to load the kind of ammo we are looking for.
 
#15
That is not completely accurate. I loaded 1/2 MOA ammo with a Lee challenger kit for several years with less than $350 invested total. But OH MY GOODNESS - i have way more than that now. Extra powders, tools, machines, etc make things easier, faster, less effort, etc. Good ammo can be made with a starter kit if you pay attention to consistency and technique. I would recommend the RCBS knowing what I do now.
 
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#16
Rock chucker 140
forster 6.5 sizer 40
Forster mic seater 92
Worlds finest trimmmer 74
Rcbs prep center 140
Chargemaster 290
igauging caliper 40
hornady comparator kit 32
hornady headspace kit 40
hornady anvil 16
reloading block 8
oneshot lube 16
tumbler 60
lee ergo prime 40

1028 bucks for all that and you will be reloading fast and easily. Make it 1100 with shipping. At the 3k round benchmark which is about what I would expect a 6.5 creed barrel to produce and that leaves you 420 dollars for beer or to do with what you please because Im sure I forgot something. Load more than that and the cost savings continue to grow. And you can order it all today and have it next week.
 
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#19
Berger 140 Hybrids 0.40
H4350 .15
CCI 450 .003
I anneal and get a good 12+ firings out of my Lapua brass so I’m guessing around 0.094
I’m pretty close to .65 per round.

That’s about $13 for a box of 20 which you can’t find anywhere near that for a 20 round box of ammo. Plus it’s accurate and tuned for my rifle.
 
#20
POKE N HOPE said:
Ok, I'm thinking about getting into rifle reloading, I have been reloading shot gun shells for some time so I have some reloading experience. But my question is, what are your cost per round for 6.5? I know that will depend on what brass, powder, bullet ect. Post you cost and what components you use. I'm trying to get a good understanding of just what type of cost saving reloading would provide. Also I really enjoy reloading. :)
Click to expand...
This is where I am as well. We have a 2k yard range opening this summer so it's all LR. 2 buddies with 6.5CM and one with 338 we are all thinking the addiction is not an if just a when. I'm probably going to wade into it and see if the addiction strikes while compiling brass from factory loads that way I can kind of hit the ground running.
 
#21
Look, everybody's giving you good advice. Let's get one thing straight right out the gate, you AIN'T gonna save a quarter no matter how many rounds you shoot. Trust me on this, You're going to shoot a crapload more though! I reload, I shoot a boatload and don't feel bad about it one bit. Just my two cents on the subject.
 
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#23
308Gunner said:
Yeah the money that you “saved” goes into more components, and everyone forgot about time. I guesstimate my loads cost about 5 dollars per loaded round when you figure in time.
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Don’t sell yourself short - $5 is waaaay to low when you factor in time. You can easily make pistol worth it on a progressive becuase i can crank out a few hundred an hour on the Dillon 550, but with all the extra steps for rifle the time makes it super costly (if you have kids and a wife). I do love it though, so I’ll continue to shoot both reloads and factory ammo. The one thing missing from this discussion is that there is No f’in way anyone with a press reloads for only one caliber. That means extra dies, powder, trays, time for switch over/setup etc. and the list goes on and on......
 
#24
A better question would be time per round?

Reloading equipment $500+
Time per round? What is your time worth?
Cost of materials per round +/- .60 cent

Vs

Buy retail ammo and sell your once fired brass.
 
#25
308Gunner said:
Yeah the money that you “saved” goes into more components, and everyone forgot about time. I guesstimate my loads cost about 5 dollars per loaded round when you figure in time.
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You must get paid for your time off I take it. I never did. I'm also sure if I picked up a 2nd job, my hourly rate would have decreased dramatically.

You guys and time costs, I'd worry more about time away from family, than dreaming that you are losing money not getting paid.
 
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#26
2aBaCa said:
A better question would be time per round?

Reloading equipment $500+
Time per round? What is your time worth?
Cost of materials per round +/- .60 cent

Vs

Buy retail ammo and sell your once fired brass.
Click to expand...
I think a bunch of us watched how selling once fired works. Cool concept till the market is flooded. Prime brass, which was hailed as Norma, lol, stated out at 75 cents per, down to 35 pennies.
 
#27
No Milo my 10 year old goes to the reloading room with me and boss gets some time to herself, it works out for both of us. I have a Dillon 550 that I am getting set up so that will cut down on time.
 
#29
Myself like many others I'm sure started reloading with the idea of it saving money.
I started with a Lee Anniversary kit in the mid 90's so I could shoot my 44 magnum a lot more and I did save money.
I used it until me and my brother who learned to reload on it as well basically wore the press out and then I started upgrading everything.
Fast forward 25years and I now know the truth that although it can save money the more you get into it the more equipment you end up acquiring to improve the process the real benefit is not saving money but being able to fine tune your ammo for every rifle or pistol so they perform at thier absolute best.
 
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#30
2aBaCa said:
Reloading is a second hobby that supports the first. You could easily spend more time reloading than actually shooting.

If you have the time and money or need that level of control, it's a great endevour.
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When I retire reloading will definitely be on the menu the entire process is something I'd enjoy learning. Problem is I have another addiction: fishing. No way am I trading water time for reloading that's a non-starter
 
#31
8pointer said:
When I retire reloading will definitely be on the menu the entire process is something I'd enjoy learning. Problem is I have another addiction: fishing. No way am I trading water time for reloading that's a non-starter
Click to expand...

The dog days of summer are my preferred time for working on load development.
Usually to damn hot for much fishing during the day and you get a true representation of what your max charge weights will be without any surprises compared to cold weather work ups.
 
#32
I need to amortize a CoAx, FX120i and auto trickier, dies, Annealeez, various mandrels, bushings, etc., a Giraud trimmer with various cutters and case holders.

I'm probably at 80 cents a round lol
 
#33
canezach said:
I need to amortize a CoAx, FX120i and auto trickier, dies, Annealeez, various mandrels, bushings, etc., a Giraud trimmer with various cutters and case holders.

I'm probably at 80 cents a round lol
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Don't do that, your head will hurt.
If you load pistol ammo and 223 in bulk, savings to be made. Other than a 6 creed I shot 2 summers ago, factory ammo not much of an option, in both cost and bullet selection. I load 4K precision rifle rds annually, give or take. It may be nice to know what each rd we shoot costs, but who cares, we are still going to do it. That lawn mower can last another yr.

About that 500 equipment budget someone mentioned, that is gone right here.
calipers.jpg
 
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#35
Milo 2.5 said:
Don't do that, your head will hurt.
If you load pistol ammo and 223 in bulk, savings to be made. Other than a 6 creed I shot 2 summers ago, factory ammo not much of an option, in both cost and bullet selection. I load 4K precision rifle rds annually, give or take. It may be nice to know what each rd we shoot costs, but who cares, we are still going to do it. That lawn mower can last another yr.

About that 500 equipment budget someone mentioned, that is gone right here.
View attachment 7065671
Click to expand...

I was only half joking. I see a lot of people say, "Well, my cost per round is only 50 cents!" That's all well and good, and I think we all average around 50 to 55 cents for 6 or 6.5 Creedmoor. Magnums cost quite a bit more. 223, Dasher, BR all cost a bit less than the 5 or 6.5 stuff. The reminder is we're loading to produce the most accurate rounds possible. Anyone who thinks they're doing it to save money is ignoring the initial outlay for all the equipment. With everything I have on my reloading bench, I had to load around 6000 rounds before I broke even.
 
#36
In Kommiefornia, reloading is done because you have to register to buy ammo. If you want to buy from SG on a sale, for instance, you have to ship it to a FFL, pay them for their trouble and give up all your info. Buy a thousand rounds and expect a call... total BS but they have not caught on to reloading, yet.
 
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#38
Should we factor in the .20-.30¢ per pull for barrel wear also?

I figure I spend just as much reloading vs factory ammo but I get better quality, what ever bullet I want, and roughly 50% more trigger time for the same price as factory
 
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#40
TxSteel said:
True spife, but everyone's situation is different. The cost of equipment will easily reach $1,000. For some it could take over a year to acquire all of the needed equipment to load the kind of ammo we are looking for.
Click to expand...

I've been reloading for about 10 years and still acquire/replace/upgrade tooling here and there. Just bought for sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate for my annealing setup.

I also change my oil, brakes, water pump, thermostat, belts, CV axles, hub bearings, etc on my vehicle(s) when appropriate.

Some guys I know don't do any of the above. It's their choice. I like doing stuff myself whenever I can. Money saved equals more beer.
 
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#41
Soulezoo said:
In Kommiefornia, reloading is done because you have to register to buy ammo. If you want to buy from SG on a sale, for instance, you have to ship it to a FFL, pay them for their trouble and give up all your info. Buy a thousand rounds and expect a call... total BS but they have not caught on to reloading, yet.
Click to expand...

The CA DOJ requires dealers to notify them, and in turn, the CA DOJ will send a message to local PD if a resident purchases 3000 rounds or more in one shot.

You're welcome.
 
#45
I just went through the process of getting setup to load.

With the quality of factory ammo now, there are only a few reasons to load:

1: more precise and tuned round

2: cartridge with little or no factory offerings

3: as part of the hobby

Factor in the cost of initial load setup and if you place a value on your time (I.E. you’d rather be doing something else) and you won’t save any money.
 
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#46
I’m going to be using a brass prep service. 11cents/piece deprimed, cleaned, annealed, and sized.

Just because I’m loading for consistency and I’d much rather just prime, powder, and seat.
 
#49
Dthomas3523 said:
I’m going to be using a brass prep service. 11cents/piece deprimed, cleaned, annealed, and sized.

Just because I’m loading for consistency and I’d much rather just prime, powder, and seat.
Click to expand...

Not bad, Case prep takes the longest and I find it to be more of a chore than anything. I have buckets of 5.56 and 308 to process.
 
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#50
Because of cost, I didn't reload 9mm, .7.62 or 5.56. Could buy mucho in bulk and I did for the kind of shooting I did with those calibers. I did reload 10mm, .25-06, .300Wby, .220 Swift and my Mk262 clones. Now, because CA, I reload everything...
 
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