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How much do you save reloading .308? #5628251 03/01/15 06:32 PM
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Lead Kisses Offline OP
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I can't remember that last time I bought any .308. In fact, I'm not sure that I ever have myself. I've probably just skimmed it off the top of my dad's stash. I thought that it wasn't really worth it to reload until I was looking at prices and FMJ with brass case seems to be over $1 a round. How much are you guys saving reloading .308 ATM? If you're not reloading, who is making a 168 grain load with brass cases?

Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5628379 03/01/15 07:44 PM
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Don't know about .308 but I cut my cost in half with .243 and 6.5 Creedmoor. If I added the gas driving to and from Cabelas I save even more.

It is basically buy 1 get one free, but I mainly reload for accuracy, the cost saving is just a bonus.

Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5628406 03/01/15 08:00 PM
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Lead Kisses Offline OP
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That's what I always figured, but it seems like some of the common stuff like 223 isn't often worth my time to reload because I can find good deals. I get my brass from factory loads anyways, so I will need to buy some. For my, accuracy is a bonus. Just been shooting for fun since I've been in Texas. The few times I've gone hog hunting, I haven't seen anything.

Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5628413 03/01/15 08:02 PM
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Depends on the components, but comparing hand loads with identical bullets such as a 175 SMK and the number of times brass can be reloaded, cutting the cost in half is doable without counting the initial equipment cost.

Factoring in the equipment cost for a nice set up, it pays itself off in a few thousand rounds and beyond that is a savings.

However, what really happens is that shooting volume goes up, so it really is shooting more for the same budget.

More importantly, the quality is dramatically better and it is always on the shelf.

If you start to load, do yourself a favor and buy a Giraud trimmer right off and do not waste money on other trimmers.

Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5628416 03/01/15 08:04 PM
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I save ALOT! But I mostly shoot .308 sub-sonic! Also the cost of premium components has driven up the reloading cost.
Even if it was a "push", I would still do it. I enjoy the Quiet time, and reload year round, when I'm not working.


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Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5628483 03/01/15 08:36 PM
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I can load a box with 150grn core locked bullets for about $9.


The secret to a long life is to try not to shorten it.
Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5628502 03/01/15 08:42 PM
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I thought I would save a bunch when I started reloading 38 special and 40 S&W a few years ago. Ended up being expensive to get started, 75% as expensive as factory ammo, and very time consuming. If you really shoot a lot, it's worth it. If you shoot once every month or two like I do and you have a family that you're taking time away from to do it, then it isn't even close to being worth it IMHO.

Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5628507 03/01/15 08:43 PM
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Here is a easy brake down with quality stuff.

Lapua 308 Brass $80 per hundred (can be reloaded about 10 times, so lets call it $8 per 100 loaded rounds.

Varget 8lb keg $220 (I use to pay around 165, that will get you close to 1000 rds)

Primers $50 per thousand

1000 178amax $300 per thousand.

Puts you at .65 cents a round.


Drew

Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5628579 03/01/15 09:22 PM
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Cost's 1/2 but you will shoot twice as much.

Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5630042 03/02/15 03:26 PM
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I did a little cost analysis of reloading and the savings. Here's what I found as a beginning shooter and just getting ready to start reloading.

- If you are shooting just whatever and whenever ammo for the cheapest price, then probably not worth it. There is a BUNCH of bulk 308 ammo out there just to go blasting, probably as low as $0.70. Hell, Chad's reloaded 308 is about $0.75 a round and it shot great out of my bolt gun. I don't do it regularly, but I have shot 2" group of 3 at 200yds with the ammo. Which meant the other bad groups that day was all me. So reloading for about 50 to 65 cents, depending on component costs, did not seem worth it at all.

- HOWEVER, I'm just trying to get more serious about long distance shooting. So as good as Chad's economical ammo was, the factory "match" ammo was noticeably better. But this was all brand new brass with supposedly match level components and, most importantly, match level prices. The cheapest "factory match" ammo I could find was about $1.27. Shipping and tax not included. And that was on a good day, usually was around the $1.35-$1.55 range. And the price of match ammo only goes up from there. I've seen some at $2.50 to $3.00. I wanted to attempt shooting this level of high quality ammo, so I decided to start trying to reload.


I'm a dude who likes long barrels!
Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5630222 03/02/15 05:04 PM
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My 260 and 270 loads are about 50 cents each, with 223 being maybe between 30 and 35 cents. So cost is Ok and I shoot the bullet I want to shoot and I never have to worry about changing ammo lots or makes. POI is always the same, year after year, and accuracy is great. So...would I want to pay more money for worse factory ammo? Nah.


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5630264 03/02/15 05:27 PM
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Half price, and it lets my $200 gun shoot like a $1000 gun smirk

Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5630280 03/02/15 05:37 PM
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If you really consider everything required, you are not saving money for a long time, if ever at all. It all depends on the quality of supporting infrastructure you purchase such as...

- dies
- presses
- tumblers
- scales
- calipers
- gauges
- and and and....

you can't just look at the components and say it's $x.yz, you need to factor in all of it. Once you do that you will wish you hadn't.

you don't reload to save money, you reload to be consistent and consistency means accuracy.

Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5630329 03/02/15 06:02 PM
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I think that depends. Ive shot about 10 or so boxes of ammo though my 300 wby, it would cost a lot to buy 10 boxes of 300wby loaded with premium bullets.

If your going to load 223 rem with 55 grain Remington soft points or 308 155 gr FMJ for plinking ammo, then its likely not worth it, but it can be in certain circumstances.


It's hell eatin em live
Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5631287 03/03/15 02:34 AM
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I reload not so much to save money, but to gain the accuracy that I want round to round.

Re: How much do you save reloading .308? [Re: Lead Kisses] #5631468 03/03/15 04:36 AM
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I reload to save money which allows me to shoot twice as much. If I shoot 100 rounds of SMK 175 .308 it cost me $150.00 or my reloads cost me $70.00-75.00.

In addition there is nothing like taking an animal with your own reloads. It's also addictive when you start chasing the maximum accuracy your rifle (factory or custom) can achieve.

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