Done

[COSteve]

Done

[Chuck 100 yd]

Steve, you sure got it down to a science. And loading is fun!!

[2ndovc]

I don't think I've ever bought a commercial box of .45 Colt. Back 20 years ago when I got my first one they were too expensive(IMO).

You've got me thinking though, there's several cartridges that I've never bought a box of commercial ammo ( surplus not included).

.30-06, .222Rem, .33&.35 Winchester ( but that's a given), 6.5x55, 45-70, .32-20, .25-20, 38-55, and a couple more that I can't think of.
I was going to add .455 Eley but I did buy a couple boxes for the brass. Commercial loads are really light.

jb

[Griff]

45 Colt! I LOVE IT! Ya done good Steve. I load bullets from 160 grain pills to 250s. I probably load 200 grain lead mostly. I cast from 160 to 250 grains, but mostly the 225grain truncated cone. I don't hot rod my .45s, as most of my shooting them is done in CAS. In fact, 9 grains of Unique with a 250 would seem to be hot-roddin' for me. Even tho', this was the exact load I shot my very first match with! Back then, I didn't consider that load very HOT! Now, it seems the upper limit!

I've been casting and reloading so long, I very seldom ever run a cost analysis on it anymore. I probably cast about 1/3 to 1/2 off all the cast bullets I load, and that further reduces the cost. Not by much... but enough to make with casting worthwhile. Especially, when a few of the molds I use aren't available commercially!

Welcome to the Wide Wonderful World of 45Colt!

[Sigmar]

You really didn't need to post this, my wifes gonna be upset to find out I'm thinking of getting back into reloading after reading this.

[COSteve]

Done

[AJMD429]

It also doesn't hurt that the savings I've realized from handloading over buying commercial ammo have more than covered the total cost of my high end Dillon Xl650 press setup, plus the entire cost of every firearm I've ever owned, plus the cost of all the components I've bought, plus the cost of the truck and all it's fuel, routine maintenance, and repairs I take out shooting, some $28,400.00 in all.

I explain that to everyone who starts shooting or gun-owning; once they 'get it' they start reloading and within a month or so have saved enough that their last firearm purchase is therefore 'free'...

[JerryB]

I started loading .45 Colt ammo in 1960 for my Colt SAA 5 1/2 inch. The man at the gunshop told me Unique and a 255 grain bullet was all I needed to load. I reckon he was right. I use them in my Rossi carbine too.

[Ysabel Kid]

Yep, reloading pays off, especially considering the lack of reasonably-priced loaded ammunition now.

You didn't even touch on the sheer fun of reloading. Add that to the mix, and it is darn near impossible to beat!

[shooter]

I couldn't shoot if I didn't reload. I got caught a little short on primers and a couple of powders in this current shortage, but I'm working on that. I rarely buy anything commercial. I will buy a cheap box of 30-30 every once in a while, and I don't reload 7.62x39. My revolvers (except the .22) have never seen a commercial round, and rarely even a commercial bullet as I cast 95% of what I shoot through those. I've never bought ammo for my 7mm-08, 45-70, .223, .45 acp, .44 mag, .45 Colt, .357. I do occasionally buy a box here and there for my .243 also, as I can find it pretty cheap at Wally World, and I can reload the brass.

I'm glad you sit down and go through the cost savings so it reinforces my reloading I have never broken it down like that. I just know it saves me a bit of money and I enjoy doing it.

[piller]

Not only the cost savings, but with reloading you can usually make it more accurate than factory loads. Some firearms like fast and some slow. Finding out what a particular gun likes can make for a lot of fun. To me it is solving a mystery with the final result being the best possible groups that I and the gun are capable of.

[hightime]

Steve, Please keep us posted with your load development. I have the same gun. And yes, I love to reload and cast. It is the only way I could afford to enjoy shooting. Since my retirement, I can't even imagine buying guns in this price range anymore.

Owen

[Catshooter]

Excellent break down Steve.

I add casting to the mix. It allows me to add a huge range of loads to what I can shoot, fine tune for the best accuracy and the cost savings are very like yours with reloading.

Many of my components were bought twenty years ago so comparing to todays prices is, well, rude. I loaded up a batch of 365 grain mild loads for my 45-70 Marlin and they cost about 2.75 cents each.

But you know, in another twenty years or so I would imagine that the shooters then will be looking back at todays prices the same way I do now.


Cat

[J35]

Excellent break down Steve.

I add casting to the mix. It allows me to add a huge range of loads to what I can shoot, fine tune for the best accuracy and the cost savings are very like yours with reloading.

Many of my components were bought twenty years ago so comparing to todays prices is, well, rude. I loaded up a batch of 365 grain mild loads for my 45-70 Marlin and they cost about 2.75 cents each.

But you know, in another twenty years or so I would imagine that the shooters then will be looking back at todays prices the same way I do now.


Cat

You know I made a post on non gun forum, and told them most of my ammo cost's less than 3 cents a pop, and I suddenly became the bad guy.

Most couldn't fathom free WW's, surplus powder at $6-$7 a pound , $11 and $12 a thousand primers, free range brass or what to do with it.

So I think your ( rude:) ) is spot on.

-----J

[Catshooter]

Yes, and a lot of my primers are from before the panic in '92. Seven fifty a thousand. Oh well some just don't want to be convinced.


Cat

[COSteve]

Done

[Catshooter]

The secret is also to think about the future.

In twenty years time, I think that people will look back at $35/thousand for primers as cheap.

The future is coming, and it will probably cost more, don't ya think?

Steve, why don't you cast? It's obvious you have the skills, no space?


Cat

[COSteve]

Done

[Catshooter]

Ah. I figured there'd be some logic behind it. Sounds like it works for you, so there you go.


Cat

[ethang]

Some years ago at my range I found a box that was full of Starline 45 Colt cases. On the box was a note that these cases had been loaded 20 times and were left there as scrap only, not to load them. Of course I naturally took them home and loaded them up with my normal load of Unique and a 250 cast and have shot them at least 3 more times. I think I might be up to two cases that have split so far. I think you will get many more then 15 loadings out of those cases.

[COSteve]

Done

[rimrock]

No more than 3 boxes of commercial stuff through my .45C--rest has been cast Lee 255grain bullets of about 4 bricks of primers over 5 years. I even use all cast in .444 and mostly cast in .308.