RanchRoper's Reloading Ruminations

[RanchRoper]

Don't know if this will shed any light for you, or if I am off target on what you are looking for.

I hand load 9 different calibers. I just received a 45-70 Henry for Christmas and ordered all of the needed components to start loading. I also bought a box of factory ammo to put rounds down range before I am able to load. Here is how the numbers break out.

Since the 45-70 is a straight walled case, I will be able to get more reloads than a necked rifle round. The numbers are based on getting 5 reloads out of each piece of brass, although I expect to get more. All components were purchased at Midway USA.

Factory Ammo: Black Hills 45-70 20 round box 1250 FPS= $33.86 500 rounds = $846.00

Reloading Components: (reloaded rounds are 1251 FPS
Star Line Brass: 100 pieces = $46.76
Bullets: Hunters 405 grain bullets = $0.36 each X 500 = $180.00
CCI Primers 1,00 = $36.00 500 = $18.00
Powder: H4198 27 grains = 13,550 grains or 2 pounds for 500 rounds = $60.00

Total for 500 rounds:
Factory: $846.00
Reloaded ammo: $304.76
Savings: $ 542.24 savings or roughly 60% savings

Ok I've thought it over. What he said.

[CT_Shooter]

Here's my accounting for the cost of reloading components.

This a screenshot of a spreadsheet I last updated in March of 2017 to chart the cost of my .357 reloads. The cost per bullet is listed in the chart, the other costs are calculated by formulas using the the average prices I paid for powders and primers, which are listed at the bottom. I only use once fired factory brass, so there's no cost for it factored into the cost per round.

Reloading Costs.JPG (70.47 KiB) Viewed 2512 times

[runnin n gunnin]

RR - What I like about your posts is they are short, to the point and Poignant !

CT- Love the spread sheet, and love the Hornady JHP XTPs over H110 for .357, one of my favorites as well !

[RanchRoper]

That's great info guys, sorry PT7 but I would never stay interested in tracking that level of detail for any more than about 2 days...Cowboy A.D.D....just want it to whinny, moo or go bang.

The big $ saver for me is that I will likely never have to buy brass. I have LOTS.

[RanchRoper]

Put 100 rounds through the reloading press today. A good way to enjoy your firearm hobby even when the weather is way below zero...

[RanchRoper]

Question about 45-70; being a straight wall cartridge, how many times are you reloading the brass? What is considered a mild plinking load or is there such a thing? What size lead would that be? What powder are you guys using? Curious.

[Mistered]

No experience with .45-70 but Unique would most likely work well for some nice, 'light' loads in it with cast bullets.

I can scan and send you some data from an 'old' Lyman reload manual if you would like that shows several 'lighter' loads for it - including Unique based loads.

Some of these are in the 1200 - 1400 FPS range which would probably be very nice 'shooters'.

[RanchRoper]

I see lots of 45-70 loads in the Lee manual but I am not familiar with that cartridge at all either. Thks

[BigAl52]

That universal powder and a 350 gr Berrys bullet makes a nice plinkin load RR. I use it all the time

[RanchRoper]

Interesting.