Reloading 223 Vs. buying factory

[kaliber]

Well someone from work asked for a favor, he would supply all the components, brass, primers, powder, and bullets and I would put them together with my progressive machine. Having not purchased ammo or reloading components in a while I decided to do some comparisons on reloading 223 or buying 223 ammo. Components minus the brass because we already have it come to approximately $350.00 including hazmat shipping and buying factory ammo ranges $541.00 - $657.00 . Ha ha still pays to reload!

 

[dsdmmat]

I don’t reload for anyone. I will teach someone on my equipment, but they provide the supplies and do all the labor.

 

[Acer-m14]

now if they want to make ammo for me also while I'm watching them .. another story .. lol

 

[Tisto]

Processing brass is a time consuming royal pain in the ass, and I would charge him $250 just for that, not to mention the few hours spent at the press. Size, deprime, trim, deburr, chamfer, swage, clean, inspect THEN you get to the easy part.

 

[Saltwater60]

Processing brass is a time consuming royal pain in the ass, and I would charge him $250 just for that, not to mention the few hours spent at the press. Size, deprime, trim, deburr, chamfer, swage, clean, inspect THEN you get to the easy part.

That’s what I was thinking, what’s in it for you? Not to be selfish but you have to think like that. Don’t forget this may soon be illegal so it’s a risk. Keep in mind I have never been interested in reloading because the time spent doing it is not worth it to me. I’ll buy new even if it costs me a few hundred dollars more but I don’t shoot a ton.

 

[FP1201]

Processing brass is a time consuming royal pain in the ass, and I would charge him $250 just for that, not to mention the few hours spent at the press. Size, deprime, trim, deburr, chamfer, swage, clean, inspect THEN you get to the easy part.

exactly!
I used to shoot .50BMG and literally would spend five minutes per case with everything set up on the bench, and that doesn't count the time de-priming ahead of pin-tumbling before the other processes begin, and afterwards I usually tumble again to get the lube off and brass trimmings... Five minutes doesn't sound like a lot of time, but only translates to a dozen cases an hour.

 

[kaliber]

The someone at work is also a friend, I couldn’t charge a friend for my time and efforto. It’s a hobby I enjoy!

 

[kev74]

The someone at work is also a friend, I couldn’t charge a friend for my time and efforto. It’s a hobby I enjoy!

If you enjoy doing it, go for it.

There are very few people I would either reload for or accept handloaded ammo from.

 

[Hochulsucks1234]

I still find 223 to be cheap enough to buy over reloading. I speak of the 55gr plinking ammo. Once you start getting to hunting or match ammo, then it becomes worthwhile. Reloading may cheaper, but the time has to be factored in. If you have a progressive press, it helps tremendously.

 

[CaliberPlus]

Liability. It is a thing even when not at fault. A lawyer can make it seem that way.

 

[thegatman]

I was taught to never shoot someone’s reloads.

 

[meketrefe]

i do not reload for anyone ans dont want reloads from anyone. That is the only way to assure zero liability to what happens to that person or a 3rd party no matter what the reason is.

We have zero control over what can happen to others.

Dont play with murphys law.

 

[Saltwater60]

Liability. It is a thing even when not at fault. A lawyer can make it seem that way.

This.
To the OP. Remember your friend doesn’t need to be the one to sue you and your friends homeowners or health insurance can do that.
My son was hurt at a neighbors house and it was not there fault at all, just kids being stupid. After a while I got a letter from my health insurance company asking for background information on how the injury occurred. I knew where they were going with it so I discarded the letter and thankfully I never heard from them again. I switched insurance companies and I think that’s why.

 

[kaliber]

While i appreciate all the warnings of reloading for others the whole point of the thread was to illustrate the difference in cost of reloading or buying ammo. I haven’t purchased a lot of ammo or components in a while but I remember when $350.00 bought you a case of 1000 rounds of 223 and that was ridiculously high. Ha I even remember paying as little as $90.00 for a case of 1000 rounds, good old days!

 

[dsdmmat]

I remember loading 308 for 90 bucks a thousand.

 

[fnfalguy]

I remember loading 308 for 90 bucks a thousand.

I remember buying surplus Hirtenberger in battle packs for $115 for 1000 direct from Century Arms.

 

[dwa12479]

That’s what I was thinking, what’s in it for you? Not to be selfish but you have to think like that. Don’t forget this may soon be illegal so it’s a risk. Keep in mind I have never been interested in reloading because the time spent doing it is not worth it to me. I’ll buy new even if it costs me a few hundred dollars more but I don’t shoot a ton.

I find it to be rather relaxing. The slow rhythm of the press can be soothing on the soul. Lol.

 

[Zerex]

I have purchased once fired 223 brass, and sent out other .223 brass for processing ..about .10 per processed round.
The brass came back pin tumbled and very clean, pocket swaged, etc.

I have also purchased fully processed, once fired .223 brass.

I sat down last spring, with 5000 cases of processed brass. I measured the first, with a case gage and then an RCBS precision mike.

I found fully almost 50% of the processed brass to be too long but the necks were ok.
Another 50% was just right and safe....at "go gage" or shorter.

The once fired, UNPROCESSED brass........................... was just the same size AS THE PROCESSED BRASS THAT WAS TOO LONG............BAD PROGRESSIVE MACHINES must be the culprit, or the guy just cleaned the brass and sent it out.

So....... I had to reprocess, the too long, already processed brass, in a Redding body die or a Redding sb die.

The HS of an AR is generally about .003 and that is my limit for resized brass, as measured against a go gage, and new factory rounds, in the precision mike. I try to make my brass the same size as new factory stuff and that is under go gage measured in the precision mike.

Resizing, measuring/triming cleaning primer pockets and holes, tumbling wet or dry and sometimes annealing, does add up the minutes in one piece of brass.

Loading is another long precision chore.

 

[technicalgadget]

What happens if there is a kaboom from an accidental double charge? Who pays for the broken firearm? Who pays for the medical bills? Who pays for the loss of an eyeball and deformed face?

 

[FRANKIE]

What happens if there is a kaboom from an accidental double charge? Who pays for the broken firearm? Who pays for the medical bills? Who pays for the loss of an eyeball and deformed face?

All falls on the shooter. In most cases, It would be hard to prove other wise.

 

[goldie]

I was buying reloads from a guy years ago he made them just for selling; they were good for a few years,1 day i fired one of his 223 rounds, and it wouldnt eject it got stuck in the chamber i used a rubber mallet to hit the charging handle and got it out. that was the last time i bought from him. He might have started to get lazy at that point, and he was getting older,and theres no room for that when making ammo yourself.

 

[technicalgadget]

All falls on the shooter. In most cases, It would be hard to prove other wise.

I dunno about that. I can't see that there would be zero liability on behalf of the reloader in NYS. I would think at minimum, there would be an injury lawyer getting involved if there was personal injury to the shooter and the medical bills were beyond what he could cover with insurance. Perhaps someone with legal experience could chime in here.

 

[Vantrepes]

I can load ammo that is better than the cheap stuff I could buy at the same price. I enjoy the reloading process (still not a fan of case trimming, but it's part of the deal), and it gives me something to do, so win/win.
As far as reloading for someone else, um, no. I enjoy it, but I don't enjoy it that much

 

[JunkBoxFull]

Save yourself alot of headaches, just say no.
If you are good friends, then tell him to buy his own reloading equipment, then you can teach him how to reload.

Goes back to that ole saying... if you teach a man to fish, he will not starve, and neither will you.

 

[masterswimmer]

All falls on the shooter. In most cases, It would be hard to prove other wise.

Wouldn't be hard for a good lawyer to prove.

Besides, if the laws are coming down that gun manufacturers can be sued for a gun used in a heinous crime/mass shooting, that the manufacturer obviously had zero involvement in, then giving or selling reloads to someone who gets injured, whether their fault or yours, is a legal road I would not want to be on.

Reloads are a 100% direct involvement with the efficacy of ammo, whereas the intent and use of a firearm is completely unrelated to a manufacturer. Yet they can be sued. Offering reloads to anyone is opening you up for potential problems. Possibly very big problems at that.