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Posted: 1/8/2012 10:09:43 AM EDT
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I keep detailed records of most everything related to reloading so that I can understand what items worked and didn't as well as my costs. This morning, I was updating my spreadsheet to include the addition of 2 new calibers last year, 30-06 and 308. I added the actual costs of the additional caliber specific items I bought to my actual cost spreadsheet. In addition, I also updated my replacement cost spreadsheet for my entire setup using Dillon's Feb 2012 Blue Book I received yesterday. I found that the total replacement cost of my XL650 reloading suite pictured below including the other reloading equipment I've purchased that enables me to load 30carb, 38spl, 357mag, 40s&w, 45acp, 10mm, .223, 5.56, 30-06, and 308 is right at $3,950 plus the cost of my bench, chair, light, air compressor, and ammo boxes. Reloading components are additional of course. My actual costs are significantly less (just under $2,400) for the equipment as I've bought these items over the last 11 years and I've been lucky enough to get many of them through a friend at dealer cost. Still, at a replacement cost of almost $4,000, my invested cost in equipment is significant.  Would I start reloading had I known that I would eventually invest $4,000 in equipment? For me the answer is definitely yes because I've found that reloading is a hobby in itself that I really enjoy. I get great satisfaction tuning my loads to my firearms and I've found reloading to be a very relaxing endeavor. It helped me wind down from a hard day at work to come home and load up a couple hundred rds. Now that I'm retired, I still enjoy it as much as ever, maybe even more today. It's a bonus that saves me a ton of money on ammo costs as I'd reload even if the costs were even. Currently, my net savings after the cost of my equipment and components exceeds $28,700 for slightly over 176,000rds loaded over the last 11 years plus the additional components I have on hand. What about you? Have you calculated the replacement costs of your reloading setup? If you were deciding whether to take up reloading today, would you still elect to get into it? Further, has reloading become truly a separate hobby for you or do you just find it a way to save money on ammo? |
I am scared to even think about the cost. However, I am also pretty confident that the setup has barked it's price several times already, so maybe some day I'll calculate. Small armies shoot less than you have loaded over the years  .
Edit: And yes, I would start reloading, because as you said, it is a wonderful hobby of it's own. |
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With 8 presses and proprietary dies for each press. In 45acp for instance, have Dillon, Hornady, Redding and Lee dies.
I'd be ashamed to calculate costs. It's a sin to have committed the redundacies I've committed. Presses would include. Dillon XL650 Dillon RL450 Hornady LNL AP Hornady Classic Lee Loadmaster Lee Pro1000 Lee 4 hole turret Lee hand press Dedicated tool heads, powder measurers, dies, etc, etc. No, I don't want to know what I've spent. Happy to float down the river of denial. |
| I'd say between 4-5k total over the last 4 years. Started with a Lee kit and have slowly worked up to a progressive with all the bells and whistles. Yes I would do it again because I enjoy it and it saves money. I'm an ammo packrat and reloading definitely eases the burden on stockpiling. |
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My brother keeps a very detailed spreadsheet of his reloading equipment and supplies. He’s asked me if I do this. I do not simply because I’d hate to constantly update it every time I shoot, reload more ammo, get more components or equipment. It’d be in a constant state of change.
Having written that, I am planning to update a detailed inventory for insurance purposes. With 4 Dillon 550s (2 with case feeders), 3 Rockchuckers, scales, trimmers, all the freaking dies, and a truckload of other equipment I expect to be well north of $6K . . . probably WELL north. All of my guns are inventoried and updated as the market changes. However, I have yet to inventory all of the misc. things such as extra mags, tripods, bipods, etc., etc. Thinking about getting this task completed makes my head hurt as I normally hate record keeping. Plus, there’s a LOT of digging and counting to be done. Would I do it again? Oh hell yes! Not only has my reloading equipment paid for itself many times over but I find it down right handy to be able to whip up some more ammo should I run low instead of hopping in the pickup to go buy it. Reloading has allowed me to shoot a lot more for a lot less $$ and tailor loads to my liking. Plus, it’s allowed me to get into calibers that might not be easily found in any store. It may have gotten out of hand though. Currently I’m loading: 9mm 45 ACP 38 Special 357 mag 44 mag .17 Rem 5.7 x 28 .204 Ruger .223 Rem 22-250 Win 22-250 AI .220 Swift .243 Win 6.5 Creedmoor 25-06 .270 Win 7 mm mag 30 Carbine 7.62 x 39 (when I can find bullets) .308 Win 30-06 .300 mag 8mm Mauser 7.62 x 54R 50 BMG 20 gauge 12 gauge And I’ve probably forgotten one or a few. Obviously, I enjoy it. Maybe I’ll consider more detailed records after I retire but that’ll be a while yet. |
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I used to keep a spread sheet up until about a year ago. That's when I got to the point that everything had paid for itself. With the exception of the component's.
I didn't start this to just save money though. To me its more of a hobbie. But like a lot of other hobbies I have had I some how managed to find a way for it to feed itself 
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I quit counting a while back when I totaled up all my midway invoices from the early 90s to present and they totaled more than the price of the house I live in; didn't even bother totaling all the invoices from the other vendors I bought from over the years, let alone the local shops .
one would think with all the shooting I've done I'd be a much better shot that what I am 
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Just a swag, I have - Rock Chucker - Dillon 550B with extras like strong mount - Dillong 650 w/ case feeder and extras - MEC Grabber - 30 primer pickup tubes - Dillon scale - RCBS 10-10 scale - numerous toolheads - 10+ sets of dies - calipers - tumbler - Dillon media separator - Dillon swager - Giraud trimmer - nick nacks like Lee trimmer, Hornady primer pocket reamer, RCBS primer pocket cleaners - Dillon case gauges - Shell sorters with 380ACP plate - Lee Production Pot IV - 6 or so Lee Six cavity molds - RCBS Lube/Sizer with numerous sizing dies Guessing $4000+ replacement costs  Powder, projectiles, primers, shot, wads, brass, probably another $5K locked up |
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I bet I am around 20K in my reloading room.
3 x 1050 w/ 10 extra toolheads and complete conversions 2 x 550 w/ 9 extra toolheads and complete conversions Spolar hydro w/ 3 gauges Prometheus Forster Co-Ax RCBS Ammomaster for 50 BMG Consumables like powder, brass, bullets and primers not included. |
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One other thing to look into individually is if your insurance policy has enough of the correct coverage and limits to replace your stuff in case of loss. Especially firearms. My policy will only cover a small portion of my collection without specific listed coverages added, which I desperately need to do. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
| Sir, as you may already know I've been a reloader since the mid 1970s. Since that time I've acquired a lot of equipment, so much that it would be difficult to recall how much I paid for any particular piece. When I first started reloading it was a means to keep a stock of ammo available for when ever I had the opportunity to go shooting. Since I got into more competitive shooting my reloading hobby has evolved into a means of always having a large store of high quality ammo on hand to shoot in as many range and match sessions as I can cram into a year. In the warmer months I may shoot two or three eighty shot HP matches a month and combined with practice that works into over 3K rounds a year just for HP matches. I always tell people that I can't buy ammo that's as good as I can reload and that's the honest truth. When is the last time anyone ever saw a box of 260 Remington cartridges loaded with a Sierra Match King bullet on a store shelf? JMHO, 7zero1. |
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