Cheapskate's guide to cartridge selection

[17remhunter]

You're looking at ammo cost as the limiting factor. I'm looking at time as the limiting factor. Time is money, unless you're retired and dont have wife/kids with needs from you.

Finding factory ammo that shoots inside 2 MOA with 10+ round groups is common. Actually being able to shoot inside 2 MOA from common field positions with a hunting rifle is uncommon.

It's almost 2026, aint no driving to town to buy ammo. It gets delivered to the front door.

Here's some groups shot from a factory barrel with $1.1/ea creedmoor ammo. Suppose a guy could load up something similar for $0.85 in components and save $0.25/rd. How many rounds an hour are you loading and what's your time worth?
View attachment 393826View attachment 393827

$0.60ea factory 223.
View attachment 393828

My time is valuable thats why i reload. I reload for a lot less than 85 cents. The biggest cost is brass but with over ten reloads its super cheap. Next is bullets but buying in bulk cuts that way back I shoot small rifle primers for everything including my 6 creedmoor. During the ammo scarcity I didn’t even notice and believe me it’s coming again.

 

[17remhunter]

You're looking at ammo cost as the limiting factor. I'm looking at time as the limiting factor. Time is money, unless you're retired and dont have wife/kids with needs from you.

Finding factory ammo that shoots inside 2 MOA with 10+ round groups is common. Actually being able to shoot inside 2 MOA from common field positions with a hunting rifle is uncommon.

It's almost 2026, aint no driving to town to buy ammo. It gets delivered to the front door.

Here's some groups shot from a factory barrel with $1.1/ea creedmoor ammo. Suppose a guy could load up something similar for $0.85 in components and save $0.25/rd. Said guy could also likely recoup most of that cost gap just by selling ounce fired brass. How many rounds an hour are you loading and what's your time worth?
View attachment 393826View attachment 393827

$0.60ea factory 223.
View attachment 393828

How much time do you spend in front of a TV. For me a TV is a total waste of time plus 90% of its insulting to anyone’s intelligence. Thats why I dont own one I have a lot of quality time. TV time isn’t quantity time its mostly indoctrination time and dumbing down time. Time is valuable use it wisely and intellectually

 

[mtmuley]

TV time isn’t quantity time its mostly indoctrination time and dumbing down time.

Watching football is quantity time. Quality too. mtmuley

 

[17remhunter]

Watching football is quantity time. Quality too. mtmuley

Thats an opinion. A bunch of overrated overpaid entertainers. I will make an exception for college but the NFL, Not a chance in H…..L. Once those jackasses took a knee during the National Anthem They should have been rounded up and deported to a salt mine in Russia Totally disgusting and anyone who watches them. Well……………… birds of a feather. My boys fought in Iraq for that flag and my youngest died defending that flag. Watch those pieces of S……..t. And in my opinion …………. Dont make me say it. I will let you conscience tell you. Did the NFL come out and apologize make a public nation wide apology??

 

[17remhunter]

Handloading is beneficial for a number of reasons but 99.9% of hunters are limited more by their competency than they are by factory ammo. Nearly all of us would be more lethal if all of the time spent reloading was instead spent becoming better rifleman.

The reason so many guys dont spend time becoming better riflemen is because they dont reload. Id bet guys who are very proficient shooting reload. Benchrest shooters as well as 600 and 1000 yard shooters ALL reload. Hammer bullets?? You have to reload. A- Fram, Hawk, Black Hole. You have to reload. I shot 30 grain berger bullets out of my 22 Hornet. Had to reload. 30 gr in a 17 Remington. Yep reload. Nickel plated 5 1/2 shot or Nickel plated 7, 7.5, 8. Reload. Premium Trophy ammunition is so expensive unless you reload. Reduced loads for your son , daughter, wife, yep reload

 

[grizzly63]

But the .223 is boring

and it will never be a 300wm

 

[17remhunter]

and it will never be a 300wm

Good. I hunted once with a 300 WM

 

[17remhunter]

You're looking at ammo cost as the limiting factor. I'm looking at time as the limiting factor. Time is money, unless you're retired and dont have wife/kids with needs from you.

Finding factory ammo that shoots inside 2 MOA with 10+ round groups is common. Actually being able to shoot inside 2 MOA from common field positions with a hunting rifle is uncommon.

It's almost 2026, aint no driving to town to buy ammo. It gets delivered to the front door.

Here's some groups shot from a factory barrel with $1.1/ea creedmoor ammo. Suppose a guy could load up something similar for $0.85 in components and save $0.25/rd. Said guy could also likely recoup most of that cost gap just by selling ounce fired brass. How many rounds an hour are you loading and what's your time worth?
View attachment 393826View attachment 393827

$0.60ea factory 223.
View attachment 393828

Whats the size of the targets 2”. I shoot prone but always carry a rear bag. Accuracy is everything to me. I dont skimp on my components. I buy Lapua or Nosler match grade brass. Match grade bullets usually Berger or Sierra and either 205 match or 7.5 primers.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Whats the size of the targets 2”. I shoot prone but always carry a rear bag. Accuracy is everything to me. I dont skimp on my components. I buy Lapua or Nosler match grade brass. Match grade bullets usually Berger or Sierra and either 205 match or 7.5 primers.

Those are 1” circle stickers.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

My time is valuable thats why i reload. I reload for a lot less than 85 cents. The biggest cost is brass but with over ten reloads its super cheap. Next is bullets but buying in bulk cuts that way back I shoot small rifle primers for everything including my 6 creedmoor. During the ammo scarcity I didn’t even notice and believe me it’s coming again.

Maybe pea shooters with cheap bullets are less than 85 cents or at prices from years gone by. You say you use premium components? Berger bullets are going to be over $0.40 Ea. 40 grains of powder at todays prices is about 35 cents. A 205 primer? Call it 7 cents. That's 82 cents without any brass cost.

 

[noharleyyet]

 

[Wild Bill]

Thats an opinion. A bunch of overrated overpaid entertainers. I will make an exception for college but the NFL, Not a chance in H…..L. Once those jackasses took a knee during the National Anthem They should have been rounded up and deported to a salt mine in Russia Totally disgusting and anyone who watches them. Well……………… birds of a feather. My boys fought in Iraq for that flag and my youngest died defending that flag. Watch those pieces of S……..t. And in my opinion …………. Dont make me say it. I will let you conscience tell you. Did the NFL come out and apologize make a public nation wide apology??

Chill out a bit.