Prices for powder here have been creeping down. I just looked at Midway USA and saw powder in the high $30s. Primers are $60/1000 and up. I haven't looked locally for a while. The last time I did the local prices were a lot higher than Midway's.

Yes mate, reloading certainly seems to be something that isn’t alway viable these days. The only real plus side is being able to tailor a load to suit both your rifle and your needs. Factory ammo doesn’t always have the mix of components you want or need (type and weight of bullet, velocity, COL etc).

Oh it's still viable allright. When factory rounds are running from $50-200 per box of TWENTY rounds.... Even with high prices it's not hard to beat $4 a round.

Elvis wrote:

Oh it's still viable allright. When factory rounds are running from $50-200 per box of TWENTY rounds.... Even with high prices it's not hard to beat $4 a round.

DAMN…what calibre rounds are selling for $200 a box of 20 mate?
You are right though…it still looks like it’s plenty cheaper to reload than to buy factory rounds. Costs (all prices in AUD$) - projectiles are anywhere between 50c each up to $1.10 each, primers between 18c and 20c each, and powder at 81c per load…on average AUD$1.49 per round…and this doesn’t take into account the cost of cases assuming you have to buy them (.66c to $1.20 per case).

All in all, it is still cheaper to reload than to buy factory rounds, although there is the time factor and cost of reloading equipment to consider (usually a one off cost except for dies). The next thing to consider is how many rounds you intend shooting a year. Most hunts you would fire maybe half a dozen shots, so in a pack of 20 factory you could expect 2 to 3 hunts.

I think I’ll keep reloading whilst ever components are available…bloody ANTIs are constantly looking at ways to ban shooting and firearms, and the banning of ammunition and reloading makes firearms useless…no bullets = no shooting.

look at prices of some of the newfandangled rounds... even 6.5creambun users were getting shafted a short time ago with $100 a box not uncommon. the prc type rounds,most magnum offerings plus a few of the hornady special superduper stuff are the worst for high prices...the lower volume cartridges....
understandable as they be short runs on machines but there is a limit to whats good business and what is outright robbery/price gouging.
I went for hunt this morning,very economical indeed (didnt fire a shot) went out last week intending to take dog for long walk,fired single round at VERY close deer ,processed it and went home... so my average over last two hunts is only 1/2 a round!!!! if I was to include outing before that..I had a misfire,fired 8 rounds for 5 wallaby and a goat..brings average to 3 rounds per trip....and I usually carry between 10 and 30 lol.

Load your own, mates

I’m really looking forward to getting out to the range in about four weeks to get some 308 recoil therapy. Why waiting for four weeks you say? Well, I had an operation on my right hand/thumb two weeks ago and my right hand is out of commission that much longer. I have a cast on my right hand making it pretty much impossible to do anything with…including handloading.

To make matters worse, I’m right handed, meaning anything that requires the use of my right hand is not happening, and I’m not allowed to drive. Think about it…how hard do you think it is showering with your right arm in a bag (with no use of the right hand), try using your left hand to do the “paperwork” after going to the toilet (it’s pretty much impossible)…in fact try using your “weak” hand to do anything. I’m also reduced to foods I can cut with a fork because I can’t use my right hand to cut anything! The day I get this cast off can’t come soon enough! Then, RECOIL THERAPY.

You may think I’m just whinging and being a sook, but not so. The Dr upset some nerves, cut and did something to the ligaments on my thumb and put some sort of plastic type insert between a couple of bones. All of this work has affected the rest of my hand to the point of applying/lifting any sort of weight with my right hand results in instant pain Oh well, only four weeks to go and we’ll see if his time has been fruitful for me.

Heal up fast Vince, there's shootin' to do!

may the force of recovery be with you
we need more shooters in the field!
a quick mend intended

Bummer Vince, hope you get better soon.

I found that the new fangled Hydrocolloid bandages works awesome for wounds to heal, and the better thing is that they are waterproof and can be used in shower instead of having to bag the wounded area. Perhaps you could try them.

The actual wound has healed nicely…it’s what the Dr did inside that is the problem. The actual wound is quite small, only about 1.5” long, but I can’t move my thumb without screaming pain inside my thumb, half the palm, outer wrist and across my fingers. I’d say it’s something he did to the ligaments. I’ll get there. He said six weeks in the cast, and the physiotherapist says the same thing, so only a few weeks to go and hopefully I’ll be back out there busting caps.

What was the reason for the original surgery?

Both my thumbs are bad... mis-spent youth skiing. When you fall with poles in your hands, it tears the ligaments down near the palm, and I think one slips under another. Mine are so bad if I push hard on something with either thumb they will dislocate, a really bad dislocation and the thumbnail can bend back and touch my wrist. They always pop back in after but oh mama, it hurts! then swells up huge (which stabilizes it and it auto-heals in position LOL)

In the 1700-1800's in Europe it was called "Game keeper thumb" from wringing the necks of birds.

Either way I keep thinking about getting surgery on both of them but never quite get around to it. I'd certainly have more strength in my grip. Hearing about your troubles and pain ... kindof scares me away from it LMAO

-DallanC

Vince, you're this old and still doesn't know that at our age we're sometimes better of with a vet than with a real doctor? As I see how many times they have been cutting your body the past few year, I would suggest to ask your vet for a second opinion next time before somebody is trying to cut your flesh...

on the other hand: an old car might need some more maintenance than a young one... so as long as you can keep it running...

or maybe it's just about time to learn to use the trigger finger on your left hand?

Aloysius wrote:

Vince, you're this old and still doesn't know that at our age we're sometimes better of with a vet than with a real doctor? As I see how many times they have been cutting your body the past few year, I would suggest to ask your vet for a second opinion next time before somebody is trying to cut your flesh...

Alot of truth in that. We had a pair of local vets who really knew their stuff. Seems like we always had one or the other up at the farm every couple months to address something on a cow. Very smart guys.


-DallanC

“Dallan C” wrote:

What was the reason for the original surgery?

Really bad arthritis in my thumb…it would catch and lock up on the lumps and bumps in two joints…all courtesy of my time in the Army.

Aloysius wrote:

Vince, you're this old and still doesn't know that at our age we're sometimes better of with a vet than with a real doctor? As I see how many times they have been cutting your body the past few year, I would suggest to ask your vet for a second opinion next time before somebody is trying to cut your flesh... on the other hand: an old car might need some more maintenance than a young one... so as long as you can keep it running... or maybe it's just about time to learn to use the trigger finger on your left hand?

I thinking you might be right mate, book in to see a Veterinarian for a physical and a “grease and oil change”, couldn’t be any worse than now. You’re right about them cutting…they check you over, see $$$ signs and sharpen the knife. This time though they tried alternative treatments (that usually work well), a cortisone injection into two joints, but it made little difference, hence him sharpening his knife.
I’ve already taught myself to shoot left handed mate, courtesy of a bleed in the back of my right eye that buckled the Macula…I couldn’t see the rifle sights or the target. I sometimes wonder if my eye problem came from shooting heavy recoiling calibres too much. Eye problems seem to be the lot of shooters in the Army Shooting Teams, tears and separations within the eye, from all the rounds they shoot…not common, but certainly much higher than in the general population.