357 Sig Reloading Costs

Bulk Component Pricing

1. $27.50     1000 bullets (Look for good bulk prices and low shipping costs. For example, www.westcoastbullets.net has some of the best bulk pricing if you can buy in allotments of 200 lbs or so.)

2. $10.80     1000 brass (Buy directly from www.starlinebrass.com for $98 plus aprox. ten dollars for shipping. $10.80 is derived from prorating the cost over ten reloads using the same brass.)

3. $13.00     1000 primers (Look for good bulk case prices.)

4. $51.30     Subtotal

5. $23.00     AA#9 powder (Assuming 1000 charges at 11.8 grains each.)

$74.30         Grand Total for loading 1000 rounds.

                   Equivalent to 3.72/box of 50

OR, as another powder example:

5. $14.30     Universal powder (Assuming 1000 charges at 5.8 grains each.)

$65.60         Grand Total for loading 1000 rounds.

                   Equivalent to 3.28/box of 50

Non Bulk Pricing -- Buying Components in small quantities

1. $50.00     1000 Bullets

2. $10.80     1000 brass (Same bulk pricing as above, to help cut costs a little bit J )

3. $16.00     1000 primers

4. $76.80     Subtotal

5. $29.50     AA#9 powder (1 lb canister size for 17.50; 593 charges per lb)

$106.30       Grand Total for loading 1000 rounds.

                   Equivalent to 5.32/box of 50

OR, as another powder example:

5. $14.90     Universal powder (1 lb canister size for 18.00; 1000 charges at 5.8 grains each is less than one pound of powder.)

$91.70         Grand Total for loading 1000 rounds.

                   Equivalent to 4.59/box of 50

Factory Prices

The best 357 Sig factory pricing I've seen is Blazer ammo for $8.83/box with a ten box limit. Therefore, 1000 rounds would cost $176.60 plus a shipping cost of around $15, making a total of aprox. $191.60.

I'm currently loading for a bulk rate of around $74 per 1000. Therefore, even if I bought the cheapest factory ammo on a sale price, I'd still be saving $117.60 for each 1000 rounds that I reload.

$8.83/box is a great price, even though you get no choice of bullet type, powder, preferred charge, etc. But in all honesty, most 357 Sig ammo costs between $10 - $15 per box on the average.

Cost of Reloading Press System

Let's say I bought a Dillon 550 press, a quick change assembly, and the expensive $104 357 Sig carbide die set, which gives a total of around $499. The Dillon 550 press can reload approximately 500 rounds and hour. If I save $117 for each thousand rounds I reload, then in eight hours or less of reloading, the equipment would pay for itself.

You decide.