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How much does it cost to buy reloads at a gun show?

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  • jaf325

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    I just started shooting about 6 months ago and if I can find any ammon for my 45 or 9mm it is really expensive. Someone suggested that I go to a gun show and buy reloads. Is this safe? How much can I expect to pay? Sorry if this question is stupid. I'm new to shooting
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    TxEMTP69

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    I've found a few ok deals, but I'm not usually at the big shows, Walmart has been good to me lately, picked up 6 boxes Blazer Brass for 8.97/box of 50 today, WWB 10.97/50 and 19.97/100 value box when they have it in which is at least once a week it seems
     

    JKTex

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    I certainly wouldn't trust reloads from "some guy" at a gun show. I doubt it'll be much, if any cheaper either.

    Where are you looking for ammo and what are you calling "expensive" for each caliber and what ammo.
     

    Posit

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    Most handloaders, in particular, won't accept/trust cartridges loaded by someone else - certainly not a stranger. Its too easy to make a critical mistake when loading.
     

    TexasRedneck

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    There are a FEW reloaders I might trust - but not many. Something to keep in mind is that a GOOD one will mark his loaded boxes with their name because they're confident in their product. They'll also usually be at the shows themselves to address any questions. I haven't bought reloads for a long time, but back when I did there were several that I'd trust as well as any factory loads.

    Cost savings? That part is gonna depend on a lotta factors, most important among 'em the supply line the reloader uses. Right now, 45 reloads cost me 11-12 cents a round - $5.50 to $6.00/box. If all the planets align, I can be in the 8.5-9 cents range, or as high as 16 cents. Bear in mind, that is buying primers by the thousand, bullets 3-5k at a time, and powder in 8 lb containers. Reloaders make those quantities seem miniscule - but the better half does tend to do a double-take when she sees the packing slip for 15k primers.....<G>

    So, I'd think that a reloader is gonna have about that much (or a bit more) in each round as well - because while he'll likely get better pricing because of higher volumes, he's also gotta ammortize his equipment and pay labor, plus make a profit. When factory ammo is so hard to come by and consequently expensive, he can probably sell his product with a good profit margin and save you $$$, but you're going to have to weigh that for yourself, because none of us can predict what you'll see at your local show. I know that if I wasn't reloading, I'd be checking into that aspect myself, given the scarcity of ammo!
     

    Pappy

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    I just started shooting about 6 months ago and if I can find any ammon for my 45 or 9mm it is really expensive. Someone suggested that I go to a gun show and buy reloads. Is this safe? How much can I expect to pay? Sorry if this question is stupid. I'm new to shooting

    I'll chime in late and state, as others have, other peoples reloads are not safe!!!!

    Buy factory or learn to reload...plenty of help here....
     

    T's C6

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    I'll chime in late and state, as others have, other peoples reloads are not safe!!!!

    Buy factory or learn to reload...plenty of help here....

    I agree; the load can have double the charge, not good or it could have no charge or not enough and you might have a squip load in which a bullet gets stuck in the barrel, if you do not remove it and shoot another round the gun could blow up.
     

    22bond

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    I've found a few ok deals, but I'm not usually at the big shows, Walmart has been good to me lately, picked up 6 boxes Blazer Brass for 8.97/box of 50 today, WWB 10.97/50 and 19.97/100 value box when they have it in which is at least once a week it seems

    check out your closest walmart.
    The one w/the 6 or less box limit and can only buy between 8am-9pm tends to keep them on the shelves longer whenever they get any.
     

    22bond

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    check out Academy too they are higher than Walmart but has more available now. But still much lower than gun show
     

    TexMex247

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    If you look up the thread "Do you trust other peoples reloads ?" you will get numerous opinions about Gun show and other reloads. Price should never be a big a factor as safety. I once pulled some gun show reloads to check the powder content. They were 45acp rounds with over 12 grains of powder in them. This was above max for any possible powder you could put in them. So the price you pay could be life or limb !
     

    ROGER4314

    Been Called "Flash" Since I Was A Kid!
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    Jul 11, 2009
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    The guys selling reloads at local Gun shows are my friends so I want to be careful about how I say this.........but I gotta say it.

    I had a chance to examine a pile of fired rifle rounds that were loaded and sold by a major loader here. I knew who loaded it and where it came from.

    Guys, the name of the game is consistency. When you have that, you have potential accuracy. The pressure signs were so variable (from low pressure to high pressure) through the entire batch that I couldn't understand how a decent marksman could get reasonable accuracy from those rounds.

    Been at this reloading thing since 1966 and some of my rounds (308 especially) have chronographed within 14 f/sec extreme spread within a batch. I can't accomplish that every time or with every caliber but with reasonable care, a reloader can get close.

    In short, if you just want a pellet to dribble down the barrel and can live with shot-to-shot variance, buy whatever you want. If you expect better performance, then be careful about who loads the ammo and be prepared to pay more money for it.

    Flash
     
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