Reloading .380 ACP to emulate American Eagle

[Napier]

CCI 500 small pistol primer, Berry's 100 grain FMJ bullet, 2.8 grains of Hogdon Titegroup powder, OAL 0.967''. Indistinguishable from American Eagle in recoil, but smokier. The powder charge is in the midrange that Lee and Hogdon recommend, 2.6 to 3.0. And the recipe is consistent with what reloaders post on the web.

Ah, the joys of reloading! My first production 9mm round cost $500. The first .380 cost less than $50 for the dies and the case trimmer. So, let's see, I only have reload about 1500 to get the amortized cost down below the cost of a primer. I shoot maybe 500 a year, so if I live three more years I'll feel really smart.

[Don2]

The reloading force in you is strong....
Keep vigilante in your quest for the perfect bullets, But be careful of the "dark side" of the force for it can be strong in the weaker reloaders...!!
May the Reloading Force be with you.

Ahhhh...well, something like that...
That was my Star Wars response.

Now my ET Country Boy response. ( ET=East Texas )

What pistol are you using to shoot these through?
I bought the same 380 bullets but have not loaded any yet.
I'm using an older colt 380 government model.
It has shot every brand of ammo I have fed it so far.

Problem with your cost analysis is, that you always seem to find some other bigger or better reloading doo-dad to buy and then the costs go back up....So just do it as a hobby and forget about the costs ( as much as you can? )
I'm not sure if I will ever come out ahead, BUT, I am making what I want, when I want and having fun...


Don2

[Jumping Frog]

Nah, it's about self-sufficiency. Once Obama is re-elected and the ammo dries up, you'll be happy that you can make your own

Come election day, I figure I'll have about 20,000 loaded rounds in inventory, with primers and powder in hand to make another 20,000. I know that isn't sufficient, but I figure it is a good start.

[Napier]

The reloading force in you is strong....
Keep vigilante in your quest for the perfect bullets, But be careful of the "dark side" of the force for it can be strong in the weaker reloaders...!!
May the Reloading Force be with you.

Ahhhh...well, something like that...
That was my Star Wars response.

Now my ET Country Boy response. ( ET=East Texas )

What pistol are you using to shoot these through?
I bought the same 380 bullets but have not loaded any yet.
I'm using an older colt 380 government model.
It has shot every brand of ammo I have fed it so far.

Problem with your cost analysis is, that you always seem to find some other bigger or better reloading doo-dad to buy and then the costs go back up....So just do it as a hobby and forget about the costs ( as much as you can? )
I'm not sure if I will ever come out ahead, BUT, I am making what I want, when I want and having fun...


Don2

Indeed the economics take a long time to work out at present retail ammo prices. I am setting up to reload in case there are retail shortages or worse, or an extended disaster. When you can get a 9mm round for 20 cents it is hard to save money reloading. For something less popular like .32 ACP it makes a (very little) more sense. I shoot .380 in a 1923-vintage Colt 1908, a Taurus 638, and a Bersa Thunder Plus. The Taurus is my usual carry.

As to fun, I think working up and testing loads is fun, but "production" reloading not so much. I started with a Lee breech lock hand press, thinking that would do for 50 rounds or so a week. Not so. A Lee classic turret press is in the mail, haha. Now it will never pay back unless I can barter bullets for booze in the Zombiegeddon.

[Napier]

Ah, the joys of reloading! My first production 9mm round cost $500. The first .380 cost less than $50 for the dies and the case trimmer. So, let's see, I only have reload about 1500 to get the amortized cost down below the cost of a primer. I shoot maybe 500 a year, so if I live three more years I'll feel really smart.

Nah, it's about self-sufficiency. Once Obama is re-elected and the ammo dries up, you'll be happy that you can make your own

Of course the rub is primers and powder. Can't make them. So stock up!

[Napier]

Nah, it's about self-sufficiency. Once Obama is re-elected and the ammo dries up, you'll be happy that you can make your own

Come election day, I figure I'll have about 20,000 loaded rounds in inventory, with primers and powder in hand to make another 20,000. I know that isn't sufficient, but I figure it is a good start.

At a rough cost of about $900 (assuming handgun components) that seems like a great investment. But you have to hope lightning never strikes the house.

[Don2]

Nah, it's about self-sufficiency. Once Obama is re-elected and the ammo dries up, you'll be happy that you can make your own

Come election day, I figure I'll have about 20,000 loaded rounds in inventory, with primers and powder in hand to make another 20,000. I know that isn't sufficient, but I figure it is a good start.

At a rough cost of about $900 (assuming handgun components) that seems like a great investment. But you have to hope lightning never strikes the house.

A friend of mine and I hit on briefly the topic of silver and gold coins if everything went down the drain. He said I should have all I can get.
I agreed with him for the most part, but asked him how much he would pay for 25 or 50 rounds for his pistol if he could not get any....AND REALLY NEEDED SOME.
I said, he could give me a hand full of the coins and I'd give him some bullets.
We just smiled and went on..!!!
Bartering is just not gold and silver...sometimes its just plain ole LEAD too..!!!

GOD Bless America.
THANKS to them that have given their all.
Don2

[Napier]

Agreed. In a dire emergency precious metals il avail you little. Their value comes after the restoration of order. Ask your friend how much he would give for a fifth of Everclear if he couldn't get to the liquor store. It'a an excellent antiseptic, you know. Stash some away now. Store it with your other flammables.

[Jumping Frog]

20,000 loaded rounds in inventory, with primers and powder in hand to make another 20,000.

At a rough cost of about $900 (assuming handgun components) that seems like a great investment. But you have to hope lightning never strikes the house.

More than that, actually. I know you said handgun, but it wouldn't make sense to stockpile only handgun ammo, would it?

Ball-parking, that is 40,000 primers at about $800 and 80 lb powder at about $1300. Luckily, I have enough free lead in stock for the bullets.

[Napier]

20,000 loaded rounds in inventory, with primers and powder in hand to make another 20,000.

At a rough cost of about $900 (assuming handgun components) that seems like a great investment. But you have to hope lightning never strikes the house.

More than that, actually. I know you said handgun, but it wouldn't make sense to stockpile only handgun ammo, would it?

Ball-parking, that is 40,000 primers at about $800 and 80 lb powder at about $1300. Luckily, I have enough free lead in stock for the bullets.

Excellent and enviable average prices for primers and powder. If I may ask, are you taking any special precautions with storage? Much safer than gasoline or propane, but still...

Any other prepper planning? For example, I have a small 20 watt solar cell and charger and use only rechargeable batteries. And a smallish generator capable of running my small backup fridge and freezer. And have some limited emergency capacity to filter water from neighbors' pools. And trying to harmonize everyday palatable cooking with foods which have long shelf lives (not easy with a gourmet wife).

[Don2]

20,000 loaded rounds in inventory, with primers and powder in hand to make another 20,000.

At a rough cost of about $900 (assuming handgun components) that seems like a great investment. But you have to hope lightning never strikes the house.

More than that, actually. I know you said handgun, but it wouldn't make sense to stockpile only handgun ammo, would it?

Ball-parking, that is 40,000 primers at about $800 and 80 lb powder at about $1300. Luckily, I have enough free lead in stock for the bullets.

Excellent and enviable average prices for primers and powder. If I may ask, are you taking any special precautions with storage? Much safer than gasoline or propane, but still...

Any other prepper planning? For example, I have a small 20 watt solar cell and charger and use only rechargeable batteries. And a smallish generator capable of running my small backup fridge and freezer. And have some limited emergency capacity to filter water from neighbors' pools. And trying to harmonize everyday palatable cooking with foods which have long shelf lives (not easy with a gourmet wife).

I'm not answering for Jumping Frog, just putting my 2¢ on the table.
I do not have any special storage for my P&P's...I just keep them from extremes and NOT in a sealed container. Only kept in original container.
I understand that heat is worse than cold for powder as far as storage only.
I know that if something were to happen and they would be ignited...a sealed container would build up pressure and not be good. ( Understatement )

Plus...I do not keep it all in one place and (just me) I turn them over end for end after a few months storage.
Just an old trick I heard from an old reloader, maybe powders are made different these days and do not need to be mixed any longer???????

Don2

[Napier]

Thanks for the storage tips. I am beginning to worry about the two pounds I have. As to flipping the cans, maybe it's like the old story of the husband who asked his wife, "Hon, why do you cut the ends off a roast before you put it in the oven?" "Because Mom always did." "Ask her why for me, will ya , Hon?" "She said it was because her old oven was too small."

[FishInTx]

Nah, it's about self-sufficiency. Once Obama is re-elected and the ammo dries up, you'll be happy that you can make your own

I didn't get .380 dies. I just don't shoot enough of it. But when I do shoot it I save the brass, just in case.

I am so far in the hole money wise I may never get out. But I have a few thousand bullets, brass, and primers, and a couple pounds of powder. I'm hoping for Romney but preparing for Obama 2nd term.

Every payday I try to add a little something to the prepping stash. Bottled water, Ramen noodles, tuna, a case of MRE's. I bought some 1/10oz gold coins and some junk silver but most of my barter items are some type of food.

[Napier]

Many many accounts of disasters relate that the most precious commodity in need is toilet paper.

To your category of "food" I would add 1.75 liter bottles of Everclear, 95% pure alcohol. I think it will be an excellent barter item, traded by the ounce.