[theFONZ]

With ALL things considered (components, equipment, time, bench space), if you just want to plink it's not worth it to reload. I bought 9mm for 5.99 per 50 round box on Black Friday. That's 12 cents per round. While components may be able to beat that by a few cents reloading, and save $1 per 50 round box, I'd spend near an hour total and need a couple hundred dollars of equipment to do it. Oh and that's not including the hassle of picking up and cleaning my brass. Not even close to worth it just to plink. Not to mention the factory ammo is Brass/FMJ and I'd be reloading plated bullets.

I'm not considering casting my own bullets, because that's a whole 'nother equipment, space, time, and component investment, not to mention the possible health implications. That and I can't use them in my guns with polygonal rifling or with supressors.

Now reloading for precision, hunting, or competition is a different story. That's where you save tons of money and get better, or optimized, performance. For a couple of my hunting rifles I save over $50 per 20 rounds! 375 Weatherby Mag is damn expensive (maybe $75 per box if you can find it) but I make it for around $1.50 each, and that's a load that I have built up for my specific rifle and shoots great. 375H&H is slightly less expensive in store but similar cost for me to reload. Even .308 can be made for half the price of premium hunting ammo. I have a few loads I make that shoot under a half inch out of a lightweight hunting rifle that run about $1 in component cost. I used to load tons of 40s&w for competition that ran about 12c-15c per round, but it was a custom load built up for competition. Even with those savings, however, I spent a TON of time and who knows how much on gas, a chronograph, reloading equipment, spotting scope/tripod, shoulder abuse (375 mags), shooting rests/bags, and who knows what else. Did I still save money. HELL NO! But it sure is fun and I can be proud of the performance I've gained.

FWIW, I have a Dillon Square Deal B, two Dillon 550s, and an RCBS Rockchucker. I use Redding Competition dies when I can, and RCBS or Redding regular dies when I don't need absolute precision. I use mostly Sierra bullets for rifle, sometimes Nosler Partitions, and whatever plated pistol bullets are cheapest. My rifle brass is mostly Winchester or Nosler and I reuse it until it's not relodable anymore.

All in all, reloading will not save you money, unless you don't value your time. With that said, it's a great and rewarding hobby that you can lie to yourself and justify it by saying you're saving money like I do.