My hesitation is with component cost. Going by star line prices and Internet prices in general, reloading 40 s&w worked out to about 36 cents a round, which doesn't include the cost of the equipment. I haven't witnessed the prices in the OP on 40 caliber (which is what I shoot the most of). 1000 unprinted once fired cases I've seen for 121 dollars. If I could find the components cheaply I'd definitely jump into it.
I haven't really checked any local stores in nh for reloading supplies/prices, are they much cheaper than what I've seen online?
40SW is probably the only brass I find at my range with out much effort. It seems to be the only brass left in quantity on the ground. If it is picked up you can find it in the trash bucket. All other brass seems to vanish quickly at my range.
I think you need to get the "saving money" thing out of your head. The equipment is a small investment that only will pay for its self in time.
Figure out home much you spent on ammo last month.
Is this your average. In my shooting prime before cost and time where a issue I shot at least 1k rounds of 6 different cals. Each year. From 38spl - 54r .
It was like a average of. 41 cents per round or 2500.00 per year. This was a weak yr. Some years I would piss through 223 and x39.
So with just a little saving by not shooting for a few months you would have enough for a decent start up loading set up. Some frugal savings. Listed are a few things I do to save a few extra bucks for shooting.
1. My credit card pays me from 1-3% cash back for purchases. I always pay my CC in full every month.
This pays me 350.00 yr.
2. I cash in cans. Doesn't take much I find them everywhere. About 7-12$ month
3. I cash in scrap metal. Mostly copper and aluminum
Again not much effort here either last yr was a good yr for not trying hard. 1500.00$
4. Sell stuff on ebay. Almost anything will sell. I have been inactive here for a while. Just to busy to bother.
Buy used stuff. Plenty of it out there.
Reloading takes time. Time you wont get paid for or "save" enough reloading to make up for it.
The gains are
You can load much better ammo for a out the same money as the cheapest steel cased crap.
You can load match grade ammo for about the cost of the least expensive brass ammo (to a point)
You can generally load 2x as much for the cost of factory.
You can Taylor your loads to your needs. I enjoy shooting gallery rifle loads. Light cast loads with pistol like velocity and almost zero recoil.
Think bulk when buying bullets powder or primers.
I shoot about 1k rounds of pistol a yr these days. My loads are small 4 grains average, about 2000 rnds per lb.
I got about 4 yrs worth of powder.
