| Posted: Sat Oct 24th, 2009 06:44 PM |
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patriot7
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I'm new to this forum and want to ask a very basic question. Why is big bore factory ammo so expensive? I'm talking about 375, 416 and 458 cartridges.
What does it cost you guys to handload them?
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| Posted: Sat Oct 24th, 2009 07:36 PM |
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2nd Post |
Don Fischer
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Probably has a lot to do with the number of rounds the manufacturer can sell. Not that great of a demand for them. Also they use a bunch more powder, more lead and more jacket material. Then those big cases are not really in great demand either.
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| Posted: Sat Oct 24th, 2009 07:47 PM |
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3rd Post |
Dragon88
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There are some component costs, more powder, heavier bullet, etc. That's pennies on the dollar though. I think it's mostly because the manufacturers have to pay for the setup at the factory to make the small runs of specialty ammo, and they know they can charge a premium for it. A guy looking for a box of 308 at Wal-Mart is not looking to spend a lot of money. A guy in need of some 458 probably has a more expensive rifle and a much more expensive activity in mind.
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| Posted: Sat Oct 24th, 2009 08:00 PM |
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4th Post |
fryboy
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i wish it was as simple as supply and demand , however it's not ( tho that does figure in there ) several things come to mind ,one is usually these use premium bullets ,also the brass plays a role as well, for along time weatherby ammo was made by norma ( still could be but i havent checked lately) norma ammo has always had a high price,possibly tariff's from importing among other things as well as cost in that country to produce ,some big bore bullets by themself's cost several bucks ( just for the bullet) that ammo will cost more and with limited demand they produce far less ammo and dragon pretty much hit the rest of it on the head, take the hummers for example, gas guzzlers yet selling in a down market as well as a time when energy cost are hi ,the guy tryin to get 40mpg wont buy one but the guy who has cash and doesnt care what gas cost will and is usually lookin for something they equate with a status symbol will
edit for add...
i own none of what u listed tho i do own a couple 375's,the lower end of bullets for those start at about 20 bucks for 50( speer 235 sp's) and go up as much as u care to spend,except for the cost of bullets and brass there isnt much difference in cost ,granted u could load 3-4 30-30's with the same amount of powder but ....
u also have to remember that these type rifles arent used for general plinking ,besides the cost of factory ammo not many people will sit thru a 100 round string ( including me lolz )
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| Posted: Sat Oct 24th, 2009 11:54 PM |
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5th Post |
Paul B
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patriot7 wrote: I'm new to this forum and want to ask a very basic question. Why is big bore factory ammo so expensive? I'm talking about 375, 416 and 458 cartridges.
What does it cost you guys to handload them?
The last time I bought .416 Rigby ammo at a gun store it cost me $125.00 a box plus tax. That is $6.25 every time I shoot one of those rounds. Surpisingly enough, the guy at the store says he has a pretty good turn over on that particular brand of ammo. (Federal Premium) I did snag (steal???  ) 12 boxes with 6 boxes being soft nose and 6 boxes being solids. (Full metal jacker for the big and nasty) at $25 a box from an estate sale. They set the price. I threw my money down and ran like hell before they changed their minds. Even reloading ain't cheap. I think I paid $80 for two boxes of 50 bullets by Hornady before prices got out of line. Powder charges are in the 100 grain and up realm so say a pound of an appropriate powder is only good for 70 rounds.
Prices for ammo for my .404 Jeffery are even higher. I have brass and a few bullets that came with the gun, but components for that round are no as easy to come by, at least not at the few gun shops I frequent. If I did find some, the price would probably come close to the national debt. 
With all that said, how many times would one even shoot such a gun?After all, there ain't not cape Buffalo in my back yard and so far, no T-rex has shown up trying to make my dog a bit of a snack.  However, if either do show up, I'm ready.
Seriously, My big bores are Ruger $'s in the Tropical model. I collect Ruger #1's and those big boomers fell into my lap at very reasonable prices. Every once in a while When I'm feeling masochistic, I lug one out to the range and enjoy (???) a little pain. I have been known years back to shoot pocket gophers with a .375 H&H just for the hell of it. The gophers were not to happy with that idea and i did get to learn that rifle.
I don't shoot the big ones all that much anymore, partly due to the expense and I'm retired on a fixed income. Second as I've aged, arthritis has settled in my right shoulder and it gets a tad uncomfortable in a hurry. I have shot bigger bores like the .600 N.E. but due to the shoulder pretty much take a pass these days.
The big bores can be fun to shoot but damned expensive these days.
Paul B.
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| Posted: Sun Oct 25th, 2009 08:50 PM |
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RaySendero
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458 Lott: Estimate $1.98 per round reloading cost.
$71 for Redding 3 die set @ 500 = $0.14 per rnd
$48 for 50 Hornady cases @ 5x = $0.19 per rnd
$69 for 50 Swift "A"s = $1.38 per rnd
$141 for 8 Lbs W-748 @ 86grs = $0.22 per rnd
$50 (???) for 1000 Primers = $0.05 per rnd
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| Posted: Sun Oct 25th, 2009 09:17 PM |
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7th Post |
woodsman777
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all the above and" because they can"
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