Ammo prices aren’t what they used to be.
And if you’ve been shooting for a while, you’ve probably asked yourself:
👉 Is reloading actually worth it anymore?
In this episode of Beyond the Target, Rob and Jeromy break down the real cost of reloading vs buying factory ammo in 2026—and the answer isn’t as simple as you might think.
🎥 Watch / Listen to the Full Podcast
🔥 Key Takeaways
- Factory ammo averages around $1.90 per round
- Reloading (components only) drops to about $0.98 per round
- Initial equipment costs can cancel out savings at first
- Reloading offers better accuracy and consistency
- Time is the biggest trade-off—up to 50 hours per 1,000 rounds
- The more you shoot, the more reloading makes sense
The Setup: What We Compared
To keep things realistic, Rob and Jeromy based everything on:
- 1,000 rounds
- A popular do-it-all cartridge: 6.5 Creedmoor
- Using 140gr ELD-M style bullets
- Real-world pricing from a major retailer
Why 1,000 rounds?
👉 Because that’s where the difference actually starts to matter.
As Rob points out, if you’re shooting anywhere close to that per year…
This conversation applies to you.
Factory Ammo Cost (The Easy Route)
Let’s start with the simple option.
Buying factory ammo:
- ~$38 per box
- ~$1,900 for 1,000 rounds
- ~$1.90 per round
Pros:
- Fast and convenient
- No setup required
- Consistent enough for most shooters
- Easy to find (especially popular calibers)
Cons:
- Expensive over time
- Less control over performance
- More variation in velocity and consistency
Reloading Cost (If You Already Have Equipment)
Now let’s look at reloading.
Component breakdown:
- Powder
- Brass
- Bullets
- Primers
Total:
- ~$981 for 1,000 rounds
- ~$0.98 per round
👉 That’s almost half the cost of factory ammo
Which means:
You’re saving roughly $1 per shot
Over 1,000 rounds?
👉 That’s about $1,000 saved
But Here’s the Catch… Time
This is where things get real.
Reloading isn’t just “saving money.”
It costs time.
Real estimate:
- ~4–5 hours per 100 rounds
- ~50 hours per 1,000 rounds
That’s basically:
👉 An entire work week of time
So now the real question becomes:
Is saving $1,000 worth 50 hours of your time?
What You Gain From Reloading (Besides Cost)
This is where reloading really shines.
1. Accuracy
You control:
- Powder charge
- Bullet seating depth
- Overall consistency
And that matters.
Especially at distance.
2. Consistency
Factory ammo has tolerances.
Reloading?
👉 You can tighten everything.
- Lower standard deviation
- Smaller extreme spread
- More predictable impacts
Which becomes critical past 500+ yards.
3. Customization
You can tune ammo specifically to:
- Your rifle
- Your barrel
- Your shooting style
That’s something factory ammo simply can’t do.
The Hidden Cost: Equipment
If you’re starting from scratch, this changes things.
Basic setup:
- Press
- Dies
- Powder system
- Calipers
- Case prep tools
- Annealer
Total:
👉 Around $970 in equipment
Now your cost per round becomes:
- ~$1.95 per round (first 1,000 rounds)
Which means:
👉 You basically break even with factory ammo at first
Where Reloading Actually Pays Off
Reloading becomes worth it when:
- You shoot more than 1,000 rounds
- You shoot multiple calibers
- You keep using the same equipment
Example:
At 2,000 rounds:
- You’ve already paid for equipment
- Now you’re saving ~$1,000
And it keeps stacking from there.
The Real Difference: Skill vs Convenience
This is the core of the debate.
Factory Ammo:
- Fast
- Easy
- Convenient
Reloading:
- Time-consuming
- More involved
- But higher performance
As Rob puts it:
The pros of reloading are the cons of factory—and vice versa.
So… Is Reloading Worth It?
Here’s the honest answer:
👉 YES — if you:
- Shoot a lot
- Care about precision
- Have the time
👉 NO — if you:
- Shoot occasionally
- Value convenience
- Don’t want to invest the time
Real Talk from Rob & Jeromy
This is where it lands:
- Reloading is more accurate
- Reloading is cheaper long-term
- Reloading is way more time-intensive
And that’s the trade-off.
For some people?
👉 Totally worth it.
For others?
👉 Not even close.
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Final Thoughts: It Comes Down to One Thing
Not money.
Not gear.
Not even performance.
👉 Time.
If you have the time, reloading is one of the best things you can do to improve your shooting.
If you don’t?
Factory ammo will get the job done just fine.