Black Powder vs. Cartridges: Ammo costs?

[Smokeless Coal]

Hi Jim

Yes ammo has gone through the roof and some has become hard to source.

3 years ago 357mag was £7.50 for 50 at my club, we have not had any for months but the boss has just found some at £15 for 50 so doubled in 3 years.

I can reload at £5 for 50 so I have been taking the components to my club so others can make some for themselves, its illegal for me to make them for others.

300 shots from a tub of 777 Simon, you must be loading for bear, I get a good 500 I recon. Last 100 ball I brought were £8 but I cast my own now. Caps are £5 100 locally but I got a good deal last time I did an ammo run and was only charged £8 for 5 tins.

For 22's I was getting RWS Geco for £34 a 1000 but they have changed hands and are £60 per k and really horrible to shoot now. Time to try something else.

[Jim McArthur]

Smokeless, what do you estimate it would cost to shoot 100 rounds from your .44?

Jim

[harricook]

Hi Smokeless

Even at £30/100 the 357 you have seems a bargain

Magtec Cowboy 357 Mag 158gn LRNF at my nearest is £38/100

Roy

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[Smokeless Coal]

Roy, yes thats why our boss is buying them. He's an RFD with contacts so thats probably the lowest in the UK.

Jim, I have to buy caps and powder so I think close on 500 shots from a bottle of 777 which was £30 when I brought it (gone up since) works out at what? £4.50 a 100? and 3 or 4 pounds for a tin of caps so lets say £8 for a 100 shots.
Plus the work of casting balls but when you look at it thats getting close to what an original firer would do. MLAGB turn their noses up at 777 users but I wonder how many cast their own ball?
An original firer would buy powder and cap from a suttler and carry a ball mold to recylce recovered balls. The grade and quality of powder would be limited to what was available, so should the type of powder a person uses today be reason to discriminate.

[Jim McArthur]

That sounds pretty reasonable, compared to cartridge prices.

Jim