Cheap Ammo for Target Shooting-6.5 Grendel

[Nicholas777]

I am looking for suggestions for cheap ammo for target shooting, it doesn't have to be great. I currently have some Hornady Black and SST's but at a $1/round it gets costly. I have heard to stay away from steel and to stay with brass, is this true? If my barrel was cheap I wouldn't care but it's a Lilja barrel and I do not want to ruin it, is there an affordable round to use that won't damage the barrel, if so which one?

[mdram]

https://ammoseek.com/ammo/6.5mm-grendel

[Randy99CL]

Sportsman's Warehouse Hornady American Gunner is 70c each. Great ammo, great brass. Save the brass and sell it if you don't reload. https://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/...3934/cat100114 Free shipping.

[A5BLASTER]

Other then steel case the cheapest ammo your going to find is the sportsman warehouse hornady American gunner ammo.

True they have a listing on ammoseek for eld-m black at like 13 and change a box but the shipping is stupid high and it ain't that good of deal.

Wolf is the cheapest, then sportsman warehouse American gunner.

Hope this helps sir.

[grayfox]

Well, there is also the reloading way... imo cheap and good at the same time... tnt 90gr bullets, some of the hornady’s...
H335 for the 90s.

[Nicholas777]

I figure I go to the range twice a month and maybe shoot 50 rounds each time so that 100 rounds/month which equates to $100. In a years time that's $1200. I'm guessing reloading is the better way to go and that brings me to my next question, what equipment do you recommend for reloading. Every site I read the author has his favorites but I fear it could be just ones he is endorsing, what do you recommend? Thank you

[mdram]

i recommend trying several, see what works best for you

[TraderRik]

Well, there is also the reloading way... imo cheap and good at the same time... tnt 90gr bullets, some of the hornady’s...
H335 for the 90s.

Equipment aside, what would you guys say is the typical cost per round using both new brass and spent brass?

[mdewitt71]

Sportsman's Warehouse Hornady American Gunner is 70c each. Great ammo, great brass. Save the brass and sell it if you don't reload. https://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/...3934/cat100114 Free shipping.

ditto the American Gunner is the best deal around....
I do not mess with the Steel case Wolf stuff, it's not worth the saving if it shoots like crap and can't be reloaded.

[bj139]

I figure I go to the range twice a month and maybe shoot 50 rounds each time so that 100 rounds/month which equates to $100. In a years time that's $1200. I'm guessing reloading is the better way to go and that brings me to my next question, what equipment do you recommend for reloading. Every site I read the author has his favorites but I fear it could be just ones he is endorsing, what do you recommend? Thank you

Buy some American Gunner ammo and shoot it. You now have brass for reloading.
Lee reloading equipment is the most cost effective available.
This has nearly everything you need except Grendel dies. $143 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/12...tage-press-kit
Dies $35 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/12...tage-press-kit
Bullets $0.19/each About $22 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/33...int-box-of-100
Powder and primers - buy locally to avoid Hazmat and excess shipping fees. About $27 and $27.
It would be about $250 to get started.

[Randy99CL]

Equipment aside, what would you guys say is the typical cost per round using both new brass and spent brass?

Best price I've noticed for Hornady brass is 46c each at Midsouth. Very infrequently on sale for a little less. https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...oint-5-grendel
Starline is a little more, Lapua and Nosler are a lot more.

6.5MM bullets are not cheap. Best price I've found was Sierra 90G TNT on sale for 16c each. Nosler 123g CC blems are 20c when in stock. Most bullets we shoot are around 25c each and the premium pills are up to a dollar.

Primers are around 3c each and powder is roughly 10c a round?

So I'd say reloads average 38c each. With new brass that's 84 cents a round.
But with careful loading cases can last for about 10 reloads?

That's why the Hornady American Gunner ammo is so popular; it's 70c each with good brass. Good for banging varmints and steel. The components cost more than the loaded ammo.

[TraderRik]

Thanks for that info, Randy.

[Randy99CL]

Thanks for that info, Randy.

You're welcome.

It's a shame the bullets are so expensive, obviously that is the one item that really ups the price of reloading.

I got my order of 300 Hornady 55g Soft Points (for my .223AR) today and they were 8c each. That's cheap!

[Sticks]

Lack of US made lead is not helping the cost.

I shop around and the 123 ELDs I usually get at about $.27 at my door. The 130 ELDs that I am liking are $.28. I have not tired Lapua, but those will land IIRC $.38.

The whole "Reloading will save money" is a farce. By the time you load enough to recoup your startup, you end up upgrading and having to start over. My Lee Loadmaster and associated items (tumblers, dillon size and trim die, head space gauge...) finally got paid off after 8k 5.56 and 2k .40 S&W.

I am still in the hole with 65G. With bushing dies, Lee Breech Lock, ultrasonic cleaner, WFT, and now a new T7 press that I have yet to even mount. 2k rounds loaded (not including Moscow Match) probably another 2k to go.

End of the day, reloading is just another hobby that you justify by lying to your CFO.

I use my Grendels as precision guns, not a method for sending lots of lead downrange into a backstop. I try to keep my range trips confined to 80 rounds +/- and work for every shot.

[FW Conch]

Agree with Sticks. Reloading is the way to get precision rounds with the components of Your choice. I think back in the 60's it was cheaper to reload, but that advantage has long since passed. Stick's examples of how many rounds it takes to break even is spot on. Factory is cheaper, but we have to accept what is offered. I make the expense sacrifice to "get what I want ;-))