Left the 300 Blackout camp....

[imarangemaster]

I had two FALs: one a Century L1A1 (piece of junk) and one Argentine FMAP. The Century could not hit a pie plate at 50 yards. It also used to blow out cartridge case bases regularly- blowing all the rounds out of the bottom of the magazine, even though headspace checked OK. The Argentine was a great shooter, but terribly picky about ammo. Never found a load that worked 100% except South Africa stuff for the R-1. I sold it too, as I could not rely on it for a LEO trunk weapon. I had a CETME years ago and really liked the feel, but did not like the sights. I LOVE the PTR91 with the polymer Navy grip. Long trigger pull, but VERY smooth with a crisp let off after a slight staging of the pull.

As for IMR 4198, I love it for the 55 grain .223 loads. IIRC 21.5 grains duplicates factory 223. I am not worried about getting the extra 75-100 fps of 5.56 loads. I loaded 223 with it back in the 80s when all we had were 55s and lighter. I get 1 MOA on a good day.

[vintage hunter]

I took a long hard look at the .300 Blackout and the .30 Remington AR but I already have a 6.8 SPC so decided against getting another oddball. The 6.8 is pricey enough to feed (brass is outrageous) as it is but since I only shoot it during hunting season it isn't too bad. I did end up getting another 5.56 carbine since I had a pile of 20 and 30 round mags taking up space. Kinda wish now I'd just sold the mags when they were going for $150 each because I've come to the conclusion the gun is jinxed. I've carried it on numerous outings all season and have only had the chance to LOOK at one deer through the scope 1st day. A crabby old doe ran him off before I could take the shot.

[browningautorifle]

I load for everything anyway, so cost of factory ammo doesn't factor in. I agree though, too expensive to buy...

[imarangemaster]

The 300 BLK was costing me about $0.85 a round to reload! I can get Factory new Lake City 5.56 for less than $0.50 a round.

[browningautorifle]

$0.85 a round

You must be using premium components...I have stuff stockpiled too. Some of it I can't even remember what I payed, got it before the last shortage.

[imarangemaster]

The 300 BLK uses a very long bullet to function. Regular 125s are sketchy feeding. The Sierra 125 fo the Blackout is base heavy and very long. They were $175/500 plus shipping. Powder in my area is at least $35 a pound, with two pounds needed. Primers are about $8 a hundred. Brass was about $0.25 a piece to modify 223 brass.

[browningautorifle]

Your primers are VERY expensive by comparison. Here it would be about $50 CDN per 1000, 220 gr RN bullets are the worst of the cost at almost $50 per hun, powder is about $50 also per lb and I have brass from factory firing so I figure that's paid...BUT, I have components that have been sitting here since primers were $25 per thou and so on. Otherwise, I could be hooped...

[WarPig1976]

You guys are making me feel better, 1lb powder= $27, 1000 CCI LR= $37, both have gone up $2 since the panic.

[Bill Hollinger]

I haven't gotten into the rifle reloading yet but I did just buy 8 pounds of Hogdon Titewad for shot gun loading. I got it for $115.00. Rifle powder is still up there when you can find it!

[imarangemaster]

It costs me just under double to load what it did just a few short years ago. Prices in California for powder and primers are terrible, if you can even find them.