Price per Bullet Calculator

Price Per Bullet Calculator

function calculatePricePerBullet() { var primersCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById('primersCost').value); var projectilesCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById('projectilesCost').value); var powderCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById('powderCost').value); var grainsPerBullet = parseFloat(document.getElementById('grainsPerBullet').value); var brassCostPer1000 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('brassCostPer1000').value); var brassReloads = parseFloat(document.getElementById('brassReloads').value); var shippingTaxPercentage = parseFloat(document.getElementById('shippingTaxPercentage').value); // Validate inputs if (isNaN(primersCost) || primersCost < 0) primersCost = 0; if (isNaN(projectilesCost) || projectilesCost < 0) projectilesCost = 0; if (isNaN(powderCost) || powderCost < 0) powderCost = 0; if (isNaN(grainsPerBullet) || grainsPerBullet < 0) grainsPerBullet = 0; if (isNaN(brassCostPer1000) || brassCostPer1000 < 0) brassCostPer1000 = 0; if (isNaN(brassReloads) || brassReloads < 0) brassReloads = 0; // 0 means free brass, 1 means new brass per shot if (isNaN(shippingTaxPercentage) || shippingTaxPercentage 0) { if (brassReloads === 0 || brassReloads === 1) { // If 0 (free brass) or 1 (new brass per shot), treat as new brass cost per shot effectiveBrassCostPerBullet = brassCostPer1000 / 1000; } else { // Amortize brass cost over multiple reloads effectiveBrassCostPerBullet = (brassCostPer1000 / 1000) / brassReloads; } } // Subtotal before shipping/tax var subtotalPerBullet = costPerPrimer + costPerProjectile + costOfPowderPerBullet + effectiveBrassCostPerBullet; // Apply shipping and tax var totalCostPerBullet = subtotalPerBullet * (1 + (shippingTaxPercentage / 100)); document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = 'Estimated Price Per Bullet: $' + totalCostPerBullet.toFixed(3) + ''; }

Understanding Your Ammunition Costs: The Price Per Bullet Calculator

For shooters, especially those who engage in reloading, understanding the true cost of each round fired is crucial. The "Price Per Bullet Calculator" helps you break down the expenses associated with manufacturing or acquiring ammunition, allowing for better budgeting and informed decisions about your shooting habits or reloading components.

Why Calculate Price Per Bullet?

Whether you buy factory ammunition or handload your own, the cost per round can vary significantly. For reloaders, this calculation is invaluable for:

• Cost Savings Analysis: Determine if reloading a specific caliber is truly more economical than buying factory new.
• Component Selection: Compare the impact of different primers, projectiles, powders, or brass on your overall cost.
• Budgeting: Accurately estimate the expense of a shooting session or competition.
• Value Assessment: Understand the real value of bulk purchases or sales on components.

Key Components of Bullet Cost:

The calculator takes into account the primary components that contribute to the cost of a single bullet:

1. Primers: These small, explosive caps ignite the powder. Their cost is typically calculated per 1000 units.
2. Projectiles (Bullets): This is the actual bullet that leaves the barrel. Like primers, their cost is usually considered per 1000.
3. Powder: The propellant that drives the projectile. Powder is typically sold by the pound, and the calculator requires you to input the average number of grains used per bullet for your specific load. (Note: 1 pound = 7000 grains).
4. Brass (Casings): The shell that holds all the components. New brass can be a significant cost. However, reloaders often reuse brass multiple times. The calculator allows you to factor in the cost of new brass and amortize it over the number of times you expect to reload it. If you use "free" brass (e.g., range pickups) or brass you've already amortized, you can enter 0 for brass cost.
5. Shipping & Tax: Often overlooked, these additional costs can add a noticeable percentage to your total component expenses. The calculator includes a field to factor in these overheads.

Example Scenario:

Let's consider a common reloading scenario for 9mm ammunition:

• Primers: $70 per 1000
• Projectiles: $150 per 1000 (e.g., 115gr FMJ)
• Powder: $35 per 1 lb (e.g., Titegroup)
• Grains Per Bullet: 4.2 grains (a typical 9mm load)
• New Brass: $100 per 1000 (if purchased new)
• Reloads for Brass: 5 times (meaning each casing is used 5 times)
• Shipping & Tax: 10%

Using these values in the calculator would yield an estimated price per bullet, helping you see the real cost of your handloads.

By utilizing this calculator, you gain a clearer financial perspective on your shooting hobby, enabling smarter purchasing and reloading decisions.