Are the savings worth it?

[Eddie Southgate]

I haven't reloaded anything for decades and when I did do it, it was to save money. In the case of 9mm, if a person shoots only 100 rounds per month, is it worth going this route?

If you still have the equipment you used decades ago your set up cost should be small ( dies,bullets,powder, primers ) and you will probably enjoy your shooting more by using loads that you made yourself so to me the answer would yes it is worth it.

Some cartridges I load save me considerable money as well as the headache of trying to find the factory loads I am wanting.
Others cost me more because I use higher cost components to achieve specific results that I don't get from factory loads.

Eddie

 

[fredj338]

If I only shot 100rds a month of a common caliber like 9mm or 223, I probably wouldn't reload. It would take years to pay off the equip or hours to assemble on lesser gear. Then again, at 100rds a month, you'll never be a really good shooter either. Now 100rds of anything semi exotic, like 44mag, 300winmag, etc, well worth the gear investment.

 

[kbm6893]

Reloading is only "worth it" if you enjoy the process. Otherwise, a person would be better off getting a part time job to pay for their factory ammo.

Depends on the part time job. I wouldn't work 8 hours in Walmart to clear 60 bucks so I can buy 300 rounds of 9MM when I can reload those 300 rounds in the comfort of my own home for 39 bucks.

 

[TTSH]

A few days late on this ---- but a hand primer loader is much smaller than my wife's I-Pad, that she's reading while sitting on the couch. Besides, it builds up hand strength. Kind of like one of those spring hand squeezers with a 5" square * 3/8" deep attached. Much faster than singles done on a single press, if you don't have a primer feeder. I don't have one. My Dillon 650 of course, just does it all automatically. I won't use that, by the couch...

depriming/resizing, flaring, bullet seating, crimping. And you can check your work easily after it's done.

These operations can be done in about any situation. Powder charging though, takes full attention.

You guys are too funny. Okay, I get the point. Honest, I do. There are reloading-related things you can do while you sit and watch TV on your living room couch with your good wife (wives?). I'm just a little surprised that your wives let you get away with it. I'm thinking your couch maybe isn't one of those super fancy expensive ones that could get ruined by a little leftover oil, grease or spent powder... or maybe you just happen to have a more understanding and cooperate "reloading-friendly" wife than I have.

I grew up a little differently probably. My old man (R.I.P.) reloaded all his competitive shooting days and I recall it being a very serious undertaking that would have never involved watching TV in the living room with my mother at the same time. I followed in that "serious undertaking" attitude when I bought my own equipment and started reloading .45 ACP once I had my own home. Somehow, the living room sofa was never a part of that process.

Anyway, I gave it all up 5 short years later when the dreaded "D-word" stopped everything and changed my sorry life forever. But even when I returned to my long dormant hobby 25 years later, I promised myself that reloading was never going to be a part of it again. My time was far too valuable, even in retirement... and it wasn't something I ever really enjoyed doing.

So all power to you guys. Reloading is for some folks, not others. You guys obviously enjoy that part of the hobby... I enjoy visiting Cabela's and Walmart.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I'd argue you could save maybe $5-7 per 50 rounds by reloading 9mm. That is of course after investing $100-$200 into usable equipment and another $100 in bulk components. Clearly if your only shooting 100 rounds/month, it's going to see a couple of birthdays before you break even. That said, my bet is that you would shoot more if your ammo is 1/2 price (and the process to make it more than a little interesting.)

Personally, sometimes I think I shoot just to justify my reloading addiction

 

[joeintexas]

If you only shoot 100 rounds a month of 9mm probably not, however, my guess is you will be like the rest of us and in no time you'll be shooting 300 or more rounds a week. There's something about shooting ammo you make yourself, not to mention having hundreds of rounds avaliable when other folks are standing in line before sun up to pay inflated prices.

 

[shocker]

I hear this but dont understand the concept. If you already have a press, dies cost about $30, 150rds of 9mm? As far as lead vs jacketed, fouling would be the same issue regardless of caliber. I can use plated 9mm & save 8c-9c a round. If i am using my own cast/coated, now my ammo cost less than 5c a round. If its a time issue, buy better gear.

Let's say my costs are 4 cents for primer, 3 for powder, 8 for bullet - 15 cents vs 20 factory made. I don't get particular joy from reloading so it's strictly dollars and cents vs time. Sure I reload MOST centerfire stuff I shoot like 30-06, 300 Win Mag, 44 mag, 10 mm because the cost saving is huge, like a buck a round for 300 mag. And because I can tailor ballistics to the use.
The short list of things not worth reloading for range use are the universal military cartridges, 9 mm, 223, 7.62X39. 7.62X54 used to be that but the cheap Soviet surplus seems to be gone at this point.

 

[daniel lawecki]

Me I do save per loaded round but I also love to shoot and reloading with the right press and bolt ons it's not as much work as everyone claims. I do enjoy both sides of the wonderful hobby including the people you meet at the range.

 

[fredj338]

Reloading is only "worth it" if you enjoy the process. Otherwise, a person would be better off getting a part time job to pay for their factory ammo.

Reloading my ammo IS my part time job. I can't afford to work more hours to buy ammo. I've gone over the cost vs time issue several times. Bottom line, if you make less than $100 an hour, you cant afford not to reload. Last i looked, not many full time jobs pay that much, & how many people love their job that much??

 

[RussellD]

Please mark this thread and see how the answer changes in the next 30 days.

Reloading is worth it because I get to load the exact ammo I want for my guns. I prefer 147's in my 9mm.

 

[fredj338]

Let's say my costs are 4 cents for primer, 3 for powder, 8 for bullet - 15 cents vs 20 factory made. I don't get particular joy from reloading so it's strictly dollars and cents vs time. Sure I reload MOST centerfire stuff I shoot like 30-06, 300 Win Mag, 44 mag, 10 mm because the cost saving is huge, like a buck a round for 300 mag. And because I can tailor ballistics to the use.
The short list of things not worth reloading for range use are the universal military cartridges, 9 mm, 223, 7.62X39. 7.62X54 used to be that but the cheap Soviet surplus seems to be gone at this point.

Well i would say you dont shop very well for components. I have never paid more than $30/1000 for primers. Unless you use vv powders, your 9mm powder charge is 1c, if you buy at least 8# at a pop. Bullets can be had as cheap as free, to as much as 20c each for premium jhp, but 8c is fair, 7c in bulk. So my 9mm, far better than russian poop, is 11-12c max vs about 22c for decent factory ball, about 50%. To each his own, but generally, if i can save 50% on just about anything, i'm there if my time value can be figured in.
I dont do gun shows anymore, too time consuming for little gain. Closest wally is a solid 20min drive, unwashed masses, 20min home, call it 1hr. I can walk into my garage, check my setup & have 500rds in the same time & never have to get in the truck & save the $6 in gas ta boot.