Mainly thinking of 9x19 and 40 S&W. On a Black Friday sale I found Federal 9x19 for 13.50 per 100. 40 S&W I can find for around $20 per hundred. Most plated projectiles run about half that per 1000. Now I've been around long enough to know that things I want are not always available and not always inexpensive. I suspect the days of buying 7.62x54 in the same price as 22 LR are gone and never coming back. But I still have a few unopened cases. I also suspect these days of cheap and available, so I'll keep saving my brass and keep my bullet casting dies handy and save my lead stash for when I need it..
It's getting harder for me to justify reloading for handguns I don't cast bullets for
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Well you might find those prices on a one time good deal but not consistently. So unless you buy thousands of round at a time to last long enough to get lucky at that price again, which is slim, you might be looking to reload again.
I'd point out that plated prices are absolutely outrageous these days, nearly the same as jacketed. Most plated 9mm/40Shorty shooters have transitioned over to coated bullets, which typically run $4-$7/500 over the cost of a traditional lead bullet.
Most revolver cartridges involve a much greater savings than 9mm and .40.
s1mp13m4n
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I am not trying to hijack the thread or anything. As someone who is new to this reloading thing, are you saying that reloading 38 special is a good thing? I mean cost effective and such? I mention it because I have notice that some on Youtube claim you do not save much reloading. However, it seems that on paper at least you can realistically reload 38 special for $0.14 per round. Is that not true for 9mm?
What keeps the cost of 9mm and .40 S&W factory ammo down is the fact that they are very popular calibers. Price .38 special, .357 magnum and .45 Colt. You can't find any of them for $8 a box of 50 like you can 9mm. I am fortunate to have stockpiled some components when lead bullets were two or three cents each and primers were a penny. Ahh, the good old days! I can still load jacketed 30:06 for about eight cents a round.
s1mp13m4n
Member
Thanks for the help on that. Around here it is normal to see $18-$20 for 50 rounds of 38 special. That is one reason I am so interested in reloading.
Biggfoot44
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If you are satisfied with generic 9x19fmj for your purposes , buy it on sale by the case, and don't look back .
Back in the tail end of the Revolver Era , my then employer purchased commercial reload "training ammo" for $37/ 1,000 . Cost me more than that for components for my loads . BUT , that $37 stuff was some of the worst ammo I've ever fired . 105fps velocity spread in a 5 shot string ,Capable of grouping within the 8 ring of a B-27 @ 50ft , and after shooting it, took minimum of cleaning time to remove the crud and lead deposits .
My loads for slighty more , had single digit velocity spreads , minimal to no leading, and could group sub 1in @ 25yds .
Back in the tail end of the Revolver Era , my then employer purchased commercial reload "training ammo" for $37/ 1,000 . Cost me more than that for components for my loads . BUT , that $37 stuff was some of the worst ammo I've ever fired . 105fps velocity spread in a 5 shot string ,Capable of grouping within the 8 ring of a B-27 @ 50ft , and after shooting it, took minimum of cleaning time to remove the crud and lead deposits .
My loads for slighty more , had single digit velocity spreads , minimal to no leading, and could group sub 1in @ 25yds .
I consistently reload for all of my revolvers. Around here it's hard to find 38 Special in anything except 130 gn FMJ and $2 a round special defense rounds. This weekend at a flea market I watched people pay $1 a round for 38 S&W and seemed happy to find it. Can't remember the last time I found 8mm Lebel or some of the odder stuff I shoot on the shelf. So yes, I still reload. Though now that I think on it I also cast for all my odd stuff.
I have stopped reloading the 9x19, but back during the great ammo famine of 2008-2016, I did reload for that caliber. With 9mm ammo now being plentiful and cheap, I buy factory ammo, but I am keeping the brass.
I will continue to reload for my revolvers and my 45 ACP pistols.
As for plated bullets, I have had great success with them in 9mm and 45 ACP, but given their cost and the availability of powder coated cast lead bullets, I'm dropping the plated in favor of the less expensive coated lead.
I will continue to reload for my revolvers and my 45 ACP pistols.
As for plated bullets, I have had great success with them in 9mm and 45 ACP, but given their cost and the availability of powder coated cast lead bullets, I'm dropping the plated in favor of the less expensive coated lead.
gwpercle
Member
I justify casting and reloading by calling it my hobby... I enjoy doing it.
You can't justify golf , tennis , bowling or any other "hobby" any other way .
I have "bullet casting dies (?) " , bullet moulds and reloading dies for every centerfire firearm I own , for the days when the dealer's shelves are bare and amuunition can no longer be ordered over the internet.
An election is coming...Be Prepared ! They aren't going to loose this one .
Gary
You can't justify golf , tennis , bowling or any other "hobby" any other way .
I have "bullet casting dies (?) " , bullet moulds and reloading dies for every centerfire firearm I own , for the days when the dealer's shelves are bare and amuunition can no longer be ordered over the internet.
An election is coming...Be Prepared ! They aren't going to loose this one .
Gary
s1mp13m4n
Member
As someone who is new to reloading, I like what you said here. I can see a value in making your own projectiles for lets say 38/357. If one has the equipment and space, you have an endless supply of 158 grain plinking rounds as long as you can find something to melt down and mold. I have a really cool to me Lee Loader and some boolets. More and more of the hobby is being opened up by learning more about it and it is pretty cool.
Tex1001
Member
I have found this true from hard experience. After the primer shortage of the '90s I swore never again.
During the early '00s I wondered if I would ever again reload, but I kept my equipment and stockpiled components.
The last president showed me that politically things change fast.
They will probably change again in my lifetime.
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white cloud
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I think that the ammo situation could change very quickly. If I was someone who liked to shoot a lot, I would have started the planning and acquisition process years ago. I might also start thinking about aligning my firearms inventory to possible new realities. Who knows what will happen.
I admit that when I began hand loading more then 4 decades ago, much of the influence was to reduce the cost per cartridge.
The gentleman that helped me get started told me that I would not save money, but I would shoot more
At the time I was being coached in Skeet and I was practicing with a new hunting rifle chambered for 300 Weatherby Magnum. So I was busting a lot of caps
Today I no longer hand load just to reduce the cost per cartridge
I hand load because I enjoy it, yes I really do
I hand load because I can do things that are not commercially available
I hand load because I can work out ballistics theories
I hand load because I can tailor a load to a specific firearm
I hand load because I shoot cartridges that are not in the mainstream . . . 475 Wildey, 356TSW, 9x23 Winchester, 22TCM, 10MM Magnum, etc.
I also cast. Like hand loading I started casting to reduce the cost per cartridge and found that I enjoy it
These days most of those standard molds have not been touched in years, I purchase standard projectiles mostly due to limitations on my time
Most all of my current casting is to get projectiles that can not be purchased. For Example, 41 Magnum HBWCs for target shooting or various heavy .500 diameter projectiles and the such
I find it difficult to keep enough lead on hand to cast from. Some of the heavy larger .500 projectiles only yield 1100-1200 projectiles from 100 lbs of lead. That is a lot of lead to lug around
The projectiles above are all .500 in diameter
The little one on the left is 450 grains
The very long one on the right is 725 grains
I do purchases ammunition, but only when there are crazy sales on. Like last year when Federal offered 300 rounds of 45ACP in a plastic ammo can for $99.95 with a $30 rebate. . . .I had to buy some of that
The gentleman that helped me get started told me that I would not save money, but I would shoot more
At the time I was being coached in Skeet and I was practicing with a new hunting rifle chambered for 300 Weatherby Magnum. So I was busting a lot of caps
Today I no longer hand load just to reduce the cost per cartridge
I hand load because I enjoy it, yes I really do
I hand load because I can do things that are not commercially available
I hand load because I can work out ballistics theories
I hand load because I can tailor a load to a specific firearm
I hand load because I shoot cartridges that are not in the mainstream . . . 475 Wildey, 356TSW, 9x23 Winchester, 22TCM, 10MM Magnum, etc.
I also cast. Like hand loading I started casting to reduce the cost per cartridge and found that I enjoy it
These days most of those standard molds have not been touched in years, I purchase standard projectiles mostly due to limitations on my time
Most all of my current casting is to get projectiles that can not be purchased. For Example, 41 Magnum HBWCs for target shooting or various heavy .500 diameter projectiles and the such
I find it difficult to keep enough lead on hand to cast from. Some of the heavy larger .500 projectiles only yield 1100-1200 projectiles from 100 lbs of lead. That is a lot of lead to lug around
The projectiles above are all .500 in diameter
The little one on the left is 450 grains
The very long one on the right is 725 grains
I do purchases ammunition, but only when there are crazy sales on. Like last year when Federal offered 300 rounds of 45ACP in a plastic ammo can for $99.95 with a $30 rebate. . . .I had to buy some of that
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I find the process of reloading to be therapeutic. Also, since I live in the People's Republic of California I can no longer buy ammo in other than a face-to-face retail environment. Availability of "odd" calibers or loads becomes an issue in that case.
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