Is Reloading for 9mm worth it?

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Reloading is a lot like cooking and baking. In addition to being a great cold/rainy/icy/snow day activity it lets you find exactly what YOU like, and there is a great deal of satisfaction in finding YOUR load.
I found 9MM no harder to reload than say 45ACP, because of the wide variations in lands and grooves and rate of twist in 9MMP pistols I found reloading for it quite satisfying.

 

[TTSH]

Again proper gear is important for efficient reloading. If I had to make 10K rds of ammo a year on a turret, no not worth my time. On a good progressive, 600rd/hr easy, save $6/100, $36/hr net. That means I have to work a job I am not crazy about & gross $50+/hr minimum to buy the same amount of ammo. So yes time is valuable but so is my sanity. Working a job you don't really like to buy ammo is making your life miserable.

I'm not going to argue with anyone who is legitimately saving themselves $36/hr ($50+ pre-tax equivalent) reloading 9mm ammo. I'd keep doing that until the cows come home.

My own math works out very differently, but I'll also admit that I don't shoot 10,000 9mm rounds/year. Not even close.

 

[gen3guy]

The only time it's been worth it to me was during the last 'mass hysteria' run on ammo. I'm guessing it will happen again in about 18 months. Clean your brass, stock up on bullets, primers, powder.

 

[mikld]

I reload because I like to. I don't reload to fill "unoccupied" time. As many people (most) do, I make time for my hobbies, not just a fill in for dead time or boredom. Nor do I count pennies. When I catch a salmon or two, I really don't compare my catch to what the salmon costs at the fish market...

 

[fredj338]

I'm not going to argue with anyone who is legitimately saving themselves $36/hr ($50+ pre-tax equivalent) reloading 9mm ammo. I'd keep doing that until the cows come home.

My own math works out very differently, but I'll also admit that I don't shoot 10,000 9mm rounds/year. Not even close.

The issue for many reloaders is they buy small quantities of components. Buy in bulk; 5k primers, 8# of powder & 3-5k bullets at a time. There is no centerfire caliber I cant save money on, especially loading on a good progressive.

 

[fredj338]

I reload because I like to. I don't reload to fill "unoccupied" time. As many people (most) do, I make time for my hobbies, not just a fill in for dead time or boredom. Nor do I count pennies. When I catch a salmon or two, I really don't compare my catch to what the salmon costs at the fish market...

My last out of state elk hunt cost me about $1800 all in, self guided. I shot a good 6pt, 200# + boned meat to the butcher to wrap. Yeah fillet mignon would have been cheaper.
Reloading though can save a lot of money per rd depending on caliber. I shoot all the service calibers & my cost to reload is pretty much the same for all +/- 1c per rd for bullet/caliber diff. I could probably afford to shoot factory but I wouldnt shoot as much. Also wouldnt get the ammo I want.

 

[SMSgt]

The issue for many reloaders is they buy small quantities of components. Buy in bulk; 5k primers, 8# of powder & 3-5k bullets at a time.

Yeah, 1000 primers are cheaper per primer than 100, and 5000 cheaper than 1000. If I had space for all that and shot enough to justify that expense, I would. Both space and/or finances are limited for some.

 

[mikld]

Fortunately we still shoot/reload in a free country and there are no laws as to "why". Some reload to shoot, because they have to. Some reload to save money rolleyes. For some reloading is a hobby in itself. Some shoot to reload and some reload to shoot. I'm sorta in the middle of the last example as I enjoy shooting almost as much as I like to reload. For whatever reason, reload!

 

[Sistema1927]

I have a bunch of components, enough to reload a couple of thousand 9mm. However, it i cheap now and easily obtainable, so I just buy what I need. If that changes, then I will start reloading it again.

 

[Johnrh]

Since you already have gear, why not reload for 9mm???

Fair question. Because I don't shoot that much of it. When I go to the range I usually shoot about 16 rounds only just to keep in practice with the little XDS. then I go shoot 100 40, 100 38 and about 100 22's. Just never felt spending the money for the dies was worth it to me. Then I'd need another mold. And I only buy good molds not cheap. Then I'd need the sizing die too. I can make up a lot of excuses I see.

But if I did, I would sure shoot a lot more of that little 9. It's such a teeny little thing anyway.

 

[BE Mike]

I go to the range every week, like you. I shoot mostly 9mm. Lately, I've been shooting coated bullets, because I don't like the smoke from the lube in lead bullets. Once in a while I shoot 147 gr. JHP subsonic for my suppressor. I really like being able to pick what I want to load instead of being stuck with what factory ammo is on sale or available. I save a few bucks per box reloading 9mm and I long ago amortized the cost of my equipment. I get all the 9mm brass I can use for free. I have the time to reload. Why wouldn't I?

 

[Qc Pistolero]

If you don't enjoy the hobbies of casting and reloading,the savings won't seem to be justifiable.If you do,you won't bother figuring out how much you save...you'll just be an happy camper for doing something enjoyable.

 

[PowderMeasure]

It costs me about $0.12/cartridge to reload. Doesn't take that long, as I have a progressive press. I shoot > 10K/year, so although a small savings from buying bulk, I don't mind spending the time. Other pros are, I can make cartridges whenever I want and have them handy (e.g have a match coming up and realizing you don't have enough - easier to make some that to have to buy local or rush an order). With a huge supply of materials, it's a bit of insurance against any price spikes that may come up.

You're not going to save big $$ with 9mm, as you got to account for the press and equipment RoI, although if you have multiple calibers the press can payoff faster.

Like others' say, it is a hobby in and of itself. Maybe some day I'll try casting the bullets.

 

[alwslate]

I have several 9mm handguns and dies for 9mm but so far I have never
loaded any 9mm rounds. I have a pile of once fired brass from my shooting
over the years. I am not a high volume shooter and with brass cased 9mm
at $8 a box and steel cased at $6.50 a box I just can't see hassling with
the 9 on my single station press. I keep thinking I might buy a thousand
124 gr cast RN and have at it someday. But not today

 

[trapper9260]

It is worth to reload for 9mm because for reload you will be able to have the gun shoot better then when you use factory rounds that is not for that one gun . that is what reloading dose to load for that one gun to shoot the best it can as long you do your part. Also I shoot cast mainly in all my guns and since I load and cast for 38/357 I just size to load in 9mm and able to shoot better for what I load then what is from the factory.

 

[fredj338]

Yeah, 1000 primers are cheaper per primer than 100, and 5000 cheaper than 1000. If I had space for all that and shot enough to justify that expense, I would. Both space and/or finances are limited for some.

Well yes & no. 5k primers stores in a pretty small space compared to 5000rds of ammo. If you know you are shooting it anyway, buying it in bulk just makes more economic sense than buying smaller amounts & paying more for it, imho.

 

[fredj338]

It costs me about $0.12/cartridge to reload. Doesn't take that long, as I have a progressive press. I shoot > 10K/year, so although a small savings from buying bulk, I don't mind spending the time. Other pros are, I can make cartridges whenever I want and have them handy (e.g have a match coming up and realizing you don't have enough - easier to make some that to have to buy local or rush an order). With a huge supply of materials, it's a bit of insurance against any price spikes that may come up.

You're not going to save big $$ with 9mm, as you got to account for the press and equipment RoI, although if you have multiple calibers the press can payoff faster.

Like others' say, it is a hobby in and of itself. Maybe some day I'll try casting the bullets.

No you wont save big money but AT $600 savings a year, I can pay for my all in 650. After that, gear is paid for & you are still shooting cheap.

 

[Moe Mentum]

For the amount you shoot , no, it's not worth it, buy it on sale.

 

[BE Mike]

No you wont save big money but AT $600 savings a year, I can pay for my all in 650. After that, gear is paid for & you are still shooting cheap.

Not only is the reloading gear amortized, most of it retains most of its value on the used market. Interesting that I figured that I save the same $600.00 annually by reloading 9mm. BTW, the commercial indoor range where I shoot doesn't allow steel cased ammo, so 17 cents a round is about the best I could do if I bought cheap 9mm ammo in bulk.

 

[shil]

It depends on how much 9mm you shoot and how often. I, for one, am not a wealthy man and shoot 9mm only occasionally. You can buy good-quality 124 grain 9mm for as little as $8.50 a box. It's not the Russian steel stuff, either. That's what I do. Now, I shoot a lot of .38 Special and .45 ACP. I reload those! Ditto .45 Colt (very expensive factory ammo!). Plus, those itty-bitty cases got to be a pain for me to chase and scoop up .