Back in the Saddle or Why I started to Reload 9mm Again

[reloader7.62]

I’ve loaded 9mm even when factory ammo was dirt cheap, I just prefer 147 gr. Down to my last 1000 of commercial cast, already have molds in 125 and 147 so I’m set on 9mm

The last commercial ammo I bought for 9 mm was about four years ago when I picked up four boxes of Federal HST SD ammunition for $26 per 50, other than that I have always loaded my own 9 mm ammo mostly from free-range brass, bullets I cast myself in 120 to 130 grs. range. using Lee and NOE 2, 4, and 6 cavity molds.

If you have been around long enough you know how quickly things can go sideways and cheap ammo regardless of how popular the calibers is can go away and not come back for a long time. Current cost per box of 50 rds. with components on hand is around $4.

Cranking out some NOE 130 gr. 9 mm HP loads.

 

[gwpercle]

Well, I just completed a buy on the Infamous ‘Bay for a Lee Loader set in 9mm. It’s missing the decapping rod and the mouth flaring tool, so some folks ignored it, but it has the unusual FL sizer I wanted to try out so when it went for starting minimum bid, I got it. Now I can load nines with a Lee Loader, a 310 tool, or on my RCBS Jr press with a set of full sized dies like normal people do.

Froggie

All Lee Loaders in straight wall or slightly tapered (9 mm Luger) handgun calibers have full length resizing dies ... they will also be steel , no carbide , so lube the case .

Keep an eye out for a Lee Hand Press ...that is one handy reloading tool ...has the whack-a-mole loader beat seven ways to Sunday.
Gary

 

[Green Frog]

Gary,

I had one of the Lee Hand Presses. It worked well but I had a chance to replace it with a HDS Compac Press so I did. It works the same way generally but is way more cool.
Back during my abortive attempt to learn how to be a machinist I made a neat little arbor press. It has enough throw to FL size rifle cartridges with the Lyman push-in sizers, so I’m hoping maybe I can use it for some of the Lee Loaders to avoid the hammer.
I’ve got a regular set of 9mm dies as well as a 310 tong tool in 9mm, so this is just a curiosity anyway.

Regards,
Froggie

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

9MM LOADING

9MM was the first one I loaded, then 38spl. I was told it was hard to load but the BHP I had at the time gave me no problems. Ive only two 9's now, a 639 & a 469-- Have some 20 boxes on the shelf and a case of new brass along with a ton of once fired brass. I will never live long enough to use all this up so if you have a need for some brass just let me know. Pople use to laugh at me for loading 9mm but they are quite silent these days

 

[cmj8591]

I load everything. I have been since 1974. Rifle, pistol and shotgun. But not everything I shoot is reloads. I took advantage of the cheep range ammo just to save myself the time. A few years ago, I started buying stuff. I can't even explain why because I'm not really a hoarder but when ever I came across cheep components, I would buy some. Now I'm stocked pretty well. Loading pistol ammo was mostly about having a cheep source of bulk ammo. Rifle is a different story as I load to tailor ammo to a specific gun. I have rifles that have never seen a factory load. The big thing for me now is not knowing when I will be able to replace what I'm using. I haven't stopped shooting but have gotten a little more conservative with my consumption. Ammo seems to be everywhere around me now but reloading components, not so much. Primers, when they show up, are at least $100 a thousand. My HVAC friend has been whining to me for months now about how work is backed up because of a huge demand and not being able to get equipment. When he does get it, the prices have gone through the roof. Sound familiar? It will get better. Have patience everyone.

 

[Agt. Smith]

9mm reloads

I started out loading/reloading with 9mm. After even just a few months at it, (and maybe 500 or so rounds) I can't imagine buying it anymore.


Good luck
Jim

 

[BE Mike]

I started out loading/reloading with 9mm. After even just a few months at it, (and maybe 500 or so rounds) I can't imagine buying it anymore.


Good luck
Jim

You'd better start getting some folding money into that ammo fund jar!

 

[Agt. Smith]

You'd better start getting some folding money into that ammo fund jar!

Yeah - no kidding !

 

[Univibe]

Pre-panic, Everglades would sell you 115 or 124 grain FMJ, true jacketed bullets, for the same price as you could buy hardcast.

 

[Agt. Smith]

Pre-panic !

"Pre-panic" - nice !


Primers are coming down on GB - albeit slowly. Prices are still crazy. Guns everywhere locally, but still very little ammo.

 

[glenwolde]

Hello, I'm glenwolde, your brother from another mother.

I dislike the 9mm. But I have three of them. A 1911 (Springfield Loaded Target) and two of the unspeakable brand that starts with "T" (908 and 911). But those two work great for me.

The other day I was going through my inventory and found a couple thousand 9mm commercial cast bullets from when I gave up on it. Plus some 125 gr .358's I bought for the .38 that I could use in the 9mm.

I have lots of brass. So much so that I think I won't bother picking up the brass while I shoot all this up.

Time to try again to like this cartridge.

 

[gwpercle]

I reloaded for over 45 years and never owned or reloaded for a 9mm Luger .
Strangely I did have two sets of reloading dies in my hoard of stuff .
About 5 years ago my Dad hands me a WWII era Walther P-38 , it lived in his sock drawer since 1961...and says you take this I don't need it any more ... Tah - Dah I'm owner of a 9mm Luger , so I bought bullet moulds and started on an oddesy of finding a good load for the old war horse .
It has been very interesting and most challenging ...cast bullets and the 9mm Luger aren't a match made in heaven ...but I managed to get all the bugs worked out and develop a load that shoots accurately to the P-38's sights and I've come to respect the old Walther P-38 and the 9mm .
Gary

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Xtreme had 500# 9mm 115gr RN for $211.50 this A.M.: don't know if that was before or after the supposed "10% OFF" $ALE PRICE touted in the e-mail?:

Still, that was about the lowest I've seen in a while...

Cheers!

P.S. The 147gr RNs were $220, or so...

 

[lrrifleman]

While I started reloading around 1976, I didn't start to reload 9mm seriously until maybe 2019. When I was teaching in the early 1990s, a coworker asked me to load up some 9s and help his son prepare for the county police academy. In the late 1990s, I picked up a beautiful 439, and loaded some 9s. Around the time of my accident, I wasn't shooting the 439 much, so I sold off the Lee dies, since I was shooting predominantly 38 Special and 45 ACP.

About 2015, I got my non-resident CWP, so I felt it was time to get back into pistol shooting as much as I was rifle shooting. It was time to get a new set of 9mm dies. I also obtained an ATI 9mm 1911. I then attended the Adaptive Defensive Shooting Summit, used my 439 and learned that I wasn't comfortable with a DA first shot pistol as a carry arm. Fortunately, I won a P320 X-compact at that event. I found that I enjoyed combat-style shooting, but I was handicapped in more ways than one since I couldn't "run and gun". As much as I wasn't fond of the Glock platform, I picked up a Glock 17 and started shooting GSSF matches, which have proven to be personally profitable. At the 2020 Adaptive Defensive Shooting Summit, I used the Glock (had to wait on my permit for the Sig) then ended up winning a P365. By virtue of participating in stationary combat-style shooting, I have found my way into the 9mm.

Fortunately, I had a surplus of 115 FMJ 9s from the 1990s that has fed my 9s. I am in the process of depleting my resupply of Precision Delta 9mm FMJ, and preparing to cast my 9s next week. Because most of the matches I shoot are "lost brass matches", I tend to volunteer as a range officer at GSSF matches, since the ROs can split the brass. I have become a brass rat at my club and the county range, so I tend to be good on brass. On occasion, I will buy once fired 9s and 40s. Because my handloads are proving to be accurate and well under $0.20, I splurged and bought a few thousand primers off GB (yes, I know, I should have shown more restraint), which is keeping me well stocked and shooting.

 

[lrrifleman]

Xtreme had 500# 9mm 115gr RN for $211.50 this A.M.: don't know if that was before or after the supposed "10% OFF" $ALE PRICE touted in the e-mail?:

Still, that was about the lowest I've seen in a while...

Cheers!

P.S. The 147gr RNs were $220, or so...

Sir, I just checked Xtreme's website, and their 500 round box of 115gr plated bullets is selling for 48 and change!

 

[STORMINORMAN]

But, but...

Sir, I just checked Xtreme's website, and their 500 round box of 115gr plated bullets is selling for 48 and change!

That actually was for LOADED AMMO...!

My error was calling it The Xtreme site: it was FREEDOM MUNITIONS!

Mea culpa, etc.

Cheers!

 

[Bugkiller99]

I quit loading 9mm when I determined the cost of factory vs reloads was not that substantial, essentially none existent.

I mean, we reload to save money, right?


Ok, I’ll wait for the laughter to stop. Heck I couldn’t write that without grinning.

I did decide to use my components on other ammo that the cost differential was greater. Nowadays, I reload 9mm so I can have some.

 

[BE Mike]

I quit loading 9mm when I determined the cost of factory vs reloads was not that substantial, essentially none existent.

I mean, we reload to save money, right?


Ok, I’ll wait for the laughter to stop. Heck I couldn’t write that without grinning.

I did decide to use my components on other ammo that the cost differential was greater. Nowadays, I reload 9mm so I can have some.

Even during the 9mm glut, I was able to save a couple of bucks/ box of 50 by reloading. Now I save around $30.00/ box of 50! To be fair, I've owned all the necessary reloading equipment for many years, so buying new equipment wasn't a consideration. I can't imagine how many times over I've saved the cost of my reloading equipment!

 

[CH4]

I’ve been reloading for decades, but only rifle and revolver cartridges. Thanks to the flu, I now reload for the 9mm Luger, 10mm/40, 45 acp and .38 Super. My rockchucker is slow going, but I have enough ammo for my needs.

 

[Agt. Smith]

9 !

Speaking of 9mm, 2500 more all set to go. (yeah - it's nutso, but I do lube, and clean them twice).

Abracadabra - clean, inspect, lube, re-size, de-cap, final clean - presto. The AP LNL will seriously gobble these up.

Time to get to work.