johnjohn
Member
I can relate to that about the Taurus throat being short.
Reloading 9mm
- Thread starter Oldfrt
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With all the potential (and real) variables cited I'm previous posts here, I've always found reloading 9mm to be a pain in the backside. I gave it up years ago, and pretty much got out of the 9mm business except for my wife's Shield. I have a good supply of factory ammo for it. Only problem is, now I'm wanting one of the SA Hi Powers...
Visited one of the local gun shops and ranges today, picked up some Dogwood 115 ball ammo, cost after military discount was $33.48 for two boxes of 50. Never heard of it before, turns out is made in Warrensburg MO, there a new manufacturer apparently selling only to select retailers, Mo is getting better every day.
Good thing I'm a revolver guy, this ammo is too expensive to buy right now and I only have about 2000 small pistol primers.
Good thing I'm a revolver guy, this ammo is too expensive to buy right now and I only have about 2000 small pistol primers.
GypsmJim
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I started loading 9 mm in about 1974. I get free once fired brass after the police have their frequent range days when they rent my club's ranges. I never had any of the variables cited here.
I use my own cast boolits from a Lee mold, but I've recently tried Hoosier coated and Berry's plated bullets. I see little difference in accuracy and they all run 100% in my Ruger and S&W nines.
I used to have several WWII vintage military nines and they were all finicky. I had to adjust bullet depth and type bullet to each gun. They've all been traded so I don't have any issues any more.
max503
Member
Loads that shoot fine out of my G26 won't chamber in my Taurus PT92. I was using the Lee 105 SWC. Then when I seat them short enough to chamber in the Taurus they won't feed worth a darn.
But Hey! That's the fun of reloading. The Taurus loves lightweight 95 grain bullets (with a wide meplat) meant for the 380, but the Glock won't have anything to do with those.
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Strange about that short throat Taurus PT92.
My PT92 9mm will swallow a 147 gr. RN Ball that I set at a OAL of 1.21"
Please don't shoot this OAL, since the 1.13 to 1.169" is safe. (147 RN)
I was just courious at what my chamber/Bore relation was in "My" pistol.
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Even at today's prices (currently) you can reload 9mm for around $9 a box of 50. Getting Primers is key, but I have recently been able to get them for $55 - $65 per brick of 1,000.
Primer 06 cents
Bullet 09 cents
Powder 1.5 cents
total = 16.5 cents each. Add about 3/4 of a cent each for shipping the components & tax and around $9 bucks per box is what your cost would be.
NOTE: Brass is easily gotten for free! Where I shoot, guys are happy to give you their spent once fired cases. I see no reason to purchase 9mm cases when they are so readily available!!
Primer 06 cents
Bullet 09 cents
Powder 1.5 cents
total = 16.5 cents each. Add about 3/4 of a cent each for shipping the components & tax and around $9 bucks per box is what your cost would be.
NOTE: Brass is easily gotten for free! Where I shoot, guys are happy to give you their spent once fired cases. I see no reason to purchase 9mm cases when they are so readily available!!
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cmj8591
Member
Even if you double the cost of primers, which is about what they are going for around me, you're still way ahead of the game cost wise. Of course this assumes you have the time to reload. Sometimes you have to factor that into the cost also. I have found that it's good to have options. My advise, and what's worked for me, is to asses how much you actually shoot and keep enough ammo and components on hand to get through about 18 months of not having to buy anything. When ammo prices get low and it's available, buy factory. When component prices are low and they're available, reload. You don't really have to have enough stuff on hand to last for the rest of your life. I'm loading primers that I paid $30 per M for right now. They should last for a little while longer and will allow prices to settle a bit. My crystal ball says $45 to $50 is what we will eventually be paying. When they get to that, I'll restock. If I run out before, I'll buy just enough to get me through. What we have now isn't new. It's happened lots of times in the history of my time in this hobby. It's what happens in any activity that depends on things that are essentially a commodity.
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9mmPatriot
Member
Although the cost is always a consideration, I just enjoy the process.
Reloading won't save you a single cent if you shoot more often than you did before you started.
Reloading won't save you a single cent if you shoot more often than you did before you started.
9mm ammo has long been a make or buy decision for me. Not so long ago, it made no economic sense to reload 9mm, so I bought it - and saved buckets of my brass. We all know that ammo ain't cheap these days; neither are components when available.
Powder Valley recently had Blazer aluminum case 9mm on sale for 12.95 / 50. That's getting close to my handloading $7 price using my stash of components bought at pre-panic prices.
Why is that somewhat higher ammo price interesting to me? I'm reluctant to use up my components to save a few bucks on 9mm. Other cartridges have not come down as much, so I'd rather save the components for those. Plus, I've started shooting plate matches and it's common to run through 150 rounds - per gun - in a day. If I continue handloading 9mm, i'll soon have to replenish primers at insane prices.
Hmpfff... Decisions, decisions.
Powder Valley recently had Blazer aluminum case 9mm on sale for 12.95 / 50. That's getting close to my handloading $7 price using my stash of components bought at pre-panic prices.
Why is that somewhat higher ammo price interesting to me? I'm reluctant to use up my components to save a few bucks on 9mm. Other cartridges have not come down as much, so I'd rather save the components for those. Plus, I've started shooting plate matches and it's common to run through 150 rounds - per gun - in a day. If I continue handloading 9mm, i'll soon have to replenish primers at insane prices.
Hmpfff... Decisions, decisions.
One of my coworkers gave me a baggie of 9mm cases yesterday, I sized and cleaned the primer pockets today and have 162 empty cases. Ordered some bullets from Extreme, 100 135 gr HP X-def and 500 115 gr HP. I meant to order ball 115's but o well.
smoothshooter
Member
Missouri Bullet Co over by Kansas City is a good source of lead bullets.
max503
Member
That Lee 105 SWC has a very sharp shoulder. The Taurus chambers everything that has a round profile.
Here is a picture of loads that I used in "My pistols" with the 135gr bullet.
It might help you understand what might work out for you in your loads.
For me, target to medium lods gave me the best accuracy, with this bullet.
Have fun.
I have used Berry's bullets most of the time for 9mm. I could never understand why Berry was cheaper for 9 but extreme was cheaper for 45. I use titegroup because it meters well for me. When I started reloading 9 used brass was cheap and I bought a 5 gallon bucket for not much. With the prices at that time it was costing me around $5 a box to reload. Now I shoot 45 more, I wish I had a bucket of 45 brass. I am still a newby to reloading but I have not had any problems reloading 9. Now 380, I wouldn't say it is a problem but my old fat fingers make it hard to set that short bullet on the case.
ironhead7544
Member
With 9mm, plunk test your loads.
I use the Lee Factory Crimp Die. This will iron out most small problems.
I use the Lee Factory Crimp Die. This will iron out most small problems.
GypsmJim
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This past week I had the first ever pistol jam that was unsolvable by me. Needed a smith to help.
A single round jammed in my Glock 19x after firing several others. Long story short, the case had a 0.004" bulge at the shoulder.
I plunk tested the same round in 2 other nines (a S&W and a ruger) and it fit both just fine. Then I plunk tested the 700 other reloads had in stock and they fit 100%.
All were taper crimped with the Lee bullet seating die.
The bulge was at the other end. A FCD would not have helped me.
