9mm Luger, Sources of Remanufactured Ammo

I see folks use the term reload and remanufactured. what is the difference? Other than at home or on a automatic powered machine. I trust my handloads more than "manufactured" loads.

I guess using new brass at home instead of used brass isn't reloading is it??

If "used" brass is properly resized and prepped, it is really no different than new ammo.

I believe commercial vs handload is probably the better terminology. Just my .02.

Rosewood

In my experience, only commercial ammunition manufacturers use the term "remanufactured." Hobbyists "reload." Many people use the terms interchangeably, but I do not consider these terms to have the same meaning. YMMV.

I don't know if anyone has ever "officially" named any of these things that we do. I have always classified them this way.

Reman or Remanufactured is a bunch of reloads by a licensed commercial outfit. With this product, you should expect the whole box to have exactly the same projectile and powder charge, but the head stamp and nickel vs brass will vary wildly. This is Freedom Munitions.

How is this different from what a handloader builds? Well, if the handloader in question is only concerned with making his ammo on the cheap and stacking up as much as possible, as quickly as possible, then ultimately there is likely to be very little tangible difference.

I don't handload ammo in that fashion, I would have no interest in this hobby if the handloads I produce were on the level of Freedom Munitions, which is some of the worst dreck on the market.

If "used" brass is properly resized and prepped, it is really no different than new ammo.

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I will never agree to this statement. When you are using a myriad of mixed headstamp brass, you are getting mixed dimensions, everything from brass thickness to bullet pull/case mouth tension to the thickness of the case head to the internal capacity of the brass.

Using random mixed brass is going to give different results than using new brass where all is the same or using reloaded brass that is all the same or extremely similar.

For those that would question this, I only ask if you've ever seated bullets with a single stage press and felt a wide array of difference in the press lever while seating across different brass and headstamps.

I've purchased these a coupla times off Ammoseek:

Sevens said:

I will never agree to this statement. When you are using a myriad of mixed headstamp brass, you are getting mixed dimensions, everything from brass thickness to bullet pull/case mouth tension to the thickness of the case head to the internal capacity of the brass.

Using random mixed brass is going to give different results than using new brass where all is the same or using reloaded brass that is all the same or extremely similar.

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I guess I didn't think about that. I can agree with you if you are using mixed headstamp. I most always sort by headstamp. Any "lot" of ammo I handload generally has matching headstamp. Maybe I am a little OCD that way.

Now and again I may load some light target loads with 9 or 40 and not sort brass.

Rosewood

Krogen said:

First, I'm an inveterate handloader. Perhaps incorrigible is a better word. Next, I've handloaded plenty of 9mm Luger ammo but it sure doesn't thrill me to sit in front of my Dillon cranking out gobs of 9mm. Even so, there's little money to be saved by loading 9mm. So I generally shoot remanufactured 9mm in plate matches. It doesn't have to be super-accurate, but it has to be reliable and not break my gun. Price is a consideration.

I've been shooting Lax Ammo's remanufactured 9mm. I won't touch the no-name gunshow stuff. I don't bother recovering my brass because it's all mixed, and I want to avoid loading 9mm anyhow.

I'm happy with Lax, but wondering what the rest of you use for relatively inexpensive commercial reloads. There are any number of inexpensive sources but I'm wary of getting junk I'll regret.

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IMHO, unless you are loading 9mm for a very specific and narrow purpose, it simply does not pay! Target Sports sells factory new 9mm for $10 - $11 a box of 50 rounds and unless you already have the components in stock, you probably can't load them for that price - not to mention your labor, time and effort. Target ships directly to your house and the freight is free when ordering a case. They are sometimes backordered, but if you leave your email address they will notify you when it is available again. They are a top notch outfit and ship fast. IMO, they have the best prices anywhere and also have a huge variety of brands, grain weights and types. If you buy a lot of ammo, join their club program and save another 8% off those prices.

Back in the day when Primers were .03 cents each, powder was $10/pound and bullets were .04 - .05 cents each, that was a whole other story. In many less popular calibers reloading can save you a bundle! In 9mm, NOPE!

As far as re-manufactured ammo goes, I have never come across a company that truly made quality ammo good enough for me to justify using. To save a buck or so and use "second rate" ammo simply isn't worth it to me. That is why (IMHO) one should either buy new factory ammo or use their own high quality reloaded ammo. At least when you reload, you are in charge of your own QC.

With the price of new manufactured brass and steel cased 9mm I’d pass on remanufactured but LAX and Freedom munitions are gtg and Georgia arms I believe but it’s been years since I’ve gotten anything from them. Magtech steel cased is gtg and $11 a box or $220 a case plus tax and free shipping @ Target Sports.

Krogen said:

Thanks for the ideas, guys. It's good to hear about reputable suppliers.

For plate match use, I'm all about buying relatively cheap, reliable ammo - where it makes sense. As noted above, sometimes new ammo can be had for less than remanufactured. For example, not long ago LAX offered newly manufactured .45 ACP on sale at less than their remanufactured stuff. To me the .45 ACP make or buy decision is more decisive than for 9mm. It's worth Dillon tedium to load plate match.45 ACP.

In the make/buy question, I always consider component replacement cost. If I considered purchase prices from years ago, it would skew the decision if favor of handloads. Then I'd just have to replace the components at current prices to use in other cartridges that aren't so economical as 9mm. If I had a lifetime component supply, I'd have a different answer.

Am I overthinking it? Yeah, probably . . . .

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No, not really. Makes perfect sense to me. I calculate cost the same way. I don't normally reload a lot of 9mm. I go through periods of reloading 1,000 rounds and shooting it all up. I've never been totally satisfied with my results so I put it away and it sits until I get bored with whatever else I'm doing.

I can reload 9mm for about $9.00 a box at current component prices using lead bullets. Not a huge savings. I am at the end of my current episode of burning up all of my existing inventory of bullets. I'm a bit happier with the results this time but I'm just not a big fan of the 9mm. I'm trying to be because components are everywhere.

glenwolde said:

. . . I'm just not a big fan of the 9mm. I'm trying to be because components are everywhere.

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That statement makes me grin! I am in the same boat. There are so many more interesting cartridges. I handload the others, but 9mm just isn't very intriguing. It's like grocery store products of days past in white boxes labeled "Generic." 9mm in some ways is the centerfire equivalent of cheap 22LR plinking ammo.

9mm has its uses though. As I originally noted, it works for centerfire plate matches. And I carry a P365. Chambered in the uninteresting 9mm, but for a purpose. Small gun, decent round count and loaded with Federal HST. A specific requirement, IMNHO.

Spur said:

My wife shoots a lot of 380 and until recently I wasn't set up to reload 380 so she was shooting LAX/Freedom Munitions. I think she's gone through about 4K of the 100g HP in the last year or so, I think it was right around .25 a round for new man and at the time shipping was a flat $5, which I think was black Friday last year. She did run into one squib load and the Freedom Munition guys offered to do a return but didn't have any in stock to replace that lot with so we just kept it. Other than that one instance she hasn't had any problems and I've chronoed the stuff and it's pretty fast, right at 950 fps with a small standard deviation....but I don't have any expirence with their 9mm.

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That's very interesting, what gun is she using? I stick to Fiocchi for 380 as the Remchester stuff often struggles with European sprung guns.

I've been a bit leery of reman 9mm because it seems that much of it is loaded for the bang and clang games, 115gr at barely 1100 fps. If I'm going to practice with 9mm, I want it to feel like proper 9mm.

Good to read of the favorable experiences with Miwall's reman ammo. They are regular vendors at the bigger shows here.

Primer = 9 cents ea/
Powder = 2 cents a round
Bullet 11 cents ea.

If you are buying components today, reloading them comes to .22 cents per round or $11 per box of 50 assuming you have the brass. Add your labor, effort and time - it's a no brainer..... just buy factory ammo.

If you were prudent enough to stock up on all the components from a decade ago and have them in stock, enjoy reloading and have the time, then yes, you can probably make a box of 50 for $5 or so.

Freedom Munitions, Lewiston Idaho. I order when they have free shipping.

rbmac52 said:

Another reputable outfit for remanufactured 9mm is Miwall. Here's a link to the 9mm reman ammo they offer:

9mm | Pistol Ammunition | Miwall Corp

You might contact them to see if they offer case pricing. I've purchased a lot of factory LE ammo from them so I cannot offer first hand experience regarding their reman ammo, only that they are a first class operation and provide excellent service.

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Thanks for the tip - I didn’t get any 9mm, but they had .25 ACP Gold Dot “seconds” for 9.95 a box. The shipping was the same if added more stuff so I got a box of Fiocchi “Heritage” .38 S&W FMJ and some PPU .30 Lugers.

I don’t know what made the .25s seconds - they look normal to me.