How many reloaders are loading 9mm? I hear a lot about how its not worth loading 9mm because the price of loaded ammo is coming down.
currently I am paying about 8 cents for primers, $45 bucks for w231, and 10 to 11 cents for a 124 grain JHP. I pick up range brass so it is free. My $45 powder gets me 1600 rounds, so that works out to less than 3 cents/round.
if we add that up it comes to less than 22 cents a round, for a very accurate round that performs very well in all my guns.
I will be pulling the handle, loading my load for my guns until factory ammo hits 15 cents.
If one wants to factor in time its not worth it but I consider reloading as a hobby and enjoy it.
How many are pulling the handle for 9MM?

With 9mm at the price it is now I just started buying factory ammo, it’s break even and maybe little cheaper but my motivation is to save my primers and powder and bullets for hard times. I am not a youngster and I have seen some times when ammo and components were not readily available, at one point I even laid in some casting stuff so I can make bullets for the necessary calibers.

I not only reload 9mm Luger but I cast my own bullets .
A 4 cavity NOE mould allows me to cast a 124 gr. TC gas checked bullet that can be cast of a soft alloy (8-9 bhn) and still driven to +1000 fps .
Why ... being the master of your ammo supply feels good ... and I enjoy doing it .

I cast bullets and reload for every firearm I own ...
You never know what tomorrow will bring !
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

I’m currently just buying factory 9mm. Combination of factors with time being the biggest. And yes also price. I’ve bought cases of 9mm for $240, that’s $12 a box, not bad… I’ve got a bunch of components from way back before the crazy price increases, but I’ll still shoot some factory 9mm when it’s relatively cheap like it is today. I do like the accuracy of rolling my own, but I can always make some up when I really want that kind of accuracy.

Also, I find that I’m not as motivated to reload in the summertime because there’s so much going on and so many things I’d rather be doing. In fact I’m going golfing with my son and a bunch of friends at noon today. In the winter things slow down and I spend more time in the gun room.

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NRA Life Member

I bought sp primers a couple of months ago at $0.06 ea. [6000 Fiocci for $365, shipping & hazmat inc.] I last bought lead around 2004 and still have 3/4 ton of alloy. I am shooting AA2 bought surplus in 2003 @ $6.00 a lb., in 6 lb lots. You don't want to know how little my loads cost and you have to be forward thinking in this recreational habit.

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Front sight and squeeze

I reloaded 9x19mm during and shortly after the great panicdemic as 9mm ammo (along with all other calibers) was nearly impossible to find and very expensive when it could be found. With current ammo prices, FMJ practice loads have become widely available and low in price, yet powder and primers are still quite expensive, making reloading the 9x19mm a far less attractive option.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I've reloaded a lot of 9MM over the years but currently am just shooting factory stuff. Price is low enough that I would rather save my primers and powder for other handgun rounds such as 32's, 38's and 357. As well as some of the real oddballs I load and shoot like 9 Largo, 30 Mauser and a few others.

You’re wise!

I don’t cast any longer but have thought about getting back into it. I load 10 calibers and other than my 22’s and a box of 32 S&W along that I bought everything I shoot is what I load.

I don’t shoot much 9mm but shoot a lot of 38’s and like my loads much better than factory. They shoot softer (arthritis), they’re cleaner and cheaper plus I like the challenge of perfecting my loads for my guns. For example I load mild loads for my revolvers and load specific bullet weights for certain guns. Every gun has its own personality as to what shoots best in it. I also load specific hotter loads for my lever guns. Again every gun has a unique personality and no single load works best in all.

I just enjoy loading. I can sit down for a couple of hours uninterrupted and focusing on what I’m doing. I find it helps clear the mind.

I keep a nice supply of ammo, probably 1000+ rounds per caliber not counting 22’s. So that equates to 10-12,000 rounds I can pickup and shoot before switching my press over. I keep about 20,000 primers, enough powder for the rest of my life and a good supply of bullets but need to restock soon. I’m still using $25/lb powder and under $50/1000 primers. Actually I finished my last brick of $24/1000 primers early this year. I may be in the $30 bricks now. It’s like investing, prices go up so you wait for bargains and then stickup and then cost average.

Advice, stockup when you can.

I'm not much of a 9mm enthusiast and seldom shoot pistols so chambered, but I use cast bullets when I do. Took me a while to develop accurate cast loads but they will do as well as good jacketed ammo and much better than cheap jacketed ammo. I have no idea as to my cost, but it has to be cheaper than the cheapest bulk ammo. I also enjoy handloading as a hobby, not a chore. Cost doesn't have a lot to do with it.

I have some nice RCBS carbide dies with taper crimp bullet seater and have been reloading nines for a while, especially during the pandemic. At today's prices, it's cheaper to just buy factory ammo. I also reload 9x18 Makarov, but finding the fired cases has proved to be a challenge. The Bulgarian pistol ejects them halfway to the moon.

Only enough to be sure I can do it if I need too. Not that I shoot much 9mm. I save my components for cartridges where the savings is larger, which is mostly .38 Special.

I reload a lot of 9mm. I use coated cast bullets. I have some old components and can load a lot cheaper than factory. I'm long retired so time isn't a factor for me. I can't say that I enjoy the reloading process, but I do get pleasure from shooting ammo that I make.

You have to be resourceful with current prices in order for reloading to be cost effective. I frequently barter for powder and primers, I buy bullets in lots of 1K and have been able to sell 500 for what I paid for the thousand making my bullets cost free. Some fellow shooters have been kind enough to gift me the brass that I need, sometimes we trade so I seldom purchase brass.

First caliber I started reloading was 9mm, back in 1972. Still cranking them out.

Homemade cast bullets from scrap lead (wheel weights, printing type, etc) accumulated over many years, only costs are electricity for the casting pot and a tiny amount of bullet lube.

Stocked up between the last two big shortages in supply chains, what I then considered to be over-priced $30 per thousand primers, canister powders at ~$20 per pound. I figure my current supply has cost me about $4.50 per 50-round box (9 cents per round). Back in the 70s I was doing the same thing for about 75 cents per box.

Reliable supply and independence from supply chains mean more to me than convenience or cost.

Good set of reloading dies and a mold or two are added any time I acquire a firearm in a new caliber. Some of my vintage and antique firearms couldn't be fed factory ammo for less than $5 per round, but I'm doing it for 10 or 15 cents each.

Yes, worth it to me.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

I like reloading. I like all aspects of reloading from load data research, acquiring components, processing brass, assembling, recording, shooting and recording results. I started out of curiosity not for money "saving" (in the early 80s as I emptied the cylinder of my 38 I thought "I wonder if I could reuse these?"). I don't know how much my handloads cost, nor do I care. Reloading is a quiet time for me and a very rewarding hobby. I normally shoot to reload. I like reloading....

I have 5, 9mm handguns and I reload for them all (no idea the cost of a premium self/home defense, +P ammo costs). I also cast and my JIC stash numbers in the thousands. I haven't purchased more than 5 boxes of factory ammo for all my handguns since 1985...

Not bragging! Just explaining my take on the often discussed "money vs reloading" threads. Money ain't everything!

I went thru a spell where I did some 9mm reloading - mostly experimenting with cast bullets in Glocks. Otherwise, I just buy bulk ball ammo, and use factory ammo for SD carry.

For the cost savings, if any, its not worth my time. I'd rather spend my time at the bench loading more expensive stuff like .45 acp. and .44 mag., as well as .308 Win. / 7.62x51.

Feel pretty much the same with .223 / 5.56 unless I am loading for best accuracy in a particular rifle. I stocked up on 5.56 ball when it was $300 or less a case.

Larry

Same here. It's not a big savings, like some other calibers, but I get so much satisfaction out of firing my reloads. Shooting factory ammo is boring. Also, I never load a bunch in advance. Maybe I'm weird, but that's what makes the sport enjoyable to me.

To each his own.

I am not loading 9mm right now but that is just because I have so much I have a storage issue. I remember when you could get 50 rounds for $5 on sale. I didn't reload it at that price.

I do the exact same.

9x18 can be easily made from 9x19 cases. Run the 9x19 through the 9x18 sizing die, trim and load. They look a bit weird until fireformed but work well. And yes, the cases tend to go into low-earth orbit somewhere.

If I had to buy components at current prices I wouldn't reload 9mm.
But since I have a lifetime supply of primers, powder and bullets purchased cheaply a few years ago, I can reload it for around 10 cents a round.
That makes it worth it.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

Am still reloading 9mm. The reloaded rounds are more accurate, and have a lifetime supply of cases, powder, bullets and primers bought up before the last great price hikes.

I use cast bullets in all my 9x19's and they shoot as well as jacketed bullets with minimal leading. Of course how to do this successfully would take me at least a couple of pages to write. Its far cheaper than ever buying factory ammo or buying jacketed bullets to load for yourself.

I got back into 9mm about 10 years ago. My first pistol was A Browning Hi Power a long time ago, but I diverted to .45ACP in the form of M1911s and P220s for a couple of decades. About 10 years ago I bought a Glock 19 because I was fighting corrosion that came with IWB in Tampa heat and humidity (mainly under the grips). Oh yeah, I just wanted the Glock and convinced myself I had a reason.

I reloaded 9mm, because I reload whatever I shoot. I was buying factory when it was cheap.

The Navy gave me another set of orders to CA. The state instituted a background check for ammo. Now we have an 11% tax added to firearm and ammo. Yes, I reload 9mm.

I'm just starting to cast. That should drive my per bullet costs down a fair amount.

...because I shoot a LOT of it. I started buying the cheapest 9mm I could find and I'm not happy with a lot of it. In spite of primers being expensive, I have plenty for now, I have a good stock of powder and I use Missouri bullets at about 8 cents each so it's economical for me to reload, even 9mm.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

These days I only load 9x19 when I want something weird, like a 147-gr HST load that does 1150 fps from my Glock 43 with the Canada-length barrel (extra spicy for hikes in the National Forest that's behind the house).

I loaded it when I was in college and unbelievably poor - on a Lee Loader, if you can believe that.

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How God has blessed us!

I keep on reloading the little 9mm, since I like my many types of "Custom loads" that I can make
for the differet length barrels and models of pistols that our family use.

I have yet to load lead but for target practice in the last 30 years, I have loaded a lot of plated bullets and in the last ten years, I have added the "Coated Lead" bullets to my light target loads for the "Kids" and ladies,
to enjoy while at the shooting ranges or outside, just plinking around, that are mild in recoil.

Most loading manuals and factory ammo is set to work with most factory springs,
however, with a lighter spring, one can down load some mighty accurate target loads without any ejection, malfunctions.

I found that 115 to a 147 grain 9mm bullet, will work, 99.9 % with light target loads to my +P loads in all the pistols that use my ammo.

yeah ... I reload it.
the argument against doing so have never been particularly valid for any cartridge.

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it just needs more voltage

I can understand completely why someone who enjoys reloading and/or wishes to tailor a load for a specific purpose might choose to produce their own ammo, even if the cost savings is insignificant or non-existent.

As for me, I look at reloading the same way I do mowing my lawn. I don’t *mind*, but it’s not my idea of a good time. I just buy 9mm by the case when it’s cheap, transfer the boxes into large ammo cans, and stack it as high as I can.

The only cartridge I *always* load myself are .38 Special wadcutters. I can’t bring myself to pay the price those rounds have commanded for the past decade or so.

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Mark Lathem

I reload 9mm for use in SCSA Steel Challenge competition, where I want the lowest recoiling load that will still propel a coated lead bullet all the way to the furthest plate AND reliably cycle my G19 with its Zahal recoil-reducing spring assembly. Once-used brass is unlimited and free at my local indoor club range. A buddy who, for some reason, loves melting lead and casting bullets, makes coated 115gr RN for me for the cost of his powder coating material -- I supply the lead. 1.9 gr of Red Dot does the trick. I laid in a near-lifetime supply of SPP when they were more reasonably priced than today, though the price has come down at least 30% recently (but will never get back to where it was).

I have a similar approach, but it centers around a carbine that enjoys high volumes. It doesn't play well with the usual suspects, so it's pile of blammo ammo is a bit warm and uses powders on the slower end of the range.
The other 9's seem to run this acceptably well, thus making this 124 grain coated load the defacto standard ball.
even if this cost the same as equal crates of ammo, the factory fodder would not meet its performance.
Then we have the special collection. In a market where some premium offerings go for $3 a round, one can very easily load them for a fraction the cost.
To say "it costs nearly the same" is simply not the whole story.

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it just needs more voltage

I originally reloaded 9 to duplicate my Speer gold dot +p load. And yes in the past I wouldnt bother because it was so cheap. but after all the recent laws passed in my state (background checks and the new taxes to purchase ammo), the less big brother knows and the more self reliance I have the better.

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Romans5:8

For someone like me who shoots 100 rounds of 9mm per week, even saving a couple of bucks a box over factory ammo adds up over time. Having the dies, change over kit, as well as, the press, etc. already, makes reloading 9mm a no-brainer. For someone who hates reloading and/or doesn't have the equipment and/or a place good to reload, it doesn't take much to make excuses not to reload. The monetary savings really isn't an issue, when one considers just how much money one wastes on eating out, special coffee, and other frivolities.

I still have over 1500 rounds I bought pre pandemic for about 12 cents a round...and I have been buying new 9s for 10-12 dollars a box...and I bought an estate that had approx 2000 rounds of Federal HP and Speer Gold Dot for carry...so 6000 rounds. I'm not going to waste my older cheap primers and powder on 9mm. I broke down and loaded 500 rounds of 9s with the Argentine primers (5 cents) and some of the Berrys plated bullets(about 11 cents...the powder was an old can I had here with no cost so 16 cents a round Gave half to a friend and the rest to the grandsons and granddaughter to shoot. They enjoyed wasting them...but I did not enjoy loading them even on the 750. So no more 9mm for me and I still have 750 of those Berry's bullets...BTW...for the fellow loading 9mm Makarov...rather than find cases...make 'em from 9mm Luger. I gave a friend a Russian Makarov and he makes all his cases(he said he lost cases too.). He bought a second and I gave him a conversion bbl to 380...His wifes pistol now. If you really need to...get a 8x10 blue tarp from Harbor freight and lay it out before shooting. Catches most

I'm in the camp of just shooting factory ammo at present but I'm set up to cast bullets as well as reload if need be. BTW, OP, you won't replace that 231 for $45 a pound. More like $65.

It all started back in the 60's when I wanted to get the "Most" out of my new
Winchester bolt action, 270, for deer hunting at long range.

As I got older, I learned that a slower bullet would do just as well and you could
also come home with at least ten more pounds of meat and have less of a
"Damage zone" , clean up area, on the animal.

Did the same with my 357 magnum.
Loaded "Full loads" in the beginning, when I was wet beind the ears.

Loading can be fun and you can make ammo of all kinds.

The 9mm and 38 special are two rounds that make loading a lot of fun,
with all the different type and weigh bullets that are made today.

I don't really have a favorite 9mm bullet. I like them all.

Have fun.

Myself, I don't use/shoot a lot of 9mm's, but when I do it's using my reloads.

The cost of reloading/using my own cast or swaged bullets is $0.00/zero/nada.

I still have +/- 11,000 primers I specifically bought for reloading the 9mm. They are s&b primers that cabela's had on sale for $20 per 1000, bought 20,000 of them for $200 with free shipping.

9mm cases are laying around everywhere at the ranges/clubs I go to. Can't even begin to count how many I've sold for $.02 apiece.

I like having the ability to control what I use/shoot along with the ability to shoot when I want. When or if the shelves have ammo is of no concern to me. Nor could I care less about the prices of ammo.

I love reloading and the ability to run 4/5 different bullets and 10+ powder combo's in the 9mm's.

I don't worry about powders, stocked up enough pistol powders to feed my 9mm/38spl/357mag/44spl/44mag/45acp the rest of my days. Actually sold off 100+ #'s of powder and 20,000+ primers a couple years ago. Couple that with 4 cases of 22lr ammo (5000 rounds per case).

I can understand the reasoning behind the cost of components/availability of components VS cost of ammo. The deciding factor to me is I don't pay for the bullets I use to reload.

I went quite awhile NOT loading 9mm because I'd stocked up on cheap bulk 9mm ammo, much of the Russian steel-case stuff. Fine for drills, practice and training. And - on my grass range, it felt great not to have to go look for spent brass. Most of that stuff was acquired for ~$5-$7/box.

Now - back into loading 9 again. All my brass is free range brass, lots of powder from pre-crazy days, almost all my bullets are purchased coated cast and very accurate.

I still have all my casting stuff - but long ago lost my free endless supply of wheelweights. I'd much rather 'click' to buy bullets.

I'm retired and work p/t - so sometimes a loading session will take place on a bad weather or too-hot day when I'm not working.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

$45 or $65, considering the number of 9mm cartridges that can be loaded with one pound of 231, the cost difference is insignificant if one enjoys handloading and/or shooting.

Oh, I can believe that. It's the way I started out. And I did it for a long time until I got set up with a press.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Got my start banging .38 Specials into a Lee Loader on my dorm room chair - 9mm not long after that. I'll tell you what: when a primer goes off during seating and you're in a tiny room with concrete ceiling/floor and cinder block walls - you know it!

Hey, to everyone who does not load 9x19 . . . now's the time to buy (assuming you're not already overstocked). Prices aren't dropping lower and I have every expectation they'll be soaring again soon as people get more anxious in the political season.

It doesn't go bad - or at least it won't in the time you've got left.

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How God has blessed us!

on my way this afternoon to buy 2 more lb's of W231. I just called and they are in stock for $37.39/lb + tax and a 50 mile round trip.

I am in love with this powder, its one of the cheaper powders and I can almost always find it.

Same here. Started out in 1972 with a 9mm Lee "pounder loader" and a 115 gr lee bullet mold for my HP.....Since then I've added more 9mm's and more molds.......Now I load "em" fast on a Dillon Square Deal progressive press.

I also cast for every caliber I own from .32 to 45-70. As long as as I can hold the molds I'll never run out of bullets.........I also pour my own #6-#7 1/2 and #8 shot.........All this makes me much less dependent on outside sources.

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S&W Accumulator

This is exactly what I have been saying for quite a while. When I have found 9mm ammo for under 12 dollars I now have at least 6 cases...they ain't getting cheaper. I bought the SA primers for 50 a thousand delivered and the Fiocchi's cost 58 dollars delivered. I am hoping powders come down in price BUT at this time there is a shortage of Nitro cellulose world wide...so don't bet on powder coming down either...and we have proved to the seller/producers of the products we need to reload...we WILL pay higher prices. Unfortunately...now is the time to be proactive and stock up at least some supplies

I had one go off while tapping on it. My room acoustics probably dampened it a little more than yours but it was plenty loud enough.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I just reload everything I shoot.
I have plenty of components from better times for my lifetime, so I'm not out scouting for deals.
Not everyone has that advantage.
I just couln't imagine paying the powder and primer prices of today.
At least the primer prices seem to be coming down some.

I don't shoot near as much as some others do. A box or so will do in most any caliber for a range visit /per gun.
38sp and 9mm can get loaded on an elderly Square Deal (not even a 'B'). So an ample supply is easy to do if really needed. I started using that back in Bullseye Target days in the 70's in 38sp.
But the Rockchucker usually gets used anyway.

Probably one of the biggest drawbacks locally/state-wide here right now that would keep me from using factory ammo is the NYS mandated background check on ammo purchases.
The BG check itself doesn't bother me, they know who I am.
But they charge for it.
Each purchase, no matter the amt.
The State fee is $2.50 per purchase.
The shop/FFL can add on whatever they want,,and they usually do.
At a local gunshow, the ammo ammo BG check fee was $10 /per ammo purchase.
Better buy in quantity.

I went out and bought an AutoPrime after my second episode.

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How God has blessed us!

After about 50 years of reloading I’ve come to the conclusion I don’t like it and I never did. I mostly loaded .38/.357, .38 S&W, and .45 Colt. I’ve never bothered with 9mm, .40, .45 ACP, .223 or 12 gauge as I could get it at work.

Now I just buy what I need. I shoot a lot of 9mm since its cheap and easy on the wrist and hands. Same with .22s. I shot every week through the Chicken Little panics, and kept shooting when the reloaders were fighting over primers. My stash is a little depleted, but I buy when I find a deal.

I was in a gunshop when a kid brought in a list of ammo his late father had stored in the basement. Thousands and thousands of rounds of 9mm, .45 ACP, .223, .38 Special, and a bunch of others. The old man would buy ammo and never shoot it because he was afraid he couldn’t get more. The kid sold it for about ten cents on the dollar, and I bought a bunch from the store for 50 cents on the dollar. At least somebody enjoyed it.

Everything has gone up, but I can still get fresh 9mm for 11 bucks a box. When that empty flies out of the gun it may as well be going into another dimension. I ain’t chasing it.

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Rule of law, not a man.

I have loaded 1,000 rds of 9 this Summer and am going to load 200 more and quit, as that is how many bullets I have left. I am also down to my last pound of old and cheap 231. At current powder and primer prices, a box of 50 is going to be about $17. I can buy factory for that.

As soon as the 9's are done, I am switching the Dillon to .45 and concentrating there with my reloading. I have lots of primers I bought 20 years ago and several thousand bullets. I have several cases of 9mm I can shoot.

Have several pistols with extended barrels. Very effective way to get full sized umph without the weight/size. Even better when they're threaded.