Two points about 9 mm, factory loaded ammo is available for around $10 and most lead bullets are not very accurate in this caliber. I recall an issue of Handloader magazine where they had a heck of a time getting good lead bullet loads. Had to go with a larger than normal sized bullet to get them to group OK.
Cost Efficiency 9mm?
- Thread starter TheHobbiest
- Start date
I actually enjoy reloading. but have never had much luck with lead in the 9mm. I just loaded 1k rounds of Berry's plated bullets, but have not tried them yet. I can get Blazers locally for 9 to 10 per 50 and have been stockpiling those.
Would be happy to load lead 9's if I could find a good load that didn't lead the barrels. I shoot Smith, BHP's, Glock and Sig 9's.
Would be happy to load lead 9's if I could find a good load that didn't lead the barrels. I shoot Smith, BHP's, Glock and Sig 9's.
For 9x19 I size my bullets to .358 and have no leading issues. On the surface this is contrary to conventional wisdom, but in the 9x19 loads in my Lyman book they also use .358 cast projectiles. I suspect a lot of people that feel they are successful loading cast 9x19 are using .357-.358 bullets.
That's what I was thinking. I don't want to start a cast vs. jacketed war and be the recipient of all the outrage, but I have never seen a cast load that shot as well as a good jacketed load in 9mm. Up close, the cast load may be sufficient. At any distance, 25-50 yards, they suffer and jacketed seems to do much better. JMHO and if you disagree, I can live with it.
Some other observations:
1. My time is worth something.
2. A new Dillon 550 will cost about $600.
3. Right now, you can usually buy good quality 9x19 for $9-$10 per box if you order it in quantity and watch prices. I cannot make much better 9mm ammo than some of this $9-$10 per box stuff. It is excellent.
I figure my 9mm jacketed loads cost about $7.50/box with good quality jacketed bullets (and free brass). It's going to take roughly 15000 rounds to recover the cost of that Dillon. If you put even a nominal price on your time, correspondingly more.
Handloading saves the most money in the big calibers, and the less popular ones - 44 Magnum, for example. The real oddballs, like 41 Magnum, even more so.
I am pretty sure I would not bother with handloading if I mostly shot 9mm. The current cost of jacketed bullets is much higher and the cost of good quality factory ammunition is much lower than they used to be, comparatively. Junk factory ammunition is not worth buying at any price, unless all you intend to do with your shooting is make noise.
About the cheapest online prices I see are at Natchez for Blazer Ammo (aluminum) for $10 a box. For brass 10.49.
I put 20 boxes in my cart and estimated shipping is $22.38 plus their little $4.00 fee so lets call it $238 for a case.
$238/20=$11.90 a box of 50 for Blazer brass.
Yes, there may be somewhere a few bucks cheaper but Natchez has some of the lowest price.
Reloading even 9mm will save you 50%! Do the math. So one case of 9mm will save about enough to get a simple Lee Turret press KIT (not the classic press which is a little better) which is $100. Buy a set of dies and a better scale and you are reloading.
I do not know where the "lead bullets are not accurate in 9mm" but I disagree with that completely. I shoot enough of them in 9, 40 and 45 and they are as good or better than plated or fmj.
I put 20 boxes in my cart and estimated shipping is $22.38 plus their little $4.00 fee so lets call it $238 for a case.
$238/20=$11.90 a box of 50 for Blazer brass.
Yes, there may be somewhere a few bucks cheaper but Natchez has some of the lowest price.
Reloading even 9mm will save you 50%! Do the math. So one case of 9mm will save about enough to get a simple Lee Turret press KIT (not the classic press which is a little better) which is $100. Buy a set of dies and a better scale and you are reloading.
I do not know where the "lead bullets are not accurate in 9mm" but I disagree with that completely. I shoot enough of them in 9, 40 and 45 and they are as good or better than plated or fmj.
J-FRAME
Member
One thing for me is I do not like to pick auto brass up off the ground. And at the range you are getting a mixed bag a lot of the time IE other folks junk etc . This being said I reload for revolvers all the time and get good value out of MY brass and I don,t have to be on my knees etc bending over.So for me I love .22 autos and revos of coarse but 9mm is the biggest auto I shoot and you my have my brass off the ground. I buy 1000 rds of decent practice 9 mm a year for what $225-$250 and its done. Just works for me Hip replacement- bad back etc.Its my logic for my needs.
ballistic
Member
You only shoot 9mm? Wow, you need more guns.
It was a lot easier to see the savings for me to start reloading.
Having 38 Special/357 Mag, 44 Special/44 Mag, 45acp, as well as 9mm, ammo costs are considerable. I never had more than 2 or 3 boxes of 44 revolver ammo on hand because of the high cost. Now having over 1000 44 Special and 44 Magnum rounds on hand, ready to go, gives me a warm feeling inside. Also 45acp is the cheapest large caliber handgun ammo available, but still, reloading brings the cost way down. Plus being able to load light 45acp target loads, that are easier to shoot than hardball, makes it so pleasant that I now shoot more 45 than 9mm at this time.
I do still load 9mm at about $5.00 per box of 50 115g FMJ. If ammo prices ever come down that low, I may go back to buying factory ammo but, I doubt it ever will.
Precision Delta has 115 grain 9mm FMJ bullest available for $74.00 per 1000 shipped, if you order 2000 at a time. I always look for good deals for bullets, powder, primers, and brass. Deals can be found at gun shows, the internet gunboards, craigslist, even posted at ranges.
Buy in quantity, whenever you find a deal.
It was a lot easier to see the savings for me to start reloading.
Having 38 Special/357 Mag, 44 Special/44 Mag, 45acp, as well as 9mm, ammo costs are considerable. I never had more than 2 or 3 boxes of 44 revolver ammo on hand because of the high cost. Now having over 1000 44 Special and 44 Magnum rounds on hand, ready to go, gives me a warm feeling inside. Also 45acp is the cheapest large caliber handgun ammo available, but still, reloading brings the cost way down. Plus being able to load light 45acp target loads, that are easier to shoot than hardball, makes it so pleasant that I now shoot more 45 than 9mm at this time.
I do still load 9mm at about $5.00 per box of 50 115g FMJ. If ammo prices ever come down that low, I may go back to buying factory ammo but, I doubt it ever will.
Precision Delta has 115 grain 9mm FMJ bullest available for $74.00 per 1000 shipped, if you order 2000 at a time. I always look for good deals for bullets, powder, primers, and brass. Deals can be found at gun shows, the internet gunboards, craigslist, even posted at ranges.
Buy in quantity, whenever you find a deal.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Jessie, a member of this forum (NKJ nut) has some magic bullets that don't lead even when pushed hard. Take a look over at Tennessee Valley Bullets. You won't be sorry...
OP
TheHobbiest
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Hello, Ive reached a decision.
I've looked into a cheap lee single stage and searched alot of good sites and some local stores for bulk ammo and what ive found out is....
You just cant beat walmart prices atm.
I went to walmart and found 100 jhp federal for 18 bucks. Ive found 50 115 fmj target BRASS for 9 bucks per 50.
If I was to do the intial cost and investment in a kit for 9mm and the press and a tumbler and such It would take me 9 months to make money back.
So what Im gonna do is...wait. I will just buy brass bullets for target shooting and save them, ill check with the range master when I go to the range and see if I can hands and knee my way some more brass cases. And when I have such a large stockpile of brass, then I think would be a great time to start investing in handloading.
I do like the idea of always having a supply. And the freedom that comes with handloading is alluring.
I've looked into a cheap lee single stage and searched alot of good sites and some local stores for bulk ammo and what ive found out is....
You just cant beat walmart prices atm.
I went to walmart and found 100 jhp federal for 18 bucks. Ive found 50 115 fmj target BRASS for 9 bucks per 50.
If I was to do the intial cost and investment in a kit for 9mm and the press and a tumbler and such It would take me 9 months to make money back.
So what Im gonna do is...wait. I will just buy brass bullets for target shooting and save them, ill check with the range master when I go to the range and see if I can hands and knee my way some more brass cases. And when I have such a large stockpile of brass, then I think would be a great time to start investing in handloading.
I do like the idea of always having a supply. And the freedom that comes with handloading is alluring.
wallager3904
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just a hint Missouri Bullet co. offers 115, 125, and 147 really good cast bullets for 9mm. $60.00 per K for the 115s, their service and product can't be beat.
Missouri Bullet Company
Missouri Bullet Company
It ain't about instant gratification
I read here that it takes 12 months ... 18 months ... 3 years to recoup your original cost.
That's called a long term investment.
Used to be a common concept here in America.
Think about it. Three years hence you're at this forum typing on the computer about how you wish you were only paying what you were way back in "Naught 11" and you still won't have a press, the price of which will no doubt also go up.
My advice is to invest some capital and get on it now.
I read here that it takes 12 months ... 18 months ... 3 years to recoup your original cost.
That's called a long term investment.
Used to be a common concept here in America.
Think about it. Three years hence you're at this forum typing on the computer about how you wish you were only paying what you were way back in "Naught 11" and you still won't have a press, the price of which will no doubt also go up.
My advice is to invest some capital and get on it now.
ohiococonut
Member
If you're still on the fence about reloading at least buy the book "The ABC's of Reloading" and read it front to back, then read it again. You'll be ahead of the game if you decide it's a hobby you'd like to take up.
Rule # 1
Reloading economics is very simple to understand.
You do not save money reloading ammuntion 
Now get over it. What you do is search for the "GoldenLoad", have ammo available when you want it, have something to do on a 'non-range' day, have another hobby that consumes incredible amounts of time, and shoot a lot more.
How do you save money when there are Dillon 450, Dillon 550, (2) RCBS Rock Chuckers, and a Lee press in the loading room? Thirty-five die sets, 21 bullet molds, 2 Lymn 450 bullet sizers, 70 K primers, 75 # of powder, and a gun show next weekend -- now tell me how do you save money?? And you never say "No" to a good deal.
Reloading economics is very simple to understand.
You do not save money reloading ammuntion Now get over it. What you do is search for the "GoldenLoad", have ammo available when you want it, have something to do on a 'non-range' day, have another hobby that consumes incredible amounts of time, and shoot a lot more.
How do you save money when there are Dillon 450, Dillon 550, (2) RCBS Rock Chuckers, and a Lee press in the loading room? Thirty-five die sets, 21 bullet molds, 2 Lymn 450 bullet sizers, 70 K primers, 75 # of powder, and a gun show next weekend -- now tell me how do you save money?? And you never say "No" to a good deal.
Beans
Member
Since I have been reloading for over 40 years I have amortized the amount of monies I have spend.
As I cast my own bullets Etc my cost for a box of 50, .45 ACP rounds is $2.71.
All costs are included except for my labor.
My reason for casting & reloading = What ammo shortage?????
As I cast my own bullets Etc my cost for a box of 50, .45 ACP rounds is $2.71.
All costs are included except for my labor.
My reason for casting & reloading = What ammo shortage?????
nicky4968
Member
Besides the cost saving (BTW I have a Lee turret, a Lee anniversary, and a Lee hand press, which is the one I use for 9 mm), the real reason I reload is because it upsets so many people. Cast 'em, too.
