Is it worth reloading?

[eddieE76]

I was looking into getting a press, but after looking at the brass cost on brownells (9mm), bullets, primers, it seems that there is no savings? 1000 cases were $160, bullets were about $130, primers $36. Now including powder or your time we are $326. I just saw 1000 rounds of 9mm brass case, FMJ, for $305 shipped.

I suppose the brass cost is reduces once you reuse your brass for the next 1000 rounds. So, maybe that is where the savings are?

How many rounds does one need to break eve after the cost of a single stage press?

Thanks

 

[venomballistics]

I was looking into getting a press, but after looking at the brass cost on brownells (9mm), bullets, primers, it seems that there is no savings? 1000 cases were $160, bullets were about $130, primers $36. Now including powder or your time we are $326. I just saw 1000 rounds of 9mm brass case, FMJ, for $305 shipped.

I suppose the brass cost is reduces once you reuse your brass for the next 1000 rounds. So, maybe that is where the savings are?

How many rounds does one need to break eve after the cost of a single stage press?

Thanks

if you buy brass and bullets and all else .. you break about even the first time around. its on the subsequent firings of that brass that the savings come to fruitation.
That of course is almost immediately offset by the sudden rise in ammo consumption

 

[Rule3]

First off, try to buy once fired brass or scrounge around the range. That will save a a little bit. Brass is not you biggest expense though, bullets and primers are. If you buy in bulk than it's less.

Now is a bad time due to all the chaos and 9mm is not a big cost saver. Maybe half the cost of factory, but like everything it will keep going up.

45 ACP, 357 Mag, 45 Colt you save a lot more.

Brownells is a great company but for stuff like this they are not the least expensive.

 

[nickacf7]

You would have to shoot A LOT to make it worth while IMO. The way I see it is that I would not be saving money until the "savings" paid the all the reloading equipment off then it would be cheaper, but that's just my 2 cents.

 

[DWalt]

It depends on where you get your bullets and brass. I can essentially pick up off the ground all of the 9mm brass I will ever need for free at the range I use - but I already have plenty. On GunBroker, there are people that will provide brass free if you buy their bullets, plus a lot of sellers offering brass. Missouri Bullets sells cast 9mm bullets for about $50/1000 plus $11.35 shipping, and the shipping will cover 2000 bullets.

Say, lead bullets are 7 cents, primer 4 cents, powder maybe 2 cents, and brass is essentially free or close to it as it is re-useable for many loadings. Not counting amortization of your reloading tools and dies, that's about 13 cents per round, say $7.00 per box of 50. At the gun show last week, due to the current craziness, I saw NO FMJ 9mm ammo on sale for less than $20/box. Draw your own conclusions as to whether reloading is economically worthwhile.

 

[eddieE76]

I guess the prices quoted by Dwalt makes reloading worth while. My prices seem a bit high.

 

[DWalt]

One other thing to keep in mind. Forget for the moment the cost savings of reloading. It's possible that in the near future that the days of buying ammo over the internet may cease, and there may be all sorts of onerous ammunition restrictions (such as a "Bullet Violence Tax", purchase limits, or whatever other harassment measures the current administration can think of). If you lay in a goodly supply of reloading components, you may insulate yourself somewhat. That's what is happening now, as many shooters are expecting something like this to happen.

 

[arjay]

9 mm hasn't really been worthwhile as it's so cheap,but that may be changing.

 

[Maximumbob54]

First of all you have to shop around and buy in bulk. Try PowderValley.com for buying in bulk on powder and primers. Don't buy in small quantity or you pay the most for the least. If you ever buy primers in less than a thousand a case then you are paying too much. It's the same with powder. You can start with a pound to see if you like it but once you have a chosen load you need to buy it in the eight pound jugs to really save the money. Bullets can be bought in bulk as well. FMJ is great for Glocks and full power loads. You can buy plated but don't push them at jacketed velocity. To save more money you can buy lead bullets. To save even more you can learn to cast them yourself and never worry about running out ever again. 9mm just about grows out of the ground at most ranges so get scrounging and you should be able to stock up for free during a range visit. The initial cost setup will take a while to recoup but it's pretty rare to meet a reloader that regrets getting into the hobby. In the end it stops being about the money though. It becomes the hobby itself.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

My cost for .38 reloads is around $ 7.00 a box of 50. Range pick brass but it's getting harder to find in that caliber since most agencies are going to the .40. Buy bulk components on sale and stock up when I can. Having said this, there's another reason I reload. It's called an "intangible". I have a single stage press and enjoy the process. I also have a friend who sometimes reloads with me. Turn on some mellow music, a comfortable porch overlooking the garden, pour a good cup of coffee and life is good (as is going to the range to shoot with friends). So for me yes, it's worth reloading.

 

[Skip Sackett]

I was looking into getting a press, but after looking at the brass cost on brownells (9mm), bullets, primers, it seems that there is no savings? 1000 cases were $160, bullets were about $130, primers $36. Now including powder or your time we are $326. I just saw 1000 rounds of 9mm brass case, FMJ, for $305 shipped.

I suppose the brass cost is reduces once you reuse your brass for the next 1000 rounds. So, maybe that is where the savings are?

How many rounds does one need to break eve after the cost of a single stage press?

Thanks

No, Eddie, is will NEVER be worth reloading so, let me help you out, friend.
Every time you fire a factory round, make sure it is Boxer primed and just set it back. When you get 1000 of any one caliber, let me know and I will send a self addressed stamped envelope to you, you can fill it up, and send it back!

Whaddayasay?

If all you shoot is 100 rounds a month of 9mm and your firearms can eat that garbage, you are happy at 10 feet with a 12" group and all of that ammo goes to support goobermints that hate the US, hey, go for it!

 

[Titegroups]

A lot of people get into reloading thinking it will save them money, matter of fact you'llend up spending the same or more on equipment and supplies simply because youll most likely will shoot more ammo, the real gains to be had will be the much better understanding of how your firearm and ammo work together to produce the diserd results. If you dont load your own you miss half the picture and dont even know it. I will tell you right now you will have a tough time finding components.

 

[K-framer]

There is not a huge amount of savings to be had (with hand loading 9mm), but a little can be saved with jacketed bullets. More $$ can be saved by loading cast lead bullets....and I do that.

For me, though, there is more to it than the $$. I enjoy the process of hand loading, as much as the savings.

I load 9mm (cast bullets) for around $6.00/ 50.....around $8.00/ 50 with jacketed bullets. 38 spl. costs me around $7- $8/ 50.

 

[DWalt]

Don't know who saw this, but on the news tonight I heard that the Connecticut governor wants...... a new 50% "Violence Tax" on ammunition sold in the state (among other things).

Regarding powder, in 9mm a little goes a long way. If shooting cast 124 grain bullets, a 4.0 grain charge of Bullseye works great in all my 9mm pistols. That's about 1800 rounds of 9mm per pound of Bullseye. Not that it's a bad idea to have 8 pounds of powder (I have a lot more than that), just that a little will last a long time. And there's not much in the way of handgun calibers you can't reload to be useful using Bullseye. Its versatility and economy cannot be disputed.

 

[Florida_Lawdog]

I buy my Brass from a local shooting range. I just bought 250 38 special and 250 9 mm for $25. I get my bullets from berreys. By the time I'm done I shoot for 50% of what it would cost me to buy my own ammo.

 

[RussellD]

I reload therefore I am. My ammo cost less than half of factory ammo cost. There are many ways to save money and have ammo that suits your specific gun and desired shooting style. Not to mention the independence of when there is a run on ammo, I can make my own without any worries.

It is a magnificent obsession. Highly addictive and fun. And it kills the liberals to know we can do it!

 

[Skip Sackett]

With the free lead I get, the surplus powder I buy in bulk, the Wolf primers I use and the brass that I have gotten for free or next to nothing, I can load a box of 200gr LRNHP 45ACP for under a dollar. That's right, 50 45ACP rounds for $.93! Not each, for all 50!

True, I spend that extra cash anyway so I save nothing BUT, I do have all of the ammo I could ever want or need!

 

[DWalt]

So where do you get primers and powder for less than 2 cents a round (assuming your bullets are free)?. They haven't been that cheap in a very long time, maybe sometime during the Carter administration.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Nope. My powder is less than $11/lb and my primers are $13.50/1000. Not Carter but, last year of Bush II, 2007. Widners had a sale on just a few months ago, $15/1000. I got some then too.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Sorry, that $.93 is for 158gr LSWC in 38Spl! OOPS!

For 45ACP it climbs a bit......... $1.03/50

Sorry for the confusion.........