Is Reloading for 9mm worth it?

[Biggfoot44]

Self Question #1 - Do you enjoy handloading as a hobby in itself, that you enjoy doing for its own sake , as entertainment ?



Self Question #2 - Does generic 9x19 fmj work properly in your guns, and fulfill 99% of your shooting requirements ?

Self Question #2.5 - If you answered Yes to #1 , can you over ride your enjoyment of working up multiple loads to instead just be assembly line of thousands of rounds of the same thing, in order to buy components in 5K increments , to actually see * meaningful * cost savings ?

Self Question # 2.75 - OR you don't actually care about minimum cost per se , but would rather have , "Better " ammo for about the same $ as bulk fmj ? ( ie thousands of rounds loaded with bulk JHP vs bulk fmj ? )


Answer the self questions , arrive at your personal solutions .


*****************

And a PSA - Handloading isn't a panacea for ammo shortages . Primers disappear off the shelves as fast as popular calibers of loaded ammo . And a week later popular powders will dry up .

Yes you could bullet cast with scrounged lead , but popular calibers of store bought bullets disappear from the shelves also


So handloading is the magic wand, only if you maintain a reserve stash of thousands of rounds worth of components at all times .

 

[jag312]

I have two 9mm submachineguns; a WW2 British Lanchester and an Uzi. I reload a lot of 9mm ammunition. It makes economic sense to me.

 

[mtgianni]

It depends on how much you shoot. I am not a wealthy man and so I cast and shoot my 9mm's for about $3.75 a hundred. YMMV.

 

[Bugkiller99]

I'm not reloading 9mm. At this time. I would rather use my components on something that gives me a better return on my "investment".
When the cost of 9mm goes up, I'll start loading it again. I have on hand 9mm components. I checked, they don't expire.

 

[HorizontalMike]

Reload BETTER 9mm Loads at a Reduced Cost

My biggest argument/point for advocating for reloading of 9mm Luger is for the following:

• OEM Fiocchi 147JHP are cheap and very accurate with low Standard Deviations
• RELOADING Fiocchi brass with 147XTP bullets (equals Fiocchi "Extrema Ammunition") at a much much lower price point. READ big savings..."

This works for me......
And besides, IMO Fiocchi brass is a step ahead of Starline and almost on par with Lupua and Nosler. And besides, who can't take advantage of some free brass to reload, and that lowers your reloading costs by 40-50% at least!

 

[Kurusu]

I shoot 9mm in matches. I only reload if/when I can't find factory ammo capable of X ring accuracy at 25 meters.

In 2011 I got WWBox packs of 100 rounds of 115 grains FMJ, they were very good. I didn't reload while they lasted.

In 2008 I was reloading. Only had Fiocchi available and it couldn't do this.

Edit. Shot with the same pistol.

 

[342ti]

I never discourage anyone from reloading, I think ALL who shoot should. With that being said, I ONLY reload 9mm, because I've been doing it for 10+yrs. If that was the ONLY cartridge I was going to reload for, NO I wouldn't load for it. The combo of shooting 9mm so little, and it being so cheap, certainly wouldn't be worth it for me. I reload for 38/357 & 45acp also, so the 9mm is a no brainer to load.

 

[NJM15]

reloading 10 years ago

definitely saved money back then , but now ammo is relatively cheaper. It still saves by reloading but never actually figured the cost of reloading a .09 round now, even though the price of powder and primers and lead have increased considerably

 

[fredj338]

Not only is the reloading gear amortized, most of it retains most of its value on the used market. Interesting that I figured that I save the same $600.00 annually by reloading 9mm. BTW, the commercial indoor range where I shoot doesn't allow steel cased ammo, so 17 cents a round is about the best I could do if I bought cheap 9mm ammo in bulk.

My first progressive was a 550 bought new for $260. I sold it to a friend, after some 150k rds loaded, for the same $260 about 15y later, then bought a 650. So 100% roi after using it for 15y, yeah reloading isnt worth my time.

 

[fredj338]

Self Question #1 - Do you enjoy handloading as a hobby in itself, that you enjoy doing for its own sake , as entertainment ?



Self Question #2 - Does generic 9x19 fmj work properly in your guns, and fulfill 99% of your shooting requirements ?

Self Question #2.5 - If you answered Yes to #1 , can you over ride your enjoyment of working up multiple loads to instead just be assembly line of thousands of rounds of the same thing, in order to buy components in 5K increments , to actually see * meaningful * cost savings ?

Self Question # 2.75 - OR you don't actually care about minimum cost per se , but would rather have , "Better " ammo for about the same $ as bulk fmj ? ( ie thousands of rounds loaded with bulk JHP vs bulk fmj ? )


Answer the self questions , arrive at your personal solutions .


*****************

And a PSA - Handloading isn't a panacea for ammo shortages . Primers disappear off the shelves as fast as popular calibers of loaded ammo . And a week later popular powders will dry up .

Yes you could bullet cast with scrounged lead , but popular calibers of store bought bullets disappear from the shelves also


So handloading is the magic wand, only if you maintain a reserve stash of thousands of rounds worth of components at all times .

Well to those of us who reload, I'll say sort of. It is cheaper to stock up on primers & takes less space. If you do invest in making your own bullets, shortages wont have any affect on your shooting. In 2012-13, I never missed a weekend shooting because of ammo shortage, though many factory ammo guys did. When my fav powder was unavailable for almost 2y, I just switched to something else.
Cases last almost forever. Bullets can be made, almost any powder can be made to go bang in a handgun, so you just need a solid 2-3y min primer stock to keep shooting. So yes, reloading is a way to work around shortages, you just need to stock primers. 50k primers runs about $1300-$1400. Ammo autonomy, priceless.

 

[Calliope]

Love loading the 9mm - even if the savings aren't there.
Got me a little Dillon BL 550 set up just for the 9, got some nice Hornady HAPs and Speer TMJs, a bottle of W231, and a nice collection of my own once fired brass.

My 9mm 1911 loves my ammo.

 

[GeoJelly]

I buy once-fired and processed brass so I probably don't save anything. But, I enjoy loading and prolly load 9mm about once a month. I use mostly Power Pistol and load my rounds just hot enough to reliably cycle my usual 9mm range pistols (Ber PX4C, Glock 19, SA XD-E and Ber 92C). I double-check against no-powder cases and using PP has helped prevent a kaboom so far. I found a good price on some 147-g JHP's and have been using those lately. I capture a case once in a while (indoor range) was tickled when I didn't have any visible case over-expansion with the (4.5-g) PP load. It's more fun to shoot my own loads and I get the benefit of reduced noise, recoil and wear and tear on the pistols themselves...

 

[Skeet 028]

Was looking through stuff last Thursday and 'found" 2 50 al ammo cans of 9mm I put away some years ago. Also a ammo can with 124 gr HP bullets. I have beaucoup 9mm once fired brass but I still don't load for it...at least now. I must have 5000 rounds of factory ammo on the shelves too. Even with the JHP bullets I got for just over 4 cents each cost of primers at approx 2 1/2 cents and the powder at lets say 2 cents each ...with the amount of 9s I shoot it isn't worth reloading them. Replacing the bullets at current prices is almost 16 cents each which figures out to almost 8 dollars a box. I have no 9mm factory ammo that cost more than 8.50 a box. Yep I can cast bullets much cheaper but as they say...time is money. I am however loading a few 38 specials right now. I may have 2 cents each in the bullets primers cost about 1.5 cents each and got 4 pounds of powder for 5 bucks...all at an estate sale with an older set of Lyman carbide 38 dies Fellow had it boxed up as a 38 special reloading package...with about 500 pieces of once fired military 38 brass. I can save quite a bit loading the 38s though. I even got a near new in the box CH cannelure tool for 5 bucks. I guess the big difference is that I will shoot much more 38s than 9mm....and they are much easier to load even on a Dillon 650. I only have 3 9mms anyway..A Springfield Armory RO a 9mm Kimber and a Ruger Police Carbine in 9mm(it is a fun gun) but haven't shot it in a few years...oh and my wife has a little CM 9mm she likes to shoot...maybe a box once a month

 

[BE Mike]

I can get Brazos coated bullets for 5 cents each. Primers are 2.8 cents and powder for 1 9mm cartridge is 1.2 cents. I get my brass for free, so each cartridge costs me 9 cents. That's $4.50 for a box of 50 of practice ammo. That's $4.00/ box cheaper than I can buy it in bulk. Sure if I wanted to shoot jacketed hollow points, that would raise my bullet costs 11 cents per round, jacking the total cost to around $10.00 per box of 50, but the cheapest jacketed hollow point ammo I see on-line is around $13.50 per 50 round box. Since I already have my equipment amortized, I still can save $3.50/ box. It makes sense, if one shops around for components, to reload 9mm if one shoots enough to justify the initial cost of the reloading equipment.

 

[fredj338]

I can get Brazos coated bullets for 5 cents each. Primers are 2.8 cents and powder for 1 9mm cartridge is 1.2 cents. I get my brass for free, so each cartridge costs me 9 cents. That's $4.50 for a box of 50 of practice ammo. That's $4.00/ box cheaper than I can buy it in bulk. Sure if I wanted to shoot jacketed hollow points, that would raise my bullet costs 11 cents per round, jacking the total cost to around $10.00 per box of 50, but the cheapest jacketed hollow point ammo I see on-line is around $13.50 per 50 round box. Since I already have my equipment amortized, I still can save $3.50/ box. It makes sense, if one shops around for components, to reload 9mm if one shoots enough to justify the initial cost of the reloading equipment.

I make my own coated, lets say 1c each with scrounged alloy. Powder & primers @ todays cost, 4c each. So for $50 a 1000, 8-9000 rds a year, yeah I save money. Since I do not enjoy reloading much anymore, my 650 easily handles weekly runs of 200-300 in less than 30m. That leaves me time to do the fun things like casting & coating for me.

 

[fredj338]

Fair question. Because I don't shoot that much of it. When I go to the range I usually shoot about 16 rounds only just to keep in practice with the little XDS. then I go shoot 100 40, 100 38 and about 100 22's. Just never felt spending the money for the dies was worth it to me. Then I'd need another mold. And I only buy good molds not cheap. Then I'd need the sizing die too. I can make up a lot of excuses I see.

But if I did, I would sure shoot a lot more of that little 9. It's such a teeny little thing anyway.

I have a WWII Enfield, shot it 20rds with factory, bought the dies, haven't shot it since. I figure as long as I have the gear, even for something like that, $30 for a set of Lee dies is cheap.
So call it $40 for dies, $15 for the sizing die & even a high end 4cav mold, $125, for less than a case of 9mm ammo you are now self sufficient. You already have the expensive stuff.

 

[max503]

I love to go down in the basement, turn on the '70's rock and roll channel, and make boolits. I find it meditative.

So yes, I cast for and reload 9mm. I love disappearing downstairs then having a box or two of ammo to show for it when I come back up. Screw going to the store or even online.

 

[Bronco89]

9mm

I keep eyeballing 9mm dies, but not yet. I'm getting Magtec of American Eagle for $10 a box, and I really don't shoot that much 9mm. Like you, I shoot a lot of 22LR.

I do reload 38spcl and 44 mag. I could't afford to shoot either if I didn't. But really I have come to make some pet loads in each that just can't be bought. I can't help but wonder if it would be the same with 9mm.

 

[Calliope]

But really I have come to make some pet loads in each that just can't be bought. I can't help but wonder if it would be the same with 9mm.

It is for me. Love shooting my pet 9mm loads, just like my pets in 357 and 45 auto.

 

[fredj338]

I keep eyeballing 9mm dies, but not yet. I'm getting Magtec of American Eagle for $10 a box, and I really don't shoot that much 9mm. Like you, I shoot a lot of 22LR.

I do reload 38spcl and 44 mag. I could't afford to shoot either if I didn't. But really I have come to make some pet loads in each that just can't be bought. I can't help but wonder if it would be the same with 9mm.

I didnt load a lot of 9mm either, until I started competition. Still, I bought the rcbs dies back in 1976 for about $25. Even buying bullets, I can still get right at 12c each, quite a savings over federal at 20c per. In 2012-13 when 22lr was 10-12c a rd, I was still shooting 9mm for less than that.