Is Reloading for 9mm worth it?

[BC38]

I haven't reloaded 9mm in a while, but I have everything I need to reload it anytime. It costs about a 10-11 cents a round to reload, and new factory ammo is only 17-18 cents a round. Saving 3-4 bucks a box is nice, but since I don't shoot that much of it, as long as the supply and price are so good, I'm using my limited reloading time to load calibers with more significant savings (44spl/mag, 38spl, 357mag, 45acp). I'm saving my 9mm reloading components for the day when 9mm isn't so plentiful or cheap - like the next time there is an ammo shortage, or when the government imposes ammo buying restrictions.

And there will be a next shortage, and possibly restrictions on buying it too, sooner or later (IMO).

 

[df06]

Reloading 9mm

When the next panic hits and 9mm goes up you'll be glad you reload. Free or cheap lead is the best.

I started loading 9mm when the last scare and shortage came about. Is it economical, nope. Will I always have ammo, absolutely.

 

[max503]

One thing you must remember when you figure costs.
The government taxes you both when you make money and when you spend it. You don't get your gross pay. So anytime you bypass the economic system you are saving a lot of dough.
That's one reason casting pays off so well.

 

[GypsmJim]

Is 9mm worth reloading. A resounding yes.

Cost, fun to do, whatever. Nobody touched on the real reason.

My indoor range requires lead boolits. No jacketed, no plated, no coated.

Last Winter I went to every gun show in town and could find NO target legal 9MM ammo. Now I'm sure someone will cite many places to buy it, but we are in NY. Nuff said.

I've been loading 9 MM for 40 years. I shoot all year around, but in the winter without my own hard cast boolits i'd be home watching Oprah.

 

[scooter123]

YES ! ! !

Sometimes the justification for reloading isn't the cost, it's the ability to build custom loads.

Suppose you have a rifle that will shoot sub 3/10 MOA with a certain powder and bullet. Think you will find that custom load in a box at Walmart, think again. Another example is 12 gage shotgun loads. For shooting Trap or Skeet what I have come to prefer is a 1 ounce charge of #7.5 shot at 1300 fps. That is a distinctly uncommon load and even though my reload cost is a near exact equal of 12 gage Target loads on sale I reload almost every 12 gage shell I shoot.

Then there is the 9mm. My 9mm handguns are Ruger LC9S Pro's or SR1911. All of these pistols have sights regulated for 147 grain 9mm loads. If you look around you will find that it is a load that is sort of common for premium SD loads but nearly unobtainium for practice ammo. Solution for this issue is to reload and Berry's has 1000 count boxes of 147 grain 9mm that works quite well for practice.

 

[bearmn56]

Do it!!

I purchased 300+ rounds of Federal aluminum cased 115gr 9mm on sale locally for 16 cents a round. I have shot it all up. It all went bang and made basic accuracy....BUT several loads blew primers and in one case, a spent primer cup got down into may CZ 75b's guts and caused a jam that required removing the slide to fix. So, I decided to reload my own 9mm. I have reloaded this round in the past. So, I have all the equipment. My goal was to load 9mm for 20 cents per round. I found on Gunbroker 1000 fully processed GFL head stamp brass for $42.00 delivered. (spectacular brass). Spectre Supply had 147gr Montana Gold 9mm bullets at 9.5 cents each delivered. I bought 750. I have quite a number of small pistol primers. I have a pound of CFE Pistol that I purchased on sale for $24.00. I settled on the top load in the Speer manual. 4.6gr of CFE Pistol. This calculates to 1500+ loads/lb and about 2 cents per load. This load produces 975fps in my 3.5" 3914 Ladysmith. Calculating the cost/round I am only around 20 cents/per round. Right at my goal. This load shoots very well and is a hard hitter. I have used it with great results in my Stars, S&Ws, CZs, and Astra. William Smith, Montana Territory

 

[fredj338]

One thing you must remember when you figure costs.
The government taxes you both when you make money and when you spend it. You don't get your gross pay. So anytime you bypass the economic system you are saving a lot of dough.
That's one reason casting pays off so well.

Exactly what I tell people that say it isn't worth their time. With a good progressive like the 650, 600rds an hour is easily done, even by a newer reloader. If I save $6/100, that is $36 NET per hour. So I would have to make almost $65 per hour to buy factory ammo. Few of us make $65/hr & even if I did make that, I don't like my job enough to work an extra couple of hours to buy the ammo.

 

[fredj338]

Is 9mm worth reloading. A resounding yes.

Cost, fun to do, whatever. Nobody touched on the real reason.

My indoor range requires lead boolits. No jacketed, no plated, no coated.

Last Winter I went to every gun show in town and could find NO target legal 9MM ammo. Now I'm sure someone will cite many places to buy it, but we are in NY. Nuff said.

I've been loading 9 MM for 40 years. I shoot all year around, but in the winter without my own hard cast boolits i'd be home watching Oprah.

That is odd. Most indoor ranges do NOT allow lead bullets, must shoot encapsulated. Good for you.

 

[fredj338]

YES ! ! !

Sometimes the justification for reloading isn't the cost, it's the ability to build custom loads.

Suppose you have a rifle that will shoot sub 3/10 MOA with a certain powder and bullet. Think you will find that custom load in a box at Walmart, think again. Another example is 12 gage shotgun loads. For shooting Trap or Skeet what I have come to prefer is a 1 ounce charge of #7.5 shot at 1300 fps. That is a distinctly uncommon load and even though my reload cost is a near exact equal of 12 gage Target loads on sale I reload almost every 12 gage shell I shoot.

Then there is the 9mm. My 9mm handguns are Ruger LC9S Pro's or SR1911. All of these pistols have sights regulated for 147 grain 9mm loads. If you look around you will find that it is a load that is sort of common for premium SD loads but nearly unobtainium for practice ammo. Solution for this issue is to reload and Berry's has 1000 count boxes of 147 grain 9mm that works quite well for practice.

Agree, but there is actually quite a lot of 147gr fmj practice ammo available. Maybe not a WAlly, but you shouldn't shop there anyway.

 

[fredj338]

I purchased 300+ rounds of Federal aluminum cased 115gr 9mm on sale locally for 16 cents a round. I have shot it all up. It all went bang and made basic accuracy....BUT several loads blew primers and in one case, a spent primer cup got down into may CZ 75b's guts and caused a jam that required removing the slide to fix. So, I decided to reload my own 9mm. I have reloaded this round in the past. So, I have all the equipment. My goal was to load 9mm for 20 cents per round. I found on Gunbroker 1000 fully processed GFL head stamp brass for $42.00 delivered. (spectacular brass). Spectre Supply had 147gr Montana Gold 9mm bullets at 9.5 cents each delivered. I bought 750. I have quite a number of small pistol primers. I have a pound of CFE Pistol that I purchased on sale for $24.00. I settled on the top load in the Speer manual. 4.6gr of CFE Pistol. This calculates to 1500+ loads/lb and about 2 cents per load. This load produces 975fps in my 3.5" 3914 Ladysmith. Calculating the cost/round I am only around 20 cents/per round. Right at my goal. This load shoots very well and is a hard hitter. I have used it with great results in my Stars, S&Ws, CZs, and Astra. William Smith, Montana Territory

DO a better search for once fired brass. Plenty of places will go about $30 delivered if you buy more than 1000.
9MM BULK BRASS (5000)
Great Price on Quality 9mm Brass Casings bulk in 250, 500, 1000 Count

 

[Skeet 028]

Don't know why I did it but I bought 5000 once fired Federal brass at a penny apiece 3 months ago. At the same time I got 500 once fired Fed 45 auto too for the same price. He also had beaucoup 40 S&W that I passed on. One day I will have to load up what I have laying around. I have the conversion for the 650 and all the components just not worth my time to load it now.

 

[max503]

All the free cases lying around is just one more reason to load for the 9mm. If you cast your own bullets it becomes an unbeatable deal.

 

[muddocktor]

Loading 9 mm is definitely a yes for me. First, I enjoy reloading. Second, I can still load 115 grain FMJ for less than I can buy it already loaded. Using Zero 115 grain FMJ bullets, Accurate #2 powder and primers of your choice, I can load for less than 15 cents per round and can make more than 1400 rounds per pound of powder. Just checking at SGammo, the cheapest ammo I saw corresponding to to this load in 1,000 lot quantities is some GECO for around 17.5 cemts per round shipped. If I load coated lead instead, the price goes down closer to 10-11 cents per round.

 

[bearmn56]

the bulk GFL brass that I purchased was FL sized and pin tumbled and looked new. I reload on a single stage Rockchucker II press. I only had to prime, put in powder charge & bullet.....no case prep. BTW this load of 4.6gr CFE pistol and MT Gold 147gr fmc fp is very consistent over my Chrony. Bill, MT Territory