A local guy buys them in bulk from the factory in Lewiston and sells them by the 1000. FWIW I haven't bought any in about a year, but the last time I did SPP were $20 and LPP were $21 per thousand.
New to 9mm - worth reloading?
- Thread starter Arman4461
- Start date
A local guy buys them in bulk from the factory in Lewiston and sells them by the 1000. FWIW I haven't bought any in about a year, but the last time I did SPP were $20 and LPP were $21 per thousand.
About 10 years ago, during the irrational run on ammo, I got into loading 9mm because I couldn't find it (or any other ammo) on the store shelves. I found Accurate #5 to be my favorite powder and plated 124 Gr. RN to be my 'go to' bullet. The Accurate Web site has plenty of reloading info on this and other calibers.
After the mass hysteria subsided, I went back to buying 9mm off the shelf. I can get it for around $14 a box. I mainly jet reload revolver calibers now.
After the mass hysteria subsided, I went back to buying 9mm off the shelf. I can get it for around $14 a box. I mainly jet reload revolver calibers now.
Time is money, so no.
S&W forever
Member
if you buy all the stuff now to reload. It will take you 8 years to break even. If you are looking for a new hobby, its a great choice if your a shooter. 9mm and any straight wall case are easy to load. When you start getting into rifle different story. I hate to trim brass and all bottle neck case will need to be trim. So the prices of ammo is low on 223, so I don't reload 223/5.56 at this time. I started 30 years ago and always used 550b Dillon stations. I have 2 one for small primer and the other for large primers.
good luck this a fun hobby
good luck this a fun hobby
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bulletslap
Member
I only handload 9mm for a couple of ancient Astra 600s I own, and to tune specialty rounds I shoot in a suppressed carbine. Otherwise 9mm Parabellum is reasonably priced and offered in great variety.
trapper9260
Member
Like stated about the way it was a few years ago when ammo was had to come by ,I did not had any problems with the ammo I reload I did watch how I shot my 22lr ammo .I had end up work on have the centerfire ammo to shoot like a 22lr on most of my rifle because of how it was. So I will keep load 9mm no matter what. In the end you are independent also.
gwpercle
Member
What you gonna do when the cheap and plentiful supply line dries up , they always do .
Two years , next election/impeachment , is coming up soon ....
Be prepared for the shortages , hoarding and price increase .
Been there , seen it happen .
Gary
Two years , next election/impeachment , is coming up soon ....
Be prepared for the shortages , hoarding and price increase .
Been there , seen it happen .
Gary
snowman.45
Member
I use the Dillon 550B and an old Lyman Turret Press. I'm set up and have the dies to load 9mm, .38, .357, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .45 ACP/AR, .45 Colt, .30-30, 5.56 and .308. Prior to moving to Arizona, loaded up as much in all calibers as I had brass, bullets, powder and time for. I found in the move that I had a lot of ammunition I had loaded and pretty much forgotten. After moving here and setting up my new shop, I'm again collecting and saving brass for all of the calibers I listed above. However, I see little advantage in loading 9mm at this time with the prices for range ammo being what they are.
I enjoy reloading and will continue to reload everything but 9mm for the time being. I recently got some .45 ACP cylinders for my Uberti 1873s and probably won't need any more .45 Colt for a while, but I have quite a bit on-hand. Aside from the 9mm, I will still buy and load components for the other calibers as needed. As others have said, it's prudent to keep your dies and components on hand for all of the calibers you shoot because of the changing political situation. Just because I'm not currently loading a specific caliber, it doesn't mean that I won't continue to pick up components and store them for a rainy day.
I enjoy reloading and will continue to reload everything but 9mm for the time being. I recently got some .45 ACP cylinders for my Uberti 1873s and probably won't need any more .45 Colt for a while, but I have quite a bit on-hand. Aside from the 9mm, I will still buy and load components for the other calibers as needed. As others have said, it's prudent to keep your dies and components on hand for all of the calibers you shoot because of the changing political situation. Just because I'm not currently loading a specific caliber, it doesn't mean that I won't continue to pick up components and store them for a rainy day.
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LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
8 years to break even? Perhaps if you are starting out with a high-end progressive loader, buying all the trinkets, etc.
I have used single-stage presses exclusively (I own 3) for 47 years. Many of my tools have been purchased slightly used from others who tried reloading and decided it wasn't for them. I have also shopped sales and close-outs, picking up some excellent deals over the years. I regularly load 5,000-plus rounds per year (yes, there is some time involved, but I enjoy doing this instead of watching stupid TV shows or other wasted time).
I have little doubt that a person can get a start in reloading for a single caliber today for under $200, perhaps even $150. That equates to about a dozen boxes of factory ammo (and not the high-performance stuff at that).
Commercial hard-cast bullets in most pistol calibers can be had for ~$70 per thousand delivered to your door ($0.07 per). Powder at about $20 per pound will load between 1000 and 1500 rounds (about $0.013 to $0.02 per). Primers at about $30 per thousand ($0.03 each). Cost per loaded round (in reused brass) is about $0.12 per round ($6.00 per 50-round box), or about half the price of the cheapest factory 9X19mm ammo.
Given those numbers the new reloader will break even at about 25 to 33 boxes of ammo. The casual shooter, going to the range once per month and shooting one box of ammo per trip, breaks even at about 6 to 7 months. A more serious shooter, perhaps 150 to 200 rounds per month), breaks even in about 8 or 10 weeks. Either way, after that the equipment is fully amortized and the savings can continue indefinitely.
I've been casting bullets myself, using salvaged lead, for decades. I figure 9mm and .38 Special cost me about $3.00 per box, and .45's a few cents more. Some of my vintage and antique firearms are kept shooting with homemade ammo for pennies per round instead of a buck to two per round (if you doubt this just check the prices for factory-made .44-40, .38-40, .25-20 and a few others!).
I agree with others who have pointed out that the most likely result of reloading is more shooting. That is a good thing, too, because the shooter can shoot two or three times as much within the same budget. Double or triple the enjoyment for the same buck! Another plus is that more practice generally leads to greater proficiency.
gwpercle
Member
8 years to break even ?
Just goes to show you how numbers can be manipulated .
Post #49 , LoboGunLeather...well said and the real truth in numbers.
Gary
Just goes to show you how numbers can be manipulated .
Post #49 , LoboGunLeather...well said and the real truth in numbers.
Gary
I'd still load 9mm, but if you honestly couldn't care about your ammo so long as it chambers and goes off, just buy it buy the case.
As a side note, I think that .223 is just as rewarding to reload as any other rifle cartridge. Factory ammo shot around 1.25"-1.5" @ 100 yards in my gun. For around $12/box, I loaded some Hornady V-Max 40-grainers that shot a little over .6" CTC at 200 yards. That's 1.5 MOA to .3 MOA in a factory rifle.
As a side note, I think that .223 is just as rewarding to reload as any other rifle cartridge. Factory ammo shot around 1.25"-1.5" @ 100 yards in my gun. For around $12/box, I loaded some Hornady V-Max 40-grainers that shot a little over .6" CTC at 200 yards. That's 1.5 MOA to .3 MOA in a factory rifle.
mike from st pete
Member
Maybe not economical to reload 9mm, but it is good to know you can in the advent of another ammo panic.
If you place a high monetary value on your non-working time, and don't feel like $15 and hour is a worthwhile return for it (what I save loading 150 rounds an hour), and shooting twice as much for the same money (or the same amount for half the money) doesn't appeal to you, then you are better off buying cheap bulk ammo for range fodder.
BUT, if you already have the tools (except maybe 9mm dies), feel like $15 an hour is a worthwhile return on your hobby time, then it is worth it. It all depends on your personal feelings and preferences. Whether you actually DO it or not, it is always good to be ready and able when the time comes that ammo is hard to get.
Like the old saying, ammo will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no ammo...
BUT, if you already have the tools (except maybe 9mm dies), feel like $15 an hour is a worthwhile return on your hobby time, then it is worth it. It all depends on your personal feelings and preferences. Whether you actually DO it or not, it is always good to be ready and able when the time comes that ammo is hard to get.
Like the old saying, ammo will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no ammo...
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trapper9260
Member
If you reload a 9mm wheel gun you will not chase brass. I shoot both wheel gun and semi auto.Mainly cast boolits I do myself. like I do all my other center fire ammo.It works for me ,factory ammo is a good start to see how your gun shoots with reloading you can get it shot better then the factory ammo that is for universal .
I have dies dies for 9mm but have loaded very few. To start with you have to have a 9mm pistol worth loading for. That has nothing to do with the value of the pistol. The bulk of 9mm pistols are gut busters and get very little benifit if any from hand loaded ammo. I load all revolver cartridges and pour my own bullets. The only thing I shoot jackets in is a Ruger SBH 44mg for deer. Also load the older 25/20, 32/20, ect with lead cast. In rifle calibers 22hor to 375H&H with factory jacketed bullets. There's not many dies I don't have that are commonly or have been common, along with obsolete and military. I load for quality of accuracy not quantity and do save money. The 9mm unless you have a match gun is not worth loading to me.
imcrazy
Member
It's worth it to me but, when I got into it 9mm was hard to find and expensive. I just enjoy making my own ammo, it's the satisfaction of a job well done... Cost wise using lead cast bullets, I'm probably spending $7.00 per 50 rds assuming I reload my cases quite a few times so it's maybe a 20-30% savings which is certainly something but, from a strict cost savings perspective nah it's not worth it on 9mm.. 45acp is all day long but, not so much on 9..
Calliope
Member
For me? No, I love loading the 9mm for target grade accuracy in my 1911. It's the only gun that I can still shoot good groups with at 50 yards. Cost is secondary.
For you, I think so.
I didn't start reloading 9mm until the 2012-14 ammo shortage. I personally don't shoot much 9mm, but my son did. So I bought another caliber change for my Dillon SDB and cranked out a thousand rounds. I gave most of it to friends who couldn't find 9mm anywhere.
Since then, I've decided to make sure I can generate my own ammo for my own weapons - don't want to get caught in another "shortage". I like the feeling of self-sufficiency.
Cost me $130 for the caliber change (dies, toolhead, etc.) and I didn't break even on 1K rounds. Although in some sense I did since 9mm ammo was crazy expensive from scalpers.
Since then, I've decided to make sure I can generate my own ammo for my own weapons - don't want to get caught in another "shortage". I like the feeling of self-sufficiency.
Cost me $130 for the caliber change (dies, toolhead, etc.) and I didn't break even on 1K rounds. Although in some sense I did since 9mm ammo was crazy expensive from scalpers.
