reload 9mm?
- Thread starter cracker57
- Start date
I use cast bullets in all my 9x19's and they shoot as well as jacketed bullets with minimal leading. Of course how to do this successfully would take me at least a couple of pages to write. Its far cheaper than ever buying factory ammo or buying jacketed bullets to load for yourself.
Chubbs103
US Veteran
I got back into 9mm about 10 years ago. My first pistol was A Browning Hi Power a long time ago, but I diverted to .45ACP in the form of M1911s and P220s for a couple of decades. About 10 years ago I bought a Glock 19 because I was fighting corrosion that came with IWB in Tampa heat and humidity (mainly under the grips). Oh yeah, I just wanted the Glock and convinced myself I had a reason.
I reloaded 9mm, because I reload whatever I shoot. I was buying factory when it was cheap.
The Navy gave me another set of orders to CA. The state instituted a background check for ammo. Now we have an 11% tax added to firearm and ammo. Yes, I reload 9mm.
I'm just starting to cast. That should drive my per bullet costs down a fair amount.
I reloaded 9mm, because I reload whatever I shoot. I was buying factory when it was cheap.
The Navy gave me another set of orders to CA. The state instituted a background check for ammo. Now we have an 11% tax added to firearm and ammo. Yes, I reload 9mm.
I'm just starting to cast. That should drive my per bullet costs down a fair amount.
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I reload 9mm....
...because I shoot a LOT of it. I started buying the cheapest 9mm I could find and I'm not happy with a lot of it. In spite of primers being expensive, I have plenty for now, I have a good stock of powder and I use Missouri bullets at about 8 cents each so it's economical for me to reload, even 9mm.
...because I shoot a LOT of it. I started buying the cheapest 9mm I could find and I'm not happy with a lot of it. In spite of primers being expensive, I have plenty for now, I have a good stock of powder and I use Missouri bullets at about 8 cents each so it's economical for me to reload, even 9mm.
Erich
Member
These days I only load 9x19 when I want something weird, like a 147-gr HST load that does 1150 fps from my Glock 43 with the Canada-length barrel (extra spicy for hikes in the National Forest that's behind the house).
I loaded it when I was in college and unbelievably poor - on a Lee Loader, if you can believe that.
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I keep on reloading the little 9mm, since I like my many types of "Custom loads" that I can make
for the differet length barrels and models of pistols that our family use.
I have yet to load lead but for target practice in the last 30 years, I have loaded a lot of plated bullets and in the last ten years, I have added the "Coated Lead" bullets to my light target loads for the "Kids" and ladies,
to enjoy while at the shooting ranges or outside, just plinking around, that are mild in recoil.
Most loading manuals and factory ammo is set to work with most factory springs,
however, with a lighter spring, one can down load some mighty accurate target loads without any ejection, malfunctions.
I found that 115 to a 147 grain 9mm bullet, will work, 99.9 % with light target loads to my +P loads in all the pistols that use my ammo.
for the differet length barrels and models of pistols that our family use.
I have yet to load lead but for target practice in the last 30 years, I have loaded a lot of plated bullets and in the last ten years, I have added the "Coated Lead" bullets to my light target loads for the "Kids" and ladies,
to enjoy while at the shooting ranges or outside, just plinking around, that are mild in recoil.
Most loading manuals and factory ammo is set to work with most factory springs,
however, with a lighter spring, one can down load some mighty accurate target loads without any ejection, malfunctions.
I found that 115 to a 147 grain 9mm bullet, will work, 99.9 % with light target loads to my +P loads in all the pistols that use my ammo.
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venomballistics
Member
yeah ... I reload it.
the argument against doing so have never been particularly valid for any cartridge.
the argument against doing so have never been particularly valid for any cartridge.
I can understand completely why someone who enjoys reloading and/or wishes to tailor a load for a specific purpose might choose to produce their own ammo, even if the cost savings is insignificant or non-existent.
As for me, I look at reloading the same way I do mowing my lawn. I don’t *mind*, but it’s not my idea of a good time. I just buy 9mm by the case when it’s cheap, transfer the boxes into large ammo cans, and stack it as high as I can.
The only cartridge I *always* load myself are .38 Special wadcutters. I can’t bring myself to pay the price those rounds have commanded for the past decade or so.
As for me, I look at reloading the same way I do mowing my lawn. I don’t *mind*, but it’s not my idea of a good time. I just buy 9mm by the case when it’s cheap, transfer the boxes into large ammo cans, and stack it as high as I can.
The only cartridge I *always* load myself are .38 Special wadcutters. I can’t bring myself to pay the price those rounds have commanded for the past decade or so.
I reload 9mm for use in SCSA Steel Challenge competition, where I want the lowest recoiling load that will still propel a coated lead bullet all the way to the furthest plate AND reliably cycle my G19 with its Zahal recoil-reducing spring assembly. Once-used brass is unlimited and free at my local indoor club range. A buddy who, for some reason, loves melting lead and casting bullets, makes coated 115gr RN for me for the cost of his powder coating material -- I supply the lead. 1.9 gr of Red Dot does the trick. I laid in a near-lifetime supply of SPP when they were more reasonably priced than today, though the price has come down at least 30% recently (but will never get back to where it was).
venomballistics
Member
I have a similar approach, but it centers around a carbine that enjoys high volumes. It doesn't play well with the usual suspects, so it's pile of blammo ammo is a bit warm and uses powders on the slower end of the range.
The other 9's seem to run this acceptably well, thus making this 124 grain coated load the defacto standard ball.
even if this cost the same as equal crates of ammo, the factory fodder would not meet its performance.
Then we have the special collection. In a market where some premium offerings go for $3 a round, one can very easily load them for a fraction the cost.
To say "it costs nearly the same" is simply not the whole story.
3rdgeargrndrr
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I originally reloaded 9 to duplicate my Speer gold dot +p load. And yes in the past I wouldnt bother because it was so cheap. but after all the recent laws passed in my state (background checks and the new taxes to purchase ammo), the less big brother knows and the more self reliance I have the better.
For someone like me who shoots 100 rounds of 9mm per week, even saving a couple of bucks a box over factory ammo adds up over time. Having the dies, change over kit, as well as, the press, etc. already, makes reloading 9mm a no-brainer. For someone who hates reloading and/or doesn't have the equipment and/or a place good to reload, it doesn't take much to make excuses not to reload. The monetary savings really isn't an issue, when one considers just how much money one wastes on eating out, special coffee, and other frivolities.
I still have over 1500 rounds I bought pre pandemic for about 12 cents a round...and I have been buying new 9s for 10-12 dollars a box...and I bought an estate that had approx 2000 rounds of Federal HP and Speer Gold Dot for carry...so 6000 rounds. I'm not going to waste my older cheap primers and powder on 9mm. I broke down and loaded 500 rounds of 9s with the Argentine primers (5 cents) and some of the Berrys plated bullets(about 11 cents...the powder was an old can I had here with no cost so 16 cents a round Gave half to a friend and the rest to the grandsons and granddaughter to shoot. They enjoyed wasting them...but I did not enjoy loading them even on the 750. So no more 9mm for me and I still have 750 of those Berry's bullets...BTW...for the fellow loading 9mm Makarov...rather than find cases...make 'em from 9mm Luger. I gave a friend a Russian Makarov and he makes all his cases(he said he lost cases too.). He bought a second and I gave him a conversion bbl to 380...His wifes pistol now. If you really need to...get a 8x10 blue tarp from Harbor freight and lay it out before shooting. Catches most
I'm in the camp of just shooting factory ammo at present but I'm set up to cast bullets as well as reload if need be. BTW, OP, you won't replace that 231 for $45 a pound. More like $65.
It all started back in the 60's when I wanted to get the "Most" out of my new
Winchester bolt action, 270, for deer hunting at long range.
As I got older, I learned that a slower bullet would do just as well and you could
also come home with at least ten more pounds of meat and have less of a
"Damage zone" , clean up area, on the animal.
Did the same with my 357 magnum.
Loaded "Full loads" in the beginning, when I was wet beind the ears.
Loading can be fun and you can make ammo of all kinds.
The 9mm and 38 special are two rounds that make loading a lot of fun,
with all the different type and weigh bullets that are made today.
I don't really have a favorite 9mm bullet. I like them all.
Have fun.
Winchester bolt action, 270, for deer hunting at long range.
As I got older, I learned that a slower bullet would do just as well and you could
also come home with at least ten more pounds of meat and have less of a
"Damage zone" , clean up area, on the animal.
Did the same with my 357 magnum.
Loaded "Full loads" in the beginning, when I was wet beind the ears.
Loading can be fun and you can make ammo of all kinds.
The 9mm and 38 special are two rounds that make loading a lot of fun,
with all the different type and weigh bullets that are made today.
I don't really have a favorite 9mm bullet. I like them all.
Have fun.
Myself, I don't use/shoot a lot of 9mm's, but when I do it's using my reloads.
The cost of reloading/using my own cast or swaged bullets is $0.00/zero/nada.
I still have +/- 11,000 primers I specifically bought for reloading the 9mm. They are s&b primers that cabela's had on sale for $20 per 1000, bought 20,000 of them for $200 with free shipping.
9mm cases are laying around everywhere at the ranges/clubs I go to. Can't even begin to count how many I've sold for $.02 apiece.
I like having the ability to control what I use/shoot along with the ability to shoot when I want. When or if the shelves have ammo is of no concern to me. Nor could I care less about the prices of ammo.
I love reloading and the ability to run 4/5 different bullets and 10+ powder combo's in the 9mm's.
I don't worry about powders, stocked up enough pistol powders to feed my 9mm/38spl/357mag/44spl/44mag/45acp the rest of my days. Actually sold off 100+ #'s of powder and 20,000+ primers a couple years ago. Couple that with 4 cases of 22lr ammo (5000 rounds per case).
I can understand the reasoning behind the cost of components/availability of components VS cost of ammo. The deciding factor to me is I don't pay for the bullets I use to reload.
The cost of reloading/using my own cast or swaged bullets is $0.00/zero/nada.
I still have +/- 11,000 primers I specifically bought for reloading the 9mm. They are s&b primers that cabela's had on sale for $20 per 1000, bought 20,000 of them for $200 with free shipping.
9mm cases are laying around everywhere at the ranges/clubs I go to. Can't even begin to count how many I've sold for $.02 apiece.
I like having the ability to control what I use/shoot along with the ability to shoot when I want. When or if the shelves have ammo is of no concern to me. Nor could I care less about the prices of ammo.
I love reloading and the ability to run 4/5 different bullets and 10+ powder combo's in the 9mm's.
I don't worry about powders, stocked up enough pistol powders to feed my 9mm/38spl/357mag/44spl/44mag/45acp the rest of my days. Actually sold off 100+ #'s of powder and 20,000+ primers a couple years ago. Couple that with 4 cases of 22lr ammo (5000 rounds per case).
I can understand the reasoning behind the cost of components/availability of components VS cost of ammo. The deciding factor to me is I don't pay for the bullets I use to reload.
Old Corp
Member
I went quite awhile NOT loading 9mm because I'd stocked up on cheap bulk 9mm ammo, much of the Russian steel-case stuff. Fine for drills, practice and training. And - on my grass range, it felt great not to have to go look for spent brass. Most of that stuff was acquired for ~$5-$7/box.
Now - back into loading 9 again. All my brass is free range brass, lots of powder from pre-crazy days, almost all my bullets are purchased coated cast and very accurate.
I still have all my casting stuff - but long ago lost my free endless supply of wheelweights. I'd much rather 'click' to buy bullets.
I'm retired and work p/t - so sometimes a loading session will take place on a bad weather or too-hot day when I'm not working.
Now - back into loading 9 again. All my brass is free range brass, lots of powder from pre-crazy days, almost all my bullets are purchased coated cast and very accurate.
I still have all my casting stuff - but long ago lost my free endless supply of wheelweights. I'd much rather 'click' to buy bullets.
I'm retired and work p/t - so sometimes a loading session will take place on a bad weather or too-hot day when I'm not working.
rockquarry
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$45 or $65, considering the number of 9mm cartridges that can be loaded with one pound of 231, the cost difference is insignificant if one enjoys handloading and/or shooting.
Erich
Member
Got my start banging .38 Specials into a Lee Loader on my dorm room chair - 9mm not long after that. I'll tell you what: when a primer goes off during seating and you're in a tiny room with concrete ceiling/floor and cinder block walls - you know it!
Hey, to everyone who does not load 9x19 . . . now's the time to buy (assuming you're not already overstocked). Prices aren't dropping lower and I have every expectation they'll be soaring again soon as people get more anxious in the political season.
It doesn't go bad - or at least it won't in the time you've got left.
