You're going to hate yourself for buying military brass. Removing the crimp in those 9mm cases SUCKS.
For those concerned about panic buying and ammo shortages with the next election,
- Thread starter Zaydok Allen
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You're going to hate yourself for buying military brass. Removing the crimp in those 9mm cases SUCKS.
FROGO207
Member
Many ways to skin your game! There are several threads on the similar topic always running it seems. To me wether you buy factory or reload taking advantage of sales and present low cost to restock is more of a hedge against higher cost and lack of supply than anything else. I reload so I mostly buy components and rimfire ammo. But when common calibers are near or below cost of components I will buy rather than make blasting ammo. The accurate stuff has ALWAYS been cheaper to make than buy though. So I advise one to stock up now before the next inevitable price hike. YMMV
GBExpat
Member
I learned the hard way (of course ... perhaps like most of us) that it is worthwhile(!) to pay an extra 1¢-2¢ per case for the "processed" military 9mm and .45acp cases ... just for the swaged primer pockets.
bassjam
Member
“The Great Ammo Scare” opened my eyes to the value of reloading. Once the panic buying stopped and prices dropped I picked up a Lee turret to learn the ropes with and began slowly stockpiling components as I found good prices. This year I decided to jump to a progressive. I don’t yet have decades worth of powder, primers and bullets stocked up, but after I run through my 2-3 year stock of factory ammo I should be able to go another 2-3 years on reloads.
I get a certain level of satisfaction from knowing how to reload too, and while a lot of folks talk about factoring in their time I’ve found that it’s actually a great time killer. Once I’m set up for a certain caliber it’s nice for those times I don't have a few hours to get into a larger project, but I do have 20 minutes to spend at my reloading station.
I get a certain level of satisfaction from knowing how to reload too, and while a lot of folks talk about factoring in their time I’ve found that it’s actually a great time killer. Once I’m set up for a certain caliber it’s nice for those times I don't have a few hours to get into a larger project, but I do have 20 minutes to spend at my reloading station.
I learned the hard way (of course ... perhaps like most of us) that it is worthwhile(!) to pay an extra 1¢-2¢ per case for the "processed" military 9mm and .45acp cases ... just for the swaged primer pockets.
I just pick up 9mm brass at my gun club. The pistol bays are normally littered with the stuff.
theotherwaldo
Member
I started out with muzzle-loaders so reloading was a natural next step.
My first reloading set-up was a Lee single press, soon supplemented by two others. One for sizing and de-capping, one (modified to hold a powder measure) for belling the mouth and adding powder, and one for final assembly and any crimp that is necessary.
Every load is individually passed through the system, being checked at each stage.
I hand prime separately.
I also pour, size and lube most of my own bullets.
I consider this to be my zen time.
My first reloading set-up was a Lee single press, soon supplemented by two others. One for sizing and de-capping, one (modified to hold a powder measure) for belling the mouth and adding powder, and one for final assembly and any crimp that is necessary.
Every load is individually passed through the system, being checked at each stage.
I hand prime separately.
I also pour, size and lube most of my own bullets.
I consider this to be my zen time.
BSA1
member
IMO there should always be a strong single stage press on the reloading bench. I have had a RCBS Rockchucker for over 30 years. I have loaded over two dozen different cartridges on it over the years.
Progressive Presses are great for cranking out a lot of rounds that are loaded to the same specs. However they are a pain when in comes time to change cartridges and are not useful when experimenting and working up loads.
I rarely use my Progressive Press. I find it easier and safer to use my Rockchucker. I can quickly verify that each case has powder and don’t have to worry about a case missing the prime or seated wrong.
Progressive Presses are great for cranking out a lot of rounds that are loaded to the same specs. However they are a pain when in comes time to change cartridges and are not useful when experimenting and working up loads.
I rarely use my Progressive Press. I find it easier and safer to use my Rockchucker. I can quickly verify that each case has powder and don’t have to worry about a case missing the prime or seated wrong.
Oh, I've already done it. It's not too bad, but as I said, I don't load a lot of pistol. Anyway, this isn't my first rodeo.
Tim
Yeah, it's nothing sometimes to pick up a couple hundred 9mm besides my own. If I stop picking it up now, I have 10 years or so worth supply of 9s.
Speedo66
Member
I reload for the two more expensive cartridges I shoot, .38-40 being the prime reason at $50-75 a box for store bought.
AIM Surplus has Russian steel for less than $6.50 a box, or less than $9 a box for good brass ammo. Not worth my time.
TulAmmo 9mm FMJ 115grn 100rd Box
$12.95
AIM Surplus has Russian steel for less than $6.50 a box, or less than $9 a box for good brass ammo. Not worth my time.
TulAmmo 9mm FMJ 115grn 100rd Box
$12.95
TomJ
Contributing Member
After a 20 year break from shooting due to family and business obligations, I got back into it a number of years ago during one of the panics. I learned from that experience to stock up when prices are low, as they are now. Reloading is one of the ways I relax. While I'm not currently saving much reloading 9mm, I shoot a number of other calibers and those savings are much greater, allowing me to be able to shoot calibers such as 10mm affordably. The members in the reloading section of this forum are incredibly helpful, which helped tremendously when I first started.
GBExpat
Member
Yeah, well, my gun club pistol bay is in my backyard so unless the forest critters start using my range facilities for there own firearms (If so, watch out!
) the only cases available to me there are the ones that I deposit. As I recall, one time, years ago I bought a 1000 9x19 once-fired military cases, cheap, that just happened to feature a heavy annulus crimp and I had the pleasure of swaging the primer pockets one at a time. WHEW!
The place where I got those offered them at a "processed" price of, as I mentioned, an extra 1¢-2¢ per case. I thought I was being both smart & frugal thinking, "How tough could this be?" Turned out that I was only frugal.
My deer rifle doesn't get much action during the of season. But it's always zeroed. I also shoot 22 and other random rifles during the off season.
alsaqr
Member
Been reloading ammo since 1953-1954. Never reloaded handgun ammunition. Until a few years ago i was reloading 17 common rifle calibers and about ten obsolete calibers. Now days most of my reloading is .22 Hornet, .221 Fireball , .223/5.56mm and .22 Cheetah. Having a large stock of .22 caliber bullets bought long ago keeps costs down.
ThomasT
Member
I have been reloading now for close to 40 years. I like doing it. I also cast a lot of the bullets I shoot including bullets/balls for my BP guns. I am not a TV watcher. I would rather be casting, reloading or building a new RC airplane. I don't even like to watch football. I have so much supplies on hand I don't even remember what it cost me so its like getting ammo for free.
I also stocked up on 22/22 mag rounds. I have 30,000 22s and 5,500 22 mags on the shelf. I try to promote reloading to anyone who will listen. I have taught a couple others to reload. Done properly its perfectly safe. And I never panic during a shortage. I leave that to the unprepared folks.
I also stocked up on 22/22 mag rounds. I have 30,000 22s and 5,500 22 mags on the shelf. I try to promote reloading to anyone who will listen. I have taught a couple others to reload. Done properly its perfectly safe. And I never panic during a shortage. I leave that to the unprepared folks.
LiveLife
Member
I forgot I bought this box last week for $7.97 plus tax. I have total of 270 cartridges which should last me for a long time. I can relax now and leave more ammo on shelves for others to buy.
.308 Norma
Member
270 cartridges might last my wife and me through next weekend.
OP
OP
Zaydok Allen
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That's like half a range session for me.View attachment 859322
I forgot I bought this box last week for $7.97 plus tax. I have total of 270 cartridges which should last me for a long time. I can relax now and leave more ammo on shelves for others to buy.
TomJ
Contributing Member
View attachment 859322
I forgot I bought this box last week for $7.97 plus tax. I have total of 270 cartridges which should last me for a long time. I can relax now and leave more ammo on shelves for others to buy.
I put 300 rounds through my P365XL on Saturday, and my son put another 200 rounds through a 10-22 and CZ SP-01. We cut our range session short as we were getting hungry.
I'm ok with what I have. Before next election I will buy some extra food, water,.....just in case Trump wins electoral college but looses the popular vote. If this happens I will stay home for a while so that I don't run into any trouble.
I might add second handgun. Today I looked over five-shot 3" S&W .38 Special revolver with round butt in red cardboard factory box. Pretty item and one does not even have to worry about future magazine capacity limits.
I might add second handgun. Today I looked over five-shot 3" S&W .38 Special revolver with round butt in red cardboard factory box. Pretty
item and one does not even have to worry about future magazine capacity limits.
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ThomasT
Member
I'm ok with what I have. Before next election I will buy some extra food, water,.....just in case Trump wins electoral college but looses the popular vote. If this happens I will stay home for a while so that I don't run into any trouble.
I might add second handgun. Today I looked over five-shot 3" S&W .38 Special revolver with round butt in red cardboard factory box. Pretty
Having a variety of guns that take different ammo is a good idea but so is having a few guns in the same caliber. Or even the same model. And having ammo on hand or the ability to make more ammo is the name of the game. Look at it like this. What if right this minute for whatever reason ammo and reloading sales were stopped. How long could you get by with what you have on hand right this second?
Will it ever come to that? Who knows? No one here does. But I learned my lesson way back in 1996 when the rumor went around that primers were going to be made that only had a 6 month shelf life. In just a few days there were no primers to be found. And this was pre internet days so no search engines and online buying. So buy and supply like when you wake up tomorrow there is no more for sale. At least not for a long, long time. And I don't sell my supplies. I figure everyone has the same news reports and information as I do and if you miss the boat on guns, ammo or reloading components you are S.O.L.
LiveLife
Member
I have to keep at least 1000 9mm rounds loaded at all times as depending on who goes shooting with me (Son and his girlfriend, friends, neighbors and their family, etc.), whether we shoot just pistols or PCC, we will exhaust the ammo supply (And I am not counting other calibers like .223/5.56, 380Auto, 40S&W, 45ACP and 22LR).
I am thinking about increasing my stock on hand to 2000 9mm rounds loaded.
If I had to guess I'd say I've got somewhere between 7000-10,000 rounds of 9mm loaded right now and around another 3-4K of .45 ACP.
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