Cost of 22LR vs reloading 9mm for AR

mstreddy said:

BDS, even at $40 for 500 rnds of 22 comes out to 8cents a round. Are you casting your own? Because my 9mm comes out to around 9 - 11 cents each for loading plated.

Potatohead -- a 9mm carbine is a lot of fun. I have a Bushmaster dedicated AR that uses the Colt mags. An MP5 clone, a Beretta CX4 Storm, a Mech Tec conversion for Glock, and Uzi (semi-auto) and a Ruger PC9. So, yeah, 9mm carbines are a blast to shoot.

Click to expand...

That's awesome.
Im mostly a paper puncher so im really looking for something to jazz up my "experience" a bit

Good thread BDS and fellas. I'm very interested in the accuracy of the pistol cartridges at distance. Do we know which is best, 9mm, 40, or 45, for this task, ballistically speaking? I guess you can just extrapolate from what happens with a short barrel...in that case the 9 clearly rules! Just kidding, but what do you all think?

BDS - yeah they can do 4-6" easy. As to the Just Right -- I don't know how long they'll be around, but I saw it at an OK price and I really like the idea of using the Glock mags.
Like I said, I'll probably pick up a 9mm conversion for it at some time.
I like the idea of the Lone Wolf system but I've never seen one except in the magazines and online. If I ever see one I'll probably pick it up and sell the Bushmaster and probably the Just Right.

I*finished building mine a few weeks ago, and have taken it to the range 4 times.
CMMG dedicated 9mm lower, CMMG 8.7" barrel and CMMG ramped bolt. This allows for using standard lower parts kit & hammer.
YHM stripped upper with Samson 9" FF hand guard
Spikes 9mm ST-9X buffer. Standard carbine spring.
CPD 20/32 rd mags & Metalform 20/32 rd mags. The Metalform mags with its metal follower will hold the bolt open on the last round, the plastic follower on the ASC & CPD mags usually don't.
PSA lower parts kit, MOE grip
Primary Arms Microdot
Generic pistol buffer tube (waiting for Form 1)

I would have preferred a Glock based lower but no where had/has them in stock and lead times seemed to be up to a year when I started this build.

I didn't want to mess with a mag block, and the good ones, like Hahn, cost more than my CMMG lower, well, maybe the same when I added in the lower parts kit.

Range results, 8.7" barrel.*
90gr gold dot @ 1,590 fps
115gr gold dot @ 1,453 fps
124gr Extreme Plated RN @ 1,261 fps
147gr Extreme PRN @ 1,160 fps

Then a few 147gr subsonic reloads hovering between 1,010 - 1,079 for an Octane 45 that's still in jail.*

Most 5 shot groups hovering around 1.5" @ 50 yards with a front sandbag for the AR pistol and the microdot. Some better, some worse.

Pics.

I have one question.

How do you save money by reloading? It certainly hasn't worked for me! :banghead:

Jesse, you save by reloading more -- yeah, that's it... oh, wait...

You have a point. Even though I plan to do accuracy testing of 9mm AR/carbine with a scope at 50/100 yards, chances are I will plink with iron sights/red dot at 25-50 yards.

And 4-6" shot group at these ranges will probably be "practical".

Am I being too optimistic?

Click to expand...

No, a good pistol will group better than that at 50 yds.

Here is a video of a friend shooting mine off hand with no magnification at a 9x9 steel plate. You can tell the hits vs misses.

One more silly question about these 9mm ARs, do they utilize the gas tube and so forth like a 5.56 AR, or do they work like a .22 rifle,(or a 9mm pistol for that matter) just straight blow back?

Thanks

Russellc

Walkalong said:

Straight blowback.

I am not sure I know of any 9MM pistol that is a blow back design. .380 and .32s yes.

Click to expand...

Sorry I am using the wrong term, and am still a new reloader relatively speaking. I meant the lack of the gas tube on the AR for 5.56.

Well great. I am beginning to understand what I need for a build. This idea has me going two directions. Tactically, my mind tells me "You have 9mm pistols, if you need rifle, go full 5.56 AR15." Something else, that little feeling you get that causes you to end up spending a little cash on something that doesnt make much sense...BUT seems like such a fun idea that there is no way I am not going to have to have on of these, says "Go for it."
Basically I am just figuring what I already have that can be used.

Thanks for the quick response!



Russellc