Does reloading 9mm range ammo make any sense?

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Bds I’m not in either group although I enjoy reloading a bit more than shooting right now. In reality, I go back and forth.

The reality is I enjoy both so it’s worth it to me. Others like Jeb_Stuart here have made it clear that they don’t find it worth it to reload 9mm so that good too.

OP needs to decide if it’s worth it to them. And before they do that they have to figure out what’s important to them and what’s not. They also need to consider things that may change.

Maybe we should setup a sticky of people willing to meet with others who may be interested in re/hand loading. This way someone can see how the processes are done and what’s involved before they decide if they want to invest the time and money buying gear. I know I would to have loved to have checked out someone’s setup. Thankfully I had a coworker who wasn’t doing much at the time, give me some bullets and powder. So it just pushed me along a little faster.

I know I’d also love to meet others who reload locally. Now getting to the range will help with meeting people but like everything I just have to figure the time!
 
If I were to reload 9mm, I would step up to a high volume press rather than the turret press I now have. But then again, I personally would need more space. I have seen some guys that have a room devoted for reloading. That would be great. Most of my Carry guns and range guns are 9mm. Other than the fact that I also shoot a lot of 380 which I should start reloading. In fact, for me, that is something I should start thinking about.
 
Reloading can save a lot of money if you have focus and discipline. Unfortunately, I have neither. If you stick to a few calibers, buy only the equipment you need to load them, look for deals and buy in bulk, the savings can be significant, depending on how many rounds you shoot.

I started reloading 308 to save money, and discovered that I like reloading more than shooting. During a trip to our LGS to get some supplies, my son and I saw a Mosin Nagant, and decided to buy it. We had a lot of fun shooting it, and started looking at other old military rifles at gun shows. With each acquisition, we purchased the dies to load the rounds. Over several years, our collection expanded to 41 rifles, and I was reloading for 35 of them. Then I got my Pistol License, and the process started over. We added 22 handguns to the collection, with dies to load 13 of them ( the rest are black powder or 22LR). Along the way, we also acquired 6 shotguns and the presses to load 12, 20 and 410.

My logs show a modest (for this forum) 18,000 rounds loaded and savings of around $5,000 on component costs, which is around 60% less than purchased rounds. However (and this is where my lack of focus and discipline come in), I also have 9 presses (including a LnL AP for pistol and the 3 shotgun presses), a casting setup, rotating and vibratory tumblers, multiple powder dispensers (including an electronic one), and powder, primers and bullets sitting in inventory. When I retired a few years ago, I also spent several thousand dollars remodeling my gun room to make benches and cabinets to hold everything. Not counting gun safes, cleaning equipment and supplies, a shooting shed for my range and other non-reloading expenses, I barely broke even. It doesn't help that I reload 7.62x54R, 7.62x39 and 12 and 20 gauge shotgun even though I can buy rounds cheaper, and I reload for calibers like 7.62 Nagant, which I don't shoot enough to pay for the dies.

I don't count my time- reloading relieved the stress associated with my job. If I factored in my time, I would have to deduct the cost of alcohol and counseling sessions I would have incurred if I didn't reload, so I figure I'm ahead on that score.

So even though I started in the "reload to shoot" category, I quickly transitioned to "shoot to reload", which is far more expensive but (for me at least) far more rewarding.
 
rjbmjb said:
...I also have 9 presses (including a LnL AP for pistol and the 3 shotgun presses), a casting setup, rotating and vibratory tumblers, multiple powder dispensers (including an electronic one)...
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For me, this is an important part of the reloading hobby, I like to try new equipment and sometimes modify it to suit my needs.

It's kind of like the golfer that has a golf bag full of drivers.:)
 
Folks,
Its worth it especially if you are already reloading for other calibers. You will save the most money on making match grade rifle ammunition as its very expensive to buy factory match grade ammunition for rifle calibers.

For 9mm I am making rounds with range pickup brass (free) a RMR jacketed projectile 115gr RN (7.5 cents) 4.6 gr of Bullseys (1 cent) CCI small pistol primer (3 cents) So figure 12 cents a round So around $6 for a box of 50 rounds. Even buying 9mm in bulk by the thousand I have not seen it at this price point.

See here for more info:



Thanks,
Dom
 
P5 Guy said:
During the next panic you will see the benefit in having hand loading supplies and the knowledge for reloading the rounds you shoot.
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I was fotunate that I got into reloading before the last panic. I didn't have a lot. But I was able to go to the range, that was deserted like a ghost town, when I wanted.
 
kcofohio said:
I was fotunate that I got into reloading before the last panic.
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Many started in the middle of the buyer induced shortages we experienced. It was a real tough time to start. The last several months have been a buyers market, and I hope people took advantage of it.
 
Walkalong said:
Many started in the middle of the buyer induced shortages we experienced. It was a real tough time to start. The last several months have been a buyers market, and I hope people took advantage of it.
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I hope so too!
Those on the fence about reloading this or that now, ought to buy the components. They could always find someone to sell them to later if they decide not to. That's JMO.
 
Walkalong said:
Many started in the middle of the buyer induced shortages we experienced. It was a real tough time to start. The last several months have been a buyers market, and I hope people took advantage of it.
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That was me. Ammo had dried up, but I was able to buy a few primers and a 4lb jug of Power Pistol before the reloading supplies had dried up, that was enough to get me started. I was able to shoot when my non-reloader friends could not. And I have taken advantage of the current situation, I am well stocked up on components now.
 
I have one single stage press, 1981 RCBS RS, works like a champ.
I ended up having to kill some time the other day, had several hours with nothing on the tube worth watching, and I haven't been to the used book store in a while, so I fired up the lead pot. I cast and powder coated over 200 9mm bullets, prepped the brass then loaded them all. It took some time, but I felt good at the end of it, figured it was, for me, time well spent.
 
My take is this:
9mm 2.8cpr primer, 1.8 cpr powder, 3 cpr case, and 10 cpr bullet. Comes out to 17.5 cpr. Now I use a true jacketed hollow point Zero bullet. I like it that way, accuracy, no leading, no lead anywhere as I have small boys. Of course this cost will go down as I collect cases and reuse more, with my final cost reusing cases at 14.5, which is significantly lower than sgammo FMJ at 18-19cpr delivered.

So I’m shooting a cartridge that would cost well into the high 20s at a minimum. Sure, sgammo has 9mm brass case FMJ all day for 19cpr delivered, and you can get deals better than that delivered sometimes.

So when I just look at 9mm, I’m only saving 1.5 cpr on average at WORST. But I’m shooting a much better cartridge than factory FMJ, for much cheaper. And as I reuse cases, that savings goes to 4.5 cpr.

That’s how I justify 9mm and the costs I put into it. If I just counted the 1.5 cpr I’m saving, and if I was just reloading 9mm, it would take 20+years to break even on the cost of the press at 3000 rounds a year. Now a lot of guys cast, or use coated lead, and that brings your cost down even more. It all depends on your time vs money budget.

Having said all that, I load 40 S&W for the same as 9mm, and save 6.5 cpr or more over FMJ ammo. But again, the cheapest JHP is 30 cpr, so that’s 13-16 cpr saving.


Now 357 and 38 is where I save bigly. At least half the cost of the cheapest commercial round. For 357, for example, I use 2400 with a hornady xtp 158 grain bullet. 23cpr. That same cartridge, essentially a hornady “custom” round, costs 83 cents at the cheapest online or local store I’ve found. And it’s a damn fine round, almost full house, super accurate, and works in everything, lever guns and all. Even if I went cheap on 357, I’m still looking at 33 cpr at a minimum. For 38, my cost is 16cpr, with and RMR 158 grain plated bullet and unique. Cheapest fmj from sgammo is 29cpr delivered.

I prefer to shoot plated or fully jacketed bullets because of lead exposure. My kid is 18 months, and I take precautions to protect him. I don’t want it on my cleaning bench, on my press, anywhere.

With cartridges like 41 magnum, 327, or 454 casull, 460 smith, 500 smith , 45 colt, you are going to save an incredible amount.

Bottom line is I shoot 9k or so a year. It will take 2 years or less to break even on a high equipment investment. But my Dillon 650 will last a lifetime.

I also think that if a person is mechanically inclined, at all, and take your time, watch videos, and research and read—-first—-then you can buy a 650xl, and load safely and quickly in a weekend, from unbox on Saturday morning to first cartridge by Sunday afternoon. I did, and it went very well. A lot of guys will tell you single stage. And it is cheaper, but what’s your time worth? In 4 hours, from primer tube loading to cleanup of bench and press, I can have 1K+ rounds loaded and in ammo boxes, case gauged and GTG. And that’s with breaks and what not. A single stage-I don’t even know how long. But much much longer. Again, it’s a time vs money budget.

You should research a lot, watch some videos while you still can on YouTube, and get a manual.

Entry price to get everything you need can run 200 bucks for a single stage press, dies, and components to load cartridges with, all the way to 2k bucks or more just for the Dillon Fabrication equipment to reload your calibers.
 
On a related note, any ideas why the commercial ammo makers don’t offer rounds loaded with powder coated bullets. That should save money over copper jackets, and you guys really seem to like the coated bullets. Just wondering why it hasn’t gone big league.
 
I know some bullet makers offer various coated bullets, but powder coating like I do is generally reserved for the hobbyist. Perhaps the costs aren't that much different for the big manufacturer as opposed to my costs as a tinkerer, especially when I am willing to accept less than perfect looking bullets out of my own oven. ;) Shake and bake does that - no sprayer.
 
Hmmm. Reloading 9mm and is it really worth it... All the components and time invested, just to go and put holes in paper or ring steel.. I had some free time at the range yesterday so a fellow employee and I was shooting 50 + yards at a 18"X32" steel plate. Once we reach 100 yards, hits were below 50%. We also shot out to 125 yards, all with 115 gr ball ammo. I also have some 147 gr TMJ rounds and hit % improved. The wind was variable and a few gusts did not help a bit but the 147 gr bucked the wind a lot better. Just for the heck of it I grabbed a box of my reloads to see what it could do. 115 gr HAP on top of 6.2gr power pistol, f100 primer with Hornady nickel pl brass, 55-56 gr wt. I held sights about 90% covering the target and front post on the right edge, free handed and had 4 out of 5 hits at 100 yards.

I guess it depends on how you address your reloading and or shooting priorities. But for me, I plan on doing more reloading. It is definitely worth it to me.
 
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RAT807 said:
Hmmm. Reloading 9mm and is it really worth it... All the components and time invested, just to go and put holes in paper or ring steel.. I had some free time at the range yesterday so a fellow employee and I was shooting 50 + yards at a 18"X32" steel plate. Once we reach 100 yards, hits were below 50%. We also shot out to 125 yards, all with 115 gr ball ammo. I also have some 147 gr TMJ rounds and hit % improved. The wind was variable and a few gusts did not help a bit but the 147 gr bucked the wind a lot better. Just for the heck of it I grabbed a box of my reloads to see what it could do. 115 gr HAP on top of 6.2gr power pistol, f100 primer with Hornady nickel pl brass, 55-56 gr wt. I held sights about 90% covering the target and front post on the right edge, free handed and had 4 out of 5 hits at 100 yards.

I guess it depends on how you address your reloading and or shooting priorities. But for me, I plan on doing more reloading. It is definitely worth it to me.
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Agreed. I notice that my reloads group better than factories.
 
I've reduced my cost partly by trading. The previous posts have covered all the reasons I do it.

One way I reduced my cost was trading out what I called non stocking brass. In my OCD nature I actually sort my 9mm brass by head stamp. I only keep about five brands as my stock of 9mm brass reaches into the 10k area. As I fill a Ziploc of the stamps I don't keep I can then take a full gallon bag which is about a thousand pieces and trade it for a pound of powder at my local gun and pawn.

I usually shoot with a couple buddies none of which reload so each range session I return with more brass than I shot
 
I don't care to spend the money training with my carry ammo, but I can reload and train with something very close with reloads.
 
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