Trying to decide to reload or not

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robab

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I know there us a wealth of knowledge here. I'm researching trying to find out if I should invest in the gear.
I shoot approx 2000 rounds/ year of 9mm. And 1000 of 223. I would shoot more if ammo were cheaper.

Assuming I owned the reloading gear. What could I expect to spend per round on 9 mm and 223. Nothing fancy I'm not competing and I don't mind shooting Chinese made products.
 
If all you shoot is 9mm and 223 and don't mind Norinco, I wouldn't bother.

Reloading is a huge undertaking in terms of time, space and materials. For 3k rounds yearly of the cheapest centre fire calibres to shoot I just wouldn't do it.

However, if you are looking for accuracy and tailored loads, intend to shoot a lot more, or are simply looking for another time consuming hobby, then by all means, reloading is awesome.

Reloading, IMO, really becomes appealing when you shoot expensive or exotic calibres or are looking for extreme accuracy and consistency.
 
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Not taking into consideration all the equipment, I can reload 9mm for around 20 cents with plated bullets, maybe a little less. I don't reload .223 but I'm sure the price would be a little more...maybe 25-30 cents a round, more if using premium bullets.

I say go for it! You'll find instead of 3k rounds a year you'll be shooting double that! And who doesn't like shooting more?
 
Norinco 223 is hard to find these days, but you can still pick up 1000 223 for around $400.

with 9mm you will save around $200-$300 a year depending on components.

With these numbers its not worth it if you only want to reload to save money.
 
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I shoot from 600-1000 rounds a week and have been wanting to get into reloading but I do not have the space needed to do it right and safe So I'm going to hold out until I move later on this year. Op reloading can save you money which equals more $$$ for more rounds Or new guns! Give it a go I reload a little bit with a friend occasionally and if you think shooting and buying firearms is addicting then you should try reloading.
 
I'm lucky enough to have a stockpile of primers and powder so my reloads for 9mm or .38Spl are around 18 cents. But with prices as they are now 20 to 21 cents is likely more realistic. At 20 cents a round you're looking at $10 a box of 50. You know what you're paying per 50 from your recent purchases so you can figure out how much you're saving.

You can go to a web site like Budget (link button up top) and do the math for your .223 with the prices there along with the load data from the Hodgdon reloading data website. There's 7000 grains in a pound so do the math for the powder cost. Then add on the bullet and primer and figure on half a dozen reloads from the casings so you can add that on as well.

With all that in place figure it out yourself just how long it'll take to pay back the equipment investment.

Also consider that due to the ammo you are reloading that a progressive press is the way to go. And those are not cheap.

Bottom line is that if these common and popular rounds are all that you are going to shoot I would say that it's not really worth it. But if you are in it for the long haul and plan on some other more expensive ammo guns then reloading will quickly make far more financial sense.
 
I reload for the satisfaction of creating exactly what I want and not just shoot what is given me from the factories. My reloading time is my quality time and I would never give it up. And even in these changing times of supply and price increases, I can still save money if I shop properly and am not in a hurry. YES, reload, it's well worth your time and effort ! IMHO :)
 
To save money on those calibers? No.

To take on new calibers, or increase/expand your involvement in the sport? Maybe.

The start-up costs are steep so you need to find more reason than saving money, because you won't be.
 
I have given up reloading 9mm, .45ACP and .223 plinking rounds. Not worth my time these days for the amount I shoot. I concentrate my reloading on varmint and target rounds.

That said, I'm not clear on the etiquette of picking up brass at an indoor range - there's typically a lot lying around, much of it was not mine in the first place, and some of it that is mine is out of reach, either downrange or under other people's feet. Anybody care to comment?
 
Depends on the range, some don't mind as your cleaning up the mess people before you didn't bother to clean up. I only pickup what's at the shooting station i am at. . I see people going through the bins all the time and range officers don't seem to mind.

Ask at your range.
 
toomanyhobbies said:
I have given up reloading 9mm, .45ACP and .223 plinking rounds. Not worth my time these days for the amount I shoot. I concentrate my reloading on varmint and target rounds.

That said, I'm not clear on the etiquette of picking up brass at an indoor range - there's typically a lot lying around, much of it was not mine in the first place, and some of it that is mine is out of reach, either downrange or under other people's feet. Anybody care to comment?
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I always ask people if they want their brass, if they so no I can have it, I get a bucket full.But don't be a pest wait till they leave or be like a ninja when you pick it up!CBSA was shooting at my range and .9mm was flying all over the place.They said they don't want it cause the government (taxpayers) buy it so I got all I could carry!w:h:G:
 
stampede said:
Powder and primers are scarce with no letup in sight. Now is not the time go get in to reloading.
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Primers around here are plentiful along with bullets.Powder is a case of being at the right place-right time.I have everything I need for a while because I was persistent!Put your name on waiting lists.Cabelas and Bass Pro both called me saying my powder was in but I already got my powder so I let someone else get it.
 
When I first started reloading back in the 60s and 70s factory ammo quality and selection was much inferior to what it is now and if you wanted to shoot anything except Rem Core-Lokts or Winchespter power points you needed to get into handloading.
Now factory ammo is as good or better than what most people can handload and you can get all kinds of ammo with premium bullets.
20 years ago I handloaded 9/10 cartridges I fired (other than rimfire) and now I buy about 80% of my hunting ammo off the shelf.
For example last sale I picked up 20 boxes of 170 grain 30-30 Core-Lokt ammo for $12 per box.
I'll never run out of 30-30 ammo for the rest of my days.

My ammo consumption has gone way down since I quit shooting competitively and sold all my handguns.
 
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