Worth reloading 9mm
- Thread starter Roadhawk
- Start date
G-Man_Quagmire
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- North Delta B.C.
Ditto!
I started to reload 9mm 6 or so years ago, with an old Lee 1000 press, because someone said "your wasting you time, just buy factory".
So I did the cost analyst thing, and my first run came in at $6.73 per 50 way back then. Yes all components have increased over the years, but my last run of 1000, costed out at $8.78 per 50. Time is not included, as that is just an enjoyable part of the process. On cold and miserable days, when going to the range is the last thing on my mind, the press beckons. (It also keeps me out of the wife's hair, which is a benefit to all)
That started me on the slippery slope to reloading 303, 30/30, 38/357, 38 S&W, etc. Do I save money, perhaps not in the long run, but boy do I get to shoot a lot!
Sure I still buy factory for things that I don't shoot that often, like the 7.5 x 55, 7.62 x 54R, 6.5 x 55, 308, and 45.
All in all its just another facet to the sport.
Experiment, ask question, read up on the subject, watch YouTube vids! hey you may even want to start casting your own projectiles?
Enjoy. Cheer.
So I did the cost analyst thing, and my first run came in at $6.73 per 50 way back then. Yes all components have increased over the years, but my last run of 1000, costed out at $8.78 per 50. Time is not included, as that is just an enjoyable part of the process. On cold and miserable days, when going to the range is the last thing on my mind, the press beckons. (It also keeps me out of the wife's hair, which is a benefit to all)
That started me on the slippery slope to reloading 303, 30/30, 38/357, 38 S&W, etc. Do I save money, perhaps not in the long run, but boy do I get to shoot a lot!
Sure I still buy factory for things that I don't shoot that often, like the 7.5 x 55, 7.62 x 54R, 6.5 x 55, 308, and 45.
All in all its just another facet to the sport.
Experiment, ask question, read up on the subject, watch YouTube vids! hey you may even want to start casting your own projectiles?
Enjoy. Cheer.
As in ready to shoot?!
- Location
- West Quebec
haha me too. one of the RO's called me a brass junkie.
Just broke it down for my costs and time on a Dillon 650XL
Once brass cleaned about 2-3 hours to make 1,000 rounds (I'm not a fast loader), as for your times worth well if i'm not working i'm not being paid so as long as reloading doesn't cut into that it's spare time
Cost 4 cents brass (if I buy used brass), Dominion primer 3 cents, Frontier 124g bullet 10 cents, Winchester 151 powder 2 cents (4.3 grains), total 15 cents a round without buying brass or 19 cents buying, maybe round to 20 cents when I factor in gas to pick up some components. Roughly half of what it costs to shoot factory
If you save $10 a box of 50 or $200 per $1000 after a few thousand rounds your reloading investment pays for itself
A Dillon Square Deal B or 550 work fine for a progressive reloading set up, also the EE usually has someone getting out of it.
Once brass cleaned about 2-3 hours to make 1,000 rounds (I'm not a fast loader), as for your times worth well if i'm not working i'm not being paid so as long as reloading doesn't cut into that it's spare time
Cost 4 cents brass (if I buy used brass), Dominion primer 3 cents, Frontier 124g bullet 10 cents, Winchester 151 powder 2 cents (4.3 grains), total 15 cents a round without buying brass or 19 cents buying, maybe round to 20 cents when I factor in gas to pick up some components. Roughly half of what it costs to shoot factory
If you save $10 a box of 50 or $200 per $1000 after a few thousand rounds your reloading investment pays for itself
A Dillon Square Deal B or 550 work fine for a progressive reloading set up, also the EE usually has someone getting out of it.
Last edited:
