Anybody out there reload for 9mm & .45

notsorichguy

notsorichguy

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Does anybody out there reload for 9mm and .45ACP?

I am planning to. I have a single stage press that I am planning on upgrading in the next year or so, but in the mean time I am trying to cut costs so I would like some advice. I already have a good scale, trays and all of the stuff you need to reload (I've been reloading for rifles for 13+ yrs) but so far I have been reloading to make better ammo than I can buy. Reloading for economy is new territory for me.

I currently shoot Copper jacketed ammo at an outdoor range and Lead at an indoor range.... no copper jacketed or FMJ allowed at the indoor, but all is fair at the outdoor.

I am currently trying to build a shopping list for the Gunshow this weekend. So far I have....

-9mm and .45ACP Dies
-500 New or once fired brass in 9mm and .45 (more if I can afford it)
-2500+ primers
-Powder ???
-Bullets ???

What I would like input for is what bullet & powder combo's should I be looking for.

I would like to only use one kind of powder for both calibers.(KISS) So far in my research I have found that IMR 700X, 800X, & PB are both compatible and Winchester 231 & WSF are both compatible as well. All of these are capable of 90 to 175gr. bullets (from 9mm to .45)

I have already discovered that I need the bullets to be round nose for both calibers as well, flat nose, hollow points & SWC sometime have a little trouble feeding in my pistols.

Right now I am thinking along the lines of 90 to 125gr in 9mm and 145 to 175gr in .45

Tks in advance
 
Good all-around powder for those calibers it Titegroup. Uses slightly less than 231 and is cleaner and N-I-C-E results.

If you want a little bit faster machine without going to the cost of a true progressive, Lee's Turret press works great. Even with my Loadmaster, I still prefer using the Turret for match ammo and revolver ammo.

The true progressive presses I've tried (Loadmaster - mine, Pro100 - freineds, various Dillons - freinds) are fast but you do lose a little bit of "feel". Like how 9mm get's a bit softer when they are just about finished and deligated to be left on the range floor. Or light roll crimping revolver ammo, etc.

I do my NT 45 brass in the Turret, too. The loadmaster munches about 2 in 11 primers even when swaged and properly prepared.

I use the Turret as a single stage (removing the index rod and manually turning turret) when doing rifle ammo.

Bullet types and weights depend on what it's being shot out of, what kind of shooting you plan on doing and your own personal preference on style (SWC, RN, FP, HP, etc).
 
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notsorichguy said:
Does anybody out there reload for 9mm and .45ACP?

I am planning to. I have a single stage press that I am planning on upgrading in the next year or so, but in the mean time I am trying to cut costs so I would like some advice. I already have a good scale, trays and all of the stuff you need to reload (I've been reloading for rifles for 13+ yrs) but so far I have been reloading to make better ammo than I can buy. Reloading for economy is new territory for me.

I currently shoot Copper jacketed ammo at an outdoor range and Lead at an indoor range.... no copper jacketed or FMJ allowed at the indoor, but all is fair at the outdoor.

I am currently trying to build a shopping list for the Gunshow this weekend. So far I have....

-9mm and .45ACP Dies
-500 New or once fired brass in 9mm and .45 (more if I can afford it)
-2500+ primers
-Powder ???
-Bullets ???

What I would like input for is what bullet & powder combo's should I be looking for.

I would like to only use one kind of powder for both calibers.(KISS) So far in my research I have found that IMR 700X, 800X, & PB are both compatible and Winchester 231 & WSF are both compatible as well. All of these are capable of 90 to 175gr. bullets (from 9mm to .45)

I have already discovered that I need the bullets to be round nose for both calibers as well, flat nose, hollow points & SWC sometime have a little trouble feeding in my pistols.

Right now I am thinking along the lines of 90 to 125gr in 9mm and 145 to 175gr in .45

Tks in advance
Click to expand...

115-147gr is best for the 9mm, 185-230gr for the 45.

I do my loading on a single stage since I only make it out to the range once every two weeks or so (and it gives me something gun-related to do at home). For powder I load both calibers (and 357 & 40S&W) with Universal. Gun comes out pretty clean, cases clean easy and the loads are no where near max so it don't beat the #### out of my gun...

Hope that helps!
 
Universal is another cheap powder good for both clibers.

Mind you, the two calibers you mention use DIFFERENT primers 9mm - small pistol and .45 - large pistol primers. You should be able to find primers in $30-33 per 1000 primers range.
Powder - $25-27 a lb range.
Bullets: I'd recommend 125 or 115gr for 9mm and 230gr for .45 (you can get lead ones to save on .45).

Note: the prices I mentioned are real current prices you still can find.
 
medicstimpy said:
Good all-around powder for those calibers it Titegroup. Uses slightly less than 231 and is cleaner and N-I-C-E results.

If you want a little bit faster machine without going to the cost of a true progressive, Lee's Turret press works great. Even with my Loadmaster, I still prefer using the Turret for match ammo and revolver ammo.
Click to expand...

Great info, stimpy. I am about to set up for reloading rifle and handgun cartridges this year (great timing on the thread, nsrg), would you recommend the Lee turret press as a good one size fits most solution? I plan to load several rifle calibres and probably both 9mm and 45ACP for the hand guns. I will not be shooting IPSC quantities of ammo, so something less than a full on progressive should be OK. How many rounds of 9mm or 45 can you put out per hour with the turret press?

Thanks,
Mark
 
If you don't want to go progressive ( Dillon 550B the only way to go!), the Lee turret should suffice for the volumes you're talking about.
I would STRONGLY suggest that you have an experienced friend give you a hand to get you set up and running.
Do lots of reading, and have them 'hold your hand' for the first little while.
Reloading is fun....but can also be dangerous, with risk lurking for the inexperienced.
 
Does anybody out there reload for both 9mm & .45 ACP?

(Also posted in the Pistols & Revolvers thread)
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=324491

Does anybody out there reload for 9mm and .45ACP?

I am planning to. I have a single stage press that I am planning on upgrading in the next year or so, but in the mean time I am trying to cut costs so I would like some advice. I already have a good scale, trays and all of the stuff you need to reload (I've been reloading for rifles for 13+ yrs) but so far I have been reloading to make better ammo than I can buy. Reloading for economy is new territory for me.

I currently shoot Copper jacketed ammo at an outdoor range and Lead at an indoor range.... no copper jacketed or FMJ allowed at the indoor, but all is fair at the outdoor.

I am currently trying to build a shopping list for the Gunshow this weekend. So far I have....

-9mm and .45ACP Dies
-500 New or once fired brass in 9mm and .45 (more if I can afford it)
-2500+ primers
-Powder ???
-Bullets ???

What I would like input for is what bullet & powder combo's should I be looking for.

I would like to only use one kind of powder for both calibers.(KISS) So far in my research I have found that IMR 700X, 800X, & PB are both compatible and Winchester 231 & WSF are both compatible as well. All of these are capable of 90 to 175gr. bullets (from 9mm to .45)

I have already discovered that I need the bullets to be round nose for both calibers as well, flat nose, hollow points & SWC sometime have a little trouble feeding in my pistols.

Right now I am thinking along the lines of 90 to 125gr in 9mm and 145 to 175gr in .45

Tks in advance

**
So far I have some advice from the Revolver and pistols forum, but it was also suggested that I try here as well.

So far I've been schooled that...

-9mm & .45ACP used different primers
-Universal & tightgroup powder are good multipurpose pistol powders
-115gr to 125gr for 9mm (bullets)
-230gr for .45 (bullets)

I was thinking that I would do some lead bullets first as I mostly shoot at an indoor range that allows only lead bullets under 1000fps, I am currently buying ammo, and lead round nose is about $18.00 a box for 9mm and $26 for .45.

Thanks in advance
 
I use Tightgroup and W-231
I shoot cast (lead wheelweights) which I buy for next to nothing. Can cast several thousand bullets on a Saturday. Much cheaper than buying bullets. More cleanup unless you finish shooting with a couple copper jackets which cleans lead fouling.
9mm runs about $3.50/box and $6.00/box of 45. Probably more since primers have almost doubled in prices.
Lead cast bullets are just as accurate as those you pay a fortune for.
 
Titegroup or Win 231 ,Bullseye also is good. There are many suppliers of cast bullets. As for plated or jacketed look at AIM .
Lead cast is very accurate. National match at Camp Perry 45 ACP cast bullet.
As Grffoneur casts his own there is little doubt that his accuracy will be excellent.

As a lot of bullet casters, weigh each bullet and only allow very little difference in weight. Lyman has tons of data for cast reloads.
If you get stuck getting stuff PM me. I just gave a set of 45 acp dies to a club memeber . I'll check to see if I have any spare stuff.

Get a carbide sizer though.
 
Brass for the 9mm should be cheap enough at about $30-35/1000 and the 45 should be about $40-45/1000.

As for all around use I would go 124 FMJ or 125 LRN for the 9mm simply because they are more common. With the 45 you can get great bullets in lead or FMJ in either 200 or 230 weights. I stick with the 230 only because I'm so use to them.

As for primers you'll need small pistol and large pistol, no need for magnum primers so 1000 of each should do for now.

As for powders, I unfortunately use several, W-231, WSF, Unique (once finished I will no longer be using this dirty powder), Bullseye, Clays and W-296. Then again I also reload for 9mm, 357 Mag, 40S&W, 44 Mag and 45 ACP.
 
CeeZer said:
Universal is another cheap powder good for both clibers.

Mind you, the two calibers you mention use DIFFERENT primers 9mm - small pistol and .45 - large pistol primers. .
Click to expand...

There is plenty of .45 brass these days that have small primers.. Winchester NT being one...
I've managed to cull most of my large primer .45 brass and now reload the small primer stuff exclusively...

Buy your powder by the keg... buying in one pound cans is for sissy's and guys who like to pay too much for their stuff...
 
Bullets

I forgot to add that for lead you should be paying about $20-$30/500 and double that for FMJ in the 9mm. Add about $30 to the price for the 45 since you are almost twice the weight. I just picked up some 9mm 120gr FMJRM bullets from AIM at a great price of $60/1000. I have not tested them yet but the 357's work great so far.
 
notenough said:
Brass for the 9mm should be cheap enough at about $30-35/1000 and the 45 should be about $40-45/1000.
Click to expand...

Price of 45 ACP brass is going to be a wee bit more than $40-45/1000. A little closer to $80/1000. That is unless the brass fairy drops off a bundle for you. :)

Plated bullets is the way to go, they are no different than lead to an indoor backstop but much cleaner to reload and shoot. If buying, right now they seem to be about the same price as cast.

Titegroup and W231 are good choices for powder.
 
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I use W231 in both calibers because it meters very well.
I like 124 gr LRN for 9mm and shoot both 200gr and 230gr cast lead bullets in my 45acp.
I cast my own bullets, 5400 200gr SWC alone.
LIG
 
SandRoad said:
Price of 45 ACP brass is going to be a wee bit more than $40-45/1000. A little closer to $80/1000. That is unless the brass fairy drops off a bundle for you. :)

Plated bullets is the way to go, they are no different than lead to an indoor backstop but much cleaner to reload and shoot. If buying, right now they seem to be about the same price as cast.

Titegroup and W231 are good choices for powder.
Click to expand...

Is that for new or once fired?

I was at Le Baron the other day and for new, unprimed Winchester 9mm, it was around $25.00 for 100.
 
X1f

Not new, he was looking to save some $$ so x1F would be the cheapest way to go. Used brass is very reasonably priced compared to new purchase. When it's a handgun and you know your going to keep loosing brass, it makes sense to buy it cheap.
 
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