$20 box 9mm? Time to find another hobby?

mozambique technique

mozambique technique

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So the cheapest 9mm plinking ammo is now $20 a box in my town. I think that is just about my price limit so it's either quite shooting or look into reloading.

If you don't reload, what's your ammo price limit?

What would it cost a newbie to get set up to reload 9mm. .45, 44mag. .38spl, ,32 ?
 
OUCH!!!

last time I calculated out my costs for .40s (assuming reused brass) it was around $8.75/100 rounds

since then I've bought more in bulk so it was even cheaper (20K primers, and 10K bullets)
 
PP is probably right. He usually expounds a bit more though. If you're going to reload for a semi auto pistol cartridge, get a progressive press. Otherwise you will be at the press for more time than it's worth.

bearhunter
 
1. Shop around for cheaper ammo; I can find 50 packs for $11.99 at Canadian Tire. Canadian BDX is also a good company to order ammo in bulk http://www.combatmasters.ca/Ammo_brass.html

2. Reloading - I started with a Lee Hand Press and worked my way up to a Lee Turret Press. To load 9mm ammo costs between $8-15 per 100, (About a $10 - $20 saving per 100), so I loaded 1000 with my Lee Hand press (and other accutriments) before moving on to the Lee Turret Press; If you're frugal and smart, you can probably get into reloading <$500. I bought a jewler's scale on E-bay for $10 as opposed to buying a purpose built powder loader for $80. I compared weights to my Lee Perfect Powder Measure and it was bang on (has been since). Buy a caliper at Candian Tire for $15 on sale. A lot of other items you can use for Reloading, buy at the Dollar store - the big ticket items are your tumbler, press, powder charger and dies.

I prefer using the Turret Press over a Progressive, because if I screw up (which I have in the past) I make fewer screwed up rounds - so it may take longer, but I've had instances where I've loaded 100 rounds of .45ACP that weren't charged enough to properly cycle my gun, or 50 rounds of 9mm that were really, really hot (I realized my mistake midway through my reloading process, and so was able to stop and correct course).

I also don't find I shot more by reloading; if anything, I shoot less - trying to make my shots more. I think having reloaded, I try to be more attuned to how my ammo shots as opposed to pissing it all away.
 
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I just called a dealer from here today, and I was told it was $90.00 a flat for cheap shotshells for target practice. $9.00 a box is way too much money for blasting away. I was shocked when I paid $65.00 for a flat 3 months ago. Prices of metals have dropped off, so why are we still paying these prices? I know I will not be buying ammo anytime soon.
 
blindman said:
I just called a dealer from here today, and I was told it was $90.00 a flat for cheap shotshells for target practice. $9.00 a box is way too much money for blasting away. I was shocked when I paid $65.00 for a flat 3 months ago. Prices of metals have dropped off, so why are we still paying these prices? I know I will not be buying ammo anytime soon.
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News flash ! along with the drop in the price of metals the Canadian dollar has also dropped BIG TIME
 
Casting for 45 ACP brings my cost down to 2 bucks (US)- why not shoot?

454 with gas checks may cost as much as 5 bucks a box of 50 and I load them as hot as factory - 1575 fps - a little over 1700 ft lbs.

A classic cast turret from Lee will bring your production up to a reasonable speed for a reasonable price and be okay for rifle also.

Casting is as much fun as reloading which is as much fun as shooting. Triple your fun from the same bang.

You could start smoking as a new hobby - It would cost a little more, but you could cough and stink - then die. ( From Dilbert)
 
News flash ! along with the drop in the price of metals the Canadian dollar has also dropped BIG TIME
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True, but metals prices have dropped significantly more in percentage terms than the currency has. If they stay low the market mechanism will eventually prevail as some ammo companies attempt to gain market share by cutting prices, ultimately bringing them all down somewhat. But for now it will take some time because manufacturers will be loathe to reduce prices if they can still move product at higher ones and no competitors are forcing their hand.
 
phil99 said:
True, but metals prices have dropped significantly more in percentage terms than the currency has. If they stay low the market mechanism will eventually prevail as some ammo companies attempt to gain market share by cutting prices, ultimately bringing them all down somewhat. But for now it will take some time because manufacturers will be loathe to reduce prices if they can still move product at higher ones and no competitors are forcing their hand.
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Keep in mind, the buyer acts as the other forcing hand. If we don't like the price, we don't buy, and the price will have to be adjusted. I was not happy 3 months ago paying $65.00 a flat, there is no way I will pay $90.00 for the same cheap ammo.
 
GOVERNMENT SURPLUS UMC AMMUNITION HANDGUN · 9 MM Luger
Description - 9 MM Luger • Style - MC • Grain - 115 • Box - 500
Mfr. # L9MM3 · 91641
$129.99 x [ADD TO CART]
wholesalesports.com/onlinestore/control/keywordsearch/~VIEW_INDEX=1/~VIEW_SIZE=20/~clearSearch=N
Even if shipping is $30 still cheaper than what you would be paying!
P.S. Lever Arms has cheaper 9mm than Reliable Gun untill Shayne gets some more CCI Blazzer in.
 
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