Cost effective to reload 9mm?

A 1000 brass about 30
1000 bullets about 115
1000 primers about 50
powder 20

Grand total about 215 per thousand


Now if you cast, reuse your brass, and hunt for bargains as mentioned you can get your cost per thousand down to around 60. That is not much more than shooting 22LR by the brick. Is it worth it to reload, well that is only for you to decide.
 
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Reloading to me has never actually saved me money---wait for it------
I spent the same as usual on my hobby of choice.

But---
I can customize loads, and my results accuracy wise are quite good.
I shoot more for less.
I get premium custom ammo for walmart junker price-box for box pretty close.
I enjoy the hobby (probably should be at top of list!)

So far I have primarily loaded single stage style for rifles. But quite a bit.
But pistol cartridge reloading/ casting is still pretty new to me. Should be interesting.

This thread interests me because I just bought a used casting set up that includes a bunch of moulds for 9mm/.45/.38. Why? I don't have one. But a family member does, and if I reload for it, I get to wear out his firearms.

I already have a Dillon Square Deal B, that i haven't used much, paid for years ago.
So it just makes sense-cast your own, load em up and go play with somebody else's toys.
The other good part is I will now have reasonable cost cast bullet rifle loads.

Again, I will not save any money by doing this, but I will get far more bang for my buck. And it's entertainment.R:d:
 
squirrelnuttz said:
Reloading to me has never actually saved me money---wait for it------
I spent the same as usual on my hobby of choice.

But---
I can customize loads, and my results accuracy wise are quite good.
I shoot more for less.
I get premium custom ammo for walmart junker price-box for box pretty close.
I enjoy the hobby (probably should be at top of list!)

So far I have primarily loaded single stage style for rifles. But quite a bit.
But pistol cartridge reloading/ casting is still pretty new to me. Should be interesting.

This thread interests me because I just bought a used casting set up that includes a bunch of moulds for 9mm/.45/.38. Why? I don't have one. But a family member does, and if I reload for it, I get to wear out his firearms.

I already have a Dillon Square Deal B, that i haven't used much, paid for years ago.
So it just makes sense-cast your own, load em up and go play with somebody else's toys.
The other good part is I will now have reasonable cost cast bullet rifle loads.

Again, I will not save any money by doing this, but I will get far more bang for my buck. And it's entertainment.R:d:
Click to expand...

That about sums it up. I could have not said it any better...
 
I've been lurking in this forum for about a week or so and this thread was exactly what I was looking for, thanks OP.

I'm splitting the cost of a machine ( Dillon 650xl ) with a buddy, I've got about 1500 casings ( 9mm ) I've collected from my local range. Where are you guys buying bullets / projectiles? It seems to me that's the highest cost of materials for reloading. Ayone have any suggestions? I'm located just outside the GTA, bantario.

thanks!

Very excited to start this new hobby !!
 
FMP said:
I've been lurking in this forum for about a week or so and this thread was exactly what I was looking for, thanks OP.

I'm splitting the cost of a machine ( Dillon 650xl ) with a buddy, I've got about 1500 casings ( 9mm ) I've collected from my local range. Where are you guys buying bullets / projectiles? It seems to me that's the highest cost of materials for reloading. Ayone have any suggestions? I'm located just outside the GTA, bantario.

thanks!

Very excited to start this new hobby !!
Click to expand...

You'll want to google Higginsons Powders and bookmark that link for sure. They're not a CGN sponsor so its not fair to post the link here.

You've hit upon the most practical method of cost reduction there is IMHO namely, "share the cost". Otherwise, my views are posted above.

I have a L&L AP with case feeder. Does it save me $$ ? No! Do I need one? No! I have it for the same reason I have things like power heated seats and GPS in my car. I like it ! Is there a better reason ?

You're gonna like yours too. Everybody does. :D
 
I reload 9mm because there are only a couple places to buy factory here and that runs almost 22.00 a box after tax. I relad a box for 9.00 so it is well worth it for me. I have already paid for my Lee Classic Cast with the savings from 9mm and haven't started to reload for rifles yet.

As stated above, it is part of the hobby and sitting down with some good tunes on I can crank out more than a box a night which gives me plenty to shoot on the weekend.

Cactus
 
Here's my 2c

I only decided to get into reloading just before the New Years. I'm still getting into it, very slowly, learning a sh*tload of stuff that's new to me - AND I LOVE IT! So, that's my reason No.1.

Overall, I spent about $1,300 for a Hornady LnL and a cheapo single stage Lee (for depriming), plus shell plates, dies, etc. to get me into 9mm, .40S&W, and .45ACP. Still hoping to get $300 worth of .45 bullets from Hornady, so that'll bring the costs down.

I am on my very first 1,000 of 9mm. It will cost me $8.40 a box (plus taxes) - mostly because I had no time to shop around, bullets are $115, primers $42 (incl. shipping), and brass is my own. I will not start a lead smelting operation in my backyard - I'm in Toronto - for fear of reprisals from my wife & my neighbors. The cheapest factory ammo I got was $13.50/box of S&B from Williams Arms - great people, but the drive there & back takes 2Hrs.

I spent two weekends learning the setup. Once I dialed the powder weight I liked, I can honestly say that my loads weren't any worth than factory ammo: slightly less recoil & a bit more accurate. My ammo gave me just one FTE in my Shadow (need to shrink the OAL a bit). I think that's pretty good, considering I still don't know sh*t of what I'm doing. :D

I shoot at least 300-400/week, so I'm sure I'll start saving $$ at some point. However, re-read Reason No.1. I enjoy the quiet time of my own while reloading, I do it in my own domain - and I intend to master it... ;)

Sorry for drifting off the subject. The bottom line: anything other that .22LR is worth reloading IF you enjoy the process!
 
aridan said:
My ammo gave me just one FTE in my Shadow (need to shrink the OAL a bit).
Click to expand...

Actually adrian you may want to grow the OAL a bit. Generally, if your cartridges are jambing in the mag, you need to make em shorter otherwise, FTF's can often be helped by making your cartridges longer because this reduces the angle at which the cartridge is presented to the chamber mouth.

You must, however, be careful not to make em so long as to prevent proper chamber seating, (clunk test), or create problems within the mag as stated above.

Hope this helps.
 
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