How to reload 9x19 economically?

[45C]

I found using a progress was to fast and expensive!

As I was going to the range with a couple thousand rnds at a time and it was. Fucing free for all lol

Now I punch out a few hundred rnds per week, relaxing downtime, save a bit of money and practice my skills .

 

[Magellann]

At the current price of 9mm ammo, Ive decided to not reload it for a while. Ive got a few thousand pieces of brass, & primers in stock as well as few pounds of powder. I'll sit on it until prices of ammo creep up, and then I'll get back into reloading 9mm.

 

[silverfoxdj]

240$/1000 for BB is a good price.

I don't cast, never will. Better spend an hour reloading than an hour casting. And most bullets are cheap enough that it's not worth my time.

In 2 hours I crank about 1000 rounds of straight wall cartridges, not 100-150. If I'm cranking 9mm, that's "paying" me about 40-50$ an hour, which isn't that much. If I'm cranking 44magnum, that's "paying" me 300-325$/hour, untaxable. I have a good job, I make good money, but not 300$ an hour after tax. Almost nobody is paid such an amount in Canada.

I do the same and use plated bullets to cut down on the lead..

 

[philhut]

I have a single stage hornady press i reloaded 36rds of 9mm before i decided it was a lost cause due to the time involved.....overall i figure with the cost of press and components they cost me about $19.50/round to reload lol.....

I will use the press for rifle rounds only from now out.....i would want a progessive press to over consider loading 9mm again. Which again would take too many rounds of production to justify the cost of purchasing.

 

[dogzilla]

If you are only loading 9mm, I wouldn't bother. If you are going to load other calibers then it's worth getting a progressive press.

 

[mactroneng]

FYI...you don't really have to trim 9mm brass or any pistol brass for that matter (unless your picky about the crimp on revolver rounds).

I agree straight walled cases (I know 9MM have a slight angle to them) shrink rather than lengthen. Reload .45acp brass 20 times and you will be surprised how much they shorten.

Trimming any straight walled case makes little sense other than to establish a constant case OAL when a rolled crimp is desired. I have not ever bothered to but some do and claim it is worth it. I just can't shoot well enough to notice any accuracy gain.

Take Care

Bob

I find that a good chunk of my 500 S&W Mag brass is too long for my Lyman case gauge of a regular basis, so I've come to terms with trimming that stuff almost all the time. 9mm it seems that trimming will hardly be necessary, and 357's I used to trim almost every time but I'm finding that it's not growing past the critical length so I've generally stopped.

If you are only loading 9mm, I wouldn't bother. If you are going to load other calibers then it's worth getting a progressive press.

+1 to this logic, the little bit of savings to get on 9mm isn't worth doing it alone, but if you already have the equipment for other stuff (or intend to get it for other stuff) you might as well squeeze the most out of it.

 

[trebor2880]

Reloading entertains me, so it's time well spent for me. I know, I amuse easily.

 

[toxic]

Reloading entertains me, so it's time well spent for me. I know, I amuse easily.

Same here. A regular work day for me involves and office, wrangling technical staff and reviewing technical reports. Reloading is instant gratification in the form of a pile of loaded brass ready to hit the range. It's a tangible fruit of my efforts. In fact I loaded 300 rounds this morning and think I may just hammer out another few hundred this afternoon. Ah...lazy sunday.

 

[Ganderite]

I load 9mm on a Dillon 550. It cranks out 9 rounds a minute at an easy pace.

I buy DRG lead bullets for about $31/500. That is a total cost of around $150/1000 (15 cents a shot).

This is the first time I ever made that calculation. main thing is ammo that works well in each gun.

 

[coreyd]

Just wondering... How many of you are shooting lead bullets from your pistols?

For one, lead is toxic. Lead dust/powder out of the muzzle must be bad no ?

Is $240 / 1000 too expensive for blazer brass 9mm ?

If your time means nothing to you, then by all means....... Even with a progressive press, whats the sense in spending 2 hours to crank out 100 - 150 cartridges?

I guess Im the odd one out here.

If your concern is that lead is toxic you obviously haven't researched primer compounds. Lead needs to get to almost a boiling temperature to severely contaminate the air. Almost none of the heavy metal you ingest is from the actual bullet.

2 hours for 100-150 rounds? I hand crank 1200+ rounds an hour when doing 9mm. I will get up on a Saturday morning and by lunch have 5000 rounds loaded. I load for less than $150 per thousand using campro bullets. That's a $500 saving and my time is worth a lot these days, so is my sanity.

Yes, you are the odd one out because you don't know what you are talking about, with all due respect.

 

[Tachead]

My handloads come in at $0.14 a round plus tax with plated projectiles and sorted range pickup.

The trick is buying bulk and getting in on sales when they are on.

If you really want to save and you have lots of spare time you can start casting and powder coating your own projectiles.

 

[thatmikeguy]

My 9mm reloads are about $0.16 each. I buy plated CamPro bullets. $110/1000 124 grain round nose.

 

[tjhaile]

If your concern is that lead is toxic you obviously haven't researched primer compounds. Lead needs to get to almost a boiling temperature to severely contaminate the air. Almost none of the heavy metal you ingest is from the actual bullet.

2 hours for 100-150 rounds? I hand crank 1200+ rounds an hour when doing 9mm. I will get up on a Saturday morning and by lunch have 5000 rounds loaded. I load for less than $150 per thousand using campro bullets. That's a $500 saving and my time is worth a lot these days, so is my sanity.

Yes, you are the odd one out because you don't know what you are talking about, with all due respect.

Indeed. In addition, the amount of airborne lead from cast bullets isn't going to be much different from factory FMJ bullets with exposed lead at the base. Cast bullets may be smokier, but that is from the bullet lube. Airborne lead from the bullet itself can be minimized with plated, JHP, or powder coated bullets, but that still, of course, leaves the issue of lead styphnate primers.

Managing the lead hazard should ultimately be considered a function of adequate ventilation plus proper hygiene.

 

[coreyd]

Indeed. In addition, the amount of airborne lead from cast bullets isn't going to be much different from factory FMJ bullets with exposed lead at the base. Cast bullets may be smokier, but that is from the bullet lube. Airborne lead from the bullet itself can be minimized with plated, JHP, or powder coated bullets, but that still, of course, leaves the issue of lead styphnate primers.

Managing the lead hazard should ultimately be considered a function of adequate ventilation plus proper hygiene.

Not just for Junction but for everybody who doesn't know, the last line says it all. When handling spent brass, please wear gloves. When you are reloading and touching components, please wear gloves. When you are finished shooting, wash your hands with cold water or use lead-off type wipes. Lead projectiles are not the things that are going to poison you in this game.

 

[sierra5]

Don't save much cash but I do enjoy the down time pressing out a batch of anything, including my 9mm. There is also the satisfaction of completing them myself as well as convenience of having it when I need it.