Is it worth it to reload 9mm on a single stage press?

^ if using FMJ and JHP bullets only

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IM_Lugger

IM_Lugger

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I got a press to reload my .44 and while I was at it I got 9mm dies as well. Since I'm not going to shoot lead or casted bullets, I won’t be saving much ;maybe 5 cents per round ($2.5 a box). But considering the time it takes I’m not too sure it’s worth it :?

does anyoone reloads 9mm with FMJ on a single stage press?
 
I reload 9mm JHP and .380 on a little RCBS Partner single stage press

I load about 200 rnds per week

I tumble one night

deprime another

prime another with a lee hand primer

and charge and seat bullets another i do not crimp my bullets

I dont mind doing it one day i will get a progressive
 
Take five minutes and a piece of paper.

1) How many rounds WOULD you shoot a week if it was in your ammo box?
2) What's the most you can reasonably afford to spend on ammo for the year?
3) Assuming that there isn't a huge conflict between 1 and 2 how much time do you have to spend on your hobby per week? I mean the whole shebang, from cleaning the brass, loading, packaging, cleaning the gun, to your drive time to the club and the time you'll spend shooting?


Answer honestly. Lay the results out like a god damn Vendi diagram if you have to. Sit back and have a look at the results.

Then ask;

1) How many cases do I need to have on hand for each caliber?
2) How many loaded rounds do I need to have on hand?
3) How fast do I need to be able to load them so as to not take away from my limited range time.

Then budget for and buy the press and components you need.
 
I load on an old Hornady single stage and do it much like contact148 posted.
I load 100-200 per sitting (shot at least 100 per week before I moved this summer). One day I'll upgrade, but it's good enough for now.

It's really up to you on what your time is worth. I do recommend trying out Frontier bullets if you already haven't. More than lead but less than FMJ.
 
Single stage vs married Oops progressive

Progressive is nice, however single stage can do 100-120 ronds per hour as per contact 148, and reloading beats watching TV been both sides of the fence.
AOB :
 
I won’t be saving much ;maybe 5 cents per round ($2.5 a box). But considering the time it takes I’m not too sure it’s worth it
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Depends on what your time is worth to you and how much free time you have. If you save $2.50/box and you can load two boxes/hour (100/hour) then you are saving $5/hour of work. If you consider your time to be worth $20/hour then it isn't worth it.

For me personally I wouldn't bother, my time is more valuable than what I would be saving. That said, I do load my own on my progressive press, at a rate of about 400/hour. At that rate it becomes worth my time since I am only taking an hour away from the family instead of four hours (and I am saving damn near $10/box as I load .40 S&W).
 
I voted no because on a single stage it takes too long. Your less likely to double tap a few too when it took that long to load 'em. Ya a new Dillon progressive press will cost you a few bucks and you could buy a nice new gun instead. But do you buy guns to fill in the space in your safe or to shoot? I buy 'em to shoot 'em! :D And when I can load up 500 rounds (and that's no rush) every hour that's a lot more time I can be at the range. Yes there is some other time required to put the brass in the tumbler, etc. but its all the same as a single stage.

As for costs, for me I reload 45 ACP a lot. I can shoot about 3 times as much by reloading instead of factory ammo. Cost using CMJ is about 14.2 cents, so about $7.10 per box of 50. Which makes my operating cost of my press at about $70-85/hour! But, my savings per hour is about $125-155/hour! And even higher if I use lead instead of CMJ. And that's not in a rush. I don't know about you but I don't make that much per hour at my job. :cry: Especially after income taxes, etc.!

You know your going to get a progressive sooner or later, right? Why not get one now instead of later? I think they hold their value reasonably well if you take care of it. And certainly better than your computer does!

My 3 cents.


Fudd
 
the reason I got my press is because I bought a .44mag. There’s no way I’m going to pay $30 per box of ammo :roll: (which I will shoot in one session). So I don’t really mind spending the time since I save about 50% and that’s when shooting with H110 and high quality HP ammo. :)

Now I would never get the press I just to load 9mm. But I did get the dies for it…
 
When I get aorund to it, I'll buy a progressive, but till then, I'll tell you what I do with pistol ammo.



I do 500-600 cases at a time.

I clean the cases in a tumbler.

Then, I sit in front of the TV with the cases, and a LEE handpress.

I size them all.

Then i expand them all.

Then I use a hand primer to prime them all.

ALl this is done in front of the TV, in a few evenings.

I use 2 tupperware containers, pick up the brass form one, size it, throw it in the other. Same with expanding and priming.

Then I'll charge about 150 at a time with a powder thrower, and seat the bulets on my ROckchucker.

Although, I must add, I am a low volume pistol shooter. :wink:

LEE hand press is $25. LEE hand primer is about $35, and you need the shell holders for it. You may as well spend another $15 on the full set of shell holders.
 
if you don't have the money for a progressive, consider a turret- with the auto index- you can leave your dies in place( no screw/unscrew) and it's just a little more than the single stage-
 
depends on how you want to spend your time. I don't have money to spend on a progressive so a single stage is fine for me and i enjoy doing it so no big deal. If you count your time doing anything it is never worth it so i don't look at it that way. It is also a good way to start off. You learn the basics with a single stage and move up. you will always need a single stage for rifles so its a win win when you take the next step to a progressive.
 
I have a Dillon 650 that loads about 600rnds/hr, and I would seriously question the worth of reloading 9mm considering the price of military surplus.
 
ssgp2 said:
I have a Dillon 650 that loads about 600rnds/hr, and I would seriously question the worth of reloading 9mm considering the price of military surplus.
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military surplus? where can I get 'em? are they really cheeper then Winchester white box?
 
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