Opinion's on reloading 9mm

Horse96

Horse96

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Happy new year!

Thought I'd post up and see what the opinions are out there for reloading for 9mm. I load for .357 now and if I want to shoot .357, reloading is the only way to go in terms of cost. However, for 9mm my math comes up so that I can reload hollowpoints for the same price as it costs to shoot factory fmj (type) loads. So in other words, if cost and range time are my considerations, it's not worth it to reload. A factory fresh box of hollow's is $25 for 25; fmj's are $16 for 50.

To make it interesting I'll post some criteria.

Accuracy?
Cost?
Defense ammo?
Range time?
IDPA loads?
IPSC loads?

Thanks for your input!
 
I load 147 grain Zero HP over WSF and Win WSP primers. I just did the math and it worked out to $9.35/box. Mind you that is material bought 2 years ago (buy in bulk), but does not include the Le Baron Card discounts I get on the primers. I use it for range use primarily, but I could use it for IDPA and IPSc if I were shooting them as it reaches the 125 power factor. It is fairly accurate too.
 
I buy bulk from BUDGET SHOOTER SUPPLY "top of the banner, red add". for 9mm, 45, and 357 you cant get any cheaper. He is fantastic to deal with. It costs me $8.11 per 50 for 9mm and $10.75 for 50 45acp
 
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To save more you need to use lead bullets or platted or buy bulk FMJs. I use 124 Berry's Platted and the cost is just over $7 a box (brass is free). I get the components local so no shipping costs.
9mm sees about the least cost saving over any round thou, 45ACP you can save a lot more.
 
Horse96 said:
...I can reload hollowpoints for the same price as it costs to shoot factory fmj (type) loads.
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You should compare apples to apples... can you reload FMJ for the same price as it costs to shoot factory fmj?
What do you need pistol hollow points for anyway?
Paper and steel react the same with cheaper FMJ.
See below if your plans are for a more animated target.

Accuracy?
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You'll be better able to tune reloads for better accuracy than factory.
Cost?
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See above.
Defense ammo?
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BIG Mistake reloading Defense Ammo. Buy Defense Ammo. Hundreds of Internet lawyers can't be wrong...:nest:
Range time?
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Assuming it costs less to reload (and it does) you'll make more ammo and spend more time at the range.
IDPA loads? IPSC loads?
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You'll definitely make better tuned loads for these games for your gun than factory. Less felt recoil, more accurate ammo. More rounds available (due to less cost), more practice = better shooter. Better shooter = trophies, more trophies = national championship, National Championship gets you beautify horny women throwing themselves at your feet... OK - maybe not that last couple of parts.;)
 
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Horse96 said:
Happy new year!

Thought I'd post up and see what the opinions are out there for reloading for 9mm. I load for .357 now and if I want to shoot .357, reloading is the only way to go in terms of cost. However, for 9mm my math comes up so that I can reload hollowpoints for the same price as it costs to shoot factory fmj (type) loads. So in other words, if cost and range time are my considerations, it's not worth it to reload. A factory fresh box of hollow's is $25 for 25; fmj's are $16 for 50.

To make it interesting I'll post some criteria.

Accuracy?
Cost?
Defense ammo?
Range time?
IDPA loads?
IPSC loads?

Thanks for your input!
Click to expand...

I reload 9mm for about $150/1000 and that's using one of the most expensive powders and factoring in having to pay for the brass. That's about 50% less than your retail purchase of completed cartridges. That's with 124gr bullets making a power factor of 133. More than accurate enough. Defensive ammo, why? I wouldn't use reload for true defensive ammo.
 
I reload 9mm and it costs me about 8 bucks/50. I don't often see it for less than 12 bucks/50 for the cheapest box of ammo. Plus I can load ammo that my guns really like.
 
Seagull said:
To save more you need to use lead bullets or platted or buy bulk FMJs. I use 124 Berry's Platted and the cost is just over $7 a box (brass is free). I get the components local so no shipping costs.
9mm sees about the least cost saving over any round thou, 45ACP you can save a lot more.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The Bullet Barn, for instance, sells 500 124gr RNL bullets for $52. For routine practice, they work fine
 
Grab a 6 banger lee mold like the 120tc and cast your own. I use those with 4gr of n320 but can use cheaper powder. Range pick up brass and whatever primers I happen to have. I have no idea how much it costs me to load 1k but $35 for primers and $25 for powder I guess.
 
Not counting the brass as I used Wolf Bullets when I started and acquired 1000 cases right there, and picked up some very cheap once fired brass along the way it costs me $130 to do 1000 bullets in 9mm.

Powder charge - 4.3 grains Win 231 (7000 grains per pound of powder) = $0.013 ea.
LRN DRG Bullets - 124 grain - $0.078 ea.
CCI Primers - $.039
Total per bullet - $0.13

That is all with the taxes included on everything, but not delivery, I buy it all near by and pick it all up.
 
9mm once fired is about $40-50 per 1000, so add 4 to 5 cents per bullet on the first round of reloads, then remove it from the equation for at least 5 to 10 more reloads.
 
I am now set up to cast for 45 / 357 / and 9mm. I have 1600 pounds of lead (about 70000 projectiles worth +/-) so I will be making ammo for as cheap or cheaper than 22lr. Granted it is time consuming but if you have the time it is worth it.
 
I cast my own 9mm bullets and last I figure out it cost me around $55 to load 1K. Cheaper than shooting .22 rimfire...
 
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