Just to clear it up, i am not a newb to handloading, just to pistol shooting. I have a G17 on the way and am wondering, because i will only be a casual shooter in the near future, if i should even bother buying 9mm dies. I can't see a major savings in ammo, and how much can you really "tune" a load for an auto pistol. Then again, there are more than a few guys here that know a touch more than I do about these things, so tell me, is it worth it to load the 9mm on a single stage?
Should i even bother?
- Thread starter 220Swifty
- Start date
dangertree
Business Rep
- Location
- NL/ON/FL/PL
I can't even imagine loading pistol ammo on a single stage. Just a volume question.
But I do pound out 500-1000 at a time on my Dillon 550B.
Casual shooting with a pistol usually leads to a lot more lead downrange than casual shooting with a full bore rifle.
Just my 2c.
Congrats on the pistol purchase.
"Casual shooting with a pistol usually leads to a lot more lead downrange than casual shooting with a full bore rifle."
This is what I have learned lately. I started loading for rifle on a single stage press. Loved it. A couple of hours on the press and I would have 30 or 40 shots for a nice day at the rifle range.
Got my glock 22 and realized that is only three or four magazine changes or maybe 20 mins of really deliberate shooting.
Going only once a week and going through about 200 rounds a session (only about an hour or hour and a half) equals over 10,000 rounds.
At about .35 per factory shot, the progressive press becomes a necessity pretty fast.
So unless its going to be a safe queen, save yourself the money now and look at upgrading.
This is what I have learned lately. I started loading for rifle on a single stage press. Loved it. A couple of hours on the press and I would have 30 or 40 shots for a nice day at the rifle range.
Got my glock 22 and realized that is only three or four magazine changes or maybe 20 mins of really deliberate shooting.
Going only once a week and going through about 200 rounds a session (only about an hour or hour and a half) equals over 10,000 rounds.
At about .35 per factory shot, the progressive press becomes a necessity pretty fast.
So unless its going to be a safe queen, save yourself the money now and look at upgrading.
go BDX
Don't bother going progressive for 9mm, cost of jacketed bullets vs bdx ammo would save you about $30. to save tahat $30 you need to buy a press and spend about 3 hours to make the ammo (time to pick up your 1000 pcs of brass and behind the machine). i used my 550 for 9mm in the past but but from BDX now. on top of cost difference now no hassles with shipping powder, primers, or bullets, (if ya can find em). now ammo is just a call away
cueball
Don't bother going progressive for 9mm, cost of jacketed bullets vs bdx ammo would save you about $30. to save tahat $30 you need to buy a press and spend about 3 hours to make the ammo (time to pick up your 1000 pcs of brass and behind the machine). i used my 550 for 9mm in the past but but from BDX now. on top of cost difference now no hassles with shipping powder, primers, or bullets, (if ya can find em). now ammo is just a call away
cueball
"...how much can you really "tune" a load for an auto pistol..." Same as you can for any firearm. However, if you can afford factory ammo and are only shooting it occasionally, I wouldn't bother. Mind you, rumour has it that Glocks don't like cast bullets. Jacketed bullets get expensive fast. And reloading isn't about saving money.
Reloading speed on a single stage press is a matter of technique. It'll never be as fast as a properly set up progressive, but good 'manufacturing' techniques will speed it up. Been loading everything on one for eons myself.
Reloading speed on a single stage press is a matter of technique. It'll never be as fast as a properly set up progressive, but good 'manufacturing' techniques will speed it up. Been loading everything on one for eons myself.
ipscgraz
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Don't forget that you will probably have the press for your shooting lifetime. It might not save a lot of money when you load 9mm but you may wind up loading other calibers...lots of calibers.
- Location
- Thunder Bay ON Canada
I load on a single. It's time consuming, and it's mind numbing, but I'm a university student, I like the down time for my brain. It's no hardship.
hatman1793
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Way cheaper
Reloading is all about saving money. Tons of money. Even reloading on a single stage press is cheaper than factory rounds.
Take 9mm for example. Most 9mm reloaders using a good cast bullet, with a little bit of powder, an already once/twice/thrice fired case, and a Federal small pistol primer should cost you less than C$6.00 a box. All taxes in.
If you can find, in quantity,9mm ammo for $6.00 a box of 50, all taxes in,.....well, I bet you can't.
Reloading is all about saving money. Tons of money. Even reloading on a single stage press is cheaper than factory rounds.
Take 9mm for example. Most 9mm reloaders using a good cast bullet, with a little bit of powder, an already once/twice/thrice fired case, and a Federal small pistol primer should cost you less than C$6.00 a box. All taxes in.
If you can find, in quantity,9mm ammo for $6.00 a box of 50, all taxes in,.....well, I bet you can't.
