to reload or not to reload

Yeah its phoenix, i like dealing with those guys but if i start IPSC my ammo buying will have to change

Oh ya. Those guys are great. They are the whole reason i got into shooting. I'm usually there a couple times a month. I'm going to take my blackbadge there as soon as i get my Rpal (taking the CFSC next month). Have you checked out what their retail ammo costs (if you've got your own gun)? I think it's a bit cheaper but i haven't asked. Wholesale sports is south edmonton common and has good price on ammo...16.99 i think for 9mm
 
Oh ya. Those guys are great. They are the whole reason i got into shooting. I'm usually there a couple times a month. I'm going to take my blackbadge there as soon as i get my Rpal (taking the CFSC next month). Have you checked out what their retail ammo costs (if you've got your own gun)? I think it's a bit cheaper but i haven't asked. Wholesale sports is south edmonton common and has good price on ammo...16.99 i think for 9mm

i refuse to support Wholesale Sports...in any case i believe if you join phoenix they give you ammo at regular cost
 
i refuse to support Wholesale Sports...in any case i believe if you join phoenix they give you ammo at regular cost

any of those on-range facilities charge far more for their ammo including the discount than the likes of the big box stores- there's only one way to really save on ammo- reload and LEAD bullets- i'm not TOO PROUD to say i buy my ammo at canadian tire, wal-mart, or wholesale- and i've been with wholesale since it was borotto's-that's before frenchy's-you need to define "regular" cost- regular cost to me is what i pay at wholesale;that can mean a whole box over a case or brick
i've never had a problem at wholesale when it comes to ammo, and i get my targets through them as well
but then again i shoot the regular calibers- 22, 223, 308, 338, 9mm, 45, 44 mag
it's when you get into the "oddball " stuff that you get into trouble
 
any of those on-range facilities charge far more for their ammo including the discount than the likes of the big box stores- there's only one way to really save on ammo- reload and LEAD bullets- i'm not TOO PROUD to say i buy my ammo at canadian tire, wal-mart, or wholesale- and i've been with wholesale since it was borotto's-that's before frenchy's-you need to define "regular" cost- regular cost to me is what i pay at wholesale;that can mean a whole box over a case or brick
i've never had a problem at wholesale when it comes to ammo, and i get my targets through them as well
but then again i shoot the regular calibers- 22, 223, 308, 338, 9mm, 45, 44 mag
it's when you get into the "oddball " stuff that you get into trouble

im not sure exactly what the "regular" cost is at phoenix as im not a member...

i talked with the BDX guys and they were very helpfull and i think they will be my supplier from now on
 
im not sure exactly what the "regular" cost is at phoenix as im not a member...

i talked with the BDX guys and they were very helpfull and i think they will be my supplier from now on

Very nice. So did you decide to reload? I though bdx only did bullets. Or do they do loaded ammo to?
 
Very nice. So did you decide to reload? I though bdx only did bullets. Or do they do loaded ammo to?

sorry Vox i dealt with Combatmasters here in alberta they deal with BDX....SO! $588 for 2 cases shipped (they have a min 2 case on shipping orders) so 2,400 rounds of 124gr CMJ low lead at $588= 0.245 per round... not too shabby


if i bought retail at $13.99/50 + tax it would = 0.29 per round..
 
thats what their site indicates....this will be a good way to go untill i decide wether or not its worth me reloading

Ya I'm in a similar boat as you. I would love to reload but I have a space issue as I only have a 1100 sqft condo so I can't set up a large reloading bench :(. So I've been researching cheap but good ammo myself. I'm just a little worried about factory reloaded ammo. Let me know how it fires.
 
Ya I'm in a similar boat as you. I would love to reload but I have a space issue as I only have a 1100 sqft condo so I can't set up a large reloading bench :(. So I've been researching cheap but good ammo myself. I'm just a little worried about factory reloaded ammo. Let me know how it fires.

I have personally shot at least 95,000+rds of Kurts ammo since 2006. (124gr-147gr and 180gr)
I would trust my life to his ammo. I have sold probably 200,000+ rounds of (probably more as i forget the amounts of. 40 and. 45acp) over last 3 +years of selling Combat masters ammunition. I have 1 complaint; i can never have enough.
 
The bullet shop from brooks...they drove up to edmonton for a group of us to deliver no charge...225 + gst/1000...check out the AB IPSC forum under commercial dealers for contact info

Most of us that shoot 9mm in AB IPSC buy from them...good price and quality...i've shot approx 5000 rds in lots of courses without 1 glitch
 
There is a lot to be said for loading your own for the pistol that you will be competing with to just make power factor. You can buy something that may come close, but it will always be a little snappier than it needs to be. A buddy of mine has been competing for the last 3 years using factory ammo and it is a handicap as most of the other competitors have less recoil which helps them to have faster times.

I think someone suggested a Dillon Sqaure deal and X2 on that. When you are starting out there is no way to know how long you are going to stick with it (or if you stick with it at all) so I think it would be hard to justify a more expensive press if all you are doing is pistol work. I think someone earlier in the thread quoted 400 - 500 rounds per hour? I wish I knew how they do that, I only manage 200 per hour but that is fast enough for me at this stage of the game.

Bottom line with what press you want is how many rounds per hour do need or want? The square deal uses dies that cannot be used on any other press, but it is affordable, works well and like other Dillon presses is easy to sell if you want to later, guaranteed for life and holds its value.
 
It really depends on how you value your time.

When I roll my own, I cast my projectiles, Roll size my brass with a case pro and load with a dillon 550. It probably takes me ten hours to make 1000 rounds and costs about 70$.

Loaded ammo cost me 270$ per thousand delivered, sometimes less. Takes a phone call and 270$. The brass is worth about 30$ so the cost of the ammo is 240$ per thousand delivered.

240-70= 170$ in savings per 1000 rounds however it takes about 10 hours of work.

I have a part time job with Canada Post,I own and manage 57 apartment units, and I have a family with two young children. I am lucky to find the time to shoot, much less reload so I often purchase factory ammo.
 
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It really depends on how you value your time.

When I roll my own, I cast my projectiles, Roll size my brass with a case pro and load with a dillon 550. It probably takes me ten hours to make 1000 rounds and costs about 70$.

Loaded ammo cost me 270$ per thousand delivered, sometimes less. Takes a phone call and 270$. The brass is worth about 30$ so the cost of the ammo is 240$ per thousand delivered.

240-70= 170$ in savings per 1000 rounds however it takes about 10 hours of work.

I have a part time job with Canada Post,I own and manage 57 apartment units, and I have a family with two young children. I am lucky to find the time to shoot, much less reload so I often purchase factory ammo.

+1. I am lucky to get a practice in once every 2 weeks,,,I just don't have the time to do any reloading. using JBD's formula,..that is $17 an hour.
I would rather work O/T at work and buy my ammo than reload it. I don't have to test it, chrony it, etc..I just shoot it, and sell off my brass.
 
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I have plenty of money, but for me reloading is part of the whole thing. I enjoy strolling out to the garage and putting in a little time at the reload bench. It's not for everyone, but then again it depends on how bad you need a hobby I guess.
 
for 9mm... if you have unlimited time and spare brass sure, reload. its a fun hobby... but I did the math, and assuming I have all free brass, I would save at best 100$ per 1000 i reloaded (I pay about 37c/rnd for .223 and .45)

I wish there were reloading clubs, so people could pool tools and such, buy parts in bulk, then I think people would save wayyyy more

that being said 9mm is very cheap, some deals here http://www.theammosource.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_108_118
 
for 9mm... if you have unlimited time and spare brass sure, reload. its a fun hobby... but I did the math, and assuming I have all free brass, I would save at best 100$ per 1000 i reloaded (I pay about 37c/rnd for .223 and .45)

I wish there were reloading clubs, so people could pool tools and such, buy parts in bulk, then I think people would save wayyyy more

that being said 9mm is very cheap, some deals here http://www.theammosource.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_108_118

what people leave out of the equation are small things like,...gas money, time to source the supplies, set up, testing...etc.
 
I shoot about 1000 rnds a month on average, and reload 9mm plated bullets over titegroup. Flame proof suit on, I have reloaded over 12,000 rounds with a Lee Pro 1000 that I bought for under $200. I all ready had a scale to check the power measure and have probably 8000 empty brass. No one seems to reload it, so I collect lots at the range. As others have said, you don't save any money, but you can shoot alot more for the same amount.
 
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