Just got back into shooting and was looking into reloading. I used to reload 45acp and 38spcl about 10 years ago just to have a good supply of ammo. This time around I am shooting 9mm. I can get reloads for about $90 for 300 rounds which is not too bad. I sold all my reloading equipment so I would have to start from scratch. With the cost of components and the initial reloading equipment, would I really be saving any money by reloading 9mm. I don't shoot a lot, shoot about 100 to 200 rounds per week. Thanks for any input.
Worth reloading 9mm
- Thread starter Roadhawk
- Start date
I'm loading 9mm for around 200 dollars for 1000. Locally a box is 15-17 dollars plus tax. I save about $150. The Lee Load master is a good deal and comes with a set of dies if cost is going to be a factor.
It works out for the cost of 1000 factory 9mm I can load 1000 9mm and 1000 45acp give or take a little.
It works out for the cost of 1000 factory 9mm I can load 1000 9mm and 1000 45acp give or take a little.
Probably not worth it. Right now it costs me 19 cents for a reloaded round. 11 cents for a Campro 115 TMJ bullet, 5 cents for a CCI 500 primer, 2 cents worth of HP-38 powder and 1 cent for case life amortization.
Time to decap, wash and load 100 rounds is about an hour using a Lee turret press.
But I find it more worthwhile than turning to pudding in front of the TV and I like my ammo better.
gewehr76
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
In case of 9mm it all comes down to quality of ammo. Your load, your bullet your seating depth of the bullet that are unique. If its consistent ammo then its no money can buy. Plus you don't have to run around the stores in order to buy box + tax, just to find out the ammo is sold out or only have cheap brand.
Reloading shines when ammo you are loading is not common, that's where you save money.
Reloading shines when ammo you are loading is not common, that's where you save money.
Definitely more worthwhile than vegging out on the sofa. I'm at $0.19 per round as well.
In addition, I was thinking that in the long run it was a good investment, and I'd like to have the high output of a Dillon 550b or similiar. That would require about 6,000 loaded rounds to hit the break even point. IPSC guys seem to hit that number quite fast, but I haven't convinced myself if I'll shoot 6,000 rounds over the longterm or if I might lose interest and stick with rifle shooting.
The other experiment I'll be trying to increase the margin on 9 mm is casting. Have the alloy, the molds, etc, just waiting on some hi-tek coating and warmer weather to work up a load. If I can get it well below $0.10, I'll consider that Dillon perhaps....
In addition, I was thinking that in the long run it was a good investment, and I'd like to have the high output of a Dillon 550b or similiar. That would require about 6,000 loaded rounds to hit the break even point. IPSC guys seem to hit that number quite fast, but I haven't convinced myself if I'll shoot 6,000 rounds over the longterm or if I might lose interest and stick with rifle shooting.
The other experiment I'll be trying to increase the margin on 9 mm is casting. Have the alloy, the molds, etc, just waiting on some hi-tek coating and warmer weather to work up a load. If I can get it well below $0.10, I'll consider that Dillon perhaps....
Without including small incidentals (power, water, soap, lemishine, etc) and reusing brass I am at $100 for 1k plated bullets. $27+tax for 1k primers and about $25 for powder for 1k rounds. I'm at 16 cents tops for a round of 9mm. That's twice as much shooting for the cost of factory ammo.
I've just contemplated the same. I got into reloading because I shoot a lot of .44 Mag, which goes from $1 per round, to about 20 cents.
At the end of the day, all responses I'm seeing here went through my mind as well.
So I pay around 20 cents per round instead of 40 cents for my 9mm. The other way to look at it is twice the shooting. With some of the lower cost presses (I use the Lee Classic Turret Press, and Loadmaster) you'll make your money back relatively soon, not to mention, if you decide to pull out, you can sell that stuff easily on the EE.
The other point is that you already know how to reload, which is a major obstacle that you've already over come.
-Jason
At the end of the day, all responses I'm seeing here went through my mind as well.
So I pay around 20 cents per round instead of 40 cents for my 9mm. The other way to look at it is twice the shooting. With some of the lower cost presses (I use the Lee Classic Turret Press, and Loadmaster) you'll make your money back relatively soon, not to mention, if you decide to pull out, you can sell that stuff easily on the EE.
The other point is that you already know how to reload, which is a major obstacle that you've already over come.
-Jason
Same here. The savings on .44mag paid for everything several times over. Adding 9mm capability was almost incidental.
I find it worth it, running about 19cents right now too. This is about 70% of commercially reloaded ammo if you can find the right guys, and 50% or better than factory. If I didn't like the reloading processes I would be buying commercially reloaded ammunition.
.102 per Campro 115tmj
+.019 per Titegroup
+.035 per primer
+.015 casing (maintainance)
= .171 so just above 17cents a shot out here.
To buy cheap ammo out here is 18.99+tax=21.45/50=42.9 cents
So I can shoot just about 2.5 times as much as I would for factory ammo for 9mm and 4 times as much for 45 ACP.
I do have a Dillon XL650 so I can produce on average 1000-1200 rds an hr. The cost of the setup was a little much but, at this savings when I produce around 9500 rds of 9MM or 4600rds of 45ACP the machine is paid for. To be honest that would only be around 10-12 trips to the rge for me and the wife.
So it all depends on what you want to shoot and how much you plan on shooting.....
+.019 per Titegroup
+.035 per primer
+.015 casing (maintainance)
= .171 so just above 17cents a shot out here.
To buy cheap ammo out here is 18.99+tax=21.45/50=42.9 cents
So I can shoot just about 2.5 times as much as I would for factory ammo for 9mm and 4 times as much for 45 ACP.
I do have a Dillon XL650 so I can produce on average 1000-1200 rds an hr. The cost of the setup was a little much but, at this savings when I produce around 9500 rds of 9MM or 4600rds of 45ACP the machine is paid for. To be honest that would only be around 10-12 trips to the rge for me and the wife.
So it all depends on what you want to shoot and how much you plan on shooting.....
This is the main factor in deciding to invest in reloading. I don't have much time to dedicate to it, I would have to make time to reload. Would the savings actually justify the time? Not sure.It was fun and and satisfying to reload my own ammunition regardless of the cost or savings but 10 years ago was a different time. Thanks for all the helpful input. Happy shooting!
If you cast, it can be as cheap as .22. Time not included. Really though, I enjoy every part of the hobby. If you want to spend more time shooting than reloading, it'll cost more. Time is money. I think I'd still enjoy saving the brass...
- Location
- West Quebec
I get giddy picking up brass is that wrong 
PitBull1973
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Right Behind You
Reloading is awesome , it's my favorite pass time .
I get giddy picking up brass is that wrong
I have to refuse the temptation of collecting my fired brass every time I leave the range. Old habits die hard. I remember practically being on my hands and knees going through the brass bucket hoping to find the gold mine of 45acp cases. Haha!
