A question for you 9mm types...

Is it cheaper in the long run to reload your own or just buy bulk? Right now I can either get a good basic reloading setup or a case of 9mm and I'm torn between the two.




And the first person that says, "get both...", I'm gonna pop ya' like a whack-a-mole. :neener:

It's probably a little cheaper to reload 9mm, if you get components on sale, but I hate fiddling with the little case.
So, I buy surplus or commercial 9mm FMJs for as close to $100 per thousand as I can get.
It's handy to have reloading gear for .38 Special, .357 .41 Magnum, .45ACP, and .44 magnum however.
Also for assorted rifle rounds.

More and more I find myself buying the cheaper 9MM like UMC or WWB and just reloading for .45 and some rifle rounds.

Oh Jeez, I think I just recommended both! Its just what I do, not what you have to do. :)

I buy the cheap stuff, then reload it. :p

English, I think it is slightly cheaper to reload 9mm. But I hate doing it. However, if you can find a deal around $100/1000rds. 45's, though, it's hand's down cheaper to reload.

It all really depends on how much you can get ammo for.


Without a ton of hoops to jump through I can get down to $105 / 1000 for 9mm on sale.

Some people near academy sports can get 1000 for $77 + tax


Reloading... depending on how much work you want to do would be ~ 50-60 / 1000 ?

So if you collect all your brass everytime you shoot, and dont mind the extra hours of work, it looks like you could pay for the press after several cases worth of reloads.

If you can get it for around 100 bucks a case, I don't know if the savings you would get from reloading would justify the time spent making the rounds personally. However, if reloading rounds is your idea of a fun friday night, then you probably already know the answer to this question....

It's more time consuming than I care for, so I usually buy 9mm and re-load 45, 44, 357 etc.

Hmmmm, well, I do shoot .45 (or did before the slide cracked) and I want to learn reloading anyways so I can take care of my .22-250 and 7.5 Swiss.

I guess this settles the first part, now for the second...
I was looking at the Lee handpress kit so I can do it wherever I happen to be or the Anniversery Reloading Kit from Lee. I've never done it before but I know the basics and have been wanting to set this up for a while now.

Argh, I hate choices like this. :rolleyes:

I reload 9MM and also occasionally buy the cheap stuff on sale. I think it's mainly your feeling about whether reloading is a chore or just plain fun and relaxing and don't worry about the time involved. Most of my reloads are cast bullet loads that work well at 7 to 10 ys. and yes they're cheaper to me because I've always had more time than money. Also my pistol prefers the 124/125 gr bullets. I have a couple of friends that hate those little cases.

Niether. I can usually find it on sale around here for about $6 /50. For me, it just isn't worth the hassle of reloading or messing with delivery.

I reload for .45, .38/.357 and several rifle rounds, but I don't bother with 9mm. The only reason I can think of to reload the 9 is to get a light load for target shooting, since the commercial loads in 115 g. are just about perfect for the power factor in both IDPA and IPSC, so you can't really make up lighter loads for those competitions.

I buy a lot of 9mm, but need to reload again. I buy 9mm jacketed bullets whenever I see a good deal on quantities. I figure 5 gr of ww231, a 5 cent bullet and a cent or two for a primer is as cheap as I can load it. I don't load lead in 9mm, I don't want the PITA of cleaning the barrel afterwards. In the end, it's not much cheaper than buying 9mm by the case for $5 a box/50.

I reload on a Dillon 550B for about 65 dollars per 1,000. Once fired, prepped brass from Midway is cheap, jacketed bullets are cheap, and I use Power Pistol powder.

My handloads shoot MUCH better than the stuff I was able to buy for $100-$110/1,000.

depends if you have the time or just enjoy reloading
9mm can be bought cheap when found on sale not worth reloading in my opinion.
Bigger cal. is a diff story because of cost almost need to reload if you are going to shoot alot

9 mil is definately not worth reloading. I do save the brass, however. :)

I can reload 9mm for about $3.80/50.

Single stage press - given to me
scale - dad already had
powder throw - dad already had
calipers - already had
empty brass cases - free range brass (have to hunt it down...)
lee 4 die set - $28 (I don't include them in price because I'll have them until they wear out)
lee speed die - $13 (same as 4 die set...)


Or...

I can go to a local store and pay $5.50/50.

i buy the cheap stuff if im bringing someone out. but if its just for mine and my fathers consumption then its reloads. i think it's fun and even with fmj and especially jhp its way cheaper. lead gets crazy cheap. like 5 bucks a hundred. that being said my local prices suck. 13 bucks a hundred in 9mm

CCI Blazer $3.86/50 at the store for sports and outdoors, Academy. WWB $4.86/50. That's cheaper than walmarts valuepacks of WWB.

Advantages of reloading 9mm- custom, target loads, more accurate, slightly less expensive, and if you enjoy reloading obviously. If it's just a cost based decision, it depends on how valuable your time is.

I think many of your replies are missing a basic point. If you're going to load pistol, you should really consider a progressive press (Dillon 550, Hornady L-n-L)

When the ever-present "what does it take to start reloading?" threads come up, invariably there are the "you should start on a single stage" replies. I suspect these are the same guys that then say it takes too long.

Once my Dillon 550 is set up, I can pretty easily run 450-500 per hour. I've loaded pistol on single stage and IMO it's a PITA. I shoot 45LC, 10mm, 44 mag, 357 Herrett so reloading is a must. I also load a lot of rifle, so reloading really opens up a lot of opportunities.

I think some shooters are caliber-challenged due to the cost of shooting. I can shoot any of the above calibers for less than you can buy 9mm's. I'd suggest biting the bullet and spending the $$$ to get set up right. It's fun and saves a ton in the long run, and you get to shoot more of varied calibers

HTH

Back in the day when reloading components were cheep,cheep,cheep,I did a lot of it because I hunted a lot .Mostly rifle. Before long it became more like work than a hobby and I quit doing it.
These days I look for inexpensive practice ammo for pistol and buy serious stuff by the case when I can get a deal. It's just simpler for me.

As two of my 9s shoot more than 2x500 rounds/minute and the other seven or eight also have healthy appetites, I buy 9mm in bulk and reload other calibers. :) Even with my progressive reloader, it is still too time consuming given the number of rounds required.

I think many of your replies are missing a basic point. If you're going to load pistol, you should really consider a progressive press (Dillon 550, Hornady L-n-L)


I think many of the replies were in response to this question:
Is it cheaper in the long run to reload your own or just buy bulk? Right now I can either get a good basic reloading setup or a case of 9mm and I'm torn between the two

...but yeah, the dillon 550 is a sweet press lol.

I;ve reloaded 9mm for over a year now, and I do it for the money, but mostly for the fun of it. Yes, when I don't have $5 in my pocket, I can whip up a batch from components, but I also find reloading a relaxing, productive hobby.
After you get past the initial expense, it's good to go, and BTW, when I say for new reloaders to get a single stage, it's for safety, not speed requirements. I use an old RCBS jr single stage, and will upgrade to a turret sometime, but probably never a progressive - that's just me, YMMV.

WWB is normally available for $4.86/50, and CCI Blazer for $3.86/50. You can beat those prices if you cast your own bullets - assuming you get the metal for free - but if you factor in your time, (which includes picking up the brass, sorting it, cleaning it, casting bullets and all that entails, etc.) you're getting "paid" a small fraction of minimum wage, even if you have a progressive loader.

Buy commercial bullets, and the savings gap narrows . . . I haven't loaded 9mm ammo in years.

I reload it. I hate reloading, but it's cheaper enough to make it worthwhile. Not a whole lot cheaper, but then I'm a whole lot broke most the time.

pax

I want to learn reloading anyways so I can take care of my .22-250 and 7.5 Swiss. Then get a decent press and dies.

Let's see: Factory-made 9mm ammo is still relatively inexpensive, especially when buying in bulk. If you find a "deal", you buy it, and it will set you back, say, no more than $130 for 1,000 rounds, including either gas money or shipping charges.

Reloading 9mm requires that you already have the brass, bullets, primers, gunpowder, reloading equipment/tumbler and the patience to fiddle with those small casings. Add to that, the TIME you have to put into the reloading procedures.

Even if you reload for other calibers, you have to figure in a part of the overall costs of your equipment when talking about reloading 9mm rounds.

Just a guess-timate on my part, but a "bulk" amount of 1,000 rounds of 9mm ammo will run you VERY close to that $130 cost of the factory-made rounds, especially if take into account a "reasonable" per-hour cost of the TIME involved in reloading that amount.

A negative aspect should also be considered. Your "home-grown" ammo is, most likely, NOT covered by any type of "liability insurance", so you'd be taking a chance by allowing even your "best buddy" to shoot your reloads. I don't want to sound like I'm paranoid, but I certainly am cautious! I've known two "professional" reloaders who ran into legal problems in the past. One of them was found "not negligent", but it STILL cost him thousands of $$$$ in attorney fees! The other was found to be "criminally negligent", had to pay a VERY stiff penalty, plus a humongous amount for his idiot lawyer! BOTH, by the way, had "liability insurance"! BOTH are NO longer "professionally" reloading ammo for sale to the public!

A negative aspect should also be considered. Your "home-grown" ammo is, most likely, NOT covered by any type of "liability insurance", so you'd be taking a chance by allowing even your "best buddy" to shoot your reloads. I don't want to sound like I'm paranoid, but I certainly am cautious! I've known two "professional" reloaders who ran into legal problems in the past. One of them was found "not negligent", but it STILL cost him thousands of $$$$ in attorney fees! The other was found to be "criminally negligent", had to pay a VERY stiff penalty, plus a humongous amount for his idiot lawyer! BOTH, by the way, had "liability insurance"! BOTH are NO longer "professionally" reloading ammo for sale to the public! Do you have links to the cases for these?

It is hard to buy the componets to reload 9mm for much less than $100 pre 1000. If you buy the cases, FMJ bullets, primers and powder, you are going to be very close to $100 even if you re-use the cases several times. Then, you have to factor in all the reloading equipment. Not all of it is a one time purchase, some items will need to be replaced. Don't forget shipping and/or taxes.

If you were just going to reload 9mm FMJs for practice, it would be hard to make it pay. If you were going to reload self defense type ammo, it would be a little cheaper. I wouldn't carry my own reloaded self defense ammo. I just don't think it is a good idea for a host of reasons. The only squibs I have ever seen were from reloads. The only double charges I have ever seen were from reloads. The only backwards primers I have ever seen in a case were from reloads. The split cases I have ever seen were from reloads. I could go on and on. In good quality ammo like CCI, Winchester, Rem etcd., the only problems I have had were dud primers and most of the time, a second blow made them go off. I trust even cheap factory ammo to any handloads from anybody. Everybody thinks they can do better than factory but I know better.

One other thing, my time is worth something. If I spend 16 hours making 1000rds of 9mm, I just lost what amounts to two days worth of work. That is close to $400 I am losing in time. Add that to the other costs and a case of home made 9mm costs at least $450 to me. I am not going to take off work to make ammo but you get the idea. It is the same reason that I pay someone to change my oil and re-roof my house. It is not worth my time to do some tasks. It is better to pay someone who has all the tools and can probably do a better job.

I recently bought a privacy fence. Some of my friends and family told me that I should just do it myself and save some money. I considered this but after I ran the numbers, I would only have saved about $500 and the materials I could have bought from Home Depot or Lowes are not as high quality as the fence company I went with. The privacy fence at Home Depot is low quality and I know people that bought and when it was delivered, some of the boards were broke or had flaws. After factoring in all the materials, tools I would need and items that I would use like nails, concrete, etc., I decided that I would rather pay $2500 for a pro to do what would cost me about $2000 and a TON of hard work. I would get a better made and installed fence and have a warrenty. My point is, some things just don't pay to do yourself. Can I build a fence or roof a house myself? Yes. Do I want to? No. Can I do as good a job as someone that does it for a living? Maybe but it would take me three times as long.

I am not against reloading, I reload the more expensive stuff for pratice. All my serious ammo is factory stuff however. There are some things that I don't trust anyone else to do for me. I won't pay anyone to work on a gun for me. I know that they won't so as good of a job I will do. I don't care that it takes me three times as long, I am going for prefection not speed. The funny thing is, do a better job and most of the time, I save some money. I am not saying that I am a gunsmith but I would call most of the morons that are called gunsmiths, gunsmiths. I have never met a true gunsmith, most of them are just hilljacks that can't make it doing somthing else so they work on Billy Bob's hunting rifle. Billy Bob knows even less than the "gunsmith" so he doesn't know what a poor job he is doing.

Everybody thinks they can do better than factory but I know better. :confused: That's why all the benchrest shooters shoot factory ammo, right?

English,

My dad sold my buddy (Rockstar.esq) a Lee Anniversary kit, and he has been very happy with it. Drop him a PM if you want, I know he would be happy to answer any questions you have!

You could probably save a few cents a round by reloading. But you'll never get the time back. Long live WWB & UMC!

I think I'll be going with the Anniversery set. I'll set up for the 9mm first and then add my rifle dies later.

.45 acp dies will come along once I get that blasted slide fixed or replaced...:banghead:

Thanks for the help guys. If you would like to add anything else feel free, I'm not the only person with this question I'm sure... ;)

I barter most times. :D

I never got into metallic reloading. So I had some trusted folks that did metallic, and I did the shotshell. Effective and economical for both parties.

Now I don't shoot as I used to or want to. I have what I need here handy for carry loads and some target loads made with Montana Gold Bullets.

I save brass.
Now I was given a case of Blazer 9mm for services rendered here awhile back, all shot in one day save for 2 boxes.

I not long ago went out and cranked out 5k+ rds of shotshells using some elses' equipment, since my reloaders are put up at this time. In return I rec'd some factory loadings and reloaded ammo in 9mm, .45ACP and .38spl.
I'm hell on wheels with a Mec 9000, and still gots the touch with a Single stage. :p

Save brass and barter - works for me.

What guns? What payment? What ammo? ;)

I have a pretty good collection of reloading gear. Currently the presses are set up as follows: One Dillon 650 in 45 ACP, another 650 in 9mm, and a 550B in .38 Special. I reload just about everything I shoot. If you can get the same quality for a better price than reloading your own, then do it. I got 10,000 9mm bullets (115 gr FMJ) for $300, so it is still cheaper to reload 9mm for me. I use lead SWC bullets for all my other pistols. I have used lead in the 9mm as well, but it seems to like the FMJ or plated better.

I have never met a true gunsmith, most of them are just hilljacks that can't make it doing somthing else so they work on Billy Bob's hunting rifle. Billy Bob knows even less than the "gunsmith" so he doesn't know what a poor job he is doing.



And your no P.O. Ackley, either.:rolleyes:



Everybody thinks they can do better than factory but I know better.
A wise man knows how little he indeed knows.;)


+1, halvey.




So, albanian, what's your profession, so that I may formulate a proper response? ;)

Well I drool when I read what you folks pay for ammo but that being said I reload and cast everything I shoot. Just part of the total sport for me.

Brass I get for nothing, last week I picked up 150lbs of wheelweights for FREE, man the fisherman buy all the wheelweights around here for casting weights. So my rounds cost me the price of primers which run up here about $3.25 per hundred Canadian or about $2.80 US. Powder is expensive due to shipping (a (Unique for the 9MM) but I usuall I get down to the US once or twice a year and get four lbs at a crack as well as buying 5,000 primers at a time for around $13.00/1,000 US.

I cast 124 gr truncated bullets from wheelweights which shoot well in my four nines. Accuracy is as good as I can shoot. Never have experienced leading in any of my guns.

I guess for me it allows me to shoot a ton more. TIme means nothing to me and I enjoy all aspects of reloading. Load .38S&W, .38spl/.357MAg, .41LC, 9MM, .45acp, .45 Colt and .30-06 all with my own cast bullets. all on a Dillon 550. One day I'll get a 2nd Dillon I hope.

Stay Safe

Reloading 9mm requires that you already have the brass, bullets, primers, gunpowder, reloading equipment/tumbler and the patience to fiddle with those small casings.

What is it with you guys and this 'small casing' stuff? :)

I reload everything I shoot from year to year including .32 ACP and ,32 S&W. I even reload .25 ACP. I do admit those cases *are* small... but appealingly so, IMO. And the little bullets seated in front of that grain of powder are charming and jewel-like.

I just don't see a 9mm case being called 'small' though!

StrikeEagle

If you can get it for around 100 bucks a case, I don't know if the savings you would get from reloading would justify the time spent making the rounds personally. However, if reloading rounds is your idea of a fun friday night, then you probably already know the answer to this question....


Roger that, 9mm is generally a high volume caliber for your's truly and the time spent to load up the requisit rounds would certainly be better spent on calibers that respond better to it both in terms of finance and accuracy.

I handload a lot of subsonic 9mm for my suppressors. I buy 9mm bullets in bulk from Midway in lots of at least 1000.
I have no idea what this costs me, and, I don't care. I like my own load and that is why I do it.

If I had to load 9mm on a Lee Handpress, I definitely couldn't be bothered. Wow. That would be tedious. I am doing all my loading on a Dillion 550 and it is still tedious. I don't care if I could load a case of ammo for five bucks, I don't know if I am man enough to load that much ammo on a hand press. And, I actually own a handpress.

I reload, but not since last D-day, all of my own centerfire handgun ammunition, and cast all of the lead bullets I use in my centerfire handguns. It allows me to custom tailor my cartridges to the task at hand, and I am a serious competition handgun shooter in several disciplines.

Reloading isn't about saving money. It's about using the best possible ammo in your firearm. When you reload, you're tailoring the ammo to your firearm.
"...There are some things that I don't trust anyone else to do for me..." But you'll let somebody sell you generic ammo? No factory ammo will be as good as ammo tailored to your firearm. Shouldn't take anywhere near 16 hours to load 1,000 rounds either. Well, maybe with a Lee Loader.

I reload 9mm because:

1. I get all the cases for free. None of my friends reload 9mm because it isn't cost effective:neener:

2. Powder and primers are cheap and readily available.

3. Plated bullets are good and cheap.

4. Reloading lets you pick the quality components you want.

5. I can control the power level of the rounds.

6. I can check each round for powder (single stage).

7. I reload for other more expensive calibers that more than pays for the equipment. I'm only out the money for 9mm dies and bullets.

8. I enjoy reloading so my time is not a cost factor.

I have a great 9mm round that is great for IDPA and plinking. You simply can't buy ammo like mine. I think my 9mm ammo is as good (better) as any you can buy.

That being said, there are people who shouldn't reload 9mm (or any other caliber for that matter).

People who don't have the patience or conscientiousness for reloading
People who can't follow directions
People who don't like to reload
People who don't have time to reload

I always hear "NEVER trust reloads for defensive purposes". So... I should trust a factory more than myself? I don't think so...

I work up a load for every gun we (Spoon and I) own. When we get a second gun in the same caliber, I check the "chosen load" in it: if it preforms to a similar level, we keep using it. For social ammo, it's usually a hollow point of some kind. For practice, an FMJ in the same weight...

So yes, I do reload 9mm. And the best deal I've ever seen for a reloader is the Lee Turret press.Takes me roughly 2 minutes to set up for a different caliber...

Actually, the reason for the caveat against reloads for self-defense is legal issues, not reliability. (Well, depending on one's reloads, I guess.)

[Prosecuting Atty] So, Hunter Rose, good old factory ammunition loads weren't good enough for you. No Ma'am, you didn't think that was harmful enough. You had to go the extra mile and make your own bullets (sic) with those deadly cop-killing (insert your favorite bullet here), didn't you? Well, didn't you? Answer the question, yes or no? [/Prosecuting Atty]

Anti DA's dream of these sorts of things dropping in their lap so they can kill two birds with one stone; You, and furthering their own anti 2A agenda.

Say what you want about Massad Ayoob's firing techniques, but the man has spent plenty of time in the courtroom on both sides of shooting cases, and he brings up this very subject in his books and columns. It has happened. It may not happen to you, but it could.

It is hard to buy the componets to reload 9mm for much less than $100 pre 1000.


-Primers = $15/1000 (Local shop)
-Bullets = $42/1000 (MidwayUSA, 115 grain FMJ Remington)
-Power Pistol = $13/1000 (Local shop, figured by 7,000 grains per pound, and 6.2 grains PP per 9mm round)
-Brass (once fired, prepped) $25.89/1000 (so $2.60/1000 if used 10 times) Again, from MidwayUSA

That adds up to $72.60 for a thousand (spreading out the brass cost over each 1000, since it is re-used) That's a pretty-penny less than you can buy it for, even bulk, and it's going to be better ammo as well if you know what you're doing.

Just to be fair, let's say you only average 5 reloading per 9mm case, that would still make the brass $5.18/1000, raising the total cost per 1000 rounds to a whopping $75.18/1000.

If you are willing to shoot plated or lead, you can do it a whole lot cheaper. I personally stick to FMJ 9mm rounds though.

Talk about lazy...I reload to avoid a trip to the store. This way, I always have a few hundred rounds. Have to admit when I get really lazy I just buy a few boxes of WWB.

However, my 9mm is for my PM9 only. All other shooting is done with everything but 9.

*sigh*

>[Prosecuting Atty] So, Hunter Rose, good old factory ammunition loads weren't good enough for you...<

This idea has been presented so many times that it makes me sick. Name ONE instance where the ammunition used in a shooting was a reload, and it was brought up in trial (either civil or criminal), and I'll believe you. Haven't heard of one yet...

I have respect Ayoob for his traininf ability, and his skills as an expert witness. But that whole "anti DAs have wet dreams about busting a gunny over the use of reloaded ammo in self defense" is no more real than the escaped psycho with a hook for a hand...

And by the way, I'm a guy. SO calling me "ma'am" would probably have the DA kinda messed with anyway...

Actually, the reason for the caveat against reloads for self-defense is legal issues, not reliability. (Well, depending on one's reloads, I guess.)

[Prosecuting Atty] So, Hunter Rose, good old factory ammunition loads weren't good enough for you. No Ma'am, you didn't think that was harmful enough. You had to go the extra mile and make your own bullets (sic) with those deadly cop-killing (insert your favorite bullet here), didn't you? Well, didn't you? Answer the question, yes or no? [/Prosecuting Atty]

Anti DA's dream of these sorts of things dropping in their lap so they can kill two birds with one stone; You, and furthering their own anti 2A agenda.

Say what you want about Massad Ayoob's firing techniques, but the man has spent plenty of time in the courtroom on both sides of shooting cases, and he brings up this very subject in his books and columns. It has happened. It may not happen to you, but it could.

I understand your argument but has this even been attempted in court? I thought that lethal force was lethal force no matter 'how lethal' it was...

If you go by that thought then why even use hollow points? :confused:

I have a pretty nifty Dillon 450RL....but I find myself buying the Wally World Hundred packs. At least I have a growing collection of once-fired brass if I ever get motivated to set up the press again.

As long as they are selling 9mm, 40, and 45 in ball and jhp in the hundred packs...I will keep on buying them.

I still have about 900 rounds of Federal 158 gr swchp .38+P I ordered from AMMOMAN...so, I don't buy that at all!

Heck, my wife automatically picks me up ammo when she goes on a Wally World Safari (Yes, it IS a safari if you've ever been to the Wally World in Mesa, AZ).

well i load 7.62 tokarev, 9mm largo, 455 webley, and 7.62 nagant. other than that i just suck it up and go to wally world. though if i get a lee loadmaster that might change.

Where is all this under $5/box 9mm ammo? I'm in SE Pennsylvania and I've never heard of any Bass Pro Shops or Academy Sports. Are there any in this part of the world? WWB at Walmart (about $12/100) is the cheapest I've found.