9mm Ammo

[WhiskeyMike]

I am considering relaoding 9mm ammo. I am getting Winchester USA 9mm 115gr FMJ at Academy Sports for $4.86 a box of 50 (everyday price) and it shoots accuratly and reliably in my Hi Power. Can quality 9mm be reloaded cheaper than this?
Thanks

 

[Jim Watson]

Not much. I estimate about $4.45 a box to reload with Remington bulk bullets, typical powder and primer prices around here, and range sweeping brass from HQ. If you recover your brass for repeated use and if you get good enough accuracy from cast or plated bullets, you can shoot cheaper. If you cast your own bullets from scrounged wheelweights, it gets real cheap. If you have the time to put into it, and the up front capital investment money for equipment.

Me?
I load 9mm 147 gr subsonics for less felt recoil and blast in IDPA ESP and fast 115 gr JHPs for defense gun practice. Stuff you can't buy cheap at Walmart or Academy like WWB or Blazer econo-ball. I have loaded the last of my stock of 115 gr FMJ and only have one box of 124s left. I doubt I will replace them. I will load only the specialty stuff and buy plinking ammo as long as it is available at current prices.

 

[WhiskeyMike]

Thanks, thats kinda what I figured.

Specialty stuff is cheaper to reload but the plinking stuff is priced pretty well commercially.

I'll be shootoing .45ACP pretty soon and I think I'll start reloading after that. The cheapest USA/Winchester stuff is $20 for 100 rounds (230gr FMJ) at Wal Mart. I don't think I'll be shooting the 45 as much as the 9mm because of price. Also the 9mm BHP is just sweet to shoot.

 

[tbeb]

I've been reloading for a long time. In the past I've owned a couple nines and never reloaded for them. I just bought another one and don't plan to reload for it either. I can buy a case of CCI Blazer from businesses such as natchezss.com, and delivered price figures to $5.38 for 50-rounds. Best part is that I don't have to pick up empty cases. I could reload for less than that, but the hassle of picking of empties isn't worth it to me at age 55.

 

[greg531mi]

It depends where you get your primers, powder, and bullets from....I figured $3.86 a box, but that was a couple of years back. Inflation, has up the price, but still have a few Kegs of powder and cases of bullets, and primers to go through.
I guess if you want to shoot FMJ, or HP's, when you talk about it that way, hollow point ammo is a lot more to buy than to reload.

 

[squirrelsniper]

You can reload with quality bullets such as Gold Dots or XTPs for about what you pay for the cheap factory stuff. You can cut a tiny bit of the cost if you use cheaper FMJ or bulk bullets. Overall though, unless you're shooting a huge amount of 9mm ammo or you need premium bullets, you really won't save enough money to be worth the time and trouble. With that said, I reload 9mm ammo anyway, although I often ask myself why.

 

[WhiskeyMike]

I go through about 200 to 300 rounds per week of 9mm. I purchase a case (500) rounds of Winchester 115gr from Academy for $48.60. Thats probably not as much shooting as some folks but it does get expensve. Thats why I was wondering if I might be better off reloading.

 

[R.H. Lee]

Thats why I was wondering if I might be better off reloading.

Not for 9 mil IMO. Save the brass, though.

 

[theCZ]

The answer is "YES", but with one important detail. I reload 9mm for 2.75 for 50, but I load lead, and all my brass I have picked up from the range for free. I use winchester primers, mixed brass, meister bullets, and Aliant's Unique powder. If you are willing to shoot lead, but have to buy your brass, you can still do it for somewhere around ~3-3.50/50. Most people will say there is no savings to loading 9, but most people don't try either. Once I got involved in IPSC, I decided there had to be a cheaper way to practice, so I found one.

 

[Dave R]

FYI, I use premium lead bullets (from Laser-Cast) for my 9mm. They cost about $21/500. With those as my bullets, my cost to reload is about $3.61 per 50. That's only a buck and a quarter less that you are paying for commercial.

If you go through 200 rounds a week, you are saving $5 a week. Is it worth that to you to reload?

The other benefit is probably an improvement in accuracy.

 

[Wedge]

Another benefit to reloading 9mm is the ability to tailor loads that match factory performance of carry loads. You can't save any money trying to replicate plinking loads but I bet you CAN save a lot of money if you are replicating carry loads like Speer Gold Dot or Federal Hydrashoks or Remington Golden Sabers. That is where I would see the benefit of reloading 9mm. The ability to replicate a self-defense load so you can practice without paying a fortune.

 

[Mikul]

I load 125gr LRN for $2.99 per 50.

$4.86 per box is CHEAP, but when I consider that I shoot 15,000 rounds per year, that little difference in price turns into $561 in saving each year. That's like shooting the same amount and getting a gun for free.

 

[Deavis]

My cost on 9mm (115gr HP) with buying brass was about
$8.90 per 100 or $4.45 per 50

Now that I've got brass and found very cheap local supplier for my powder, primers, and bullets I've got it down to $6.15 per 100 or $3.07 per 50.

If you want to load 9 and save money, buy in bulk. Anyone who can't save money loading 9 over factory isn't trying very hard. Plus, I get exactly the load I want. Why shoot lead when JHP are only 8 cents more per 50?

 

[larryf1952]

Amen to what Deavis and Wedge said...I can reload 115JHP 9mm's for about $7 or $8 per 100. I've got buckets full of once fired range brass, and I can tailor and experiment to my heart's delight with the selection of bullets and powders that are available. I can duplicate or exceed the performance of commercially loaded, premium JHP combat ammo, and at the costs involved with reloading, I can practice and experiment with those rounds 100% of the time.

I've got 1000 rounds of 9mm sitting on the bench right now, waiting to be finished up, so that'll keep me busy for a few days.

 

[BobCat]

Deavis said:

"...found very cheap local supplier for my powder, primers, and bullets..."

I see you are in Houston. May I ask who the very cheap local supplier is? Thanks in advance!

For high-quality cast lead bullets there is a guy in Halletsville - Randy at Lone Star Bullet Company (lonestarbulletco.com) - who I've posted about before (because I'm happy with his bullets and prices - no financial motive). Powder and primers though... best I've found are armsandammo.com and powdervalleyinc.com and just pay the hazmat charges. A local source would be great!

Purrrs and Happy New Year,
BobCat

"Retractable claws - the *original* concealed carry"

 

[oscar]

I enjoy reloading almost more than shooting, but I have not reloaded any 9mm for several years. I can buy Blazer 9mm for 3.86 per 50. I have to drive 400 miles to do this, but I am on my way to Talladega anyhow. I have not had good luck shooting lead in any of my 9mms. My HP's are the best, but the Sig and Glock do not like lead at all. I use factory jhp's for carry, but I do have large numbers of jhp's that I have reloaded. However, for range use, I like the Blazers.

 

[armoredman]

I just started reloading, and am only doing 9mm right now. When I get the dies for the Mosin, 7.62x54R, i will use the brass a very nice person sent me to start doing that, too. I know the factory stuff is dirt cheap for both calibers, but this awfully fun! And, whenever I get another 40, I have the dies for that, too!

 

[Deavis]

BobCat-

I've PM'd you Art's info and some prices from the last time I ordered. I don't want to post them online if he has changed them since I last ordered from him. Anyone that is interested can PM me or contact Art Collins at Collins Cartridge Company - [email protected]

 

[Sunray]

"...better off reloading..." Yep, but it's not about saving money. It's about using the best ammo you can.

 

[Sam Adams]

"...better off reloading..." Yep, but it's not about saving money. It's about using the best ammo you can.

Its a bit about both. Making the best ammo is VERY important to me, as I have much more fun when I can actually put holes on or very near to the point of aim. Particularly with rifles, this is the main reason for me reloading.

Cost savings isn't that important in calibers that I don't shoot much, but it is with those that I do. If it costs me $0.20/round to shoot something that I buy in Wallyworld, a gun shop or at a gun show, but I can make it for $0.08-$0.12, then that means I'll be shooting it a lot more.

Cost savings is very important to me when it comes to my carry gun. I feel a moral responsibility to be well-practiced with it, and since I carry HPs (which are quite expensive to purchase as complete rounds), I like to at least shoot them every few trips to the range to test feeding reliability and my proficiency with them (which is usually at least on par with my proficiency with FMJ's or lead, since these are usually premium rounds). However, I can shoot a whole lot more Golden Sabre or any other premium HP if I buy the bullets and load them myself in my old brass or in some range brass.

It isn't JUST about better ammo: Less cost=more shooting=better shooting.

 

[conkmwc]

I can buy Blazer 9mm for 3.86 per 50.

I have to ask - Where can you buy Blazer for $3.86 per box? That's about half what I've seen it for!

 

[fecmech]

First of all at todays prices for 9mm if I did not have the equipment already I would probably not buy it for 9's. That said I do cast and have good equipment so here is what you can do with it. I have Lee 6 cavity moulds, RCBS furnace, and Star lubrisizer along with an old CH Auto Champ press. I can cast,size and lubricate comfortably 500 bullets per hour, lead is free (wheelweights) and the CH can load easily 400/hour. Price per hundred is $1.60/primers,$.76 for powder and a couple pennies for bullet lube for a grand total of $2.40 for a 124gr bullet at a little over 1000fps. Brass is pretty much free. Labor wize probably about 30 minutes per hundred loaded rounds. Costs for .45 and .38 are essentially the same, .357 and .44 mag are slightly higher due to greater powder amounts but that is it. Handguns and cast bullets go together like bread and butter! Yeah it takes time but it keeps me out of the bars! Nick

 

[silverlance]

hm

what do you mean "wheelweights"? you mean those little things they put on car tires to get them to balance properly? if so, how do you get them for free? do you work at an auto shop?

 

[Automac]

reloading 9mm...

I got into it because I dont have all the options you mainland guys do for different kinds of ammo. My supplier has lower cost ammo at high prices because of haz-mat fees. Try spending $18 for 50.

But I am happy to enjoy reloading them as much as I do. My Beretta 92fs shoots much better with the right combination of power and bullets, and it is indeed fun to reload for it. I enjoy the better equipment that I now use for 3 other auto calibers also. I may reload for my rifles too someday, after I finish the cheap Russian canned ammo I have. The cheaper ammo just wont shoot the same as custom made.

So, my answer was to get another 9 to feed, a Walther P99. My next test, will be to find out how it likes them loaded. Color me a happy man

 

[fecmech]

Silverlance--If you go around to the various tire shops and ask you can find them for free. I take a 5 gal bucket with me and leave it with my name and phone number on it. It helps to leave a 12 pack on hot days or a dozen doughnuts in the morning occasionally. When times get tough I have a truck tire shop (4-6 ounce wts!) that charges me $10. for a heaping 5 gal bucket full. That cleans up to about130-140 lbs of clean lead ingots, car wts avg 100-120 lbs per bucket of clean lead. 9MM 124 gr's run 56/lb. and 230gr 45's run 30/lb. Nick