The way I look at reloading 9mm now is I'll buy a lot of factory ammo when I can find it cheap and then reload the brass when ever I get a chance. I think I'm going to start reloading all of my once fired brass with the rmr 124 hollow point so I'll have good supply of decent defensive ammo thats 2 dollars cheaper a box then the cheapest fmj, I'll then reload the brass as many times as I can with plated but not be that worried about loosing some of it. I reload at least 500 to 1000 at a time.
9mm....worth it?
- Thread starter TheSpaceWanderer
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Because of a quirk in the way my brain is wired, I have an impression of every round I have loaded. Each cleaned round is put into a box with a unique identifier. If you showed me two random cases, I couldn't tell them apart, but if you show me the box, I have distinct memories of each case; such as the sixth case in the third row.
Perhaps this is why I still reload on a single-stage press; I want to attach a memory to each stage of each round I load.
Perhaps this is why I find reloading so satisfying.
OP
OP
TheSpaceWanderer
Member
That thing looks pretty handy. I guess once I get sick of bending over I'll spends the money.
I kept track of all my factory 9mm and all my reloading supplies. Comparing like factory to like supplies i.e whatever was on the shelf at Cabelas when I went, I can reload for about 50% of the cost of factory. Sure I could bulk buy factory to get it cheaper but I could also bulk buy components to get those cheaper as well. So taking the cost per round of each and savings I can figure how many rounds the dies and such will pay for themselves and it didn't take long.
Hokie_PhD
Member
I don't use extreme but can give you my cost
RMR 124 gr ($82/1000 - 5% THR discount = 77.9)= .08
CCI SPP ($28/1000) = .028->. .03
HP38 ($24.99/lb. / aka 7000 grains
.00357 per grain * ~ 4 gr ) = .01
Or 12 cents a round or $12 a hundred or $6.00 per 50
it'll be a little less if you buy your components in bulk or a little more if your prices are higher. I based the powder on Sportsman Warehouse's current price, RMR's current price and what I paid for primers at a gun show last month
Edited to fix my screw up where I said 10% discount instead of 5%
Sorry Jake I'm not sure what I was (wasn't) thinking
RMR 124 gr ($82/1000 - 5% THR discount = 77.9)= .08
CCI SPP ($28/1000) = .028->. .03
HP38 ($24.99/lb. / aka 7000 grains
.00357 per grain * ~ 4 gr ) = .01
Or 12 cents a round or $12 a hundred or $6.00 per 50
it'll be a little less if you buy your components in bulk or a little more if your prices are higher. I based the powder on Sportsman Warehouse's current price, RMR's current price and what I paid for primers at a gun show last month
Edited to fix my screw up where I said 10% discount instead of 5%
Sorry Jake I'm not sure what I was (wasn't) thinking
Last edited:
2bfree
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CMV
Member
I shoot more 9mm than anything else - more than all other calibers combined. Mostly due to the economics. Other than rimfire it's cheapest thing for me to load or buy.
I use a Lee turret press so at best I crank out a few hundred per hr - not counting time for processing brass OR priming offline. I load in very large batches, usually a couple 30 cal ammo cans worth at once (well in one long session over days).
It often feels like a chore & I hate loading when it feels like 'work'. And those 30 cal cans seem to empty themselves as fast as i can refill them
So I load most of my 9mm, but when I see a good price I don't feel guilty about buying a case or two.
Been saying for years I need to get a faster progressive press & probably do enough volume to justify it. Every time I'm just about ready to get one, I talk myself out of it. I know what I'm doing with what I have now and it works. Don't really want to have to learn how to setup & use a XL650 or similar & then figure out what part do need for this, what other part do I need for that, etc. I'm sure if I actually did it, once all set up & running how I wanted it, I would be thankful for the increase in speed.
Anyway, to OP's issue, it really depends on how much volume you plan to shoot & what your goals are. If you want just basic range ammo for plinking around & won't go thru more than a case or two a year, I would just buy factory ammo in that case. You would save $ loading that same amount even in first year probably, but it's a lot of time and not the same dramatic make vs buy difference as something like 300BLK. If you need very accurate ammo, need a range of bullet weights (like 147gr for a suppressor, 115 for gun A, & 124 for gun B), or just simply enjoy loading ammo it makes more sense to load it. Another good argument for loading it is that it is very simple. Compared to a bottle neck or rifle round it is very simple. I found it incredibly easy to work up and everything I ever tried in 9mm 'just worked' - never had anything that was noticeably poor as far as cycling a gun or accuracy. So for a beginning reloader, it is a great caliber to start out with to learn & build confidence.
I use a Lee turret press so at best I crank out a few hundred per hr - not counting time for processing brass OR priming offline. I load in very large batches, usually a couple 30 cal ammo cans worth at once (well in one long session over days).
It often feels like a chore & I hate loading when it feels like 'work'. And those 30 cal cans seem to empty themselves as fast as i can refill them
So I load most of my 9mm, but when I see a good price I don't feel guilty about buying a case or two.Been saying for years I need to get a faster progressive press & probably do enough volume to justify it. Every time I'm just about ready to get one, I talk myself out of it. I know what I'm doing with what I have now and it works. Don't really want to have to learn how to setup & use a XL650 or similar & then figure out what part do need for this, what other part do I need for that, etc. I'm sure if I actually did it, once all set up & running how I wanted it, I would be thankful for the increase in speed.
Anyway, to OP's issue, it really depends on how much volume you plan to shoot & what your goals are. If you want just basic range ammo for plinking around & won't go thru more than a case or two a year, I would just buy factory ammo in that case. You would save $ loading that same amount even in first year probably, but it's a lot of time and not the same dramatic make vs buy difference as something like 300BLK. If you need very accurate ammo, need a range of bullet weights (like 147gr for a suppressor, 115 for gun A, & 124 for gun B), or just simply enjoy loading ammo it makes more sense to load it. Another good argument for loading it is that it is very simple. Compared to a bottle neck or rifle round it is very simple. I found it incredibly easy to work up and everything I ever tried in 9mm 'just worked' - never had anything that was noticeably poor as far as cycling a gun or accuracy. So for a beginning reloader, it is a great caliber to start out with to learn & build confidence.
LiveLife
Member
Consider using jacketed bullets over plated at lower cost. RMR started manufacturing 124 gr FMJ bullets and depending on quantity, price can drop to $74.10/1000 for 4000 bullets with 5% THR discount - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...onents-for-sale.707473/page-155#post-10535202
Here's cost break down for 1000 quantity pricing:
Bullet - RMR 124 gr FMJ $77.90 / 1000 (with 5% THR discount)
Powder - 4.3 gr W231/HP-38 ($175 / 8 lbs - Price of $149 and HazMat/shipping shared with other powders)
Primer - CCI/Winchester $30 / 1000
This load comes out to $6.07 for 50 rounds ($121/1000) and using $74.10 pricing for bullets lowers the cost to $5.88/50 ($117/1000).
I load my plinking loads with Promo and cost comes down to $5.69/50 ($113/1000):
Bullet - RMR 124 gr FMJ $74.10 / 1000 (with 5% THR discount)
Powder - 4.0 gr Promo ($137 / 8 lbs - Price of $113 and HazMat/shipping shared with other powders)
Primer - CCI/Winchester $30 / 1000
Ironicaintit
Member
I reload because I like to do it! I don't watch TV, and I'm a bit of an insomniac too. so in the small hours of the morning, if I'm not reading a book, I'm in the garage fiddling with this, that or the other thing.
I also don't like to see good things go to waste. good brass? I'm going to load it.
I don't even worry about the economy of it all.
if you find yourself sitting there loading a certain caliber and ask yourself, "what the heck am I doing this for?", than that caliber isn't worth it.
I also don't like to see good things go to waste. good brass? I'm going to load it.
I don't even worry about the economy of it all.
if you find yourself sitting there loading a certain caliber and ask yourself, "what the heck am I doing this for?", than that caliber isn't worth it.
Hokie_PhD
Member
mstreddy
Member
I've mentioned before - 9MM is the caliber I shoot and load the most. As such, I am always looking out for deals on bullets. A few months ago Berry's had a deal on some factory seconds 9MM 147 gr bullets. They were at the ridiculously low price of $60/1K. I ordered 4K with free shipping. I've bought from RMR, Xtreme, Everglades, MBC, and a few deals here and there. My average 9MM cost using free brass considering less than 1Cent per powder, a primer at 2.5-3 cents and a bullet at 7-8 cents is around <11 cents a round. So a box of 50 runs around $5.30-$5.73.
I have had some bullets I bought during the Banic, 147gr that were around 12c each, so the loaded cost is $8 a box of 50, but then again, I don't think I can find subsonic loads at bargain prices around here.
So, the key is to buy in bulk, particularly the bullets, and then the primers, to achieve the greatest "bang for the buck" - pun intended. Powder at 9MM charge weights does not have much of an impact on the overall cost.
I have had some bullets I bought during the Banic, 147gr that were around 12c each, so the loaded cost is $8 a box of 50, but then again, I don't think I can find subsonic loads at bargain prices around here.
So, the key is to buy in bulk, particularly the bullets, and then the primers, to achieve the greatest "bang for the buck" - pun intended. Powder at 9MM charge weights does not have much of an impact on the overall cost.
LiveLife
Member
To prepare for various plated and now jacketed bullet comparison myth busting threads, I have been doing reference 25/50 yard 10 shot group testing with RMR jacketed bullets and I tell you, these bullets are consistent.
For decades, I have used Winchester and Montana Gold jacketed bullets as my reference bullets as their weight variance was less than 1 grain and OAL variance was good. Well, RMR 115 gr FMJ and 124 gr JHP bullets have less than .5 gr weight variance and I am getting less than .005" OAL variance with most of the rounds finishing with less than .002" - .003". They have forever replaced Winchester and Montana Gold jacketed bullets as my reference bullets.
I have done preliminary 25 yard testing with RMR 115 gr FMJ and 115 gr HAP/Zero FMJ bullets and RMR 115 gr FMJ has produced smaller 10 round shot groups.
I got notification from RMR that new in-house manufactured 124 gr FMJ have shipped. I am on vacation this week and will post continued 25/50 yard testing on the comparison/myth busting threads.
I use an app called reloading assistant. I can put in values of component cost and it spits out a cost per round, per 50, etc. I buy most of my components at Cabela's and use range brass.
Here's what I have for my plinking 9mm load:
X-treme 124gn RN plated .08 cents a piece on sale(probably going to be changing to the RMR 124 FMJ soon)
S&B SPP is .03
4.0gn of titegroup costs a penny a shot since I got a ton of it for $20/lb
total cost is a dozen pennies a round or less than six bucks a box. I know these are going to function in every semi-auto that I own, and they're going to go bang every time. Can't say that
for the last few boxes of Winchester WB I've gotten, and CCI Blazer is scarce. Otherwise most other 9mm in 124gn costs more than $15 a box. So yeah, cost savings are there for me.
Here's what I have for my plinking 9mm load:
X-treme 124gn RN plated .08 cents a piece on sale(probably going to be changing to the RMR 124 FMJ soon)
S&B SPP is .03
4.0gn of titegroup costs a penny a shot since I got a ton of it for $20/lb
total cost is a dozen pennies a round or less than six bucks a box. I know these are going to function in every semi-auto that I own, and they're going to go bang every time. Can't say that
for the last few boxes of Winchester WB I've gotten, and CCI Blazer is scarce. Otherwise most other 9mm in 124gn costs more than $15 a box. So yeah, cost savings are there for me.
That's pretty close to exactly what I come up with for both 45 ACP cast and 9mm 124 RMR plated.
When it comes to 9mm, bullets are a commodity for me as both my wife and I shoot in 9mm competition and I crank out a couple of coffee cans full per session on a progressive loader.
38/357 and .44 mag I produce on a Lee Classic, as it's more about uniformity than quantity.
When I first got into handloading in about 1981 with an "O" frame press, I I had about 200 38 special brass I used over and over and as someone else mentioned, it got to where I remembered many of the cases.
Holy cow that is bizarre. I understand Marilu Henner (from the TV show Taxi) has a thing where she can remember specific details about every day of her life since childhood. I have too many memories I'd rather forget so I'm thankful I have no such ability.
Anyway, I can get decent new 9mm delivered for $10 a box right now so since I don't cast, I don't go to a public range for free brass and I don't have a progressive press it makes more sense to buy new and save my stash of components for the future.
Maj Dad
Member
I load for every caliber I own (9mm, 38/357/ 44spl/mag, 45 LC, etc.,etc., etc.) except for 7.62x39 (bought several thou when it was cheap); 9mm Mak (ditto); and 22 rimfire, but I have considered using the fired cases to swage 5.56/.223 bullets...
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