Are 9mm worth reloading

[santacruzdave]

For those of us living in California buying ammo is about to get ugly. New requirements for background checks, limits on how much ammo can be bought at one time and no more "mail order" start in 2018. Reloading will be the only way many of us can continue to practice.

 

[hdwhit]

For me, the question of whether reloading 9mm was "worth it" was never about "saving money". I was given 991 rounds of 9mm brass. I intended to reload it and call it quits. So, after considering the cost of a set of dies (in the long run, two sets of dies), three types of powder I would never fully use and the investment of my time learning the tricks specific to 9mm, I would have come out way ahead financially if I had just gone down to Academy or Wal-Mart and bought 1,000 rounds of ammunition and settled down in front of the television.

• Instead, I got the time to clean and sort 991 rounds of brass.
  
• I got to immerse myself in the minutiae of reloading the case.
  
• I got to research a new set of dies.
  
• I got experience forming a consensus of starting loads from sources that didn't necessarily agree.
  
• I got frustrated with the expander on my Lee die set and replaced it with RCBS.
  
• I learned about "wasp waists" on reloaded cartridges.
  
• I learned why everyone hates 800X powder.
  
• And why if you're reloading on a single stage, it has a charm all its own.
  
• I got an excuse to buy a 9mm pistol.
• And to learn how to shoot it well.
• And I decided I liked the cartridge and gun enough to keep on shooting it.
• So I bought more used brass.
• And I I got to sort it out and put my hands on it as I loaded it.

So has reloading 9mm been "worth it"?
- - Financially speaking, No.
- - - - In every other respect, ABSOLUTELY.

 

[Nature Boy]

Because I recently started reloading for 9mm for a new 9mm pistol, I'm now on the hunt for 9mm carbine.

As a result, I'm revising my answer. If you consider how much this is costing me, It is absolutely NOT worth it

 

[Walkalong]

Only one 9MM pistol and one 9MM carbine?

 

[Nature Boy]

Only one 9MM pistol and one 9MM carbine?

^^ see what I mean ^^

NOT WORTH IT!

 

[mstreddy]

9MM - not worth it, not worthy... Pistols, carbines, oh my.
Glocks, Beretta, 1911s, AR carbines, Ruger carbine, Beretta Carbine, MP5 clone, Uzi, nope, not worth it.
I can stop any time, really, I can. I'm only going to load 200 more rounds. Then I'll stop.
Oh, wait, why stop? It's so much fun! And when I run those 147s through the suppressor, aahhh...

 

[LiveLife]

Only one 9MM pistol and one 9MM carbine?

I can stop any time, really, I can. I'm only going to load 200 more rounds. Then I'll stop.

I have only built seven 9mm carbines so far and itching to build more.

It's like building AR ... you can't just build one.

I keep telling myself if I shoot 10,000 rounds of 9mm alone, I will save around $1,000 a year. That's $50,000 during my lifetime just for 9mm. If I factor other pistol and rifle calibers, I will save over a million dollars! ... at least that's the story I keep telling myself ...

 

[bbqreloader]

I have only built seven 9mm carbines so far and itching to build more.

It's like building AR ... you can't just build one.

When's the BDS "Build a 9mm Carbine" webinar, sign me up!

 

[LiveLife]

No need for webinar.

It's more like assemble lower parts kit, attach featureless stock/grip and drop in complete upper after removing flash suppressor.

That's it.

 

[Paladin7]

If you shoot a lot, and I mean, a lot, like in every weekend, and you enjoy reloading, then yes it is worth it. I save about $50 to $60 per case of 1,000 by handloading. If you don't shoot high volumes and don't want the hassle of reloading a large amount of ammo, then no it is not worth it. YMMV...

 

[TheDomFather]

Are you a reloader now? I assume so since your list of things you'd need to get did not include things like the press, scale.

If you have the basic stuff, it's a pretty small incremental investment, as you know. I think it'll come down to 1/ do you find the process enjoyable and 2/ what sort of time do you have available and 3/ what sort of payback do you consider reasonable.

I'm assuming, of course, that there is a payback. If you load you probably have encountered firsthand that most reloaders do not save total $. We save a lot (depending on the caliber) in $/round, but the shooting volume for reloaders tends to go up. So we're shooting more, but not saving on actual dollars spent.

For me I'd load 9mm even if I didn't save any money. I enjoy any loading as much as I like shooting. And after having my own custom ammunition at the range, I kind of can't conceive of having factory stuff, if I'm able to load it myself. And fortunately, I'm recently retired, so I have available time to load however much I want to shoot.

OR

I reload 9mm

9-10 cents for the projectile
3 cents for primer
1 cent for powder
brass almost free as it can be reloaded 10-15 times
So figure around 15 cents per round loading plated bullets from Ranier or Extreme. Cheaper than buying factory ammo but not by much the big $$$ savings is in rifle rounds. All you need is a set of dies $40 - 45 for hornady dies and a shell plate. not a huge investment if you reload already.

 

[hdwhit]

mstreddy wrote:
I can stop any time, really, I can. I'm only going to load 200 more rounds. Then I'll stop.

I wish I had a dollar for every time I've said that.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I could buy more brass.

And, both my wife and I would rather I be saying that about brass than whisky.

 

[LiveLife]

I reload 9mm ... 9-10 cents for the projectile ... plated bullets from Ranier or Extreme.

Why use plated projectiles at higher cost when you can use jacketed projectiles at lower cost with greater accuracy?

7.5 cents for 115 gr FMJ shipped (5% off with thehighroad5 promo code and THR ID in order comment box) - https://rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets-for-reloading/9mm-115-grain-rmr-fmj/?v=7516fd43adaa

7.8 cents for 124 gr FMJ shipped - https://rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets...rmr-full-metal-jacket-bullets/?v=7516fd43adaa

7.8 cents for 124 gr FMJ FN shipped - https://rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets...se-new-made-right-here-at-rmr/?v=7516fd43adaa


Besides, if you shoot 9mm carbine, unless you use thicker plated bullets, you may experience loss of accuracy with regular plated bullets as regular plated bullets are rated to around 1200 fps and thicker plated bullets are rated to 1500 fps - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ng-at-25-50-yards.808446/page-3#post-10470195

For lower cost and performance, it's hard to beat RMR jacketed bullets.

Here are 25 yard 10 shot groups with RMR 115 gr FMJ and 115 gr Hardcore Match RN bullets loaded to 1.130" OAL with 4.2-4.3 gr of IMR Target (17" Just Right carbine) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-and-vectan-ba-9-5-ba-9.817796/#post-10508215

RMR 115 gr FMJ ----- RMR 115 gr HCM RN

 

[TheDomFather]

Why use plated projectiles at higher cost when you can use jacketed projectiles at lower cost with greater accuracy?

7.5 cents for projectile shipped (5% off with thehighroad5 promo code and THR ID in order comment box) - https://rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets-for-reloading/9mm-115-grain-rmr-fmj/?v=7516fd43adaa

Besides, if you shoot 9mm carbine, unless you use thicker plated bullets, you may experience loss of accuracy with regular plated bullets as regular plated bullets are rated to around 1200 fps and thicker plated bullets are rated to 1500 fps - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ng-at-25-50-yards.808446/page-3#post-10470195

For lower cost and performance, it's hard to beat RMR Hardcore Match thick plated bullets.

Here are 25 yard 10 shot groups with RMR 115 gr FMJ and 115 gr Hardcore Match RN bullets loaded to 1.130" OAL with 4.2-4.3 gr of IMR Target (17" Just Right carbine) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-and-vectan-ba-9-5-ba-9.817796/#post-10508215

RMR 115 gr FMJ ----- RMR 115 gr HCM RN

Thanks for the pointer thats a great price on jacketed bullets! Appreciate the pointer!
Dom

 

[Lokichoki]

It is definitely worth reloading but if you have a single stage press it can take awhile you will definitely get more with a progressive press. That said my my cost per 100 is about $5 using bullets I cast myself and that's using primers and powder locally not even bulk prices which could make that $ even less

 

[LiveLife]

+1. I have been saving lead to cast 45ACP bullets and powder coat them for retirement but savings per round is key.

Now all the lead will be designated for powder coated .300 BLK bullets to maximize savings per round.

 

[7mmb]

Seems like a lot of really inexpensive 9mm for sale , is it worth getting all the gear (dies,cases, bullets ,etc) to make reloading worthwhile. I don't have any gear for reloading 9mm so I would have to buy everything. Is it worth it?

If 9mm is the only cartridge you are going to load I would say no. The expense of getting all of the reloading equipment will take years to recoup if you are only shooting 9mm. If you already have a reloading setup for other cartridges and all you need is dies and a shell holder then yes. If you use inexpensive bullets it is about $3.50 less per 50 than factory range ammo. I started loading 9mm after I bought a P89 but I was already loading 357 Magnum, 45 Colt, 45 Auto, 7mm-08 and 223 Rem, all of which are definitely worth reloading. I sometimes still wonder if 9mm is worth the time at the bench but my handloads out shoot factory and have less recoil to boot so I'm sticking with it for now. I wouldn't recommend buying cases for 9mm either. Cheaper to just buy range ammo, shoot it, and save the brass. I have scads of Winchester and Remington brass from shooting factory ammo that holds up really well. Now, for 357 and 45 Colt I buy new Starline brass. My 45 Colt revolvers have never even fired factory ammo.

 

[boom boom]

Keep your brass. Predicting is hard to do, especially of the future. If it is not economical now, it may be later.

That's what I do. Right now, I reload a 100 rounds or so of 9mm just to keep my hand in. I buy 9mm and 45 ammo but not .38 Special and .357 Magnum as I am whittling down previous stockpiled reloads. My reloading time currently is best spent on the oddball milsurp cartridges that I collect than pistol ammo right now. I reload twenty rounds or so of 7.62x39 for a Russki SKS every now and then as well, just for plinking fun but the purpose is if I ever need to reload for it, I can.

Right now, I am not even reloading .30-06 for my 03a3 as Hornady makes a good match round (designed for the Garand but does fine in my 03a3 which has a new old stock WWII remington barrel and standard hunting ammo in that caliber is okay for punching paper on a 100 yard range with iron sights.

 

[Bugster]

For me, when I started loading 9 mm it was a money saver back when 9 was hard to find and very expensive. So now I have all the equipment and can still load for accuracy better than factory loads.

 

[P5 Guy]

You'll never be caught short if you reload, or have the tools and bullets to do so.

 

[dbliz]

Started reloading about 8 yrs ago in order to wring the maximum accuracy possible from my 300 WM. Unsure of my cost per round as I have focused totally on quality. Since my reloading beginnings I have also moved toward more hand gun reloading. I shoot P320 Sig in 9mm about 300 rnds a month and have become somewhat anal about reducing ammo costs. My best effort to date has gotten my round cost down to $.098 each. There is some room for improvement once I lock on to a given powder but probably not much. Rather than buy brass I purchased loaded Blazer ammo at our local discount sporting goods store for $.20 a round in bulk. That brass in it's 5th loading and working great.

 

[WestKentucky]

I didn’t read many responses, but I will throw in my two cents.

To really answer the question of if 9mm is worth loading you have a bunch of other questions to answer.
1. Do you shoot much 9mm. “Much” is whatever your definition is.
2. Do you shoot stuff other than “ball” or rn fmj?
3. Do your gun(s) have grossly over or undersized bores? Have you even checked that?
4. Do your gun(s) have long or shorter than normal chambers?
5. Do you enjoy time on the reloading bench?
6. Do you shoot in preference of extreme accuracy over just whacking a big target quickly.
7. Do you WANT to reload 9mm.

If you answered yes to any of the first 2 above then it’s a maybe. If you answered yes to both it’s a probably. If you answered yes to any of the others then it’s a definitive yes.

1. There are very small savings on 9mm to be had loading range fodder, but ignore your volume supports it then sure, do it.
2. If you move away from “ball” type ammo then your going to see a huge jump in savings in 9mm.
3. And 4. If your loading to satisfy the gun then you either need the gun repaired, or you need to reload for it. Similarly if it were a fragile gun then low pressure rounds are nice.
5. It’s your choice. Would you rather be spending time on the bench or watching some tv show or ball game.
6. Handgun ammo is not nearly as big of an accuracy item as rifle rounds, but consistency and deliberate loads tailored to your gun can make a mediocre shooting gun into a good shooting gun.
7. I always say that “I wanna” is a good enough reason if there’s no better reason not to. It’s cheap to do so it’s better than golf...

 

[Dudedog]

If you have everything else to reload already a set dies are cheap, I say do it.
I have had really good results with RMR jacketed 9mm bullets, they offer THR members a 5% discount and are great to do business with.
Shipping is included in their price so generally you can get (what I feel are better jacketed bullets) for the cost of plated.

If you reload any other pistol rounds you quite possibly have a powder you can use to get you started. Of course slow mag powders won't work but most everything else from N310 to longshot will.
(and most but not everything in that range has listed loads)

For matches I use loads around 128-130 PF, funny how that worked out most of my practice 9mm ammo was right about there before I cared about PF.
124 at about 1030-1050 just makes for nice practice ammo in 9mm IMO.

 

[Bartojc]

I really do not have much to add but to reinforce what has already been written.

I started reloading so I could reload 9mm. Then I decided since I had a press I might as well buy dies for my rifle calibers. Then I bought a rifle so I could load for that caliber Then I bought 45 Colt because I reload.

The point is you will save money on a per round basis, but you will likely shoot more so the additional $$$$ in your pocket is 0, if you are lucky. Today I load for 3 different 9mm and I shoot weekly at a minimum. I can barely keep up, but with my round count it allows be to shoot that much. If I had to buy ammo I would not shoot that much.

I think it is worth it, but be careful it's a slippery slope....

-jeff

 

[Jack B.]

My wife is the only one who likes the 9mm. She goes to the range about 2 out of 10 times I go and half the time she likes to shoot 38 Special &.357 magnum and the other half 9mm. I don't think I'm going to bother to reload 9mm.