Bullets on a tight budget

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Goneshoot'n said:
Well I just got the last of the stuff I need to start reloading. I'm not necessarily new to it, I had a job reloading full time a few years ago, but this is my first time loading on my own equipment. Trouble is, I'm still a college student...
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Then I've got to ask what your majoring in?
 
RMR has the least expensive FMJ bullets for 9mm that I have ever seen. Often cheaper than plated. When Xtreme bullets runs a 10 or 15% off sale with free shipping they are very hard to beat for price. RMR often has 5 or 10% off too which makes them very affordable. You do have to shop around though. For Some bullets/ calibers RMR comes out on top and for others Xtreme beats them. Places like Missouri Bullet Co have very good prices but you have to order a few thousand to get the best price due to shipping cost
 
Unless you have a good source of free or very inexpensive lead casting your own bullets will not be practical in my opinion. What I think you should do is evaluate your actual ammo needs. For some shooters 100 rounds per month is a lot of shooting, for others 1500 rounds/month is light. I'm not a honcho by any stretch of the imagination but I have my bullets all ready for reloading my 2018 shooting escapades and that is about 12,000 handgun bullets of various calibers, shapes and weights. Most of the bullet makers that sell to individuals (XTREME for example) sell in amounts where the post office ships at one rate, up to 70 pounds for I think $15.00 So I usually buy at a minimum that amount to spread the shipping cost over more quantity. For 9mm I believe the best deal will be using either plated or coated bullets. There is a seller called summers enterprises LLC (google them) that sells cast and coated bullets fairly reasonable, never used them personally though.
 
I know everyone has different financial circumstances, but I would suggest saving up, even if it requires shooting less for some period of time, in order to be able to place bulk bullet orders.

I have loaded 9mm since day one and my bullet history is below:

First bullet: started of with Montana Gold 115 FMJ paying $350 for 4,000 or 8.75 cents each. Almost gone through 20,000. Then started looking for a little better price.

Second bullet: RMR 115 FMJ paying $290 (with High Road discount) for 4,000 or 7.25 cents each. Will be starting into these soon as I finish my loading my last 2,000 or so Montana Golds.

Third bullet: Xtreme 147gr plated paying $190 for 3,000 or 6.3 cents each. This was with their 25% off sale at Thanksgiving. I haven't shot them yet, still have to start on and get through the RMRs above, but I imagine I will like them based on shooting a friend's loads. If I do like them, I will buy once every year or two at the Thanksgiving sale.

I know I can go cheaper with coated or lead, but for now I am happy with the choices I have made.

As far as getting deals, I think the best piece of advice is to encourage folks to have an emergency fund. Several months worth of living expenses in your account. If you are fortunate enough to be able to do so, and have many months worth of living expenses set aside, then when you see a deal for something you need you can pounce on it.
 
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I'm simply not seeing the economy of casting. At $1/lb shipped which is a good price these days, I would get 56 125 grain bullets per pound of lead, right? So 5.6 cents per. [THIS IS WRONG, SEE BELOW] Plus lube, plus molds, plus pot, plus the time to cast and size/lube them. For something like 9mm it doesn't make sense to me. I can get quality plated Xtreme 124s for just over .06/rd shipped if I wait for their frequent sales and buy in bulk. Me not get. Maybe in the days when lead was abundant and all shops weren't picked clean of WW but not anymore.
 
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1KPerDay said:
I'm simply not seeing the economy of casting. At $1/lb shipped which is a good price these days..
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Yes, you cannot get a deal on bullets by purchasing new lead and sources of scrap lead are getting rarer to find. But if one can find cheap/free lead, casting can be quite economic if you do not count the time.

Back to the OP, lots of good information posted. Real savings comes from finding deals and specials offered by the various companies from time to time. Just keep checking around and be prepared to pounce when a deal becomes available.

Buying in bulk is also a means to savings and if cash flow is an issue, then setting a small bit aside (buy a cheeseburger instead of a Big Mac:)) periodically will add up and one can make a bulk purchases on bullets.

Casting is a good way to get inexpensive bullets if one can get cheap lead. But there is another capital investment in equipment. Lee makes good budget priced equipment that is more than adequate for getting started. Moulds or used equipment comes on the market periodically.
 
1KPerDay said:
I'm simply not seeing the economy of casting. At $1/lb shipped which is a good price these days, I would get 56 125 grain bullets per pound of lead, right? So 5.6 cents per. Plus lube, plus molds, plus pot, plus the time to cast and size/lube them. For something like 9mm it doesn't make sense to me. I can get quality plated Xtreme 124s for just over .06/rd shipped if I wait for their frequent sales and buy in bulk. Me not get. Maybe in the days when lead was abundant and all shops weren't picked clean of WW but not anymore.
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Do your math over. I figure I bang out any 38 special bullets I like for 3 cents or less.
 
I'm simply not seeing the economy of casting. At $1/lb shipped which is a good price these days, I would get 56 125 grain bullets per pound of lead, right? So 5.6 cents per. Plus lube, plus molds, plus pot, plus the time to cast and size/lube them. For something like 9mm it doesn't make sense to me. I can get quality plated Xtreme 124s for just over .06/rd shipped if I wait for their frequent sales and buy in bulk. Me not get. Maybe in the days when lead was abundant and all shops weren't picked clean of WW but not anymore.
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1KPerDay, If you are getting 56 bullets from that 1lb of lead, which you indicated is $1, then you are looking at $1 divided by 56, which equals $0.01785. Just shy of 1.8 cents per bullet.
 
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