Cost savings for smaller calibers?

[El Bucho]

I'm looking in to getting into Rifle and Pistol reloading. Done a lot of 12 and 20 gauge reloading. Specifially, reloading .223 Rem, .308 WIN, 9mm Parabellum, and .45 ACP. Figure that is is definitely worth it for the 45 and 308, but what about the 223 and 9mm? Being on the smaller side of calibers and available at reasonable prices. (5 bucks for a box of 20 .223). Does reloading make these smaller calibers cheaper to shoot as well, is reloading these calibers cost effective as well as acheiving higher quality or is it just mostly for the hobby of it? Thanks in advance.

EB

 

[Jim Watson]

You can sure reload .223 for less than $5 a box, and better quality, too. I keep some cheap ball for use in rifle side matches which are usually at pretty close ranges, and when I don't want to bother to pick up empties, but I definitely figure on reloading the good stuff.

It is a lot closer on 9mm. Academy Sports was selling Blazer for $3.99 a box, Walmart has bulk Winchester for $11 a hundred, and there is all sorts of import econo-ball. You can load it for less but some folks feel that the savings is not worth their time. I am retired and have bags of 9mm brass, so I load most of mine. If your time is limited you might rather put it into .45 and rifle ammo, and just buy 9mm ball, though.