Does reloading 9mm range ammo make any sense?

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Jeb Stuart said:
Ireload2 said:
I have better reloading projects to spend my time on than something like 9mm.
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I shoot about 10,000-12,000 rounds of 9mm a year
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Reloading 9mm, I can save about $3+ per 50 rounds over factory.

So your cost savings could be $600-$720/year or $6,000-$7,200/10 years. If you shoot 40 years, that's $24,000-$28,800 savings.

And cost of ammunition could go up in the future and may push savings north of $30,000 whereas we can stock up on components at today's prices.
bds said:
We all have choices in life.
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The point of my post was that some of us "choose" to reload regardless of cost savings or time involved because we enjoy pursuing reloading as a hobby.

For me, cost savings is real. After having spent $110,000 on shooting/reloading cost during my lifetime so far (I keep trying to tell my wife I saved her like over $150,000 reloading over factory but she fails to see the savings :eek::D), total savings of all calibers I shoot for the rest of my life could be substantial as I am shooting more towards retirement than when I was busy working and raising family.

So at 52, even reloading range blasting ammo translates to cost savings as I am thinking about 25 more years left to shoot (I hope :p) and likely will spend another $100,000 on shooting/reloading before I die.
 
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I have better reloading projects to spend my time on than something like 9mm.
If you love the 9mm that is ok but it is of no consequence to me. I shoot other firearms that I consider much more substantial, more accurate, more powerful and most of all more interesting.
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That will solve the problem all together, if you don’t own or shoot one, there isn’t a lot of reason to reload for one at all.

I’ll be honest and say I quit reloading 9mm for about a decade when $2.99/$3.99/50 round boxes were a available. I didn’t start back up until I was competitively shooting for a couple years and was willing to pay for the advantage of loading my own. At the time I started again it cost me more to make it than go to the store and buy it, from a “bang” perspective but loading ammunition for the specific purpose was all it took to make it to master class, all other gear and myself the same. So that made it make sense to me.
 
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I wish a lot of things. I wish I had time to reload, I don't. I wish I had a range like Hickcock45, I don't. I wish I could win the Lottery. Yes, I enjoy reloading. But the time it takes to load a thousand rounds a month, means I will have to give up something else. I have a few thousand rounds of Berry's and a few unopened containers of Tight-group right now. I also am a working stiff, a tree that fell down that has to be cleared, spring work on the house and on and on. AND TIME IS MONEY. And saying you can save $3.00 on a box of ammo, well not sure that is correct. A whole lot of factors play into a number thrown out like that.
How long does it take you to reload a thousand rounds a month? I am a very frugal person. Still wear the same Timex watch now for 15 years. Look for bargains, Don't spend frivolously, make other sacrifices to shoot on a regular basis. I enjoy reloading, I would enjoy it more in a perfect world.
I believe in diligent training if you are going to carry, and that means a lot of rounds each month. You really want to save and train? Invest in a few Pellet/BB guns. I have been shooting them for years. During the ammo shortage, I shot them at least 4 times a week. I am a point and shoot style shooter. (instinctive). I will say emphatically that they are a tremendous aid. Just during the ammo shortage, I actually improved my powder burner shooting more than ever. I have a range in my garage and one in my back yard. No traveling to a range, can shoot almost any time. Even a short 20 min workout (training session) can be done daily. Given the choice of shooting or reloading, I will spend shooting.
I was a runner all my life. And later coached many runners. During that time I learned a very important lesson for training.
FREQUENT MODERATE WORKOUTS.
I can buy a tin of nice quality pellets at under $15.00 for 500 rounds. Cheaper range pellet for under $10.00. BB's a heck of a lot cheaper. Many Pellet/BB guns can be exact replica's of the actual fire arm. Drawing from holster, fast point and shoot, development of eye, hand body etc. Get to the point that you can toss a Can in the air and hit quick, Set up speed drills etc.
And then there are rifles. I own some very high quality German/English Air rifles. And believe, me, these are addicting. Superb craftsmen ship, great triggers, and accurate as hell. Some of these will embarrass many 22,cal for accuracy. And just plain fun enjoyment. Mine are tuned down to be more quiet than any 22.cal with a suppressor.

Think Pellet gun shooting is a joke? See if you can beat this guy. 2.65 seconds.
/www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEDuJQWiaRE
 
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I enjoy reloading. I enjoy casting and powder coating bullets. The time I would use for doing that would have otherwise been used surfing the internet, watching movies, etc., unlikely I would have been doing anything else productive. I reload 9mm on a single stage press, and it takes about 30 minutes to do 50 rounds. I don't begrudge the time.
Now for the fun part - I was gifted powder some time ago from some nice people. I also have a friend who likes to shoot my guns and keeps me supplied with lead and primers. Ergo, at this moment, I am loading 9mm for the cost of the electricity to run the lead pot and the toaster oven to cure the powder coat. When run out of those, I'll be spending more, as I like getting my lead from the Doe Run secondary smelter down the road from me, a VERY happy coincidence. I realize this is highly atypical. I do, however, enjoy the three parts of my hobby - casting, reloading and shooting.
 
Mine are tuned down to be more quiet than any 22.cal with a suppressor.
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They can be pretty quiet but even my “moderated” air rifles make more noise than my suppressed .22, assuming both are shooting ammunition that doesn’t go faster than the speed of sound.

 
jmorris said:
They can be pretty quiet but even my “moderated” air rifles make more noise than my suppressed .22, assuming both are shooting ammunition that doesn’t go faster than the speed of sound.

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Will have to really disagree with you on this one. A moderated air rifle with a TKO shroud is about as quiet as any gun I have ever seen. I mean if you can only hear the hammer spring and no other noise. Even a tuned down high quality tuned Springer can go down to 77db.
Besides you are missing the point about the cost of airgun shooting, the convenience, the fun and on and on.
 
Jeb Stuart said:
You really want to save and train? Invest in a few Pellet/BB guns.

I can buy a tin of nice quality pellets at under $15.00 for 500 rounds. Cheaper range pellet for under $10.00.
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Already got it. I have Beeman .177/.22 combo Silver Kodiak x2 and targets set up at 25/30/50 yards. With Crosman .22 caliber 14.3 gr HP pellets ($6.47/500 shipped), I can average around 2" groups at 30 yards and 3" groups at 50 yards (smaller groups with .177 pellets). I am shooting about 500 pellets per week to defend our property from invasion of killer soup cans and getting a work out at the same time (Try cocking that barrel 2000 times a month).

Pellet shooting is not just for saving money as it's quality family fun time spent with daughter, which is priceless.

I also have two CMMG 22LR conversion kits for my ARs. While we switched to 9mm carbines during the Great Shortage, when copper plated HP/RN price fell below $27/500 down to $21/555 (Federal 36 gr HP at Walmart/Federal 38 gr HP/Eley primed Aguila RN), I stocked up while supporting this thread - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ammo-for-sale-under-30-for-500-rounds.825048/

So now, I get to plink with .22 caliber pellets, 22LR in my ARs and 9mm in my 40S&W Glocks and carbines for lower cost fun.

All these cost saving measures have not turned me away from shooting. I am teaching two coworkers reload .308/.260 Remington for accuracy at 300-600 yards. I have built 18" 1:7 .223 Wylde AR to shoot for accuracy along with .300 BLK AR at lower round count. So I am range blasting with cheaper ammunition while focusing on precision with lower count albeit more costly ammunition.
Jeb Stuart said:
you can save $3.00 on a box of ammo, well not sure that is correct.
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Here's my cost break down:
So using $150/8 lbs, 4.0 gr charge, $21 for primer, $100/5000 for brass and $77/1000 for bullets into the reloading calculator - http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

Comes out to less than $6.50 per 50 rounds (especially since I can reuse the brass) which is more than $3 less than what I can pay for factory ammunition.
 
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I don't bother reloading for 9MM Mak. The steel cased stuff shoots well in the pistol and is inexpensive, plus I have little interest in chasing the brass (which generally gets ejected into the next county). While I would like to think that handloads would make a difference in accuracy, the sights are very small, my eyesight is poor, and I don't shoot enough of it to bother. There are some calibers that even people like me can justify not bothering with reloading.

On the flip side, I have been experimenting with various loads in my 35 Rem. I'd be hurting for the cost of ammo/components if I did not cast and reload for this cartridge. As it is, the brass is danged pricey even buying once fired. All that said, I figure 6 cents for the bullet, 10 for the powder, 2 for the primer and call it 8 cents for each use of the brass. A bit over $5 a box for a cartridge that isn't that available and there are not that many choices for is a bargain, plus I can tailor the loads any way I like. I am going through the same thing with 30-06 with similar economics/results.
 
Pretty much the only reason I go to the range anymore is to free up brass and space so I can reload some more, and to test new loads. I genuinely enjoy loading more than I do unloading.

I'd imagine many people reload so that they can shoot more. For me it is quite the opposite.

Thus, I reload everything. Whether it makes "cents" or not.

Its getting harder and harder to find time though with a one and a two year old daughter to look after, but I make do. Most of my reloading takes place while the rest of the family is in bed. I don't get much sleep.
 
bds said:
Already got it. I have Beeman .177/.22 combo Silver Kodiak x2 and targets set up at 25/30/50 yards. With Crosman .22 caliber 14.3 gr HP pellets ($6.47/500 shipped), I can average around 2" groups at 30 yards and 3" groups at 50 yards (smaller groups with .177 pellets). I am shooting about 500 pellets per week to defend our property from invasion of killer soup cans and getting a work out at the same time (Try cocking that barrel 2000 times a month).

Pellet shooting is not just for saving money as it's quality family fun time spent with daughter, which is priceless.

I also have two CMMG 22LR conversion kits for my ARs. While we switched to 9mm carbines during the Great Shortage, when copper plated HP/RN price fell below $27/500 down to $21/555 (Federal 36 gr HP at Walmart/Federal 38 gr HP/Eley primed Aguila RN), I stocked up while supporting this thread - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ammo-for-sale-under-30-for-500-rounds.825048/

So now, I get to plink with .22 caliber pellets, 22LR in my ARs and 9mm in my 40S&W Glocks and carbines for lower cost fun.

All these cost saving measures have not turned me away from shooting. I am teaching two coworkers reload .308/.260 Remington for accuracy at 300-600 yards. I have built 18" 1:7 .223 Wylde AR to shoot for accuracy along with .300 BLK AR at lower round count. So I am range blasting with cheaper ammunition while focusing on precision with lower count albeit more costly ammunition.

Here's my cost break down:
So using $150/8 lbs, 4.0 gr charge, $21 for primer, $100/5000 for brass and $77/1000 for bullets into the reloading calculator - http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

Comes out to less than $6.50 per 50 rounds (especially since I can reuse the brass) which is more than $3 less than what I can pay for factory ammunition.
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Yep, reading this post, makes me feel better to just go ahead a pay the extra $3.00. You did not even mention how much time devoted to all this for a thousand rounds a month. So how much combined time etc.?
 
Jeb Stuart said:
I also am a working stiff, a tree that fell down that has to be cleared, spring work on the house and on and on. AND TIME IS MONEY. And saying you can save $3.00 on a box of ammo, well not sure that is correct. A whole lot of factors play into a number thrown out like that.
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For many years, from the time my two kids were born until my youngest graduated from HS, I also was on a tight budget and a tight schedule. I didn't have the time or money to do half of the things that many in that situation seem to be able to accomplish.

Well things have changed for me, both me and my wife are making more money, the kids are on their own, the house is paid for. So my present situation is perhaps a bit of an overreaction, I finally have the time and means for my shooting hobbies but the negative is I'm 60 now and not as fast as I once was. I find this attitude of mine to be common with others my age that I shoot in competitions with. I'm making up for lost time I suppose.

But still, I do work full time and I'm also a volunteer firefighter/EMT and I do everything around the house and car myself. I shoot a lot of 9mm because I've made a commitment to steel challenge and my 9mm revolvers and for that there is no good viable alternative than to handload. To paraphrase Ben Stoeger, if you want to compete and you want to improve then you need to handload. But not everyone likes what I like and does what I do so differences are to be expected. For that reason I use a progressive press. The way mine is set up it doesn't have a case feeder so there is room for expansion that will increase output . A case feeder is on my list of wants but the list is big and diverse.
 
thomas15 said:
For many years, from the time my two kids were born until my youngest graduated from HS, I also was on a tight budget and a tight schedule. I didn't have the time or money to do half of the things that many in that situation seem to be able to accomplish.

Well things have changed for me, both me and my wife are making more money, the kids are on their own, the house is paid for. So my present situation is perhaps a bit of an overreaction, I finally have the time and means for my shooting hobbies but the negative is I'm 60 now and not as fast as I once was. I find this attitude of mine to be common with others my age that I shoot in competitions with. I'm making up for lost time I suppose.

But still, I do work full time and I'm also a volunteer firefighter/EMT and I do everything around the house and car myself. I shoot a lot of 9mm because I've made a commitment to steel challenge and my 9mm revolvers and for that there is no good viable alternative than to handload. To paraphrase Ben Stoeger, if you want to compete and you want to improve then you need to handload. But not everyone likes what I like and does what I do so differences are to be expected. For that reason I use a progressive press. The way mine is set up it doesn't have a case feeder so there is room for expansion that will increase output . A case feeder is on my list of wants but the list is big and diverse.
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I was a competitive runner since high school. Many decades of hard training etc. One day, I just got tired of all the competing. I just went out for a nice long run through the woods. I just enjoyed the run, From then on, I just enjoyed the sport. I do not shoot competition. I shoot to keep up my CCW skills and for sheer enjoyment. I do not want to burden myself with having to load my own ammo. And for $3.00 a box, it is not worth the effort. Like I said. I will just shoot more pellet pistols and 22.cal and enjoy the powder burner range without any pressure. All my competing is just with myself.
Yes, I might go back to the old Hand press, just to crank out a box of 50 rounds every now and then.
KEEP IT SIMPLE KEEP IT FUN
 
CZ9shooter said:
Pretty much the only reason I go to the range anymore is to free up brass and space so I can reload some more, and to test new loads. I genuinely enjoy loading more than I do unloading.

I'd imagine many people reload so that they can shoot more. For me it is quite the opposite.

Thus, I reload everything. Whether it makes "cents" or not.

Its getting harder and harder to find time though with a one and a two year old daughter to look after, but I make do. Most of my reloading takes place while the rest of the family is in bed. I don't get much sleep.
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Yep I’m in the exact same boat with time and little ones. I do all my reloading and gunsmithing from 11pm to 3am. A couple months ago I made a portable bench to be able to reload in the house while I watch my daughter. I’m turning the corner where reloading used to be 70% of the hobby for me but now I just do it so I can shoot quality affordable ammo.
 
Jeb Stuart said:
I was a competitive runner since high school. Many decades of hard training etc. One day, I just got tired of all the competing. I just went out for a nice long run through the woods. I just enjoyed the run, From then on, I just enjoyed the sport. I do not shoot competition. I shoot to keep up my CCW skills and for sheer enjoyment. I do not want to burden myself with having to load my own ammo. And for $3.00 a box, it is not worth the effort. Like I said. I will just shoot more pellet pistols and 22.cal and enjoy the powder burner range without any pressure. All my competing is just with myself.
Yes, I might go back to the old Hand press, just to crank out a box of 50 rounds every now and then.
KEEP IT SIMPLE KEEP IT FUN
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Nobody is trying to convince you to handload.
 
Jeb Stuart said:
You did not even mention how much time devoted to all this for a thousand rounds a month. So how much combined time etc.?

I just went out for a nice long run through the woods. I just enjoyed the run
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And for many of us, reloading is a hobby where time spent reloading is time we enjoy, like you enjoying the run through the woods. In my 20s, I used to run several miles a day and enjoyed hiking/jogging through mountain trails. Good times.

But some may ask you "Why waste time just running through the woods? How long did it take for you to run through the woods?"

When I was hiking/jogging through the mountain trails, it did not matter how long it took as the journey was the part that I enjoyed, not the destination.

Similarly, many reloaders don't care how long it takes to reload as they enjoy the process of reloading, not the destination of shooting finished rounds.
 
Besides you are missing the point about the cost of airgun shooting, the convenience, the fun and on and on.
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Yeah, I understand, went down that road already. First the fun of pumping the rifles up to 3000 psi with a hand pump, then building methods to fill them without the work out, then carbon fiber tanks to hold 4500 psi so is didn’t have to haul filling equipment everywhere I went. Would be a number of thousands of dollars if I didn’t build my own stuff.

Springers are fairly cheap though but not sure how much good they do for practice because the ones I own shoot best using techniques that I don’t use on other rifles a lot.

If I had stopped with the Benjamin that was given to me as a child it would have stayed cheap though.
 
@thomas15 , I just turned 60 as well. House isn't paid for yet, but not far from it. I'm still working, changed jobs not long ago, doing something I enjoy more, and just hoping I can hang out until I can retire.

@Jeb Stuart , I, too, was involved with competitions in past years (model airplanes). First it was competitive fun-fly competition, and I designed a plane that became fairly popular. I was so obsessed with it that I had to just quit for a while. Then I got into precision aerobatics, ended up winning a national championship, and again burned out. The wife and I enjoy very much going to shoot, and reloading has become a great hobby for me. History has a way of repeating itself, so I purposely stay away from shooting competitions and just enjoy target shooting and working up new loads.

Reloading has become a hobby for me, and it provides a good outlet for the engineering type in me. I started out telling myself that I was going to save money, but I now do it just for the enjoyment. The fact that the end product goes BANG is a big bonus. :D

So, to get back to the OP, different people reload - or don't - for different reasons. I reload different calibers for different reasons, but I enjoy it all.

Except the bottleneck rifle brass prep - I could probably do without that. :)
 
jmorris said:
Yeah, I understand, went down that road already. First the fun of pumping the rifles up to 3000 psi with a hand pump, then building methods to fill them without the work out, then carbon fiber tanks to hold 4500 psi so is didn’t have to haul filling equipment everywhere I went. Would be a number of thousands of dollars if I didn’t build my own stuff.

Springers are fairly cheap though but not sure how much good they do for practice because the ones I own shoot best using techniques that I don’t use on other rifles a lot.

If I had stopped with the Benjamin that was given to me as a child it would have stayed cheap though.
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Springers are fairly cheap? I paid about $600.00 for my last one. I have paid about the same for others. A good tune on a quality rifle runs about $400.00. I don't know about your techniques you use, I use the same with a rifle. I just wish all my Powder Burner rifles had some of the quality trigger of the Springers I own. It sounds like you must have a Big Box store gun.

On another note, just for clarity, I am happy that some folks can reload and enjoy. I enjoyed it as well. Just have different priorities.
As far as "RUNNING THROUGH THE WOODS" comment. "
"some may ask you "Why waste time just running through the woods? How long did it take for you to run through the woods?"

When I was hiking/jogging through the mountain trails, it did not matter how long it took as the journey was the part that I enjoyed, not the destination."

Not sure what the heck you are getting at. Yes, it might take a hour to run, but what does that have to do with reloading? Running is also a part of my life like spending time with family. My life does not revolve soley around running. And yes, I will spend a hour doing physical workouts, just like I spend 5 min. brushing my teeth etc. A lot of the activities of my life are why I do not have much time for reloading.
 
Jeb Stuart said:
A lot of the activities of my life are why I do not have much time for reloading.
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So why don't we piss our pants? Because no matter how busy our life is, we always find time to go to the bathroom or do things that are important to us.


As to "running through the woods for enjoyment and how long it took" comment, there are two types of reloaders in the world:
  1. One that reloads to shoot
  2. One that shoots to reload
If you belong to group 1, reloading range blasting 9mm will be boring and not worthwhile pursuing.

If you belong to group 2, reloading all types of ammunition, even range blasting 9mm, is fun and relaxing activity regardless how much time it takes or cost.

Both groups of reloaders are correct in their own perspectives.

I belong to group 2.
 
Springers are fairly cheap? I paid about $600.00 for my last one.
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Compare that to the price of an equal PCP, tank(s), fittings and compressor and you will see that $600 "out the door", is pretty cheap.
 
Jeb Stuart said:
KEEP IT SIMPLE KEEP IT FUN
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Very well said Sir.

I have always been on the edge of something competitive. When I was a kid I shot Jr. smallbore and did quite well. In HS I as deep into marching/concert band and made several tryout bands. After college I did quite a few half century and metric century bicycle rides and later earned Black Belts in 2 martial arts.

When I started shooting handguns in 2013 I was shooting 9mm glocks. I really struggled there and had a few bad experiences in local competitions. My pride to be honest was very much damaged. I made the switch to revolver as part of my 2015 New Years Resolutions. As bad as I was with auto loaders I really sucked with revos. But I have stuck with it and while far from being in the winners circle I can usually do well enough that others at starting to ask me for advice. I'm regularly out shooting guys that would blow my doors off two years ago. I set goals and work towards them. One of my goals for this year is to make A class in OSR in Steel Challenge. This goal is absolutely within my abilities and I'm not far off from that.

While I want to have fun I'm working hard because I know that I don't have a lot of years to do well and I want my day in the sun! But the minute it becomes a chore and not fun I will drop it.
 
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