For those concerned about panic buying and ammo shortages with the next election,

You're going to hate yourself for buying military brass. Removing the crimp in those 9mm cases SUCKS.

 

Many ways to skin your game! There are several threads on the similar topic always running it seems. To me wether you buy factory or reload taking advantage of sales and present low cost to restock is more of a hedge against higher cost and lack of supply than anything else. I reload so I mostly buy components and rimfire ammo. But when common calibers are near or below cost of components I will buy rather than make blasting ammo. The accurate stuff has ALWAYS been cheaper to make than buy though. So I advise one to stock up now before the next inevitable price hike. YMMV

 

I learned the hard way (of course ... perhaps like most of us) that it is worthwhile(!) to pay an extra 1¢-2¢ per case for the "processed" military 9mm and .45acp cases ... just for the swaged primer pockets.

 

“The Great Ammo Scare” opened my eyes to the value of reloading. Once the panic buying stopped and prices dropped I picked up a Lee turret to learn the ropes with and began slowly stockpiling components as I found good prices. This year I decided to jump to a progressive. I don’t yet have decades worth of powder, primers and bullets stocked up, but after I run through my 2-3 year stock of factory ammo I should be able to go another 2-3 years on reloads.

I get a certain level of satisfaction from knowing how to reload too, and while a lot of folks talk about factoring in their time I’ve found that it’s actually a great time killer. Once I’m set up for a certain caliber it’s nice for those times I don't have a few hours to get into a larger project, but I do have 20 minutes to spend at my reloading station.

 

I just pick up 9mm brass at my gun club. The pistol bays are normally littered with the stuff.

 

I started out with muzzle-loaders so reloading was a natural next step.
My first reloading set-up was a Lee single press, soon supplemented by two others. One for sizing and de-capping, one (modified to hold a powder measure) for belling the mouth and adding powder, and one for final assembly and any crimp that is necessary.
Every load is individually passed through the system, being checked at each stage.
I hand prime separately.
I also pour, size and lube most of my own bullets.
I consider this to be my zen time.

 

IMO there should always be a strong single stage press on the reloading bench. I have had a RCBS Rockchucker for over 30 years. I have loaded over two dozen different cartridges on it over the years.

Progressive Presses are great for cranking out a lot of rounds that are loaded to the same specs. However they are a pain when in comes time to change cartridges and are not useful when experimenting and working up loads.

I rarely use my Progressive Press. I find it easier and safer to use my Rockchucker. I can quickly verify that each case has powder and don’t have to worry about a case missing the prime or seated wrong.

 

Oh, I've already done it. It's not too bad, but as I said, I don't load a lot of pistol. Anyway, this isn't my first rodeo.

Tim

 

I reload for the two more expensive cartridges I shoot, .38-40 being the prime reason at $50-75 a box for store bought.

AIM Surplus has Russian steel for less than $6.50 a box, or less than $9 a box for good brass ammo. Not worth my time.


TulAmmo 9mm FMJ 115grn 100rd Box
$12.95

 

Yeah, well, my gun club pistol bay is in my backyard so unless the forest critters start using my range facilities for there own firearms (If so, watch out!) the only cases available to me there are the ones that I deposit.

As I recall, one time, years ago I bought a 1000 9x19 once-fired military cases, cheap, that just happened to feature a heavy annulus crimp and I had the pleasure of swaging the primer pockets one at a time. WHEW!

The place where I got those offered them at a "processed" price of, as I mentioned, an extra 1¢-2¢ per case. I thought I was being both smart & frugal thinking, "How tough could this be?" Turned out that I was only frugal.

 

My deer rifle doesn't get much action during the of season. But it's always zeroed. I also shoot 22 and other random rifles during the off season.

 

Been reloading ammo since 1953-1954. Never reloaded handgun ammunition. Until a few years ago i was reloading 17 common rifle calibers and about ten obsolete calibers. Now days most of my reloading is .22 Hornet, .221 Fireball , .223/5.56mm and .22 Cheetah. Having a large stock of .22 caliber bullets bought long ago keeps costs down.

 

I have been reloading now for close to 40 years. I like doing it. I also cast a lot of the bullets I shoot including bullets/balls for my BP guns. I am not a TV watcher. I would rather be casting, reloading or building a new RC airplane. I don't even like to watch football. I have so much supplies on hand I don't even remember what it cost me so its like getting ammo for free.

I also stocked up on 22/22 mag rounds. I have 30,000 22s and 5,500 22 mags on the shelf. I try to promote reloading to anyone who will listen. I have taught a couple others to reload. Done properly its perfectly safe. And I never panic during a shortage. I leave that to the unprepared folks.

 

Same here.

Spread the word.

 

I forgot I bought this box last week for $7.97 plus tax. I have total of 270 cartridges which should last me for a long time. I can relax now and leave more ammo on shelves for others to buy.

 

270 cartridges might last my wife and me through next weekend.

 

That's like half a range session for me.

 

I'm ok with what I have. Before next election I will buy some extra food, water,.....just in case Trump wins electoral college but looses the popular vote. If this happens I will stay home for a while so that I don't run into any trouble.
I might add second handgun. Today I looked over five-shot 3" S&W .38 Special revolver with round butt in red cardboard factory box. Pretty item and one does not even have to worry about future magazine capacity limits.

 

Having a variety of guns that take different ammo is a good idea but so is having a few guns in the same caliber. Or even the same model. And having ammo on hand or the ability to make more ammo is the name of the game. Look at it like this. What if right this minute for whatever reason ammo and reloading sales were stopped. How long could you get by with what you have on hand right this second?

Will it ever come to that? Who knows? No one here does. But I learned my lesson way back in 1996 when the rumor went around that primers were going to be made that only had a 6 month shelf life. In just a few days there were no primers to be found. And this was pre internet days so no search engines and online buying. So buy and supply like when you wake up tomorrow there is no more for sale. At least not for a long, long time. And I don't sell my supplies. I figure everyone has the same news reports and information as I do and if you miss the boat on guns, ammo or reloading components you are S.O.L.

 

270 rounds is at most two matches. Doesn't even cover weekly practice.

 

I have to keep at least 1000 9mm rounds loaded at all times as depending on who goes shooting with me (Son and his girlfriend, friends, neighbors and their family, etc.), whether we shoot just pistols or PCC, we will exhaust the ammo supply (And I am not counting other calibers like .223/5.56, 380Auto, 40S&W, 45ACP and 22LR).

I am thinking about increasing my stock on hand to 2000 9mm rounds loaded.

 

If I had to guess I'd say I've got somewhere between 7000-10,000 rounds of 9mm loaded right now and around another 3-4K of .45 ACP.