Inexpensive 9mm Ammo

[MoNsTeR]

For the reloading skeptics, there about about a zillion "is it really worth it?" threads in the archives here, at TFL, rec.guns, and indeed just about every internet gun forum.

Buying components in bulk, and using a good progressive press, you can turn out a hundred rounds of 9mm in 20 minutes for about $7 (or less). That 20 minute estimate includes filling primer magazines and setting your charge weight. If you use cast bullets or make your own it can get cheaper still.

So the question is, is your 20 minutes, plus the cost of equipment, and the time spent learning it and developing loads, worth $4 per hundred rounds plus control over your loads? For me the answer is, "sometimes". If I up and decide to go shooting and I'm low on 9mm, I'll hit Wal-mart. If I know I'm going tomorrow, I'll load some rounds myself. It's also nice to be able to produce 9mm loads that feel like .22's.

If you're at the point where you can outshoot crappy ammo, then handloading is no longer an option, it's a necessity. Buying premium rounds for $12-$25 per 50 sucks compared to loading equivalently accurate ammo for $6 per 50 or less. But, this is not a concern for all of us (certainly not for me!).

 

[HSMITH]

I load at about 350 per hour for 9mm. That IS including all necessary steps like primer tubes and powder and quality checks etc. 45ACP is substantially faster for me as well, but 350 per hour is plenty. For a run of 100 rounds the time can be substantially less, as in under 10 minutes easily, but that is not a realistic number IMO as it does not represent true production numbers. If I am going shooting and figure I am low on ammo I can go downstairs and come up in one hour with 150 9mm AND 150 45 acp, fresh loaded. Caliber conversion, powder measure moved and all of that. It isn't that hard.

BTW, I load on a 550B as well, and 9mm is second slowest of 7 calibers. I can load 308 as fast......

 

[oscar]

I reload for every caliber that I shoot except for .380 cause I dont shoot it very often. I have loaded for 9 in the past and still do. However, here, or on some other board, I heard about Academy Sports and real cheap Blazers. My hunting buddy lives in Dallas and a couple of years ago he brought a case of Blazers to me in South Dakota. I go to Talladega twice a year and pass by a couple of Academy stores. Last year I brought home 5600 rounds and yesterday it was 3000. Many of my 9's are shot in a Sig and a Glock and they really dont like lead. For $3.99 per box I will shoot the Blazers and not worry about the empties.