Is 9mm cost effective to reload now?

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Hanafuda

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I've lurked about here for a few years, and was active at glocktalk for years before that, not to mention getting into small talk at the range ... and for the most part what I've usually heard from 'seasoned' (i.e. geezer) shooters is that 9mm is cheap enough that it just isn't cost-effective to reload it for just range ammo. Perhaps if you're already set-up to reload for various calibers, yes .. but if 9mm is what you shoot and its the only caliber you would be reloading, I've pretty much always heard 'don't bother.'

I would assume that reloading materials prices (powder, primers, etc) have increased along with the increase in commercial ammo prices we've seen recently, so that may mean there's been no real change in the cost/benefit analysis to reloading 9mm, but it's got me wondering. The other day I ran 150 rds of WWB through my M&P and the guy next to me was snatching up my brass almost before it hit the ground (he did ask first, at least). I've seen plenty of brass scroungers for .45, but usually not 9mm.

SO was my neighbor just a nice guy with a 9mm reloading fetish, or should I be hoarding my brass and saving up for a press? How many rds of FMJ 9mm would I need to reload before the investment paid for itself?
 
Depends depends depends

I also shoot mostly 9mm thru my M&P. I also was wondering if reloading was worth it. I looked into a Dillon 550B. By the time you get everything you need if you buy new, you'll be looking at $600.00+ before you buy any primers, powder or bullets. I calculated that cost, and it is something like 8000-10000 rounds before you even break even.

That was figuring on FMJ bullets and current costs of powder and primers and reusing my own cases.

Needless to say, I didn't run out and buy a Dillon.

God did provide for me a reasonable alternative though. I found a deal on some old Herters presses and dies etc and went in with a friend and spent under $200.00 and that included a bunch of powder, primers and bullets.

Look for deals on old presses. You can't go wrong with a Herter's.

That's my 2 cents.

If I end up loading cast bullets at current pricing, I figure I can reload 9mm for half the cost of Walmart which still seems to have the cheapest plinking rounds. Last box of 100 9mm FMJ RN 115g I bought was just over $20.00.

In the last 18 months since I bought my M&P I've gone through approx 3-4 thousand factory rounds. If all those had been reloads I'd have saved a bundle by now.
 
If you already have a press and equipment, the dies are only about what, 10 to 15 dollars like from Lee? I would say 9mm is worth it. I reload my empty .380 shells too. There is much more to this than just "cost". Its a hobby in itself and very relaxing. You also get the luxury of being able to experiment and customize your loads. You cant do that with a box of over-priced Federal CoreLoked rounds.
 
Considering even the cheaper 9mm ammo like Winchester White Box and Remington UMC ammo are $12.99 and up for 50 rounds, reloading 9mm ammo is well worth reloading. Even with today's component prices you can still build a box of 50 9mm rounds for under $5.00.

You say you shot 150 rounds of WWB ammo, how much did it cost you? Those same 150 rounds would have cost you less than $14.50 to reload. Subtract $14.50 from what you paid and you will get the actual savings per range trip. Multiply that by the number of trips you take for 1 year and I'm sure you will be very surprised at the potential saving. I'm betting you could have saved at least $27.00 on that one range trip shooting 150 rounds.
 
I am loading 9mm for under $3.50 a a box of 50. I would say it's been worth it ever since the price exceeded $8 a box. So, about last year at this time. If I could buy 9mm FMJ practice stuff- CCI Blazer Brass, for example- for $5 box in case lots, I would stop reloading 9mm entirely except for my fake Gold Dot practice loads.
 
By the time you get everything you need if you buy new, you'll be looking at $600.00+ before you buy any primers, powder or bullets.
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It is just not necessary to spend that much to get started. It's like buying a caddy for your first car.

A Lee single stage or Classic Turret, a set of dies, a scale, a set of cheap but good $15 calipers, and a measure. Heck, you don't even have to have a measure at first, just use the Lee scoop. Scrounge some 9MM range brass, buy some cast bullets, a pound of powder, and some primers. Then upgrade a little here, a little there, as time goes by.

Going cheap is a lost art these days. :)

To many reloaders with years of experience who have collected a lot of nice toys over time showing off all the stuff they have bought. You don't have to start with a Ferrari with all the options. A bone stock used VW bug will get you to work too.
 
It is now. I was looking at some old receipts from Jan 2008 for 9mm. I bought them for $5.99 per box. I just got the Midway and Cabela's catalogs. One dry box reloaded "once fired" of 300, (that's 6 50rnd boxes) is 84.99 which is 14.16 per box of 50. In fact all the 9mm bullets I saw in the two catalogs were between 12.00 and 15.00 per box and I'm pretty sure they'll be getting higher later this spring.
 
9mm reloading

9mm reloading has been on My mind of late as well . I went to Wal-mart and bought 5 boxes of WWB 115gn 100round value paks for $105.85 OTD . When they have Braser Brass it's $8.95 per 50 . Now I only want to shoot 50-100 rounds a week to keep up with My CCW shooting skills . Now I'm sure at present the savings won't be that big, but I think a single stage ( used ) press will be in My future because it will be relaxing to run 100 to 200 rounds every once in awhile . Time is not a issue. Already have a set of calipers. I see die on EBAY all the time . So what else is required to reload 9mm on the cheap ? Don't want to deal with lead and bullit molds tho, but would like to go with 124 or 147grs for paper punching .....WVleo
 
I used to be one of the guys who said 9mm was too cheap to bother reloading, but times have changed..... I used to get 9mm for $4.50 a box.... now its more than doubled....so I reload it now to make affordable to shoot.
 
You can start reloading for as little as a $19 Lee Loader (whack it with a hammer) complete caliber specific kit. All you need to add is powder, primer, brass and bullets.

Next step up is a Lee hand press for about $25 and then you add the dies.

(neither of the two ways above will be fast, in fact they will be darn glacier slow, but they WILL make safe ammo)

Single stage press or 4-hole turret complete kits are well under $150.

Unless you are shooting thousands of rounds per week you do not need a pricier and more complex progressive reloader IMHO. They are great, work great and churn out a phenomenal number of rounds per hour; but you don't need one to make perfectly safe, functional and economical ammo. My single stage will reload about 50 rounds per hour, a turret puts you into the 100-200 round per hour range, progressives are at least double that output....wonderful if you need it, but I reload to save money and pass the time on an enjoyable hobby, when the weather is too crappy to ride my cycles or it's too cold out to scuba dive. No need for me to rush through it.

There is some small amount of snobbery out there against Lee products. Just as there are those who would ONLY buy a Lincoln and look down their nose on a Chevy Aveo. But they are both fully functional ways to get to work.

Let your realistic reloading needs and your budget be your guide and you won't go wrong. There are hours of free reading resources out there on the internet and hours of videos on youtube and at the Lee website to give you a very good idea of what it's all about.
 
Next step up is a Lee hand press for about $25 and then you add the dies.
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I use that one also. when I use the Hornady and Lee in tandem it goes very fast.
 
And for those fans of the 'Blue" machine, I am in NO way saying anything negative about Dillon. Same goes for Lyman, Hornady, RCBS or any other maker of reloading machinery.

But I recognize that in a competetive market, where word of mouth is almost as important as advertising, Lee has been making safe, competent, functional and affordable reloading equipment for admittedly "frugal" buyers (lol) for over 45 years and has been quite successful doing it. With the economy in the crapper, it is comforting to know that there remains a way to participate in a hobby like reloading at whatever budget level you choose and still have fun learning while you make safe ammunition at easily half the price of 'store-bought".

Rather than brand bash, I think that like firearms themselves, it's ALL good stuff. Just different tools for different jobs, needs and budgets.
 
I have gone though phases with reloading 9x19. When I first started reloading, I loaded 9x19 along with the other chamberings I was shooting. That was around 1994 or so, and even though 9x19 was cheap, I could load about twice the number of rounds for the same price as buying it.

Then I started shooting 9x19 less, and I found myself buying it. It was more expensive than handloading, but I saved the least on 9x19, so that gave me time to load other chamberings.

Since ammo prices have gone up so much, I'm back to handloading 9x19. There is enough savings to justify it, but I still save more loading .38 Special, .45ACP, and, of course, .44 Special.
 
You bet it's worth it........esp. if you, like me, get a Lee Turret press, use free range brass and cast lead bullets.
 
Of course its cost effective but dont do it to save money.....

I do it because I find it relaxing and fun. I like being able to make 1000's of rounds and try diff loads. Its a way to enjoy the shooting hobby when you cant get out of the house...its great if you hate TV, etc..

but to just save $$$ - nah, its not worth your time.
 
Lee Turret Press + components and you'll break even at about 3000 rounds. You'll make better ammunition and maybe have some fun, too. I'm reloading 9mm for about .11/round. Show me where you can buy for under $20/100 (with tax and gas to get to the store it's even more).
 
Thanks for all the inputs gents. I too am getting some reloading equipment tomorrow (used) to start reloading for my brother and I. Ammo prices have gone through the roof!
 
Thanks for all the inputs gents. I too am getting some reloading equipment tomorrow (used) to start reloading for my brother and I. Ammo prices have gone through the roof!
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Just remember, work up your loads and test loads in the gun you are shooting. In other words if you load for someone else, even if they're the same caliber as yours, keep the loads separated. And read
 
geezers!!!!
The PC term is Senior Citizen ( smirk, snicker, snort) I prefer grisled curmudgeon (Smile)
Just funnin with ya, ya go ahead reload its a bunch of fun all its own.
 
For 9mm, you basically can't get decent ammo unless you make it yourself. By "decent", I mean 124 JHP's going 1,200 fps+. Sure, you can buy similar loads, marketed as "designer ammo", for $1 ea. and more, but why? And why would I feed the normal run of pop-gun crap to my guns? If you shoot pipsqueak ammo, you're not practicing for the point of impact for the good stuff.
My full power reloads cost about 15 cents each.
It does take a lot of time, but I use the Lee "nutcracker" hand press, and an RCBS little dandy powder measure. I find that the time requirement causes me to be more deliberate in making ammo that I really want, and being more conservative when I shoot.
As time passes, I become more convinced that we will have a need for defensive ammo, and that supplies will get harder to come by. If/when that happens, I don't want ANY underpowered junk laying around.
 
If you want to get started cheap, try starting off with the Lee Reloader press.
Reloader press & manual Get the Lee Powder Scale, a set of Lee carbide 9mm and a harbor freight caliper. That is about the minimum you can get by with that will allow you to branch out with later on to most any caliber, and every reloader should have a single stage press. :D

Bolt the press to a piecs of 2x6 and C-clamp it to the table, bench, tailgate, whatever. You can load anywhere and put it up when you are done out of the way. I started off by drilling holes in the coffee table and loaded on it for a long time till I built a dedicated bench. Use 1/4-20 carriage bolts and wingnuts to mount and unmount easier. The Lee scale is good and does work. Lots of folks talk it down, and lots of us like it. Now look at your initial investment and see if it is worth it. :what:
 
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