Is 9mm worth the time to reload?

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CoalTrain49

CoalTrain49

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I reload .357, 45 ACP, 30 Carbine and .223. I've built a sizable pile of brass for those cartridges. I think it's worth my time to reload those. I don't have a progressive press and no plans to buy one.

I just started shooting 9mm a few months ago and I'm really having serious doubts about reloading this cartridge. I've loaded a few hundred already and as nearly as I can calculate it costs me about 0.15/rd using FMJ. I know I can load lead cheaper but prefer FMJ for my H&K. Probably takes me about a minute to load one when I include the case prep and primer seating. I load slow.

I'm seeing 9mm ammo for less than 0.20/rd. It seems to be about the cheapest CF pistol ammo on the planet. I can afford to buy it by the case if that matters.

If you reload with a single stage press do you load 9mm or just buy it? If you buy it do you order it online or just shop the local sales?
 
I load 223 and 9 mm
I think it's worth it as I enjoy reloading
To me it's enjoyable and relaxing so cost isn't the main factor

I also like being able to try different powders, bullets and loads.
I use a Turret Press but do the depriming on a hand press and priming by a hand primer

I also hand measure my powder so I know my loads are as accurate as my scale.

So even though I'm pretty new to loading, I'm pretty sure my loads are much more consistent than cheap commercial ammo. And at least as consistent as expensive ammo. So if I was comparing cost it would be against that not the cheap stuff.

All that aside. If you think it's not worth it to you. Buy the ammo then save the brass for the next crisis when prices go insane or nothing is available.
 
CoalTrain49 said:
I just started shooting 9mm a few months ago and I'm really having serious doubts about reloading this cartridge. I've loaded a few hundred already and as nearly as I can calculate it costs me about 0.15/rd using FMJ. I know I can load lead cheaper but prefer FMJ for my H&K. Probably takes me about a minute to load one when I include the case prep and primer seating. I load slow.

I'm seeing 9mm ammo for less than 0.20/rd. It seems to be about the cheapest CF pistol ammo on the planet. I can afford to buy it by the case if that matters.
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I do think factory 9mm ammunition faces much market competition and is priced very fairly. But it's very difficult to get down to 20 cents/per for new quality ammunition - buying CCI Blazer Brass 115 or 124gr. by the case from TargetSportsUSA is as close as I know of. They sell either for 199.80 per case with free shipping, but the shipping isn't free as they expect you to pay a surcharge for insurance (like they are selling it to the courier, not you), bringing the total to ~ $203 per case.

In my experience those advertising cheaper are selling aluminum or steel case, not including their inflated shipping costs, or sell reloaded ammunition. And even so it's hard to get cheaper than 20 cents/per landed.

You can buy nice 115gr. FMJs from RMR for 79.00/1000 shipped, and they've extended a 5% discount to THR members, bringing it to 75.05/1000. Figure the SPP primer of your choice at 2.7-3 cents/per and 1.25-2 cents/per for powder, and it's pretty easy to achieve 12.3 cents/per with the RMR bullets.

Is 7.5 cents out of 20 enough of a savings to be worth your time - only you can answer that. For me it's enough of a savings. I did opt for a turret press to speed the process, though.
 
ray15 said:
You can buy nice 115gr. FMJs from RMR for 79.00/1000 shipped, and they've extended a 5% discount to THR members, bringing it to 75.05/1000. Figure the SPP primer of your choice at 2.7-3 cents/per and 1.25-2 cents/per for powder, and it's pretty easy to achieve 12.3 cents/per with the RMR bullets.
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Thanks for the tip. That's a decent price for FMJ. Never heard of them.

I already have a good supply of powder, primers and brass. I also have the dies. That might be the answer.

Thanks
 
CoalTrain49 said:
Thanks for the tip. That's a decent price for FMJ. Never heard of them.

I already have a good supply of powder, primers and brass. I also have the dies. That might be the answer.

Thanks
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No problem. Here's a link to the thread explaining the discount : https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...hr-members-at-rocky-mountain-reloading.759774

They recently started making their own FMJ's in-house, and the 1,000 I got measure better than one might expect for the price. I'll run some over the chronograph tomorrow.
 
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rvenneman said:
I load 9mm because I enjoy it. Sometimes I think I enjoy reloading better than shooting..
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Same here. It is true that I originally started reloading for the cost savings, but my reasons have long since changed. Now I am pretty sure that even if factory ammo was cheaper than my own I would still reload. I am not much of a high volume shooter anymore and I take pride in doing most things myself.
 
Cheaper, or better (more accurate)? If Better is not cheaper, is cheaper better? If it makes no difference, cheaper is better. If it does, better is cheaper.

I trust I make myself clear.
 
I just made my first 100. Worth it? Ask me tomorrow. if I'm not blown up and they all go bang I'll say yes

67670446-261A-4557-8166-B394999E7E29.jpg
 
CoalTrain49 wrote:
If you reload with a single stage press do you load 9mm or just buy it?
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I use a single stage press. I reload 9mm. I do it because I like to know what went into the rounds I am shooting.

I don't reload to try and save a few cents per round. If I considered the value of my time, each round I produced would be worth more than $1 each. I reload to relax so that I can retain my sanity to go to work and make a living for myself and my family.
 
I don't think I'd save very much money reloading 115's. However I load 124's and 147's. I haven't seen much of these bullet weights on the local shelves in factory loadings.
I shoot 2-3 matches a month and go through quite a few rounds of ammo. To me it is worth the time I put into it. And I very much prefer the heavier weights.
 
I don't necessarily load ammo cheaper than I can buy it (although my handloads do usually cost less than factory loads), but I can load it to better suit my own needs than the cheap factory stuff. So yeah, it's worth my time. Not to mention it's a hobby in its own right, so the time spent loading can not be deducted from my life..
 
I've been loading 9mm for years and I am quite happy doing them on a single stage press. It's not really about the savings, but more about having a fun and procutive hobby that keeps me out of the bars. ;) Sure it might take me 45 minutes to load 100 rounds, but I have fun. I also cast my own bullets and powder coat them, so if I had to figure out what it actually costs, it would come out to about $2.00 a box of 50. Maybe.
 
I have loaded 9 on a single stage for years and it's definitely worth it to me. Once I get a load for one gun I load up a bunch for it. I load for 5 9's and each has its own load, and I shoot a lot. I bulk process the brass, one day it gets deprimed/resized, then a few bar he's get tumbled. A few days later they get hand primed and flared and stored till I need to load them. On rare occasions I'll dust off the Loadmaster and fill up an ammo can or two just to get ahead for a few weeks of heavy practice. I use a Lee Reloader for 9, 38, 357, & 45. I could do them on the Loadmaster, but I prefer the single stage, and I have lots of time to load.

I just got another Reloader press and the Lee bench prime to be a little more efficient and make priming easier on my hands. I just finished a batch of 3000 9mm cases prepped and ready to load and the priming with the hand primer was rough.

Is it worth it, definitely to me it is. All my rounds are tailored to each gun and cost way less than factory. Even if there was no cost difference, I'd still load my own because none of the factory I have tried gets me the accuracy I want.
 
yes! Im saving money compared to the $13-14-50rds and they are a hell of a lot more accurate than anything factory I've ran.
 
I am coaching my wife and daughter to overcome flinching problems acquired from shooting other handguns that hurt their hands. So, I load a "mouse load" that will just barely operate the slide on their pistols. I couldn't adjust the loads as I plan on doing as they progress with their shooting. Besides, I like to reload.
 
I just started shooting 9mm a few months ago and I'm really having serious doubts about reloading this cartridge.
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The only time I do something that I feel is a waste of time is when my wife asks me to do it.

That said I reload 9mm, never on a single stage though.
 
Since all of us value our time differently, whether "it's worth the time" is very subjective.

I think the bottom line: If you're wondering if [reloading in general, or reloading some specific caliber such as 9mm] is worth the time spent reloading, then it's not worth the time reloading it. (That's obviously overstated, but I think you get the point.)

Some people have a lot of other things going on in their life and the very fact they're asking themselves the question means there's a reasonable chance their time is better spent doing something else. I totally get that. Completely. Utterly. When my wife and I were in the throes of working and child rearing we barely had time to get dinner on the table. I wanted to start reloading then but there was no time. On the occasions I could get to the range I'd sometimes stop at a LGS on the way to the range to get some ammo....I didn't even take the time to keep a reasonable ammo supply on hand.

But now things are different, I have the time, and reloading is as enjoyable to me as shooting itself. Therefore, the question of "Is it worth the time?" doesn't even occur to me.

OR

P.S.: That doesn't necessarily mean all reloading is worth the time to me. I've watched the YouTube videos, and I have no interest whatsoever in reloading .22.
 
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