On the fence about reloading 9mm, any help?

[RustyFN]

J Star:
Yup, just checked what I wrote down at the store:

500 CCI SP Primers = $3.49

I would buy all that they have at that price.
Rusty

 

[okienate]

Unless you have serious ADD issues, reload. Financially it won't make you rich, but you will save money on a cost per round basis (unless you are really lazy about how you buy components....)

NOTE: due to the "explosive nature" of powder and primers, many web/mail order places stick you with a HAZMAT surcharge, hey they have to pay it so you get it passed on to you). I suggest you keep this in mind when you're looking to buy them. I suggest you find a decent place nearby, if you can, and even if the listed price is a couple of bucks more per pound it will work out cheaper than mail order.

I've had better luck finding deals on bullets on the web though. Many places will periodically run "free shipping" for bulk purchases. I am not picky about my range/practice ammo, so I'll just keep an eye open for the deals and work up loads for "deals" that I haven't yet shot. MidwayUSA has hooked me up with free shipping on Winchester FMJ and generic "copper plated" bullets. All of them have done well for me.

I bought my .45ACP and 9 mm para dies over Christmas and have more than paid for all of my basic reloading equipment (Hey, I bought the Lee stuff, so there wasn't THAT much to pay back, plus the rapid increase in retail ammo prices turned a 1 year payback into a 6 month payback!)

Now that I am reloading .223/5.56, I look to save even more over the mil-surp and WWB stuff I've been shooting.

 

[ds/ks]

I never really looked at reloading as a way to save money. I started with 12 ga. in grade school, got a Lee Load All for Christmas one year. This little hobby has fasinated me ever since. I load .223, 7.62X39, 38/357, 44mag, and 45 ACP. I cast my handgun bullets from wheel weights and alot of my brass is scrounged. I get almost the same amount of enjoyment from pulling the press lever as I do the trigger.

 

[evan price]

J-star, that "500 CCI Primers" is not a quantity.

That's CCI Size #500 primers. They come in a little tray about 3" square and 3/8" thick, right? That's a tray of 100 primers. $3.49 is about average nowadays for a single tray.

Don't feel bad- when I first started reloading I didn't buy CCI primers for that same reason- But the BOX says "350 Primers", and everybody else's boxes have 1000 in them for that price... as Homer Simpson says, "D'Oh"

Live & learn.

 

[RustyFN]

evan price:
J-star, that "500 CCI Primers" is not a quantity.

That's CCI Size #500 primers. They come in a little tray about 3" square and 3/8" thick, right? That's a tray of 100 primers. $3.49 is about average nowadays for a single tray.

At that price don't buy any. I was wondering about that because I have never seen anything at a good price at Gander. Good catch Evan.
Rusty

 

[tiger rag]

Reloading for me is less about cost savings and more about personal satisfaction and enjoyment of shooting sport's. But if you shoot alot and that is the only way to become proficent .It is the only way to fly! It also allows you to Make loads suited to your application.

 

[The_Antibubba]

The price of ammo is only going to go up. The highest prices are for specialty ammo, like defensive or hunting ammo. Cheap Blazer FMJ might still be a good value, but if I'm going to bet by life on it, I want to be able to put a lot of it through my gun, and the only way to afford that is to make it myself.

I've got 9mm dies on the way, but I shoot a few calibers that offer limited choices, like 9mm Mak and 6.5 Swede. If I want to be able to shoot them often, I'd better make it myself.

And finally, if the politicians ever get "ammo registration" on the books...