So is 25 cents/round the new baseline for purchased 9mm Ball ammo

tominboise

tominboise

Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2021
Messages
523
Location
SW Idaho
Last 9mm 124gr FMJ ammo I bought a case of was pre pandemic and I paid something like 18 cents/round. Reloading 9mm with real jacketed bullets and assuming you already have brass costs around 18 cents per round if you are buying new components today (less if you have a stash of stuff that you bought in the 1980's, etc). I see ammo like S&B 124gr FMJ for around 25 cents per round delivered when buying a case.

One could save around $70 / 1000 if you reload over buying a case, using new components. But maybe it makes sense to save the stash of pre pandemic components and buy a case or two. If ammo was back to 18 cents/ round, then it is a no brainer - buy 9mm ammo and save the components for cartridges that cost more, like most revolver cartridges and 45 ACP.
 
Locally $11.99/50 is about the bottom right now. But I live in Ca where ammo can’t be sent to your house anymore, so the market is sort of cornered by the LGS. (You can order and have it delivered to a FFL, who charges a receiving fee anywhere from $5-$20 and does the $1 background check, before you pick up.)

Stay safe.
 
tominboise said:
25 cents/round the new baseline for ... 9mm Ball ammo
Click to expand...
No - https://ammoseek.com/ammo/9mm-luger?sh=lowest&ekw=reman remanufactured steel

tominboise said:
Reloading 9mm with real jacketed bullets and assuming you already have brass costs around 18 cents per round if you are buying new components today
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Yes, 18-20 cents a round is about right reloading brass already on hand.
 
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I'll be honest; even at 23 cents/rd I'm not certain that it is worthwhile to load Blammo Ammo.

How much are SPP? .06 ea?
Then a bullet @ maybe .08-.10 each, even plated. Jacketed a bit more. Store-bought cast may be a bit cheaper, and casting my own is most certainly cheaper - but I lose my lead.
Now powder; perhaps 4 cents per load? roughly?
We're at 20cpr, not counting time.

The only thing is, I'm loading with materials I've already purchased. It's not 'new' money. I've got so many SPP I will probably never run out.

I last checked 147gr Subsonic @ 27cpr, and I'm wondering if I should load my own or purchase by the case.
 
LiveLife said:
No - https://ammoseek.com/ammo/9mm-luger?sh=lowest&ekw=reman remanufactured steel


Yes, 18-20 cents a round is about right reloading brass already on hand.
Click to expand...
Don't forget sales tax for your state......that will add another 1 to 2 cents so we are back at 25 cents as baseline.
 
I guess I should add that I am only considering new production, brass case, boxer primed ammo with FMJ bullets, as it's probably the most commonly available product and similar to what I reload.
 
Hooda Thunkit said:
I'll be honest; even at 23 cents/rd I'm not certain that it is worthwhile to load Blammo Ammo.

How much are SPP? .06 ea?
Then a bullet @ maybe .08-.10 each, even plated. Jacketed a bit more. Store-bought cast may be a bit cheaper, and casting my own is most certainly cheaper - but I lose my lead.
Now powder; perhaps 4 cents per load? roughly?
We're at 20cpr, not counting time.

The only thing is, I'm loading with materials I've already purchased. It's not 'new' money. I've got so many SPP I will probably never run out.

I last checked 147gr Subsonic @ 27cpr, and I'm wondering if I should load my own or purchase by the case.
Click to expand...
You and I are in the same situation - reloading with stock on hand versus buying new.
 
tominboise said:
I guess I should add that I am only considering new production, brass case, boxer primed ammo with FMJ bullets
Click to expand...
Yes, I did the search parameters to exclude remanufactured and steel/aluminum cases.

Fiocchi/Browning/Armscor 115/124 gr ammunition I listed were new production using brass case and FMJ bullets - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...purchased-9mm-ball-ammo.923601/#post-12728211

epags said:
Don't forget sales tax for your state......that will add another 1 to 2 cents so we are back at 25 cents as baseline.
Click to expand...
Yes.
 
LiveLife said:
No - https://ammoseek.com/ammo/9mm-luger?sh=lowest&ekw=reman remanufactured steel


Yes, 18-20 cents a round is about right reloading brass already on hand.
Click to expand...
I’m at:

$.05 primers
$.02 powder
$.07 bought cast bullets

=$0.14 a round

cheaper if I cast or got a casting buddy (I have one)
 
With today's prices of 9mm factory ball and the reloading component replacement costs, I see no value in reloading it unless you derive other benefits like superior accuracy, etc. Or you just like doing it. Reloadable brass cased 115 is running below 25 cents for non-member prices at targetsportsusa for example.
 
Hooda Thunkit said:
I'll be honest; even at 23 cents/rd I'm not certain that it is worthwhile to load Blammo Ammo
Click to expand...
I would agree.

I am reloading with components bought before the shortage when primers were $20/1000 and Promo was $134/8 lbs using pulled plated/jacketed bullets I got from RMR that brings reloading cost to 11 cents/round using range pick up brass.

If I had to buy new components now, I would consider buying new ammunition with reloadable brass.
 
LiveLife said:
I would agree.

I am reloading with components bought before the shortage when primers were $20/1000 and Promo was $134/8 lbs using pulled plated/jacketed bullets I got from RMR that brings reloading cost to 11 cents/round using range pick up brass.

If I had to buy new components now, I would consider buying new ammunition with reloadable brass.
Click to expand...
You know reloading is satisfying! We have to start somewhere, stocking up on something…. So one day we can say, “it cost me $.20 to make very accurate 9mm” when the case of 9mm goes back to $1 a round!

I recommend a RCBS single stage kit!
 
To be fair here, you need to figure what you actually "paid" vs what they are "selling" for. In most cases when ordering online, unless they are offering free shipping, which most dont, you have to add that, and tax to the price, and that can quickly make a big difference in the "actual price". And tax has to be considered too if youre buying in store.

Same goes for reloading components.

Running the price check on 9mm using the cost of the last batch of FMJ bullets, powder and primers I just bought at current prices, it costs me $210/1000, or $0.21 a round. And thats based on free shipping/no hazmat on 8# of powder and 2k primers.
 
Mark_Mark said:
“But Your not factoring Reloading Equipment”

$35 and a hammer!
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And time, my friend. Especially with that Lee Loader(I have several). Lots of time. If one has it, it's not worth much. If one doesn't, well...
trackskippy said:
Running the price check on 9mm using the cost of the last batch of FMJ bullets, powder and primers I just bought at current prices, it costs me $210/1000, or $0.21 a round. And thats based on free shipping/no hazmat on 8# of powder and 2k primers.
Click to expand...
This is what I spoke of earlier. Save 2/cpr by loading yourself? Is it worth it?
trackskippy said:
To be fair here, you need to figure what you actually "paid" vs what they are "selling" for.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Replacement cost is the true measure of inventory value.
Ask anyone that runs a retail gasoline station.
 
Hooda Thunkit said:
And time, my friend. Especially with that Lee Loader(I have several). Lots of time. If one has it, it's not worth much. If one doesn't, well...

This is what I spoke of earlier. Save 2/cpr by loading yourself? Is it worth it?

Exactly. Replacement cost is the true measure of inventory value.
Ask anyone that runs a retail gasoline station.
Click to expand...
I can sit around and hammer out 50 rounds in little time.

Saving comes in when your loading.357 or .44 or 7mm…
 
Being retired and already owning my reloading stuff, it is simple. What else would I do while listening to podcasts?

I am currently at:
$0.0146 Titegroup
$0.0550 Fiocchi Small Pistol Primer
$0.0773 tbbullets.com 125gr Poly coated
----------
$0.1469

​
​
 
Hooda Thunkit said:
This is what I spoke of earlier. Save 2/cpr by loading yourself? Is it worth it?
Click to expand...
Ive been reloading since the late 60's. In all this time, only once was it cheaper to buy loaded ammo than it was to reload it. That was in the 90's when there was cheap surplus ammo around and I could buy loaded cases for less than just the components.

Id say over all, its still worth doing it (as long as you dont mind doing it), and for a couple of reasons. For one, it offers advantages that a lot of times you cant get with factory ammo. Two, I almost always have components on hand, so where there is a shortage, I usually dont skip a beat. Even this last time around, which has been the worst Ive seen, I was stills hooting every week.

I still do stockpile loaded ammo as well, and buy a case here and there when I see a deal. Its mostly for the brass more than anything else too.
 
trackskippy said:
Ive been reloading since the late 60's. In all this time, only once was it cheaper to buy loaded ammo than it was to reload it. That was in the 90's when there was cheap surplus ammo around and I could buy loaded cases for less than just the components.

Id say over all, its still worth doing it (as long as you dont mind doing it), and for a couple of reasons. For one, it offers advantages that a lot of times you cant get with factory ammo. Two, I almost always have components on hand, so where there is a shortage, I usually dont skip a beat. Even this last time around, which has been the worst Ive seen, I was stills hooting every week.

I still do stockpile loaded ammo as well, and buy a case here and there when I see a deal. Its mostly for the brass more than anything else too.
Click to expand...
Seems like it is always cheaper to reload than to buy factory ammo. $70/1000 cheaper for 9mm 124gr FMJ according to my numbers (it might be less or more depending on one's situation and components used, etc). Using a Dillon RL550, I could probably load 1000 rounds in three hours (some guys are faster, some are slower, etc, etc). That equals $23/hour one is getting paid to reload. Is it worth it? Probably to me it is. But I am retired and have time on my hands. Some people don't.

I'll probably buy a case or two of 9mm AND keep reloading, too. Because that is what gun nuts do.....
 
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For cost comparison to my reloads, I use the cost of commercial reloads. I am buying reloaded 9mm for about 22 cents with tax and shipping. So, I don’t save much at all by reloading my own 9mm right now.
I have to pay Texas sales tax on out of state online purchases now, so that also raised the costs of reloading for me.
 
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