So at 20¢/ round compared to about 12¢/ round, I'm not sure I should go in to loading 9mm. I use a Lee LCT turret press and can produce about 125 rounds per hour. I figure I can load 9mm for about 12¢/rd; that only saves me about 8¢/rd, or about $10/hr. I'm also loading 44 special at about 14¢/round, but on that caliber, I'm saving 46¢/ round, or about $57/hr. I hate to pay $10-$12/box of ammo for 9mm, but according to basic economic principles, I should be focusing on loading 44 spl; any time I spend reloading 9mm is an economic loss.
I’m in here late and haven’t read it all, but I will add S&B to the cheap available ammo list. Have you looked on www.ammoseek.com? You should find a lot of stuff for $8.50 or less a box, delivered.So it looks like Federal dropped their aluminum cased 9mm (i.e. cheap) ammo. Does anyone else make a cheap ($7-8/box of 50) 9mm 115grn FMJ? The next best things I can find are Magtech and Winchester NATO at $10/box and Blazer Brass at $11/box. (I'm gun shy about steel cased ammo so avoiding it.)
So at 20¢/ round compared to about 12¢/ round, I'm not sure I should go in to loading 9mm. I use a Lee LCT turret press and can produce about 125 rounds per hour. I figure I can load 9mm for about 12¢/rd; that only saves me about 8¢/rd, or about $10/hr. I'm also loading 44 special at about 14¢/round, but on that caliber, I'm saving 46¢/ round, or about $57/hr. I hate to pay $10-$12/box of ammo for 9mm, but according to basic economic principles, I should be focusing on loading 44 spl; any time I spend reloading 9mm is an economic loss.
Scenario 1: I'm doing this purely as a cost cutting strategy, I don't need hyper-accurate ammo, and that I'm not reloading for the joy and/or sake of reloading in and of itself, what do you guys think? Should I even gear up to reload for 9mm?
Scenario 2: Massive ammo shortages. Should I gear up to reload 9mm not as a cost cutting measure but as a hedge against market fluctuations/hyper-inflation? And if the answer yes, why wouldn't I just buy as much loaded ammo right now as I possibly can afford?
I can get 9mm ammo for $8 per box of 50 locally. That includes tax. Would take about 2 hours for case prep and to load 50 rounds. I'd rather spend the 2 hours shooting than loading to save $2.
The OP can get Speer Lawman for the same price if there is a perceived difference between the two
https://www.targetsportsusa.com/speer-lawman-9mm-ammo-115-grain-tmj-53650-p-662.aspx
So, you may really need to consider loading 9mm, especially if prices tick upward a bit.Actually, and I should have made this clear in the beginning, I can't buy any ammo online because I live in Alaska, and no one will ship ammo here-at least not to individuals/residences.
So, you may really need to consider loading 9mm, especially if prices tick upward a bit.
Do hunters calculate the cost-per-pound of the meat they harvest - including the time taken to prep for the hunt, sight in the rifle, etc. etc.? I haven't seen it done. They hunt because they enjoy it and it delivers benefits far beyond the meat itself. That's how I view loading: It provides benefits to me far beyond cost savings. I realize that may not be the case for all.
OR
Do you have a problem buying the components in Alaska, or having them shipped there?Actually, and I should have made this clear in the beginning, I can't buy any ammo online because I live in Alaska, and no one will ship ammo here-at least not to individuals/residences.
Actually, and I should have made this clear in the beginning, I can't buy any ammo online because I live in Alaska, and no one will ship ammo here-at least not to individuals/residences.
Do you have a problem buying the components in Alaska, or having them shipped there?
I guess I don't understand the question then? You state you can get Win WB for $10. Where do you find that so cheap in Alaska??.
How do you get reloading components if no one will UPS or FedEX to you?? Alaska is a HUGE State and from what I know stuff is extremely expensive, So you get components or boxes of ammo at a local store for about the same price as online??
If you buy powder/.primers local how much do they cost??