Who reloads 9mm?

[Cheeseybacon]

Reloading 9mm... how many of you actually do it? I'm presently debating whether or not I should do it. I've definately seen a pay-off reloading .45 ACP, but I'm having trouble determining whether or not it's worth reloading 9mm. I mean, a box of 50 rounds is only $5.99 where I live.

Who here reloads 9mm?

 

[Dave R]

I reload 9mm for about $3.50 a box of 50. Might be a dime higher now, with the increase in the cost of the bullets I use--Laser Cast 115gr.

I have not found a commercial 9mm round that gives me better accuracy that the Laser-Cast. So the cost difference is not real big, but its there, and the accuracy is better.

 

[armoredman]

Been reloading 9mm for a few years now. I do go expensive with the bullets, trying for accurate loads, so I have a box of 124gr Gold Dots, a box of 124gr Hornady XTPs, etc. Usually bulk Remington 115gr JHP, over AA#2,5,7, depending. I may not save much money, but I sure have fun, and find uber accurate loads for my pistolas!

 

[1911user]

I am setup to reload 9mm mainly for heavier than 115gr loads. The cheaper 9mm ammo always seems to have 115gr bullets and my defense loads have 124 or 147 grain bullets. I can reload with decent, heavier FMJ for less than the cost of blazer 9mm with 115gr fmj especially since academy is taking less of a loss by raising the price. If the cheap 9mm had heavier bullets, it would be a tougher decision to reload. However, $8-$10 a box for retail FMJ vs. $4 a box is well worth the effort to me; a progressive press with an electric casefeeder makes the decision even easier.

 

[P0832177]

I was able to lay in a supply of 115gr FMJ bullets for about 40 per k, and so with the price increases of raw materials and shipping this allows me to reload way cheaper then factory either WWB or Blazer!

Brass is free, so with bullets, powder, and primers it runs about 72 per K. Almost half the price of WWB! Plus it is sort of relaxing to reload, at least for me!

 

[Sheldon]

I still have one thousand count box of bullets left from my last order of 10K. I got them all for $300......$30 per thousand.......wish I had bought a crapload more. I reload everything I shoot.

 

[strambo]

I do. Save a little $$$, get a better load (124gr FMJ at whatever power level I want) and I would rather spend an hour at the bench than 45 minutes to, in and back from the store.

 

[s&w 24]

my sigs have been picky and like 124 gr ammo. I use remington jhp or fmj bullets/bluedot/and once fire mixed brass.

 

[jeepmor]

I do, but only because

I bought some RCBS stuff from a fellow that I got a honey of a deal on that came with 9mm dies, 40S&W/10mm dies, RCBS piggyback, ~300 124 grain XTPs and about 3000 once fired cases.

I'm reloading them since I enjoy it, I can't claim to save money considering my hourly wage while working being a basis for my time's worth. But it's a hobby, and I have plenty of materials. I purchased 1k Cu-plated hardcast lead, about 1/2 through those. Once I get the garage cleared, I'll setup the progressive and it will be much more economical in regards to time=money angle.

If you need some brass, PM me, I can part with about 1k without a problem. You can find it for dirt cheap elsewhere too. I'll even give it an hour in the tumbler before I ship it off for you.

For plinking fodder, economics are a wash when considering your time...ususally. For defense loads with JHP, savings are more significant.

jeepmor

 

[distra]

My used 550 came with 9mm dies and I plan on loading some up today Several of my shooting buds load 9mm for a specific purpose, mainly pin shooting. Cost wise they indicate a marginal savings, but the big pay off is you get to use your press. Loading can be very therapeutic and relaxing.

 

[armoredman]

I have to question one premise, cost of labor. If you enjoy reloading, and consider it a hobby, then why worry about cost of labor? That's like charging yourself boat rental time and captain's wages to go fishing with your own boat. If you reload strictly for savings, you still can't charge yourself time, as you shouldn't be taking time off from work to reload, are you?!? If you weren't reloading, would you be mowing your neighbor's lawn, or delivering newspapers, or just going in for some overtime? If not, then it's free time, no charge.

 

[Chris Rhines]

*raises hand*

I load 9mm for USPSA Minor and 3-gun - 147grn. Zero JHPs over, um, 3.2 grains of Titegroup. Very soft, very accurate. Costs me less than a dime per round.

- Chris

 

[mugsie]

I load tons of 9mm

I load lots of 9mm. 115g Berrys over 6.3g of AA #2. Unbelieveable accuracy! Very pleased with the compination (and the brass is free - there's always more at the range whenever I need it). Plus, it's lots of fun to crank out some nice looking bullets - shinny brass, spiffy Berrys bullets - it's just plain fun!

 

[RustyFN]

I load only 9mm ( because it's the only gun I own right now ) and can load for $6 to $7 per 100. I have only used Berry's bullets so far but they seem to shoot great. I load 115gr and 124gr and looking to get some 147gr. I have used Bullseye and HS-6 powders and accuracy is better than the factory ammo I was buying. Looks like I am going to have to try some AA #2. Even if I didn't save much money I would still reload because it is relaxing and enjoyable for me.

 

[armoredman]

Pulling some 9mm brass out of one of my unMagical coffee cans today, deprime and resize while taking care of my sick wife.

 

[Ditchtiger]

I also cast 9mm, I figure it works out to about $1 a box

 

[mugsie]

Try lubing em'

I spray the 9mm cases with 1 part lanolin to 3 parts 99% isopropal (can use 97 also) alcohol prior to decapping and sizing. One quick shot, stir them up a little and they size sooooo much easier. Almost no effort involved.

 

[LiquidTension]

9mm is cheap enough to begin with that I bought a lot of factory stuff. Therefore I had lots of brass. I see no reason to let the brass just sit there Besides, other than the backache I get from sitting on my stool, it's some nice zen time.

 

[highlander 5]

reloading 9mm

I reload my 9 cast my own bullets and have a supplty of jacketed on hand. Cast bullet reloads run me 3.50/100 wuold cost me less if I used straight WW but I mix 50/50 with linotype
last time I got lino cost me .50 cents a lb tromlocal scrap yard.
getapproximatly 60 bullets out of a lb not to shabby

 

[rbstern]

Using wheel weight cast, my notes say my 9mm comes in around $1.30/50.

 

[MCgunner]

I get free range scrap to cast with, so all I pay for is a primer and a few grains of bullseye. I buy the brass loaded in WWB, though, pretty cheap as brass goes and you get to shoot it first. I can and do pick up free brass at the range, though.

 

[trickyasafox]

i reload 9mm. runs me about 45 bucks per k for 115gr JHP.

i got an unbelievable steal on bullets at an estate sale. after those run dry it'll probably go up to 6.50 per hundred like everyone else

 

[Run&Shoot]

Sure, but I can;t help it. Once I started picking up .45 and .40 brass it was too hard NOT to pick up the 9mm as well.

I figure I can reload for about $3 - $4 per box so it is way cheaper than anything local, which is about $8. I load Laser-Cast lead or any cheap FMJ such as Rainier, Remington, etc.

Once I got the press, scales, measure, calipers, manuals, etc. it is pretty cheap to add one more caliber. Even though I only use a single stage press I still enjoy the time at the bench. I just like the idea of recycling the brass and making my own ammo. I can load light loads for target or simulate +P defense loads for more realism. I can try different combinations to find the most accurate for my pistols and then know that i will always have access to that specific load. I am not dependent on what is on the store shelf.

I don't know anyone that relaods for several years that only does it to save money. And I have nev er seen any factory ammo as cheap as anything I can reload. Shooting is just an excuse to empty brass!

 

[Sam Adams]

I reload ever caliber I shoot (except .22 LR). The savings isn't as great as it is with .45s or the various rifle calibers, but as with them the accuracy gains are a factor.

My attitude is that the cost of the dies (Lee) to reload were cheap enough that if I reloaded about 10-12 boxes of common 115 FMJ I would more than pay for them, and everything else would be gravy, let alone loading self-defense bullets to practice with. I'm well into the gravy at this point.

Another factor is that I'd like to be able to reload anything that I can shoot, in case the availability of ammo falls off (at least this was my thinking back in the early '90's - and I see no reason to change this). The cost savings has been tremendous over the years, though some of the savings have ended up in smoke with more trips to the range.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

My numbers run about the same as rbstern. Of course, the fact we cast bullets together has something to do with that.

Anybody who casts their own bullets and takes time to learn how to lube them can assemble a round that's more accurate, more fun to shoot and way cheaper than any pistol factory round and most rifle rounds.

Since Winchester white box sells for around 6 bucks a box, I figure we save enough to buy ourselves lunch at Burger King on every box. That ain't nothing to sneeze at after a couple dozen boxes.

Plus, with the material to load with handy, there's no driving to Wally world or any other miserable retail outlet when you want to shoot. You just crank out a couple thousand and you're set for a few range sessions.

Regards,

Dave