9mm worth it to load?

Pretty much what these guys all said

My reasons for reloading 9mm (and 40 S&W)

- personal pride in doing the work myself
- developing my prepper skills
- custom ammo; I pick the bullet wt, pwdr charge, etc. to my liking
- can keep shooting when ammo shortages hit again
- economics
----- 13 cent / round (15 cent / round for 40 S&W)
----- Xtreme 115gr RN or 135gr RNFP in boxes of 500 rounds, when shipping is free
----- HP 38 or Universal
----- Tula or S&B primers at $20 to $30 / 1000 or sometimes CCI for $40 / 1000 which adds a penny / round
----- pick-up range brass
- priceless savings on therapist; reloading is great relaxation
- it does take time, but I can load up 100 rnds in 1 hr on Lee Turret easily, soup to nuts including go-no gauging, but I do not clean my pistol brass
- in the long run, I will save money accounting for sunk-in costs for equipment

It is "worth it" to me, definitely.


SparkyV. Μολὼν λαβέ
NRA Life Member
 
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I am reloading plated 9mm for .12 each, and cast for .09 each - which is about half the cost of factory ammo.

I like that I can make what I like, as much as i like to make, and don't have to worry about any upcoming ammo shortages...
 
In Seattle there is a new tax on ammo. There's a court case going on over it, but a tax can change reloading economics overnight.
 
Maybe with a Lee six cavity mold, cheap or free WWs and no life it would work out for you...What kind of pathetic person would do that?
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How dare you describe me to a "T"? :D
I cast and powdercoat my own bullets, recycle brass, and I happen to enjoy all the aspects of reloading as hobbies. If I wasn't casting, reloading or shooting I'd be watching re runs of Star Trek: Voyager on Netflix on my days off. Also a cheap hobby, just saying. Reloading is a productive hobby.
But, I digress - I can load a box of 9mm with current prices for about $3.60 a box of 50, including the cost of running the lead pot and the powder coating oven. ;) The cheapest box of 22lr available at Midway USA was $2.99 a box the other morning, Wildcat junk. My 9mm handloaded ammo is economical, fun, accurate, and if need be, small game capable.

 
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Seems this topic comes up quite often regarding the 9mm.

It's well worth it to me to reload. I load 115 gr plated bullets and have used many manufacturers. Using faster powders will spread your costs out as well.
I like 231/HP-38 the best and use Bullseye. I just loaded up 100 rounds of Titegroup to do some testing on that powder. I'm also a brass whore at the range an like it when I come home with more than what I took. I dug through garbage cans for a little bit to get factory 9mm ammo boxes with their trays. I have enough boxes to hold 5,000 rounds or a little less than a years worth. I printed labels at work that were free and slap them on the side of the box with the reload info. I reuse these boxes over and over again and just place a new label over the old one.

I'm at 11.54 cents per round or $5.77@50 or $115.40@1,000 when using HP-38. It's a little more when using 231 and a little less with Bullseye. If I like the Titegroup it should be a little less yet. If I like it, I'll grab an 8 pounder of that as well. Makes me smile when I'm in places like Cabela's, Gander Mountain, etc and I see "Value Packs" with 350 rounds going for about $100.00.
 
Reloaders can always beat the price of store bought. Well~~~ until they figure in their hobby labor rate. When that takes place its a toss up who's ammo is cheaper. (store bought verses Homemade?)
 
Reloaders can always beat the price of store bought. Well~~~ until they figure in their hobby labor rate. When that takes place its a toss up who's ammo is cheaper. (store bought verses Homemade?)
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Still better to reload. I'm loading a box of 50 for $5.77 or or $11.54 for a hundred. Lets say I get factory ammo at $12.00 for 50 or $24.00 for 100. Then lets say I reload a 100 in an hour. That's like getting a wage of 12.46 per hour to reload. Factory ammo is closer to 14 bucks for 50 and I can load way more than a 100 rounds in an four. The reality is, it's closer to being paid $50.00 per hour for me to reload 9mm.



Is it worth it YES. I can make the best load for my PPQ M1
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Isn't that pretty much ANY load for a PPQ M1? Mines pretty consistent/accurate with any load that I put through it and so were the other ones I've shot.
 
Check out American Reloading. You can get pulled 124 grain 9mm for 4.5 cents each.

Add in the 2 cents for primer and 1 cent for powder, I'm loading at 7.5 cents using plated not cast boolits.

Can't beat that anywhere I know of paying retail pricing.
 
FWIW, it seems like reloading is the only hobby/pass time that money/cost is of major concern, or if one should try it. Road trip? How many folks figger cost per mile before taking off? Fishing? How many determine and compare cost of line, bait, rods/reels against store bought fish? Bowling? How much does it cost, per frame, for shoes, talc, custom bowling shirts, and beer frames vs. watching it on TV?

Jes thinking out loud...:D
 
If you already reload and just need dies it can save a little and you get better ammo out of the deal, If you don't currently reload I wouldn't start just to load 9mm.
 
I started with the 9mm after years of reloading mostly rifle ammo.
Initially I likely paid too much for used brass but I have a lifetime supply.

For me I find the reloading process enjoyable and relaxing.

Now that I have the Lee Classic Turret press it doesn't feel like a chore to crank out a box or two of ammo in my spare time.
 
Why? I did and it's the only thing I plan to reload.
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Well lets look at fixing your math a little.
Does $5.77 per 50 include amortizing your reloading equipment and account for other consumables like lube and cleaning media.
Also $14 is a pretty good stretch on the other end I can easily get good quality brass cased commercial reloads shipped for under $200 per 1000 or less than $10 per 50.
And as for time are you including all the time picking up brass, cleaning and sorting?
No the reality is you're probably not even making minimum wage loading 9mm.
 
Reloaders can always beat the price of store bought. Well~~~ until they figure in their hobby labor rate. When that takes place its a toss up who's ammo is cheaper. (store bought verses Homemade?)
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Okay I gotta ask: how much money are you making watching Dancing With The Stars? Reload, enjoy the savings.
 
Yup. Im using all premium components and Im about $6.50 a box. I just knock out maybe 20 rounds at a time like when I take the dogs out for their last pee of the day, they run around the yard, I make a few rounds and save some dough.
 
Reloaders can always beat the price of store bought. Well~~~ until they figure in their hobby labor rate.
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That's funny stuff right there. I get paid at work, not home. :D Hobbies cost me money, no matter which way you want to slice it, so I spend my dollar the best way I can for the most fun I can have. I like reloading and bullet casting; it's fun for me. When people ask what I'm spending an hour for labor, the answer is very easy - nothing. Not a blessed dime, as I wasn't making money at the time, or I'd be at work, VASTLY more unhappy! Can't reload at work. :)
That's like costing out your time for playing HALO or some such...:D :cool:
 
During the panics...how much time do you spend looking for affordable ammo?

Amoratize that vs. your set up and hard parts costs for a reloading set up that will put out amo for you.

Oh yeah.. already got a set up??? A shell holder and dies are CHUMP CHANGE in the grand scheme of things.

BTDT since Bush.. then I got Clinton! How soon we forget!
 
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