9mm worth reloading???

John D · April 8, 2007, 11:13 PM

I recently picked up a couple of Beretta's in 9mm, a new caliber for me. Aha! a good excuse to add a set of dies do some loading.

Researched load info, powders, bullet weights, etc. Got set up today and ran out some ammo. Frankly, it's kind of a pain. The brass is so small it's difficult to handle and seat in the shellholder (Dillon 550) and production was not nearly as proficient as cranking out 45 ACP.

Since I'm really just loading for the enjoyment of loading and not really looking to find super-accurate rounds (mostly this will be for paper and target busting), is it worth the effort to load 9mm? I can buy a 100-round box of Winchester white box for super-cheap for this kind of shooting....

Jamie Young · April 8, 2007, 11:53 PM

Ammo is getting expensive, and I've considered reloading 9mm. If you crank out some cheap reliable HP I think its definitely worth it.

I just started reloading 7.62x39 for the first time in almost 10yrs.

layusn1 · April 8, 2007, 11:56 PM

Reload for the improved accuracy. If you can afford to buy bulk I bet you could save money but I reload because I can't afford factory brass and mine is more accurate so I can't afford to take advantage of those savings. If you load copper plated you can save some money and avoid leading issues though.

Crosshair · April 9, 2007, 12:08 PM

My brass is free range pickup. I use bulk military surplus power and surplus bullets. I don't have the numbers in front of me buy I found that it was much cleaper to reload 9mm in my situation.

chilie · April 9, 2007, 01:55 PM

9mm WWB 100 rd value pack 14.88+tax for a total of 15.88 or .1588 a shot

range pick up brass .00
primer .0299
powder lets say .015 (based on 5gn of $20 a lib powder)
bullet .057 for Berry's plated

total of .1107 a shot

savings of .0481 a shot that's about a 30% savings over Wally World's finest.

With some volume pricing on the primers and powder or cast lead bullets this will drop below .10 a round

other big savings can be had with specialty rounds like subsonic, hotter rounds for carbines, or even pl inking rounds that feel like self defence rounds.

The savings wont add up as quick as 45 or even 38 but I'll save a nickle every sequence of the trigger!

CrustyFN · April 9, 2007, 04:58 PM

It is for me. I shoot 9mm in IDPA, GSSF, Bullseye and of course practice. I can go through a few rounds. I am still loading for around $7 per 100 and can load them at that price for another 1500 rounds. Even with the price increase on components it will still be a lot cheaper to reload than buy new. Not to mention my reloads are better than WWB so if you want to buy factory ammo as good as reloads you will need to spend more than the cheap WWB price.
Rusty

zxd9 · April 10, 2007, 11:08 AM

I've got my reloads under $6.40/50 for a 147gr Plated or Moly bullet using VV powder at $22/lb.

James A. Mullins · April 10, 2007, 07:33 PM

If you don't enjoy reloading 9mm, don't. I reload them on a 550B and some times have problems with the size. I've found that walking away for the day helps. I mostly enjoy any reloading. Usually when frustrated its because something going on around me prevents keeping my mind on the reloading. I quit trying to load .25 acp because of the problem your having.
James

Mr Beta · April 11, 2007, 02:09 AM

I usually buy in super bulk so I can get my boxes/50 down to about 3 bucks.
I enjoy loading though so YMMV.

PzGren · April 11, 2007, 11:08 AM

Reloading, just like shooting, is hobby time for me. There is no price tag for happy hobby time.

OnTheFly · April 11, 2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

I usually buy in super bulk so I can get my boxes/50 down to about 3 bucks.
I enjoy loading though so YMMV.

I'm one of those sitting on the fence wondering "do I want to reload" for the $avings. Tell me where do you buy, what brand/quality, and what qualifies as "super bulk"?

Thanks,
Fly

zeisloft · April 11, 2007, 02:14 PM

If any of yall are looking for once fired 9mm brass (or nickel) PM me, I have several K on hand for sale or trade.
~z

swmike · April 11, 2007, 07:25 PM

My 9mm loads cost me .085 per round using CCI primers, HS-6, and Montana Gold 115gr JHP's That's $85/thousand using my cases. Last new 115 gr FMJ's I bought were over $100/thousand and I had to pay shipping.

rn22723 · April 11, 2007, 11:36 PM

This can be beat to death, but the 9mm can be reloaded to decrease costs. Since you are not loading for a Glock or HK with a polygonal bbl, you can decrease your costs by using hard cast lead bullets!

I can seen what you mean about case handling on the 550, my rate increases 6 minutes per 500 loading 9mm over 45ACP. I still load the 9mm. I load for the enjoyment, and knowing that it gets me more bang for my buck!

K96771 · April 13, 2007, 04:06 PM

I can produce a box of 50 (used brass) for about $4.50. Around here, that's at least two bucks below store bought. It doesn't look like it's going to get any cheaper either.

MikeRussell · April 13, 2007, 04:23 PM

Depends on how you define worth. To me, it's definitely worth it. I get extremely consistent ammo that is custom tailored to my pistol and I can do that cheaper than what I can buy commercially. Using Winchester primers, Vv N320, and Bear Creek 125gr (I'd consider them 130gr seeing as most hover at the 129.6gr point and load them based on that weight and not the advertised weight) poly/moly coated LRN...I can produce 9mm ammo for $73.50/1K rnds. The cheapest I could buy ammo for locally is $150/1K (after taxes). Now, depending on how much time I can get out to practice between monthly matches, I can go through 1-2K rnds in a month. It's definitely worth it for me to load my own 9mm (and .45acp...and .38super...and .40smith).

Calhunter380 · April 14, 2007, 02:13 PM

I cast my own 9mm + free range brass. I can load them for the price of a primer and 5gr of powder for plinking.

April 8, 2007, 11:13 PM	#1
John D Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2000 Location: No. Arizona Posts: 436	9mm worth reloading??? I recently picked up a couple of Beretta's in 9mm, a new caliber for me. Aha! a good excuse to add a set of dies do some loading. Researched load info, powders, bullet weights, etc. Got set up today and ran out some ammo. Frankly, it's kind of a pain. The brass is so small it's difficult to handle and seat in the shellholder (Dillon 550) and production was not nearly as proficient as cranking out 45 ACP. Since I'm really just loading for the enjoyment of loading and not really looking to find super-accurate rounds (mostly this will be for paper and target busting), is it worth the effort to load 9mm? I can buy a 100-round box of Winchester white box for super-cheap for this kind of shooting....

April 8, 2007, 11:53 PM	#2
Jamie Young Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: SE/PA Posts: 4,834	Ammo is getting expensive, and I've considered reloading 9mm. If you crank out some cheap reliable HP I think its definitely worth it. I just started reloading 7.62x39 for the first time in almost 10yrs. __________________ Find out about Gun Shows and Training activities. www.TheRallyPoint.org Get your gun club involved!!

April 8, 2007, 11:56 PM	#3
layusn1 Member Join Date: October 7, 2006 Posts: 54	Reload for the improved accuracy. If you can afford to buy bulk I bet you could save money but I reload because I can't afford factory brass and mine is more accurate so I can't afford to take advantage of those savings. If you load copper plated you can save some money and avoid leading issues though. __________________ www.ammobrasstrader.com

April 9, 2007, 12:08 PM	#4
Crosshair Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2004 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 5,333	My brass is free range pickup. I use bulk military surplus power and surplus bullets. I don't have the numbers in front of me buy I found that it was much cleaper to reload 9mm in my situation. __________________ I don't carry a gun to go looking for trouble, I carry a gun in case trouble finds me.

April 9, 2007, 04:58 PM	#6
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	It is for me. I shoot 9mm in IDPA, GSSF, Bullseye and of course practice. I can go through a few rounds. I am still loading for around $7 per 100 and can load them at that price for another 1500 rounds. Even with the price increase on components it will still be a lot cheaper to reload than buy new. Not to mention my reloads are better than WWB so if you want to buy factory ammo as good as reloads you will need to spend more than the cheap WWB price. Rusty __________________ I don't ever remember being absent minded.

April 9, 2007, 01:55 PM	#5
chilie Junior Member Join Date: April 9, 2007 Posts: 6	9mm WWB 100 rd value pack 14.88+tax for a total of 15.88 or .1588 a shot range pick up brass .00 primer .0299 powder lets say .015 (based on 5gn of $20 a lib powder) bullet .057 for Berry's plated total of .1107 a shot savings of .0481 a shot that's about a 30% savings over Wally World's finest. With some volume pricing on the primers and powder or cast lead bullets this will drop below .10 a round other big savings can be had with specialty rounds like subsonic, hotter rounds for carbines, or even pl inking rounds that feel like self defence rounds. The savings wont add up as quick as 45 or even 38 but I'll save a nickle every sequence of the trigger!

April 10, 2007, 11:08 AM	#7
zxd9 Member Join Date: November 9, 2006 Posts: 27	I've got my reloads under $6.40/50 for a 147gr Plated or Moly bullet using VV powder at $22/lb.

April 10, 2007, 07:33 PM	#8
James A. Mullins Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2006 Location: Vancouver Washington Posts: 124	If you don't enjoy reloading 9mm, don't. I reload them on a 550B and some times have problems with the size. I've found that walking away for the day helps. I mostly enjoy any reloading. Usually when frustrated its because something going on around me prevents keeping my mind on the reloading. I quit trying to load .25 acp because of the problem your having. James

April 11, 2007, 02:09 AM	#9
Mr Beta Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2007 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 232	I usually buy in super bulk so I can get my boxes/50 down to about 3 bucks. I enjoy loading though so YMMV.

April 11, 2007, 11:08 AM	#10
PzGren Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2001 Posts: 1,260	Reloading, just like shooting, is hobby time for me. There is no price tag for happy hobby time.

April 11, 2007, 02:14 PM	#12
zeisloft Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2005 Location: Amarillo TX Posts: 419	If any of yall are looking for once fired 9mm brass (or nickel) PM me, I have several K on hand for sale or trade. ~z __________________ A scalpel can be just as effective as a broadsword Obviously, Occam was not a reloader

April 11, 2007, 07:25 PM	#13
swmike Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2005 Location: Marysville, WA Posts: 670	My 9mm loads cost me .085 per round using CCI primers, HS-6, and Montana Gold 115gr JHP's That's $85/thousand using my cases. Last new 115 gr FMJ's I bought were over $100/thousand and I had to pay shipping. __________________ My definition of Gun Control--- A steady grip and hitting your target. "In God we trust, all others are suspects." "If I shoot all the ammo I am carrying, either I won't need any more, or more won't be of any help". ____________________________________________

April 11, 2007, 11:36 PM	#14
rn22723 Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2001 Location: Burbs of Minneapolis Posts: 676	This can be beat to death, but the 9mm can be reloaded to decrease costs. Since you are not loading for a Glock or HK with a polygonal bbl, you can decrease your costs by using hard cast lead bullets! I can seen what you mean about case handling on the 550, my rate increases 6 minutes per 500 loading 9mm over 45ACP. I still load the 9mm. I load for the enjoyment, and knowing that it gets me more bang for my buck!

April 13, 2007, 04:06 PM	#15
K96771 Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2006 Location: NJ Pinelands Posts: 120	I can produce a box of 50 (used brass) for about $4.50. Around here, that's at least two bucks below store bought. It doesn't look like it's going to get any cheaper either. __________________ Tom

April 13, 2007, 04:23 PM	#16
MikeRussell Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2006 Location: Carencro, LA Posts: 335	Depends on how you define worth. To me, it's definitely worth it. I get extremely consistent ammo that is custom tailored to my pistol and I can do that cheaper than what I can buy commercially. Using Winchester primers, Vv N320, and Bear Creek 125gr (I'd consider them 130gr seeing as most hover at the 129.6gr point and load them based on that weight and not the advertised weight) poly/moly coated LRN...I can produce 9mm ammo for $73.50/1K rnds. The cheapest I could buy ammo for locally is $150/1K (after taxes). Now, depending on how much time I can get out to practice between monthly matches, I can go through 1-2K rnds in a month. It's definitely worth it for me to load my own 9mm (and .45acp...and .38super...and .40smith). __________________ Mike Russell

April 14, 2007, 02:13 PM	#17
Calhunter380 Junior Member Join Date: March 16, 2006 Posts: 8	I cast my own 9mm + free range brass. I can load them for the price of a primer and 5gr of powder for plinking.