Cost/Benefit: Is there no benefit to reload 9mm vs. Wal-Mart? - Page 2

BigJimP · January 2, 2009, 03:48 PM

The cost of your equipment is one thing - and I like Dillon - and personally I invested in the 650 model with a case feeder. They aren't cheap / but their no BS warranty - will replace anything you need over time. I don't factor in my time - because its quality quiet time in my shop - for me, with grandkids, or whatever - and the 650 will easily crank out 1,000 rounds an hour / so time isn't a big factor anyway.

Your costs are up on reloads because of the way you're buying components. If you buy in larger quantities, your cost will go way down.

On 9mm, I use:
Hodgdon TiteGroup 8 # keg is $ 107
CCI Primers @ $ 26/1,000 bought in case lots
Bullets I use 124 gr Montana Gold CMJ @ $279 for a case of 3,750

That takes my price to reload at $ 5.91 per box of 50 or $ 0.1182 per round and you're paying WalMart almost $ 0.22 a round now.

So, yes, there is a significant savings in reloading 9mm. But I would reload even it was a wash - because I like shooting my own loads and I can customize them to whatever I want, and my reloads are a lot more consistent and accurate than most anything I can buy - especially the inexpensive ammo out there. I shoot a lot of 9mm as practice range ammo in my 1911's, etc - and its a great range round.

DEDON45 · January 2, 2009, 04:48 PM

Another thought; do as I do... I load a lot of lead (I buy them in qty)... significant savings are to be had there... leading isn't a problem with lower velocity rounds like the 9MM and .45ACP, and it sure is a helluva lot cheaper.

Shooter 973 · January 2, 2009, 06:13 PM

Not being held hostage to the whims of a retail store for a supply of ammo....Priceless!!!
Buy a couple of thousand primers ans some Bullseye powder and cast your own bullets and Never have to worry about "Do ya have any 9mm ammo?" again.
Being able to produce any Caliber of ammo that I shoot, when or if I need it ...Priceless.

cornbush · January 2, 2009, 06:28 PM

+1 frankenmauser, walmart sucks. Like alot of you have said I also enjoy reloading my own ammo, and it saves quite a bit depending on what your shooting. You also have the benefit of tayloring your loads to your gun.

tantoco · January 2, 2009, 07:25 PM

Thank you everyone for the great insight and sharing your knowledge and experience.

I found a good deal on a used 550 and with all your suggestions for where to get bullets, powder, and primers I'll soon be saving boatloads reloading.

Then I'll be at the range like ZXCVBOB, "[BANG!] Big Mac, [BANG!] with French Fries, [BANG!] and a milkshake please...

Thanks again and may everyone end up with more loads than they have time to shoot!

Eddie

JAYBIRD78 · January 3, 2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

... not having to go to WalMart = Priceless

+1

I reload because I enjoy it as a part of shooting. Plus you look like a madman hunched over your bench rolling your own.

Glenner · January 3, 2009, 03:15 PM

I try never to go to Wal-Mart.

ranger351w · January 3, 2009, 04:28 PM

Good day

I reload 45 acp for about 12.50 a hundred
9mm for about 11.500 =100
.38 same as 9mm

Figure average 6 times per cartridge, 4GR GREENDOT 230GR LRN .45
3.6 " 147GR LRN .38
4.2 " 127GR LRN 9MM

DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE LOADS THEY ARE ONLY FOR ESTIMATE FOR POST!!

Greendot,ww primers and bullets from Stonewall bullets. His bullets are reasonable,shoot well and do not lead if you watch your pressures.His price is shipping included. No tax

Walmart price

100wwb 41.00 .45 PLUS TAX
100wwb 22.00 9mm
don't know about .38 never bought any. I shoot around 120 rnds a week average on practise as I have my own range about 50yd from the house. I will shoot much more in the summer as I shoot IDPA and some USPSA. i COULD NOT AFFORD FACTORY!

Mike

Playboypenguin · January 3, 2009, 04:30 PM

After running the numbers, reloading just did not save me enough money to justify the extra time and effort it would require. let alone all the space it would take up.

ALR · January 4, 2009, 03:07 PM

WWB being one of the few items made in USA, WWB is not USA owned, but so far employs US citizenry. My family has renamed Wallyworld to ChinaMart.

Playboypenguin · January 5, 2009, 01:53 AM

Quote:

My family has renamed Wallyworld to ChinaMart.

We refer to it as the "Land of shattered dreams."

vsgonzo · April 10, 2009, 09:17 PM

I know I shouldn't bring up old threads and I dunno how far you have gone into reloading. I just want to say that "Dang! Reloading is addicting!" I have been reloading since valentines day and I'm loading .223, .40, 30-06, and .38spc.

.223 / .40 is on my dillon 650
30-06 / 38 spc is one at a time on a small lee "C" press.

I can't even really get .223 ammo anywhere and If I find it is like almost a dollar a round. I can buy some monarch or wolf steel cases for like .50cents a round but why put those cases through my rifle when I can reload brass cases from range brass at like .25cents a round.

like said before about making any caliber I want. All I have to do is just go to my garage, look up manual recipe, set dies, pull handle, and there is a baby little round in my hand to grow into destructive beast once placed in my weapons chamber lol.

ems-1 · April 11, 2009, 08:27 AM

Quote:

I try never to go to Wal-Mart.

I avoid Walmart (China-Mart

) like the plague!

January 2, 2009, 06:13 PM	#28
Shooter 973 Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2001 Location: Home town of John M. Browning, Utah Posts: 499	Cost/Benefit: Is there no benefit to reload 9mm vs. Wal-Mart? Not being held hostage to the whims of a retail store for a supply of ammo....Priceless!!! Buy a couple of thousand primers ans some Bullseye powder and cast your own bullets and Never have to worry about "Do ya have any 9mm ammo?" again. Being able to produce any Caliber of ammo that I shoot, when or if I need it ...Priceless. __________________ The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

January 3, 2009, 04:28 PM	#33
ranger351w Junior Member Join Date: December 29, 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 10	Good day I reload 45 acp for about 12.50 a hundred 9mm for about 11.500 =100 .38 same as 9mm Figure average 6 times per cartridge, 4GR GREENDOT 230GR LRN .45 3.6 " 147GR LRN .38 4.2 " 127GR LRN 9MM DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE LOADS THEY ARE ONLY FOR ESTIMATE FOR POST!! Greendot,ww primers and bullets from Stonewall bullets. His bullets are reasonable,shoot well and do not lead if you watch your pressures.His price is shipping included. No tax Walmart price 100wwb 41.00 .45 PLUS TAX 100wwb 22.00 9mm don't know about .38 never bought any. I shoot around 120 rnds a week average on practise as I have my own range about 50yd from the house. I will shoot much more in the summer as I shoot IDPA and some USPSA. i COULD NOT AFFORD FACTORY! Mike __________________ Mike seen at seipsg.net Last edited by ranger351w; January 3, 2009 at 04:35 PM.

January 3, 2009, 04:30 PM	#34
Playboypenguin Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Great Pacific Northwest Posts: 11,515	I came to the same conclusion just the other day After running the numbers, reloading just did not save me enough money to justify the extra time and effort it would require. let alone all the space it would take up.

January 4, 2009, 03:07 PM	#35
ALR Junior Member Join Date: January 2, 2009 Posts: 10	ChinaMart WWB being one of the few items made in USA, WWB is not USA owned, but so far employs US citizenry. My family has renamed Wallyworld to ChinaMart. __________________ Happiness is a black rifle

January 2, 2009, 03:48 PM	#26
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	The cost of your equipment is one thing - and I like Dillon - and personally I invested in the 650 model with a case feeder. They aren't cheap / but their no BS warranty - will replace anything you need over time. I don't factor in my time - because its quality quiet time in my shop - for me, with grandkids, or whatever - and the 650 will easily crank out 1,000 rounds an hour / so time isn't a big factor anyway. Your costs are up on reloads because of the way you're buying components. If you buy in larger quantities, your cost will go way down. On 9mm, I use: Hodgdon TiteGroup 8 # keg is $ 107 CCI Primers @ $ 26/1,000 bought in case lots Bullets I use 124 gr Montana Gold CMJ @ $279 for a case of 3,750 That takes my price to reload at $ 5.91 per box of 50 or $ 0.1182 per round and you're paying WalMart almost $ 0.22 a round now. So, yes, there is a significant savings in reloading 9mm. But I would reload even it was a wash - because I like shooting my own loads and I can customize them to whatever I want, and my reloads are a lot more consistent and accurate than most anything I can buy - especially the inexpensive ammo out there. I shoot a lot of 9mm as practice range ammo in my 1911's, etc - and its a great range round.

January 2, 2009, 04:48 PM	#27
DEDON45 Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2008 Posts: 278	Another thought; do as I do... I load a lot of lead (I buy them in qty)... significant savings are to be had there... leading isn't a problem with lower velocity rounds like the 9MM and .45ACP, and it sure is a helluva lot cheaper.

January 2, 2009, 06:28 PM	#29
cornbush Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: The retarded place below Idaho Posts: 1,408	+1 frankenmauser, walmart sucks. Like alot of you have said I also enjoy reloading my own ammo, and it saves quite a bit depending on what your shooting. You also have the benefit of tayloring your loads to your gun.

January 2, 2009, 07:25 PM	#30
tantoco Junior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Posts: 3	Thank you everyone for the great insight and sharing your knowledge and experience. I found a good deal on a used 550 and with all your suggestions for where to get bullets, powder, and primers I'll soon be saving boatloads reloading. Then I'll be at the range like ZXCVBOB, "[BANG!] Big Mac, [BANG!] with French Fries, [BANG!] and a milkshake please... Thanks again and may everyone end up with more loads than they have time to shoot! Eddie

January 3, 2009, 03:15 PM	#32
Glenner Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 127	I try never to go to Wal-Mart.

April 10, 2009, 09:17 PM	#37
vsgonzo Member Join Date: March 16, 2009 Posts: 86	I know I shouldn't bring up old threads and I dunno how far you have gone into reloading. I just want to say that "Dang! Reloading is addicting!" I have been reloading since valentines day and I'm loading .223, .40, 30-06, and .38spc. .223 / .40 is on my dillon 650 30-06 / 38 spc is one at a time on a small lee "C" press. I can't even really get .223 ammo anywhere and If I find it is like almost a dollar a round. I can buy some monarch or wolf steel cases for like .50cents a round but why put those cases through my rifle when I can reload brass cases from range brass at like .25cents a round. like said before about making any caliber I want. All I have to do is just go to my garage, look up manual recipe, set dies, pull handle, and there is a baby little round in my hand to grow into destructive beast once placed in my weapons chamber lol.