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Old February 13, 2002, 10:02 PM   #1
Jamie Young
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Should I bother Reloading 9mm?

I've been shooting My Beretta a lot lately. I'm wondering if I should start Reloading for it? I've given up on shooting anything other than NATO Spec ammo out of My gun, so I'd probable only reload Factory Duplicate loads.I've had bad luck with some of the Military Surplus ammo out there and I'm avoiding it.

Should I bother getting 9mm dies and the Conversion kit? Its obvious to do it for 45ACP, but I'm not sure about 9mm.


What kind of Powder should I use to get Winchester Factory Duplicate loads?
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Old February 13, 2002, 10:46 PM   #2
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124g Rainier TCJ-RN or W-W 124g FMJ, (Wideners) used cases but NOT military, get commercial brass, CCI or Federal primers, Alliant Power Pistol, Vihta 3N37, Hodgdon HS6, or Accurate AA5.
OAL 1.148-1.160"
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Old February 13, 2002, 11:39 PM   #3
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You can buy "generic" Win, Rem, and Fed 9mm for around $10 per 100...

And you can sell the once fired bras for 1-1/2 cents each which means you are paying around $8.50 for 100 rounds...

It costs me more than that to reload with JHP bullets....
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Old February 13, 2002, 11:51 PM   #4
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I shot some of the Winchester White Box 124gr ammo a few weeks ago. I love that stuff!!! It kicks way more than the UMC junk I use to shoot. I need to go to a gunshow and buy a case of it if the price is right. Everyone keeps telling me you can get it cheap but I don't see it for less than about $7 a box.
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Old February 14, 2002, 12:07 AM   #5
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Reload.

Using scrounged commercial cases, WW SP primers, Olin W231 powder and plated 125 grain bullets... the cost (not including labor, of course) is about 7 cents each.

That's $3.50 a box.

According to the loading manuals, it's about the same as 9x19 Nato.
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Old February 14, 2002, 12:10 AM   #6
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What is "Olin W231"? How much powder are you using?

My book says 4.6gr of 231 reaches 1099fps. Thats far below NATO Spec.
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Old February 14, 2002, 08:36 AM   #7
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My fave 9mm powder is Alliant Power Pistol. Data references good velocity but I am waiting on my tax refund to buy a chrono.
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Old February 14, 2002, 11:26 AM   #8
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My current costs for 9mm:

9mm 124 Star FMJ with Titegroup ... 4.72 cents/round, 2.36/50
9mm 124 Star FMJ with V340 ... 5.57 cents/round 2.79/50

Don't have the numbers in front of me, but the V340 max load is at NATO spec, or +P.... around 1220 fps.

The Tite Group load is around 1120 fps...good, clean plinking ammo. TiteGroup is selling for about $10.00/pound around here.
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Old February 14, 2002, 07:20 PM   #9
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I use to reload lead for the 9, but after getting a Sig and a Glock I switched to jacketed. Lately I have found WW 9mm at Walmart for 5.00 per 50. Also bought a bunch of Blazer for 3.99 and use it and dont worry about the brass. I enjoy reloading, but when good ammo gets real cheap, I buy it. Haven't tried any of the Wolf or other Russian stuff and probably wont.
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Old February 14, 2002, 10:51 PM   #10
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I reload the 9mm for my 1918 Luger

since it's a fussy gun when it comes to pressures and cartridge overall length. I can't guarantee that it would feed commercial ammo 100%, so in my case, reloading is both economical and a reliability factor. My Kahr K9 will eat just about anything, but it also happily chugs along on the Luger loads.
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Old February 14, 2002, 11:05 PM   #11
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I think I'll start picking up 9mm brass from now on. Once I get a good stock pile I'll get the Dies and Conversion kit.

I seriously have to go check out the one WalMart near me. Its about 30 minutes from here but I've never seen Winchester ammo for $5.

Do you think they might freak out if I walked out with 250rds?
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Old February 15, 2002, 09:33 AM   #12
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zanthope - Star FMJ?

zanthope;

Is Star the brand name of the bullet? If so, would you please elaborate on source and price, and your opinion on how it ranks against other bulk bullets available from Rem, WW, etc.

I'm always looking for a way to save a buck (or two..)
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Old February 15, 2002, 09:51 AM   #13
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With S&B 9mm from Natchez @ < $5 a box -- why reload?? Regardless of how cheap your reloading cost is, "my" time is worth more !! My CZ loves that ammo!!

I do, however, really enjoy reloading for precision rifles, just my opine. Tight groups !!
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Old February 15, 2002, 10:19 AM   #14
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Soda, they wont freak out at all, They will just say:

"rifle or pistol, rifle or pistol, rifle or pistol, rifle or pistol, rifle or pistol"

They say that every time they ring up each box of ammo.
Cause the cash register tells them too.
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Old February 15, 2002, 10:29 AM   #15
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I save about $25 per thousand by reloading for the nine. That's $300 per year to me.

I'm reloading with jacketed bullets becuase I have to, but lead bullets are half the cost. That would bring the savings to around $50 per thousand.
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Old February 15, 2002, 11:38 AM   #16
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The following website might be able to help you with working up a 9 mm load thats NATO Spec. BTW, I would suggest you also get a chronograph.

http://www.vihtavuori.fi/vihtavuori/index.html

Click on handgun data and then click on I agree then select 9mm Luger. Good luck.
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Old February 15, 2002, 02:59 PM   #17
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For > Zanthope ? ? ?

Re your:

My current costs for 9mm:

9mm 124 Star FMJ with Titegroup ... 4.72 cents/round, 2.36/50
9mm 124 Star FMJ with V340 ... 5.57 cents/round 2.79/50

************************************
Cheapest primers I can find are > $15 @ 1000 (=1.5 cents @)

Assuming you reuse your brass
and
Forgetting even the powder........

Where do you get 9mm FMJ for 3 cents a piece ?????
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Old February 15, 2002, 04:58 PM   #18
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I went to the closest WalMart and Checked the Winchester ammo PRices. THEY ARE TERRIBLE! The one near me is close to $9 a box for the 115gr. And they don't even carry the 124gr
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Old February 18, 2002, 08:22 PM   #19
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I get more 9mm brass than I need from my local ranges. I currently have a 5 gallon bucket of it and stopped picking it up. My jacket loads cost me about $3.50/50 rounds, and my cast loads I do for under $1.25/50. And my loads are much more accurate than any factory-loaded stuff I have ever shot.
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Old February 18, 2002, 09:58 PM   #20
Jamie Young
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Well I ordered the Conversion kit for the 9mm. I'm sure I'll do allright finding 9mm Brass at the ranges. For the amount of shooting I've done in the alst year I'm going to save a bundle of $$ reloading, even for the 9mm. If I find 9mm brass at the ranges I'm calculating that My Cost will be about $4 a box.
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Old February 19, 2002, 12:51 AM   #21
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My FMJ reloads cost about $7 per 100 for components (bullet, primer and powder). Few weeks ago the local Walmart has been having manager's special on 100 rounds box of Winchester at $9.99. For $3 more per hundred I have been buying from Walmart. I have put away 30 boxes and have 5 in my shooting bag and shot 5 boxes so far.
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Old February 19, 2002, 10:08 AM   #22
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I don't really reload 9mm to save money, I reload 9mm because it is part of my hobby. I'd rather spend the evening at the reloading bench than watching TV.
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Old February 19, 2002, 10:27 AM   #23
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Urban legends seem to never die, the reality is that you don’t save any money by reloading what you do get is more shooting time/practice for the same dollar amount. So to quote Robert S. McNamara, you get a bigger bang for the buck.

So before lets say you were only able to afford 100 rounds of your favorite ammunition, now you’ll reload 250 rounds and I guarantee you’ll use them all at your next visit to your neighborhood range.

Knowledge is power
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Old February 20, 2002, 10:19 PM   #24
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I just emptied a Wal-Mart of it's 9mm 115FMJ @ $10.99/100.
Considering the locals want $10.99/50, I figured it was a great deal.
Never been in Wal-Mart before today. Now I'll make a point to stop whenever I see one.
What is a good price for the CCI-Blazer?

Taco, Where is the Wal-Mart you mentioned?
Everyone should go to their local Wal-Mart and mention this sale price and see if they could get it also.
I'll bet most who try would be successful.
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Old February 20, 2002, 11:20 PM   #25
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By all means, reload 9mm. You will get to shoot more, for the same amount of money.

I was shooting a match a few weeks ago, after shooting the stage, a couple of knuckle heads
whos turn it was to police the brass, asked me if I reloaded this stuff (9mms). I stuck out my hand and said, I sure do!

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