Is 9mm worth reloading??

I_load_my_own

I_load_my_own

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For anyone that has asked this question back when they said they can buy 9mm at under 20 cent per round and didn't want to waste their time with loading 9mm, I have one word for you in times like this when you can't find ammo.
BRAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA20201218_155616.jpg
 
BrettB said:
I lived through the last scare during Obama administration. Afterwards I had a goal to be able to reload and endured the same ridicule ( you can buy for .12 per round ) well now you can’t, My only regret now is that I didn’t buy more primers
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same
 
They can be found. Constant shopping and searching the classifieds or just hitting GB and paying through the nose.
 
I was late to the game. Should have started reloading years ago but started getting the vibe I needed too back in June. Unfortunately things had started to dry up by then but was able to get a press and everything I needed to run 9 & .38. Found plenty of brass, bullets and even powder to reload for next few years. Primers I am not as stocked up on though. Have enough for a year.
 
I have a 550 set up just for 9mm. I loaded it back when it was cheap so that I could download for plinking. Not so snappy that way. So, when the SHTF, I had a couple K primers and bullets to play with. That will be more than enough to carry me through since I don't shoot much anyway what with arthritis acting up in my hands. I much prefer loading and shooting 45 acp and forunately supplies for this cal has been avail.
 
My time has a pretty steep price associated with it, and 9mm just doesn't rate. I laid back about 4k rounds when it was cheap and I'll survive on that through a whole Harris administration if I have to.

I have cases, primers, powder and projectiles just in case, but for now whenever the price of loaded ammunition goes up the replacement price of components rises concurrently so the economics still don't work for me.
 
GoWolfpack said:
My time has a pretty steep price associated with it, and 9mm just doesn't rate. I laid back about 4k rounds when it was cheap and I'll survive on that through a whole Harris administration if I have to.

I have cases, primers, powder and projectiles just in case, but for now whenever the price of loaded ammunition goes up the replacement price of components rises concurrently so the economics still don't work for me.
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I've been on the fence about becoming a reloader for a while. I've finally decided to take the plunge. (Waiting on an "in-stock" notification for a RCBS Progressive with several of my favorite websites.) But it's not because of the economics. Seems a rising tide floats all boats. As the cost of factory ammo rises so does the cost of components to some degree. No, I've decided to start reloading because of my perceived belief in future availability.
I've been trying to "buy low and stack it deep" for about fifteen years or so. Hell, I'd be selling now and tripling my money - if I thought it could be replaced over the next five years or so. My fear is the incoming Harris/Biden administration is going to pull out all stops to make ammo difficult, expensive and/or out right impossible to obtain. If I'm not too late getting into the game, reloading provides another option for me and my family.
 
Timfoilhat said:
I used to say and do that because it was true. I also have powder, projectiles, and primers set back for the day it was no longer true and loaded my first 9mm last month.
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Same here. I last reloaded anything in March 2015 because factory was so dang cheap. I’ve recently dusted off the reloading gear (single stage) and done 1K of .223, 1K of .300BO and 1,500 9mm.

I have plenty of factory ammo stacked but would rather shoot reloads just in case factory 9mm gets to $2,000 a case : )
 
steelciocc said:
Same here. I last reloaded anything in March 2015 because factory was so dang cheap. I’ve recently dusted off the reloading gear (single stage) and done 1K of .223, 1K of .300BO and 1,500 9mm.

I have plenty of factory ammo stacked but would rather shoot reloads just in case factory 9mm gets to $2,000 a case : )
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Silly thing is, when ammo is $2k a case is it wise to sell anymore ? If that case represents the last of the last what's it really worth? I suppose many people on forums like this have more ammo than they're going shoot so it's safe for them to spare one here and there, but if it really represents the last production...
 
I started reloading right before the last scare happened in 2013. I was lucky enough to grab a couple boxes of primers and a few pounds of powder before it all dried up. Once components came back, I started stocking up, I have enough now to last me several years.

The nice thing about reloading - primers and powders can be used in various calibers. I can load whatever I want, when I need it. It might be 9mm today, or 45acp tomorrow. Factory 9mm will always be 9mm, and will always be full recoil loads.

One thing about the last shortage, I grabbed whatever powder I could find at the local gun shows. I have worked up loads in different calibers with over 30 different pistol powders, so I know what will work well, and not so well. And I stocked up on a few that worked well for me.
 
Timfoilhat said:
I used to say and do that because it was true. I also have powder, projectiles, and primers set back for the day it was no longer true and loaded my first 9mm last month.
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Truth
 
I'm not saying you shouldn't be prepared to reload. Just that there is little practical benefit to it at this time due to the cost of replacement components.


SCshooter57 said:
I've been on the fence about becoming a reloader for a while. I've finally decided to take the plunge. (Waiting on an "in-stock" notification for a RCBS Progressive with several of my favorite websites.) But it's not because of the economics. Seems a rising tide floats all boats. As the cost of factory ammo rises so does the cost of components to some degree. No, I've decided to start reloading because of my perceived belief in future availability
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I've been reloading 9 for several years and have quite a stockpile built up with the ability to make tons more. I can still shoot 500 rounds a range session and not feel bad. 😁👍

For what it's worth, I got into reloading 9 because it seemed like an easy cartridge to start with and I like experimenting with new powders, new projectiles, etc. Heck, I'm still sitting on several thousand 147 gr. Federal HST projectiles that I picked up for 8 cents each a few years ago! 😬
 
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Those that say reloading 9mm makes no sense usually base that statement purely on cost. And, one may have to factor in their time as well. There is nothing wrong with that, everyone makes a choice to fit their own situation.

For me, I will load 9mm even if the cost difference isn’t that much. I can tailor my loads for a given gun to make it either more reliable or more accurate or more pleasant to shoot. It is hard to put a price on those.

If 9mm were the only caliber of interest, it would be hard to make the justification to reload, but I load many other calibers so already have most of the equipment to do so.
 
For 9mm I mainly load for a suppressed MPX. 147s and VV N320 approximate famous Special K subsonic rounds. Although subs don’t cost any more to make most manufacturers charge more for them. So, in good times and bad it may make sense to reload “special” 9mm loads.
 
I too just started. Picked up 1000 brass from @Toprudder earlier today and a new die set earlier from another member. I ordered 1k bullets from xtreme and a shellholder from midway. I might have around 2500 rounds, but intend to keep those boxed. I too previously felt like reloading 9 wasn't worth the time/effort. Now, not so much. I previously loaded rounds that saved me major money, like 460S&W, 44mag, 357, and 308. Now I've added 223 and 9 to the list. Once I work up a good load on my 9, I'll store the rest. I won't shoot anything now. It just gets stored.
 
Pre covid, using range pick up brass, free shipping plus sales on components - loading 9 was cheaper than buying and easy. I’d go into the reloading room and alternate, one day I’d load 45, the next I’d load 9. Two dillons set up, one for large primer, one for small.

These days obviously it makes even more sense.


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GoWolfpack said:
My time has a pretty steep price associated with it, and 9mm just doesn't rate. I laid back about 4k rounds when it was cheap and I'll survive on that through a whole Harris administration if I have to.

I have cases, primers, powder and projectiles just in case, but for now whenever the price of loaded ammunition goes up the replacement price of components rises concurrently so the economics still don't work for me.
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I was that way for years too, but I can tell you this - we compare the ammo we hand load to the cheapest bulk ammo you can buy. However my loads are 135 grain coated bullets. With pre pandemic prices I can load these for about 11 cents per round ( 3.5 primer , 5.5 projectile, and a couple of pennies for titegroup)
I like the 135s because I can load up a full charge and they are still subsonic, but group better at 100 yards than 147gr do. I will take my loads over any other right now. I was also able to load them a little longer for better feeding in my CZ and my PCC. I am not sub MOA at 100 but with my PCC I can hit the targets in our monthly matches.
 
Toprudder said:
Those that say reloading 9mm makes no sense usually base that statement purely on cost. And, one may have to factor in their time as well. There is nothing wrong with that, everyone makes a choice to fit their own situation.

For me, I will load 9mm even if the cost difference isn’t that much. I can tailor my loads for a given gun to make it either more reliable or more accurate or more pleasant to shoot. It is hard to put a price on those.

If 9mm were the only caliber of interest, it would be hard to make the justification to reload, but I load many other calibers so already have most of the equipment to do so.
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Over my time on this forum I have learned that reloading is not a hobby for people who want to save money. It's a hobby for people who love keeping records.


Of course if you want to shoot anything other than 115 grain bullets or you need to meet a power factor for competition or some other specific thing reloading makes sense. That's true for 40 and 45 too. I generally buy factory in those calibers too. See above about what my time is worth.


If all you're doing is cranking out stuff equivalent to the cheapest factory ammunition, reloading 9mm isn't financially justified, but there are plenty of other factors that could make it the right thing for you.
 
GoWolfpack said:
Over my time on this forum I have learned that reloading is not a hobby for people who want to save money. It's a hobby for people who love keeping records.
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For me, it started with wanting to save money on 9mm subs then became more a matter of knowing I have the ability to make my own ammo regardless of what happens with the market.

While everyone is panicking trying to find 9mm ammo and paying 300%+ premiums, my shooting hasn’t changed at all. Buy cheap and stack it deep!
 
GoWolfpack said:
Over my time on this forum I have learned that reloading is not a hobby for people who want to save money. It's a hobby for people who love keeping records.


Of course if you want to shoot anything other than 115 grain bullets or you need to meet a power factor for competition or some other specific thing reloading makes sense. That's true for 40 and 45 too. I generally buy factory in those calibers too. See above about what my time is worth.


If all you're doing is cranking out stuff equivalent to the cheapest factory ammunition, reloading 9mm isn't financially justified, but there are plenty of other factors that could make it the right thing for you.
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When factory ammo was cheap I stopped reloading. I could get quality brass cased ammo for around $.17 a round delivered to my house. The $70 I could save by rolling my own was not worth the time so I just stashed my reloading supplies. In fact at the same time I was still buying reloading supplies cheap and stashing them as well. Now the the cheap factory ammo is gone I still have all my reloading supplies. All I have to get is bullet and I have source for those at about the same price I was paying. I play both sides against the middle.

Also the reality is that you do not save money reloading. You simply shoot more for the same $$$. Most people who shoot a lot have a certain amount of disposable income they use towards their hobby. If you save money per round shot most people simply shoot more or they buy more guns. If you have set aside $300 a month for your hobby then you will find a way to spend that $300 one way or the other.
 
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Haven’t loaded 9mm for years, but I stocked up on components after 2013. With loaded ammo so expensive, I’m loading 9mm again. When Tommiegirl and I visit Battery Oaks, we shoot more 9mm than anything else.
 
One thing that has me a little confused. Primes are out of sight, but bullets and powder hasn't taken the big jump yet. There are plenty of quality 9mm and 38 bullets out there and available for less than .10 each. Even at $100 per k on primers you can still load for less than .20 a round with picked up brass. Not too bad compared to what factory is going for.
 
Amps 13 said:
I was late to the game. Should have started reloading years ago but started getting the vibe I needed too back in June. Unfortunately things had started to dry up by then but was able to get a press and everything I needed to run 9 & .38. Found plenty of brass, bullets and even powder to reload for next few years. Primers I am not as stocked up on though. Have enough for a year.
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Just curious which press you got? I’m *very* late to the reloading party but better late than never - just wondering if there’s an acknowledged “best starter press.”
 
jrico59 said:
Just curious which press you got? I’m *very* late to the reloading party but better late than never - just wondering if there’s an acknowledged “best starter press.”
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I actually did not do what most tell starters to begin with. Usually everyone says to start with a single stage press but I went with a Hornady lock and load Auto progressive. I also had someone nice enough to show me the process for an afternoon. you tube is also your friend.
others will have a better idea on what the best to start with is. I have heard that RCBS is well made. But all I know is Hornady and I have only loaded maybe a few thousand if that of 9 & .38
 
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Etruett said:
One thing that has me a little confused. Primes are out of sight, but bullets and powder hasn't taken the big jump yet. There are plenty of quality 9mm and 38 bullets out there and available for less than .10 each. Even at $100 per k on primers you can still load for less than .20 a round with picked up brass. Not too bad compared to what factory is going for.
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Bullets are up about 10-20% depending where you are shopping for FMJ. Where are you seeing in stock 9mm for less than $.10 shipped? Also a lot of vendors are out of stock or backordered. I can backorder at RMR for $85 per thousand but you are prepaying and waiting 8-12 weeks. Which is what I am doing.
 
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jrico59 said:
Just curious which press you got? I’m *very* late to the reloading party but better late than never - just wondering if there’s an acknowledged “best starter press.”
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I started on a Lee Turret. With some upgrades from Inline Fabrication I am able to load 350 rounds an hour. I can also change calibers in 30 seconds simply by changing the turret that has the dies installed plus a dialed in powder drum. I load pistol calibers only. 45 ACP, 38 Spl, 380 auto, 32 ACP and 9mm.

I am moving to a Dillon XL750 as my main press for 9mm and eventually 45 ACP but will use the lee for smaller runs.
 
wvsig said:
Bullets are up about 10-20% depending where you are shopping for FMJ. Where are you seeing in stock 9mm for less than $.10 shipped? Also a lot of vendors are out of stock or backordered. I can backorder at RMR for $85 per thousand but you are prepaying and waiting 8-12 weeks. Which is what I am doing.
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I’ve mostly been loading coated lead which run fine and for Target And plate shooting suits the need great.
just got in a 3360 round package of 125 gr from Hoosier Bullets and it was $240 shipped. Works out to about .07 each. @BatteryOaksBilly and myself have found them to shoot good. have also had good luck with Brazos Precision For coated lead. If you want plated or fmj, Xtreme has been running a few promotions around .10-.11 each but not including shipping
 
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