Is reloading 9mm cost effective?

[ehull20000]

I shot my initial pistol match in years last night and had a great time.  I'm weighing the pros and cons of becoming competitive in this sport.  I think I will have to increase my volume of shooting in order to do this and as such cost is a concern.  One competitor mentioned that he wasn't able to reload ammo cheaper than he could buy it.

 

Years ago it was very simple to save money by reloading in addition to getting exactly the bullet and velocity combo you were looking for.  However, any gains made by reloading ammo were usually offset by shooting more of it.  I find this to be an acceptable outcome.  

 

I already have nearly all the equipment needed because I do reload for 300 WSM.  I would obviously need to purchase dies and the specific components for the 9mm.   

 

So, in your opinion right now today in the current climate, is it possible to reload cheaper than to buy in bulk specifically FMJ or lead nose 115-124 gr 9mm for a Glock?  If the only option shakes out to be lead nose I will end up putting in an aftermarket barrel.  

 

I also understand the possibility of an ammo shortage or a component (primer/powder) shortage being something to plan against.  

 

Thank you for your time.  

[Patton]

Without shortages as an equation you can reload 9mm considerably cheaper than you can buy factory ammo. The trick is to buy in serious bulk. I cast with a friend sometimes, but my time is too valuable to really cast all the time. This friend recovers about 90% of the lead that he shoots. If I shoot enough to buy 8lbs of Bullseye ($150) and 10k primers (300) I can get around to it costing about $4/50. Otherwise, I am at about $7/50 buying bullets. If you are not able to recover your brass then forget about it.

Here is the important question: how valuable is your time? I can work an overtime shift and make enough to buy twice the amount of bullets as I can make in that same twelve hour period.

[battleop]

If you are reloading just to save money on 9mm it's probably not worth it unless you are shooting high volumes. To me it's more about tuning ammo to my guns and relaxing that it is economics.

 

 

Edit - Stupid IOS Auto Correct.

Edited April 15, 2015 by battleop

[musicman]

With Perfecta brass 9mm on sale at WalMart for $6.94/box of 50 rds, imho it's not worth fooling to reload. If you're buying components at today's prices you're spending 7-10 cents ea for plated bullets, 2-4 cents per primer, and another 2-4 cents per powder charge. That's roughly 11-18 cents per round, assuming free brass and reloading equipment, not to mention your time. After tax and ammo fee the Perfecta is just under 16 cents per round.

Of course, that seems to only be happening in mid-tn, and I doubt it will last indefinitely. In general 9mm is still at minimum $11/box everywhere else. It's up to you whether a nickel or so a round is worth your time. If you're working to develop a specific load, then the savings argument is out the window as that is no longer the goal.

I am a reloader. I have loaded 9 and I probably will in the future, but the last 500 or so rounds I've shot have been Perfecta, and it'll stay that way until the supply dries up.

Caveat: some dude who's been reloading for 30 years will probably come in for a minute and tell you he's loading 9 for $2/box because he has a truckload of lead he casts, and is sitting on a closet full of powder his grandpa bought for $.94/lb and primers for $1.99/k after WWII. That's great for that guy, but unrealistic to expect anyone else to duplicate and not part of your initial question.

Going to a commercially available lead bullet will probably save you 2-4 cents per round. A fine choice for outdoor shooting, but depending on the load that can get a little smoky indoors.

[musicman]

If I shoot enough to buy 8lbs of Bullseye ($150) and 10k primers (300) I can get around to it costing about $4/50. Otherwise, I am at about $7/50 buying bullets.

This exactly. With Perfecta at $7/box right now there is simply no point in reloading 9 today, assuming you can find the ammo in stock. As prices rise from that point, it is simply an equation of how you value your time and what you are trying to achieve by reloading.

[Patton]

The Perfecta is at least $10 a box around Chattanooga and the two stores in Knoxville that I checked. I have bought about as much as I have reloaded over the last couple of years. I mostly buy hollow points and shoot my stash of FMJ. Once all the FMJ, that was my SHTF stash is gone, I will probably only shoot what I can reload. Truthfully, with "free" lead I probably can reload 9mm for less than $3/50 even including alox and electricity.

[Jamie Jackson]

Handloading has many advantages...and a couple of disadvantages...

Locating affordable components, in particular powder, is not easy at this time. But you can tailor the ammo to your specs and the components store a mighty long time.

 

If, as Patton mentioned, you purchase in large enough quantity to offset HazMat fess, and if you either cast your own bullets or purchase in large enough bulk quantities on sale, you can certainly keep your costs down.

 

We, our local group, cast-powder coat-handload- and group purchase bulk quantities...so it works for us.

 

This tool might give you an idea of your costs: http://handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

 

musicman...I see the same that Patton has seen in the Knoxville area. The Prefecta 9mm is going for $11.97/50 rounds iirc at my local Walmart. If I could have picked up several thousand rounds at $140.00/1000 I would have too!

 

 

Another option or addendum is a good dry fire program. :pleased:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NGyHcb-eIk

[Jonnin]

'it depends'.

 

with my turret press, I can make a box of 9 in 15-20 min.

if we can assume brass is free -- that is, you can pick it up somewhere and don't mind doing so, that helps a ton with costs.

if we assume you can shoot lead projectiles (no jacket) that helps a ton as well.  (if you clean after, even polygon rifled barrels are fine with (slightly hardened) lead, but if you are a glock guy, be aware of the issue !!!).

 

With those in mind, you are now talking powder, primer, and a cheap bullet... you should be able to make a box for about 50% or so of factory, talking 8 bucks a box roughly.   Now 8 bucks vs the bottom shelf steel cased Russian junk or other garbage ammo is not huge savings, but if you did it right, yours will have consistent powder charges and will be more reliable and accurate (if you really want performance, you can weigh each bullet and put the ones that are outside the average off to the side to make "junk" ammo for high speed short range self defense drills).   Your ammo will be at least (assuming fairly inexpensive reloading gear and a high rate of production, rather than hand crafting each round)  above mid-grade quality for between 2/3 to 1/2 the price you were paying for either junk or mid-grade (depending on what you were buying before).   Think about it :)

Edited April 15, 2015 by Jonnin

[BigK]

Here's and example of how I shop for reloading.

Buy real cheap bullets in bulk $80/1000 with free shipping.

Bullseye powder from Outpost Armory $22/lb

Winchester primers from DLM at gun show by the case last fall $134. Tula is even cheaper by the case.

I recover my own brass plus some extras at the range and this is a fun hobby for me, so my labor is free. So, powder = $00.05, bullet = $00.08, and primer = $00.03 for each bullet. At 16 cents per bullet a box would cost me $8. I haven't been able to find this Perfecta ammo in stock for $7/box and hate depending on Walmart for my ammo supply, so I'm good with reloading.

[TGO David]

If you are reloading just to save money on 9mm it's probably not worth it unless you are shooting high volumes. To me it's more about tuning ammo to my guns and relaxing that it is economics.

 

^^^ This.

[LawVol]

I'm at about 12.5 cents per rounds using RMR 124gr plated bullets, CCI primers, and Titegroup.  I figure I'm still running about 50-60% of the cost of comparable factory ammo, and I shoot quite a bit of 9mm.  It only takes about 15 minutes to load up 100 rounds, so I'm cool with how the cost savings v. time works out.  The biggest pain right now is finding powder.

 

I haven't seen factory 9mm ammo for $7 a box in years.  I agree that it would be hard to pass that up.  Then again, avoiding Wal-Mart is also a factor for me.

Edited April 15, 2015 by LawVol

[Raoul]

A 147gr copper clad 9mm round costs me $0.13 to load using Green Dot.

As for the cost of my time I factor it as shooting time because I load in the winter when I can't get out due to the weather. So yes it is cheaper. More importantly I'm not dependent on the whims of WalMart etal.

[Caster]

It depends on your point of view and your ability to source things.
One should never count the cost of non -perishable tooling. A good mold will last many lifetimes with proper care.
Lead seems to be the inhibiting factor for many. Being a blessed soul myself, I don't have to pay for it.
Brass can be had for free pretty easy as MOST people don't reload it.
That leaves the cost of a loaded round of 9mm to just the powder and primer.
Depending on which lube I use, the cost for me can be around .05-.07¢ each.

Getting a cast load that will perform as well as a jacketed load is certainly doable, but it's not a slap it together process for the 9mm unlike easier to load for cartridges like .38spl or .45 acp.

Currently my best load uses FC cases, CCI primers, a Lyman 356402 cast from air cooled wheel weights, sized to .357 with LBT Blue Soft lube over 6.2g of HS-5 and chrono's 1110 fps very consistent from a Glock 19 with a Lone Wolf barrel.
I don't know what I will do when my supply of HS-5 runs out. That powder is no longer made and I will have to start over with another powder. Luckily I still have north of 7lbs of it and I keep it strictly for this load only.

This load feed 100% shoots nice clusters about 1" low and 1" left of point of aim at 15 yards. I've shot hundreds without cleaning. Never seen lead in the barrel.
I've really got to work on my grip to solve the grouping error. I can rest the pistol and get right on target so it's undoubtedly my pisspoor skills to blame for the low/left grouping.

[chances R]

loading a quality Precision Delta CMJ HP 124gr. and buying bulk Win SPP and WSF powder my cost is 5.74/bx/50.  Plus I have the enjoyment of reloading.  If you don't enjoy reloading, don't do it.  Also if you are not one to pay attention to details, don't do it.  Blowing up guns and/or associated medical costs really runs up the price per box.

[frankmako]

back in the 70's and 80's reloading saved you money if you shot a lot of matches.  back in those day it was a pistol/rifle match every weekend for me and the wife.  so reloading and casting was a must.  then later on cheap bulk ammo came to life.   so i look at reloading/casting now as a time to relax. a way to get some of "me" time.  yes i can save money doing it, but i have had everything i need to reload for many mango seasons.  there is the time factor that you will have to look at.    you will need to see how many rounds you will be firing each year to see if bulk buying is better over reloading. yes i buy bulk sometime when i see a good deal. hard to pass up on a good ammo bulk buy.

[BJB]

I enjoy reloading and do so on rainy or cold days when not much else can be accomplished. And my groups are better with my loads. Not sure if I am saving a lot but when there is nothing better to do Load Up

[Jamie Jackson]

Caster made some good points.

 

We have no trouble scrounging free range brass, and thus far free lead...so it's only the investment (money-wise) in powder and primers.

 

The current shortage has forced me out of my comfort zone as far as powders go and I've developed accurate and affordable loads using several powders I've never tried before for 9mm. That really increased my options and eased the strain of not having my historically preferred powders available.

 

Monetary cost is still markedly less than .22 RF ammo.

 

Time investment: not really an issue as I enjoy handloading..it's my "Zen moment". :pleased:  or I can pop in my ear buds and listen to an episode of Ballistic Radio...with my current Dillon setup that works out to about 300 rounds per 45 minute episode. I'm happy with it.

[Caster]

The comments on "enjoyment" are spot on. If you don't enjoy it, find something else to do.

I actually like casting and loading more than shooting so the fact that many of my loads are very labor intensive means precisely dick.


But seriously, if anyone rads this thinking they will only do it for e cost savings.....forget it. You will never achieve your goal in its entirety because you will always figure in your time.

[ehull20000]

Thank you all for your input.  I will consider all the view points raised here as well as talk to some of my mentors and see which way is the best for me.    

[Dirtshooter]

I cast and reload and I have read countless threads on cost savings. First of all nobody I know gets paid for their free time watching the boob tube so why do I always see "you have to figure what your time is worth"? Plain and simple reloading is a hobby in itself, shooting is a hobby unless you are a paid merc. If you find reloading boring or work then go watch the boob tube and buy your ammo at whatever price you can find today!!

[Patton]

First of all nobody I know gets paid for their free time watching the boob tube so why do I always see "you have to figure what your time is worth"?

I would love to sit around and cast 1k bullets and load them in one day, but I can't justify it when my job is forcing me to work overtime and I would make enough to buy twice that amount. I do however reload until I have had enough on my free time. I also can't neglect my daily chores or justify skipping the gym to reload since I am at a time in my life where I have more money than time.

[Raoul]

I cast and reload and I have read countless threads on cost savings. First of all nobody I know gets paid for their free time watching the boob tube so why do I always see "you have to figure what your time is worth"? Plain and simple reloading is a hobby in itself, shooting is a hobby unless you are a paid merc. If you find reloading boring or work then go watch the boob tube and buy your ammo at whatever price you can find today!!

 

Personally I charge for my time. It's part of the way I make a living.

On the other hand I also have hobbies that cost money and take time. Shooting and reloading for example.

[Caster]

I would love to sit around and cast 1k bullets and load them in one day, but I can't justify it when my job is forcing me to work overtime and I would make enough to buy twice that amount. I do however reload until I have had enough on my free time. I also can't neglect my daily chores or justify skipping the gym to reload since I am at a time in my life where I have more money than time.

You really shouldn't be casting and loading in the same day, unless your casting some dead soft (almost) pure lead. Bullets need to age a bit for best results. Wheel weight lead will harden with time. If you want the best results possible, cast, let them cool, inspect and cull, then set them aside and size/lube em a couple weeks later.

This is a LOT more important with rifles than with pistols but still......

[Guest toothpick]

With Perfecta brass 9mm on sale at WalMart for $6.94/box of 50 rds, imho it's not worth fooling to reload. If you're buying components at today's prices you're spending 7-10 cents ea for plated bullets, 2-4 cents per primer, and another 2-4 cents per powder charge. That's roughly 11-18 cents per round, assuming free brass and reloading equipment, not to mention your time. After tax and ammo fee the Perfecta is just under 16 cents per round.

Of course, that seems to only be happening in mid-tn, and I doubt it will last indefinitely. In general 9mm is still at minimum $11/box everywhere else. It's up to you whether a nickel or so a round is worth your time. If you're working to develop a specific load, then the savings argument is out the window as that is no longer the goal.

I am a reloader. I have loaded 9 and I probably will in the future, but the last 500 or so rounds I've shot have been Perfecta, and it'll stay that way until the supply dries up.

Caveat: some dude who's been reloading for 30 years will probably come in for a minute and tell you he's loading 9 for $2/box because he has a truckload of lead he casts, and is sitting on a closet full of powder his grandpa bought for $.94/lb and primers for $1.99/k after WWII. That's great for that guy, but unrealistic to expect anyone else to duplicate and not part of your initial question.

Going to a commercially available lead bullet will probably save you 2-4 cents per round. A fine choice for outdoor shooting, but depending on the load that can get a little smoky indoors.

 

Wow and I thought the Monarch at Academy was cheap. It's about 11 bucks or close to it. 

 

You buy them at the Walmart on Enon Springs? Do you know when they receive their freight?

I avoid walmart but for that price I'll stop in just for the ammo.

[musicman]

Discussed ad nauseum here:http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/86497-ammo-deal/page-8#entry1259259

Best of luck!