9mm Reloading Advice

[Stangman]

CCI primers & Winchester 231 powder are what I use in all 9mm & .45 loads.

[Djcubinlinx]

Hey guys, I'm new to the site and was thinking on starting to reload. What's the breakdown for price per round that you guys are making. 9mm and .45? Rough estimate.

[ErichF]

With saved brass, I'm around 13 cents/round with Montana Gold 124gr JHP, Win 231, and CCI #500 primers.

[Lopper]

That's strange on the Titegroup being dirty I've loaded thousands of 9mm with 4.1 ga 125 grain berrys TC and find it cleaner then most. Are you using cast bullets as they will smoke. Sorry for the hijack.

[CdnInAz]

Originally Posted by Djcubinlinx

Hey guys, I'm new to the site and was thinking on starting to reload. What's the breakdown for price per round that you guys are making. 9mm and .45? Rough estimate.

I mostly load the two you are asking about, plus a few magnums - here are my numbers. Based on buying in bulk. Most of my stock (and therefore prices) from last year - prices have been going up lately, so I'm letting my stock fade down to get past November

Winchester primers, bought in flats of 5000 for $130 from local guy, same price for small in 9 or large in 45 = 2.6 cents per round

9mmFMJ MontanaGold 115gr, from same local guy so get a break on his large quantities, box of 4000 for $280 = 7 cents per round

45acpRN lead Bear Creek from another local guy, buy in lots of 3 or 4 thousand to get his best price, $80 per thousand = 8 cents per round

8 lb powder at Sportsman Warehouse (cheaper on line but not once pay HazMat), my loads work out to 1.39 cents for 9, 1.40 for 45

I seem to always get enough once fired brass to refresh the pile - from range and at matches when new shooters leave because they don't reload, so no cost for brass.

So my totals are: 9mm = 11 cents per rnd, 45acp = 12 cents per rnd

Of course, YMMV, and as many will tell you, I don't reload just to save, it is a fun hobby, sort of an extension of shooting.

[Djcubinlinx]

Originally Posted by CdnInAz

So my totals are: 9mm = 11 cents per rnd, 45acp = 12 cents per rnd

Of course, YMMV, and as many will tell you, I don't reload just to save, it is a fun hobby, sort of an extension of shooting.

Sound like savings to me. I just have to figure out if I would enjoy spending the time. Like you said above, it's a hobby. The cost between 9mm and .45 on reloads is almost the same. Do you have a progressive set up? Thanks for the info!

[CdnInAz]

Originally Posted by Djcubinlinx

Sound like savings to me. I just have to figure out if I would enjoy spending the time. Like you said above, it's a hobby. The cost between 9mm and .45 on reloads is almost the same. Do you have a progressive set up? Thanks for the info!

yea, my cost for 9 is close to 45 because I load 9 in FMJ but 45 in lead. Just have not bothered to changeover the 9, been shooting more 45 past year since getting my SR1911. Yes I have progressive, Hornady LNL AP. Also still have my single stage RCBS - use it for magnums in lower quantities, and also for new loads in 9 and 45. I am glad that I started with single stage before going progressive, easier learning curve.

A suggestion if you are thinking of starting: your first purchase should be ABCs of Reloading, read it cover to cover, maybe read another good manual, then decide what you want to do.

[Djcubinlinx]

Originally Posted by CdnInAz

A suggestion if you are thinking of starting: your first purchase should be ABCs of Reloading, read it cover to cover, maybe read another good manual, then decide what you want to do.

just ordered it on amazon. Thanks again for the info. I guess I'll start buying ammo with brass instead of steel or aluminum.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by Lopper

That's strange on the Titegroup being dirty I've loaded thousands of 9mm with 4.1 ga 125 grain berrys TC and find it cleaner then most. Are you using cast bullets as they will smoke. Sorry for the hijack.

TG has a very narrow load range; too low, it burns poorly, too high it's pushing pressures. Add to that the tiny volume & high heat, no thanks, terrible powder choice IMO, especially w/ lead bullets.
COst is driven by the bullets you buy, not powder in 9mm. Buy in bulk, you can get right inder 11c.rd w/ PD jacketed. SOme plated source can shave another 1c or so, get you under 10c/rd.

[evilspringer]

Here is a calculator you can use

Handloading Cost Calculator

There used to be one that factored the cost of your equipment and would tell you how many rounds it took to pay off your equipment. But the site is no longer working.