Reloading 9mm....is it even worth it?

[Fastsc92]

Ok guys,

First off, this is my first post here and I've already dug up some great information so I'd like to extend my thanks to everyone involved. Secondly, I'm fairly new to shooting, just got into it about 3 months ago after I took a trip to a range with a friend of mine, shot his P22, then the next week I had the same new obsession that you all have, and I got my own .22 Mosquito and then 2 weeks later picked up a XD-9 Service and I love both of them, and more importantly, the sport of shooting.

On to the real question..... I've been recently looking into reloading my own brass. I can easily get the shell from the range. Keep in mind I have zero experience about reloading, but from the books and DVD's I've watched, its very straight forward and safe as long as you're paying attention to the details. I'm a very technical person (B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering) so this is right up my alley. Plus, it looks damn fun!

I've done the math, and I'm not even sure it worth it to reload 9mm. Consider that I get all the brass for free. Ringing in at $25/1000 primers, that comes to about $.03 per cartridge. A 1lb can of powder is in the average of $17, and assuming roughly 7000 grains per pound, and an average of 5 grains per cartridge, its about $.01 per load. Then, top it off with a simple 115grain FMJ bullet, $8 per 100 or $.08 per load. This brings the rough material cost to $.12 per load.

I can take a trip down to the local wal-mart, and a tax-free(NH) box of 100, new brass, winchester 115grain FMJ is $15.88, or about $.16 per cartridge.

I think I answered my own question, but is .$04 per load going to add up soon enough to that I'd even save any money? Granted I have no equipment and I'd be looking to spend at least $100 for a press and die set.

I'd love some feedback guys. Thanks in advance.

[xdfan80]

I guess it comes down to how much you shoot. If you are really shooting a lot it might be worth it. If you dont shoot a lot, you might just be better off buying factory ammo. Guys that reload tend to say that it is fun though. Are you looking for a fun hobby? That might answer your question. Guys here that reload might have better info for you.
Welcome to the forum, be safe, and enjoy shooting.

[fredj338]

If you buy your powder. priemrs & bullets in bulk, you can get your jacketed down to $10.50/100 for jacketed, about $9.50/100 for plated & $8.50/100 lead. The amount you'll save depends on how much you shoot. Other things to concider; you do NOT have to drive anywhere to have ammo. The ammo you make will likely be better quality than the WWWB crap. You'll have already invested in the handloading gear & every other caliber costs alot more than 9mm but loads for almost the same. Your time & money, you decide. If you shoot 100rds/month, you are saving $48/year. At 100rds/week, now you are saving $200+. It will cost you about $400-$600 for a bare bones progressive setup. The other advantage is you can handload an equiv. round that matches your HD/CCW rounds for practice.

[Fastsc92]

i guess you're right. Even if I figure those prices I listed, $.04 per shot is $4 per box of 100, and if i shoot say 100 rounds for 40 weeks out of the year that's still a savings of $160 per year. And, as you stated, I could get the materials in even more bulk and go with non-coated lead for even more savings.

I can def. grab the brass from the range, but how many times can I reload the same brass? And if I grab some from other renters that leave them behind, how can i be sure that they also haven't been fired multiple times?

[fredj338]

I lose my semiauto brass before I wear it out. I haven't bought 9mm brass in 20yrs. I even stopped picking it up at my local range, so brass is no problem. Buying comp. in bulk will get you down to $9/100 for jacketed ammo, that's $7/100 saved. Again, it's not just cost but convenience & better quality ammo. Plus as a handloader, you are not a slave to the ever increasing ammo costs. The ammo goes up faster than the components.
Here are some places for bulk prices:
https://secure3.mooseweb.com/montana.../pricelist.tpl
http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe...NextButton.y=9
Freigth kills you so shop around for best prices. Even Cabela's is good because they charge flat rate shipping.

[danish]

I was just figuring the expense for 9mm the other day and came up with the same number. I know I can get it down to $.10 a round by buying bulk primers. The main reason I'm reloading is for quality and after shooting what I shot it's apparent I made the right decision.

[NWXD40]

115 Fmj is 69 per k.small pistol 20 per k . powder,20. if you get some good stuff you can get 2k per # of powder. total 99 smackers. That 9.9 cents a rd,4.95 per box of 50.

Also you can tailor the loads the way you want. The WWB is loaded close to max.

[Fastsc92]

As far as equipment is concerned, is it feasible that I can start to get into the hobby by getting a single stage press and a nice die set and be on my way? I was thinking of something like this:

Single Stage Press

Die Set

By getting a 4 step process I figure I should be able to get good results from each shell. Granted its not the fastest reloading method, but it should do the job. Am I mistaken? Do I need to get a tumbler to polish before I resize and load?

[danish]

Those will work fine but don't forget a scale and powder dippers. A tumbler isn't a necessity but it will make for better quality reloads. IMHO, I'd get one...

[slugger6]

Welcome to the forum from someone who reloads 9mm because he enjoys it and likes the results.