View Full Version : Is it worth it to you reloading 9x19?
I have a turret press.
I don't have many bullets left and I'm undecided I'd it's worth it.
I enjoy the 147 gr LFN bullets on 3.0 or 3.1 gr of Titegroup.
They are at about 24k psi and 835 fps from a pistol. I'm surprised they run but they do. They are so quiet, comparatively, from a carbine!
They cost me about $11.50 / 50 to load on purchased, fired, cleaned brass. (Worth buying so I dont have to pick it up, sort it, and clean it)
But I can buy 147 gr 9mm, with plated bullets (meh...less accurate) from Freedom Munitions, for $15-$16 / 50.
It's pretty close.
Anyway, is it worth reloading 9x19 for you?
Always has been for me.
I can load a bullet of my choice at a velocity I want to run and tweak it to maximize accuracy in a specific pistol.
I run JHPs most frequently in handguns, FMJs in AR9s.
The price of components, particularly the insane upswing of primer costs, has killed any real or imagined cost savings over factory. But I’m not reliant on availability of a particular factory load.
I enjoy loading 9x19, and technically it is cheaper than buying loaded ammo for me. I think I actually load it because the "powder puff" 124gr plated/4.0gr HP38 gets my wife out shooting a lot more, which means I get out shooting even more!
9mm reloading is cheap and easy.
Pump them out on an LNL like candy.
9mm reloading is cheap and easy.
Pump them out on an LNL like candy.
What's an LNL?
What's an LNL?
Hornady Lock N Load progressive press.
I have a turret press.
I don't have many bullets left and I'm undecided I'd it's worth it.
SNIP...
Anyway, is it worth reloading 9x19 for you?
The bulk Hornady boxes in 9mm are about 50lbs and 3k worth of projectiles each.
https://i.imgur.com/K3Nj9P3.jpg
Were not only cheap just a few years ago but also good for pissing off your postal lady! :)
For good quality, jacketed bullets...
Better bullets were also available relatively inexpensively not long ago and a guy could have stacked those up as well...
https://i.imgur.com/k1fMmfU.jpg
Is going to be a good while before I need to buy anything to load whatever kind of 9mm ammo I want. Several cases of ammo will need to go down range before I even start to get low on components and have to think about what the current ass rapey prices are.
Same thing with pig ears. A guy can buy a bag of 10 at todays prices and hope nothing happens to the supply chain that would affect availability and / or what currency inflation might do next week or next month before he runs out and has to resupply or...
The guy can lay in a big pile and be stocked up for a while to get him through any supply or price blips.
https://i.imgur.com/angdOiN.jpg
Much less stress when you are well stocked. :)
Hornady Lock N Load progressive press.
Ah, thanks!
The bulk Hornady boxes in 9mm are about 50lbs and 3k worth of projectiles each.
Were not only cheap just a few years ago but also good for pissing off your postal lady! :)
For good quality, jacketed bullets...
Better bullets were also available relatively inexpensively not long ago and a guy could have stacked those up as well...
Is going to be a good while before I need to buy anything to load whatever kind of 9mm ammo I want. Several cases of ammo will need to go down range before I even start to get low on components and have to think about what the current ass rapey prices are.
Same thing with pig ears. A guy can buy a bag of 10 at todays prices and hope nothing happens to the supply chain that would affect availability and / or what currency inflation might do next week or next month before he runs out and has to resupply or...
The guy can lay in a big pile and be stocked up for a while to get him through any supply or price blips.
Much less stress when you are well stocked. :)
Nice!
Yes, I'm not far off from being "set", too.
The goal is to retire with enough ammo, guns, mags, etc. to last until my end. Even if you have "stuff" you decide you don't want later it can be traded for something you want.
I'm probably there. But, you know, we always want "just a little more".
I just bought 115ball brass cased GECO ammo for $256/thou to my door. Pretty good deal by today's standards as the running price is just over $300/thou delivered.
With that said, I can save at least $100/thou (or a dime a round) by reloading. Have a Dillon 550 so I can crank it out. When I'm honest about time spent loading primer tubes, setup and cleanup and a little QC and documentation, it takes at least 3 hours to load 1000 rounds. $33.00 an hour. I'm sometimes indifferent to that savings as my time is already so constrained.
If I want subsonics, reloading is 100% the way to go as you can't buy bulk ammo that cheaply (maybe $350/thou on a good day). Same for accuracy ammo.
I have tons of powder/primers/bullets that I bought before the recent mayhem.
This 9mm calculation will change drastically when I retire.
Other chamberings - 45ACP, 38 super, 9x23, 223/556, any centerfire bolt rifle rounds all have much higher savings per round, or for my precision guns the only way to get ultimate precision is to reload.
So 9mm is at the bottom of the savings per unit of time reloading for me. That's why I often still buy factory ammo, especially if my choice is an afternoon shooting versus an afternoon reloading.
It depends on your goals and what equipment you have.
Loading simple range fodder in 9mm is one of the least economical calibers to reload vs. factory with primers being ~$0.8 per, assuming you can find them, if you don't mind shooting 115 gr. training ammo. That's particularly true if you're buying new brass an not reusing the cases. That stuff is a bit dirty and not terribly accurate, but if you're shooting at close distances, it's fine.
The question you need to answer is, what do you want out of your ammo, besides low cost...and can you tell the difference when shooting it?
Want a load that shoot softer than factory?
Want a load that's more accurate than factory?
Want a load that more accurately replicates your defensive ammo, but is economical?
The list goes on as to what's possible. With reloading, you can control the variables and for many, a little experimentation is fun. If you shoot enough to where you can tell the difference and want to get the most enjoyment from your hobby, reloading can be a natural extension of that hobby.
You can buy equipment to match your shooting volume, but I am very spoiled by my Dillon XL650 with case and bullet feeders. Having good equipment really helps with the satisfaction level for me. Poor equipment quickly leads to frustration.
For me, the answer is yes. I have a 9mm load that shoots softer and is more accurate than anything I can buy. It's very satisfying to shoot vs. typical range fodder.
If you have to decide between 9mm and bolt gun ammo, I just buy 9mm and Mark loads bolt gun ammo. That shit is expensive and Mark kills bolt ammo. We shot 250 rounds of 9mm today and not once did I think, I wish Mark loaded that shit. But If you shoot only pistol, its still good business.
We banged on some MP5 and MPX guns today, hence the 250+ ammo bag bang.
PB
Every so often I load 9mm just to do something different. I can barely keep up with rifle ammo though.
See for me, reloading bottleneck rifle rounds at higher volume isn't fun.
I need an automated trimmer that also chamfers. I have a Giraud, but that's still a heavily manual process.
I'd much rather reload straight walled pistol cartridges.
It depends on your goals and what equipment you have.
Loading simple range fodder in 9mm is one of the least economical calibers to reload vs. factory with primers being ~$0.8 per, assuming you can find them, if you don't mind shooting 115 gr. training ammo. That's particularly true if you're buying new brass an not reusing the cases. That stuff is a bit dirty and not terribly accurate, but if you're shooting at close distances, it's fine.
The question you need to answer is, what do you want out of your ammo, besides low cost...and can you tell the difference when shooting it?
Want a load that shoot softer than factory?
Want a load that's more accurate than factory?
Want a load that more accurately replicates your defensive ammo, but is economical?
The list goes on as to what's possible. With reloading, you can control the variables and for many, a little experimentation is fun. If you shoot enough to where you can tell the difference and want to get the most enjoyment from your hobby, reloading can be a natural extension of that hobby.
You can buy equipment to match your shooting volume, but I am very spoiled by my Dillon XL650 with case and bullet feeders. Having good equipment really helps with the satisfaction level for me. Poor equipment quickly leads to frustration.
For me, the answer is yes. I have a 9mm load that shoots softer and is more accurate than anything I can buy. It's very satisfying to shoot vs. typical range fodder.
I think you've detailed the delima well.
I much prefer the ammo I make for the reasons you state but they do take time to make.
Hardly any company makes the 9mm I like to shoot. 147 gr lead loaded mildly. Jacketed would be acceptable but that sells for closer to $20 / 50. Companies that sell 147 gr at $15 / 50 use plated bullets and the accuracy stinks. I'm firing at least half through PCC's and it's easy to see the difference.
I'd like to see more companies selling lead / coated lead 9mm mild reloads at reduced cost.
use plated bullets and the accuracy stinks.
I've loaded some plated Berry's Bullets that had very acceptable accuracy. But we got a bunch of 124 gr (I think) bullets that are AWFUL! I mean like 10" groups at 5 yards or something.
Yeah, i reload blue bullets, 147 gr subs for uspsa and a silenced machingun.
Im trying out 135gr to cut cost more, but im at $11/50 for accurate subs. Cheaper than I can find them.
Once I run out of brass, I buy factory and start saving again.
See for me, reloading bottleneck rifle rounds at higher volume isn't fun.
I need an automated trimmer that also chamfers. I have a Giraud, but that's still a heavily manual process.
I'd much rather reload straight walled pistol cartridges.
Trimming is the worst part of the process. I cant stand it.
I've loaded some plated Berry's Bullets that had very acceptable accuracy. But we got a bunch of 124 gr (I think) bullets that are AWFUL! I mean like 10" groups at 5 yards or something.
Yes they were horrible, just ridiculously poor accuracy. We bought some RMR 147's that shoot lights out. With us shooting around 200 rounds of rifle ammo weekly, 9mm is best to be purchased.
PB
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