SIGforum
Is it even worth it to reload 9mm anymore?
October 25, 2023, 01:07 PM
Oz_ShadowIs it even worth it to reload 9mm anymore?
At current prices I’m not even motivated to use my press anymore for 9mm. I think it’s around $20 more for name brand 500 rds brand new.
Anyone else reloading far less now?
October 25, 2023, 02:29 PM
maxwayneI have been shooting factory all season. I have the components to reload 9 and will probably do a thousand this Winter for something to do.
October 25, 2023, 08:16 PM
MarcushossI have a lot of 9mm components and I do load them. I still have a couple of cases of Blazer Brass when I got it on sale for $8.49 a box.
9mm is somewhat cheap. 45 Colt, 357 Mag, 45 acp are way cheaper to load not to mention all of my rifles.
I got lucky and put away a lot of components after Obama caused his big drought. Bought a ton of primers when they were $35 per thousand.
Yeah, I used to have a couple of guns.
October 25, 2023, 10:27 PM
flesheatingvirusI typically only load and shoot subsonic 9mm. I feel like it’s worth it still.
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-- Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past me I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. --
October 26, 2023, 03:56 AM
sigarmsp226Oz - Based on today’s prices for the required components I would hesitate to spend a lot of time in front of my reloaded - but having reloaded for over 40 years now, I have built up a significant inventory of the needed components over the years.
Somewhat seeing the first and second primer “shortage” coming (especially the second one) and somewhat the powder and projectile shortage that occurred several years back, I stocked up. I am still loading and shooting primers that cost me between $0.02 to $0.03 each ($20.00 to $30.00 a thousand) and powder that cost $20.00 a lb or less (have several 8lb jugs of W231 that cost me $149.00). I also still have real fmj 9mm projectiles that cost around $0.05 each so for me I still reload today.
I also reload so I can load my “powder puff” rounds for local steel challenge and IDPA matches that I know work in my various guns.
Truth told, at 64 I load for the enjoyment of the quiet time and sense of accomplishment. Nothing looks better than an ammo can full of freshly loaded 9mm ammo, except for an ammo can full of sub-sonic 300 Blackout that were made from LC 223 brass that I converted on one of my Dillon presses. Now there is a huge savings when reloading 300 Blackout vs. today’s factory loaded ammo IMO.
I did pick up several cases of factory ammo (various calibers) when prices were low. I look at that as our “go to” ammo if we ever had to use our guns for hunting or self defense.
October 26, 2023, 09:04 AM
Oz_ShadowI think I have maybe 5k small pistol primers left from the pre-panic pricing. It just feels like I should save them in case I get into some pricier calibers. My preferred target round in 9mm is 147gr somewhat light but not all that much different from something like Blazer.
October 27, 2023, 01:14 PM
sourdough44One can ask a similar question if it pays to have a vegetable garden. In many ways it can get into the hobby & enjoyable areas.
Even with the home chickens & fresh eggs, all kinds of places around here sell for $3 a dozen. One of my favorite small vegetable stands has good sized tomatoes for $1 each. The prices are good with other offerings also.
I loaded some 243 for a youth deer hunter last year. I kept the loads modest, one shot he had his deer.
I just ordered a 375 Ruger rifle, no real need, but kinda wanted one. I’ll start out with modest loads.
As to the 9mm question, maybe not. I don’t mind shooting factory if prices are right.
October 29, 2023, 12:28 AM
XLTI purchased lots of components when they were cheap, so for my the 9 mm are totally worth reloading I have enough to last many years
October 29, 2023, 04:27 PM
toxophilus84Same here as XLT stated, even during the plandemic I was able to get out & consistently practice though the local gun club that I belong to was pretty quiet during that time-frame... wonder what they have planned next?!?!
Snowy & cold here in Colorado this weekend so I cranked out 900+ rounds of .45 ACP and 500 rounds of RN 9mm
the handle?... it's Latin for "Lover of the Bow".
November 11, 2023, 07:49 PM
Gallo PazzescoI roll RMR and Berry's 147s for running stages on steel using N320 and N330 so yes .... the answer for me is yes.
I also run SIG 147 V-Crowns for PD loads juiced with VV so yes ... it is definitely worth reloading 9mm.
115s paper punching, no.
Hot 124s for the carbine, yes.
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November 22, 2023, 06:02 PM
SigSauer_P225For me absolutely! I stocked up on powder (Titegroup) and CCI SPP way back years ago and I can load 9mm 124 gr PRN for slightly less than $7 per 50.
Even the cheap range rds are $15 a bx here.
November 24, 2023, 10:17 AM
gearhoundsAt current prices, not as much as it was a few years ago for, say, 9mm. For everything else, I believe it’s still cheaper, and more enjoyable to tailor your own loads.
“Remember to get vaccinated or a vaccinated person might get sick from a virus they got vaccinated against because you’re not vaccinated.” - author unknown December 02, 2023, 10:45 PM
czechmateStill cheaper to reload 9mm than buy factory.
January 11, 2024, 07:49 PM
wrightdYour math will be very simple to figure it out. I used to load shot shells for sporting clays, but after component prices went up, it was cheaper to buy them outright. Also consider resulting quality between factory and handloading if that matters to you.
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Wile E. Coyote School of DIY Disaster
the handle?... it's Latin for "Lover of the Bow".
July 07, 2024, 10:57 AM
maxwayneIt is not worth it to load at current prices. I just paid $90 for primers and $40 for a pound of powder. I did not need either, but saw them for the first time in a while and bought them with money from my pt job. With a $.10 bullet that figures out to $17 for a box of 50 9mm.
The primers and powder I am currently loading with did not cost me anything near those prices. I bought my primers and powder 20 years ago.
I am going to load a few more 9mm as I still have some fmj bullets left and will then convert the Dillon back to .45. I will keep my eyes open for cheap factory 9's.
August 18, 2024, 07:03 PM
rock185I shoot more 9mm than anything, but haven't felt the need to load any 9mm for ages. My most used range/plinking/target ammo is the Winchester Q4318 124 grain NATO. Good, clean, reliable, current production, sealed case and primer ammo. Last I bought was $260.00 +tax per thousand shipped. I have plenty of once fired brass, but at the price of powder, primers and bullets have not bothered with reloading 9mm.
NRA Life
August 20, 2024, 07:02 PM
Ronin101probably not...but alot of people reload because they enjoy the process and wringing out accuracy etc.
I thought I would enjoy it but it turns out I dont. 6 months from now the prices may be higher or the gun industry could be under attack or shortages. then reloading may be the only way to replenish supplies. Unless you have a large stockpile of factory ammo.
August 20, 2024, 07:17 PM
andronicusI stocked up on primers and powder pre and early pandemic, so it's worth it for me, as I shoot way more 9mm than anything else. But the current primer prices are bananas. Cheapest I've found small pistol primers is $83 per thousand. Crazy.
August 20, 2024, 08:41 PM
VictimNoMoreI had to start over from scratch after losing everything in a flood mid-2022. Everything reloading-oriented was destroyed. 9mm is my main caliber.
Where I’m at now is about $175-180 per thousand using plated 147 grain RMR bullets.
Using coated 135 grain Acme bullets, I’m at about $150-155 per thousand.
Aguila primers are $62/k, and CFE Pistol powder is about 2.5 cents per round at 4.0 grains.
I love the process, especially using a new Dillon XL750.