- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Economics of Reloading 9mm
Posted on 1/24/24 at 10:43 am
Posted on 1/24/24 at 10:43 am
I got wild hair and picked up a Glock 19x a few weeks back and it got me back into shooting regularly. I've got a range very close to my house that I'm now a member, so burning through my ammo stash, and about the best I can find is ~ 24 cents a round for target ammo.
The range I go to doesn't allow you to collect the brass as they recycle it. So I'd have to buy that in addition to bullets, primers, and powder. Plus the initial investment in a reloading system. I've tried searching on my own, but hoping there may be some things that I'm missing, because I can't find where it's really worth reloading myself. But I'd love to be wrong.
I see you can get once used brass in bulk for ~4-5 cents per. Bullets are ~9-10 cents per. Primers are ~7-8 cents per. You're already at around 20-22 cents per round with a little more for the powder and quite a bit of time. Plus ~$400 initial investment for the tools. Doesn't seem worth it to me. Collecting brass would help for sure, but not really an option.
The range I go to doesn't allow you to collect the brass as they recycle it. So I'd have to buy that in addition to bullets, primers, and powder. Plus the initial investment in a reloading system. I've tried searching on my own, but hoping there may be some things that I'm missing, because I can't find where it's really worth reloading myself. But I'd love to be wrong.
I see you can get once used brass in bulk for ~4-5 cents per. Bullets are ~9-10 cents per. Primers are ~7-8 cents per. You're already at around 20-22 cents per round with a little more for the powder and quite a bit of time. Plus ~$400 initial investment for the tools. Doesn't seem worth it to me. Collecting brass would help for sure, but not really an option.
10
Posted on 1/24/24 at 10:57 am to Jon A thon
quote:
You're already at around 20-22 cents
How many times can each case be used before its junk? Shouldn't be just 1. that would bring down your per round price.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 11:02 am to Hermit Crab
quote:
ow many times can each case be used before its junk?
Range sweeps brass as you are shooting. They don't let you collect it for "health reasons". But the membership manager said they recycle it. So they are likely selling it off. It's a very nice place and as a member I shoot for cheap 5 minutes from my house. But that is the major drawback for getting reload prices down. Can't re-use.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 11:07 am to Hermit Crab
Straight walled case not loaded too hot should be good for at least 15 reloadings. Just check for splits every time you reload them usually a small crack will form on the mouth as they thin ever so slightly with each resizing.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 11:07 am to Jon A thon
I gave up pistol reloading pretty soon after realizing the potential for double charging a case. Not worth it for plinking ammo.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 11:09 am to Jon A thon
quote:
The range I go to doesn't allow you to collect the brass as they recycle it.
If you can’t pickup your brass it isn’t worth reloading.
You can reuse brass 10 times or more. But it depends on how much you work the brass (resize) and the pressures you are running in the load.
This post was edited on 1/24/24 at 11:10 am
Posted on 1/24/24 at 11:11 am to Jon A thon
Well then its going to be tough to justify it based on those numbers you gave. going to have to shoot 10,000+ rounds to offset cost of equipment, and that doesn't include time. So unless you simply enjoy doing it then I would skip it.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 11:59 am to Jon A thon
Reloading very rarely pays you back unless you’re doing a premium hunting round, or for extreme precision in competition shooting.
It likely never pays off for plinking. You’re getting none of the economy of scale, and the benefits of controlling the process don’t really apply.
It likely never pays off for plinking. You’re getting none of the economy of scale, and the benefits of controlling the process don’t really apply.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 12:39 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
quote:
You’re getting none of the economy of scale, and the benefits of controlling the process don’t really apply.
That's what I figured. I guess I was just wondering if maybe I'm looking in the wrong place and should not be paying close to the prices I listed for primers and bullets. If I could get the price down to say ~17 cents a round, it'd be something to think about. Would be saving around $75 per 1000 rounds. Going once a week, I could use that up relatively quickly and end up saving myself some money.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 12:46 pm to Jon A thon
Makes no sense if you can't keep cases.
Only way I would reload pistol is if I shot 1000s per month and had the auto loader system. You will lose your near sighted vision trying to load that many
Only way I would reload pistol is if I shot 1000s per month and had the auto loader system. You will lose your near sighted vision trying to load that many
Posted on 1/24/24 at 1:12 pm to Jon A thon
I reload 9mm on a progressive press. A year ago I was shooting competitions and about 12K rounds a year which made it worth it. I got it down to 13c/round pre-covid and using range brass.
Now primers have doubled in cost and if you can't get range brass it's not worth reloading. Even pre-covid primer prices you really don't save much by reloading. You end up shooting more and buying more equipment to streamline the reloading process. I did it just to get out the house and create custom loads for my competition guns.
Now primers have doubled in cost and if you can't get range brass it's not worth reloading. Even pre-covid primer prices you really don't save much by reloading. You end up shooting more and buying more equipment to streamline the reloading process. I did it just to get out the house and create custom loads for my competition guns.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 1:18 pm to Jon A thon
The gun club I'm a member of (Memphis) wants you to take your brass. I'll go out there sometimes when it's empty just to pick up brass. I take a 5 gallon bucket. I won't fill it but get a bunch of it. I have brass sorters to help with sorting it all.
Last time I was there I picked up 500+ pieces of 9mm brass.
If it isn't picked up by someone, they just sweep it off and throw it away.
Last time I was there I picked up 500+ pieces of 9mm brass.
If it isn't picked up by someone, they just sweep it off and throw it away.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 1:52 pm to Jon A thon
I think the 9mm is close to break even if you have the brass. 45 auto and up you may be ahead of the game a little. If you have the brass. If you have to by all the parts I don't think it works economically. It is an interesting way to use up time though and I would recommend it. I started pre COVID with a Lee setup. Still loading freedom seeds.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 3:39 pm to Jon A thon
quote:
So they are likely selling it off.
Yeah, they're making a little money on the side enabling them keep the range fees down. If you're going to have to buy new brass every time you load, I don't think handloading will benefit you money wise. It hurts me to say that as I've been handloading for >35 years. OTOH, for me, handloading is always a good use of recreational time. I'm always working up a new load for one of my guns. This year my main new load will be full power loads for a Remington XP-100 in 223 Remington Ackley Improved using Vihtavuori N133 and various 50 grain varmint bullets.
Posted on 1/24/24 at 3:46 pm to TigerOnThe Hill
You kilt dat in Taylor or shongaloo?
Posted on 1/24/24 at 11:42 pm to KemoSabe65
Y
Actually it was just past Taylor, near Bussey.
quote:HaHa
ou kilt dat in Taylor or shongaloo?
Actually it was just past Taylor, near Bussey.
Posted on 1/25/24 at 7:38 am to Jon A thon
Use 124 gr plated bullet from xtreme. Ginis primer and 231.
Case is from range. .24 ea.
Loaded on xl650. Would t do it any other way.
Case is from range. .24 ea.
Loaded on xl650. Would t do it any other way.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News