Reloading Economics

[Gawernator]

Is it true that these days reloading popular calibers like 9mm doesn't really save much money anymore? Especially after you consider the time investment. I can see for big rifle rounds it definitely saves you.

 

[Churro]

Is it true that these days reloading popular calibers like 9mm doesn't really save much money anymore? Especially after you consider the time investment. I can see for big rifle rounds it definitely saves you.

according to my buddy he can reload 9mm for about 9-12 cents a round. While the cost is initially high you need to weigh in the space, time, components, and knowledge to start putting something together.

 

[Gawernator]

according to my buddy he can reload 9mm for about 9-12 cents a round. While the cost is initially high you need to weigh in the space, time, components, and knowledge to start putting something together.

how much time effort though?

 

[bonesurf]

component prices are way up. primers in particular. powder is way up too

i wont load 9 if the prices are below 24/round. not worth my effort. yes the actual cost is lower, considerably but what's your time worth.

.308 is worth it. 45acp is worth it. 223 is usually worth it. sorta pain in the butt processing IMO

i have 9, 45 and 223 set up on progressives. so when i feel like it i can pop em out at a pretty good pace. 308 i load on my turret. 308 is the one that i will consistently reload. it's pretty easy to process IMO

 

[Darqhelmet]

It wasn’t worth it for me. Match rifle ammo is the only place it made sense. That being said I would rather do anything else than sit there and reload.

 

[Seeed]

Is it true that these days reloading popular calibers like 9mm doesn't really save much money anymore? Especially after you consider the time investment. I can see for big rifle rounds it definitely saves you.

$321.99 Hodgon TiteGroup - 8lb, so about $30 per 1k rounds or so
1000SPP $60
Brass - Let’s say free
1000 15gr berry’s bullets $140
So let’s say about $250 or so per 1k

Cheaper if you cast of course so not worth it. ’s got crazy expensive

UPDATE: with later comment Rusty's comment. It's quite cheaper with some real world pricing available right now

 

[compshell]

according to my buddy he can reload 9mm for about 9-12 cents a round. While the cost is initially high you need to weigh in the space, time, components, and knowledge to start putting something together.

Would like to see your buddy’s math because just the primer and projectile get you past 9 cents.

Cheaper to reload larger calibers- I guess now with a total extortion tax of over 20% for factory ammo, it’s better to just reload smaller calibers too. The largest cost now is powder. It hasn’t stabilized back down but has held at an average of 40 a lb.

Most reload also because it’s a working meditation and they enjoy doing it. If you were to factor in time then reloading for some would be a negative economic task, but joy does come from it especially when you can tailor the load to your specs.

 

[Darqhelmet]

component prices are way up. primers in particular. powder is way up too

i wont load 9 if the prices are below 24/round. not worth my effort. yes the actual cost is lower, considerably but what's your time worth.

.308 is worth it. 45acp is worth it. 223 is usually worth it. sorta pain in the butt processing IMO

i have 9, 45 and 223 set up on progressives. so when i feel like it i can pop em out at a pretty good pace. 308 i load on my turret. 308 is the one that i will consistently reload. it's pretty easy to process IMO

.223 is/was if you’re loading heavy stuff or want to weird varmit loads, but mag dumping I could never make it worth my time. .308 I always saved money and got better ammo for my bolt guns.

 

[Darqhelmet]

how much time effort though?

Triple what ever you’re thinking in your head. Unless you have someone that is going to sit down and work you through it.

 

[RustVendor]

$321.99 Hodgon TiteGroup - 8lb, so about $30 per 1k rounds or so
1000SPP $60
Brass - Let’s say free
1000 15gr berry’s bullets $140
So let’s say about $250 or so per 1k

Cheaper if you cast of course so not worth it. ’s got crazy expensive

you are paying way too much for components. 2.2c for 3.8 grains of titegroup, 4 cents for winchester SPP, 9 cents for everglades 124 grain plated can go to 7.5 for the discount "blem" ones. More like 160 per 1000 at todays prices. It does take time though, i load 100 in a little under 20 minutes so maybe 1.5 hours for 1000 but I like doing it. Even with a FFL03 is anyone actually getting 9mm for less than 300/1000 that isn't some F-ed up brand like "scorpion" or privi partisan?

 

[RustVendor]

223 I save a F-ton though I think I'm paying like 20 cents in components

 

[Seeed]

you are paying way too much for components. 2.2c for 3.8 grains of titegroup, 4 cents for winchester SPP, 9 cents for everglades 124 grain plated can go to 7.5 for the discount "blem" ones. More like 160 per 1000 at todays prices. It does take time though, i load 100 in a little under 20 minutes so maybe 1.5 hours for 1000 but I like doing it. Even with a FFL03 is anyone actually getting 9mm for less than 300/1000 that isn't some F-ed up brand like "scorpion" or privi partisan?

Show me where you get those prices total to your door.….and it’s 4.8..

With ffl03 I’m at 27 cents to my door

 

[RustVendor]

Show me where you get those prices total to your door.….and it’s 4.8..

With ffl03 I’m at 27 cents to my door

4.8 what?

 

[Seeed]

4.8 what?

looks like you're right and with a lighter load.

Everglades has em even cheaper for 8.5c if you buy bulk
Titegroup can get down to 3.1 it looks like. I was reading their load data which looks very high in the real world
Not sure about SPP for that cheap delivered with hazmat though

Adding the links here:

Primers $40 per 1k

Winchester Small Pistol OEM Primers | While Supplies Last - Republic Ammunition

Winchester Small Pistol OEM

republicammunition.com

Everglades 124gr 9mm - $85 per 1k

9mm 124gr RN Plated Version 2 Bullets

9mm 124gr RN Plated Bullets Version 2 Version 2 is a Premium Heavy Plated, Double Struck bullet. This means higher velocities are possible and the profile is more consistent. 0.355" Diameter.

www.evergladesammo.com

Powder Titegroup - $20 per 1k if @8lb 3.8gr

Hodgdon TiteGroup Gun Powder - Republic Ammunition

Hodgdon Titegroup’s unique design provides flawless ignition with all types of primers, including lead-free versions. This gun powder offers low charge weight, burns clean, mild muzzle report and superb, uniform ballistics.

republicammunition.com

so 15.5 cents

That is worth it to me. I don't really consider time when I personally reload. I find it therapudic to do a few hundres while listening to some old school AC/DC

 

[ejhyun]

9mm math
Projectiles are 7-10 cents depending on weight, type and quality, yes you can easily pay more but that is what I pay for competition style loads
Powder 3 cents per
Primers are about 5 cents
Brass is negligible as you are reusing multiple times

That puts you about 15-18 cents per round or $150 -$180/1000 rounds

All these numbers require purchasing in bulk. I am still loading off of supplies I bought last black Friday and with those supplies I am loading 147gr Hi-Tek coated 9mm for $135/1000.

The biggest benefit for me though is being able to control my loads.

If you are shooting a box a couple of times a month then no reloading is probably not for you. I easily shoot 1k a month in 9mm so even the smallest savings adds up quickly.

Oh, and as for time. On a Dillon 750, it takes me about 90 minutes to load 1000 rounds. Not a huge time investment.

 

[RustVendor]

Check Miwall, I buy as much stuff as possible at a time to save on the hazmat, like in this shopping cart you got 5 cents primers and at 4 grains of titegroup you get 1750 rounds per lb, at 340 per 8 lbs that's 2.4 cents. add that to the 9 cent everglades you are at the ~16 cents. Go with the discount everglades you are at 13.5. You can get wayy cheaper primers than winchester though, they have magtech for 172.50 so like 3.8 cents if you are sharing the hazmat with powder or more primers. A round you make with titegroup, everglades and winchester primers is a good round that you can craft for your gun, the 270 dollar 9mm is some weird ass brand that may or may not work well in all your guns depending on what you have.

 

[Gawernator]

$321.99 Hodgon TiteGroup - 8lb, so about $30 per 1k rounds or so
1000SPP $60
Brass - Let’s say free
1000 15gr berry’s bullets $140
So let’s say about $250 or so per 1k

Cheaper if you cast of course so not worth it. ’s got crazy expensive

$250? Crazy because I got steel case for like $0.22 a round and $0.27 for new brass

 

[RustVendor]

These are no tax no shipping, 7.5 cents https://www.evergladesammo.com/bullets/handgun-bullets/9mm-125gr-rn-plated-bullets.html

 

[Tagen]

I think whether or not it's worth it depends on what you plan to get out of it, both as a hobby and the actual rounds you produce. I reload 9mm at around 10-12 cpr, but that's factory second primers, blem/pulled projectiles, low-charge titegroup and range brass. It's really just blaster ammo I use for shooting at 5-15 yards. Im able to keep everything in a 5" bull at 10 yards with irons out of an XD9 (not sure if that means anything) but for that purpose its great!

As an aside, I cry a little in the inside when people sweep all their brass past the firing line when they're done shooting at the (indoor) range. Maybe I'm a filthy brass goblin but I can't help but think "that's free money you're just sweeping away!" Haha

 

[Gawernator]

I think whether or not it's worth it depends on what you plan to get out of it, both as a hobby and the actual rounds you produce. I reload 9mm at around 10-12 cpr, but that's factory second primers, blem/pulled projectiles, low-charge titegroup and range brass. It's really just blaster ammo I use for shooting at 5-15 yards. Im able to keep everything in a 5" bull at 10 yards with irons out of an XD9 (not sure if that means anything) but for that purpose its great!

As an aside, I cry a little in the inside when people sweep all their brass past the firing line when they're done shooting at the (indoor) range. Maybe I'm a filthy brass goblin but I can't help but think "that's free money you're just sweeping away!" Haha

How do you catch your brass at an indoor range? I’ve been crying too because I’ve easily shot a few thousand this year and my dad reloads