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Post by HRFunk on Jun 26, 2017 12:04:42 GMT -5
Years ago, when I was a younger and poorer Police Officer, I used to reload 9mm ammo by the thousands to practice with my, then issued, duty pistol. All these years later, I again have a duty pistol chambered for the 9mm cartridge. I also have several other 9mm pistols that I shoot regularly. At this juncture, however, the idea of taking hours of my time to reload 9mm ammunition when I can buy 100 rounds for about $20 seems like a lot of time for not much benefit. So it is, I've been buying factory loaded 9mm ammo. I'm just curious how many of you still load the 9mm, and what your thoughts are regarding the "cost/benefit analysis" of that practice.
Howard.
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Post by CXM on Jun 26, 2017 14:36:17 GMT -5
I for one reload 9x19mm... in considerable quantities... I have to provide ammo not only for myself but also for Mrs. CXM... she at least normally brings back more brass than she shoots... not a bad trait in a wife... Have to admit she prefers .45acp to 9x19... but I reload that too so no problem there... Guess I'm just too 'thrifty' (which my wife translates as cheap) to buy new ammo and walk away from the brass... V/r Chuck Years ago, when I was a younger and poorer Police Officer, I used to reload 9mm ammo by the thousands to practice with my, then issued, duty pistol. All these years later, I again have a duty pistol chambered for the 9mm cartridge. I also have several other 9mm pistols that I shoot regularly. At this juncture, however, the idea of taking hours of my time to reload 9mm ammunition when I can buy 100 rounds for about $20 seems like a lot of time for not much benefit. So it is, I've been buying factory loaded 9mm ammo. I'm just curious how many of you still load the 9mm, and what your thoughts are regarding the "cost/benefit analysis" of that practice. Howard.
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Post by scattershot on Jun 26, 2017 14:47:31 GMT -5
I still load everything I shoot, as much for availabliity as anything else 9mm costs me about $6.00 a box to reload, but during the last great unpleasantness I was shooting when others couldn't find ammo. I use a Dillon 550 press, and it doesn't take long to reload a few hundred rounds of ammo. If you have a single stage press from years ago, then the time definitely is a factor, and cost would be, too, if you have to buy a new press.
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Post by gt40doc on Jun 26, 2017 15:33:45 GMT -5
I handload every caliber that I shoot....save .22cal, of course. I have a 650 with a case feeder, and can churn out a lot of 9mm(and other calibers) in a very short time span. I shoot a couple of P08 Lugers that are ammo picky, especially as to OAL, so I keep a good supply of Luger correct 9mm that makes them happy. I also shoot subguns in 9mm, so handloading makes shooting them fairly painless(cost wise).
As noted above, when the "great ammo shortage" was in full bloom, I was still shooting 1-2/week. I have a few cases of factory 9mm ammo....just in case, but haven't shot any of it in quite a while.
I do consider myself frugal, but still like to shoot a lot. Big bore calibers are nearly cost prohibitive if purchasing factory ammo, at least to me.
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Post by Jäger on Jun 26, 2017 21:45:33 GMT -5
At this juncture, however, the idea of taking hours of my time to reload 9mm ammunition when I can buy 100 rounds for about $20 seems like a lot of time for not much benefit. So it is, I've been buying factory loaded 9mm ammo. I'm just curious how many of you still load the 9mm, and what your thoughts are regarding the "cost/benefit analysis" of that practice. The only factory that goes through my handguns is my carry ammunition. $20/100 seems pretty spendy to me, when I can get jacketed bullets at $60/1000, primers at $35/1000, and a pound of 231 goes for $26. That's a shade over $10/1000 - about half what shooting factory would cost me. I can do better than that when I shop for deals and watch for sales, veteran discounts, etc. And with my Dillon 650, I can load 100 rounds faster than you can get in your vehicle to go buy a 100 and return home, if you want to race. Aside from "cheaper", every one of my pistols has reloads where POA = POI exactly like it is for the carry ammo. Reloading, it is a simple matter to adjust powder charges up and down a tenth of a grain or so to get POI where you want it to be. For my PPC revolvers, even pricey Federal 148 gr wadcutter (the gold standard for accuracy in 38 Spl) doesn't group as well as my tuned handloads, and every revolver has its own specific load to go with it. 5.56 is more of the same - I can reload WAY cheaper than even buying some crappy Wolf ammo or whatever. Best accuracy, once again, becomes a case of finding the best primer, powder, charge weight, etc. Perhaps I'd tilt towards factory if I was doing all my reloading on my Bonanza Co-Ax instead of the 650, but I don't. Shotgun is a little different. I don't gain enough to make it worth my while reloading 12 gauge practice ammunition for casual trap and skeet any longer. Lead shot has gotten crazy expensive, even reclaimed shot, and it ends up just not being worth it. Hunting upland birds however, again I get better patterns with tuned handloads. I couldn't afford my shooting habits if I didn't handload. Even at that, I've become a big believer in .22 rimfire conversions handguns and pistols.
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Post by chris623 on Jun 27, 2017 7:30:37 GMT -5
I totally agree with you you Jager. If it weren't for my reloading presses, I couldn't afford to shoot. I've got a Dillon 550 for my 3 pistol rounds and then a Forster for my rifles and a Rock Chucker for a dedicated sizing press. I found very early on that not one of my firearms shot better with factory, so reloading was called for. Sure, I can buy bulk ammo for any pistol I own, but all it does well is go bang. I kind of enjoy reloading.............it's not my hobby by any means, but it's kind of Zen-like to sit at the bench and reload. My carry rounds are commercial, but otherwise everything else is reloaded. I just started reloading 9mm this past weekend, so you can add me to the 9mm reloading crowd.
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Post by HRFunk on Jun 27, 2017 8:04:33 GMT -5
At this juncture, however, the idea of taking hours of my time to reload 9mm ammunition when I can buy 100 rounds for about $20 seems like a lot of time for not much benefit. So it is, I've been buying factory loaded 9mm ammo. I'm just curious how many of you still load the 9mm, and what your thoughts are regarding the "cost/benefit analysis" of that practice. I couldn't afford my shooting habits if I didn't handload. Even at that, I've become a big believer in .22 rimfire conversions handguns and pistols. Believe me, I get that! I handload everything else I shoot for that precise reason. All my other handgun cartridges are handloads, as well as all my rifle ammunition (which is the majority of what I shoot). I guess part of my problem is I use a single-stage "Rock Chucker" for rifle ammo and most of my handgun loads. I do have a Lee turret press for 9mm and 10mm loads, but that still is not as fast as the Dillon progressives. I've got plenty of 9mm brass lying around, so maybe one of these days I'll pick up some bullets (I already have powder and primers for other cartridges) and roll a few hundred 9mms. Unless, of course, I'm feeling lazy! Howard
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Post by CXM on Jun 27, 2017 10:39:22 GMT -5
On top of all the other reasons to use hand loaded ammo, it is also therapeutic to me at least... I can go in my hobby room, turn on one of the Old Time Radio channels and mentally shut out the world for a few hours of relaxation...
Reloading requires concentration so it is very relaxing...
FWIW
Chuck
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Post by bart on Jun 28, 2017 14:35:05 GMT -5
Most of my firearms get one box of factory ammo when new, and then reloads from then on. Which reminds me I only have about 1,800 rounds of loaded 9mm left. Time to start priming some brass..
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Post by CXM on Jun 28, 2017 15:56:41 GMT -5
Sounds like a good way to relax for an evening or two... Good way to kick back and unwind... V/r Chuck Most of my firearms get one box of factory ammo when new, and then reloads from then on. Which reminds me I only have about 1,800 rounds of loaded 9mm left. Time to start priming some brass..
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Post by drunkenpoacher on Jun 29, 2017 16:00:43 GMT -5
I reload 9mm as well as everything else I shoot. It saves money, I enjoy it and I can load them the way I want them. 9mm and several others get loaded on a Hornady LNL, if I had to load them on a single stage it would take the fun out of it. I'm getting older and lazier so I think it's time to get a case feeder.
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Post by jaypee on Jun 29, 2017 17:56:31 GMT -5
We do "older and lazier" quite well here DP. We're glad to have you with us and look forward to seeing more of your posts. Welcome.
JayPee
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Post by warthogge on Jul 19, 2017 21:27:16 GMT -5
I reload all the ammo I shoot except 44 long colt / magnum (I don't shoot the 44 much). I go into a zen state of being one with the press when I load on my Dillon progressive. Very therapeutic. Plus, after telling the wife unit that each round is about a 50% savings, she said she loves the sound of each bullet dropping into the bin.
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Post by trooper on Jul 28, 2017 17:29:52 GMT -5
I reload everything and only use factory rounds for carry. As cheap as 9mm ammunition is, if it's cheap enough to be more economical than reloading the ammo typically isn't worth a damn.
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Post by che on Aug 8, 2017 13:13:33 GMT -5
At $7.76 a box of Tula 9mm. I do not need to reload.
The only thing I reload now is 45 ACP, 38 Special and 44 Special.
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