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dan360 wrote:If you calculate the worth of your time, reloading will always be more expensive. If you want to reload as a hobby and consider the time free, then you can save money over the long run reloading plinking ammo. The long run.

Exactly. I love reloading, but if it was a "chore" then it wouldn't be worth it.

But to answer the question, to reload economical 9mm, let's say 115-grain plated bullets:

Brass: Let's assume free. Worst-case, maybe 3-4 cents each but you can reload them forever.
Bullets: 8 cents
Primers: 3 cents
Powder: 2 cents

Grand total without brass: 13 cents/round, or about 2/3 the cost of buying cheap remanufactured ammo. (Plus sales tax on the ammo, if applicable.)

Yes, pistol powder is tough to find, but it's out there. For example, dougja was offering the CSB-1 powder:
viewtopic.php?f=74&t=44106

But . . . I stick to my earlier comment that you shouldn't do it if it isn't fun. Loading 9mm without a progressive press will be a fair hassle, too.

MadPick wrote:

dan360 wrote:If you calculate the worth of your time, reloading will always be more expensive. If you want to reload as a hobby and consider the time free, then you can save money over the long run reloading plinking ammo. The long run.

Exactly. I love reloading, but if it was a "chore" then it wouldn't be worth it.

But to answer the question, to reload economical 9mm, let's say 115-grain plated bullets:

Brass: Let's assume free. Worst-case, maybe 3-4 cents each but you can reload them forever.
Bullets: 8 cents
Primers: 3 cents
Powder: 2 cents

Grand total without brass: 13 cents/round, or about 2/3 the cost of buying cheap remanufactured ammo. (Plus sales tax on the ammo, if applicable.)

Yes, pistol powder is tough to find, but it's out there. For example, dougja was offering the CSB-1 powder:
viewtopic.php?f=74&t=44106

But . . . I stick to my earlier comment that you shouldn't do it if it isn't fun. Loading 9mm without a progressive press will be a fair hassle, too.

Excellent!

On average, how much time do you feel it takes to finish a run of 9mm ammo, say 1,000 rounds? From start (dirty primed brass) to finish (ready to load into magazines) all steps taken?

Some folks will just wash, deprime, and load. Others tumble like 16 times to make the brass look like a candelabra out of St. Peter's Basilica.

dan360 wrote:On average, how much time do you feel it takes to finish a run of 9mm ammo, say 1,000 rounds? From start (dirty primed brass) to finish (ready to load into magazines) all steps taken?

Some folks will just wash, deprime, and load. Others tumble like 16 times to make the brass look like a candelabra out of St. Peter's Basilica.

Well, it's tough to give an estimate from dirty brass to finish, since tumbling is so variable. For average brass, the easy tumbling is maybe one hour in a vibratory tumbler, and it's clean enough to load. Yes, you can go beyond that, either with more time or by using a wet tumbler with stainless steel media, if you want "beauty brass."

Once I get rolling with the progressive press (Hornady LNL), I can do 100 rounds in about 20 minutes. That's just plodding along, not trying to set any speed records. That means that the brass is getting sized, the old primer is getting punched out, the new primer is being installed, the brass is belled, the powder is dropped, the bullet is seated, and then the cartridge is crimped . . . all in one spin around the press. When the cartridge drops out of the press, it is ready to be fired.

Of course, you need some initial time investment to do some load evaluation, even if it's just plinking ammo. You want a round that feeds in your gun, a load that's hot enough to cycle the gun, and a load that's not hot enough to do any harm to you or your gun. So there will be a few cycles of test ammo to see what works well. In other words, you won't be cranking out 2000 rounds the first day you have your press . . . or at least, you shouldn't be.

dan360 wrote:

TechnoWeenie wrote:

dan360 wrote:

kf7mjf wrote:As a general rule you don't count the economic value of leisure time spent doing hobby activities.

If a person considers reloading a hobby activity. Some people start into it for the savings and realize it's a big time killer after dropping $500-1,000 into presses, components, supplies, etc.

That's why so many almost new used reloading machines are for sale. I can think of a half dozen Dillon 550s in just the last couple years---machines that are near 'perfect' at the time reloading would make the most financial sense. For sale. Because it wasn't worth the time of the owner.

Is there an affordable 'auto' loader, that measures, primes, crimps, etc...?

Define affordable. This is a debate with no winning argument; for every "not worth the time" guy there is a "load a box for $3 in 2 minutes" guy. Dillon IMHO is the best progressive press but again, a non-winnable argument.

To me...there are two types of progressive press owners. Those who have a Dillon, and those who will eventually. The Hornady people should start squawking soon about that.

For single stage presses, it's awfully hard to beat a Lee turret. Or a Redding turret. But, there is a huge following for the RCBS so there ya go.

Oh...and some folks even seem to think Lee makes a good progressive press but I think those are the same people who enjoy having an abusive spouse and work a job they hate for not enough money also.

Pistol or bulk rifle ammo, sure. Match? No. I load at $0.40 a round match .308. Average price $1.00 a round. I can load around 150 rounds an hour. $90 an hour savings.

Worth it.

I can load 1,000 reds of 9mm 124gr plated for $140-150

sinus211 wrote:

dan360 wrote:

TechnoWeenie wrote:

dan360 wrote:
If a person considers reloading a hobby activity. Some people start into it for the savings and realize it's a big time killer after dropping $500-1,000 into presses, components, supplies, etc.

That's why so many almost new used reloading machines are for sale. I can think of a half dozen Dillon 550s in just the last couple years---machines that are near 'perfect' at the time reloading would make the most financial sense. For sale. Because it wasn't worth the time of the owner.

Is there an affordable 'auto' loader, that measures, primes, crimps, etc...?

Define affordable. This is a debate with no winning argument; for every "not worth the time" guy there is a "load a box for $3 in 2 minutes" guy. Dillon IMHO is the best progressive press but again, a non-winnable argument.

To me...there are two types of progressive press owners. Those who have a Dillon, and those who will eventually. The Hornady people should start squawking soon about that.

For single stage presses, it's awfully hard to beat a Lee turret. Or a Redding turret. But, there is a huge following for the RCBS so there ya go.

Oh...and some folks even seem to think Lee makes a good progressive press but I think those are the same people who enjoy having an abusive spouse and work a job they hate for not enough money also.

Pistol or bulk rifle ammo, sure. Match? No. I load at $0.40 a round match .308. Average price $1.00 a round. I can load around 150 rounds an hour. $90 an hour savings.

Worth it.

Yup. Gold Medal Match .308 is about $1.20/rd. I'm at $0.42/rd if I buy projectiles right.

Carpenter wrote:

AR15L wrote:

Carpenter wrote:My right forearm and wrist are a bit sore today...And it was only from a 9mm...

I call BS.
You were looking at midget porn again. Come on, just admit it.

My kinks are far superior to that.

I see you have discovered Gay Amputee Midget Porn...eww. At least it isn't a foot fetish.