Ram Rod

I can't wait for a new Academy Sports to be build here locally. We don't have any Dick's sporting goods stores in these parts.

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RamRod-----sans remords
live, eat, breathe, sleep Glock

Majorlk

If one shoots more than a couple of hundred rounds (total of every centerfire one has) a month, I can't imagine NOT handloading.

Even not casting bullets, but using Barry's plated bullets, I load .40S&W and 9mm for about 14 cents a round.

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An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life. - Robert A. Heinlein

Geno

Academy had a lot of different flavors of pistol ammo at 15% off in Wichita, Ks. That brought the price on some of it to cheaper than Wally. .380 is starting to show up at some stores in the last week.

inman

Dick's started with one store in Binghamton, New York. The home office is in Conklin, New York. My old neck of the woods.

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I suggest that if you can find in your inner self the will to inflict violence on someone who is trying to victimize you, and can back up that iron will with all the force that you can muster, you will most likely be successful.

Landric

I couldn't even afford to shoot a couple of hundred rounds a month without handloading. My average cost per round, using my own cast bullets and reused brass is about $.04 per round (some a little less, some a little more). That is $8 for 200 rounds. I figure purchasing 200 rounds for the calibers I shoot most often, .38 Special and .45 ACP would run me at least $60 for 200 rounds of the cheapest ammunition available. Of course my handloads are specifically tailored to my needs, so they are better than say WWB, but that is the comparison everyone uses when they price handloads vs. factory. That is a difference of $52 a month. Saving $52 a month it would take less than a year to pay for both a handloading and basic casting setup.

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-Landric

"The Engine could still smile...it seemed to scare them" -Felix

boscobeans

"Of course my handloads are specifically tailored to my needs,"

+1

As Landric stated in the above quote, this is one very important aspect to reloading.

bosco

bklynboy

Given that I have been unable to find any 9mm at Walmart for a year, I have begun to think about reloading. Landric or others, can you give me some idea of what a basic reloading kit would consist of and some recommendations for brands and sources of information for newbie reloaders?

Landric

There are a number of good forums with handloading sections. The section here has some good info, but it isn't very active. My preference is for The High Road THR - Powered by vBulletin

As for a basic setup, its hard to beat Lee equipment for that. You can spend $1000 or more to get started, and some folks who's solution to every problem related to handloading is "buy a Dillon" will tell you to do just that. However, you can also get into everything you need to start for about $250, or even less, depending on your needs.

If you are getting started with 9mm, I would suggest these products:

Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Anniversary Kit - MidwayUSA

Lee Breech Lock Quick Change Bushings Package of 2 - MidwayUSA

Lee Deluxe Carbide 4-Die Set 9mm Luger - MidwayUSA

Frankford Arsenal Electronic Caliper 6" Stainless Steel - MidwayUSA

Lyman "Pistol and Revolver: Reloading Handbook: Third Edition" Reloading Manual - MidwayUSA

"ABC's of Reloading, 8th Edition" Book by Bill Chevalier - MidwayUSA

Missouri Bullet Company

As for powder and primers, I'd buy locally. If you happen to be somewhere in the southern part of Virginia, I could probably help you out with both. Hopefully you have been saving brass, but if not, once fired 9mm brass is pretty cheap on both Gunbroker and the various forums.

The total for the above items from Midway is about $175, and should be plenty to get you going. Add another ~$65 for 1000 bullets from Missouri bullet (including shipping), get a hold of 1 pound of powder and 1000 small pistol primers (about another $50), and you will be in business to load 1000 rounds. That is $290, not counting brass. How much does a case of 9x19mm go for? Keep in mind that once you buy the equipment and save your brass, you are looking at about $115 per 1000 rounds. Not too shabby in this day and age (I remember when 9x19 and .223 were $99/1000, but those days are long gone).

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-Landric

"The Engine could still smile...it seemed to scare them" -Felix

tmizzi

Thanks for the informative rundown Landric. I have been thinking about making the plunge into reloading. It certaininly doesn't seam complicated but there is always that fear of the unknown. How far out are you from Charlotte?

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To all you current and former military ... thank you for your service! Let no one forget that the sacrifices you have made allow us the freedoms we enjoy.

Colin

Welcome to our world, those are not bad prices up here, oh yea don't forget the tax. To reload a 1,000 9mm FMJ right now.

$155 for 1,000 124gr berry plated bullets
$37 for 1lb of Titegroup
$37 for 1,000 cci primers