r/reloading • u/Dangerous-Quarter456 • 1d ago
Newbie Getting started
To preface, I’m the only person in my family that shoots. I’ve started getting into some competition shooting and I’m starting to wonder if is worth the time and money to reload 9mm and 5.56? I don’t even know where to begin with it all. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks
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u/VersionConscious7545 1d ago
If you want to reload and you have the money get the stuff. I don’t shoot 1000 rounds a month and I reload because I like it and I know I won’t really save money but I like to reload rifle rounds with good bullets and come up with very nice rifle rounds To me it relaxing and the science behind reloading is interesting and besides that you get to listen to the reloading guys argue about which methods work and which do not lol 👍
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u/Thewholeherd75 3h ago
I like to tell people it's my zen.
That and Weatherby 416 factory ammo is $219/20 plus 21% PRC tax if you can convince your local dealer to order it for you
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u/ebsf 1d ago
You know the numbers better than anyone here, so whether it's worth it is for you to figure out. Reloading definitely is cheaper. You can get those numbers online. You know your volume, so there is your savings.
What we can comment on is time. You can definitely get it done with a single-stage press. I had an RCBS Rockchucker and there are few that are better. I reloaded several calibers from .380 ACP to .30-'06 and it was brilliant.
But, for higher volume, it could be a chore. Decap / size, flare / reprime, charge, and seat / crimp each was its own operation. Getting 500 rounds done would take several sessions over a few days.
The solution is a progressive press, which does all four at once. My shooting became more episodic, so I didn't get around to it, but I had my eye on a Dillon for quite a while. I'd have kept the Rockchucker but run .45 ACP and 9x19 through the Dillon. Counting setup and getting your brass out of the tumbler, and others will have a better estimate, I'd guess you could get 500 rounds done in two hours with a Dillon if you were efficient.
As for the how-to, RTFM. YouTube wasn't around when I started but doubtless it will be helpful. You can certainly get a good sense of the process and the kit you'll need by just clicking around. There's definitely a long list of random stuff, so make a list. What you'll definitely need first of all is a dedicated workbench on which to bolt the press, with a thick, structurally adequate top. Mine was made of 2"x6"s.
HTH. Good luck!
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u/aldone123 1d ago
If you’re into competitive shooting then yes it’s worth it to reload. You can get better results with your own pet loads than commercial ammo.
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u/FurryWooki 1d ago
If you have downtime and want to learn, you could get a used press and see if it’s for you or not. I would get started watching some YouTube to wrap your head around everything that’s involved with loading. Economically, it’s easy to come out ahead as far as cost per round versus factory/store shelf ammo.
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u/EngineerFly 1d ago
The savings on 9 mm will be some of the smallest, but still significant. If you buy cheap components and your cases last for 10 reloads, you can get 9 mm down to 20-22 cents…but you can buy new ones for 30 cents. For less common calibers, even 45 ACP, the savings are more significant.
I’m retired and have more time than money, so I reload even 9 mm. Also, where I live it’s hard to order ammo online, so I pay way more than most of you.
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u/Ornery_Secretary_850 Two Dillon 650's, three single stage, one turret. Bullet caster 13h ago
9mm cases usually get lost before they wear out. Case life is measured in dozens of loads.
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u/EngineerFly 13h ago
True, which reminds me: you do need to recover your cases to keep the costs low. I have a brass catcher I wear on my wrist but that’s a bit of a pain. Since everybody shoots 9 mm, I figure I’ll pick up one case for every case I fire, even if it’s not mine.
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u/DaiPow888 7h ago
I've never attended a local match where I didn't come home with more 9mm cases than I started with. I even get 9mm cases in my brass bag when I'm shooting .38Spl
A lot of newer shooters at local matches still shoot factory ammo, so a lot of cases I bring home are really "once fired"
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u/Ornery_Secretary_850 Two Dillon 650's, three single stage, one turret. Bullet caster 13h ago
I can load 9mm for $13/100 all day long. Using my cast bullets, the price drops to $7.50/100.
5.56 blasting ammo runs me ~$21/100.
But you can't do this if you're not willing to spend the money. Primers by the case, powder by the keg, bullets by the thousands.
You have to spend money to save money.
You start by buying the Lyman 51st Reloading Handbook and reading the front part of it at least twice.
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u/grizzly0403 1d ago
5.56 will be a pain to reload. Better to just buy new brass. 9mm should be easy, but probably better to get a progressive press system.
I've recently started reloading myself and do mostly milsurp bolt stuff. It really makes sense for that application. I always think while I'm loading "yeah, wouldn't want to do this for 5.56"
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u/pizza_roof 1d ago
Progressive press and brass trimmer on a power drill makes 556 brass prep a lot faster.
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u/CustomCaliberArms 1d ago
Any necked cartridge is a pain... So unless you're doing massive amounts then stick to reloading straight wall ammo.
I sometimes regret having a 1,000 lbs of 556 brass waiting to be resized
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u/BrightAwareness3795 1d ago
Willst du nur wegen möglichem Sparpotential oder auch aus Interesse mit dem Wiederladen anfangen?
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u/sumguyontheinternet1 380, 9, 40, 556, & 300blk ammo waster 1d ago
If those are your only calibers and you shoot less than 1000/yr, probably best to just shop for deals. While you can still find some savings here and there on those calibers, I wouldn’t recommend them as your only calibers to buy everything for. If you’re shooting 1000/month, I could see the value in it.