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age_ranger wrote:Still being pretty new to reloading, I get alot of satisfaction reloading my own ammo. The only thing I haven't figured out yet is how to mark the cases so I know how many times I've reloaded them??

Get a bunch of Sharpie markers of different colors. When you finish loading a box of rounds, put a line across the case head / primer and always use the same color for each number of times fired.

For instance, I buy once-fired .223 brass and load it, mark the case head green for "once fired". When I clean it in the tumber the mark comes off, but it goes into a box of (now) twice fired. When I load it again, I mark it blue. They sell enough different color markers that you will not run out of colors unless the brass lasts forever. I hope this helps.

If you're willing to pick up, clean, and re-use your brass, then it looks like your per-round price for brass is too high by a factor of 10 or more.

If you're willing to cast your own bullets, then your per-round cost for bullets is too high by about a factor of 15 (i.e., cast 9mm bullets should cost well under 1/2 cent each).

Together, these bring the cost of 9mm to about 3.5 cents per round instead of the 10.6 cents in your estimate. That means a savings (over the white box ammo) of 11.1 cents per round instead of just 4.0 cents. However, these entail somewhat more time and effort, and some amount of additional capital expense. If we estimate the expense at $300 (probably a fair amount) then you'd break even in about 9800 rounds instead of 19000+. You'll have to value your time and effort yourself :)

I bought 9mm dies when i bought my lee pro 1000 progressive press along with every calibre of pistol and rifle dies i had,never thought i would load 9mm until prices went over like 10.00 a box i can reload for about 5 or 6 cents a round due to .03 cents a primer,i make my own bullets and so far got about a penny a bullet involved other cost is powder i use unique for all my handguns from 9mm to 44 magnum,i miss the days of .01 cent primers,one thing about casting your own bullets is they are cheaper you pay no shipping charges and lead is heavy,and you never have to worry about prices going sky high

Ryan,

If you decide to buy a reloading press....please consider the Dillon 550. (Or even the 650.) They are far superior when compared to the Lee presses. This IS definitely one of those times where you get that for which you pay. Dillon has a lifetime no bull warranty.

I do prefer Lee dies, especially the Lee Factory Crimp Die. I have one for almost all calibers I load.

Cody

This thread is a little old, as I "bit the bullet" and got a 550B over the summer:


click to see full size image

550B Installed Thread

So far I've loaded ~1500 rounds, and I'm loving it!!!!!!

Ryan

You should update the cost effectiveness of it... Not to mention the Power Factor ...Factor?

I started reloading in the 80's because I wanted the most accurate loads I could build. I shot IHMSA competition and shot 44 mag and 7br. Got out of competition and sold all my stuff, sold my guns too. Now I've started back shooting auto's, 9mm and 45acp. Purchased Lee turret press and all the goodies to start again to save money. I can load some nice hp's for both guns and save money. Havent started the operation yet, still aquiring needed supplies.