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NcongruNt wrote:There can be many reasons to reload, and it's usually a combination of a few. For me, it's a combination of these three: economics, precision, personal satisfaction.. I enjoy reloading in general. There is great satisfaction for me in building something myself.

Actually, I enjoy making the ammo almost as much as shooting it.

mitchntx wrote:what about a decent source for supplies. I've made note of a couple vendors mentioned in here.

If you are buying online, everyone has heard of Cabelas.com and Midwayusa.com. Other sources I have purchased from and been very pleased with are:

Midsouth Shooters Supply
Kempf Gun Shop
Graf & Sons, Inc
Wideners Reloading and Shooting Supply Inc

For components, also check out:
Powder Valley Inc.
Missouri Bullet Co.
Dardas Cast Bullets

As you probably could guess from my posts above, I am a numbers guy. When I am making a large purchase, I build up a spreadsheet with the parts I want and check prices at the above vendors.

mitchntx wrote:Is there a checklist somewhere as to what equipment is needed?
How about a review of said equipment so that I don't buy junk?

I helped a friend get setup in a Lee Loadmaster Progressive Press a couple of years ago and here was the shopping list we put together to start in .45 ACP. You'd have minor changes in part numbers to have 9mm instead of .45 ACP.

Lee Anniversary Pack (Reloader Press and Reloading Manual) (90700) $20.40
Lee Load-Master Progressive Press Kit 45 ACP (90945) $224.52
Lee Universal Depriming and Decapping Die (90292) $7.95
LEE 45 ACP/AR/SCHOF/MAG CARB. FACTORY TAPER CRIMP (90864) $15.50
Lee Pro 1000, Load-Master Progressive Press Case Collator (90667) $9.99
Lee Double Disk Kit (90195) $10.47
Lee Auto Disk Adjustable Powder Charge Bar (90792) $6.67
Graf's Impact Bullet Puller (GR19) $17.99
Cabelas Rotary Media Separator (XJ-214213) $21.99
Cabelas Case Tumbler 110 Volt 3.5S (XJ-212867) $44.99
Lyman Dial Caliper 6" Stainless Steel (7832212) $34.00
Redding #2 Master Magnetic Powder Scale 505 Grain Capacity (02000) $61.40
RCBS Die Locking Ring Wrench (9634) $7.19
Total $483.06

If you decide to go Turret Press instead of Progressive, Lee makes two turret presses, the Lee Turret Press, part # 90932, retail approx $72.00, or the Lee Classic Turret Press, part # 90064, retail approx $105. The Classic Turret Press is cast iron and is a sturdier, more durable press. However, it is the regular Lee Turret Press that is sold as the Lee Deluxe Turret Press Kit, part #90928, retail approx $111.00.

You'll also need several reloading manuals. If you buy Lee Equipment, then it makes sense to purchase Richard Lee's Modern Reloading book.

Priming: Lee Priming Tools gives you the choice of either priming on the press or priming off the press. If you want to prime on the press, you would use the Lee Safety Prime (large & small), part #90997, retail approx $21.00. If you want to prime off the press, you would use the Lee Auto-Prime XR (large & small), part #90230, retail approx $17.00.

Some other items you'll probably want to include would be:

Lee Double Disk Kit (90195) $10.47
Graf's Impact Bullet Puller (GR19) $17.99
Cabelas Case Tumbler 110 Volt 3.5S (XJ-212867) $44.99
Frankford Arsenal Electronic Caliper 6" Stainless Steel (672060) $22.00
Redding #2 Master Magnetic Powder Scale 505 Grain Capacity (02000) $61.40

I'd strongly recommend starting with a traditional balance beam scale. That is why I listed the Redding (which I have and really like). I know there are cheaper scales out there than spending $60, but being able to accurately weight powder is really critical to reloading success. The electronic scales are still a little flaky, with issues like zero drift, overly sensitive to air currents, and calibration. I also have electronic scales, but the balance beam still gets used every time I load.

Finally (I know this is a long-winded post), if you are considering various brands of progressive presses, make sure you factor in the costs involved with adding an additional caliber. There is a large variation in costs to add one more caliber, and I don't know anyone who gets serious about reloading who sticks to a single caliber. If you compare prices, it will raise your eyebrows.

A-R wrote:IMHO, reloading 115-grain 9mm FMJ really isn't worth the effort as you're going to pay about 12 cents per round vs the 18-22 cents you're paying to buy new factory loads. Translates to saving about $3-$4 per box of 50.

Anyone can do much better than 12 cents a round if they are purchasing wisely.

Primers can be purchased for $0.015 to $0.02 apiece. Grafs has Magtech SP for sale right now at $100/5000. Powder Valley Inc. has Wolf SP for $15.50 per thousand.

Grafs has 8 lb Bullseye for $108.99. Works out to about $0.87 per hundred, or $0.0087 per round.

Grafs has a sale, purchase 32 lbs powder and it is free shipping with no hazmat. The primers ride for free.

Missouri bullet co has 4000 115 gn 9m for $236 plus $13 shipping. With the THR discount, they are $59.30 per thousand shipped, or $0.0593 per round.

I've loaded and shot thousands and thousands of 9mm and have never purchased brass, so I consider it free. If the OP is shooting 1000 rounds per month, I would hope he has thousands of cases accumulated.

That works out to 8.8 cents per round. Since the OP said he is shooting 1000 per month at 18 cents per round, that is a monthly savings of $92. That works out to my time being worth $41.40 per hour. I would assert that it is worth the effort to reload 9mm.

The real expense in handloading is purchasing bullets.

I cast my own bullets and reload 9mm for about $2.55 per hundred. That is $1.55 for primers and $1.00 for powder. I have never had to purchase 9mm brass.

If I purchase cast bullets for about $60 per thousand, that adds another $6 per hundred. Reloading at about 8.50 per hundred or $85 per thousand versus your $180 per thousand for commercial ammo means you can pay off your reloading equipment in short order.

My biggest savings are when I am reloading .44 Magnum. My cost is under $12 per hundred, where Buffalo Bore sells the same spec ammo for about $35 per 20, or $175 per hundred. My first 300 rounds paid for my press and all equipment to reload 4 calibers.

FWIW, I load about 450 rounds per hour on my Lee Loadmaster. When I am casting, I'll cast, size and lube about 1000 bullets per hour.