Progressive press worth it?

[Rez Exelon]

Unless you're using a Berry's plated hollow point you're not getting a hollow point for 12 cents. Its just not happening in the current economy and the prices .

A good Sierra ( the cheapest is the sportsmaster is .49 cents ), Hornady (XTP .23 cents) , Speer hollow point (gold dots .46 cents a piece) , etc can't be had for 12 cents . primers are a dime now, and a 4 grain charge of ww231 is 0.02 cents so you're math just went out the window at current prices. with a round of 9mm costing costing 0.35 cents for the cheapest load and 0.61 cents for the most expensive load assuming you already own the brass. That price range is $17.50 to $30.50 dollars a box depending on what you want. to load I can buy loaded 9mm defense ammunition for as low as $19 a box and can get it for $29 a box or more depending on the manufacturer and bullet. People tend to ignore the hazmat cost and shipping to get those components to your door too when those get factored in the price is a wash .


I just did the 5.56 math earlier , and I proved its 2 cents cheaper to buy than load. If things ever calm down a little we may see reloading compoents get cheaper again but Inflation also set in so I doubt we will get to to see primers or powder as cheap as they were pre 2020 .

I mean, sure if you want to pay those component prices compared to knowing where to look.

 

[Russ661]

Speaking of Lee progressive presses, I bought a Pro 1000 from Midway in 1982 to load 45acp. I still have it and still use it but like me it is getting old and worn out. It is finicky and requires pretty much constant maintenance but when I get it going good I can pump out somewhere around 100 rounds an hour. It can be frustrating at times and some parts are no longer available but when it is working well it is a zen experience for me, very relaxing, which makes it worth while for me.

 

[Fr Mulcahy]

Unless you're using a Berry's plated hollow point you're not getting a hollow point for 12 cents. Its just not happening in the current economy and the prices .

A good Sierra ( the cheapest is the sportsmaster is .49 cents ), Hornady (XTP .23 cents) , Speer hollow point (gold dots .46 cents a piece) , etc can't be had for 12 cents . primers are a dime now, and a 4 grain charge of ww231 is 0.02 cents so you're math just went out the window at current prices. with a round of 9mm costing costing 0.35 cents for the cheapest load and 0.61 cents for the most expensive load assuming you already own the brass. That price range is $17.50 to $30.50 dollars a box depending on what you want. to load I can buy loaded 9mm defense ammunition for as low as $19 a box and can get it for $29 a box or more depending on the manufacturer and bullet. People tend to ignore the hazmat cost and shipping to get those components to your door too when those get factored in the price is a wash .


I just did the 5.56 math earlier , and I proved its 2 cents cheaper to buy than load. If things ever calm down a little we may see reloading compoents get cheaper again but Inflation also set in so I doubt we will get to to see primers or powder as cheap as they were pre 2020 .

Just an FYI: https://www.rozedist.com/mm5/mercha...RZD&Product_Code=R125-A&Category_Code=ZBJ-9MM

 

[WoodsCraft]

Just an FYI: https://www.rozedist.com/mm5/mercha...RZD&Product_Code=R125-A&Category_Code=ZBJ-9MM

Range bullets for 14 cents a pop ... about one step above a berry's If I am loading defensive ammo its going to be something I know has been tested. Do as you will but I'd want to see testing on those first .

 

[Fr Mulcahy]

Range bullets for 14 cents a pop ... about one step above a berry's If I am loading defensive ammo its going to be something I know has been tested. Do as you will but I'd want to see testing on those first .

Hmm. We use them at national matches and they do well in terms of accuracy. That's all that we're interested in.

 

[swampratt]

I cast a lot of my own bullets and that makes inexpensive ammo.
And it is not the price that is my issue with ammo it is accuracy. Store ammo for me isn't accurate in my weapons so it isn't any fun to shoot it.
I do not buy store ammo unless I need brass.

 

[AKmoose]

Unless you're using a Berry's plated hollow point you're not getting a hollow point for 12 cents. Its just not happening in the current economy and the prices .

A good Sierra ( the cheapest is the sportsmaster is .49 cents ), Hornady (XTP .23 cents) , Speer hollow point (gold dots .46 cents a piece) , etc can't be had for 12 cents . primers are a dime now, and a 4 grain charge of ww231 is 0.02 cents so you're math just went out the window at current prices. with a round of 9mm costing costing 0.35 cents for the cheapest load and 0.61 cents for the most expensive load assuming you already own the brass. That price range is $17.50 to $30.50 dollars a box depending on what you want. to load I can buy loaded 9mm defense ammunition for as low as $19 a box and can get it for $29 a box or more depending on the manufacturer and bullet. People tend to ignore the hazmat cost and shipping to get those components to your door too when those get factored in the price is a wash .


I just did the 5.56 math earlier , and I proved its 2 cents cheaper to buy than load. If things ever calm down a little we may see reloading compoents get cheaper again but Inflation also set in so I doubt we will get to to see primers or powder as cheap as they were pre 2020 .

You're buying in the wrong places, why shoot plated when you can get GOOD jacketed for the same or cheaper?

9mm 124gr JHP

Precision Delta 9mm 124 grain Jacketed Hollow Point bullets make a great choice for any 9mm hand loader. Made from a swaged lead core and true copper jacket, our JHP bullets are renowned for their consistency and match winning accuracy.

www.precisiondelta.com

 

[WoodsCraft]

You're buying in the wrong places, why shoot plated when you can get GOOD jacketed for the same or cheaper?

9mm 124gr JHP

Precision Delta 9mm 124 grain Jacketed Hollow Point bullets make a great choice for any 9mm hand loader. Made from a swaged lead core and true copper jacket, our JHP bullets are renowned for their consistency and match winning accuracy.

www.precisiondelta.com

I don't load jacketed hollow points to punch holes in paper and no those hollow points you're buying aren't same as a good quality defensive hollow point. Rex Exelon was claiming he was saving money over the cost of buying factory loaded defensive ammo and I proved he wasn't. People that tell me otherwise are fibbing plain and simple.

Using those "hollow points" you're referring to in match won't do anymore than just using a decent quality flat point will and the flat point cuts a cleaner hole. The only time using hollow points really make a difference in matches are when shooting pin matches. I don't think those much of a thing anymore, but when I was younger shot lots of folks shot and won pin matches because hollow points worked much better than FMJ bullets .