DGW1949,, you are 100% correct,, we are discussing,, not arguing.
I hope my posts reflect this!
Yes,, I saw the FMJ part. Since I cast,, I just brought that up. But I did see an ad recently on another site,, where a reloading supplier was offering FMJ's for under 0.10 cents each. I remember it because I thought it was reasonable & wondered about telling a few of my friends about it.
And yes,, in many places,, reloading components are still too high for many. But recently,, there were several ads all over the place about a couple of well known retailers selling CCI Small Pistol primers for under $50 a brick. Judicious shopping & buying when found. And there has been a recent sale of previously "un-obtanium" powders like Unique, 2400 & a few other Alliant powders show up for sale in several places. A lot of it quickly sold out though.
Point being,, judicious shopping and you can save a lot of money on ammo in general.
Oh,, brass,, go to a USPSA match. Especially a State or regional match. It's considered a "lost brass" match,, where shooters aren't allowed to pick up brass. The RO's get to pick it up if they want it. (Before folks scream about it being their brass to keep,, this rule is done for safety AND especially the time constraints for the matches.) RO's will often not even bother picking up much,, and after the day's shooting,, you can easily get free brass.
I run USPSA matches here. I have a crapload of brass still on the ground. I also have 5 gal buckets I haven't processed yet. I'd GIVE some away to a reloader. I also use a "Brass Monkey" rolling picker to make my back feel good. No bending etc. Easy to get several hundred pieces in a short timeframe. Again,, being a frugal person, and judicious in my "shopping!"
I know I'm in the minority when I say the following.
I purchased my components in bulk for USPSA & general shooting some years back when the prices were lower. Primers were $120-$150 a case of 5000. Powder was under $200 for an 8 lb jug. And I could buy plated bullets for competition (before powder coating became popular) for .40 S&W for about $55 for a box of 500. I wasn't shooting 9mm back then,, but it was cheaper for a box of those back then.
Buying in bulk, and especially when a sale was going on,, has allowed me to enjoy un-interrupted shooting through all this shortage & price increases. And during this time,, I've quietly watched several places, shopped around,, and when I find powder or primers under $50 a brick,, I buy,, just to keep rebuilding my supply.
You have to be a careful & observant shopper to get lower prices.
My point is that reloading can be a way to enjoy shooting more at a much lower expense than buying factory stuff if you just work at it a little.
I probably shoot around 500 or so rounds a month in general,, unless I'm preparing for a bigger match or a hunt. And my reloads are tailored to the activity I'm planning. Be it jacketed high end bullets for one job, to cast & PCed bullets to whatever. Often,, factory ammo in what I need isn't available. I can get VERY close sometimes,, but not often.
A good example is my 7x30 waters T/C Contender. Finding factory ammo is darn near impossible and very expensive. Just last night I dug out an ammo can of loaded ammo to go to the range to practice with. It's also my hunting ammo. Several hundred rounds in the can. No problems finding it or trusting it.
And I also have a USPSA match this Saturday. I'll probably shoot around 175-200 rounds of 9mm. Yes,, cast & PCed,, but I loaded about 400 recently. In that 400,, I loaded 100 of them with a Remington JHP bullet. I want to use them for a specific stage & see the differences. Those Remington bullets,, a box of 500,, cost me $25 at a yard sale.
Judicious shopping,,, because I shoot a lot & prefer to not spend a lot if I can avoid it.
Yard sales,, talking to folks,, other websites,, (trader types) etc all have allowed me to find components less than the crazy high retail store prices.
Now,, again,, I do NOT,, repeat do NOT look down upon those who don't reload or prefer to not reload. My responses to this thread were to offer "food for thought" about the potential high expenses of some ammo & how to avoid that. All while building ammo that can rival the expensive SD or other special purpose ammo a person may desire.
It can be done.
But if a person prefers to not do so,, that's perfectly fine.
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