Over the years, I’ve mentioned handloading and reloading ammunition in passing in a few blog posts. It’s never been a focus since I didn’t do it myself and knew little about it. But that’s about to change. I’m just getting started, so I’m still no expert, but I figured sharing how I decided to take the plunge might be useful—or at least interesting—for anyone curious about diving into reloading.

My curiosity about reloading sparked about six years ago when I started shooting frequently. The top reason I kept hearing in every piece of reloading content addressing “Why reload?” was cost savings. It makes sense: as your shooting volume increases, so do expenses, with ammunition being the biggest culprit. Ammo costs add up fast, even if you stick to budget-friendly options, which are often the least reliable and consistent.

Another reason often cited is increased accuracy. Dig into that, and you’ll notice “accuracy” usually means precision—specifically, tighter group sizes. Call me pedantic, but precision and consistency are what they’re really talking about. This reason piqued my interest early on because I was drawn to long-distance shooting, followed shortly by hunting. For both, I became obsessed with finding the most consistent and precise rifle load. Let me tell you, consistent and precise rifle ammo gets expensive fast, which only fueled my interest in the potential cost savings of reloading.

I was ready to pull the trigger on a loading press and components when COVID hit, turning 2020 into a colossal dumpster fire. The ammo market descended into chaos. Ammo, reloading equipment, and components flew off shelves faster than toilet paper during the panic-buying frenzy. Low supply and high demand sent prices skyrocketing, slamming the door on my reloading ambitions.

As time passed, my focus shifted to pistol shooting, which remains my main thing. My curiosity about reloading never faded, but it ebbed and flowed. Every so often, my range buddies—relentless in their attempts to drag me into their hobbies—would nudge me to look into it again. I’d crunch the numbers for 9mm, my most-used cartridge, and reach the same conclusion: the cost savings just weren’t there. My interest would wane until their pestering started the cycle again.

So, what changed? Why now? Simple: the market. Equipment and components are available again, and prices have dropped enough to make reloading 9mm cost-effective. The savings aren’t huge, and there’s no guarantee they’ll grow or even stick around. But I shoot enough that it’s a less risky bet now.

A few caveats about my decision are worth noting. These may or may not apply to you, and I can’t guarantee my logic is bulletproof.

First, precision wasn’t a factor in my decision to get a press. My ammo costs for precision rifle shooting are negligible compared to pistol ammo. I’m hopeful reloading might reignite my interest in rifle activities, but my setup isn’t equipped for rifle cartridges, so that’s a long shot. While I won’t scoff at consistent and precise pistol ammo, my marksmanship skills—or lack thereof—make those qualities a low priority.

Second, my cost calculations always included brass. Many claim 9mm brass is “free” if you pick it up at the range. I’m not buying it. As the saying goes, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” I’m not keen on playing brass troll, scavenging spent casings after a long range day. It takes time and energy I rarely have after a match or class. Even if I did, cleaning and inspecting range brass adds prep time. You’d also need cleaning equipment and consumables, which cost money. Sure, it’s likely cheaper than buying pre-cleaned, inspected brass, but it feels like a lot of work for marginal savings. I might change my mind later, but for now, I factored in the cost of buying brass.

One reloading range buddy pointed out that once I dial in my load, I’ll have a softer-shooting, consistent round that rivals—or at least approaches—high-end competition factory ammo, which costs more than the budget bulk ammo I usually shoot. That’s intriguing, but I didn’t factor it into my cost comparison. Comparing handloaded ammo to pricier competition ammo makes sense since their qualities are closer, but I buy and shoot budget ammo, so that’s my baseline. Still, the idea of spending less to shoot “better” ammo gave me a nudge toward getting a press.

So, how do the numbers shake out? Excluding tax and shipping (fair, since they apply either way), I can load 147gr 9mm FMJ ammo for about 24¢ per round. That’s roughly 5¢ less than the Blazer Brass 147gr 9mm FMJ I usually run. To break even on the equipment investment, I’d need to load and shoot about 59,000 rounds. At my current pace of 1,000 rounds per month, that’s about five years, assuming market conditions don’t shift too much.

Is it worth it? Ask me again in five years. For now, I think the return justifies the investment for me. Is it worth it for you? That’s your call.