Kadet Kit really worth it? UPDATE: bought one.

[paul0660]

When I make comparisons I always compare the most expensive of the stuff I don't want to the least expensive of what I do want, too.

[JaeOne3345]

Buy a Dillon 550B.

[daybreak]

Buy a Dillon 550B.

That's a good alternative suggestion that I'm also looking into. Considering the cost of bulk 9mm, is it worth it to reload? Genuinely asking because I don't know the breakdown of cost to reload 9mm as I haven't done the research.

[daybreak]

When I make comparisons I always compare the most expensive of the stuff I don't want to the least expensive of what I do want, too.

I chose CCI because I've had the best experience with them as far as reliability. As someone who is also very sarcastic, I appreciated that comment.

[JeremyS]

That's a good alternative suggestion that I'm also looking into. Considering the cost of bulk 9mm, is it worth it to reload? Genuinely asking because I don't know the breakdown of cost to reload 9mm as I haven't done the research.

I'm planning on getting started in reloading this coming summer, both for ammo cost reasons and for fun. I still can't decide if I'm going to reload 9mm though, which is the only pistol caliber I am currently shooting (besides .22 LR). I've done the cost breakdown and I can purchase bulk 9mm ammo, even brass-cased stuff, for the same amount it will cost me to reload assuming the brass isn't even costing me anything (I've saved up around 1k rounds of once- or twice-fired brass). I'm not sure it's worth my time. ...the least expensive plated 9mm bullets (JUST bullets... no case, powder, primer) run about $82 per 1,000. That's half the price of loaded 9mm ammo when you find it cheap, which you can.

I want to reload so I can shoot my .303 British more, can shoot .308 more, and will likely pick up something in 10mm or 9x25. I'm not sure it's worth the time to do 9mm and I don't think you'll recover the initial investment just because you can find it so dang cheap already and the components add up to basically the same price.

I chose CCI because I've had the best experience with them as far as reliability

...and I also agree you should compare to a less expensive .22 round. You're just plinking or target shooting so it's okay if there's a bum primer every thousand rounds or whatever. I've shot the Federal 525 pack, the Winchester 555 pack, the Winchester 333 pack, Remington bulk box, and a few other brands (including various CCI options) with no issues. It has all fed, fired, and ejected reliably through my KA.

[JeremyS]

Oh!... one thing worth mentioning is that if you go with a lighter mainspring, you *might* have reliability issues with the KA. It takes a harder firing pin strike to ignite them compared to center fire, so if you have tuned your gun to the point where it only barely hits center fire hard enough, it's not going to work with .22. CZ Custom does technically recommend the factory mainspring when using the KA. That said, I went down a few lbs on my mainspring (I'm either running a 14 or 15 lb... don't actually remember) and still have zero issues with running the KA and have yet to see a light strike after many many rounds.

[23 Blast]

I've owned numerous .22 revolvers, pistols, and conversion kits, including 2 different 1911 kits, and a Glock conversion kit. The Kadet Kit is a superior value. It is marvelously accurate, comes with nifty adjustable sights, is all steel, and mine (my second Kadet after I foolishly sold my first) is 100% reliable with every brand of cheap ammo I've thrown at it. I love it.

[daybreak]

Thanks for all the input guys.

[lrj812]

I'm planning on getting started in reloading this coming summer, both for ammo cost reasons and for fun. I still can't decide if I'm going to reload 9mm though, which is the only pistol caliber I am currently shooting (besides .22 LR). I've done the cost breakdown and I can purchase bulk 9mm ammo, even brass-cased stuff, for the same amount it will cost me to reload assuming the brass isn't even costing me anything (I've saved up around 1k rounds of once- or twice-fired brass). I'm not sure it's worth my time. ...the least expensive plated 9mm bullets (JUST bullets... no case, powder, primer) run about $82 per 1,000. That's half the price of loaded 9mm ammo when you find it cheap, which you can.

I want to reload so I can shoot my .303 British more, can shoot .308 more, and will likely pick up something in 10mm or 9x25. I'm not sure it's worth the time to do 9mm and I don't think you'll recover the initial investment just because you can find it so dang cheap already and the components add up to basically the same price.



...and I also agree you should compare to a less expensive .22 round. You're just plinking or target shooting so it's okay if there's a bum primer every thousand rounds or whatever. I've shot the Federal 525 pack, the Winchester 555 pack, the Winchester 333 pack, Remington bulk box, and a few other brands (including various CCI options) with no issues. It has all fed, fired, and ejected reliably through my KA.

I reload .40 for my CZ75B. Free brass from range, 10 cents per bullet, 3 cents of powder, 3 cents for primer. My attraction to reloading was the ability to do gun stuff while still adding to my habit of shooting. The lower cost enabled me to shoot more not spend less. Reload pistol and rifle now and got a lot smarter about bullets and shooting. Priceless.

I understand the cost/benefit ratio so I do not reload 7.62x39. The brass is twice the cost of a loaded round. Couldn't find the brass (Yugo) from that AK even if it was reloadable. It throws the brass into next week.

Kadet kit would be a fine addition regardless of your ability to do your own loads. I say buy it and enjoy.

[daybreak]

I have decided to buy one. I left out the part that I already own about 10K in bulk .22LR, not including the 5,250 of .22LR I just put up for sale in the classifieds ($170)

[JaeOne3345]

That's a good alternative suggestion that I'm also looking into. Considering the cost of bulk 9mm, is it worth it to reload? Genuinely asking because I don't know the breakdown of cost to reload 9mm as I haven't done the research.

It costs me about 4.50/100 rounds. Less than half the price of Wal Mart.

You decide.

[daybreak]

I'll pay you $5.50/100 . And i'll throw in a great smile.

[gorenut]

I also considered it, but I bought a used Ruger 22/45 instead. I'd just prefer to have two distinct pistols. Especially if you are at the range with newbies, you can set them up in a lane with the .22 and a box of 500 rounds, then go shoot your CZ in the next lane.

Exactly my outlook. I've owned 22 conversion kits for Sigs and Glocks and ended up selling all of them. Now I just own a 22/45 and will probably look into an SR22 as well for my girlfriend. I just prefer to have a dedicated 22 so I don't have to much around with removing the slide,etc in the range and can quickly go back and forth to my centerfires to rimfire.

My friend owns a CZ Kadet and its pretty accurate with good construction.. but his Kadet is definitely far pickier on ammo than my 22/45. We use the same ammo and he gets random jams. Also... I really dislike how the "slide" of the Kadet manipulates. There just isn't much surface area for me, but maybe your hands will be different. I actually cut myself first time "racking" it.

[shooterdude]

Oh!... one thing worth mentioning is that if you go with a lighter mainspring, you *might* have reliability issues with the KA. It takes a harder firing pin strike to ignite them compared to center fire, so if you have tuned your gun to the point where it only barely hits center fire hard enough, it's not going to work with .22. CZ Custom does technically recommend the factory mainspring when using the KA. That said, I went down a few lbs on my mainspring (I'm either running a 14 or 15 lb... don't actually remember) and still have zero issues with running the KA and have yet to see a light strike after many many rounds.

I had to up the mainspring to 17lbs to get reliable ignition. The 16lb spring was maybe 80% reliable. I just leave the gun that way because I mainly shoot 9mm from my CZ-75 SP-01 with a 15 lb spring and trigger job nowadays....which is nothing short of FANTASTIC!

[bruss01]

I have a Kadet adapter for my CZ-75b 9mm.

I got mine back when they were $200... which struck me as pricey at the time but I wanted on and boy howdy am I glad I grabbed it at that price! It's nicely made and it works. It requires some fitting so be prepared to chance it yourself or get it into a shop somewhere. I'll echo the caution about lightened mainsprings... I have my hammer springs ligtened substantially and with Federal bulk ammo it's not 100% reliable, maybe 80%. Not too happy about that, but I get to mull over whether I want to switch ammo or springs. Probably springs will get swapped out for slightly heavier.

I like it for several reasons. It allows me cheap practice with the same ergos as my centerfire handgun. It's light recoil for introducing new shooters to the sport in a gentle fashion. If - let's think "apocalypse" for a minute... I can carry the Kadet kit and two bulk packs of ammo as a backup or alternate to my 9mm slide. 9mm for defense, .22 lr for taking small game or more "discreet" work. It's almost as good as carrying a separate gun. You may be able to scavenge/barter some .22 lr somewhere along the way, it's about the most common ammo on the planet. A .22 bang is not a 9mm bang, but it's still a bang. And it can be useful when properly employed.

At $400, man that would make me squint a bit. At that cost you're not buying it for ammo savings as much as for versatility in a handgun frame that really works for you. It's a hard thing to re-sell, since it requires custom fitting to the individual gun.

I would say, if you have a huge existing investment in .22 lr or see it as an alternate for bug-out/survival (say, in conjunction with an AR-15 with the .22 adapter kit) then it may be something to consider. If you're an occasional shooter without a huge .22 lr investment and no anticipation of needing that kind of ammo flexibility... I think you would have a hard time justifying the purchase price, and could safely pass.