There's nothing wrong with using range brass. I've used range brass for the last 30+ years. I do however inspect the range brass and toss the junk brand names and tend to discard brass that looks like the puppy played with it for a couple of weeks.
You should:
Get axis to free lead & free brass
single stage reloading press, scale, dies, powder throw
bullet molds and casting pot
learn how to reload, cast bullets, swage jacketed bullets.
Right now I can load: was
100 38spl's/158gr hp's $3.25 (lead bullet/150gr jacketed)
100 9mm/125gr hp's $3.80 (lead bullet/147gr jacketed)
100 44spl/200gr hp's $3.80 (lead bullet/225gr jacketed)
100 45acp/200gr hp's $3.80 (lead bullet/225gr jacketed)
100 44mag/250gr hp's $6.00 (lead bullet/265gr jacketed)
100 223rem/62gr hp's $11.00 (jacketed bullet)
I can either load a # of different lead/cast hp's or home swaged jacketed bullets for the same $$$$ listed above.
Buy yourself a used rcbs rockchucker press, a good powder throw and a scale. You can reload and swage bullets with that rockchucker.
Coated bullets are better than nothing, I actually like coated lead bullets. I cast and coat my own. Free range lead ='s free hp's for the 9mm
I make 62gr hp's for the 223 from free 22lr brass & free range lead. I also make a 55gr hp for the 223 from free 22lr brass & free range lead.
Take the range brass you find and either use it or sell it or trade it for something you can use. That's how I got started 30+ years ago. Sold the free brass and free lead and used the $$$ to buy reloading equipment, casting equipment & reloading supplies. I still do that to this day & this is what I bought this year from free lead, brass & copper. 25# of pistol powder
