|
|
01-03-2010, 04:24 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Europe, The Netherlands
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
|
To reload or not to reload....
For instance I wanne start reloading .38/.357, what basic equipment would I need and what would a base hardware kit cost me. I hope this question isn't asked numerous times.
|
01-03-2010, 04:32 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 8,160
Likes: 3,620
Liked 5,205 Times in 2,173 Posts
|
|
It is, but so what?
I'd start with a Lee Classic turret press, which can also be used as a single-stage, Lee carbide dies, and a few basic accessories. If you're not trying to load near-max loads, you can get by with a Lee dipper set until you want to buy a powder measure and scale.
Expect to spend around $200 USD plus components buying from US sources.
Lee Precision, Inc. Reloading Tools and Equipment: Lee Turret Press
|
01-03-2010, 05:09 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Europe, The Netherlands
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
|
Thanx! Are there good sites or books to learn some more about reloading?
|
01-03-2010, 05:11 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Desert of AZ
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times in 5 Posts
|
|
RCBS - Precisioneered Shooting Products - Home
get all the books/manuals you can find. The more data and info you have, the better.
|
01-03-2010, 05:28 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 4,162
Likes: 341
Liked 3,944 Times in 1,494 Posts
|
|
Greetings,
Any of the major reloading manuals such as the Speer, or Hornady (my favorites) will provide step-by-step instructions for reloading rifle and pistol ammunition. You don't have to buy the most current and up-to-date editions, but one thing you should do if you start reloading is keep your old manual as a reference guide - or you can save them for someone who is starting out in reloading. A single stage press, or a turret type press are definitely a great way of starting. You can usually save quite a bit of money buying used equipment (a press is hard to break). You can learn a lot from the Reloading and Ammo sections of this forum. You can find used reloading equipment for sale at this site as well as at eBay and Gunbroker.com. I think the $200.00 figure that was quoted is a reasonable figure, and with careful shopping you should be able to find a press, dies, scales (new digital scales can be found for $20.00-$30.00), powder, primer and bullets for one caliber without difficulty. By the way, the .38/.357 caliber is a lot of fun to load for and is very versatile. Everyone has their favorite powders, but Hercules Bullseye is extremely versatile in this caliber and can be used for target loads as well as something more substantial.
Best of luck,
Dave
|
01-03-2010, 05:55 PM
|
|
Moderator SWCA Member Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Northeast PA, USA
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 1,029
Liked 5,070 Times in 2,660 Posts
|
|
I agree the Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press is a good place to start. The Classic Press has a Cast Iron base so it's much stronger than the standard 4 hole press and the linkage is stronger too. You can remove the "Auto-Index" rod and use it as a single stage press in the beginning to get used to reloading and also when loading rifle rounds.
I'm guessing you can put together an initial setup for ~$200 for loading 38/357 ammo and easily make that up within the first 800/1000 rounds of .38 Special at current costs. (even faster with .357 Magnum ammo) Here is a good Hoadload Cost Calculator to help you with the numbers.
__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437
|
01-03-2010, 08:58 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 314
Liked 75 Times in 33 Posts
|
|
Not to be a PITA, but he'll have a hard time finding Hercules Bullseye these days.
Just messin with the poster, it's made by Aliant now. And as he said, it's probably the most used powder for .38 target shooting
__________________
Pete.
|
01-03-2010, 09:09 PM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hoosier Land!
Posts: 4,379
Likes: 587
Liked 576 Times in 307 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by OKFC05
It is, but so what?
I'd start with a Lee Classic turret press, which can also be used as a single-stage, Lee carbide dies, and a few basic accessories. If you're not trying to load near-max loads, you can get by with a Lee dipper set until you want to buy a powder measure and scale.
Expect to spend around $200 USD plus components buying from US sources.
Lee Precision, Inc. Reloading Tools and Equipment: Lee Turret Press
|
This is the best advice you are going to get in answer to this question, at least in my opinion!
|
01-03-2010, 09:14 PM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: South East , PA . USA
Posts: 5,027
Likes: 485
Liked 1,610 Times in 884 Posts
|
|
Lee's ABCs of Reloading and Lyman's Reloaders Handbook are , or should be , required reading prior to the first pull of the handle. That and many hours in the company of a good EXPERIENCED handloader.
Lots of practice is the key to good shooting. Here in the land of plenty , even imported ammo is fast approaching 50 cents a pop. Unless yer rich , reloading is the only way to go.
I've been loading my own ammo for over 30 years , and have assembled who knows how many hundreds of thousands of rounds of quality ammo. It's a rewarding hobby all it's own for many , myself included.
There's lots of experience here on this forum. Make use of it by asking lots of questions. We'll be waiting to help.
|
01-04-2010, 10:11 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Europe, The Netherlands
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
|
|
Thanx guys for the extensive info! I will surely ask my questions when I have them, thanx for the offer!
|
01-04-2010, 11:01 AM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 7,520
Likes: 19,278
Liked 32,371 Times in 5,476 Posts
|
|
yska08: I don't know how things are for you in the Netherlands, but reloading makes a great deal of sense here in the US. I have been reloading for 39 years, and for most of that time it was the only way that I could afford to shoot.
About ten years ago I started using remanufactured ammunition. I would send in my fired brass and have it reloaded and returned to me. This was actually economical for several years.
Now, with prices of components higher than I have ever seen, and shipping costs very high as well, I have started reloading my own again. I have also been casting bullets again, due to the high prices and shipping costs (fortunately, I have several hundred pounds of lead alloy on hand).
__________________
Life of the party until 8:00PM
|
01-06-2010, 01:48 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,799
Likes: 7,843
Liked 25,705 Times in 8,685 Posts
|
|
Get a Dillion.........you wont be sorry!
|
01-06-2010, 03:23 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Belgique, region wallonne
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
Liked 15 Times in 3 Posts
|
|
voor wat het kost is "Lee" waarschijnlijk de beste keus (mijn ervaring)
het is altijd een kwestie van geld, daarom gaan wij, zeker en vast, weldra van "kogels gieten" spreken
daarover valt er enorm veel te zeggen
( groeten uit Belgie)
|
01-06-2010, 05:53 AM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 4,162
Likes: 341
Liked 3,944 Times in 1,494 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by PDL
Not to be a PITA, but he'll have a hard time finding Hercules Bullseye these days.
Just messin with the poster, it's made by Aliant now. And as he said, it's probably the most used powder for .38 target shooting
|
Pete, thank you for the correction. I took a long break (12 years) from reloading, and guns in general, when we adopted our first child and my "recreational funds" had to go towards diapers and formula. I stored all of my equipment and reloading supplies which included a brand new can of Bullseye. I recently purchased a pound of WW 231 and was surprised to find that powder now comes in a plastic container rather than the cardboard containers that I was familiar with.
Regards,
Dave
|
01-06-2010, 06:06 AM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 4,162
Likes: 341
Liked 3,944 Times in 1,494 Posts
|
|
Yska08,
I was looking at the Lee Reloading website and found other options for you:
1) They have a special deal where you buy their reloading manual and get their basic single stage press free:
Lee Precision, Inc. Reloading Tools and Equipment: Anniversary Kit
2) At their home page, check the Closeout tab. You can find factory seconds (cosmetically challenged, but still functional and still have full warranty) of their products - including reloading presses:
Lee Precision, Inc. Reloading Tools and Equipment: Surplus Items
Though I have a RCBS Rock Chucker press with a conversion unit that turns it into a progressive reloader, I recently purchased the Lee Classic press for simple operations (resizing, depriming, etc.), or to load small quantities of ammo. You can create a lot of quality ammunition, and have a whole lot of fun using a simple single stage press.
I hope this helps.
Best of luck,
Dave
|
01-06-2010, 06:36 AM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Augusta, GA
Posts: 6,125
Likes: 6,652
Liked 6,168 Times in 2,672 Posts
|
|
You don't save money!
You do not same a penny reloading, instead you shoot a lot more because you "save" so much reloading your own ammunition.
__________________
S&WHF 366
|
01-06-2010, 07:13 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Indiana USA
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 3
Liked 201 Times in 107 Posts
|
|
+1 on the LEE Turret Press and LEE dies, well designed equipment that will serve you well. I have also used WW 231 and its ballistic twin HP-38 and can recommend them for use in .38/.357 if Bullseye is hard to find in your area.
|
01-06-2010, 09:30 AM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hoosier Land!
Posts: 4,379
Likes: 587
Liked 576 Times in 307 Posts
|
|
Translated into English
Quote:
Originally Posted by quewalda
voor wat het kost is "Lee" waarschijnlijk de beste keus (mijn ervaring)
het is altijd een kwestie van geld, daarom gaan wij, zeker en vast, weldra van "kogels gieten" spreken
daarover valt er enorm veel te zeggen
( groeten uit Belgie)
|
For those of us that can't read Dutch:
for all costs is "Lee" probably the best choice (my experience)
it is always a question of money, so we, certainly, soon be "pouring bullets" speak
about there is a lot to say
(Greetings from Belgium)
Google Translate
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|