9mm Reload Cost Practicality

[Nathan Forrest]

My costs are about the same as Noahs. As a general rule these days handloads are about half the price of factory. Larger calibers like .45 Colt less than half price. If you can swing the costs I'd get a Dillon and find someone experienced to help you. For a beginner you could use the Dillon like a single stage press until you gain confidence and knowlege. In the long run you will want the progressive press.

 

[reyno2ac]

I hate to post to this thread again but I want to make sure I'm getting everything I need. Is there anything missing from this list that would be needed to reload 9mm?

MidwayUSA - Wish List
Lee Hand Press
Lee Pocket Primer Cleaner
Lee Safety Magnetic Powder Scale
Lee Auto Prime
Lee Delux Carbide Die Set
Lee Improved powder measure set
Lee Powder Funnel
Lee "Modern Reloading 2"
Lee Chamfer and De-burring Tool

 

[whelenshooter]

Although most of Lee's stuff is good, I would suggest getting something other than a Lee scale. Many find it hard to read and set. For weighing powder you DON'T want a digital scale. I think the best scale for the price is the Dillon "Eliminator" scale. It is only about $55.00, it is easy to set and read, it has agate bearings and magnetic damping. I would also add to your list a set of Lee powder dippers, and a powder trickler (the RCBS works fine). I use the dippers to throw an amount of powder on my scale just below the total I want, then trickle the rest of the powder up to the proper weight with the trickler.

Good luck! I've been reloading for over 40 years and I really enjoy it!

I'm editing this to say that I didn't recognize the "Lee Improved Powder Measure set" as their dipper set. I thought it was some sort of adjustable rotary powder measure. I think you have things covered pretty well, except you might want to add a kinetic bullet puller to your list. Everyone messes up a round sometime, and it is nice to be able to pull the bullet and save as many of your components as you can.

 

[blastfact]

You still need a caliper if you don't have one or three. And a bullet puller.

Why the hand loader? And not one of the single stage kits?

 

[reyno2ac]

You still need a caliper if you don't have one or three. And a bullet puller.

Why the hand loader? And not one of the single stage kits?

a bullet puller I need, but calipers I've already got. I'm going with the hand loader because I have no where to mount a table top unit and I couldn't find one that clamped on. I figure I'd upgrade to a 3 or 4 turret style press in the future when I'm loading more at a time.

Why is a digital scale a big no no?

 

[dave b]

Reyno, your list looks OK, but unless you can't bench or table mount the press, forget the hand press and get the Lee Challenger press. The auto prime is good, but get the shell holder set for it. If you get the bench press you won't need it, as it comes with it's own primer seaters. The Lee powder dippers are OK and if you use them you won't need the scale. The Lee scale,while accurate, is not real easy to use. Also if you don't buy a set of standards, you cant zero your scale.Then you really won't know exactly what the wt is. I think the Lyman #49 book is much better,if your only going to have 1 book. That's enough to get you going, you'll accumalate more as you go along.

 

[dave b]

You might be able to mount a bench press to a small square of 3/4 plywood and clamp it to a table.

 

[Snowbandit]

I didn't see a shell holder on your list. You'll need one for the press and, if you're going to use the autoprime you'll need a seperate one for it because their different.

My son in law picked up the Hornady Lock-N-Load kit a week ago. It's pretty complete and comes with 500 free bullets making it a fairly good deal. More than the Lee setup but I think it's better stuff. That kit, an inexpensive case cleaner and an old set of dies from me got him set him up pretty well for a start.

 

[reyno2ac]

You might be able to mount a bench press to a small square of 3/4 plywood and clamp it to a table.

I thought about that, but it seems a little cumbersome to have to clamp it to the table every time I need to use it.

I didn't see a shell holder on your list. You'll need one for the press and, if you're going to use the autoprime you'll need a seperate one for it because their different.

My son in law picked up the Hornady Lock-N-Load kit a week ago. It's pretty complete and comes with 500 free bullets making it a fairly good deal. More than the Lee setup but I think it's better stuff. That kit, an inexpensive case cleaner and an old set of dies from me got him set him up pretty well for a start.

Thanks, I've added the two shell holders.

 

[dave b]

Lee dies come with shell holders.

 

[MWAG]

How important is it to get the brass spotless? Can it be cleaned with a wire brush? The tumblers seem rather expensive.

How many times can you reload a case? Does it just have to be visually free of defects and within spec?

i have yet to clean any of mine......

i reload 'em till they show a defect.....

 

[reyno2ac]

Lee dies come with shell holders.

I still need one for the auto primer though, right?

i have yet to clean any of mine......

i reload 'em till they show a defect.....

That's nice to hear! I've hear apple cider vinegar is a good cleaner for brass cases, so its not like it would kill me to clean them a bit.

 

[DougE]

I still need one for the auto primer though, right?

Yes. You will still need the shell holder for the auto prime unit.

 

[reyno2ac]

Yes. You will still need the shell holder for the auto prime unit.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[Noah Zark]

I still need one for the auto primer though, right?

Correct, and Auto Prime shell holder is "flat" - it does not have the recessed boss on the bottom that fits in the press ram.

. . . I've hear apple cider vinegar is a good cleaner for brass cases, so its not like it would kill me to clean them a bit.

IMO, cider vinegar (acetic acid) or any acid is NOT a "good cleaner" for brass cartridge cases. The acid can selectively attack the zinc in the brass (brass is essentially 60% copper and 40% zinc) and weaken it. There's a lot of "old tips and tricks" that recommend vinegar for cleaning cases, and lots of testimony saying "I never had a problem," but I don't want ANY acid near my investment in brass. Do your brass and yourself a favor and keep the vinegar in the kitchen where it belongs.

Besides, brass cases do not need to be bright and shiny to function. Commerical brass is tumble-polished for looks, but if you look at USGI ammo it is not bright and shiny, and many times will have a variety of different spots on it. I do tumble my brass to get the majority of soot off, but I don't make it brilliantly gleaming. No need.

Noah

 

[reyno2ac]

Correct, and Auto Prime shell holder is "flat" - it does not have the recessed boss on the bottom that fits in the press ram.




IMO, cider vinegar (acetic acid) or any acid is NOT a "good cleaner" for brass cartridge cases. The acid can selectively attack the zinc in the brass (brass is essentially 60% copper and 40% zinc) and weaken it. There's a lot of "old tips and tricks" that recommend vinegar for cleaning cases, and lots of testimony saying "I never had a problem," but I don't want ANY acid near my investment in brass. Do your brass and yourself a favor and keep the vinegar in the kitchen where it belongs.

Besides, brass cases do not need to be bright and shiny to function. Commerical brass is tumble-polished for looks, but if you look at USGI ammo it is not bright and shiny, and many times will have a variety of different spots on it. I do tumble my brass to get the majority of soot off, but I don't make it brilliantly gleaming. No need.

Noah

I had kind of wondered about the vinegar hurting the brass. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[DougE]

Correct, and Auto Prime shell holder is "flat" - it does not have the recessed boss on the bottom that fits in the press ram.

On that note, if one happens to have an extra shell holder of the same number for the press, that "flange" or recessed boss as Noah called it which attaches it to the press can be cut off allowing it to be used in the auto prime. I have done exactly that. Was it worth the trouble for a few bucks saved? Probably not but it works.

 

[whelenshooter]

I thought about that, but it seems a little cumbersome to have to clamp it to the table every time I need to use it.


If you use the right kind of clamps, this really isn't cumbersome at all. I teach the reloading section of a firearms class at the local university, so I need to have portable presses for use in the class. I have several portable press options I use just so people can get some ideas as to what they can use if they don't have space for a permanent set-up. If you have any option of clamping a press to a table, desk, or work bench you will find such a press much less tiring to use than the Lee "Hand Press". Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the Lee "Hand Press", but it just simply isn't as easy or comfortable to use as a bench mounted press. I believe the Lee "Reloader" press is actually a couple of bucks cheaper than the "Hand Press" anyway. A "Reloader" press mounted on some plywood and clamped to a sturdy table or desk would be a very good setup.

Although a light press like the Lee "Reloader", Lyman "Acculine" (discontinued), or RCBS "Partner" press are the easiest and most convenient for moving around a lot, you can even use a heavy press like an RCBS "Rock Chucker" mounted on plywood and clamped to your table. When I attended the University of Idaho in the mid-1970s we were allowed to keep our rifles in our dorm rooms. All of us "gun-heads" (as we were called) clamped our reloading presses to our desks so we could load our ammunition. I turned out a lot of .357 Magnum and 30-06 off a dorm room desk!

For a heavy press, the "Sinclair Press Stand" works better than a plain old piece of plywood or a piece of 2"x12".

Go here to see the "Sinclair Press Stand": Specializing in Reloading Supplies and Equipment for Firearms - Sinclair International

I have a Lyman "Acculine" press mounted to some plywood that I clamp to a table in the classroom when I'm teaching. If you'd like to see it, I'll try to photograph my set-up and post it so you can see it.

 

[reyno2ac]

Unfortunately clamping to a table isn't much of an option either. Hopefully once I'm out of college and able to get a bigger apartment a work bench will finally be more than a dream.

 

[Fla_Sun]

9mm, same concern about cost

I can get the Federal 9mm at Wally World for $10 a box plus tax. It cost me between $6 and $7.50 (depending on bullet type) to make them assuming free once-fired cases. Reloading has to be an enjoyable hobby to justify the time spent.

38/357 or 45 ACP is a different story, very well worth reloading.