I want to reload 9 MM only. What do I need to buy? I would rather buy better stuff if it really works better. Please help with brands and types of tools. What is the best way to learn?

Man you got a lot to learn. Guys will be along after a while.


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James

I just started, got a Lee 4 hole turret press for Christmas. Loading 9mm and .38 special, so far so good. All the ammo I've loaded has gone 'bang', the guns all still work. There are several books you NEED, not only for the reloading education, you'll need load info for different bullets and powders. There are several videos on youtube also.

I can say, reloading is not something you just jump into and isn't cheap. Isn't factory 9mm one of the cheapest to buy vs reloading, someone here will know? Why are you wanting to only reload 9mm?

I just started btw, and am enjoying it!

Currently, there will not be a significant savings on 9mm reloaded ammo. How much components you buy in bulk will set your final price for the finished rounds. My .45 ACPs cost me @$9-10 a box to reload, but I don't buy in large bulk, so I could lower the price some more. My 9mms are about the same as buying factory ammo in bulk, but I enjoy reloading for reloading itself.

Some questions to consider in your purchase are:
How many rounds a month do you anticipate reloading?
Over five hundred and you might consider looking into a progressive, or atleast a turret model.

How much space do you have to devote to a proper setup?
I don't have much room anymore, so my single-stge press is portable (clamps to the kitchen counter) and I use a Lee hand press to size & flare my cases while watching TV and a hand primer to reprime at the same time. Then I clamp down the press and powder dropper, fill-seat-crimp, and done.

When i decided to start reloading i went to my local reloading shop and ask what i needed.
The gentleman, a retired LEO, handed me a reload manual and told me to read it first then come back. I did and what i learned was the fundamentals of reloading ballistics, why it is important to examine each cartridge, measure loads, measure OAL, and so forth.
My suggestion is to start with a good RL manual. Read each section then start looking for eauipment.

Decide how much money you want to spend.



Then double it.


Seriously, St John has the best advice so far.

Some the first considerations should be how much ammo do I need, what the budget and how much time do I want to spend. For small quantities a single stage will work, for more than a 100rds a week a turret style press is sufficient for about 250 a week max. If you shoot a lot or shoot in competition or plan to you probably want a progressive press. I have a couple of the lee turrets and you can turn out 150/hr. on one with a start up cost of less than $500. If avoid buying bullets at the big name resellers you can cut the cost in half for 9mm. More savings can be had on other calibers of ammo. Buy some books and read first before buying anything. It will open up a whole new world for you and you will obtain a much better understanding of firearms that the non-reloader doesn't have.

9mm may be one of the cheapest to buy factory, but you can still save money reloading--pay back on the equipment is just going to be slower. Last I saw WWB at Wally World it was $25.99 per 100 round value pack. With not buying in bulk, say $.03 for primers, $.02 for powder and $.08 for leads--hoping you have saved brass to reload--that brings you to $0.13/round--half the price of WWB at Wally World for $0.26/round.

the water is fine. I started with free equipment and two old Speer manuals. StJohn's advice is sound. Before you buy anything read, read and research. Start slow and enjoy yourself. I find reloading to be a lot like cooking for me. Very relaxing.

If I were to start again... I would definitely buy a turret press (or a progressive if loading many, many).

Buy good dies! I like Redding.

As previously noted, buy one or two reloading manuals and study! I like the Speer manual more than any of the others.

You're right to pick one caliber and focus on it. Once you perfect that caliber, then you can move on to others.

Take your time!!! Check everything twice!!! Safety!!!

__________________
Centennial Every Day

The advice about getting several manuals to read is very good. Get a RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit. You will then need a shell holder and a set of dies. Get a set of carbide sizeing die. Pick components based on the loads listed in the manuals and stick to those loads.

You live or die by your balance beam scale. Use it and double check it often. A powder dropper is wonderful but should always be checked against your balance beam when you adjust it and frequently while you are dropping powder.


Other brands have kits and would serve you well. I have used a lot of RCBS products and have found them to be quite servicable. You can add other bits of equipment if you find a need for them, but a kit will get you going safely with good equipment.

Much of the pleasure of reloading is like cooking, baking, or woodworking-you find that magical "just right". If your main interest in accuracy there is a great deal of satisfaction in finding the load that is say markedly more accurate than the cheapest factory ammunition and not all that more expensive.
Although in the digital age there are professionally produced DVDs and not so professional ones, I reccomend doing it the old fashioned way-reading, reading and more reading. Like cooking or woodworking you must learn to follow directions, work step by step and remember no steps are unimportant no can they be skipped.
The book "The ABCs of Reloading" is excellent, many of the component companies-Lyman, Speer, Lee-produce their own manuals that naturally favor their own products.
Like so many, I started with a Lee Loader, then graduated to a Lyman 310 tool, finally to an RCBS Jr, now an RCBS 4x4. I reccomend either the Lee or Lyman hand presses for a starting reloader, you will use the same dies you will later use on your bench mounted press while at the same time learning reloading procedures and seeing how they follow logically.

I respectfully disagree with Mr. BlackhawkNJ. Get a bench-mounted press in the beginning. You can learn the procedures just as easily and will not have to spend extra money on new presses when you outgrow the hand presses.

IMHO you couldn't go wrong with the LEE "Anniversary Special" kit they offer for around $100 at online sellers such as Midway, Natchez, Cabellas etc. That kit has virtually everything, except for dies, you would need to begin loading for your 9mm. Sure, you will outgrow the kit eventually if you stay with the hobby long enough, but you will amortize your investment cost rather quickly and learn what you would like to eventually graduate to. Most of the stuff in that kit I'll bet you keep for posterity. Also, don't let anyone convince you that LEE dies are not as good as brand x,y,or z. For the money they can't be beat. I got the 4 die set for 9mm recently and love them. They turn out fantastic ammo and were about half the cost of the major players dies.

The analogies to cooking are apropos.
Spices (powders),
cookbooks (reloading manuals),
basic ingredients (brass, bullets),
Chef's quality tools (*insert Dillon/RCBS/Lee/Hornady here*),
Cookin' Shows (S&W Reloading Forum) - the list goes on and on...

You can do it over a campfire (Hand tools)
or a commercial kitchen (Full auto press)
Or anything in between - it's all good eating.

Man, I'm getting hungry!

I've been reloading for more than fifty years. I cast my bullets for 98% of my shooting. I've had a major bunch of pleasure. Over the years, I've invested a lot of money. The return has been magnificent. This afternoon, a happily shot the equivalent of $200 in ammo that cost me less than ten bucks. If you only want to load a few boxes of 9mm ammo, forget it. If you want a lifetime hobby, start slow and build.

I started with a LEE 3 hole turret and dies now I have 20+ LEE dies and the 3 hole is still going strong 30+ years. I messed up one die and LEE replaced it for free and no shipping cost.They have a 4 hole now so I would go with it. MidWay and a lot of places have good buy on them check around for their reloading kit. GOOD LUCK

Like planojack above, I've been reloading for better than 40 years. Can't remember the last time I bought a box of ammo. I cast for both rifle and pistol and I load for most of the common cartridges. I have loading manuals dating back to 1938 and I use them all. My RCBS Rockchucker is older than some of our members but it's still doing the job. My dies start with the Hollywood Gun Shop, Lachmiller, Lyman, RCBS, Dillon and even two Lee sets. I can't imagine the total amount of money I have saved over the years but it's a bunch. If I were starting today I would buy the latest Lyman reloading manual and study it well. Thats where it all starts. Where it ends - Who can say.

Buying components in bulk, I load 9 mm JHP for a bit under 0.12/round. There's an awful lot of equipment that you can buy, but, IMO, it's not desirable to get carried away. In addition to components, the equipment that you must have includes:

1. Some kind of press. A single stage is fine to start. I don't care for the hand loaders.
2. A set of dies for each caliber you want to load.
3. A shell holder for each caliber.
4. A powder scale. Don't let anyone tell you that you don't need this.
5. Some kind of powder measure (thrower). Strictly speaking, this one isn't a "must" buy, but for any quantity of reloads it makes the job so much easier that I wouldn't be without it.

That's pretty much it.

Ken,
Reloading can be a relaxing, fun past time. If you enjoy hands on working with precision tooling, there is nothing much better. I would also start by reading as much as possible.The Lyman and Lee loading manuals have a lot of really good information which can help you decide where to start. I bought a Lyman TMAG torret kit years ago and have found it to be versital and durable. Thousands of rounds, 38, 357,45,
40, 7.5x55 with nothing but enjoyment. A lot of nice equipment by several manufacturers is out there. Researching is half the fun!

Good luck and happy shooting!

Chasing Crow

Hello. I've only been reloading 2-3yrs, but the sagest advice I received was to start out with a single stage operation. It allowed me to learn each step individually. Take your time, and read as many books and articles as you can for what you're reloading. You'll have a blast! (No pun intended)

If you are only interested in banging away and throwing lead downrange then buying 9mm in case lots is probably cheaper than reloading. At least in the short to medium run. That said...

I used to reload on a single stage Rockchucker press. Since I was only shooting maybe 200 -300 rounds a month that was fine. When I started the hobby up again a few years ago I wanted to shoot more (38 spl, 357 and some 45 ACP) so I bought a Dillon. It is a darned good press and their customer service is exceptional. I don't regret the purchase but, in retrospect, a turret press would probably work just as well for me and cost quite a bit less.

One new-fangled gadget I really do recommend is the digital scale. The tare feature makes it much easier, IMO, to set and check my powder measure.

I second the recommendations to get carbide sizing dies. They save considerable time and headaches.

Good advice here, do your homework and decide what you need. You get what you pay for. A 500$ setup is going to give you more speed and better ammo than a cheap setup. I started out cheap and worked my way up as I started to shoot more. Now all of my Lee stuff collects dust and Dillion is all I use.
As was said you may be better off buying in bulk because unless you shoot a lot it will take a long time to get back your $$ spent on equipment. The again it is a hobby and a good way to spend your time, always fun cooking up your own loads.

Before taking the reloading plunge, check out:

On Target Ammunition

It's commercial reloads about as inexpensive as you can get.


If you really want to reload, I would suggest getting a revolver so you don't have to chase the brass, and because the cases are much easier to handle and don't get bent up.

A .38 case for example is easy to hold. A 9mm case is easy to drop. In reloading, you handle cases A LOT, and often with spilllible stuff in them. 9mm cases hide down in your case loading block too.

As for bullets, don't believe what you hear about cast bullets leading. Decent ones won't, though there are steps which need to be taken, such as selecting a slower powder, and you'll save money. If you are shooting indoors however, check the rules; some indoor ranges won't permit them.

If you want to use plated or jacketed bullets, they are more expensive, but not that much more.

Plated: Berry's Manufacturing

Jacketed: Montana Gold Bullet, Incorporated - Kalispell, Montana


Buying boxes of Speer/Hornady, etc jacketed reloading bullets at your LGS could get pricy, quickly.

As far as the press, consider where you are going to mount it. Here's my set up bar clamped to the breakfast table. It's portable, but a Rock Chucker weighs about 17 lbs. The aluminum RCBS Partner press only weighs about 5 lbs, and is plenty strong for all handgun loading, and rifle too. If you are going portable, I'd really recommend a light weight press.



I used blind "Tee Nuts" (available at Home Depot, etc) in the bottom of the mounting board two pieces of 8"x10" 1/2" plywood. You can get scraps for free from Home Depot, etc. The clamps are available cheap at Walmart or Harbor Freight. Next time I'd go with the screw type, rather than the squeeze.



There are plenty of used presses, scales, etc on Craigslist (Sporting goods-"Reloading") and Ebay.

However, Cabelas has the Rock Chucker kit with everything you need on sale for $270, but then there's $75 in rebates off that. Suddenly buying used isn't such a great deal.

nody, either you're not married or you have the best wife ever. I have my bench in a spare bedroom and I hear about it all the time!

Ken

So you say you want to load 9MM ONLY.

Let's see.


hahahaaaaaa


That was a furtive laugh; a chuckle, so to speak. If I were laughing AT you, it would be something like HAHAHA or BWAAAHHAAAAAHAAAAA

Or something like that. But since you're a newbie, I don't want to run you off or insult you.

Let me explain where I came from:
I was thinking that same thing when I first started loading so I bought a single stage loader years ago, knowing that all I would ever load would be 38 SPL. And I loaded plenty of them and had fun doing it.
So I then bought a bullet mould and melting pot to cast my own slugs since lead was so plentiful at some of the ranges where I shot. They let me pick it out and carry it home. As BLACKHAWK said, it's like cooking, baking, or woodworking. You do it for enjoyment. As you do it, it just kinda grows on you.

So I decided to load for my rifle. Then I bought another gun. Loaded for that too. Then another gun, and on, and on, and,,,,,

Eventually I got so "into it" that I wanted to load more and quicker.

I now own a Dillon 650 with complete conversions for several calibers. Had I dove into it headfirst way back when, I could have saved several thousand dollars and lots of time.

Oh, yeah. I still have that 38 which I shot and still have that same loader. It's ok for custom loads or little other stuff if I feel the need to costomize but I run the legs off the Dillon and love every stroke of the handle of it.

Just saying....

I've often thought of upgrading from my 1/4 century old Square Deal to a 650. The one weakness of the SD, IMO, is the priming system. I know that the 650 uses a different priming system. How reliable is it? Do parts in it wear out quickly?