getting started...

I'm up to 5 shooters in the family, 9mm, 38spl. 40cals. So I'm looking at starting reloading my own. Would like to here from you on the least expensive (not cheapest) way to get started. I've been watching for used equipment but thats far and few between.

the rcbs press and basic accessories can be purchased as a set from cabelas for about 280.00. you get everything you need if fast reloads are not a consideration. good luck and have fun.

carpenter said:

I'm up to 5 shooters in the family, 9mm, 38spl. 40cals. So I'm looking at starting reloading my own. Would like to here from you on the least expensive (not cheapest) way to get started. I've been watching for used equipment but thats far and few between.

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While yer shopping , get yerself a copy of Lee's ABC's of Reloading , The Lyman Reloaders Handbook , and a good manual or two. These are the first things ya should get and read , re-read , and read again.

Got to Midways site (MidwayUSA — Shooting Supplies, Reloading, Gunsmithing, Hunting, Ammunition, Gun Parts & Rifle Scopes) and get set up for their E-Blast e-mail notification. They'll let ya know weekly about specials and sales. There's a few others too. Wideners , Mid-South Shooters Supply , Natchez , Dillon , etc. They all have sales and often you'll find 'kits' for the beginner that contain all the basic gadgets for a good price. There's usually some good deals on Ebay too.

BTW , in the latest issue of Handloader magazine , Midsouth Shooters Supply, Reloading, Air Guns, Optics, Muzzleloaders & Shooting Supplies lists an RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme starter kit for $279 withall the stuff ya need to get going.

Ironically , this months issue also came with a seperate flyer on getting started. If ya want it , IM yer address and I'll drop it in the mail.

With five shooters in the family, I expect you'll be consuming a fair amount of ammunition. That means you need PRODUCTION and that means a progressive press.

I suggest you look at a Hornady LNL or a Dillon 550; you are more likely to find the latter used simply because there are LOTS more of them out there. If you get an LNL, be sure to get a NEW one, with the improved ejection system.

Yes, single-stage presses are cheaper, simpler and will be touted as "the right way to learn." For people making HP rifle loads, they are the standard.

YOU, however, need to produce handgun ammo in quantity and trying to do that on a a Rock Chucker or equivalent is akin to trying to put out a newsletter using calligraphy. Rather than waste money on a press that you will almost immediately outgrow, start with what you need and learn to use it. Dillon makes videos; You-Tube has more.

You'll also need a good BEAM scale - FAR cheaper and more reliable than an electronic scale - a decent tumbler (I suggest a vibratory, not rotating, unit) and at least two reloading manuals. You can also get loading data from the manufacturers' websites.

Start low, be careful and stay safe.

Amici said:

Yes, single-stage presses are cheaper, simpler and will be touted as "the right way to learn." For people making HP rifle loads, they are the standard.

YOU, however, need to produce handgun ammo in quantity and trying to do that on a a Rock Chucker or equivalent is akin to trying to put out a newsletter using calligraphy. Rather than waste money on a press that you will almost immediately outgrow, start with what you need and learn to use it.

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Since the OP only stated the calibers he needed to reload and not the quantity, I'm gonna guess that now, even between the five of them they shoot less than 500 rounds a month. A very simple task with a single stage press. My two sons and I shoot more handgun than that, plus several rifle calibers and I do them all on a Rockchucker. If the OP ever moves on to Rifle calibers, he's gonna need a single stage to do it right anyway(yes I know you can load bottlenecks on a progressive, but who advises it?). To suggest that a newbie start with the most expensive and most difficult press, to load the amount of cartridges the average shooter uses, doesn't make sense to me, but that's just MHO. Many of us that reload have more time than money, so taking a little longer to produce our loads for less money makes sense. For the few out there that shoot a lot of competition and need a coupla thousand rounds each and every month, and have the basics of reloading down pat, it's a different story. Most that have learned on a single stage and moved on to turrents or progressives still have their single stage press mounted to the same bench, as they have not "outgrown" it. Many that have invested big monies into fancy high output reloaders have found they do not shoot enough to justify the investment.....one reason so many high dollar used machines are for sale.

I think the OP needs to evaluate his needs and compare that to what he wants to spend, both in time and money.

Someone write it on the calender!

Amici said:

With five shooters in the family, I expect you'll be consuming a fair amount of ammunition. That means you need PRODUCTION and that means a progressive press.

I suggest you look at a Hornady LNL or a Dillon 550; you are more likely to find the latter used simply because there are LOTS more of them out there. If you get an LNL, be sure to get a NEW one, with the improved ejection system.

Yes, single-stage presses are cheaper, simpler and will be touted as "the right way to learn." For people making HP rifle loads, they are the standard.

YOU, however, need to produce handgun ammo in quantity and trying to do that on a a Rock Chucker or equivalent is akin to trying to put out a newsletter using calligraphy. Rather than waste money on a press that you will almost immediately outgrow, start with what you need and learn to use it. Dillon makes videos; You-Tube has more.

You'll also need a good BEAM scale - FAR cheaper and more reliable than an electronic scale - a decent tumbler (I suggest a vibratory, not rotating, unit) and at least two reloading manuals. You can also get loading data from the manufacturers' websites.

Start low, be careful and stay safe.

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At the risk of giving you a heart attack, I just want to say that I agree with you, Ami!

(You can get back up off of the floor now! )

The only thing I would add is this; if all you will ever load is handgun cartridges you may want to take a look at a Dillon Square Deal B. There are setbacks with them, mainly because the dies are proprietary, no other manufacturer's dies will fit it. One thing in your favor though is that all the cartridge listed by the OP are of the same primer size. That would make it easy to change calibers. Those can be purchased on ebay used for anywhere from $150 to $300. I have 3 with an XL650, a Lee Classic Turret Press (in cast iron) and a number of single stage presses and a Lyman Spar -T. (You can never have enough reloading equipment! )

I have a progressive loader.
I also now have 100+ rounds of .38 spl that need to be broken down and redone.
But mostly, what I have is a pricey S&W PC 627 with a squib ring midway down the barrel.
Spooky!
I am looking real hard at the benefits of single stage reloading. A time consuming process? Perhaps, but it may offer a higher confidence level being able to visually verify a powder charge in every case.

hayseed said:

I have a progressive loader.
I also now have 100+ rounds of .38 spl that need to be broken down and redone.
But mostly, what I have is a pricey S&W PC 627 with a squib ring midway down the barrel.
Spooky!
I am looking real hard at the benefits of single stage reloading. A time consuming process? Perhaps, but it may offer a higher confidence level being able to visually verify a powder charge in every case.

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I'm guessing what you DON'T have is a powder check mounted on your machine........

In all honesty, neither do I. That's why I make it a point to have a light shining down on Station 3. As I seat the bullet there, checking isn't hard.

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hayseed said:

I have a progressive loader.

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What press do you have? I'll hazard a guess that it is a Dillon 550.

I have an XL650 with a powder check die in the 3rd station. Wouldn't be without it. The whole idea is to make a bunch of rounds in a hurry at a certain level of confidence. The check die gives me that. It doesn't check accurately enough to keep from getting a light or heavy charge but it does work well enough to detect an empty case.

When I load on my Dillon Square Deal Bs I have a mirror set up and a bright light. The mirror is on a stand that can be "focused" to look into the case in station #3.

FWIW

Yup, no powder check.

But I really don't want to hijack this thread... that's why I didn't include make and model of my machine.

I just tossed in my 2 cents so the OP could be aware that his comfort level is the key to successful reloading. Technically and/or financially, start with what is right for you. In my opinion, simple is good... Knowing what you're about and knowing what you are doing is very important. All that other stuff can come later.

Even if you use a progressive press, wouldn't there be times, like developing a load, when a single stage would be useful? If that is the case, why not start with a single stage and decide later whether or not a progressive setup is worth the cost to you?

you can check Ebay and get a great single stage setup for about $130 brand new in the box with everything you need except dies, I say go with it and play for a while, it will teach you more and then move on and either keep or sell the single stage to a beginner and keep the circle going

Good information aids in decision making

hayseed said:

Yup, no powder check.

But I really don't want to hijack this thread... that's why I didn't include make and model of my machine.

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hayseed,
I don't think it is a thread hijack if we give good information so the OP can make an informed decision.

The fact that your machine doesn't auto advance could be the reason you got the "ring" in your expensive barrel. Think about how that all happened and you will probably agree. With the 5th hole you can eliminate the possibility of having a recurrence.

I like it to solving a problem like this: I have a hang nail. It hurts like crazy and I want it to stop. While I could simply dig around in my cuticle and relieve the pressure and hang nail I decide to whack off my finger. Digging around is going to hurt like crazy and so is whacking off my finger. I won't have a hang nail but.........I don't grab things quite like I used to either!

gregintenn said:

Even if you use a progressive press, wouldn't there be times, like developing a load, when a single stage would be useful? If that is the case, why not start with a single stage and decide later whether or not a progressive setup is worth the cost to you?

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Yes, most machines that are progressives can be used as a single stage press. It is a little more difficult with the XL650 because of the primer setup but it can be done. All you have to do is remove the one bolt for the primer auto index feature and you are good to go. Done it many times.

That is a good suggestion too by the way.