Cost for Getting Set Up to Reload

Onomea

Onomea

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I've been following the thread in the Lounge about the cost of ammo, and 9 mm being so much cheaper than typical revolver ammo as one reason for revolvers not being as popular as they might be.

Many posters in the thread point out that if you reload, ammo costs drop dramatically.

I shoot .38 spl primarily.

What would be initial start up costs to set up to reload .38 spl starting from zero? Is the equipment the same for .357? What equipment would I need? Is there a used market?

Thanks for any info.
 
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Yes there is a used market. You can pick up a single-stage loader from somebody who bought a new progressive. (If you want to go REAL cheap you can get a lee loader, which I think goes for about $15. But that is REALLY slow. They do, I think, still make them.) You will need one set of dies and yes typically one set of dies will work for .38 or .357. You SHOULD have a scale. You can get by with a set of LEE powder dippers. A decent powder measure is better. A tumbler is needed to clean (and if desired, polish) the used brass. You should be able to get started on some sort of minimalist basis for about $200, not counting the cost of consumables of course. GO FOR IT.
 
Reloading for .38 and .357

I started loading .38 Special specifically to have a uniform load for PPC matches that I used to shoot every month. A single stage press, hand primer, set of dies. And yes I used the Lee dippers. Bullseye powder in a light wadcutter load. Never bought a scale.

It was slow but my consumption was not great. Read up a little and you can see what you need to start. It will save you money if you do it for a few years and who knows, you may find it to be great fun.
 
Not the fastest way but the best way...Read the front of a handloading manual. It not only points out things you need, it explains how everything works. There is a welcome emphasis on safety. After understanding the process, you'll be able to make a good educated selection of necessary equipment.

I haven't bought much in the way of new equipment in a long time, but I doubt there are any truly bad products available in what's a very competitive market. Stay away from gadgetry that offers little in the way of usefulness. Lots of it out there.

This suggestion won't be popular with the "want it right now folks", but it's a good way to learn to do things right and make good selections, a far better process than a YouTube education. Good luck-
 
You can get a new Lee Hand press.
RCBS carbide 38/357 dies.
Lee dippers.
Hand priming tool.
A few other case prep tools.
Case tray, funnel and flashlight.
Fits in a small bag and good upper
body exercise. :D

The family our boy married into,
all, only own 9mm Smith revolvers.

I still scoop and drop powder on a 505 scale.
A bit of lube on fingers for very light case coating,
even with carbide dies.
Shiny or just keep brass clean, is your choice.
 
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If you’re not in a rush, you can find used examples of everything you need. If you MUST have it right now, you’ll pay retail for new.

Just this weekend I saw a used RCBS single stage press and dies (38spcl, 357 and 44 magnum) offered for sale for $50. If you have a little patience, you can get into loading 38’s for trivial amounts.
 
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To start reloading, make a friend. Facebook or Craigslist. I’ve been reloading for 53 years. I’ve taught several people how to reload. If you’re serious, reloading stuff is what you will be getting for your birthday and Christmas. It’s not cheaper to shoot, you can just shoot more. I still use a single stage RCBS press, because I like to reload ammunition, because I like to shoot guns. It’s a vicious circle. It gets to a point, where all of the equipment is paid for, now you only count the components, NEVER your time. Good luck.
 
Onomea said:
$200? Wow! That sounds worth doing! Best deal I've found so far, just buying ammo, is 1000 rounds of .38 spl for about $330 delivered.

Maybe I'll start saving my brass...
Click to expand...

How much do you shoot? How mechanically inclined are you? How much free time do you have?

Loading 1000 rounds on your typical single stage press that most people recommend will take 10+ hours. Equipment costs are highly variable depending on level of quality and type of press you buy - single stage, turret, or progressive.
 
As mentioned buy everything used. eBay can be a good source. Gun shows and flea markets are great also. I just picked up a like new Lyman powder scale for $10. I have never bought anything except some dies new. $200 to $300 invested and you will be turning out finished rounds. It is very satisfying. To get you started PM me and I’ll send you a nice set of Lyman .38/.357 dies.
 

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So you're thinking about getting into reloading...

No way you can get started for $200 including powder primers and bullets.

these threads pop up all the time and you will a gazillion options and info overload!

I have always suggested getting a "kit" so you don't have to buy Ala cart

Then there are the buy once cry once that suggest jumping right into a top of the line Dillon progressive:eek:

A single stage kit is all you need. RCBS, Hornady, Lyman
Has everything you need and nothing you don't to start off and do it right.

Still need dies and the powder and primers

Some examples


MIDWAY USA Don't know why it does that??
Access Denied




Reloading Press Kits | Reloading Presses for Sale
 
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There's no easy answers to this question.
Getting started, I don't recommend a progressive press.
Though I'll give a turret type the nod.
You want equipment that stays out of the way of the learning process.
In fact, unless you already foresee the desire for a progressive press's volume, a turret press is probably your best choice.
If you do, a cheap Lee starter kit will suffice.
You'll learn on it, and it'll remain your go to for load development.

Before any of these decisions are made, get a good manual.
Be it the Hornady, Lyman or Speer.
Read and understand the process, review the data, then go shopping
 
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This is what I started with I bought it at a garage sale NIB for $50, it gives you almost everything you need in one box. It is a low-cost entry, and you can use it for low volume loading if you decide to move to a progressive. I am sure there are used ones in good shape for less than the 259 listed on the website.

You really don't need all the bells and whistles and can load a lot of ammo in a relatively short period of time with a single stage setup.

I started with the 357 and 44 mag just because they were expensive to buy factory loads.

With this setup you do them in batches of 50 or 100 hundred completing each operation for the batch then change out the dies and move to the next operation.

Good luck, it is fun and not all about the cost for me. The other good thing is if you have a good supply of components then what happens in the market place has little impact on your shooting.

Lee Precision, Inc.. Breech Lock Challenger Kits
 
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It cost 2-3 times more today with the price of 38/357 cases, that are out of sight.
The equipmen is not bad and with Christmas coming, it might be a great time to buy one
with the sales that might come up?

A must for those that want to shoot 38 & 357 ammo, today.

Take a deep breath and dive in.
 
If buying used:
Dies, get a set with a carbide sizer. Non carbide may scratch your brass and you don't need to lube before sizing.

Scale, balance type with a knife edge, be careful, may not repeat due to damage. Probably better to buy new.
 
Since I’ve recently taken up 38WCF I’m considering reloading. I use to do it for 28 and 12 gauge but gave it up as my spare times gone as I ..age. Last gun show I saw someone selling a 38WCF setup. Cheap. Next time I’ll probably bring it home. For some odd reason I’ve got a liking to that oddball cartridge.
 
Reloading has it's benefits and disadvantages. I have been reloading for close to 50 years, and honestly, if I were to start all over I would probably take up knitting.

That said, you need to contemplate a few questions before you truly take the plunge:
First, how many rounds do you anticipate shooting in any given month?
Second, how many different cartridges do you anticipate reloading?

If you plan on shooting under 750 rounds or so a month, spread over a few weeks, or you plan on reloading multiple cartridges, the single stage press would probably be your best choice. However, if you plan to shoot 400 to 500 rounds in any given weekend, a progressive press could be your wisest move, unless you plan on reloading both rifle and pistol cartridges (then get both) .

If you are shooting and reloading just one cartridge family (38/357 or 44 Special/ 44 Magnum) I would give serious consideration to getting a used Dillon Square Deal B in your chosen caliber. When I bought my first SQB, I bought it directly from Dillon for about $198. I have been looking on the popular auction site for a used SDB, and the starting prices have been around $400, with Buy it Now prices going well over a thousand dollars. [My current setup is my original RCBS Reloader Special (rifle cartridges, for priming LPP, and sizing PC bullets) and my Dillon 550B (all pistol cartridges except for 357 Sig).]

Back before prices went out of control, I was able to reload 50 rounds of my cast bullet 38 Special wadcutters for about $0.75, 45 ACP for under a dollar. Now, using current prices and my cast bullets, those same 38 Specials would be closer to $6.00, while the 45s would be about $7.00.

All-in-all, whether you go with a single stage press, turret press, or a progressive press should be influenced by your volume of shooting. Based on my reloading speed, I can resize, prime, charge, then seat the bullets at about 75 rounds per hour. With a progressive, I can usually reload about 200 or more pistol cartridges in an hour.

Note: for when the SHTF, I also have a Lyman 310 tong tool for my revolver cartridges and rifle cartridges.
 
Onomea, like others here, I have been reloading since the mid 60's, when I was around 8 or 9 years old. I started off on my Dad's old Pacific C press. When I left home, I went with the fore runner of the Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic single stage press and I kept it until I upgraded to a Redding T-7 Turret press. I also have a Dillon I use for reloading pistol rounds, but I would suggest that you stick with a single stage or turret press. Of those 2, I would suggest that if you can find a good deal on a used turret press in good shape, jump on it. I find that using a turret vs a single stage more than doubles you round output. The T-7 is literally a big old chunk of high quality cast iron. I am also partial to good old mechanical scales instead of electronic, as they won't die out if the battery runs down and are not affected by electronic noise such as florescent bulbs. I am partial to the RCBS 510 and 1010 scales which are no longer made, but were made by Ohaus for RCBS. You will also need a primer flip tray, loading blocks, and a powder funnel or 2.
 
I reload for .38/.357, 9mm, .40, 44spl/mag, .45ACP .223 and .308.
Anything I've spent on equipment and components has been returned 10X.
Something nobody mentions is that you get what you want. For example .38spl soft target load to +P and anything in between, as well as other calibers.
 
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Onomea said:
$200? Wow! That sounds worth doing! Best deal I've found so far, just buying ammo, is 1000 rounds of .38 spl for about $330 delivered.

Maybe I'll start saving my brass...
Click to expand...
What have you been doing with your spent brass? If you are leaving it at the range you are making it easier for some reloader to save money! Pick up ANY spent brass you find even if you do not have that caliber! You can trade or sell the brass you can't use or sell it to a scrap yard for scrap brass after you have a 5 gal bucket full! A reloader for 50+ years and I still pick up spent brass.
jcelect
 
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