Lyman All Americans, high versatility, my original press still going strong from the 70s', nothing worn out yet.
Lymans 6 turret press looks interesting.
Cost for Getting Set Up to Reload
- Thread starter Onomea
- Start date
Lyman All Americans, high versatility, my original press still going strong from the 70s', nothing worn out yet.
Lymans 6 turret press looks interesting.
DeplorabusUnum
Member
Reasons to start reloading:
1) So you never run out of ammo during shortages
2) It's an enjoyable way to kill a rainy afternoon
3) You can make ammo that's more accurate than stock ammo
4) You'll probably want to start casting your own bullets... another fun way to kill a rainy afternoon.
...
Not reasons to start reloading:
1) Save money. You won't, you'll shoot more then load more, etc.
I'd agree with those that suggested getting a kit like this one:
Access Denied
But you can piece it all together on eBay or elsewhere if you want to try to save a hundred bucks.
I started with an RCBS rock chucker and it will NEVER wear out. That's still all I use. Buy something solid that will last longer than your grandkids.
1) So you never run out of ammo during shortages
2) It's an enjoyable way to kill a rainy afternoon
3) You can make ammo that's more accurate than stock ammo
4) You'll probably want to start casting your own bullets... another fun way to kill a rainy afternoon.
...
Not reasons to start reloading:
1) Save money. You won't, you'll shoot more then load more, etc.
I'd agree with those that suggested getting a kit like this one:
Access Denied
But you can piece it all together on eBay or elsewhere if you want to try to save a hundred bucks.
I started with an RCBS rock chucker and it will NEVER wear out. That's still all I use. Buy something solid that will last longer than your grandkids.
GypsmJim
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I started reloading in 1970 as a college kid with little money. It was my first revolver - a .357. I started with the only brass that came with the first box that came with the gun.
At today's prices:
"KIT" - $42.00 (Lee Loader)
Primers - $9.00 (one sleeve)
Powder - $32.00
Bullets - $11.00 (cast lead)
TOTAL - $94.00
Back in the day it only cost me about 25 bucks. I could load about +- 100 rounds an hour. Granted it wasn't real fast, but the ammo I made back then was as good as I make now after spending thousands of dollars on "fancy" equipment.
I guess the moral of the story is "do you want to reload on a budget", "do you want to save money", but most of all "do you want to start a very enjoyable hobby".
The best advice when buying a used car is to find out its history and then get a qualified mechanic to give it a thorough going over. If you are buying used equipment, the same applies. Get an experienced reloader you trust to check it out. Some people sell stuff to pass along their troubles. Used equipment is best left to experienced reloaders who know what to look for. If you shoot a lot, have a lot of patience, enjoy tinkering, have good attention to detail and have the time to reload, I'd suggest buying a new single stage kit from a store. Don't buy off brand products. Stick with the big named companies, i.e. Lyman, RCBS, Lee, Hornady, etc. Spend the extra bucks and get dies with a carbide sizing die for loading handgun rounds.
Just repeating what has already been said. Something like a single stage Rockchucker would be fine for 1- a beginner 2- low volume shooter.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
You can load three boxes for the price of one store bought.
The equipment is the same. You just change "dies" to make other calibers. A Single Stage Press is good and that is how I started.
Most people who started reloading and quit did because they really did not need more than a few boxes of bullets a year.
cowboy4evr
Member
Onomea , you mentioned primarily reloading 38 special . I started out reloading the 38 special only . I started with the LEE Classic reloader kit . At the time it cost about $25 . I reloaded several thousand rounds before moving up to a press . I wanted to make sure this is what I wanted to do w/o spending a lot of $$ first . Good luck on your decision , regards Paul
Model19man
Member
So here's what I came up with:
Lee makes a pretty good kit for a beginner. Looks like it costs $149 from Midway but you can probably do better locally or on eBay: Access Denied
I think I would also buy a Lyman manual. Used ones sell for around $25 on eBay.
Primers a thousand small pistol primers ought to be around $80.
A thousand bullets 158 grain lead lubed around $100.
Powder, a pound of green dot or Herco is around $45.
Brass I hope you already own but let's say you don't so around $50 for 100 cases.
I come up with $449 plus tax and shipping so around $500 budget ought to do it easily.
darg
Member
I started out getting stuff together to start reloading maybe three years ago by getting a used set of dies for 38/357 followed by a long pause of nothing due to neither bullets nor powder availability. Got a used press for 20, primers showed up in shops, got some several hundreds bullets of different kind for 60 together with the press and a lot of collected brass free. Found different pistol powder 1lbs bottles to start different loads in order to find a good one for my snubbies and work right now on loading something for a lever action based on 38 special with one or two of the slower powders I got when looking for the perfect snubby load.
So far have loaded 700 rounds for snubbies, I would come up with a price of $0.236 per round based on consumables cost only. I consider the cost for a press, powder measure, scale and small stuff for staging negligible since you need it anyhow and it is kind of universally applicable to all caliber you could load down the road. For the individual the price for a press and co can and will be different.
So far have loaded 700 rounds for snubbies, I would come up with a price of $0.236 per round based on consumables cost only. I consider the cost for a press, powder measure, scale and small stuff for staging negligible since you need it anyhow and it is kind of universally applicable to all caliber you could load down the road. For the individual the price for a press and co can and will be different.
Don’t let anyone tell you differently you are going to spend a good amount of money on reloading equipment. I was just thinking about this the other day. I was looking at all that is needed to reload. Over the years it accumulates but it still cost a lot of money. I started a year before Obama on single stage. Bought most stuff used. Prices were a lot cheaper back then.
Maybe someone else has looked at it from this angle, but I have always lived in a place where I didn't have enough room to set up a really nice reloading area, so I've always tried to stay as compact and mobile as I could.
I started off with a Lee "Wack-A-Mole" loader and used them for a number of years. They were slow, but worked well, especially with the addition of a few small hand tools, like a priming tool and such.
Now I have a Lee hand press (takes conventional dies and shell holder), powder measure, scale (and a small inexpensive electronic scale added later), case polisher, and a half dozen set's of Lee dies. It all fits into a desk drawer, with the exception of the case vibrator, that goes on the floor of a closet.
I bought most of it, shown in the picture about 20 years ago for well less than $200.00. I doubt it's much more even now. Even though I have the powder scale and measure, I still find myself using the dippers a lot.
No, it's probably not what I'd want if I was a competition shooter, but heck, I shot IPSC for a year using a Lee Loader for 45 ACP. I didn't know any better, I was patient, and it worked.
I started off with a Lee "Wack-A-Mole" loader and used them for a number of years. They were slow, but worked well, especially with the addition of a few small hand tools, like a priming tool and such.
Now I have a Lee hand press (takes conventional dies and shell holder), powder measure, scale (and a small inexpensive electronic scale added later), case polisher, and a half dozen set's of Lee dies. It all fits into a desk drawer, with the exception of the case vibrator, that goes on the floor of a closet.
I bought most of it, shown in the picture about 20 years ago for well less than $200.00. I doubt it's much more even now. Even though I have the powder scale and measure, I still find myself using the dippers a lot.
No, it's probably not what I'd want if I was a competition shooter, but heck, I shot IPSC for a year using a Lee Loader for 45 ACP. I didn't know any better, I was patient, and it worked.
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Maybe someone else has looked at it from this angle, but I have always lived in a place where I didn't have enough room to set up a really nice reloading area, so I've always tried to stay as compact and mobile as I could.
I started off with a Lee "Wack-A-Mole" loader and used them for a number of years. They were slow, but worked well, especially with the addition of a few small hand tools, like a priming tool and such.
Now I have a Lee hand press (takes conventional dies and shell holder), powder measure, scale (and a small inexpensive electronic scale added later), case polisher, and a half dozen set's of Lee dies. It all fits into a desk drawer, with the exception of the case vibrator, that goes on the floor of a closet.
I bought most of it, shown in the picture about 20 years ago for well less than $200.00. I doubt it's much more even now. Even though I have the powder scale and measure, I still find myself using the dippers a lot.
No, it's probably not what I'd want if I was a competition shooter, but heck, I shot IPSC for a year using a Lee Loader for 45 ACP. I didn't know any better, I was patient, and it worked.
You should be able to make excellent ammo with that setup as is, especially if you have no need for making a huge amount every time you handload.
I think the best way to get into reloading is still to get a single stage press, particularly a RCBS SS press. I see them in the local pawnshop for $99, and they can usually be bought for less with an offer of cash. You can reload rifle and pistol, one at a time. Admittedly, they are slow, but the press will last your lifetime, and you will use it for rifle even if you move on to something else for pistol. Loading one cartridge at a time teaches you the fundamentals in a way that nothing else does. Once you get past the “Wow, it works!” stage, the controlling objective is consistency from one cartridge to the next. Until you are consistent in your reloading, faster equipment wont help you. I’m not denying the benefits of good equipment. But consistency is usually skill first, and tools second.
There are other basic pieces of equipment and expendables, which other people have covered. But the one thing for which I think an investment is well justified for consistent results, is a very good (pistol) powder meter. It’s very useful to have a powder meter that does not require you to weigh every single charge. It will speed up the reloading process even with a single stage or turret press. It’s not a bad thing to weigh everything at the beginning, because you will make mistakes early on. But as you gain knowledge of the limitations of a powder meter with different types of powder, the need to weigh every charge will decrease. Sometimes it is necessary, and with long range rifle it is probably always necessary. But it’s always faster to use an accurate and consistent powder meter.
I started out with the Lee dippers, an RCBS Jr. press, and weighed every charge on a balance beam scale. I am currently using a Harrell’s pistol powder meter and their turret press. It was a slow evolution to find my groove. But of all the upgrades I’ve made, the powder meter was clearly the most significant.
There are other basic pieces of equipment and expendables, which other people have covered. But the one thing for which I think an investment is well justified for consistent results, is a very good (pistol) powder meter. It’s very useful to have a powder meter that does not require you to weigh every single charge. It will speed up the reloading process even with a single stage or turret press. It’s not a bad thing to weigh everything at the beginning, because you will make mistakes early on. But as you gain knowledge of the limitations of a powder meter with different types of powder, the need to weigh every charge will decrease. Sometimes it is necessary, and with long range rifle it is probably always necessary. But it’s always faster to use an accurate and consistent powder meter.
I started out with the Lee dippers, an RCBS Jr. press, and weighed every charge on a balance beam scale. I am currently using a Harrell’s pistol powder meter and their turret press. It was a slow evolution to find my groove. But of all the upgrades I’ve made, the powder meter was clearly the most significant.
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pantannojack
US Veteran
I started reloading 1980 when cost was worth the trouble and no problems getting what you need. I would not start now. Get a 22 and several bricks of lead rn.
cowboy4evr
Member
Onomea says primarily 38 spl . I recommend the LEE Classic Reloader kit for about $35-$40 . It comes with a .5cc dipper . I use that same size dipper reloading 38 spl . The powders that I have found that match the dipper and current load data are ---- Hodgdon's 700X and Alliant Red Dot .
I don't need to set up my powder measure when the dipper and those 2 powders work great . Buy one of those hammers that has hard rubber on one end and hard plastic on the other end for about $10-15 and s piece of 2x4 about 2' long , sit in his chair and make ammo . I made thousands of rounds using mine . 357 magnum cases " usually " need to be full length resized so the LEE kit won't fix that . Good luck , Regards Paul
I don't need to set up my powder measure when the dipper and those 2 powders work great . Buy one of those hammers that has hard rubber on one end and hard plastic on the other end for about $10-15 and s piece of 2x4 about 2' long , sit in his chair and make ammo . I made thousands of rounds using mine . 357 magnum cases " usually " need to be full length resized so the LEE kit won't fix that . Good luck , Regards Paul
I have been reloading for over 50 years. I have never regretted spending the time and money on it. If somebody can't afford getting into it, then likely they can't afford to shoot. Everything needed to reload ammo will never be cheaper than it is now. The only dark period has been the last 15 years or so, when component manufacturers haven't kept up with the demand. Sadly, it doesn't seem likely that they will be motivated to supply reloaders to the extent that needs to be done, as in the distant past.
If you decide to buy a la carte I have an extra Lyman powder scale I could sell you very reasonably priced. Just taking up room on my shelf.
gwpercle
Member
For " Starters " ... take a long hard look at the Lee Hand Press Kit ...
it has the "Classic" whack-a-mole lee loader beat Seven Ways to Sunday and then some !
I have 5 bench mounted presses but prefer to load all my handgun and 30-30 Win. with the Hand Press... I'm 74 and never had any upper body strength to speak of ... the Lee Hand Press has enough leverage to do magnum handgun easily. The Ram-Line primer seating tool that comes with the kit , is one of the better designs and my favorite (all metal) primer seaters .
Get a good beam scale and make powder dippers for the exact powder & charge you wish ... safe , easy and inexpensive way to dispense powder.
I've been reloading since 1967 and enjoy the Lee Hand Press , portable and cheap ...put everything in a gym bag and reload at the office ...
Hot / Cold in the reloading building ... take the bag inside and reload in the heat / AC as is comfortable .
No matter what you up-grade too ... you will alway's find a use for the neat-nifty Lee Hand Press !
I reload 32 acp ...all the way to 45 Colt ... including 9mm luger and the Magnums ... the hand press will do them all and not break the bank .
Gary
it has the "Classic" whack-a-mole lee loader beat Seven Ways to Sunday and then some !
I have 5 bench mounted presses but prefer to load all my handgun and 30-30 Win. with the Hand Press... I'm 74 and never had any upper body strength to speak of ... the Lee Hand Press has enough leverage to do magnum handgun easily. The Ram-Line primer seating tool that comes with the kit , is one of the better designs and my favorite (all metal) primer seaters .
Get a good beam scale and make powder dippers for the exact powder & charge you wish ... safe , easy and inexpensive way to dispense powder.
I've been reloading since 1967 and enjoy the Lee Hand Press , portable and cheap ...put everything in a gym bag and reload at the office ...
Hot / Cold in the reloading building ... take the bag inside and reload in the heat / AC as is comfortable .
No matter what you up-grade too ... you will alway's find a use for the neat-nifty Lee Hand Press !
I reload 32 acp ...all the way to 45 Colt ... including 9mm luger and the Magnums ... the hand press will do them all and not break the bank .
Gary
Jeff Napoleoni
Member
Five years ago, I sold off my M&P .040 and bought my trusty 19-3. I immediately bought reloading equipment, a Lee four-hole turret kit and a couple of die sets for38/.357. Out side of your time it's about twenty cents a cartridge in 2023. For me, it makes my range time affordable.
max503
Member
First commandment of reloading is Forget All About Cost.
