cost of reloading?

The best advice I could give is to examine your own shooting needs before you purchase and ask lots of questions if you want to get started. If it is just about savings and pumping out rounds as fast as you can you might be disappointed, although I do know some fellas that load by the path of least resistance method and it fits their needs.

I started reloading shot shell in the early 80's for shooting trap and skeet and fell in love with the hobby. It helped me get away from my chaotic family and do something constructive as a young man. It's my quiet time and is cathartic for me just like doing woodwork on a lathe. Can't put a price on that part of it.

I do save substantial money, am able to shoot more consistently, have more choices in loads than the average new ammo customer, have more consistent ammo, and a pastime that does as much for me as shooting.

Yeah it's worth it to me. Find guys who do it and get lots of opinions on your equipment and then choose for yourself what fits your needs best and there will be no regrets.
 
I am still a novice reloader after a couple of years. But I would encourage. You to get into it. It changes the way you look at shooting. The goal in reloading is to be precise, and therefore control another aspect of shooting. But you will not save more money. You will get more for your money than if you simply buy ammo. You will step away from most shooters.

My minimum recommendation for starting out is:

1. Get a good single stage press. I recommend a Rockchucker Supreme, or other cast iron single state press by one of the major players. If you get the Lee single stage press, be sure to get their cast iron press, not the alloy one.

A lot of people say that a SSP is too slow, and that is true. But it is a high quality tool that will last a lifetime, for under $200. And they are very versatile. The goal now is to learn, not to make bulk ammo.

2. Get a good set of carbide dies for .357/.38. Some people bad mouth Lee, but I like their dies. Also, Lyman, RCBS, are good.

3. Get a good reloading manual, or 3. Hornady, Lee, Lyman, etc. Read it.

4. Get a beam scale. This is one item which you should spend a little more money on. Don't get the cheapest. A quality scale is essential. Yes, there are good electronic scales out there, but for now get a good beam scale.

5. Priming. I started out with a Lee hand priming tool. I hated it, but it worked. I now use the RCBS ram prime tool in my single stage press. It is a little slower, but works great. For some reason I don't mind taking my time. And I have arthritis in my hands, so it does not hurt as much. But you need a priming tool. A lot of people are good with the Lee tool.

6. Other stuff. There are a lot of tools out there, like primer pocket tools, swags, case trimmers, etc. You will get the em all. But you do not need them yet. A few bucks here and there will get them all as you need them. Maybe buy one primer pocket tool for you first caliber (small pistol primer pocket).

7. You will eventually buy a case tumbler. Not yet.

8. Powder, cases, bullets, primers. Start by loading one caliber for a while. Learn the process. Start with new brass, standard RN clad bullets, etc. I recommend starting with .38 special. Start with a low or moderate load. 700 or 800 FPS.

9. Have a knowledgable friend help you with the first session. It helps. Some things are just hard to learn from books. There are a lot of steps, and mistakes can be dangerous. Find a mentor.

10. Take good notes. Keep a log. Clean up the reloading area. Only have one powder out at a time, etc. Keep supplies locked up if you have kids.

Reloading is like tying your own flies. It's not as hard as it looks. And the rewards are great. But unless you shoot a lot, you won't save money. You will discover a whole new aspect of the sport, and learn to respect the complexity of firearms and accuracy in a new way. I think the setup I described above can be had for under $300. I reload almost all of my ammo now. I like the quiet time in the garage. I am a little mechanical about it. Some of my friends are obsessed with minute details. But I do what I enjoy. You will find your own level. There are many different ways to enjoy reloading.

PS 11. I forgot to add, get a good dial caliper. You can get a decent one for $35.
 
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Bkreutz said:
Any body want to start a pool on how many posts this thread gets? I'm going with 124. :D
Click to expand...

HorizontalMike got 106 with his "Itemized Reloading Cost" thread, and it was started in January when everyone was stuck indoors, so I have to go with the under and say 97.:p
 
You could get started for about $100, one caliber, but I wouldn't. A single stage kit, about $300. The same thing in the Lee Classic Cast turret, about the same. So for less than 1000rds of handgun ammo, you are reloading. Buy components in some kind of bulk; 5K primers, 8# of powder, 1000K bullets, you are reloading for 50% of the cost of CHEAP factory ammo.
 
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Cost me about 15 to 20 cents to load 9mm rounds not including the cost of the equipment it is variable depending on the cost of lead, powder ,primers. I started when ammo was high this past winter, it has come down since then, the dealers around here were getting about 25 dollars for 50 and the availability has gotten better too
 
Bkreutz said:
Any body want to start a pool on how many posts this thread gets? I'm going with 124. :D
Click to expand...

You bringing the popcorn?

And we haven't even heard from the smurfs. And the red or green guys. :D

With popcorn, I'm in with an even 100. The weekend is coming, and let's see what happens this evening when folks get home from work. I don't know about the lock..... I don't see a mod,...........yet. I think I feel one though.

But to drift back to the OP, PMHayden gives you a good start.
 
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Going to step off in the deep water. Want a simple, easy and cost effective entrance into reloading? Dont want to by a bicycle, then a moped, then a golf cart and finally your first car?

Start off will a Dillon Square deal in one of the above mentioned calibers. I would suggest .45 acp because it will give the greatest return on the investment the soonest. It will come from the factory with three out four dies already set for you. If reloading becomes your cup of tea...you win! If you try it and dont like it, Dillon equipment resales very quickly and will not depreciate due to their lifetime warranty. the only things you will need are a good powder scale, set of dial caliper and a couple reloading manuals.

You can do it! Dont be afraid to run with scissors!

 
I bought a Lee Classic turret press kit including .45acp and 9mm four die sets, an extra turret for 9mm for just a tic under 300 dollars right before the unpleasantness began. It included a scale, a powder dropper, auto primer and other stuff. Since then I've added maybe another hundred dollars worth of stuff, including a set of .44 dies a bullet puller, a digital scale and a few other non-essentials. I wash my brass, so didn't need a fancy tumbler. I had saved tons of brass in all calibers for years, so no outlay there.

I load and shoot about 200 rounds a week. At very conservative estimate, I'm saving 10 dollars a box of 50. Times 4 is 40 bucks a week and as I said, this is a VERY low estimate. My setup works great for me and paid for itself in a few months. It's all gravy now.
 
You right....

Mcwsky09 said:
Actually you can save money per round if you shop in bulk and don't include the cost of your time in the process. But reloading is about far more than the cost per round. The ability to tailor loads to your specs, the ability to make ammo when there isn't any available in your caliber (or in some cases no longer produced at all), as a hobby, as a way to learn more about firearms in general, as a way to shoot more for the same dollars spent.
Click to expand...

You right, time spent shouldn't even enter into it. It's a HOBBY. If you are too busy but have plenty of money you can buy factory ammo if you want if you don't want a hobby. Reloading can be about as much fun as shooting and the satisfaction you get from rolling your own increases your shooting pleasure.
 
[quote:]You bringing the popcorn?

And we haven't even heard from the smurfs. And the red or green guys. :D
[/quote]


I don't want to get too complicated. To the OP: there are a lot of people with opinions here, and they are all correct for them. Some people swear by Lee products, and some hate them. Some people start out on a $800 progressive press, and other people are happy with a single stage press their whole life. And everyone will tell you what brand is best, etc. I don't think it matters when you start out. There are several good SS presses out there. My only point is to focus on learning to make safe, consistent reloads. I would be happy with Lee or Hornady. I just happen to have RCBS. As for dies, if you are shooting 1000 yard bench rest, small details matter. But for making your first .38 ammo, any of the major brands work. Keep it simple. Don't sweat the small stuff. I just want to encourage you to learn to reload. The odds are, you will look at shooting with an entirely new perspective, and enjoy it more. I still feel like a beginner. But I think "experts" get obsessed with minutia. Beginners see the whole forest. There are a lot of ways to enjoy something. Find your own way, try it, and don't sweat the small stuff. Reloading is fun. It's not a secret club.
 
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RussellD said:
Going to step off in the deep water. Want a simple, easy and cost effective entrance into reloading? Dont want to by a bicycle, then a moped, then a golf cart and finally your first car?

Start off will a Dillon Square deal in one of the above mentioned calibers. ]
Click to expand...

IMO, buying a SDB is doing just that. With handgun only, & not even all handgun, Dillon only dies, too limiting. A 550B, better tool IMO, & is expandable, you'll never out grow a 550B. The best part as a beginners press, use it as an inverted turret, running one round at a time thru all the steps at the speed you want. Later on, fire it up & go 500rds/hr without bending anything. They should retire the SDB.
Having said that, few of us need any type of progressive. A ss press is a bit slow, but also never gets retired as your reloading advances. I still have my first ss press, even though I load mostly on my 550B & 650. I can only say regardless of brand, buy quality, it lasts. Cheaply priced stuff is generally just that, cheap, breaks more often or suffers poor qc, why it's cheap after all.
 
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MrTrolleyguy????

M[[/I said:
Is he correct?
Click to expand...


Surely you know pistol powders have been virtually unobtainable the last 2 years. We've all had to buy what we can find instead of what we want.

Oh, he can forget Clays for a while, the factory had a fire and they won't be back online until next year.
 
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wow, a lot of feed back. thank you all very much.
you are probably right about shooting more. I would shoot a lot more if I had the cash.
I normally shoot a few hundred rounds a couple times a month. mostly 38's and 45. 38's are getting expensive.
im going to start reading up on this. thanks again
 
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