Even Bother to Reload?

[kbm6893]

I have been thinking about getting into reloading. I don't shoot that often but I like to have ammo on hand for when I do. I have about 400 rounds of .38 130 grain target ammo, plus about 200 rounds of my old duty ammo, but I don;t want to shoot that stuff at paper. IF you can find it at all, winchester white box .38 target ammo is $20 a box. That is just insanity.

I have been saving my brass for the last 2 years and probably have 400 spent cases. I know I can get the press, and primers are becoming a bit easier to find, but powder or bullets are nowhere! I'm not gonna start casting lead bullets. I am literally looking to load 300 rounds or so at a time. I doubt I shoot more than 500 rounds a year through my .38.

First of all, what is REALLY needed? I can get a Lee Turret press for around $225 that comes with most of the equipment. But I figure I need a tumbler to clean the brass, and a digital scale, plus the literature, etc. I'm thinking all in start up costs would eb around $500 if I could get the powder and bullets.

I have beens aving my 9MM brass and recently got a Garand so I save that too, so it wouldn't just be for the .38.

 

[stavman11]

Reloading is a lot of Fun, and For me, add's so Much to the Hobby..

I'd bet, on line, you can find Bullets, and if you are patient you will find some Powder and primers

I would assume by the Time you got the loading equipment, read a couple Reloading manuals, you would find some Components...

But be aware... Starting to Load 1 caliber does lead to loading MORE Calibers...

Good luck, be safe, and have fun

 

[Ross3914]

I started reloading in the late 70's/early 80's. I was poor. I used my dad's press and dies, and saved my .45ACP brass, and there wasn't any internet back then. So I usually just bought a box or two of 100 bullets and loaded my brass and shot that. Then I'd save up some money for components and load and shoot, and so one. I branched out into other calibers, buying my own dies, and eventually my own press, etc. At the time it was definately a cost savings measure.

Now to put it in perspective, there wasn't any mail order ammo sales back then. There wasn't Wal-Mart. You went to the brick and mortar gunshop, sporting goods shop, or hardware store and bought a couple boxes of ammo. The only way to get bulk ammo was to find the one dealer in the area that actually sold surplus/bulk stuff, which there wasn't that much available, or buy it on sale. So reloading made economic sense, as the case was a large portion of the price of a round of ammo back then.

Even reloading wasn't like it is now with internet sales. You didn't have that many bulk packs of bullets, etc, and again the only outlet was the local brick and mortar store. You could find .38 wadcutter bullets in bulk, and that was about it.

Nowdays, I'm not so poor. I still have that single-stage press, and I still reload, but mostly for non-surplus availability. Calibers like 9mm, .223, etc. it's probably more cost effective for me to just work and extra hour at work and buy ammo with the pay than to crank out 9mm FMJs.

With calibers like .41 Mag, .45 Colt, .44 Mag, etc. that's a different story. Expensive calibers that are only available in commerical packaging are still cost effective to reload. There is also the custom factor. This is the direction that my reloading has gone. If I want a more tailored round for, say my .44 mag92 lever action rifle, then reloading will present an excellent path. I can get a better round for a lower price. Shooting an AK, there's little reason. I just buy the steel cased stuff and shoot.

I haven't been able to find any .38 wadcutters locally. So reloading again saves the day. You can make what you want, and are not a slave to what is available at the time. Component scarcity is a problem, but you can reload at your own pace, so you simply buy what you need when you find it. If I have several types of bullets on hand and some cases and powder and primer, I can load what I want to shoot. Be it wadcutters, JHP, RNL, whatever. I don't need to look for wadcutters and only find JHP+p's.

No matter what, I save my brass. Even if it's not a caliber I reload. You can trade it off later for something you can reload. Or you might just buy dies and start reloading it. Once you have coughed up the initial start-up cost of press, gear, etc. adding a caliber is pretty cheap.

If I was still a starving college student, reloading would be a must IMO. Nowdays I do alot less reloading, and more just buying loaded ammo due to the economics (because I have the money), but I still reload some stuff because it's a better way to go.

 

[colt22man]

I shoot about 15,000 rounds a yr. Reloading cuts my ammo cost about 75%. For example, 9mm runs me about 9 cents a round, that's $9/100. 40 cal. 11 cents a round. I could go on & on. I use Dillon progressive loaders. The quality of my ammo is exceptional. As stavman11 comments, reloading is a very enjoyable hobby. Winter time is a great time to settle into my shop, size, decap & swage rifle brass, load a couple hundred rounds of pistol ammo a day and clean tumbled brass. Initial setup up cost of equipment can be an eye opening experience. Just ease into reloading 1 piece of equip. at a time and soon you'll be eager to expand and seek out knowledge from a vast following of all shooting disciplines. Once you venture into reloading, you meet a group of shooters with knowledge beyond your expectations. The only factory ammo I buy is .22rf. I just scoop ammo from my ammo storage containers, caliber of the day and off to the range I go. Have fun & be safe.

 

[Rule3]

If you shoot, you should reload.

Think of it as a hobby rather than just ammo.

Look at what has happened in the last 6 years

You said it yourself over $20 for a box of anything!!!

Get the turret press, a better scale, some manuals. Yes, you will spend some money but it's worth it,

I am in no hurry so I can even load single stage, I did for years, You can get this QUALITY set up and some dies and you are reloading!

http://www.cabelas.com/product/RCBS...792580|104761080|104516280&WTz_l=RI;IK-214925

 

[chaparrito]

I started about a year and a half ago with a borrowed setup based on a Lee single stage press. Found I liked it and bought the turret press kit you mentioned. I had been saving 9mm brass for years, had about 3k rounds. Had just purchased a 1911 and realized I couldn't afford to shoot it unless I reloaded.
All my pals said "oh don't bother with that 9mm, it's cheap, just reload your .45auto". So I stuck with .45 at first but kept looking at all my 9mm brass and finally bought a set of 9mm dies and now reload both. I can reload either caliber for about 6 bucks a box. My setup has MORE than paid for itself.

 

[scha]

If you only shoot 500 rounds a year, a single stage press and a balance beam type of scale will work fine. You can spend lots on reloading equipment, but for low volume use, the manual tools work fine. And, they are easier to set up and use for a beginning reloader.

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[kbm6893]

If you only shoot 500 rounds a year, a single stage press and a balance beam type of scale will work fine. You can spend lots on reloading equipment, but for low volume use, the manual tools work fine. And, they are easier to set up and use for a beginning reloader.

Hope this helps.

Steve

I shoot 500 .38 rounds a year, max. Probably the same for 9mm. The garand maybe twice a year 100 rounds each time. .22 a lot. I'd shoot more if it was cheaper and I felt I could replace the ammo. .38 is like gold now. Maybe I'll start buying bit by bit and hope the powder becomes more available.

 

[Writer_Ron]

First of all, what is REALLY needed? I can get a Lee Turret press for around $225 that comes with most of the equipment. But I figure I need a tumbler to clean the brass, and a digital scale, plus the literature, etc. I'm thinking all in start up costs would eb around $500 if I could get the powder and bullets.

You'll get a mountain varied opinions on what is REALLY needed.

A simple Lee hand press, a set of dies, a cheap balance-type scale, and an inexpensive micrometer has served me adequately for lots of years. I've never used a tumbler to clean brass. And as for "literature," there are lots of free load manuals around and load sites on the Internet.

Bottom line: You don't have to spend anywhere near $500 to give reloading a try. If you like it (and you probably will), that's the time to invest in a turret press and digital scale.

Keep in mind: If you buy lots of gear (and store lots of components), you will need a workbench or two and (possibly) a dedicated loading room.

I don't shoot enough to warrant an "assembly line" reloading operation. (It really is astonishing how quickly you can reload--or intially load--three or four boxes of ammo with a hand press and dies.

The biggest challenge for me is recovering fired brass. It's easy with a revolver, not so easy with an auto, so I tend to focus on revolver reloads these days. I find I save the most money reloading those expensive premium cartridges. But it can be fun (and easier than you might think) to cast lead wad-cutter bullets.

 

[arjay]

Once you start reloading,you'll probably shoot a lot more.A box (100) of ammo for. 38 or 45 costs me $12-13 using cast bullets.Its an interesting hobby too.

 

[greenmachine]

I agree with rule3 and scha. That Rock Chucker looks great. I started with a similar RCBS Junior kit years ago loading .38 Special and .45 ACP for competition, and quickly added .243 for groundhog control, then .30-06 for a Garand. A single stage press is certainly adequate for your needs.

 

[chaparrito]

I should mention, I have the turret press, but use it essentially single stage. What I love about it is having extra turrets with dies for different calibers permanently installed. It takes seconds to switch calibers and I despise fiddling with die adjustments.

 

[Rpg]

Good used reloading presses, dies, scales etc are frequently available for a fraction of new cost.

If you are patient, you can set yourself up with a complete reloading kit for about $100.00.

 

[venomballistics]

You'll get a mountain varied opinions on what is REALLY needed.

A simple Lee hand press, a set of dies, a cheap balance-type scale, and an inexpensive micrometer has served me adequately for lots of years. I've never used a tumbler to clean brass. And as for "literature," there are lots of free load manuals around and load sites on the Internet.

Bottom line: You don't have to spend anywhere near $500 to give reloading a try. If you like it (and you probably will), that's the time to invest in a turret press and digital scale.

Keep in mind: If you buy lots of gear (and store lots of components), you will need a workbench or two and (possibly) a dedicated loading room.

I don't shoot enough to warrant an "assembly line" reloading operation. (It really is astonishing how quickly you can reload--or intially load--three or four boxes of ammo with a hand press and dies.

The biggest challenge for me is recovering fired brass. It's easy with a revolver, not so easy with an auto, so I tend to focus on revolver reloads these days. I find I save the most money reloading those expensive premium cartridges. But it can be fun (and easier than you might think) to cast lead wad-cutter bullets.

I'd largely agree up to the hand press.
Don't get me wrong, the LEE hand press is a brilliant tool that lest you perform sizing and depriming operations while you watch TV, but past this, anything bench mounted is far better.

 

[Rule3]

I shoot 500 .38 rounds a year, max. Probably the same for 9mm. The garand maybe twice a year 100 rounds each time. .22 a lot. I'd shoot more if it was cheaper and I felt I could replace the ammo. .38 is like gold now. Maybe I'll start buying bit by bit and hope the powder becomes more available.

OK, do the math. for just the 38 and 9 mm at lets say $20 a box of 50, that is 20 boxes which comes to $400 in a year. Not even going to calculate 30-06!

In one year you have recovered the cost of the equipment.

Yes, you will have to factor in bullets, primers and powder. Primers are available as are bullets. Handgun powder is a little harder to find right now

Become self sufficient and do not rely on buying ammo.
Who knows what's gonna happen in the near future.

 

[gm272gs]

There are always those Christmas and Birthday wish lists that people ask you for.

When I started, I bought one or two items each time I could afford it. After several months, I had everything I needed. I started loading rifle rounds (because they were more expensive and the cost savings was greater) When I found out how economical (powder-wise) it was to load pistol cartridges, I started doing those, too.

Here's an example of powder use
Let's say the going rate for a pound of powder is $27.00.
There are approximately 6,000 grains in a pound of powder.

A .223 load takes 24 grains for each cartridge, which means you can load about 250 rounds of .223 per pound of powder.

A 9mm load takes only 4.2 grains of powder (a different powder, but the price is the same). So now that $27.00 worth of powder will load 1,428 rounds of 9mm.

If you said to yourself "wow!" then I got my point across.
After you pay for the equipment (which takes a while) and you get bullets and primers, you can crank out 9mm for as little as 14 cents a round (Think $7.00 per box of 50) and .38 SPL for say, 16 cents per round (8 bucks a box).

Is it cheaper? Nope! It's not, because you have to figure your time in there somewhere (what's your time worth per hour?), and the fact that you'll end up shooting twice as much.

It's a vicious cycle. Don't do it.

 

[mikld]

Reloading is a hobby unto itself and very, very satisfying. I don't count pennies and/or compare with factory ammo, prolly cause my equipment started coming in in '85 and prices have changed since then. There are some price comparators around the web, just google "factory vs. reloaded ammo costs".

I'd suggest a good text to show you what reloading is all about and what equipment is needed for your reloading needs. (No you don't need a turret press as a single stage will do you fine, and nope you don't need a tumbler 'cause if you just wipe the cases with a solvent dampened rag as you're inspecting them you won't ever wear out any dies. A beam scale is more than enough for weighing powder charges). The ABCs of Reloading is an excellent text.

Keep a lookout on line for supplies and you'll fins enough to get started. Get a couple reloading manuals to determine which powders will work in your cartridge. Four weeks ago I bought 2k small rifle primers and 4k large rifle primers, and two weeks ago I found 4 lbs. of IMR powder for my '06.

 

[klausinak]

As others have stated it's a hobby. First off if you're getting into it to save money you're going in for the wrong reason: a.) You'll have to shoot a LOT to eat up the price of your press, scale, dies, etc., b.) In practice you won't ever really save any money you'll just shoot more. As others have stated, what's your time worth? If you don't enjoy reloading, then even "paying" yourself say $10/hour won't make you come out ahead. I've been reloading since I was 13, (we won't go into how many years that is), & I am to the point that I'm not quite sure if I reload so I can shoot, or shoot so I can reload . There is always some new powder/bullet/tool/whatever that I have to try so there's some more money spent... and whatever you do don't go into bullet casting, I have molds for calibers I don't even own.

Just my .02

-Klaus

 

[rwsmith]

First of all....

First of all get at least one good reloading manual with a thorough 'how to' section in it. Select the loads you want to try. What bullets do you need? List all of the powders that will do the job you want done with those bullets. Shop until you find what you can USE. The main powder companies make similar fast, medium and slow burning powders that will cover what you need.

If you can't find powder in a brick and mortar store your best bet is the internet. The only problem with ordering powder on the internet is that you should order enough to justify the $30 HazMat fee. Some people have had luck buying powder at gun shows.

I have Alliant Bullseye and Hodgdon Titegroup for target/light loads.

For medium to heavy loads Alliant Unique is an amazingly versatile medium burning powder. Accurate #5 is similar to but not quite as versatile.

The Lyman 49th manual has loads for lead bullets. There are many good casters on line that can send you lead bullets chop-chop. Make sure you have the size/hardness of the bullet right for what you will be using them for. Speer and Hornady both make soft swaged lead bullets (IF you can find them) that make good target to medium loads.ma They have a dry lube on them that doesn't smoke as much as the lubes most commercial casters use.

I've almost exclusively moved to soft and hard cast lead bullets because jacketed bullet price and availability really suck.

By the time you obtain powder, bullets, primers, tools and supplies you should have accumulated enough knowledge and materials to get started.

There are some threads posted already that tell you what you HAVE to have to start. A good scale, either balance beam or digital) that measures in grains is a must-have. No matter what method you use to measure powder it HAS to be checked against a scale.

I guess that's enough to start.

 

[kbm6893]

As others have stated it's a hobby. First off if you're getting into it to save money you're going in for the wrong reason: a.) You'll have to shoot a LOT to eat up the price of your press, scale, dies, etc., b.) In practice you won't ever really save any money you'll just shoot more. As others have stated, what's your time worth? If you don't enjoy reloading, then even "paying" yourself say $10/hour won't make you come out ahead. I've been reloading since I was 13, (we won't go into how many years that is), & I am to the point that I'm not quite sure if I reload so I can shoot, or shoot so I can reload . There is always some new powder/bullet/tool/whatever that I have to try so there's some more money spent... and whatever you do don't go into bullet casting, I have molds for calibers I don't even own.

Just my .02

-Klaus

I think I will enjoy it. Time alone in the garage while the kids are upstairs is right up my alley.

While I am not looking forward to laying out the start up costs, with what I shoot now (and I would probably shoot more if I reload), I would break even in less than 2 years on the savings. From then on, it's all profit.