I want to start reloading

[Chasing Crow]

Ken,
Reloading can be a relaxing, fun past time. If you enjoy hands on working with precision tooling, there is nothing much better. I would also start by reading as much as possible.The Lyman and Lee loading manuals have a lot of really good information which can help you decide where to start. I bought a Lyman TMAG torret kit years ago and have found it to be versital and durable. Thousands of rounds, 38, 357,45,
40, 7.5x55 with nothing but enjoyment. A lot of nice equipment by several manufacturers is out there. Researching is half the fun!

Good luck and happy shooting!

Chasing Crow

 

[all357mag]

Hello. I've only been reloading 2-3yrs, but the sagest advice I received was to start out with a single stage operation. It allowed me to learn each step individually. Take your time, and read as many books and articles as you can for what you're reloading. You'll have a blast! (No pun intended)

 

[parabarbarian]

If you are only interested in banging away and throwing lead downrange then buying 9mm in case lots is probably cheaper than reloading. At least in the short to medium run. That said...

I used to reload on a single stage Rockchucker press. Since I was only shooting maybe 200 -300 rounds a month that was fine. When I started the hobby up again a few years ago I wanted to shoot more (38 spl, 357 and some 45 ACP) so I bought a Dillon. It is a darned good press and their customer service is exceptional. I don't regret the purchase but, in retrospect, a turret press would probably work just as well for me and cost quite a bit less.

One new-fangled gadget I really do recommend is the digital scale. The tare feature makes it much easier, IMO, to set and check my powder measure.

I second the recommendations to get carbide sizing dies. They save considerable time and headaches.

 

[61woody]

Good advice here, do your homework and decide what you need. You get what you pay for. A 500$ setup is going to give you more speed and better ammo than a cheap setup. I started out cheap and worked my way up as I started to shoot more. Now all of my Lee stuff collects dust and Dillion is all I use.
As was said you may be better off buying in bulk because unless you shoot a lot it will take a long time to get back your $$ spent on equipment. The again it is a hobby and a good way to spend your time, always fun cooking up your own loads.

 

[nody]

Before taking the reloading plunge, check out:

On Target Ammunition

It's commercial reloads about as inexpensive as you can get.


If you really want to reload, I would suggest getting a revolver so you don't have to chase the brass, and because the cases are much easier to handle and don't get bent up.

A .38 case for example is easy to hold. A 9mm case is easy to drop. In reloading, you handle cases A LOT, and often with spilllible stuff in them. 9mm cases hide down in your case loading block too.

As for bullets, don't believe what you hear about cast bullets leading. Decent ones won't, though there are steps which need to be taken, such as selecting a slower powder, and you'll save money. If you are shooting indoors however, check the rules; some indoor ranges won't permit them.

If you want to use plated or jacketed bullets, they are more expensive, but not that much more.

Plated: Berry's Manufacturing

Jacketed: Montana Gold Bullet, Incorporated - Kalispell, Montana


Buying boxes of Speer/Hornady, etc jacketed reloading bullets at your LGS could get pricy, quickly.

As far as the press, consider where you are going to mount it. Here's my set up bar clamped to the breakfast table. It's portable, but a Rock Chucker weighs about 17 lbs. The aluminum RCBS Partner press only weighs about 5 lbs, and is plenty strong for all handgun loading, and rifle too. If you are going portable, I'd really recommend a light weight press.

I used blind "Tee Nuts" (available at Home Depot, etc) in the bottom of the mounting board two pieces of 8"x10" 1/2" plywood. You can get scraps for free from Home Depot, etc. The clamps are available cheap at Walmart or Harbor Freight. Next time I'd go with the screw type, rather than the squeeze.

There are plenty of used presses, scales, etc on Craigslist (Sporting goods-"Reloading") and Ebay.

However, Cabelas has the Rock Chucker kit with everything you need on sale for $270, but then there's $75 in rebates off that. Suddenly buying used isn't such a great deal.

 

[dma1]

nody, either you're not married or you have the best wife ever. I have my bench in a spare bedroom and I hear about it all the time!

 

[RoGrrr]

Ken

So you say you want to load 9MM ONLY.

Let's see.


hahahaaaaaa


That was a furtive laugh; a chuckle, so to speak. If I were laughing AT you, it would be something like HAHAHA or BWAAAHHAAAAAHAAAAA

Or something like that. But since you're a newbie, I don't want to run you off or insult you.

Let me explain where I came from:
I was thinking that same thing when I first started loading so I bought a single stage loader years ago, knowing that all I would ever load would be 38 SPL. And I loaded plenty of them and had fun doing it.
So I then bought a bullet mould and melting pot to cast my own slugs since lead was so plentiful at some of the ranges where I shot. They let me pick it out and carry it home. As BLACKHAWK said, it's like cooking, baking, or woodworking. You do it for enjoyment. As you do it, it just kinda grows on you.

So I decided to load for my rifle. Then I bought another gun. Loaded for that too. Then another gun, and on, and on, and,,,,,

Eventually I got so "into it" that I wanted to load more and quicker.

I now own a Dillon 650 with complete conversions for several calibers. Had I dove into it headfirst way back when, I could have saved several thousand dollars and lots of time.

Oh, yeah. I still have that 38 which I shot and still have that same loader. It's ok for custom loads or little other stuff if I feel the need to costomize but I run the legs off the Dillon and love every stroke of the handle of it.

Just saying....

 

[SteveG48]

I now own a Dillon 650 with complete conversions for several calibers. Had I dove into it headfirst way back when, I could have saved several thousand dollars and lots of time.

I've often thought of upgrading from my 1/4 century old Square Deal to a 650. The one weakness of the SD, IMO, is the priming system. I know that the 650 uses a different priming system. How reliable is it? Do parts in it wear out quickly?