Itemized Reloading System COST

[SgtLumpy]

This brass vs That brass, nickel or otherwise...

I find that I get used to different brands of brass having different pros and cons. Some brands have heavier case walls. Some have beefier webs and primer pocket areas. I think you just get used to seeing this or that particular brand as it goes through the reload process and watch for the faults that tend to pop up with that particular brand.

I like handling the brass at several points during the process. And I place the brass into positions where I can see all sides (bottom, mouth, sides etc). That way if there is a split or bulge or other kind of fault, I'm more likely to see and/or feel it before it makes it's way into my pistol.

I toss all "bad" brass, plus things like 22 shell brass into a big, plastic bucket. When it gets full, I'll take it to the recycler and get a few bucks.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[blujax01]

$300

Reading is good. There are a million books out there. The best of the bunch for the new reloader or someone who is considering it and just curious is "The ABC's of Reloading" available on Amazon for $20 w/ free shipping if you're an Amazon Prime member.
The ABCs Of Reloading: The Definitive Guide for Novice to Expert: Rodney James: 9781440213960: Amazon.com: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51fVqjMi0rL.@@AMEPARAM@@51fVqjMi0rL

Sgt. Lumpy is assuming the new reloader has nothing at all. Which could be true. But plastic baggies, left over Cool Whip bowls, etc., can all be pressed into service.
Most reloaders tend to be putterers and already have a bench or a table that can be converted, etc. (And I'm still trying to figure out why a guy can't reload without compressed air).

Assuming you already have the above tools, it don't get much cheaper than this:
Amazon.com : Lee Precision 50th Anniversary Reloading Kit : Gunsmithing Tools And Accessories : Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CC5xpzeLL.@@AMEPARAM@@51CC5xpzeLL

Add $150 for a die set, a manual and materials and you're in the game for under three hundies.

I am a big proponent of Progressive Presses but if cost is a concern, we won't go there.

Welcome to your next obsession...

 

[Squarebutt]

If you watch Craigslist and some of the local gun boards you should be able to find some bargains on equipment. Another option is to watch the sales at Cabela's, BassPro, etc. for a sale on a starter kit which would include a press, scale and other basic stuff for less than you'd pay for new individual pieces.
Check out the Hornady site for the Lock n Load system, which uses a bushing and a twist-lock arrangement to make caliber changes very fast. Newer presses from RCBS, Redding and others can be set up with the same parts.
Before you spend hundreds of dollars on factory ammo just to save the brass you could probably buy most of what you need to start reloading, including brass. Sinclair's is a good source, at least for reference, on reloading equipment and supplies.
One other thing - someone recommended Dillon dies, which are excellent, and of which I have a bunch. But they are designed for progressive presses, and will add a step or two if you run them in a single-stage. Good luck.

 

[blujax01]

Lots of brass sold in the Classified section of this forum, too. Not a thing wrong with using range brass either. Over and over and over...

 

[W.E.G.]

Get a single stage press.

Don't try to set up a spread-sheet to "analyze" the cost.
Handloading is a hobby and a quest. You'll ruin it if you inject economics into it.

Use enough case lube on the rifle cases.

 

[BC38]

I already have a TON of hand tools and a small tumbler. Lots of butter dishes, peanut butter jars, coffee cans, etc. around here too. For low volume (a couple of hundred rounds per month) I was thinking of buying a couple of these Lee Classic (hand) Loader kits in .38 special and 9mm (about $30 each)

And one of these little hand presses to go with them in place of the hammer (about $50)

Of course a digital scale with grains as one of its scales can be had for under $15, and a reloading book or two for $20 each.

I already have a couple of hundreds of rounds of once-fired brass, so if I add a can of power, a thousand primers, and a couple of hundred bullets in each caliber for another $100-$150 or so, is there any reason a newb like me I can't get into reloading in a (relatively) small way for a modest investment of around $300-$350?

I figure that at a conservative 25 cents per round savings the whole setup pays for itself in 1200-1500 rounds.

 

[Bugkiller99]

Ask around at your local range/gun club and find a fellow handloader. The are easy to spot, they are the shooters picking up brass We are a friendly bunch.
They can give you local knowledge on supplies, and may even offer to show you some things.

 

[rwsmith]

That's very good....

Much information here. Really don't have the funds to start right away, other than pick up a couple of books.

Well, then you are exactly on track. Use the time to read, study, ask, learn and plan. Be safe.


BTW: Bullets are components with the most variability. Cast or swaged lead is the cheapest. Plated is mid-priced. Jacketed are more expensive. There are pros and cons to each one.

 

[SgtLumpy]

Sgt. Lumpy is assuming the new reloader has nothing at all. Which could be true. But plastic baggies, left over Cool Whip bowls, etc., can all be pressed into service.
Most reloaders tend to be putterers and already have a bench or a table that can be converted, etc. (And I'm still trying to figure out why a guy can't reload without compressed air).

Not a problem. Already got baggies? Subtract ten dollars from having to buy ammo boxes. Add back two dollars for baggies etc.

Don't want to blow the misc powder off the press as it accumulates? No problem, subtract $3 for a can of computer keyboard compressed air.

Again, it's all a bunch of small, inexpensive items. Lose one or two, you save five or ten bucks.

Already have a large and sturdy bench? No problem. Save yourself that concern (for now). That wasn't in my orig estimate. You're going to end up dedicating that bench to reloading so eventually it will crowd out your carb rebuilding/fly tying/stamp collecting/banana straightener collecting activities on that bench.

I just want to suggest to anybody getting into reloading that there's a lot of costs besides just a press and some dies.

We're men. We enjoy collecting gizmos and the tools that are needed to adjust and tweak those gizmos...


Sgt Lumpy

 

[lhump1961]

I agree with SgtLumpy...more than you think. I built a bench myself and that alone was almost $400...worth every penny. I truly enjoy my time at the bench doing whatever gun stuff suits me that day. This picture is early on...the shelves and surrounding storage cabinets are full and I'm looking for more room!

Lots of good advice already posted...enjoy the ride.

 

[blackdeuce]

My son recently acquired a Remington 700 Varmint rifle in 22-250 and he wanted to reload. I had a Lee Challenger press and powder measure from about 25 years ago. I had to buy a scale, 22-250 dies, priming tool, brass, primers, powder, and bullets. I also bought a chamfer tool and Forster case trimmer. And ammo boxes, etc. etc. It does add up, but it's been fun to do this with my son. I just picked up .223 dies, but I need to find some primer and powder.

I also bought a bullet puller. I used it tonight to remove three bullets from cartridges that had primers that weren't quite flush. It worked pretty well.

My son wants to reload 9mm now and get a progressive press for it. I'm not sure if I'm up for that just yet.

 

[BC38]

lhump1961, & SgtLumpy, I'm not arguing with you. I have no doubt that a person CAN very easily spend a grand or more on a complete deluxe setup. That $400 workbench for example is a thing of beauty. But you don't have to get one of those to get started.

I'm saying that a person can get everything they need to get started reloading one or two pistol calibers for a lot less than that. Will they eventually end up spending that much? Probably, as they upgrade, but they can get started for a lot less. I also forgot to mention that a decent caliper can be had from Harbor Freight for under $20 - I have one.

By giving people the impression that the price of entry is a grand minimum you experienced guys can actually discourage others from even starting. That isn't what you want to do, is it?

 

[Krogen]

I'm in agreement with BC38 on this. While it is possible to spend a bundle, it just isn't necessary to get started. Spend wisely, though. Buy poor quality equipment and you'll only wind up buying a second, higher quality item. Best to buy right in the beginning. A great example of this is electronic scales. There are lots of cheap ones on the market and also lots of complaints about them. I love my electronic scale and wouldn't go back to a beam scale for anything. But, I didn't scrimp when I bought it. Read the reviews on various websites and pay attention to the negative ones. If there's a negative trend, chances are you'll experience the same troubles with that item.

 

[blackdeuce]

My brother has been reloading for 30 years. I consulted him about what to buy. He told me things that would be hard to find by searching the internet. He knew what works well and what is junk. I didn't spend a ton of money.

 

[SgtLumpy]

Here's a simple and small cost I don't think I've ever seen in anyone's itemized breakdown, including mine...

Bolts to anchor the press to the bench. They don't come with the press. Another five bucks.

See it's just a LOT of little five buck purchases.

If it's not then you get started and then find something like "Oops, I loaded a primer upside down". So you need a $15 bullet puller.

My primer tray for example. After all the shaking and bumping there's always a couple of primers that don't turn bottom up. So I pick them up with a $3 pair of tweezers.

In order to see into the case to verify I've got it loaded with powder before advancing to the next stage, I've got a $10 mini-Mag lite. It's held there in a $10 goosneck mic stand thing. I didn't spend a lot of money on a powder cop die or similar. But it cost me a little something.

My bench is plywood and masonite mounted to a pair of old wooden filing cabinets and screwed to the floor and wall. It's got $15 worth of screws in it. A new piece of plywood is $30-50. I didn't pay a thing for the filing cabinets (now) but I did 20 years ago. $10 for glue. $5 for finish. $5 for sandpaper. $10 for angle brackets. I already own the thousand dollars worth of woodworking tools that I used to build the thing.

You CAN get started for less. Not much less. But within the first couple hundred rounds you'll need this and that.

BC38, you suggest I might be "...actually discourage others from even starting. That isn't what you want to do, is it? "

What I don't want to do is encourage anyone to think that for a couple hundred bucks they'll suddenly be making ammo for 1/3 the cost of factory. I think that's going to create a quick realization that "Hmmm, this thing isn't paying off yet".

I'm talking about spending a grand. That's not "a ton" in my book. A press and dies will cost you a couple to a few hundred. You need a couple hundred more for misc stuff. And you need a bench to mount it to. Then you can get started making mistakes and losing a few primers and brass and bullets and powder loads till you get things dialed in.

Just don't want anybody to think that it's a $300 plug-n-play.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[fredj338]

I do not believe it's possible to begin reloading for under $1000. You'll read posts that tally the cost of -
- Press
- Dies
And maybe a couple of other things.

You can easily get into relaoding for a lot less than $1000, just depends on what you buy. For 200rds a week, a Lee turret makes fine ammo, $150. A good scale & powder measure, $150, (2) die sets & an extra tool head, $100. Calipers, tumbler, another $100. A couple manuals & off you go. Yeah evenvutally you need a bullet puller & a way to trim rifle cases, again less than $50 total, depending on what you buy.
A lot of the stuff on your list is not needed for a progressive or turret, like loading blocks. You can retask houshold items that are cheap to do reloading duty like a $1 plastic colendar as a media separator. I never use tweezers or such, but sure, a cheap $5 adjustable wrench works fine.
Reloading, like any hobby, can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want to make it. I have a lot of gear, but I didn't start out with all of it.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

If money is really tight, but time is cheap get 2 lee loader kits, currently running $29.99. Add one rubber hammer (12.99) one box of primers (about $25.00), two boxes of lead bullets, (about $80), one lb of powder (around $25) and your brass. With this and time you can make 1000 357 magnum rounds.

Classic Lee Loader : Cabela's

 

[blujax01]

Here's a simple and small cost I don't think I've ever seen in anyone's itemized breakdown, including mine...

Bolts to anchor the press to the bench. They don't come with the press. Another five bucks...

Just don't want anybody to think that it's a $300 plug-n-play.


Sgt Lumpy

It can be a $300 plug-and-play if you don't count the cost of rent, utilities and coffee. A lot of folks do it every day.

There is a big difference between "Need" and "Want".

 

[BC38]

If money is really tight, but time is cheap get 2 lee loader kits, currently running $29.99. Add one rubber hammer (12.99) one box of primers (about $25.00), two boxes of lead bullets, (about $80), one lb of powder (around $25) and your brass. With this and time you can make 1000 357 magnum rounds.

Classic Lee Loader : Cabela's

Yup, that's exactly what is pictured in my post above - except I'd rather spend the $50 for the Lee hand press (also pictured above) instead of $13 for a rubber hammer. Flashlights I have - by the dozen - but if I didn't they can be had at the dollar store for a buck. Tweezers and hemostats (even better IMO) I have already. Canned air to blow away spilled powder? Not for me thanks. I'd rather sweep it up instead of blowing it all over the place. I have a whisk broom & dust pan I bought at the dollar store for that.

I guess I'll need to add the $15 for a bullet puller. That still brings my total up to less than $350.

One of the things that keep coming up is the cost of building a loading bench. You don't HAVE to have a dedicated loading bench to get started. Lots of people have posted that they do their reloading in the old Barcolounger in front of the TV.

IF and when the day comes that I want to do my reloading at a bench, I have one already set up in a little 6' x 10' office space that the PO of my property built in the corner of my 36' x 36' auto shop.

To expand on what bluejax01 said, there's a big difference between what you NEED (to get started) and what you may WANT...

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

And one of these little hand presses to go with them in place of the hammer (about $50)

The Lee Hand Press(I have one and use it) takes standard threaded dies. As far as I know, the dies from the "Lee Loader" won't work with it.

Any standard threaded die from Lee, RCBS, Lyman, etc will work fine in the hand press. The Lee dies run from about $30(steel 3-die) to about $45(carbide 4 die). For most handgun purpose, I find the carbide 3 die sets at around $35 to be great. Most of these prices are +/- $5 depending on which specific retailer you check.