Just Beginning

[GypsmJim]

What I have found is that little to no money is saved by reloading your own ammo.
You usually spend the same money as before. The difference is that you just get to shoot more for the same amount of money.

I shoot weekly in the Winter at my club, and every other week in the Summer at my camp. Basically, my quantities are the same as always. So, I don't shoot any more.

Buttttttt, if I had to pay today's prices for loaded ammo, I may not shoot at all.

My equipment cost was amortized 30 years ago. With my lead supply my boolits are free. And yes, I DID stock up ahead of time when the climate showed that I needed to.

For a nickle I can load 9mm or 45 Colt or shoot .22 rimfire. For me that's money saved.

 

[GypsmJim]

Now here's the deal. Midsouth Shooter's Supply Sale....

I buy most of my stuff from them so I get weekly sale emails.

* A complete RCBS "KIT" - looks like everything a newby would need to get started. 275 bucks.

I don't think anyone could get going cheaper unless they bought a whack-a-mole.

 

[MaxKimber]

X-Mas

Ok, so the man-child received this for Christmas:

- Rock Chucker® Supreme Press
- Shell Holder # 4
- .338 Win. Full-Length Die Set

I'm guessing we still need quite a few items before we can start, but it's a start...

 

[gym cat]

Read, read read reloading manuals and in this case u tube is your friend. Probably the best is reloading with someone who is a seasoned reloader.

 

[oldman10mm]

what brand 338 Win. Full-Length Die Set ?

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

what brand 338 Win. Full-Length Die Set ?

My personal recommendations would be in this order 1) REDDING, 2) RCBS, 3) BONANZA, 4) LYMAN, 5) toss up between HORNADY & LEE.

If you have dies already, I'd stick with the same brand for parts interchangeability. However, over time a brand can chance which thread patters they use.

Ivan

 

[GypsmJim]

I'm guessing we still need quite a few items before we can start...

* Of course, powder, primers, brass and bullets.
* tube of case lube.
* Set of Lee dippers.
* Hand priming tool.
* Lyman (or other) manual.

Add to that a piece of 1x pine with holes drilled to stand the cases up, a small plastic funnel to pour powder and a small screw driver to clean primer pockets and you got a poor man's setup that will adequately make fine usable ammo.

As time goes by, a scale, powder measure, and a second $25 Lee press to speed up the operation.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I started with an RCBS Junior for $15 from a pawn shop when I started, I found a RockChucker from an estate sale and gave the Junior to a young guy from church. Be careful reloading gear can be like S&W revolvers...addictive

Got a RCBS Jr in 1973......Still use it to load my Hunting rifle cartridges...Rest of bench is Blue(Dillon) and Red (MEC)

 

[llowry61]

I think starting with a basic press, scale, dies, case trimmer, lube, powder, bullets, primers and instruction manuals is what he should do. He will need a sturdy bench to mount the press and good lighting. I would buy used if possible because presses last a looooooong time.

I don't shoot enough rifle to warrant the set up. Starting with straight walled pistol which is the easiest ammo to produce would be my recommendation, but if he is just reloading to reduce costs of the large rifle cartridges, I would spend the minimum as it will take quite a few reloads to recoup the costs.

FWIW

 

[mtgianni]

Late to the party, but 10 years ago one of my work friends wanted ammo for a 338/378 Weatherby Magnum. The price was $160 for 20 cartridges. In some cases reloading pays for itself rapidly.

 

[Imissedagain]

If buying used, check for excessive play in the ram.
Our Spartan, from 4+ decades ago, was replaced
with an RCBS and a 550.
I still use the old Lee Zero Error kit, 223/5.56,
for the No.1V.
Always used a Lee Hand Primer and 5-0-5 scale.
Have an electronic scale, as well, but still scoop and weigh.

 

[besshoudini]

If you know someone who loads ask them to see there set up.

 

[rwsmith]

I'm going to add........

Besides debating cost savings, you never know nowadays when the ammo or component supply is going to suddenly dry up, usually due to some social/political turmoil. It has happened several times in my reloading career. Nowadays with the hostility toward shooting sports I can happen any time. If you keep a good stock of components you are never denied ammo to shoot when the store shelves are bare.

 

[toad67]

Do yourself a big favor and get an RCBS Base Plate. The plate screws down with 4 small screws and is drilled and tapped for everything RCBS sells. This way, you don't have a bench top full of holes for everything that you use..
Accessory Base Plate-3

 

[BillBro]

I bought a RCBS RC kit about 8 or 9 years ago and its all I load with, and I use it alot. Not a week has gone by that I havent used it as I shoot every weekend and sometimes twice weekly. I even still use the powder funnel it came with. I havent really added anything to it save for die sets. I cant imagine how many tens of thousands of rounds Ive loaded with that $350 beginners kit and it still works perfectly. I load 5.56, 6.8 and 6mmARC. 9MM, 10mm, 38spl,357mag, 44Spl,44mag, 45acp, 45colt and 454casull all on my single stage beginners kit. Did I mention it was only $350? It was only $350.
Save money reloading? I do. It depends on what YOU reload though. If its only 9mm and 5.56 probably not. I shoot alot of 44mag, 44spl, 45colt and 454casull, usually no less than 100 of either but many times its many more (454casull is in a lever gun) so yes I have saved alot of money

 

[MaxKimber]

what brand 338 Win. Full-Length Die Set ?

Everything he received was RCBS...

 

[Imissedagain]

Not sure how accurate those powder measure/droppers are,
but a good beam scale, something to scoop the powder, a funnel, a flashlight and a 50 case holder tray, eliminates the need to fuss with and clean something, that ain't necessary.
Look at the powder level in every case, prior to seating the bullet,
and a KABOOM free life is possible.

If you do have to crimp/firm-up the case mouth, do it as a two step process, seat.... crimp/firm-up.

A 338WM, deserves to be as accurate as possible,
so, case prep is important.

The only bottleneck we have, is the 223/5.56.
The Lee Zero Error kit is still used for bolt or the No.1V.
Red powder dipper then on the scale.
My boy and his Marine Gunnery Sergeant buddy, couldn't find the factory ammo, so they used my precision loads in their new 6920s.
Sad but true.

 

[gjgalligan]

The main decision is how big of quantity?

Medium to high quantity, a Dillion 550 new or used.

What time frame do you mean for quantity? Week, month, decade? You have explain that to a newbie as they have no idea.

What is high monthly quantity to one person may be lifetime quantity to somebody else.


I started out almost 13 years ago with a Lee 4 hole turret press. It has served me well and I really don't need anything more fancy (or costly) to support my habit. It can be used progressive or single stage.
Nobody in my family is gonna want it when I no longer can use it so I will not waste money on what I don't need.

 

[AlHunt]

Besides debating cost savings, you never know nowadays when the ammo or component supply is going to suddenly dry up, usually due to some social/political turmoil. It has happened several times in my reloading career. Nowadays with the hostility toward shooting sports I can happen any time. If you keep a good stock of components you are never denied ammo to shoot when the store shelves are bare.

This, right here, exactly. This entire hobby is under relentless attack. Reloading and bullet casting are now just a matter of survival, if you want to be able to shoot at all.

As a kid, I thought reloading your ammo was just part of shooting.

The last debacle saw me learning to make black powder and remaking primers.

Glad to see the OP's friend is starting out with the Rockchucker. Simple, solid and will last forever.

The biggest leap forward for me over the years was the Little Dandy powder measure and a complete set of rotors. I can hand hold the measure over the loading block and hit 50 or a hundred cases in a minute or two. Another piece of equipment that will last a lifetime.

 

[rwsmith]

I started out with Lee dippers......

The LEE dippers are not your friend. If you are wanting accurate ammunition, you need a SCALE.. and ideally a BALANCE BEAM scale. THe digital scales I am not willing to use anymore... sure i have only used a few of the little small pocket size ones, like the Hornady, but that pocket scale double in price after I bought mine.
Most of them are VERY picky as to how you center the weight on the tray. On the side, in the middle, slightly off of center... all can have a different wieght.

Wont use a Lee balance beam scale.. far too many videoss and threads online about how to "fix" the magnetic dampening. The few I have tried did not have good machining on the beam where it fits on the little razor blade pivot system.
Could weigh a 150 grain fmj, 6 times, and get 6 different weights.

They work well, but you don't know exactly what your load is. It's best to develop good and consistent technique checking throws against a scale. Before I got a scale I used a lab scale at work. I have in my notebooks some loads, especially rifle loads that I can use the dippers with. I even made some of my own dippers out of cut down cases.

Like I said, it works, but the best combination I've had so far (had some balance beams) is my RCBS Uniflow powder measure and a digital scale. I can either use is to check every so often or weigh every charge. I have a method that works fast. I tare the case on the scale, charge it with powder and put it back on the scale.