Need some information

[oldman45]

I am totally stupid when it comes to reloading. I know nothing about how to reload and I do not know anyone personally that reloads.

However, if I were to buy a moderately priced reloading set up such as a Dillion, along with the dies, assuming I was reloading only .45acp, 40 S&W and some .357 mag to shoot each maybe an avg of 300 rounds per month per caliber. would there be enough savings to justify the purchase over the next year?

Again, I do not know anything about reloading. The two people I knew that reloaded ammo both died about 45 years ago so asking them to teach me is out of the question.

I guess what I am asking is what would an approximate cost be per box of 50 rounds if I was reloading them myself. This would be purchasing all the components.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Depending on what that factory ammo would cost you I would say you could easily make up the cost of reloading equipment in half that time.

Using FMJ bullet it costs me:
.357 Magnum ammo = $8.03/50
40 S&W ammo = $8.70/50
.45 Auto ammo = $8.33/50

Using those numbers shooting 300 rounds of each a month will cost you $150.36. If .357 Magnum ammo is $28/50, 40 S&W ammo is $18/50 and .45 Auto ammo is $20/50 it will cost you $396 to buy 300 rounds of each. If those numbers are correct in your area that's a savings of $246/month. At that rate you will make up the cost of the best reloading equipment in only a few months.

 

[oldman45]

Thank you for the reply and interesting prices.

I have a lot of time to reload and I have an ideal place since there is a two bedroom cottage behind the main home that I am using now for a storage area. It is heated and cooled so the place would be comfortable.

I would be buying all the components and have been pricing the various units offered by Dillion but have not settled on anything yet.

At any rate, I want to thank you for your time in replying and I may be back with more questions once I get obligated into reloading. At this time I am shooting factory loads in name brand ammo. Others have said I should start reloading and now I am seriously thinking about doing so.

 

[CookE]

Reloading....

I started to reload for myself in 1969. The Readers Digest version is this. I ended up reloading until 2005. In that period of time I also started a reloading business that I had for 22 years. I can't even tell you how much money I saved through the years. I retired from the Police Department in 2005 and closed my reloading business and sold all my equipment. After sitting around for about 3 years I bought back all my equipment and I am back reloading again. There is nothing like it. The self satisfaction of building that bullet and going to the range and shooting it. I shot in competition from 1969 until 2005. In all those years I never shot any factory ammo in any of the matches that I shot in, I always shot my own ammo. My recommendation is if you are going to reload buy the best equipment you can buy. It sure saves alot of aggravation in the long run. You might spend a little more money up front, but it is sure is worth it. I would recommend you buy from DILLON PRECISION. They are great to deal with and have great products and they stand behind what they sell. When you get to be my age sometimes you tend to "babble" on & on. So, I guess I'll sign off for now. If you need any advise or help in anyway, feel free to contact me. "REMEMBER TO WEAR YOUR VEST AND WAIT FOR BACK-UP". CookE

 

[oldman45]

I started to reload for myself in 1969. The Readers Digest version is this. I ended up reloading until 2005. In that period of time I also started a reloading business that I had for 22 years. I can't even tell you how much money I saved through the years. I retired from the Police Department in 2005 and closed my reloading business and sold all my equipment. After sitting around for about 3 years I bought back all my equipment and I am back reloading again. There is nothing like it. The self satisfaction of building that bullet and going to the range and shooting it. I shot in competition from 1969 until 2005. In all those years I never shot any factory ammo in any of the matches that I shot in, I always shot my own ammo. My recommendation is if you are going to reload buy the best equipment you can buy. It sure saves alot of aggravation in the long run. You might spend a little more money up front, but it is sure is worth it. I would recommend you buy from DILLON PRECISION. They are great to deal with and have great products and they stand behind what they sell. When you get to be my age sometimes you tend to "babble" on & on. So, I guess I'll sign off for now. If you need any advise or help in anyway, feel free to contact me. "REMEMBER TO WEAR YOUR VEST AND WAIT FOR BACK-UP". CookE

In all being considered, I am likely way older than you. Could have drawn social security four years ago but am going to wait another four years if I live that long.

The cost of a nice reloading rig would not worry me much as I like top quality in about everything and I love automation since my mind is not as sharp as it was when I was doing my post grad studies. It goes down more by the minute.

Thanks for the reply and any advice that a person may want to offer will be appreciated.

 

[avery53]

If you don't mind shooting lead bullets instead of FMJ, the savings are even greater.
The indoor ranges in my area, will not let us shoot FMJ anyway.
The SDB from Dillon is a great reloader IF you are only going to be doing pistol cartridges.
Reloading is a great hobby, and money saver.
Good luck

 

[bobf]

If you haven't already start collecting brass.
Bob

 

[oldman45]

If you don't mind shooting lead bullets instead of FMJ, the savings are even greater.
The indoor ranges in my area, will not let us shoot FMJ anyway.
The SDB from Dillon is a great reloader IF you are only going to be doing pistol cartridges.
Reloading is a great hobby, and money saver.
Good luck

While I own a large number of rifles in various calibers, I no longer shoot long guns. I have not held a rifle to my shoulder in two years. I have many caliber handguns but mainly shoot .45acp followed by 40S&W and then with .357 mag. Just not interested in shooting the other calibers.

The indoor range I am a member of says only lead bullets only but have relaxed a bit these days and allowing the fmj.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[PDL]

My most expensive JSP reloads are .45-70 and they still come out at $20 for 40 instead of $72 for the same bullets in factory loads.

Handguns in .38, 9mm, .40, .44, .45 all are using lead these days instead of jacketed. Usually, about 1/3 or 1/4 the price of factory.

But don't expect to always save money. It just means you'll be shooting 3 or 4 times as much. The best part of doing it yourself though, it gets you something that's tailored for your shooting and your guns. You don't have to use a one size fit's all.

Saving money is just an added bonus.

 

[j2flan]

From my recent reciepts

brass--free from the range
bullets 45 cal lead 200swc --.072 ea/2000 ct. from Master Cast
#powder BE local store-- 16.93 w/tax or .0169
primers local store--.03168 ea or 31.68 per 1000

cost per round--.121 or $6.05 per 50

Can bet you will shoot more rounds if you reload, a lot more. Most find reloading a great hobby.

 

[CookE]

Would you be so kind as to send me a private message, I would like to ask you a thing or two about this site. I'm having trouble trying to find what I want and I don't want to post something that will get me in trouble. I don't know where else to go for information. Like I said I'm old and feeble minded..............THANKS..............CookE

 

[oldman45]

Would you be so kind as to send me a private message, I would like to ask you a thing or two about this site. I'm having trouble trying to find what I want and I don't want to post something that will get me in trouble. I don't know where else to go for information. Like I said I'm old and feeble minded..............THANKS..............CookE

PM sent. Not sure I am the person to ask since I have been in trouble here so many times, I think the mods have me flagged with an instant delete button. Admittedly there were a couple times I stepped over the line with rules according to them but it is their ranch and they can call the shots as they see them. They have a difficult job to do and their pay is not as large as it should be.

 

[SMSgt]

Oldman, you're not stupid about reloading; ignorant maybe, but not stupid. The fact that you're interested and asked for advice shows you're pretty smart!

I started reloading in '75, got out of it in '93, and restarted again about a year ago. I still use an old single stage press. I don't load 100s of rounds at a sitting, so I find it therapeutic to sit and pump them put one at a time.

The biggest concern in reloading is a misload (either too much or not enough powder). Other than that, once your equipment is set up, it's pretty routine. The nice part is that you can customize loads for your particular guns.

Good luck with your new endeavor!

 

[Vulcan Bob]

For a new handloader the progressive press in not a good idea. I think the single stage press give's a new reloader the time to learn what he or she is doing. Now that I am retired my Dillon hasent been used for over two years and now do all my loading on a RCBS Rock Chucker. So far this year I have fired over eight thousand rounds of handgun ammo and dont feel all that rushed by reloading. Give's me something to do while my wife is watching chick TV!

 

[oldman45]

For a new handloader the progressive press in not a good idea. I think the single stage press give's a new reloader the time to learn what he or she is doing. Now that I am retired my Dillon hasent been used for over two years and now do all my loading on a RCBS Rock Chucker. So far this year I have fired over eight thousand rounds of handgun ammo and dont feel all that rushed by reloading. Give's me something to do while my wife is watching chick TV!

Ok, but the way I understand it, some presses requires a person to pull down on a arm for various functions. Due to a serious accident two years ago, I cannot raise my right arm shoulder high. Of course, a $63,000 surgery and six months of rehab maybe will correct this. Due to age and other health concerns, I may not live long enough to justify the expense or have the rehab time left. Right now I am working but most of my work is either on the streets, in depositions or on a witness stand. I had major cancer surgery a few years back and they gave me a 30% chance of living five years. Well.....the five years was up last month so I am still here, shooting handguns often, working when I have to and taking only cases I want to work. I am 64 yrs of age, retired twice and keep getting called back.

That said, I am looking for something fairly automatic.

 

[Rule3]

You have to pull the lever on all of them. I will be the dissenting vote on spending a lot of money on a Dillion. From what you mentioned, you have time and not a large ammo consumption need. So my suggestion is get a simple single stage or turret press. With either, it is no problem to easily produce 100 rounds in a hour. You will learn, take your time, and make quality ammo. You do not need thousands of rounds a month.

The amount of money saved will allow you to buy all your dies, a good scale. manual, calipers and all the other stuff you need and still have money left over rather than forking it all out on a progressive press which is more difficult to learn on plus all the extras you will need to convert to another caliber.

Blue is not the only color reloading equipment comes in.

 

[Reddog]

CookE,
I would agree on not starting with a progressive press. I've loaded on a single stage press for 50 years, now, the last 25 on a RockChucker. It's hard to beat and I load a lot of shells! Ditto on the lead bullets for fun shooting. Casting bullets and loading shells are great therapy for an old man like me!
Dick

 

[lebomm]

CookE;
I stand w/ reddog, ocd1, and vulcanbob; get a single-stage press and take it easy. You'll learn the techniques as fast or maybe faster, and produce just as good ammo. I've been using a Rockchucker the last 20 yrs or so, and my hand doesn't rise to shoulder height at all.

Larry
Handloader since '62

 

[wheelgun28]

I will give my opinion, and its just one mans opinion...

I say stay away from the single stage. To me its way to slow, way to easy to make an error with. If you are going to stick with loading just pistol ammo an Dillon Square Deal is a fine choice. Its very easy to adjust, its very hard to double charge a case with. I started with a SD press and am very glad I did. I think if I went the single stage I would have gotten tired of it and not done it. I like speed and easy way . Place a case in one side of the press, place a bullet on top of a case on the other side, pull the handle, repeat.

Today I am set up with a Dillon 650, case feed, bullet feed and a primer filler. I can load 100 rounds of forty or nine in three or four mins max. Yes, I have a substantial investment in equipment. I also do shotgun on a Dillon SL900...

Like a lot of things in life its time and money. At this moment in time (could change tomorrow) I have more money than time.

If you have even more money, that dillon 1050 seems very nice...

As others have said a good scale is very important. Also have enough budget to get the parts to convert calibers for what you want to reload.

To me a single stage press is hand loading, a good turret is reloading!
I dont make hand loads, I make reloads.

There is no real right answer, it just depends on you.

Youtube has lots of video on all sorts of presses and set ups. Look and see whats involved.

 

[wheelgun28]

YouTube - Reloading 9mm on a Dillon Square Deal 'B'

YouTube - RCBS Bullet Feeder on Dillon XL-650 9mm (HD)

YouTube - Reloading .40 S&W

just a quick sample many many more to choose from