New to reloading and need supplys

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WeebleWoble

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I finally broke down and bought a new M&P 9mm because I want to do some serious shooting. Untill now I have only gone shooting once a month or so shooting 44mag and 357mag and 22lr revolvers. Now that I want to start shooting more the only way I see that I can afford it is to reload myself.
I can not decide between 115,124,147 bullets but I am leaning towards 124 JHP.

9mm
The questions are :
1 : Where can I get cheap brass (500-1000+)
2 : Where can I get cheap bullets
3 : Primers and Powder ( Seems like I need to find somewhere local to avoid hazzmat shipping )
4 : What is a good affordable press

I have been looking at the LEE Classic 4 Hole press with auto indexing.

I am on a budget here but truely want to get into shooting alot more.
 
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I'd start with a google search for reloading supplies in your area and follow up with phone calls.It's still hit and miss.The Cabelas near me usually have supplies.The last two gun shows I attended had a lot of everything too,but watch the priceing.Mail order works well for brass and bullets ,but getting the powder and primers locally will save you a lot of money.
 
arjay said:
I'd start with a google search for reloading supplies in your area and follow up with phone calls.It's still hit and miss.The Cabelas near me usually have supplies.The last two gun shows I attended had a lot of everything too,but watch the priceing.Mail order works well for brass and bullets ,but getting the powder and primers locally will save you a lot of money.
Click to expand...

Thnx, What websites would you recommend for Brass and Bullets? Ive seen alot with varing prices, looking the best quality/price ratio I can get, ALSO 9mm brass, I see a lot sold as once fired.. How durable is 9mm brass and should I buy " once fired " ?
 
I have the Lee 4 hole. It is the press I started with. It works fine. But you have to back up the auto index with a good scale. With different powders the auto indexing is not always what the data sheets claim(from Lee). As far as components go do a search on the web but there is a good list on this forum.
 
Right now the state of reloading you have to be a bit crafty

I get a lot of brass from forums for sale, and also a permanent flee market set up in an old Kmart not far from me, I usually pay around 35/k for most brass but 44mag will be higher.

you can check out SNS snscasting they put out a good lead bullet I've recently started using Bayou Bayou Bullets and accuracy is good and I haven't seen fouling from lead, lube, or the coating,

Powder and primers Local gun shops, or get with some friend or join a local club and do a group buy, again forums help too, Here in Indiana we have a very active forum INGunOwners and I have met with several members with good luck to make deals,

If your going to do a lot of shooting the Lee equipment won't hold up your better off going dillon now and make one purchase do you the rest of your life. I won't get into it but I've owned every brand and everything is blue now on my reloading bench
 
Right now the state of reloading you have to be a bit crafty

I get a lot of brass from forums for sale, and also a permanent flee market set up in an old Kmart not far from me, I usually pay around 35/k for most brass but 44mag will be higher.

you can check out SNS snscasting they put out a good lead bullet I've recently started using Bayou Bayou Bullets and accuracy is good and I haven't seen fouling from lead, lube, or the coating,

Powder and primers Local gun shops, or get with some friend or join a local club and do a group buy, again forums help too, Here in Indiana we have a very active forum INGunOwners and I have met with several members with good luck to make deals,

If your going to do a lot of shooting the Lee equipment won't hold up your better off going dillon now and make one purchase do you the rest of your life. I won't get into it but I've owned every brand and everything is blue now on my reloading bench
 
Weeblewobble, there are a bunch of threads about getting started reloading, so if you do a search-- you will find a bunch of info. However, for advice I would suggest you watch all your local swap&sells, local craigslist, etc. January is paying your credit cards from Christmas shopping month, you are going to see "need the money" ads and those boxes of reloading equipment that people panic bought earlier this year--and are still in the box will be up for sale. Look through online vendors and read up with what items cost, so you know the values of what you are looking at.
 
What ever you do, DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT, buy cheap. I made that mistake way back in 1967 buying Herter's 'C' press dies and equipment. Cheap, you betcha. 2 years later I gave it all away and purchased RCBS.
If you do not have the money to purchase top quality, save up until you do have enough money.
Powder / primers. I strongly disagree with others posting on this tread. If you buy in quantity, 16+ pounds of powder, 5,000 primers you can save money, especially when you factor in extortion = taxes.
Brass. I was fortunate. got all the brass I could ever possibly use from the KCPD dumpster, range trash cans, and even the local recycler. If you start casting, the recycler is an excellent source for lead too. I passed up purchasing 400+ lbs of clean pure lead & wheel weights at $.45 a pound. Don't need it, got enough. That is less than 2 cents a bullet for a 250 grain .44 / .45 cal. You can make your own lube, not difficult at all and very inexpensive.
I reload about 20 or 25 different cartridges depending on how you count.
Good luck. And remember, 'Opinions are like an exit orifice, everybody has one.'
 
 
I have no trouble getting all the 9mm brass I can handle for free. Every time I go to the range there is 9mm brass all over the floor. I just do a careful sweep in the area of my lane prior to leaving, and I always go home with more brass than I shoot.

As to bullets, I have been using Dardas hard cast bullets for 9mm. They supply them in several diameters, so you can "custom"order them to fit your weapon. Both my buddy and I have been very happy with their product and service.

I cast for .38, and have tried casting for 9mm. Been having such leading problems with my home cast, that I will probably go back to commercial for 9, especially now that bullets are available again.

As to primers and powder, I buy local because of the hazmat fees. Having trouble finding pistol powder now, but have enough to last another couple months. Hopefully it will start showing up by then.
 
If you don't have friends who shoot 9mm and will give you their brass for free then I would hit up your local gun shows. I just got 500 rounds of 9mm brass for 25 bucks. That's only $.05 per round. Most other places charge $.20 per case.

I've also seen good deals on 9mm brass on Amazon.
 
WeebleWoble said:
I finally broke down and bought a new M&P 9mm because I want to do some serious shooting. Untill now I have only gone shooting once a month or so shooting 44mag and 357mag and 22lr revolvers. Now that I want to start shooting more the only way I see that I can afford it is to reload myself.
I can not decide between 115,124,147 bullets but I am leaning towards 124 JHP.

9mm
The questions are :
1 : Where can I get cheap brass (500-1000+)
2 : Where can I get cheap bullets
3 : Primers and Powder ( Seems like I need to find somewhere local to avoid hazzmat shipping )
4 : What is a good affordable press

I have been looking at the LEE Classic 4 Hole press with auto indexing.

I am on a budget here but truely want to get into shooting alot more.
Click to expand...

I understand where you're coming from! Many who love shooting also have to deal with the realities of costs. The LEE Classic will do fine. It will not be high volume but it will produce good ammunition. The LEE dies will work very well.

For components... take a look at the following links provided by DR505... http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/343279-online-bullet-sources.html .

As to HAZMAT fees, they are simply a way the shippers have to dig more money out of the buyers. The is no hazard in shipping primers or powder, beyond their own imagination. However, they can charge the fee and get away with it so they do.

What can you do? Find friends who want to order powder and/or primers. Many places will allow you to order a considerable quantity of powder or primers on a single hazmat fee. So, go in together and order a batch of powder and a batch of primers. Dividing the fee up among several items greatly lessens it's impact on your final cost of reloading. Also note that occasionally a seller will offer free shipping for a a large order. And from time to time even hazmat fees will be set aside. You just have to keep checking the various sellers for what they are offering. HTH. Sincerely. brucev.
 
WeebleWoble said:
Thnx, What websites would you recommend for Brass and Bullets? Ive seen alot with varing prices, looking the best quality/price ratio I can get, ALSO 9mm brass, I see a lot sold as once fired.. How durable is 9mm brass and should I buy " once fired " ?
Click to expand...

I haven't reached the durability limit on 9mm brass. I occasionally will find a split case (less than 1 every 5000 or so) I also throw away 9mm brass when I can't read the stamp on the head of the case. A lot depends on how hot you load the round. I have a couple of acquaintances who load their 9's to major power factor and can only load them 4 or 5 times. I don't shoot major power so I don't know how far I can go, maybe 30 to 40 times. I always seem to lose some at the range but then pick up some new ones at the same time at the range (most people at my range don't handload). I never collect brass at matches, too many other things I'm thinking about. I know some people keep records of how many times a particular piece of brass has been loaded but I shoot too many rounds a week (~1200) to do that (guess I could if I cut out stuff like eating or sleeping but I don't see that happening). I agree with most of what's been recommended in this thread. First, determine the amount of shooting you will be doing. Buy the best equipment your budget will allow (used is a good idea, the hardware really doesn't wear out). Get in the habit of searching for components. Right now (at least around here) powder is the hardest to find but that varies with the season (no pattern that I can see). Stock up with as much as you can afford, it doesn't go bad and you will always need more. Have fun.:D
 
mongoose65 said:
I get my brass from here.
Once-Fired-Brass
Click to expand...

Thnx, ordered 500, Had free shipping!!!

Best price Ive seen, so Ill start with 500. I have a cousin who has gotten into shooting the past year or so and reloading so, he will reload these 500 for me for the cost of materials, and i will get to see it done first hand. Watched alot of youtube but it seems like everyone contradicts each other...
 
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