Reloading cost questions

[Baltimoreed11754]

Reloading has always been a chore to me but casting and reloading are the only way I could afford to shoot as often as I do. My old stash of powder, primers, bullets, wads and shot kept me shooting during the drought. Though I did start shooting .22 2gun shoots too. Its all about amortization of your equipment. If you shoot a box of ammo a month or only during deer season to sight in your rifle you will never amortize your initial costs. But if you shoot a couple matches a month over years you will.

 

[AJ]

Reloading has always been a chore to me but casting and reloading are the only way I could afford to shoot as often as I do. My old stash of powder, primers, bullets, wads and shot kept me shooting during the drought. Though I did start shooting .22 2gun shoots too. Its all about amortization of your equipment. If you shoot a box of ammo a month or only during deer season to sight in your rifle you will never amortize your initial costs. But if you shoot a couple matches a month over years you will.

I shoot three days a week. Mondays and Thursdays are rifle days, sometimes a centerfire. Usually it is a heavy barrel .22 LR, and not even an entire box. On Fridays we shoot handgun, centerfire and rimfire. Maybe two to three boxes then. Don't hunt anymore and don't shoot matches anymore. Get meat at the commissary and don't need to prove anything to anyone, just myself. Have enough stashed to last at least 10+ years.

 

[teletech]

Yes, a Lee Loader will work. After the first primer you accidentally set off ditch the hammer and pick up a small arbor press at Harbor Freight, ePay, or similar and you'll be a lot happier and only very slightly poorer.
That said, I cranked out 1000+ rounds of 45ACP yesterday on my Dillon progressive and it just didn't take that long. Using a mix of components I'd bought over the years I think the cost was $.06/round ($3/50). If I were using all new components then it would have been $.17/round.
It's a coated lead bullet over 5 grains of Green Dot, but the paper doesn't seem to mind. I will say my .45 prefers jacketed bullets for accuracy and the cast are a cruddy 4" at 25yds. Plenty good enough to shoot action pistol. If I were shooting Bullseye or something where I needed a group size half that, then Jacketed bullets and the cost goes way up to like $.40/round.
It's worth noting lead wears barrels a lot less than jacketed bullets, so it's also easy on the gun.

 

[AJ]

Yes, a Lee Loader will work. After the first primer you accidentally set off ditch the hammer and pick up a small arbor press at Harbor Freight, ePay, or similar and you'll be a lot happier and only very slightly poorer.

Setting off primers is what lead me to be against Lee Loaders. I learned on a 310 Tool then graduated to a Lyman Spar-T press. I had a friend that used a Lee Loader and was loading at my house. He set off two primers in about 5 minutes. I got out a 310 Tool and showed him how to use it and told him it was his. I said I wanted the Lee in exchange, took the Lee Loader and threw it in the trash.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

You shoot a lot more than I do AJ. Good for you. Hard CCI primers are your friend if you are using a whack a mole. Federals are the most sensitive and the worst. My first foray into the dark arts of reloading was a whack a mole in .30-30 and a cookie cutter lubing system for 45-70. Now I have 2 Dillon 550s and 2 Lyman T2s with s few other single stage presses. Have 2 Lyman lubrisizers too, one in 311 and the other in 45.

 

[GypsmJim]

Setting off primers is what lead me to be against Lee Loaders. I learned on a 310 Tool then graduated to a Lyman Spar-T press. I had a friend that used a Lee Loader and was loading at my house. He set off two primers in about 5 minutes. I got out a 310 Tool and showed him how to use it and told him it was his. I said I wanted the Lee in exchange, took the Lee Loader and threw it in the trash.

Between 1971 and 1994 I used nothing but whackamoles. I only bought a press when Dad bought a Model 57 and Lee didn't offer their original loader in .41 Magnum. I had a bunch of calibers at the time and yes they were slow, but I had the time and I admit I was too cheap to invest more money. THEN, equipment amortization was of no concern because the first box of ammo took care of that.

Now, in that 23 year period I NEVER once popped a primer.

I never used a hand press, but wouldn't even consider one. I can't imagine squeezing my hands that much. My arthritis is bad enough as it is.

I turret is also not in my future. Those extra turrets are expensive and since I load several different types of bullets for each caliber I have to readjust every time anyway.

My choice is a Cast Iron press for resizing and I use several small (cheap) Reloader Presses for the other tasks. This is MY progressive - I move from one station to another....LOL.

I had a whole stack of Lee Loaders in many different calibers that I saved for all these years. Needing more room to store massive quantities of primers (pre pandemic $28) I offered them for sale as a package deal. I got lots of calls and sold the lot for more than 3x what I paid for them. All were well used but not abused.

 

[lppd4]

I would start with an RCBS single stage press. You may be able to buy the press, scales and other accessories in a kit. This will give you a good start. The biggest thing is RCBS will guarantee their equipment for life. I f you ever have a problem call them and a new part will arrive in the mail. I inquired about a newer style handle they sent me one at no charge. I also wanted a newer black spent primer holder since i blasted and repainted my press battleship gray. I called asked them to send one. i asked how much and the reply there will be no charge today. Great company to deal with. My old Rockchucker (discontinued) is about 45 years old and still going strong.

 

[GypsmJim]

I would start with an RCBS single stage press. You may be able to buy the press, scales and other accessories in a kit. This will give you a good start. The biggest thing is RCBS will guarantee their equipment for life. I f you ever have a problem call them and a new part will arrive in the mail. I inquired about a newer style handle they sent me one at no charge. I also wanted a newer black spent primer holder since i blasted and repainted my press battleship gray. I called asked them to send one. i asked how much and the reply there will be no charge today. Great company to deal with. My old Rockchucker (discontinued) is about 45 years old and still going strong.

I agree. RCBS equipment is top notch. I have some of their stuff in my stable. But Lee isn't too shabby either.

The comparable Lee "kit" is about $300 cheaper than the RCBS kit. My Lee press is about 30 years old and still works like new. But then again, I only load about 3000 rounds a year.

It all depends on whether you "want" to get the job done, or whether you "need" the best. But then again, the best may be a personal opinion.

 

[BC38]

I agree. RCBS equipment is top notch. I have some of their stuff in my stable. But Lee isn't too shabby either.

The comparable Lee "kit" is about $300 cheaper than the RCBS kit. My Lee press is about 30 years old and still works like new. But then again, I only load about 3000 rounds a year.

It all depends on whether you "want" to get the job done, or whether you "need" the best. But then again, the best may be a personal opinion.

Ditto that. You can get the Lee Classic Turret "kit" for less than the RCBS single stage.

The really cool thing about the Lee Classic Turret is that beginners can use like a single-stage press. Then as they get more comfortable with the reloading process, it can be used as a manually-advanced turret. And finally, when they get comfortable with that process it can then be used as an auto-advancing turret, which is just one step short of being a full-on progressive press.

In terms of flexibility and bang-for-your-buck I don't see how you can do better than that.

 

[AJ]

Buying new is great if you can afford it. buying used can be more cost effective. Lots of good used equipment out there at reasonable prices. At our local gun shows there is always reloading equipment for sale. Most are willing to deal with you, so they don't have to lug it around anymore.

 

[DWalt]

Setting off primers is what lead me to be against Lee Loaders. I learned on a 310 Tool then graduated to a Lyman Spar-T press. I had a friend that used a Lee Loader and was loading at my house. He set off two primers in about 5 minutes. I got out a 310 Tool and showed him how to use it and told him it was his. I said I wanted the Lee in exchange, took the Lee Loader and threw it in the trash.

Having primed many thousands of cases using the LL (or any other method) I have never had a primer go off. With the LL, I always seated primers with light taps and used a light hammer.
Back in the 1960s, a LL set was around $10 then. I still have most of my LLs but seldom use them. About the only one that still gets any use is one in .45 Colt because I often load only a dozen or so rounds at a time and it is quicker than setting up a press for it. In my early days, I would sit on the floor in front of the TV and use the LL, loading several hundred rounds in the course of an evening. I loaded more 12 gauge trap loads with the LL than anything else, as I shot more rounds of trap than anything else. That was back in the paper case days, and they loaded very well with the LL. Plastic cases, not so well. But I had accumulated many hundreds of Federal paper cases off the ground at the range. They would usually last for at least five loadings.

 

[AJ]

Having primed many thousands of cases using the LL (or any other method) I have never had a primer go off. With the LL, I always seated primers with light taps and used a light hammer.
Back in the 1960s, a LL set was around $10 then. I still have most of my LLs but seldom use them. About the only one that still gets any use is one in .45 Colt because I often load only a dozen or so rounds at a time and it is quicker than setting up a press for it. In my early days, I would sit in front of the TV and use the LL, maybe loading several hundred rounds in the course of an evening. I loaded more 12 gauge trap loads with the LL than anything else, as I shot more rounds of trap than anything else. That was back in the paper case days, and they loaded very well with the LL. Plastic cases, not so well. But I had accumulated many hundreds of Federal paper cases off the ground at the range. They would usually last for at least five loadings.

If it works for you then great. I have seen/heard primers being set off first hand and heard of others having the same problems. Maybe they were heavy handed....who knows. Have never used one and never will. My prerogative. Just as using one is yours.

 

[DWalt]

Today, I still prime all cases as a separate operation, except for shotshells. For many years I have used the Lee hand priming tool, the one with the round primer tray. Not sure if Lee still makes it. I once bought a Lee bench priming tool, and it was most unsatisfactory in almost every way-spent more time unjamming it than priming. I went back to using the Lee hand tool. At least for me, nothing performs better.

 

[GypsmJim]

If it works for you then great. I have seen/heard primers being set off first hand and heard of others having the same problems. Maybe they were heavy handed....who knows. Have never used one and never will. My prerogative. Just as using one is yours.

As a college kid with an heirloom Mauser, 40 year old WWII corrosive surplus was all I could afford. Then I discovered the LL and actually made my own home brew cartridges cheaper than surplus.

Sure guys at my gun club criticized me for not buying a press, but then again they all made a lot more than $1.35 an hour and could easily afford anything they wanted.

I have to give Mister Lee a lot of credit because his little invention introduced a whole new generation to a wonderful sport. Maybe those that popped primers didn't fully read the instruction manual.....LOL.

 

[Model19man]

I bought a used Lee Turret press, two Lee 1000 Progressive presses, and four sets of Lee dies (357 mag / 38 Special, 9mm, 44 Magnum / 44 Special and 45 ACP) for $125 used. The deals are out there if you know how to look.

 

[AJ]

Today, I still prime all cases as a separate operation, except for shotshells. For many years I have used the Lee hand priming tool, the one with the round primer tray. Not sure if Lee still makes it. I once bought a Lee bench priming tool, and it was most unsatisfactory in almost every way-spent more time unjamming it than priming. I went back to using the Lee hand tool. At least for me, nothing performs better.

I have two of the Lee Hand riming Tools with a few spare parts for each. One set up for LPP and the other for SPP. A friend had a RCBS Bench Top Priming Tool. I tried it and liked it. Bought a brand new one that I use and found one complete still in the box and bought it too. So now I have a spare. The Lee's sit on the shelf.

 

[Engineer1911]

The FULL cost to get started with minimum equipment

The cost of reloaded practice ammo (the cheap stuff) is about $11 to $14 per box of 50. Powder is $40 per pound, bullets are $13 to $20 per 100, primers are $80 per thousand. These are estimated out-the-door prices including sales tax. 50 rounds is $1.50 powder @ 5 grains, bullets $6 for 50, $4 for primers, brass is free because you already have it, total cost = $11.50. But the initial investment is ~$100; 1 box of bullets, 100 primers, 1# of powder, Lee Loader.

Bare minimum equipment is powder scale, Lee Loader, reloading manual and components. With knowledge and experience, comes the need for more / better equipment. Reloading press, dies, dial caliper, powder measure, case trimmer, primer seater, and reloading bench PLUS a place to set all this stuff.

Lee press is a bare bones Lee press with needed accessories to get you started for $180 + tax & shipping.

 

[AJ]

The cost of reloaded practice ammo (the cheap stuff) is about $11 to $14 per box of 50. Powder is $40 per pound, bullets are $13 to $20 per 100, primers are $80 per thousand. These are estimated out-the-door prices including sales tax. 50 rounds is $1.50 powder @ 5 grains, bullets $6 for 50, $4 for primers, brass is free because you already have it, total cost = $11.50. But the initial investment is ~$100; 1 box of bullets, 100 primers, 1# of powder, Lee Loader.

Bare minimum equipment is powder scale, Lee Loader, reloading manual and components. With knowledge and experience, comes the need for more / better equipment. Reloading press, dies, dial caliper, powder measure, case trimmer, primer seater, and reloading bench PLUS a place to set all this stuff.

Lee press is a bare bones Lee press with needed accessories to get you started for $180 + tax & shipping.

Shop yard sales too. I found an RCBS Rock Chucker in great shape for $20.00 at one and have bought other stuff at other yard sales for prices in the same vicinity.