Thinking about getting into reloading

[Erocksmash]

Good morning gentleman,

Thinking about getting into reloading, with cost of factory ammo going up,I'm thinking it might be the cheaper long run idea, I don't need anything fancy i really dont know where to start figured this would be the spot...
how would I measure out individual powder amounts do they make a machine that does it all ?

I shoot about
100rds of 9mm every weekend some times alot more or less
100 of .40s&w
And about 100 of .357

Alternating calibers threw the weekends so approx 4 to 500 a month

Thanks fellas

 

[Valmet]

You'll need to shoot lots more than that to save money on reloading with the cost of components these days.

 

[max503]

1) Only do it if you interested in the act of reloading itself.
2) Start out with a single-stage, not a progressive press.
I was in Graf's the other day and they have some used presses - and bunches of other used stuff. I would check with them if it was me.

Yes. Components are high. Projectiles, anyway. I cast for nearly everything.

 

[george_lehr]

max 503 has good advice.
You can't save much on reloading 9mm or .40 S&W given prices at Walmart (or Target Sports for ammo by the case).
I started reloading with a used Lyman Spartan single stage press, a Lyman reloading manual, a beam scale and a set of .357 dies. Fifty years later, I think it's still a good way to start reloading.
George

PS: For info, the least expensive single stage press that I know of is the Lee 90045. You can use that as a guide for pricing.

 

[s1mp13m4n]

I too am new to reloading. Here are my newbie thoughts. I like Lee reloading products. Why, because they are a good value for the money. Good balance of quality and price. Are they the best brand, no. To me Lee follows the 80/20 rule. You get 80% of what the more expensive brands can do but at 20% the price. From a getting into it cost stand point in the Lee line as a kt you have the:

Lee Loader $29 each but must buy one for each caliber. Slowest method.
Lee Hand press kit $55 plus die sets for the calibers you want to reload.
Lee single stage press kit $120 and up plus reloading dies for each caliber you want to reload.
Lee die kts $47 each kit.

Does that help?

 

[Pisgah]

There are plenty of reasons for reloading. It can be a very satisfying pastime, for one. It allows you to tailor task-specific loads for a gun, like maximum accuracy or best hunting performance. If you have a gun in an obsolete chambering, it may be the only way you can get ammo to shoot in it.

But saving money, often touted as a reason to reload, really isn't much of a reason. Yes, if you also get in to bullet casting you can sometimes make things a bit more economical, but cheap sources of casting material are few and far between these days. You'll have a substantial up-front investment in equipment before you fire the first round and, face it, your time is worth something, too.

I don't say all this to discourage you -- heck, I've been happily loading away for decades, although not as much now as I used to. But realistically speaking, you won't save a heckuva lot. I suspect most folks will come out ahead if they just keep their eyes open for ammo sales and buy in bulk when good deals appear.

 

[dla]

1) Only do it if you interested in the act of reloading itself.
2) Start out with a progressive, not a single-stage press.
I was in Graf's the other day and they have some used presses - and bunches of other used stuff. I would check with them if it was me.

Yes. Components are high. Projectiles, anyway. I cast for nearly everything.

Fixed it for you.

The lowest/slowest press you should even look at is the Lee Classic Turret. It is a great value and the best entry-level press.

But a true progressive press will crank out the ammo so you have more time for shooting.

 

[bigggbbruce]

Once you are invested in the equipment, reloading becomes part of your shooting routine.

Each round will be less than factory, practicing with SD ammo which can be nearly $1 per rnd, and would be significantly cheaper to buy the bullets at $.30 and load your own.

I've been reloading since the '80's. The only factory loaded ammo I have bought through those years are 22lr and 5.56.

Bottom line, Have I saved money.? NO... but I have shot more rounds.

 

[Hardcast]

If you go with a Lee kit, I suggest automatically upgrading the "perfect" powder measure to the deluxe version (metal body)
The plastic leaked ball powder badly.

I save tons on reloading Smith 500, can't say the same for common calibers but it is a fun hobby when you really get into it.

 

[oysterer]

dillon 550 and be done with it...nothing better

1.) reloading, when you shoot 500 rounds/week will b e hugely cheaper.

2.) accuracy will be significantly improved, by a high margin once you learn how to do it and what a good load looks like

3.) Factory ammo is too hot, wear the gun, FMJ wears the barrel. Coated bullets like Blue Bullets are most accurate, leave no founding and do not wear the barrels at all.

4.) 41 magnum, 44 special etc, good luck finding that at least than $40 a box of 50. Or even $50/50 for 41s.

5.) Vintage guns like smith revolvers with oversized throats: They will never shoot modern factory ammo well...you got to make your own.

6.) its fun and very rewarding when you developed a custom load that makes your firearm shoot like a laser...

 

[mikld]

For me, money/reloading costs are waaaay down the list for reloading my ammo. In 1969 I was shooting my first 38 Special and when i dumped the brass on on the ground I thought to myself, "I wonder if I could reuse these?". After a bit of research I bought a Lee Loader, 1 lb of Bullseye and 100 CCI primers. I had scrounged a bunch of brass and I already owned a mallet. This was way pre web so I talked to a bunch of fellers at the LGS and stumbled on two guys at the local police range. They were shooting a lot (1911s) and I noticed their ammo was loose in GI ammo cans ans it was brown. (this was before bright shiny, virgin looking handloads was deemed a necessity). I talked to them for a while and went and bought a Speer manual as per their recommendation. I read that manual, then tried the library, and the rest is history. I now reload for 12 calibers, cast and PC most of my bullets, have 4 reloading presses, 3 scales, and 1.42 metric tons of assorted reloading tools. I don't waste money, but it is nearly the last thing I consider when I reload...

I would suggest to anyone thinking about reloading to get a copy of "The ABCs of Reloading" and see what reloading is all about. The text shows the "how to" of reloading, the equipment used, and explains the components. Not many reloading equipment vendors have catalogs anymore but if you can find some you can get a good idea of what equipment is available and costs (I have MidwayUSA, MidSouth, Precision Reloading and a Sinclair catalogs).

 

[hyena]

I recently got back into reloading. I started loading 9mm in college in the 1970's with a single stage press (Rock Chucker). Eventually quit, and packed the equipment away for 40 years. Now retired, last year I decided to dig it back out. Not for 9mm. I don't shoot much 9mm, and at $10 per box I don't care to reload it. I load .38 Special and .45 ACP.

I decided I wanted something a bit faster than the single stage press. Just got tired of handling each piece of brass 5 times to get a finished cartridge. My shooting buddy has a Dillon 550, and has used it for years and years. He let me load a few hundred rounds of .45 to get a feel for it. It's a great machine, but I decided it was more than I needed or wanted at this time. I bought a Lee Classic Turret instead. Very pleased with my decision. Unlikely I will ever "upgrade" to a progressive. I like the LCT over a single stage because you are handling each case MUCH less. Same number of cranks of the handle, but other than the resizing/depriming step, the effort is negligible.

I guess my advice would be to start cheap. You might work up to a Dillon, but you also might find you don't like reloading after you've tried it.

Good luck.

 

[walnutred]

For learning on handgun calibers I would suggest look for a turret press. I still have the Lyman turret I started learning on in the early 70s and use it for small patches 100+/- and for load development. I find working up a load much easier on the old Lyman than on my Dillon 450.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Rule of thumb.

If you shoot a lot you can break even on the equipment cost in a year.

I would say 500 rounds a month of what you shoot would put you around 2 years to recoup your equipment costs of 1K.

Most people who reload don't really think about the cost savings tho. They do it as a hobby like I do. If you ever get into shooting any cartridges that can't be found in the brass buckets you will want to reload for sure. The more expensive the ammo the more attractive reloading becomes. Ammo prices won't stay this low forever.

Example (brass factory ammo)
9x19 0.15/rd
45 ACP 0.25/rd.


I could easily afford to not load 9x19. 45ACP is a different story because I shoot about 3500 rds a year. I can load it for about 0.18/rd. I'm saving about $250/yr loading it myself. I shoot some other cartridges also so I would say I save myself around $750/yr by reloading. Plus I have something to do in the winter when there's snow on the ground.

 

[typetwelve]

Ok, I'll put my $.02 in on this one. I've kicked around reloading for well over a decade now. Personally, I liked the entire idea of it as not only a hobby, but as a cost saving measure. Focusing purely on cost savings, it just wasn't worth it, except for those panic times when ammo hit insane prices.

I finally took the plunge last winter and all I can say is that I wish I had done it earlier. Not only do I find the entire sub-hobby highly enjoyable, but it is yielding some cost savings (but not 100% ROI as of yet) reloading more costly ammo like target WC 38 special or 44 special ammo.

If you really want to know, I went with a Dillon 550 and as of typing this, I have zero regrets, it's a superb machine.

 

[OKFC05]

I've reloaded metallic and shotgun for over 50 years, and my advice is DON'T BUY ANYTHING. Find a mentor who will show you how and let you load some on his equipment. THEN decide whether you want to reload, and buy something decent, not the Lee whack-a mole. READ the theory section of at least one bullet manual and one powder company manual, and see what suits your personality. And some people shouldn't reload. I find it a rich and rewarding hobby in itself, and have started many people reloading, many on the Lee Classic turret, and several right on the Dillon Progressives.

 

[292]

I reload for the sheer joy of doing it myself.

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/LEE-PRECISION-Breech-Lock-Challenger/dp/B003ISVWC6[/ame]

I started with this kit almost 10 years ago. Other than a better scale, another powder measure and a different priming tool I'm still using it. I'm not a high volume shooter, I enjoy trying different components and trying get them to shoot in my guns. In my humble opinion the real money savings is in casting your own bullets. Assuming you have access to free or at least cheap wheel weights.

 

[AlHunt]

Buy a decent reloading manual and read the "How to" section. All your questions will be answered. To your specific question, there are several ways to weigh or measure powder charges. A scale and trickler or powder measure (verified by the scale) or even a "Little Dandy" powder measure.

I've reloaded since Nixon was in office. I'd also suggest casting just as a matter of self reliance. I can reload 9MM for under $4/box and 44 Mag under $8. I could cut that if I wanted to bulk buy powder and primers.

If you have to buy metal from somewhere like RotoMetals, you can find cast bullets online for about the same cost as buying lead.

Good luck with your new hobby.

 

[SMSgt]

First off, don't invest a bundle into something you may quickly find you hate or don't really have the time for.

A kit is better than piecemealing a set up. While a progressive may be able to crank out hundreds of rounds in no time, they can be cantankerous to set up and keep tuned. It's an expensive investment in something you don't even know you'll enjoy. Like mentioned above, you're better off enjoying the art of reloading over looking at a cost savings.

Turret presses are faster than single-stage presses. Progressives are faster than turret presses. But each has advantages/disadvantages over the others. After nearly 45 years of reloading on a single-stage press, I doubt I'll ever give it up. My needs simply so not justify the costs of upgrading.

Lee...
I know some swear by Lee and have never used anything other than Lee, but IMO, it is basic starter-grade equipment that will get the job done without any bells or whistles. I'd rate it as good, not "better" or "best." And yes, I use some Lee items, but in limited applications.

Money savings will depends on component costs. At some point, you will recoup your investment expenditures. Might be a long time for 9mm range fodder, or quickly if loading 500 Mag S&W. But reloaded ammo will always be cheaper than off the shelf ammo regardless.

Your savings will come through component costs--large bulk orders being cheaper. I would not buy a 16-pound canister of powder, a 1000-count brick of primers, and a 1000-round box of bullets on day one. Save that until you decide you really wish to reload and save some money. One you decide you "enjoy" reloading--not the tedious task some think--then search the various websites for that big discount for a keg of powder, etc.

If you don't find reloading a hobby to run in conjunction with your shooting hobby, then perhaps bulk ammo purchases are better investment of your time and money. Reloading, even with a progressive, still takes time.

 

[reddog81]

500 rounds on a single stage is going to take 6 or 7 hours of sitting at your press to complete. Do you have an extra 2 hours every week to dedicate to reloading? If not I'd be looking at something quicker than a single stage or at least be planning on buying one once you know all the basics.