Basic info please.
- Thread starter Wretched
- Start date
Well, I can only speak from my experience but you start out with basic middle of the road equipment, get a few different powders, primers, bullets etc.
Now you shoot more because you have the supplies, you start loading for different calibers and guns. Pretty soon you want better dies, better scales, a better press and there is no end to gadgets that you absolutely have to have (or atleast convince yourself of that). There are still different powders you haven't tried yet. And just when everything is almost perfect (almost but never is), you end up buying another gun so can reload for that too. And the cycle continues.
So I would have to say that my reloading has set back my retirement buy a few years atleast.
Now you shoot more because you have the supplies, you start loading for different calibers and guns. Pretty soon you want better dies, better scales, a better press and there is no end to gadgets that you absolutely have to have (or atleast convince yourself of that). There are still different powders you haven't tried yet. And just when everything is almost perfect (almost but never is), you end up buying another gun so can reload for that too. And the cycle continues.
So I would have to say that my reloading has set back my retirement buy a few years atleast.
A "basic reloading rig" entirely depends on what you want to do.
If you just want to get your feet wet without spending too much, there are some basic and inexpensive options. Lee Classic Loaders (aka the Whacker kits) are about $35 each, and have the basics for reloading a single caliber. They don't Full-Length size, so brass fired from one rifle must be reused in that rifle. Other than that, save for being a slow process, it does get you into reloading for a small cost, and with some of the more expensive rounds, you could break even quite quickly. They are quality reloaders too, some of the best long-range loads have been made using a Lee Classic Loader.
Next step up from that are presses. A single-stage press kit can start at about $150 (Lee 50th Anniversary) to several hundred for the likes of RCBS and what not. Those usually have everything you need save for the caliber-specific items (dies, case gauges, etc). Single stages are a moderate investment, and if you decide reloading isn't for you, they usually sell for near what you bought it for, so the risk is low. These are much faster than the whacker kits, but the break-even takes a little while longer to reach. I'm using mine (Lee 50th) for .223 and just starting on .303.
If you're looking to crank out hundreds to thousands of rounds, a progressive press is perhaps an order. I don't know much about these to comment on them.
If you just want to get your feet wet without spending too much, there are some basic and inexpensive options. Lee Classic Loaders (aka the Whacker kits) are about $35 each, and have the basics for reloading a single caliber. They don't Full-Length size, so brass fired from one rifle must be reused in that rifle. Other than that, save for being a slow process, it does get you into reloading for a small cost, and with some of the more expensive rounds, you could break even quite quickly. They are quality reloaders too, some of the best long-range loads have been made using a Lee Classic Loader.
Next step up from that are presses. A single-stage press kit can start at about $150 (Lee 50th Anniversary) to several hundred for the likes of RCBS and what not. Those usually have everything you need save for the caliber-specific items (dies, case gauges, etc). Single stages are a moderate investment, and if you decide reloading isn't for you, they usually sell for near what you bought it for, so the risk is low. These are much faster than the whacker kits, but the break-even takes a little while longer to reach. I'm using mine (Lee 50th) for .223 and just starting on .303.
If you're looking to crank out hundreds to thousands of rounds, a progressive press is perhaps an order. I don't know much about these to comment on them.
It all depends on what your loading for and what your goals are.
For 9mm, 223, 12 gauge trap (plinking loads) you can buy for just about the same cost as reloading, so if you don't shoot a ton of it and don't have alot of spare time it's not worth it.
If you want custom loads for softer or more recoil, benchrest grade ammo or hard to find ammo it's most definitely worth it.
I've got alot of equipment (mostly Lee stuff ) for reloading 9mm,38/357mag,45acp,500mag,7.62x54r, 7.5x55, 8x56r, and 12gauge. For the amount of money I've spent I made it all back on 500mag alone. I've reloaded about 1500 rounds now for about $550 give or take some. Factory ammo, if I could find it in that quantity, would have cost $5600.
For 9mm, 223, 12 gauge trap (plinking loads) you can buy for just about the same cost as reloading, so if you don't shoot a ton of it and don't have alot of spare time it's not worth it.
If you want custom loads for softer or more recoil, benchrest grade ammo or hard to find ammo it's most definitely worth it.
I've got alot of equipment (mostly Lee stuff ) for reloading 9mm,38/357mag,45acp,500mag,7.62x54r, 7.5x55, 8x56r, and 12gauge. For the amount of money I've spent I made it all back on 500mag alone. I've reloaded about 1500 rounds now for about $550 give or take some. Factory ammo, if I could find it in that quantity, would have cost $5600.
This really should be a sticky.
here is what i consider as minimum for a basic starter reloading setup:
1. reloading press: single station press or turret press; $50-$200 (Lee turret - $100)
2. balance beam scale: $60-$100 (don't skim[p on this, use RCBS or better)
3. case prep kit: $20-$50 Lyman makes a good set.
4. caliper or micrometer: $20-$100; (canadian tire digital caliper: $20)
5. bullet puller: $30
6. reloading dies (per caliber) $40-$60
7. hand priming tool - only needed if your press doesn't come with one: $40-$50
8. trimmer: about $10 per caliber (Lee hand held is perfectly fine)
9. loading block $10 (or make it yourself with a 2x4 and a drill)
10. powder funnel
plus the cost of brass, primers, powder, case lube, and bullets. You need to do the legwork yourself to determine what this will cost. Just figure out the cost per round for reloading and compare it to the cost per round of factory ammo. It's not hard.
There are other things you might buy later but this is enough to get you started making good quality ammo.
If you are mainly reloading rifle then you don't need a turret press. Get the single stage.
If you shoot less than a few hundred rounds a year then you probably won't save any money by reloading but you might get better ammo out of it.
here is what i consider as minimum for a basic starter reloading setup:
1. reloading press: single station press or turret press; $50-$200 (Lee turret - $100)
2. balance beam scale: $60-$100 (don't skim[p on this, use RCBS or better)
3. case prep kit: $20-$50 Lyman makes a good set.
4. caliper or micrometer: $20-$100; (canadian tire digital caliper: $20)
5. bullet puller: $30
6. reloading dies (per caliber) $40-$60
7. hand priming tool - only needed if your press doesn't come with one: $40-$50
8. trimmer: about $10 per caliber (Lee hand held is perfectly fine)
9. loading block $10 (or make it yourself with a 2x4 and a drill)
10. powder funnel
plus the cost of brass, primers, powder, case lube, and bullets. You need to do the legwork yourself to determine what this will cost. Just figure out the cost per round for reloading and compare it to the cost per round of factory ammo. It's not hard.
There are other things you might buy later but this is enough to get you started making good quality ammo.
If you are mainly reloading rifle then you don't need a turret press. Get the single stage.
If you shoot less than a few hundred rounds a year then you probably won't save any money by reloading but you might get better ammo out of it.
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As Jorkupp says, you can get a Lee Loader for about $40 that will do the job just fine.
http://www.amazon.ca/s/?ie=UTF8&key...vptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_1ruibe5csq_e
Slow, but you can learn and appreciate the basics before spending big $ on a rig you want.
http://www.amazon.ca/s/?ie=UTF8&key...vptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_1ruibe5csq_e
Slow, but you can learn and appreciate the basics before spending big $ on a rig you want.
The way I look at it is that if you are going to even think about reloading a single stage press is in order. Even if this is not up to the speed you want to reload it works very well for fixing errors later on.
Lee 50th aniversary is a good starting press $150. Get a good scale $125. Dies per caliber $45. Trimming tools $20. Digital calipers $20. Bullet puller $20. Reloading manual $30........ Therefore, approximately $400+ for something decent to reload your first bullets
Lee 50th aniversary is a good starting press $150. Get a good scale $125. Dies per caliber $45. Trimming tools $20. Digital calipers $20. Bullet puller $20. Reloading manual $30........ Therefore, approximately $400+ for something decent to reload your first bullets
A plus side to making your own ammo is once you get a recipe of components that works for your firearm you will shoot more accurate ammo when you want/need it. Even when others can't find ammo. ( As long as you have components on hand) Don't do it thinking you'll save money. I suppose you will save over the cost per rnd but will shoot more and have the ammo you want. It is a whole hobby in itself. Do it and be ready for a new obsession.
It all depends on the rounds you are loading for. I've owned quite a few magnums and some proprietary rounds as well. For example my 300 Wby can cost 4$ every time you squeeze the trigger with premium ammo. Reloading for the rifle brings the cost below a dollar per round. On the other surplus ammo for a Mosin is about 30 cents per round so reloading isn't really worth it if all you want to do is plink.
Easy to figure out cost. 7000 gr /gr per load gives you loads per pound then add the cost of the bullet and primer. Brass can be used several times
Warning: Reloading is a hobby that become addictive and you"ll want to add more equipment as the years go by. You will also want to buy more rifles just so you can load for them as we'll
Go for it it will give you something to do on those days when you can't go out and shoot
Easy to figure out cost. 7000 gr /gr per load gives you loads per pound then add the cost of the bullet and primer. Brass can be used several times
Warning: Reloading is a hobby that become addictive and you"ll want to add more equipment as the years go by. You will also want to buy more rifles just so you can load for them as we'll
Go for it it will give you something to do on those days when you can't go out and shoot
Well, I can only speak from my experience but you start out with basic middle of the road equipment, get a few different powders, primers, bullets etc.
Now you shoot more because you have the supplies, you start loading for different calibers and guns. Pretty soon you want better dies, better scales, a better press and there is no end to gadgets that you absolutely have to have (or atleast convince yourself of that). There are still different powders you haven't tried yet. And just when everything is almost perfect (almost but never is), you end up buying another gun so can reload for that too. And the cycle continues.
So I would have to say that my reloading has set back my retirement buy a few years atleast.
Basically what he is saying is that it snow balls on you and God help you you will never know what hit you (or your pocket book, oh right we do this to save money ......... ).
- Location
- West Quebec
Should be a sticky ..and don't forget it is fun mostly
I actually like to sit down and reload, it's kind of relaxing...
I got a smokin' deal on my set up, guy hadn't shot in years and it was collecting dust, he almost paid me to take it away... and it paid for itself after I loaded all the components it came with.
I got a smokin' deal on my set up, guy hadn't shot in years and it was collecting dust, he almost paid me to take it away... and it paid for itself after I loaded all the components it came with.
- Location
- B.C. Interior
I got into reloading to save some money -that backfired but I do shoot a whole lot more now!
Look into one of the Beginner's Kits(partial to RCBS myself, but they're a bit more expensive. You do get their legendary warrantee though. Have any issues no matter who caused it or bought it new and they'll fix it with an e-mail or phone call, for ever.) Gives you everything you need less dies and shell holder.
Buy another manual too. The one that comes with most kits is ok, but limited in versatility. RCBS uses a Speer manual. It'll have Speer stuff only and limited powders. The Lyman book is the exact opposite. Isn't cheap though. $50 in Canada, last time I looked. You can order it directly from Lyman though.
Buying all the stuff separately will cost you more. Think in terms of around $500 plus whatever you pay for a solid work bench(easily cobbled together, but do not use particle board of any type for the top. It breaks on the first use. Even thick stuff.) A Black and Decker Workmate is good enough.
Buying used RCBS kit is ok. Still covered by their warrantee. Other company's kit usually is not, but it takes a lot of abuse to damage it.
How long it takes to pay for itself depends on how much you shoot. Think about 6 months for average use handgun shooting. Mind you, reloading isn't about saving money. It's about using the best possible ammo out of your firearms.
Buy another manual too. The one that comes with most kits is ok, but limited in versatility. RCBS uses a Speer manual. It'll have Speer stuff only and limited powders. The Lyman book is the exact opposite. Isn't cheap though. $50 in Canada, last time I looked. You can order it directly from Lyman though.
Buying all the stuff separately will cost you more. Think in terms of around $500 plus whatever you pay for a solid work bench(easily cobbled together, but do not use particle board of any type for the top. It breaks on the first use. Even thick stuff.) A Black and Decker Workmate is good enough.
Buying used RCBS kit is ok. Still covered by their warrantee. Other company's kit usually is not, but it takes a lot of abuse to damage it.
How long it takes to pay for itself depends on how much you shoot. Think about 6 months for average use handgun shooting. Mind you, reloading isn't about saving money. It's about using the best possible ammo out of your firearms.
If you have $1000 dollars in your jeans and want to spend it over the years as you gain experience and a "gotta have that" syndrome, it will go.
With a basic kit from RCBS starting at $300 you can get started. For one cartridge, by the time you add dies, brass, bullets, powder, primers, and shell holder . . . add $100 to $200.
The deluxe kit is more, and after your first loading the trim to length equipment might prove useful.
It is a life time of experience and satisfaction that can't be beat. Having started reloading in 1965 with a set of dies and using a friend's equipment, then acquiring my own press (used) and by then reloading for 3 cartridges. A Forster trimmer required guides, and then an outside neck reamer, and some more dies. Eventually I bought a Rockchucker press, and another one to go to the range, and another Forster for convenience. When one powder and bullet combination was not quite right . . . well you get where that is going.
The first rifle I loaded for was a 30-06. Loads were developed for 110, 125, 130, 150, 165, 168, 180 and 220.
The signature suggests a continuation but over the course of time, "guns I have owned" exceeds 45.
With a basic kit from RCBS starting at $300 you can get started. For one cartridge, by the time you add dies, brass, bullets, powder, primers, and shell holder . . . add $100 to $200.
The deluxe kit is more, and after your first loading the trim to length equipment might prove useful.
It is a life time of experience and satisfaction that can't be beat. Having started reloading in 1965 with a set of dies and using a friend's equipment, then acquiring my own press (used) and by then reloading for 3 cartridges. A Forster trimmer required guides, and then an outside neck reamer, and some more dies. Eventually I bought a Rockchucker press, and another one to go to the range, and another Forster for convenience. When one powder and bullet combination was not quite right . . . well you get where that is going.
The first rifle I loaded for was a 30-06. Loads were developed for 110, 125, 130, 150, 165, 168, 180 and 220.
The signature suggests a continuation but over the course of time, "guns I have owned" exceeds 45.
