when i used to shoot a lot of .308, 22-250, 6ppc reloading was practically the only way to go for really accurate setups. But i wouldn't say it was cheaper since we ended up buying 'premium' components and bought them up in bulk...seemingly every trip to the range was followed up with a trip to restock on primers, bullets, powder, or something. And then cleaning supplies add up too...lol
now it's all much more recreational and 'just fun'. 9mm can be a bit cheaper than cheap non-surplus stuff (e.g. wolf reloads). Not by much though. Nice to be able to put away a thousand rounds though as described so as to skip the ordering/delivery timing with your range trips. Don't know about .223, I don't know that i would bother since my .223 is for varmints and it'll take a while to run through the boxes of factory that it prefers. For just plinking with any of the military calibers it's impossible to beat the cost of surplus ammo if you're just making noise, smoke and confetti.
I would say that if you're shooting volume for something like a 9mm getting a progressive press like a dillon square B is a solid move. I cringe at thinking of cranking out 1000 rounds of 9mm on a single stage or a even a manual multi stage. I have a dillion 550 as well but the auto indexing for the 9mm setup will just spoil you.
For other calibers, like the 45-70, reloading is a really nice option. Cheap-ish ammo choices are very limited for plinking and other loads all carry a premium price. And then there's the whole tailoring your load for your purpose.
So, i suppose that it comes down to what type of shooting you're doing...how much of it you'll do...and what turns your crank. Just blasting for fun...run surplus or cheapest stuff you can get (i.e. wolf, win white box, etc...). Want utmost accuracy potential, or want something that you can't buy, then reload. Factory options too scarce, limited or pricey...then reload. Regardless if you end up buying components to reload or ready to go ammo...when you find what you need, buy lots (pun intended).
If you go down the reloading road...again factor in the cost of all the reloading stuff you'll need. First thing to buy is a Lyman Reloading Guide. Solid, informative investment...even if you don't end up reloading. Then figure how much you'll be reloading. 20-50-100rounds at a time...a single or manual progressive is just fine (IMO). Taking an extra large bag of 9mm to the range every weekend...consider an auto-indexing progressive. Doesn't have to have the auto case feeder and the auto bullet feeder...but the auto primer and power functions are clutch.
It's nice to have a setup for each caliber...and leave them setup. Not a necessity though at all...but since it's fun to shoot a variety of stuff a lot of guys end up reloading for a number of different rounds. I have a progressive dillon for 9mm, a single stage Lee for 45-70, a dillon 550 for 357/44/40, an arbor press w/ hand dies for 6ppc and an old rcbs single for misc other things (resizing brass, the odd 30-06 loads, etc...). I didn't buy that all at once...just gathered a piece here and there over time. There are lots of good used stuff deals on the equipment exchange...but decide what you're going to load and how much you'll do before buying something.
So far as learning how to do it...read the Lyman book. I can't recall the RCBS one off hand but the Speer and Barnes ones don't seem to have nearly the same amount of info in them. Go slow...be careful. Double check. If you can learn from someone else...great. But vet what they say/do against some other reference so you're not picking up any bad habits. Also...anytime I've called RCBS or Lyman their guys on the phone are super helpful and can usually answer any run of the mill question you might have.
Hope that helps.
now it's all much more recreational and 'just fun'. 9mm can be a bit cheaper than cheap non-surplus stuff (e.g. wolf reloads). Not by much though. Nice to be able to put away a thousand rounds though as described so as to skip the ordering/delivery timing with your range trips. Don't know about .223, I don't know that i would bother since my .223 is for varmints and it'll take a while to run through the boxes of factory that it prefers. For just plinking with any of the military calibers it's impossible to beat the cost of surplus ammo if you're just making noise, smoke and confetti.
I would say that if you're shooting volume for something like a 9mm getting a progressive press like a dillon square B is a solid move. I cringe at thinking of cranking out 1000 rounds of 9mm on a single stage or a even a manual multi stage. I have a dillion 550 as well but the auto indexing for the 9mm setup will just spoil you.
For other calibers, like the 45-70, reloading is a really nice option. Cheap-ish ammo choices are very limited for plinking and other loads all carry a premium price. And then there's the whole tailoring your load for your purpose.
So, i suppose that it comes down to what type of shooting you're doing...how much of it you'll do...and what turns your crank. Just blasting for fun...run surplus or cheapest stuff you can get (i.e. wolf, win white box, etc...). Want utmost accuracy potential, or want something that you can't buy, then reload. Factory options too scarce, limited or pricey...then reload. Regardless if you end up buying components to reload or ready to go ammo...when you find what you need, buy lots (pun intended).
If you go down the reloading road...again factor in the cost of all the reloading stuff you'll need. First thing to buy is a Lyman Reloading Guide. Solid, informative investment...even if you don't end up reloading. Then figure how much you'll be reloading. 20-50-100rounds at a time...a single or manual progressive is just fine (IMO). Taking an extra large bag of 9mm to the range every weekend...consider an auto-indexing progressive. Doesn't have to have the auto case feeder and the auto bullet feeder...but the auto primer and power functions are clutch.
It's nice to have a setup for each caliber...and leave them setup. Not a necessity though at all...but since it's fun to shoot a variety of stuff a lot of guys end up reloading for a number of different rounds. I have a progressive dillon for 9mm, a single stage Lee for 45-70, a dillon 550 for 357/44/40, an arbor press w/ hand dies for 6ppc and an old rcbs single for misc other things (resizing brass, the odd 30-06 loads, etc...). I didn't buy that all at once...just gathered a piece here and there over time. There are lots of good used stuff deals on the equipment exchange...but decide what you're going to load and how much you'll do before buying something.
So far as learning how to do it...read the Lyman book. I can't recall the RCBS one off hand but the Speer and Barnes ones don't seem to have nearly the same amount of info in them. Go slow...be careful. Double check. If you can learn from someone else...great. But vet what they say/do against some other reference so you're not picking up any bad habits. Also...anytime I've called RCBS or Lyman their guys on the phone are super helpful and can usually answer any run of the mill question you might have.
Hope that helps.
