Beginner re loading setup within a budget?

sthorvictor

sthorvictor

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Have debated taking up re loading for a couple common rounds .308, 30-06, possibly some milsurp sizes however for non corrosive powders and different bullet grains and styles. And possibly some oddball rounds down the road as the collection grows. Debating getting something set up in the next year or so.
-First question, at what point does re loading become cost effective, vs buying rounds? (Or just more for the sake of something to do?)
-Second, is it possible to get a decent set up on a budget 800-1500? Going from your experiences, equipment that has worked well and or things that were terrible? (Good manufactures, and those to avoid) or my budget needs to be increased drastically..

I appreciate your thoughts and input, if this gets tossed over to another thread I apologize for opening this one. Thanks!
 
I think you have a great budget.
I reload, because I like to shoot a lot of ammo,so it’s cheaper for me , in that respect.

RCBS supreme kit,
Couple of sets of dies (EE)
Powder trickler
Brass Trimmer
Calipers
Brass cleaner

That should get ya started.

$1000 or less.
 
I load for hunting rifles maybe at the most 50 rounds at a time.
30-30 Win, .308 Win, .300 Win Mag, .44 Mag, .45-70GVT
I use a Lee hand press.
I have a RCBS powder scale, a powder trickler, a few sets of dies (Lee), Lee case trimmer, the Lee dipper set, chamfer tool and primer pocket cleaner, Lee powder funnel, RCBS hand primer, Lee factory crimp die.
Clean the cases inside with copper or nylon brush on electric drill.
Clean the outside with copper scrub pad.
Copper is softer than the case brass and won't scratch it.
About as dirt cheap as it gets and turns out great accurate ammo.
For one gun about $300.
 
Great Budget, especially if you find a good sale or something on EE.

Cost effectiveness is a grey area. I find it really more about the shooting. Yes rounds are cheaper to make yourself and u can get better quality and tune the rounds in for each gun. But i loose cost effectiveness because i shoot more and buy new gadgets but hey its a hobby. I have heard of people reloading under 50 rnds a year for hunting because their rifle likes it better. so the ROI will take a lonf time but they get the ammo they want
 
I usually shoot 100 to 150 rnds of .308,.223 per session.
Vmax,Nosler ballistic tipped ,etc.
Cost me 50 cents ish .223 and about a buck for the .308.

If I were to buy the factory crap , it would cost me $1.60 (.223) and $3.00 (.308) per rnd.
 
If you're loader 20-50 rounds at a time for hunting you don't even need a full sized press.
The little red 2-handle Lee hand held press is all I have.
Works with any brand of 7/8"-14 dies.
If you load for the same gun all the time even one of the legacy Lee loaders will do a good job.
No sense in a guy like me who loads 50 rounds a year having a RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 or big blue expensive Dillon multi-station press laying around.
Complete waste of money and the smaller systems are a lot more portable.
I load ammo for my 1895GS 45-70 with a legacy Lee loader that puts em all in 1 hole at 100 yds.
 
win94luver said:
If you're loader 20-50 rounds at a time for hunting you don't even need a full sized press.
The little red 2-handle Lee hand held press is all I have.
Works with any brand of 7/8"-14 dies.
If you load for the same gun all the time even one of the legacy Lee loaders will do a good job.
No sense in a guy like me who loads 50 rounds a year having a RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 or big blue expensive Dillon multi-station press laying around.
Complete waste of money and the smaller systems are a lot more portable.
I load ammo for my 1895GS 45-70 with a legacy Lee loader that puts em all in 1 hole at 100 yds.
Click to expand...
ya but, how big is that hole? :)
 
win94luver said:
If you're loader 20-50 rounds at a time for hunting you don't even need a full sized press.
The little red 2-handle Lee hand held press is all I have.
Works with any brand of 7/8"-14 dies.
If you load for the same gun all the time even one of the legacy Lee loaders will do a good job.
No sense in a guy like me who loads 50 rounds a year having a RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 or big blue expensive Dillon multi-station press laying around.
Complete waste of money and the smaller systems are a lot more portable.
I load ammo for my 1895GS 45-70 with a legacy Lee loader that puts em all in 1 hole at 100 yds.
Click to expand...

Must be a special rifle to put them all in hole at 100 yds.
 
dan belisle said:
Inexpensive? Lee classic turret press. rcbs scale set. powder trickler. Brass trimmer, and dies. should be around $5-600 or so. - dan
Click to expand...

This, although a inexpensive cast press like a Rcbs Jr is better than a aluminum. Dont get stuck on brand, Google search for reviews, buy decent. Realise that changes and upgrades are constant and continual. Start with basic handtools.

First modern upgrade should be a electronic powder dispenser/measure.
 
jethunter said:
Some good info in older threads on this subject: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...-to-start-reloading?highlight=basic+reloading
Click to expand...

Thank you, was waiting for someone to pop an older thread link up. I will have a read here as well.


So far a wealth of info from everyone. Now its my turn to do some digging and look for their into the info provided!

The plan was to make a pile of rounds and be able to shoot a lot more. Only put 150 rounds of boxed ammo through the .308. Adds up at $35-45/box. Tried a few nato rounds through it, but found the rounds took two hits of the firing pin to go off..also don’t want to be cleaning the snott out of the thing due to the unknown powders. There is also an interest in playing with loads, and grains testing back to back!
 
win94luver said:
I load for hunting rifles maybe at the most 50 rounds at a time.
30-30 Win, .308 Win, .300 Win Mag, .44 Mag, .45-70GVT
I use a Lee hand press.
I have a RCBS powder scale, a powder trickler, a few sets of dies (Lee), Lee case trimmer, the Lee dipper set, chamfer tool and primer pocket cleaner, Lee powder funnel, RCBS hand primer, Lee factory crimp die.
Clean the cases inside with copper or nylon brush on electric drill.
Clean the outside with copper scrub pad.
Copper is softer than the case brass and won't scratch it.
About as dirt cheap as it gets and turns out great accurate ammo.
For one gun about $300.
Click to expand...

If you have a treadmill in the house you can make a stainless steel tumbler for less than $20.00.
 
Welcome to madness of reloading? First answer, do I save money, NO, but, you get to shoot 2-3 times as many rounds for the same price. Example: 308, 155 gr Fusion rounds for deer hunting are $40 a box of 20, so 5 boxes ($200), for $200 of 308 Reloads,

$42, for 100 bullets heads,
$32 for 1lb of Varget Powder,
Your own brass (free),
$8.00 for 100 larger rifle primers

So far you have spent $86.00 for 100 rds

Powder (1lb) of Varget for me produces 191(approx.) powder charges of 42 grains of powder per bullet.

So you still could buy 200 bullet heads, 200 primers for about $100.

Reloading becomes cost effect the more you shoot. If you are guy who zeros rifle for deer hunting and takes one shot at deer. Not worth the price.

All my reloading gear I have picked up used over the last 7 years. I am LEE Precision guy for dies, RCBS for press. I only have single stage presses, as I have lots of time and enjoy the perfection of building custom loads for each gun I own. I have 3 rifle/Pistol presses and 3 MEC Shotgun reloading presses (2 3/4 - 3 1/2 shells steel/lead). I find LEE has the best all around starter kits, and great distribution in Canada, so getting parts is always easy. Next is RCBS, next Hornaday. Dillon is the only progressive press I would buy, if I was to get into production, truly beautiful machines.

My most expensive reloading items I own is the Franklin Arsenal Case Prep Center machine..because chucking 5000 .223 brass in a drill, or bench trimmer, each year is very boring and sucks....

I cast bullets out of lead for, shotgun, Black powder, and most rifles I own...that is a whole other subject and passion, plus, I made my first batch black powder from scratch this year.

It is nice to know I can be self sufficient if the SHTF scenario ever occurs, or taking a turkey with BP, with own handmade powder, wads, shot. It really is a journey.

Good luck.
 
I bought the Lee 50th anniversary kit for around $200. It gave me a sturdy press, balance beam scale, powder drop, trimmer, primer pocket cleaner, safety prime and a few other doo dads. I buy 4 piece Lee dies and quick trim resizing dies. I bought a cheap ultrasonic cleaner and digital scale from Amazon. I don't think I'v surpassed $500 yet and have good equipment for 2 calibers. I have bought LOTS of brass, primers, projectiles, and powders though, my $500 on equipment sits in a large shadow from my supplies budget. I think I'm ready for doomsday or something. I tend to buy some sort of component every time I'm in a place that sells them (I live fairly rural with no local spot to buy supplies and shipping is crazy on powders and ammo). I guess that manuals are more in the equipment side than the supplies side and I didn't include them. I think Lee 2nd edition is the most comprehensive manual for a newbie, but buy em all. I've bought several and still use Hodgdon online the most (it's free and covers Hodgdon, Winchester, & IMR powders... I use all Hodgdon powders)
And it all stores nice and neat in a heavy toolbox/garage storage cart type thing I bought for $200 from Can Tire.
 
On two occasions a complete reloading set up was advertised at the club.
Both sellers were getting calls for pieces of the set up but not willing to take it all.
Offered a fair price and got it all . . . $250 for a RCBS Rock Chucker, dies, powder, scale, trimmer, bullets, books . . . everything and I was only wanting a second press to use at the range.
Second deal was similar so now my son has a Rock Chucker Press and there were extras that we would never have known about or bought otherwise.
 
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