I currently shoot a 223, 270 and 30-30. Thinking about starting to reload and wondering what the best way to go. A full kit, hand load, or maybe piece something together. I have the calibers, mics, and chamfers etc a Tool and die marker by trade. Your opinions are valued. Thanks.
Best way to start
- Thread starter bucont
- Start date
Question 1 are you doing it for fun or to save money. Or for precision ammo.
If it’s to save money. Price everything first. Components mainly. See what it is vs a factory round.
Then add all the gear you need. And math your ROI round count.
Scrap the idea. And buy loaded ammo that’ll last you forever.
Precision ammo is completely different.
But the calibers mentioned. I’m not thinning this is where you’re headed
If it’s to save money. Price everything first. Components mainly. See what it is vs a factory round.
Then add all the gear you need. And math your ROI round count.
Scrap the idea. And buy loaded ammo that’ll last you forever.
Precision ammo is completely different.
But the calibers mentioned. I’m not thinning this is where you’re headed
Reduce the cost of ammo to be able shoot at the range more and just plain satisfaction. The hunting rifles currently make one or two trips to the range a year to make sure they are on and that is it. I shoot the 22 and 223 mostly.
Xreload has a cost calculator of reloading vs buying and how many reloads to break even with your initial set up too.
Frontier firearms has a great deal on a hornady set up.
I still use a single stage lee myself. The greatest thing was a auto charge, it saves so much time.
Plinking though... usually equates buying factory stuff.
270, 30-30 and 223 plinking loads you won't save much.
Frontier firearms has a great deal on a hornady set up.
I still use a single stage lee myself. The greatest thing was a auto charge, it saves so much time.
Plinking though... usually equates buying factory stuff.
270, 30-30 and 223 plinking loads you won't save much.
You missed my message. I’d calculate how many rounds you’ll have to load to ROI everything. You’ll be surprised. And for the calibers mentioned. Probably not worth it imo
For 223
A primer about 10 cents.
A bullet about 30 cents plinker grade
Powder 40 cents give or take.
Brass. Free. It’s all over the fkn place at the range
Anyways. For 1 223 round it costs 80 cents. This is assuming everything else to load this round was free.
This is 80 cents a round. Ready to go
https://www.gotenda.com/product/pmc-x-tac-5-56-nato-55-gr-fmjbt-ammunition-battle-pack-of-200/
But let’s just say it costs 70 cents a round to reload. And reloading equipment costs 400 bucks
You’re gunna have to reload 4000 rounds of ammo to break even. Spending 2800 bucks on reloading components
Which buys 4000 rounds of battle packs
A primer about 10 cents.
A bullet about 30 cents plinker grade
Powder 40 cents give or take.
Brass. Free. It’s all over the fkn place at the range
Anyways. For 1 223 round it costs 80 cents. This is assuming everything else to load this round was free.
This is 80 cents a round. Ready to go
https://www.gotenda.com/product/pmc-x-tac-5-56-nato-55-gr-fmjbt-ammunition-battle-pack-of-200/
But let’s just say it costs 70 cents a round to reload. And reloading equipment costs 400 bucks
You’re gunna have to reload 4000 rounds of ammo to break even. Spending 2800 bucks on reloading components
Which buys 4000 rounds of battle packs
Last edited:
I purchased a Redding Big Boss II pro pack years ago and am very happy with its performance. The press is very solid with tight tolerances giving smooth operation.
I find reloading relaxing so I don’t mind taking time to do it. I use a beam scale for weighing and have the appropriate headspace gauges and comparators.
I added a powered trimmer for cases as this is my least favourite step and the Redding trimmer was finicky.
I’ve found my reloading process has evolved over time. ####### has been great as far as selling and buying different equipment second hand goes.
I find reloading relaxing so I don’t mind taking time to do it. I use a beam scale for weighing and have the appropriate headspace gauges and comparators.
I added a powered trimmer for cases as this is my least favourite step and the Redding trimmer was finicky.
I’ve found my reloading process has evolved over time. ####### has been great as far as selling and buying different equipment second hand goes.
MosinMan13
CGN Regular
- Location
- Thornbury Ontario
Let’s also factor in the big killer these days, shipping and availability.
IF you can find the specific components you want, I find anyways very seldom am I doing a one stop shop, it’s usually powder from one store, cases from another, etc. Stack on insane shipping costs for anything heavy or considered hazardous and you’ve lost and savings right there.
Of course I know this does apply to every caliber, and some folks are fortunate enough to live close enough to multiple ships for supplies. Something for OP to consider though.
IF you can find the specific components you want, I find anyways very seldom am I doing a one stop shop, it’s usually powder from one store, cases from another, etc. Stack on insane shipping costs for anything heavy or considered hazardous and you’ve lost and savings right there.
Of course I know this does apply to every caliber, and some folks are fortunate enough to live close enough to multiple ships for supplies. Something for OP to consider though.
coyoteshooter
CGN Regular
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
reloading a time consuming relaxing enjoyable satisfying activity ....IF you can make the time ie less tv time etc all equipment needed is for sale used on this site get a mentor and not a newbe read books and manuals grow to understand the steps 1 2 3 4 5 not 1 3 5 ........................its no difficult than any other hobby im in for 50 years d and still learning its not a bad thing in moderation and done well .......its not a good thing if its going to be your THIS MONTHS BRIGHT IDEA i think you could fire up with used and some used tools for under 800$ providing you walk past most of the new gotta have tools,,,,,,,,,all loading can be don OLD SCHOOL with as good or in some cases better results due to simplicity of the tooling used......start simple,,,,understand your mistakes .....go slow .it is a very rewarding time spent
The OP is a tool and die maker and has grandchildren. I assume that he has been in the trade for several years and probably has more tools than he remembers buying. Some likely have not been out of his toolbox in years, but he still has one somewhere if he ever needs it again. (ask me how I know)
Just about everyone above is trying to talk him out of reloading. What reloading does besides saving money in the long run is it allows you to tailor your ammo to your rifles. The money savings is not instant and could take several years to break even after the initial start up cost.
The other downside of reloading and thinking that you are saving money is that you will end up shooting more which cancels out any savings.
Buying a full reloading kit isn't that bad of an idea and will get you well on you way. However over the years you will end up upgrading everything anyway.
Just about everyone above is trying to talk him out of reloading. What reloading does besides saving money in the long run is it allows you to tailor your ammo to your rifles. The money savings is not instant and could take several years to break even after the initial start up cost.
The other downside of reloading and thinking that you are saving money is that you will end up shooting more which cancels out any savings.
Buying a full reloading kit isn't that bad of an idea and will get you well on you way. However over the years you will end up upgrading everything anyway.
The best part of reloading is you will always have ammo on hand even if the store runs out or there is a shortage
You just need to think ahead and keep your components stocked up
I load 30 plus calibers and 3 shotgun gauges, every time I go to a shop I am coming home with some kind of reloading component to add to the stash
You just need to think ahead and keep your components stocked up
I load 30 plus calibers and 3 shotgun gauges, every time I go to a shop I am coming home with some kind of reloading component to add to the stash
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I have noticed much misunderstanding about reloading from people that come to see me about it - yes, I USED to be able to load a box of shells for $5 - but not any more - you buy the bullets, brass, primers and powder and use my tooling to develop your loads for your rifle - you will discover the process is not "cheap" and you can not do anything unless you have ALL the gizmo's for that cartridge - not just MOST of the stuff. There is about 20 or 25 types of powder in my storage - at least another triple that many are available to buy. Several thousand primers of four sizes / types in the drawer - and I have never reloaded for handgun cartridges - only centre-fire rifles. Several hundred pounds of bullets on shelves. Die sets and shell holders for each cartridge that I reload. Everybody and their brother seems to want to sell a bullet. So, pick a recipe and "go for it". No point to get a "good deal" on stuff that you can not repeat purchase - there is nothing that says the stuff that was made 30 years ago is the "same" stuff that was made yesterday. There are easily 10 or more brands of reloading manuals on my desk - older versions of several are in a box up on a shelf.
You can find bulk 223 for 62 cents per round. At that price you won’t save any money reloading. It might even be more expensive when you add up the cost of bullets, powder and primers. Also figure brass doesn’t last forever so you will still need to buy some loaded ammo or brass from time to time. You will save a bit of money reloading 270 and 30-30 but not a ton. The cost savings gets better when shooting less common or obsolete calibers (ammo that costs over 50 bucks a box).
I started reloading with an original Lee loader set for 303. They still sell them and that is the cheapest way to get started. It’s basically a set of dies that you tap with a rubber mallet instead of using in a press. If you only shoot a couple boxes of each caliber per year and really want to reload that might be the way to go but it’s gets old really quick. If loading more than a box at a time I’d go straight to a simple, inexpensive single stage press and powder measure. You will also need a case trimmer. I wouldn’t worry about any other equipment to start and wouldn’t recommend any of the “starter kits”.
I started reloading with an original Lee loader set for 303. They still sell them and that is the cheapest way to get started. It’s basically a set of dies that you tap with a rubber mallet instead of using in a press. If you only shoot a couple boxes of each caliber per year and really want to reload that might be the way to go but it’s gets old really quick. If loading more than a box at a time I’d go straight to a simple, inexpensive single stage press and powder measure. You will also need a case trimmer. I wouldn’t worry about any other equipment to start and wouldn’t recommend any of the “starter kits”.
Licensed to kill
CGN Regular
- Location
- Peace Country Alberta
I’ve heard this before and still can’t wrap my head around the “logic”. To my way of thinking, it’s like saying why bother with a better paying job, you’ll just spend the extra money anyways. I don’t know about others but I own guns to SHOOT them and whatever allows more of that is a good thing.
I don’t know about the self sufficiency/shortage argument. It seems like when there is an ammo shortage there is also a shortage on reloading components. They’re made at the same factories for the most part. You can say stock components deep to get through the shortages but you could just do the same thing with factory ammo too. The only time that starts to change is when you start looking at casting bullets from locally sourced scrap lead
