never reloaded but want to start... need help

tdk213 said:
I really like the set up suggestions can someone give me an idea of some suppliers of them. I found a few but some of the suggestions im mot sure who sells them such as the dillon and Hornady
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These guys are very competitive & ship to Canada. If you buy from a Yank outfit be sure to specify USPS for the shipping. Couriers like UPS will screw you bad and are no faster than the post office.

ht tp://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/department.asp?dept=RELOADING&dept2=RELOADING%20PRESSES
 
#1 PM ME

#2 I only reload for better accuracy and tuned personal preference, other wise I would just buy bulk ammo

#3 Until you make your mind up start hoarding all the spent cases you can at the range and the ones you fired (second biggest savings in reloading, bulk cast bullets #1)

#4 Its never cheeper to reload no matter what anyone tells you, you'll just pull the trigger more per outing (you spent $60 an outing before you'll spend $60 an outing now)

#5 like anything else there is a cost effective way and an expensive way (a ford ranger, and a f-350 king ranch will both make it to tim's for a morning coffee run)

#6 If its about cost, buy ammo in bulk for the cheeper gun and shoot it more

#7 Personaly I wouldn't reload .223, 9mm or any other ammo you can buy cases of.

I love the art of reloading :)
 
EcoHeliGuy said:
#1 PM ME

#2 I only reload for better accuracy and tuned personal preference, other wise I would just buy bulk ammo

#3 Until you make your mind up start hoarding all the spent cases you can at the range and the ones you fired (second biggest savings in reloading, bulk cast bullets #1)

#4 Its never cheeper to reload no matter what anyone tells you, you'll just pull the trigger more per outing (you spent $60 an outing before you'll spend $60 an outing now)

#5 like anything else there is a cost effective way and an expensive way (a ford ranger, and a f-350 king ranch will both make it to tim's for a morning coffee run)

#6 If its about cost, buy ammo in bulk for the cheeper gun and shoot it more

#7 Personaly I wouldn't reload .223, 9mm or any other ammo you can buy cases of.

I love the art of reloading :)
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#8 EcoHeliGuy is 100% correct !

Only pursue my shopping advice if you're committed to reloading anyway. You will not save money buying 9mm and 45ACP components and putting them together yourself. Those calibers are available as commercial reloads if you want to save a few bux.
 
You will see real savings from .45. To me 9mm is also worth it. Costs me about 8 bux to load 50 9mm. I don't often see it cheaper than 12-13 bux plus tax in a store.
 
With the price of the Norinco .45 ACP from Canada Ammo, you almost can't reload it for cheaper unless you cast your own bullets. I think I figured out that it was going to cost me about $30/100 to reload with store bought cast bullets and not including cost of brass or dies. Granted, shipping is also killing me because of where I live. $330/1000 is a pretty attractive price to me, and it gets even better if you go for the combo and sell the gun. I reload .357 for about 1/3 the cost of buying factory ammo locally, even when I includ shipping on bullets. I also reload for a few rifles for better accuracy.
Kristian
 
Remember you can buy a lot of boxes of Ammo at $13 before you could pay off $500 of reloading equipment to save $5 a box.

A few second search and I got

45acp $0.329/round or $16.45/box for factory ammo
Bullet cost alone: $0.253/round +cases, powder, primer, time

9mm $0.26/round or $13/box for factory ammo
Bullet cost alone: $0.193/round +cases, powder, primer, time
 
What a great time to come across this thread as I am in the same boat.
Reloading rifles on a little single stage has been a lot of fun and I am learning much.
As for the .45 I will keep the brass till I can make up my mind.
I saw a bag of 500 .45 projectiles at the store for near $100 bucks. Ouch!
 
Nick Milligan said:
I saw a bag of 500 .45 projectiles at the store for near $100 bucks. Ouch!
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Yes, 45 is worth casting for.

As soon as I start shooting more pistol this winter (hopefully) when they open the indoor range in town, I am getting an xl650... screw that loadmaster thing.
 
EcoHeliGuy said:
Remember you can buy a lot of boxes of Ammo at $13 before you could pay off $500 of reloading equipment to save $5 a box.

A few second search and I got

45acp $0.329/round or $16.45/box for factory ammo
Bullet cost alone: $0.253/round +cases, powder, primer, time

9mm $0.26/round or $13/box for factory ammo
Bullet cost alone: $0.193/round +cases, powder, primer, time
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So once your done with the press your tossing it out? I would sell it off and make at least half my money back.

I've paid off my casting and reloading stuff with my 500 mag alone. Factory hornady is $70/20 rounds I've shot 1000 through my 500 which = $3500 in ammo. My cost for 50p is 0.25 cents a shot or $250/1000 rounds.

I don't count time because it's a hobby not a job...
 
I am a reloading Newb with about 1500 rounds to my name. I am reloading 9mm, 38 sp/357, 45, 223, 3006. I am using both FMJ and cast projectiles. On average the cast I buy cost about 6 cents each, FMJ more like 9 cents to 30 cents. I use 9mm alot and am reloading them, this won't save me a fortune but it does save me about 60%. 45 and 38 sp can be a significant savings.

Case prep is the big time hog, once you have cases ready to prime you can fly. I use a single stage press because I am a newb and it helps me understand what I am doing. Diagnosis of a problem is easier. Will reloading save me money, likely not but it does allow me to make my own cheaper ammo and this gives me the mental freedom to shoot more rounds at the range which is what this is all about! I have found that I can sort out loads that are more to my liking than the factory ammo available. When I'm shooting paper I don't need to impress, I can load a bit lighter and it is easier on me and my guns.

If you want to get into reloading you should. The monetary benefits are only the tip of the iceberg.
 
kingdarb said:
You will see real savings from .45. To me 9mm is also worth it. Costs me about 8 bux to load 50 9mm. I don't often see it cheaper than 12-13 bux plus tax in a store.
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Citing ammo costs as being per retail pricing of 50 rd boxes is a classic way to mislead. Reloading components come in 1000 pce. lots so fair comparisons must involve bulk 1000 rd. ammo pricing too and should be for bulk commercially reloaded ammo if it is cheaper, because reloaded = reloaded. This is one of the classic fallacies proffered by deluded reloading enthusiasts. Another is treating a press (financially speaking) like it is some kind of capital asset. Its a cost, plain and simple. In addition, the press isn't close to the only cost one incurs in doing this. I expect some CGN accountancy wizards have verniers and bullet pullers in the asset column of their balance sheets too, right under the golf clubs, ski poles and aluminum folding chair ;).

I reload, enjoy it, profit from it due to some of the calibers I use, and recommend it to others. The activity has stand alone merit. Deceptive portrayals of non-existent economic benefits aren't necessary, or fair to prospective new Reloaders.
 
Have to agree with a lot of what HKMark said, i enjoy reloading been at it for 40+ years. If you have gunshows in your area look for good used equipment, i was at a show on sat. and saw a fair bit of equipment for a good deal. The trick i found with doing large amounts in a single stage press is to do it in batches,ie resize and deprime, prime and inspect when your cases are ready to go set up for powder and seating a bullet. With pistol rounds i use a powder measure rather than a scale for each case. I'm setting up a used progressive for 223 and yes i can buy Norc cheaper than i can reload it but my quality will be better.
 
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A couple of key benefits of reloading your own would be:

- Custom loads: You can load hotter or lighter powder loads and customize it to different weight bullets depending on what your firearms like. You can make lighter loads for those that are recoil shy. You can load whatever kind of projectile you want ie Round Nose, Hollow Points, Wad Cutters etc that you might not always find in stock at your LGS.

- No shortage of ammo: If you're going out on a hunt or out to the quarry to do some plinking early the next morning, you don't have to worry about "Oh crap, I need to stop by the LGS to pick up ammo!" provided you keep up your home inventory of components.

- Premium customized match grade ammo that costs less than average quality factory ammo. If you shoot rifle calibers, this is one good reason to get into reloading.

There are costs savings but that might not kick in for 4-5yrs worth of average shooting. Maybe in less time if you shoot a lot more or if there are multiple shooters in the home. Again, it depends on what caliber you're shooting.

I run a single stage press and I can roll out 200rnds of handgun ammo in an 60-75mins. Once you build up a bit of a ammo cache, you're basically just replenishing it at your leisure. I run the tumbler for 3hrs on a timer during the night. The next afternoon after work, I'll spend an hour or two resizing. If I have another free afternoon, I'll flare and prime my cases so I have a bunch all ready for powder and pills. That cuts down your reloading time considerably. Now if you have a progressive press, that can all be done in one sitting but as a beginner, it might be a bit overwhelming if you run into problems.

It's a great way to kill those long winter days and rainy weekends. Then again, if you're married with young kids, your spare time might be limited.
 
HKMark23 said:
Citing ammo costs as being per retail pricing of 50 rd boxes is a classic way to mislead. Reloading components come in 1000 pce. lots so fair comparisons must involve bulk 1000 rd. ammo pricing too and should be for bulk commercially reloaded ammo if it is cheaper, because reloaded = reloaded. This is one of the classic fallacies proffered by deluded reloading enthusiasts. Another is treating a press (financially speaking) like it is some kind of capital asset. Its a cost, plain and simple. In addition, the press isn't close to the only cost one incurs in doing this. I expect some CGN accountancy wizards have verniers and bullet pullers in the asset column of their balance sheets too, right under the golf clubs, ski poles and aluminum folding chair ;).

I reload, enjoy it, profit from it due to some of the calibers I use, and recommend it to others. The activity has stand alone merit. Deceptive portrayals of non-existent economic benefits aren't necessary, or fair to prospective new Reloaders.
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Please show me where you can buy 1000 9mm cast (loaded ammo) for under $80, he'll even $100... The cheapest 9mm I've seen is $10 per box or to help you out $200 per 1000.

Your press will not get you back what you paid, but can easily get you half the cost.
 
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Trinimon said:
I can buy DRG 125gr 9mm cast for $35./500 ie $70/1000. If you're talking FMJ then that's a different story.
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I meant loaded rounds, not just the bullets, my mistake. I didn't want to compare my cast loads to plated or jacketed as they cost more.

It's because I have gotten most of my lead free or around .50 cents a pound. If you paid $30 for a 5 gallon Paul of ww (120lbs) and half was steel/zinc that's .50 cents a lbs.

Unless someone asks outright I usually don't mention what I pay for ammo. I just tell them you shoot more for the same price.
 
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i started with the lee anniversary kit comes with bunch of stuff to get you started works great for anything but reloading 1000's of 9mm can get repetitive , i have a dillon 650 w/case and bullet feed but still use the single for tons of stuff, like depriming or sizing rifle cases , stuff like .338 .308 or 300 savage or 30-30 just as easy to do single stage and take your time as your only doing 10 to 50 at a time and can have stuff in various stages of reloaded , like this bag is deprimed and sized or primed ready to load with whatever type bullet/powder load that suits your needs .
 
"...say it's not cost effective..." Isn't about the cost. It's about the quality of the ammo you use. No ammo is as good as that tailored for your firearm.
Buy and read a copy of The ABC's of Reloadng. Then look into a beginner's kit.
 
Just did some quick math (not my strong suit I'll admit). A site sponsor sells 1k of reloaded Wolf 9mm 124g TMJ ammo for 264.95 plus tax. That works out to about $15.01 per 50 loaded rounds. If I can load my own for about 8 bucks for fifty, then for every fifty rounds that I load it costs about five dollars less than buying the ammo commercially. Even reloaded ammo.

I'll admit that I may not save a tonne of cash doing this (it basically allows me to shoot more), but there certainly is some economy in doing it. Especially for those who shoot really high volume. Of course there is the added benefit of having ammo that is tailored to the gun that it is shot in, which is also nice.

I don't view a press as an investment, but having said that they do seem to sell fairly quickly at a good price, even used.

HKMark23 said:
Citing ammo costs as being per retail pricing of 50 rd boxes is a classic way to mislead. Reloading components come in 1000 pce. lots so fair comparisons must involve bulk 1000 rd. ammo pricing too and should be for bulk commercially reloaded ammo if it is cheaper, because reloaded = reloaded. This is one of the classic fallacies proffered by deluded reloading enthusiasts. Another is treating a press (financially speaking) like it is some kind of capital asset. Its a cost, plain and simple. In addition, the press isn't close to the only cost one incurs in doing this. I expect some CGN accountancy wizards have verniers and bullet pullers in the asset column of their balance sheets too, right under the golf clubs, ski poles and aluminum folding chair ;).

I reload, enjoy it, profit from it due to some of the calibers I use, and recommend it to others. The activity has stand alone merit. Deceptive portrayals of non-existent economic benefits aren't necessary, or fair to prospective new Reloaders.
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