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GaryM12

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OK so I recently bought a Tikka 7mm mag and want to punch paper as well as hunt with it. I bought some factory loads but a good day at the range will need me to mortgage the house again. Whats it cost to set ones self up with a reloading kit? I remember that my dad used to do this stuff and he had all the beeps and whistles but its been many years and i dont know where all his stuff went to.

Thanks
 
OK so I recently bought a Tikka 7mm mag and want to punch paper as well as hunt with it. I bought some factory loads but a good day at the range will need me to mortgage the house again. Whats it cost to set ones self up with a reloading kit? I remember that my dad used to do this stuff and he had all the beeps and whistles but its been many years and i dont know where all his stuff went to.

Thanks

1st thing is to go to your local gun dealer and buy a copy of a bullet or powder manufacturer's reloading/data manual. Yup:)
 
how much does it cost... well.. I have been reloading now for about 3 months... and Im an all the bells and whistles sort of guy... Im into reloading for about a thousand dolllars... and I bought everything on a budget...

thats everything... kit, case trimmer, tumbler, some hand tools, powder, boolits... the list seems endless... but fun :)
 
Less than $200. Lee 50th Anniversary Kit, Lee RGB 7mm Rem Mag dies, Lee Shellholder, Lee Case Legnth Gauge, Lee Manual, 100 primers, 100 bullets, 1lb IMR 4350 powder.
 
"...buy a copy of a bullet or powder manufacturer's reloading/data manual..." They'll do, but the Lyman manual or The ABC's of Reloading will too. The Lyman book is far more versatile than any bullet or powder makers book.
"...mortgage the house again..." Factory ammo prices are scary.
"...Whats it cost to set ones self up with a reloading kit?..." An RCBS Beginner's Kit runs around $500. Gives you everything you need less dies or shell holder. Comes with a Speer manual, but by the Lyman book too. It's not the only kit available though.
 
You can make real good ammo with simple gear. For a rifle like yours, high volume high speed equipment is not called for. For the first few years of my loading, i used a simple single stage press.

This means install the sizing/decapping die and size all the cases. Put them in a plastic pail, as they get sized.

Use champfer tool to champfer case mouths (only has to be done once)

Then prime them all. You could use the primer arm on the press, but a Lee Autoprime would be so much nicer to use. Put primed cases in a loading block, mouth down.

One by one, put powder in each case. Use a scales or a powder thrower, or both. Put case in block, mouth up.

Scan all cases, make sure they all have powder.

Change die to the seating die, and seat a bullet in each case. Voila, 20 to 100 loaded rounds.

For plinking, you can buy the cheapest possible bullets.

MEL (Minimum Equipment List)

Loading manual (read it!!!)

Press
Dies
Loading block
powder thrower
scales
champfer tool
powder (slow - like 4831)
bullets

A starter kit from RCBS or Lee would have most of this. The Lee powder thrower is a POS, the rest is good.

Post a note on EE for the stuff you need. Lots of us have an extra powder thrower, etc.
 
I would recommend the Lee Breech lock Challenger kit $150, a lee delux die set $47, Lee case trimmer guage/SH $6.50.

and a few reloading manuals (or at least read the info that are on better reloading sites)

with the above gear, you can make very accurate ammo which will shoot better then any factory ammo for about 1/2 the price

If you have a larger budget, I can send you a list of the stuff I use to make my match ammo. I use alot of Lee stuff as it does a very good job and is dirt cheap.

I also use some stuff from Redding and Forster because they give me the precision I need in some areas.

Jerry
 
Wow

Guys:
Thanks for all the info. Looks like the best place to begin is to read up on it. I need to learn all about how the kit is used.
I'm presently in the process of getting my Azz back home from Afghanistan so that's going to be my summer project now.......That and the new truck! :dancingbanana:
 
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