Looking At Getting Into Reloading

[AndrewNS]

So I'm sure that you guys get this all the time, but I'm looking at getting into reloading and I'm hoping that someone can give me a list of what I will need to get started. I don't want to get bottom of the line gear, but I don't have a fortune to spend either.

I'll be looking at reloading 9mm and 223.

I have nothing but once fired brass, so if someone can give me a list of everything else I'll have to get and approximate prices that I should expect to pay that would be amazing.

Thanks guys!

 

[Spawn-Inc]

like everyone else is going to say, pick up some reloading books and read them first. ABC's of reloading, lyman 49th edition is good as well. you can also check out all the various youtube videos if your a visual learner like me.

i started with a lee pro 1000 in 45acp and pretty much self taught/watched youtube to get things rolling.


basic list of tools
press (single or progressive)
dies/shell plate
powder scale
calipers
tumbler to clean brass (not required, but i like shiny brass, and it's a bit easier on your dies)
reloading manual(s)
bullet puller


That's all i can think of at the moment.

 

[ATOM]

+1 on The ABCs of Reloading. Most questions will be sorted out in that book.

Some will say buy a kit, with press, powder measure, scales, etc. Some will say they're a waste of money and you should pick it up piece by piece. Personally, I go with the first concept. Buy a reloading kit and go from there with extra bits as you need them.

There are also those with, um, 'loud' brand loyalties, much like for cars or beer. I've got stuff from a lot of companies and I think much of the brand hoopla is just knee-jerk hooey. Buy stuff from any of the major companies in the knowledge that they have been in business for decades - they wouldn't have stayed afloat if their stuff was garbage.

Last big question is the type of press. There are single-stage presses (which allow you to do just one operation at a time) and turret presses (the same but quicker to switch between operations). At the top end are progressive presses, where every pull of the lever moves a casing through a series of operations - miniature factories. Very cool, very much faster, very much more expensive. It depends how much you shoot and how much you can afford. Personally, unless you're shooting hundreds of rounds a week, I'd suggest starting with a SS press. (If you are on a low budget, particularly if you don't shoot that many rounds, there's a gizmo called the Lee Loader, which can get you reloading perfectly good ammo for under $50. The tradeoff is that it's slower and more effort.)

Welcome to the dark side.

 

[colt45cz75]

A good press, dies and a good scale are the minimum you'll need.While I readily admit to being an unabashed Dillon proponent, there are certainly excellent choices from other makers.A couple of manuals that explain the process in detail are essential to the learning curve, as it's hard to buy what you need if you don't know what questions to ask.How much ammo do I need? How much time can I afford to spend loading.How much can I afford to spend? Spend as much time as you can prowling the tool maker's websites doing research, as well as places like Grafs, Midway, Natchezz and others.You'll soon find what you need and want.

 

[stevebc]

You can reload for those calibers just fine on a single stage press. I use mine for .303 and .308, and for 9mm and .38 S&W. The trick (especially for pistol rounds) is to break it up into a series of steps, and do it over time, rather than try a marathon session. I do most of my reloading over winter for this reason. Mind you, I'm only shooting maybe 1200 rds of 9mm and a couple hundred .38 a year, so it's doable. For now.