Minimum equipment to start reloading 9mm

Flying Beaver

Flying Beaver

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Hi All,
I've been talking to reloaders and doing a fair bit of reading about reloading for some time now, and unfortunately the picture is getting murkier, not clearer.

When I was a kid, I used to read about the "Lee Loader" in Popular Mechanics. Seems to me it cost about $5 back in the 60's.

What I am trying to figure out is the "minimum" equipment required to begin reloading a single calibre - 9mm pistol ammo. I've been told everything from a Lee hand press to a turret press to a Dillon 650. And dies - all kinds of dies. Scales, measures, tricklers, reamers, pokers, prodders, prickers, gurglers, bonkers, exfoliators, - the list goes on and on. :D

Seriously, though, the list of essential minimum equipment is still not clear. I don't care if it's slow - my budget is tight and I can trade time for dollars if necessary.

Lets begin at the beginning. I have a digital caliper and safety glasses and a small metal lathe and a workbench :)

Good reloading book - OK, which is a good one?

Brass, new or once-fired, cleaned, inspected for flaws.
Bullets - probably 115 grain for a 9mm
Powder according to the reloading manual.

Over to you, CGN'ers. And thank you.
 
I reload since 2 years now and all i have yet is this:
-turret press
-uniflow Powder Measure
-powder scale
-9mm die set
-mastercraft electronic caliper
 
I wouldn't recommend a Lee Loader for a handgun just because they are very slow. Verrryyyy slow. At minimum I would go for a single stage press. These are a good way for beginners to start out with for safety reasons... you do every process one step at a time. If you plan on loading for volume, a progressive press would certainly be worth looking at. I have a single stage press and it takes me about 1 hour to load 100 rounds going through the entire process.

You'll need a press, dies, shell holder, powder scale, powder thrower, a good manual, and a few other odds and ends to get started. If you are on a budget, maybe look at picking up one of the Lee kits? They have just about everything to get started with. If you can afford a bit more money, RCBS makes really good stuff.
 
I think you should do yourself a favor and get something more than the minimum. I think the press itself can range from a single stager to a turret press to a progressive press. On a turret press, the dies rotate in position and in three stokes of the handle you have a finished cartridge. On a progressive press, 3 cartridges are being worked at various stages and one cartridge is finished at each pull of the lever. They will all get the job done, but you probably want more speed a single stage press.

Lee works, but you may want to look at Dillon's equipment as well.
 
for 9mm, i'd go progressive right out of the chute, and a good balance beam scale- you already have the digital calipers, and a good reloading book powder and you're set- you don't need case length and the assocaited trimmers for pistol, and carbide dies - 3 positions( lee 1000) is all you need for 9mm- the 1000 comes as a kit with the dies installed - the only b*tch is the priming assy, which a lot of guys replace with the hand operated auto prime- that's the absolute BOTTOM ( read cheap) way to get started- even the powder charge is basically set, if you use the powder discs- if you want to get fancy and monkey with your loads, get the adjustable bar,- if you wan t cheaper still, the turret is the way to go
 
Don't do it

If you plan on shooting jacketed or plated, don't reload. for the the $40 you save vs the time and equipment startup cost you are way better to by reman ammo from combatmasters etc. i have reloaded all different rifle and pistol cartridges for 20 years and, even thought i have the equipment, will not load 9mm any more, just not worth my time.
cueball
 
Pick up a beginners set from Lee...they come with the minimum for a reloading set up. Press, Book and scale etc. Even your first set of dies. A single stage to begin with until you get comfortable with the process. I have been reloading for about a year and still use a single. The time I take to load my own shells, is enjoyment and no need to hurry. I reload for all my guns which include 30-30, 38-55, 25-20, 32 Spec., 6.5x55 and .223. Just got my 45-70 dies and reading up on the specs so I can start that caliber next.
 
cueball said:
If you plan on shooting jacketed or plated, don't reload. for the the $40 you save vs the time and equipment startup cost you are way better to by reman ammo from combatmasters etc. i have reloaded all different rifle and pistol cartridges for 20 years and, even thought i have the equipment, will not load 9mm any more, just not worth my time.
cueball
Click to expand...

I currently load @ $7.50 a box for my 9mm using FMJ's from BDX. I usually go through 300-400 rounds a weekend .Combatmasters works out to $9.05 a box befor tax and shipping . So lets say I $3 per box by reloading ,so @ 300 rounds I am saving $18 x @least 40 weekends a year = $720 I save . I do my reloads on a lee loadmaster ( about $400 new ) and can load about 300-400 rounds an hour, So even with the cost of the loadmaster I am saving $320 in the first year and will continue to save at least $720 a year after that . My loadmaster has payed it self off over and over and over . That $720 is a new gun , here and there :)
Moral of the story ? If you shoot lots ,reload ,If you just shoot a box here and a box there ,500 rounds a year buy factory :)
 
Flying Beaver said:
Hi All,
I've been talking to reloaders and doing a fair bit of reading about reloading for some time now, and unfortunately the picture is getting murkier, not clearer.

When I was a kid, I used to read about the "Lee Loader" in Popular Mechanics. Seems to me it cost about $5 back in the 60's.

What I am trying to figure out is the "minimum" equipment required to begin reloading a single calibre - 9mm pistol ammo. I've been told everything from a Lee hand press to a turret press to a Dillon 650. And dies - all kinds of dies. Scales, measures, tricklers, reamers, pokers, prodders, prickers, gurglers, bonkers, exfoliators, - the list goes on and on. :D

Seriously, though, the list of essential minimum equipment is still not clear. I don't care if it's slow - my budget is tight and I can trade time for dollars if necessary.

Lets begin at the beginning. I have a digital caliper and safety glasses and a small metal lathe and a workbench :)

Good reloading book - OK, which is a good one?

Brass, new or once-fired, cleaned, inspected for flaws.
Bullets - probably 115 grain for a 9mm
Powder according to the reloading manual.

Over to you, CGN'ers. And thank you.
Click to expand...


Here's everything you need, except the dies, components, and a reloading manual.
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1213518631.2174=/html/catalog/rlpress2.html#DeluxeTurretPressKit

You can easily reload several hundred rounds per hour with this setup, i have used exactly the same setup for 9mm for years. The powder measure fits on the press and automatically dispenses powder into the case. It is not a progressive but it is light years ahead of a single station press.

Get a Lyman reloading manual, they are the best for a beginner. There are some excellent online tutorials available for new reloaders, google "reloading" and check out some of the sites. Hodgdon has some great info on their site.
 
First you usually get what you pay for give or take... an entry level press will not produce 1000 rds an hour... and will probably take more effort....

But for basic equipment... you'll need a press and dies, a caliper and a scale... You should have a tumbler of some sort...

A manual is a nice to have... but put your money into good dies (they will be with you forever) as for components you can go all over the map.. in competition consistency in your reloaded rounds is key..

Most bullets will be consistent but there are some cheaper quality (and hence cheaper cost) that are not consistent...

Finding the right powder is another issue... ask for a load for 9mm or 40 and you are going to get 10 different powders... I have my favorites... titegroup for 40 and power pistol for 9.. but i've loaded 9mm with probably 10 different powders..

Hopefully I haven't added to you confusion.. of you budget is of primary concern get a Lee Aniversary kit.. it's a good start...
 
I reload mostly for enjoyment, not the cost savings, these days using a Dillon 550B because it's easier to make a large number for plinking but also because it can be used as a single stage when testing new components.

If you prefer to hand craft ammunition or don't want to drop 1-2 thousand dollars on reloading iinitially a single stage probably makes more sense.

You can use steel dies if you don't mind lubing.

If you want to know more about a complete Dillon setup Brian Enos has taken some of the guesswork out here: http://www.brianenos.com/store/dillon.ez.550.html.

If you decide to purchase Dillon I've had good service from Chad at eguns.com in the US (Brian Enos no longer ships to Canada). Never bought Dillon products from resellers in Canada, but they're out there apparently.

The only things I'd add to the lists above are a bullet puller (inertial works well enough for me) and more than one manual. They tend to compliment each other. Lyman is a good all around source but e.g. Hornady and Speers give more options for their bullets, and there are some spooky differences in minimum and maximum powder weights between manuals for the same components.
 
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I'd suggest what I use - a Lee turret (the original 3 stage is OK, the 4 station is much better) a set of Lee dies (get the Deluxe set, you DO need the factory crimp die - regardless of what the guy behind the counter says.) the auto disk measure, a scale a tumbler and a manual. Higginson carries most of the Lee stuff. You should be able to get everything but the manual and tumbler for about $230. Marstar has a tumbler for about $80. As far as bullets go, shoot lead, decent bullets won't lead your barrel until you're in excess of 1000 fps, and cost about $40/500. There are lots of good powders, I use W231 - small charges save more money and the accuracy is good. A pound of 231 will load 1700 rounds. Better than the money you save are the other advantages of loading your own, like being in control of your ammo supply and developing ammunition to fit your own precise needs. (One last note, the equipment that I use has well over 50,000 flawless rounds through it so it will last for years despite it's low cost)
 
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You could do it for around $100 plus tax.

A Lee aniversary kit has a small bench press and a reloading book for $34 I believe. A set of dies for around $40. Those powder scoup thingys that Lee sells I believe are around $10. And $18 for a press mounted priming setup from Lee as well....I think they call it the Autoprime II or something like that.

You loads aren't going to be accurate, and you had better have the patience of Jobe, but it can be done. Do not buy the hand press for loading. For 5 bucks more, you've got the little rinky dink bench press that will work AND a reloading manual.
 
I started out with the Lee Turret kit (4 hole version). I have dies for .40, .44 mag/.44 spl, .45 acp, .45 gap with a turret plate of each set of dies so I can easily switch back and forth. Very happy with it! I can easily match the 200/hr rate and thats good enough for me as I like to go out to the garage and sit at the bench frequently. The savings alone on the .44 mag just makes the rest gravey!!!!

Good luck picking out your first loader, I trust you will enjoy your new hobby as so many of us do. :cheers:
 
Must Haves: Press, dies, shell-holders with dies to do all you need (re-size, de-cap, seat, crimp), priming tool, powder measure, beam scale, funnel, a caliper for measuring, loading block for putting your cases.

Nice to have: case tumbler, electronic powder dispenser/scale combo, progressive press, volumetric powder dumper such as Lee Auto-disc.

Seriously, go simple. Forget overwhelming yourself with fancy stuff right now

RCBS makes a great reloading set which will do most everything you need except the dies and shell holders for your particular ammo. When you start learning what parts of reloading you like and what part you don't like then buy the fancy gizmo that makes that part easier.

I still have a press I have been using from day 1 and many other gizmos from my first RCBS starter set decades ago and I reload thousands of rounds every year.
 
Thanks to everyone for the very helpful and positive feedback.
Although the dollar saving on reloading 9mm may be less than for some other calibres, a person has to start somewhere. And I'm hoping that it will be an enjoyable pastime, especially in the winter when the evenings get a bit long.

It looks like I'll be starting with a turret press kit with a carbide 4-die set, scale, measure, priming tool, shell holder, funnel, & manual. All this has come through CGN'ers offering various pieces at very reasonable prices. :dancingbanana:

I have a caliper, and also have ready at hand in the scrap box the means to make quite a decent vibratory tumbler (and I like the price of doing it - stored junk+imagination=free).

My next reloading outing will probably be for .223, once I save up enough to buy a good bolt-action with a varmint barrel. If I get some practice on 9mm, I probably won't be so intimidated :D
 
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