New...Looking for Guidance

M

Mark Mags

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Hey Gang,

Hopefully you can help.

I am looking to re-load 38/357, .223, and .308. That's it, that's all...for now anyways.

I have been looking through the posts here and I am only catching about half of what you all are saying with shortforms etc

So, as a new guy, with a limited startup budget of $300, will that be enough to get me started? I don't need bells and whistles, but quality. I searched Kijiji and there is a RCBS kit in Chatham area, but no price...Single stage would work, and I am not picky on brand name, just want something that will work, properly, everytime.

So any help, guidance, points in the right direction would be greatly appreciated,
 
Best 'guidance' I can offer is to read a good reloading manual and take what you read here in the forums as.....someone else's experience. I'm with silverfox, you'll need a little more $$ to get started but not much. All the stuff I started out with was used and LEE, but I didn't cheap out on the important safety stuff such as a GOOD powder scale. I'm willing to provide you a couple of older reloading manuals .pdf in the form of a DVD to get you started, gratis......PM me if you're interested.
 
You would be hard pressed to get setup for all those calibers for $300. Lee is the cheapest way to get into it, but people say its hit and miss in terms of quality of their products. I just started reloading and went with RCBS. The kit was $350, then dies for my 3 calibers, so those range from $49-$130(redding), then I added a prep center though not needed for $125, then a tumbler for $50, then components, then, then......You don't have to go new, but you will soon realize that it isn't exactly "cheap" to get into.
 
I bet that if you were patient, you could shop the EE for the parts and price.

Looks like you're in the market for a single stage, and most current single stage are very similar in design, no matter what the brand.

The dies and initial start up components (bullets, powder, etc.) are what usually surprises people in cost.

ITB
 
I agree with the others I don't thing You could even get properly set up for 1 caliber. Start with ABC's of reloading and a good reloading Manuel the ABC's of reloading is still the best book I've ever bought for reloading. do some reading then decide what You want to get out of your setup. No sence buying more then Once if You don't have to. When I look at what You want to load I would pick 1 caliber and start there Once You get the hang of things expand from there
 
How much ammo do you need to produce and how much time do you have to do it?
The price of equipment seems to go up exponentially with its output capabilities
From my experience with a Lee four hole turret press it was working fine until I tried loading some 30-30 and found out it would only work if I disabled the advance on the turret..... have to advance it by hand ( not enough headroom in the press for long rifle rounds).V:I:
I am sure there are others that have helpful stories they would be willing to share.
 
I would start with 38 and 357 first because its an easy round to reload as the case isn't necked. 38's don't even need a perfect crimp in a revolver. After a few hundred I'd move the 308 or 223. Starting with one caliber gives you a chance to get familiar with the gear not to mention focuses your budget on core items like a good powder drop and scale. Over time add dies etc. My 2 cents.
 
+1 for budgetshootersupply top notch service and great pricing I have purchased 90% of my reloading stuff from Henry it has been awhile since my last order but all around great guy
 
MM,
You have set yourself quite a task. However, your .357 and your .223 probably aren't precision rounds and plinking rounds don't need high end gear. Lee gear will do all you need to. With a Lee Turret kit ($162 from Budget) will load plinking rounds fast enough to keep you in ammo, but, it will also allow you to start slow and get the process down. You will need a set of dies for each round ($45 each) and eventually the case length gauges ($7 each). So, $162+$21+$135. That'll run you $318 to get completely set up. Plus tax and shipping. Buy the press kit and two dies sets. That'll get you going for under the $300 ($252 plus shipping and tax).
 
All good advice. The route that I followed was to get a single stage press and load 308 until I understood the basics, with the help of lots of reading and a patient mentor (thanks Gordon RIP). Rifle is typically low volume if you are looking for precision, which I was, and you learn a lot about seating depth, crimping, primer seating, trimming cases, annealing etc by reloading rifle rounds.

Then you can take all of this knowledge and transfer it to loading anything else like pistol / revolver but by then you will probably want to get a progressive press because you usually shoot much more handgun at an outing than rifle - your experience may vary. In my case wifey shoots her 686 so much she took pity on me and gave the ok for a Dillon. Don't be afraid to innovate when safety is not an issue. I went for years with a retired record player, a Tupperware container mounted on it and filled with cleaning media. Took three times as long as a vibrating cleaner but hey, turn it on and walk away who cares!

I don't want to take business away from any of the fine sponsors on this forum but life goes on so keep your eyes open for estate sales. Some packages go for like $500 and you have the benefit of an experienced reloader having gathered everything together so you may encounter some neat little bits of this and that that might not even show up in the literature.

Good luck!!! It's a lifetime of learning and very relaxing / satisfying.
 
Well it's not a huge budget to get started with, like others said, don't expect to have top quality with that budget and have all you need to get started. Just the RCBS starter kit is 350 and you don't even have your dies yet and digi scale or even powder dispenser if I remember correctly.

You could get a lee kit for 150 or so and some rcbs or (better yet apparently) lee dies for about 50ish like I did at first. I still use them frequently but got myself a set of Wilson straight dies for precision...Or you could get better equipment used if you can find it. A lot of people put the lee stuff down but objectively speaking without comparing them to RCBS or Redding they are good tools, they have served me well. For the budget you have it is what I personally suggest.
 
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Definitely set yourself up leaning toward the rifle rounds. A used press and used dies can be had for a fraction of what new gear will set you back. There are enough shooters and loaders in your area that someone should be willing to let you load or load for you on their Dillon which would clear out any serious expense for the 357.

I like RCBS presses and dies but there is no reason one of the other outfits wouldn't do just as well for you. Used is the way to go...you could probably find them at a gun show for $20.

Welcome to the world of reloading. It will save you plenty over the years.
 
On a $300 budget, have a look at the Lee 50th Anniversary kit. It has everything except dies, shell plates, caliper and tumbler to get you started in reloading straight-walled ammo. I've reloaded 308 ammo on it and shot 1/2" groups so don't let folks tell you that you can't make accurate ammo with that kit.

Dies and tumbler you can pick up used in the EE for a decent price. If you want to make bottle neck case ammo, you'll need to pick up a case trimmer.

Loading manuals are good investments.
 
Lee is the way to get started. Even when you have more money to blow you can still use the Lee stuff for other operations. The four die pistols sets are my go to pistol dies and most rifle dies, I have never found anything any better but lots worse. You don't have to have a tumbler, I probably went twenty years before I had the easy money to blow on one. Start with the calibre that you shoot most and add dies etc as needed.
 
Spend the money and buy a carbide sizer for the 38/357 right off the hop or you will just be wasting your money on the steel ones, which will get scratched and crap imbedded in them in the first 1000 rounds and you will then be looking for a carbide sizer. The only other advice I would have would be to maybe wait until you can afford a bit more and go either RCBS or Redding all the way.........avoid Lee crap if at all possible and have fun learning to load.
Get a second job as well because you will soon be an addict and will need the spare cash to satisfy your cravings.............I'm serious...............
 
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