Please Help Me!! Total Beginner

THOR74

THOR74

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Hello friends!

I would like to start making my own ammo. I understand that the more you spend, the more automated the equipment becomes, allowing for faster production and potentially more consistency.

I only want to reload .45 ACP standard 230 gr. lead round nose in relatively low volumes (about 2000-3000 per year at most). I am looking for the cheapest and most compact way to get into the game (not much space to work with). I appreciate that this will slow down production.

Does anybody know of a good "kit" that can be bought that would give me all that I need (including an instruction manual)? I don't want to end up with junk, so when I say cheap, I really mean basic with a value-for-the-dollar consideration coming into play for sure.

I've got a buddy who's into it and he said he would show me the ropes - his set up is pretty basic.

I have a few thousand decent quality brass, and will have to buy bullets, primers, powder etc.

Also, can anyone give me an idea regarding what ammo of this sort would actually cost if loaded by me, given current prices of supplies?

Any input/help from folks in the know is much appreciated.

Many thanks.
 
Hi,

I can't be much help on the press. I bought a Dillon 650 progressive right off the starting block and have never looked back. A few people I know swear by RCBS stuff and I have heard they have a reasonable starting kit with pretty much everything you need except for caliber specific parts such as the dies. There are quite a few single stage presses available. For any press, a solid workbench is pretty much a requirement. The space can be cramped but that press should be held in place without wiggling and jiggling about.

As to savings, in most cases you can expect to save at least 50% from factory bought and in some cases can get costs down to only 30 to 40% of factory rounds. It all depends on the powder and the quantity of it you use, the type and cost of the bullets, etc.
 
You might want to check out the Lee Classic Cast single stage reloading press. Just bought this a bit ago but loaders I know are using this one or just getting one. Hard to beat for price $100 and takes all the dies etc. Built like a brick s***house to say the least. Put my own package together and will begin to use shorty when I get some powder. Good luck and have some fun. Especially cheap if you have access to range brass.
 
costs can be calculated pretty easy for components.

1lb of powder is 7000 grains. take a look in a reloading manual and looks up your 45acp and see how much powder is used, it varries from brand to brand. many manuals have what they consider an acurate load, use that as an example.

add 1 primer and 1 bullet, and you got your cost.

honestly I spend twice as much reloading now, but I shoot four times as much. lol.
 
I would look at a Lee turret press instead of a single stage for doing 45ACP. Faster than a single, slower than a progressive, but a lot less $$$ too. You can get them in 3 or 4 die configuration. Bolt it to a piece of wood and you can clamp it to any sturdy surface (workmate?) and start making ammo.

You can get kits that have everything you need except for dies and components.

Try this link to figure out your reloading savings. http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

(E) :cool:
 
(((Echo))) said:
I would look at a Lee turret press instead of a single stage for doing 45ACP. Faster than a single, slower than a progressive, but a lot less $$$ too. You can get them in 3 or 4 die configuration. Bolt it to a piece of wood and you can clamp it to any sturdy surface (workmate?) and start making ammo.

You can get kits that have everything you need except for dies and components.

Try this link to figure out your reloading savings. http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

(E) :cool:
Click to expand...

DARN...:rolleyes: that's what I was gonna jump in & recommend!

I do all my reloading with an old 3 die Lee Turret :)
 
Anothe vote for the LEE turret.........

I used one to load .45 acp for IPSC for about 8 years. Just graduated to a Hornady LNL. But for the amount you are making a turrety or Lee 1000 will suit you just fine.

I used to get about 200 an hour off of mine..
 
I suggest that you sit down for a half hour and work out exactly what type and how much shooting you are looking at before purchasing anything, then and ONLY then order a catalogue from Sinclairs and go from there, definitely purchase locally where it is feasible but be prepared to shop away to get EXACTLY what you want.
NEVER settle for something other than what YOU want, salesmen behind counters have an annoying habit of treating people like sheep and selling what is in stock rather than what is best.
I am telling you this so that you do not end up having to repurchase the things that you actually require, quality IS worth the price.

THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO IS TO LEARN WHEN TO TELL PUSHY SALESMEN TO GET F_CKED in a nice way.
 
all you really need is a small capacity tumbler, a beam scale, the lee turret, A MANUAL ON RELOADING, and a set of dies- and get the 4 die CARBIDE set and the 4 position turret- READ THE BOOk FIRST, then have at her- you may also want an adjustable charge bar and measure, but that may be down the road a bit
if you give us your location provincially, we may be able to "recommend " a local dealer
 
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Higginson powders in Ontario carries the full line of Lee reloading gear.

http://w w w.higginsonpowders.com/products.html

This site has a link to the lee site that has several kits listed, including a turret kit and just ask them to throw in a manual and you're ready.

They will sell you all the components you need to get started too.

One stop shopping.
 
you said your only going to load one cal then buy a Dillon SD you can buy it set up for your 45cal
 
Thanks for the continuous info, folks!!

This is helping me a lot, and I'm going to start beating the bushes to see what comes out.

I'm in central Ontario, and as soon as the weather lets up a bit here I'm going to hit the range with a vengeance. :)
 
Another vote for the Lee Turret Press.

I annually loaded 2-3000 each of .38 special and 9mm on one of these for a couple of years. To me, they are the perfect setup for the person who shoots several (as in more than two, but less than ten) thousand handgun cartridges per year.
 
Read everything you can on reloading presses. Talk to others who reload. Then decide how much you want to spend and buy the press and press accessories that fit into that scenario. I presently own 3 Lee's, 1 MEC and 1 Dillon XL650.
 
I read 4 manuals and spoke with a lot of people before I got into reloading about 2 years ago. Despite what the majority recommended (Dillon) I went with a Lee Pro 1000 in .45 ACP. It was priced right for me (around 230) and came with everything I needed to start reloading. I've reloaded over 8000 rounds on it so far and I'll admit that it needs occassional tinkering. I can make about 200-250 rounds per hour, maybe more if I 'push' it but it's not a race for me. At current prices I'm reloading 100 rounds of 230g FMJ using Titegroup powder and CCI large primer for about 18 dollars. I don't cast so the biggest cost is the bullets. YMMV.......
 
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