Reloading for dummies, or me, in this case

Dodosmike

Dodosmike

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
Location
In the sticks near North Bay ON!
I know squat about reloading, so bear with me.

Ive been thinking or starting reload some rifle and handgun loads in recent past. Just sort of getting going again after life got in the way.

I google-foo'd reloading for dummies and got an American webpage, cali gunnerdotcom. with this : https://caligunner.com/reloading-for-beginners-step-by-step-guide/

Was a easy to read article

https://www.amazon.ca/Hornady-Lock-Auto-Progressive-Reloading-Press/dp/B000PD01NS/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1LI9YKE9AF0BG&keywords=hornady+lock+n+load&qid=1655147425&sprefix=hornady%2Caps%2C179&sr=8-5
for $1000. wow. Is this rig a "caddilac" vs another "kia" $500 press that does the same thing?


I just can't figure out how reloading make financial sense. Im basing my opinion on somebody like me, getting into this from scratch, and buying decent equipment, somewhat new, or used but "as new".

Can I realistically get everything I need for example, .357/30-06/303 for $1500?

Is there a "kit" available with everything I need? or should I just fumble my through it, picking up stuff piece by piece as I need it? (by caliber)?

From what I've read here, powder and primers are scarce? That just adds to the PITA/price/round factor. So I buy everything I need/want for say $1500 and I cannot buy powder.

May as well buy factory loads.

Now that I've attempted to put my thought to keyboard, All I'd be doing is making hunting loads and target loads. No long distance stuff, no chrono stuff, no competitive shooting. Just critters and paper/gongs.
 
Every reloading manual will dedicate the opening chapters to teaching newbies how to reload. These have more credibility than anything you will find online.

The thing to keep in mind with reloading presses is that speed costs. A $500 press vs. $1000 is probably a question of how fast does it go, rather than "Cadillac" vs. "Kia". The most comparable press to a Hornady LNL AP is a Dillion XL650. These are both 400+ rounds an hour machines. I don't know what you might be looking at for $500.

Making financial sense out of reloading is easy. How many cartridges do you fire in a year? How much will you save per cartridge reloading it versus buying it? Quick rule of thumb, 500 rounds of centerfire rifle or 1000 rounds of handgun ammo fired per year will justify a reloading setup of some kind.
 
Dodosmike said:
I know squat about reloading, so bear with me.

Ive been thinking or starting reload some rifle and handgun loads in recent past. Just sort of getting going again after life got in the way.

I google-foo'd reloading for dummies and got an American webpage, cali gunnerdotcom. with this : https://caligunner.com/reloading-for-beginners-step-by-step-guide/

Was a easy to read article

https://www.amazon.ca/Hornady-Lock-...qid=1655147425&sprefix=hornady,aps,179&sr=8-5
for $1000. wow. Is this rig a "caddilac" vs another "kia" $500 press that does the same thing?


I just can't figure out how reloading make financial sense. Im basing my opinion on somebody like me, getting into this from scratch, and buying decent equipment, somewhat new, or used but "as new".

Can I realistically get everything I need for example, .357/30-06/303 for $1500?

Is there a "kit" available with everything I need? or should I just fumble my through it, picking up stuff piece by piece as I need it? (by caliber)?

From what I've read here, powder and primers are scarce? That just adds to the PITA/price/round factor. So I buy everything I need/want for say $1500 and I cannot buy powder.

May as well buy factory loads.

Now that I've attempted to put my thought to keyboard, All I'd be doing is making hunting loads and target loads. No long distance stuff, no chrono stuff, no competitive shooting. Just critters and paper/gongs.
Click to expand...

I stumbled across a fellow Canadian on You Tube who shoots a 6.5CM and he worked out a rather large and detailed spread sheet on feasibility of reloading.
The info was current as of last November and his numbers suggested that if one doesn't shoot more than 1k of rounds it just wasn't worth the investment.
To each their own, but my personal circumstance tended to agree with his math and of course you and everyone else are free to agree or disagree with the findings.
Rob
 
Depends on what you want to do, you can buy a lee loader for 40$, then you need power, primers, bullets and a lee scoop set

Or a single stage press of the ee will cost 40$ then get dies and a case trimmer and a used powder thrower.(check weight on a digi scale(will be just as accurite as a scoop)) Then buy bullets, primers and powder

Or buy the kit that has all the stuff tou may need for a few hundred. Leeand hornady both make one

Or even just go to a progressive press and deck it out right off the bat.

I have setups in everything i listed. Depends on what im doing. I dont like messing with my progressive to load 20 to 50 rounds. And to try a new bullet or to load at the range i use my lee loaders
 
There's more to it than the cost savings vs. shooting factory ammo.

I reload for the improved accuracy and consistency I get out of the loads I have worked up for my rifles. As a hunter, I want to do everything I can to make my best shot. I owe that to the animal.

I reload for handguns in calibers that are d@mned difficult, if not impossible, to find factory ammo for. I still want to make a good shot, but I don't shoot competitively, so handgun accuracy isn't quite as important to me.

That said, the more calibers you load for, the more financial sense it makes. I think I'm loading for something like 8 or 9 calibers now, so I sure am saving money vs. buying commercial ammo.
 
If I had $2500 to spend on ammo, 1500 Of it would be going to reloading gear. It’s hard to put a price on something you may never be able to find or shoot again. This keeps you in the driver seat of your possessions that much longer
 
First of all....reloading is supposed to be fun. If you are doing it only to save money on ammo, yes you better shoot a lot to make it pay in the short term. I also believe that one should start loading plinkers. For example .38 special. Get comfortable with that and then move on to high power rifles and magnums. I like that I am never dependant on a store to sell me ammo for my guns. This has no price in my opinion.
 
Depends on what you shoot as far as dollars and cents go.
Some people, myself included, enjoy reloading as much as shooting.
I also fix my own truck and do my own renos. Financially, I could just go to work and in turn pay a contractor. For me, I enjoy it and it’s rewarding to do it yourself.
 
Look for a Lee aluminum single stage press. Life is too short to.trim pistol brass, so no trimmer.needed. Lee scoops for powder, a $30 Amazon scale, used dies off ee.....get carbide sizer dies for pistol....no lubing brass. Bet all of this is $2-300.

Then expendables......powder, primer, bullets. Thank Brandon for that.
 
Only a matter of time before they make reloading gear and components illegal. Bet on it.
Set yourself up now, or forever regret. I used to have trouble spending the $$$ on 8 pounders of powder and crates of primers, now I could almost retire if I sold everything (which of course I wouldn't).
Doesn't matter what guns you have squirreled away if you can't feed them. When they closer to complete disarmament, that's what they will come for. Just something else to factor into the equation.

I'm having trouble finding shotgun primers, which I don't recall every happening before, even during the obama era. Something is afoot.
 
Thanks for all the insight. Very interesting perspectives.

Right now, I'll shoot 200-300 rounds of .22 on a given weekend afternoon.

I'd shoot more 357 (rifle) if there was a steady supply. Same with 303 and my other 30 cal rifles.
That's what I'd primarily load, I think. The 30-30 and 44 have been relighted to the back of the safe recently.

I need to learn more. More reading and checking options.
 
My $0.02 ;
Buy a good quality single stage press setup used and you can't go wrong. It will keep it's value so if you find out it's not your thing you sell it for about the same.

I started off with a hornady progressive but that is not the best idea for everyone. Single stage is better for your 303 and other rifle calibers.
Look for a steel O-frame press like an rcbs rock chucker, lyman crusher, lee classic cast or hornady lnl classic cast or something similar.

If you'd consider used then I might be able to cobble some quality stuff together like a press, scale, powder measure etc. for your consideration.

Be ready for a hunt for components like powder and primers since availability is a bit poor nowadays.
 
It depends on your motives. If you're getting into reloading to save money, you probably won't.

I have a penchant for odd and semi-obsolete calibres. Stuff that's hard to find in stores, and expensive when you do. If I weren't a handloader I simply wouldn't own a 9.3x62. Others are severely underloaded by the factories, i.e. 7x57 and 8x57. I also like experimenting with different bullet types that aren't offered in factory loadings.

Lots of reasons for reloading besides $$$
 
bertn said:
My $0.02 ;
Buy a good quality single stage press setup used and you can't go wrong. It will keep it's value so if you find out it's not your thing you sell it for about the same.

I started off with a hornady progressive but that is not the best idea for everyone. Single stage is better for your 303 and other rifle calibers.
Look for a steel O-frame press like an rcbs rock chucker, lyman crusher, lee classic cast or hornady lnl classic cast or something similar.

If you'd consider used then I might be able to cobble some quality stuff together like a press, scale, powder measure etc. for your consideration.

Be ready for a hunt for components like powder and primers since availability is a bit poor nowadays.
Click to expand...

One of my concerns is buying obsolete, or near obsolete parts, I also don't know what worn out parts looks like compared to new.
So many brands Dillon, rcbs, lee, hornady, I have NFC what is compatible and what isn't.

Yes, thank you, I'd be interested in what you could part with.
303, 30-06, 357/38, is what I think I'd primarily use for now. I've been keeping brass for a few years, so have a couple hundred of once fired brass for those calibers. Some 45-70, 44-40 and 30-30 as well, but not nearly as many, doubt I'd bother with the 45-70 as I sold the gun, and the 44 (cowboy)I used in a blackpowder gun that I'm just the caretaker of (whitneyville 44.)
 
There's a pile of reloading gear in Bancroft going via online auction Wednesday. You could buy a press, dies, brass and bullets, possibly for very good prices.

Of course, with any auction you need to know the market to avoid paying too much, or getting junk. And also of course, the current shortages are most intense in primers and powders, which might negate whatever deals you get from the auction.
 
Lots of great posts here. Single stage is not the expensive. I started with the Lee® 50th Anniversary Reloader Kit ($250 @ cabelas now) and still is all i use.
 
Dodosmike said:
One of my concerns is buying obsolete, or near obsolete parts, I also don't know what worn out parts looks like compared to new.
So many brands Dillon, rcbs, lee, hornady, I have NFC what is compatible and what isn't.
Click to expand...

A decent single stage press will not break or wear out in your lifetime. I'd say stay clear from presses made with diecast/potmetal and aluminium.

Almost all presses use the same dies and shell holders but definitely something to be aware of when buying used.

Some companies will give you warranty even when bought used without a receipt. (dillon,rcbs,hornady)

Buying used here from someone with a good trader rating will prevent a lot of headaches.
 
bertn said:
A decent single stage press will not break or wear out in your lifetime. I'd say stay clear from presses made with diecast/potmetal and aluminium.

Almost all presses use the same dies and shell holders but definitely something to be aware of when buying used.

Some companies will give you warranty even when bought used without a receipt. (dillon,rcbs,hornady)

Buying used here from someone with a good trader rating will prevent a lot of headaches.
Click to expand...

I have had EXCELLENT customer service from redding and hornady. The only parts I have ever worn out on a die is the odd decapping pin (inevitable that you will break one).
Personally I have an old lee press, and a hornady lnl progressive. I've broken more parts on the progressive just because it has more parts. I don't really see how one would wreck a lee single stage (or a rockchucker for that matter). If I wasn't shooting 1000s of rounds during normal IPSC seasons, I'd likely still just use the lee single stage (although in hindsight I would have bought a rockchucker...just personal preference over time). Die wise, I like RCBS, redding, hornady and lee, in that order. I've never had a dillon, but friends who have them think they are cat's ass (and I don't doubt it, both also own cats so are likely experts in cat parts). With unlimited $$$ I'd go for a dillon 1050. That's always been that bucket list reloading center... but that $ is hard to hide from the wife, so......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom