The Question with no right answer...

[joe-nwt]

Borrow a few bucks on your line of credit and start saving money immediately on all that factory ammo you will be shooting to "save money".

Although you may find a tendancy to shoot more negating the savings......but that will be your fault.

 

[tjhaile]

Borrow a few bucks on your line of credit and start saving money immediately on all that factory ammo you will be shooting to "save money".

Although you may find a tendancy to shoot more negating the savings......but that will be your fault.

Never borrow money to pay for toys. If you can't afford to pay cash for it now, you can't afford it. It is far better to save up for what you want than to give banks money unnecessarily.

 

[jethunter]

But I want opinions anyhow!

I have read many of the post here, but I want to describe my situation and get some input.

I have just purchased my first few pistols. (.357 Mag & 9mm)
Now I am trying to decide on reloading!!!
I reload rifle, and have access to my dad's single stage (which I will use forever and always for rifle...)
I KNOW that reloading per cartridge is cheaper, but reloading is more expensive...
Obviously I am not involved with CAS, IPSC or IDPA... yet
I don't know how much shooting I will do but I do know, even 9mm is 1/2 price to reload...

So to the point folks, D'yall think I should:

Shoot factory for a year, practice, save up & buy a dillon next year?

Use single stage for a year, try to stay sane, and buy a dillon next year?

Buy lee now, have patience, save, and buy a dillion in 2 years?

Only shoot factory and be happy with only 1,000 rounds a year? (my rifle shooting could use the practice)?

Sell the pistols before the bug has a real solid bite?

Let the opinions flow forward!

Cheers,

Vair

Meaningless question. Answer is dependant on how much you shoot, what you can afford. I assume you have lots of spare time. Wait until you know more about your shooting habits before you make any big purchases.

If you shoot less than 200 rounds a month you don't need to reload but if you do a single stage will be just fine. If you shoot more than 500 rounds a month you probably need to reload but an expensive progressive isn't a necessity. That's all you need to know to make a decision based on your own situation. Polls don't mean s**t. That's my opinion.

 

[Farlsincharge]

You could start off by buying a supply of remanufactured ammo, which roughly splits the cost difference between factory ammo and reloads. This can tide you over until you are ready to get a progressive press, by which time you will have an ample supply of brass to reload.

This is what I would do with the 9mm for now. It is what I am currently doing with my .40 and 9's. It makes more sense to me as my time is worth more to me in other areas than cranking out pistol cartridges.
I would load the .357 on the single stage as there is some large savings to be made there and you probably won't be shooting nearly as many rounds through it?

 

[robak1]

snicker....snort....wheeze....
My sides hurt...

You must be either that ipsc guy that reloads 70K rounds a month or that guy that doesn't know how to use/maintain a tool.

I have both the 550 and the Lee loadmaster and I prefer using the Lee any day. So what, I did break 2 sets of primer feeders in 12K rounds but guess what the good peeps at Lee sent me free replacements...

Did I say that the Lee is a better press? no, I simply implied that it does the job of reloading as well as other presses, including the holy Dillon

Kinda like comparing a Mercedes to a Hyundai, both will take me from home to work in the same amount of time but the mercedes will break more often...or is it the other way around ? LOL

 

[Onagoth]

Go straight to progressive.

I started single stage, then went to auto-index turret, and now I use a full progressive setup sans the bullet feeder.

I've had problems with my press, a lot of small stuff...but I can still crank out 500 rounds an hour