Thinking About Reloading
- Thread starter ea187
- Start date
I spent 900 for a progressive press and a butt load of supplies. But I had a desire to reload thousands of rounds. You can easily get set up for this or less depending on how much you want to do. Look at Budget Shooter Supply at the top of the page, Henry will hook you up with what you need.
Oh and all I do is 9mm so I only needed one set of dies. each die set will runn about 40 - 50 bucks
07blackwater
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Port Coquitlam, BC
Sounds like you wanna sell. PM me if you do. I live near by.
sundance1972
Regular
- Location
- duncan b.c.
Depends on the ammount of ammo you want to reload and how much you want to spend. If it's only 50-100 rounds occasionally, you could probably get away with a single stage press. For volume reloading (1000 rounds of 9mm for example) a progressive may suit your needs better.
Starter kits are great, but are exactly what they say they are, just enough to get you started, and you can spend a LOT of money picking up the misc tools that are not included.
Starter kits are great, but are exactly what they say they are, just enough to get you started, and you can spend a LOT of money picking up the misc tools that are not included.
I reload for 9mm, .38 S&W, .303, and .308 on a single stage press, but I'm not a high volume shooter. There are lots of kits out there. What you don't need is a tumbler (tarnished brass shoots as well as clean), nor is a powder trickler necessary (use your thumb and forefinger).
If you're going to reload 9mm, do yourself a favour and buy carbide dies. Saves a LOT of lubing. I also recommend a digital scale, and forget those Lee scoops; I got suckered into buying those when I first started- they're not consistent or accurate enough.
If you're going to reload 9mm, do yourself a favour and buy carbide dies. Saves a LOT of lubing. I also recommend a digital scale, and forget those Lee scoops; I got suckered into buying those when I first started- they're not consistent or accurate enough.
- Location
- Edmonton, Alberta
I started on a Lee 50th Aniversary Kit. $125 + $41 for carbide Dies. $166 and you are setup to load 9MM.
Reloaded about 2500 9MM on that press before I bought my progressive. I still keep my single stage around to reload large rifle calibers.
Reloaded about 2500 9MM on that press before I bought my progressive. I still keep my single stage around to reload large rifle calibers.
mmcintyre1220
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Tillsonburg, Ontario
I bought a lee turret press. Not as slow as a single stage and not as fast as a progressive. I do around 2-225 and hour. I can't remember what I paid for it though
I've got a few presses, and I'll use each for different purposes. Almost all of my precision rifle ammo comes off of the single stage press. I also use a Lee hand press a lot for various case prep excercises, and often for bullet seating: if I size and prime up a bunch of brass ahead of time, I can use the hand press at the range to do some load work right at the bench.
I have a turret press in the garage, it's an old one, beefy and very over-built. I actually don't use this one too much anymore, but it really works well for any 'heavy' processes that need a lot of elbow grease. Case forming, that sort of thing.
Then I've got a progressive set up, in 38spl. I like the Lee 1000 - it is a bit more finicky than the Dillon stuff, so if you're not mechanically minded, or impatient, don't bother. You've really got to be alert and paying attention to a lot of things at once on this one to prevent jams (which kill your loading rate, while you clear them.) But it works well for me; with the bullet feeder and case collator, I crank out about 700 rounds per hour. And given the reasonable price on this one, I'll buy one for each caliber that I intend to load for, rather than fiddle with setup every time I want to switch calibers.
Then for lower-volume pistol loading, I use a Lee turret press, with auto-index. It's not as quick as a full-on progressive, but it's much faster than single stage, too. If I'm going to be loading less than 4 or 500 rounds in a sitting, I'll probably use the turret press rather than monkeying with a progressive. Set up times for a progressive are pretty high. The auto-index turret press is good for about 200 rounds per hour, maybe a few more if you're using an auto-disk powder dispenser. I like it because I have the option of weighing out charges on my RCBS chargemaster - they measure out in about the same amount of time that it takes me to have a case ready for the charge, so it means that I'm not wasting any time waiting around, but it also means that I'm getting very accurate, weighed charges. So, for maximum magnum handgun loads, this is the set up I'll turn to: I'm rarely loading more than a few hundred of these at a time, and for maximum loads, I just don't trust a volumetric powder measure enough.
The single stage press is solidly mounted to the reloading bench, permanently. All the other presses are bolted to a chunk of lumber about 12" long, 4x6. So I take them out of storage and clamp them to the bench when in use, then take them down and put them away when not in use. Makes for more efficient use of space. And it also means that I can move them to the living room or kitchen if I want; do some loading in front of the TV.
Suffice it to say, the set up that will work for you will greatly vary, depending on your needs and expectations. For me, I'd start with a single-stage. It's by far the most versatile and easy to use; great to learn on. My emphatic recommendation (and I've used a ton of single stage presses) is the Lee Classic Cast, or the Forester Co-Ax (depending on your budget; the Lee is a little over $100, and the Coax about $350). Everything else is either poorly built, or over priced. Some, like the recent RCBS stuff, are both.
Other than a press, you'll need dies (any brand will do, I have lots of all of them, and they all work. RCBS are a good go-to, as are Redding), a powder funnel, shell holders, a scale (I highly recommend biting the bullet on this one and getting an electronic charger/scale like the RCBS 1500). You should have a case trimmer (The Lee set up is elegant and inexpensive). Also a debur/chamfer tool. I use the lock stud from the Lee Case trimmer to chuck the brass into an electric screw driver for trimming, chamfering, and other (optional) case prep like flash-hole deburring.
Also pick up a stuck case remover kit. You'll need it sooner or later. And I really recommend the Lee Safety Primer Feed kit if you do get a Lee Classic Cast press. Otherwise, get a hand priming tool. I have the Hornady one, and it works well; on-press priming sucks ass otherwise.
I have a turret press in the garage, it's an old one, beefy and very over-built. I actually don't use this one too much anymore, but it really works well for any 'heavy' processes that need a lot of elbow grease. Case forming, that sort of thing.
Then I've got a progressive set up, in 38spl. I like the Lee 1000 - it is a bit more finicky than the Dillon stuff, so if you're not mechanically minded, or impatient, don't bother. You've really got to be alert and paying attention to a lot of things at once on this one to prevent jams (which kill your loading rate, while you clear them.) But it works well for me; with the bullet feeder and case collator, I crank out about 700 rounds per hour. And given the reasonable price on this one, I'll buy one for each caliber that I intend to load for, rather than fiddle with setup every time I want to switch calibers.
Then for lower-volume pistol loading, I use a Lee turret press, with auto-index. It's not as quick as a full-on progressive, but it's much faster than single stage, too. If I'm going to be loading less than 4 or 500 rounds in a sitting, I'll probably use the turret press rather than monkeying with a progressive. Set up times for a progressive are pretty high. The auto-index turret press is good for about 200 rounds per hour, maybe a few more if you're using an auto-disk powder dispenser. I like it because I have the option of weighing out charges on my RCBS chargemaster - they measure out in about the same amount of time that it takes me to have a case ready for the charge, so it means that I'm not wasting any time waiting around, but it also means that I'm getting very accurate, weighed charges. So, for maximum magnum handgun loads, this is the set up I'll turn to: I'm rarely loading more than a few hundred of these at a time, and for maximum loads, I just don't trust a volumetric powder measure enough.
The single stage press is solidly mounted to the reloading bench, permanently. All the other presses are bolted to a chunk of lumber about 12" long, 4x6. So I take them out of storage and clamp them to the bench when in use, then take them down and put them away when not in use. Makes for more efficient use of space. And it also means that I can move them to the living room or kitchen if I want; do some loading in front of the TV.
Suffice it to say, the set up that will work for you will greatly vary, depending on your needs and expectations. For me, I'd start with a single-stage. It's by far the most versatile and easy to use; great to learn on. My emphatic recommendation (and I've used a ton of single stage presses) is the Lee Classic Cast, or the Forester Co-Ax (depending on your budget; the Lee is a little over $100, and the Coax about $350). Everything else is either poorly built, or over priced. Some, like the recent RCBS stuff, are both.
Other than a press, you'll need dies (any brand will do, I have lots of all of them, and they all work. RCBS are a good go-to, as are Redding), a powder funnel, shell holders, a scale (I highly recommend biting the bullet on this one and getting an electronic charger/scale like the RCBS 1500). You should have a case trimmer (The Lee set up is elegant and inexpensive). Also a debur/chamfer tool. I use the lock stud from the Lee Case trimmer to chuck the brass into an electric screw driver for trimming, chamfering, and other (optional) case prep like flash-hole deburring.
Also pick up a stuck case remover kit. You'll need it sooner or later. And I really recommend the Lee Safety Primer Feed kit if you do get a Lee Classic Cast press. Otherwise, get a hand priming tool. I have the Hornady one, and it works well; on-press priming sucks ass otherwise.
Started off decades ago with an RCBS Rock Chucker which I still use occassionaly. Currently am doing all my pistol and .223 loads using 2 Dillon 550's. I shoot a lot and these have paid for themselves many times over. As what most have said, your set-up will depend on the volume you shoot. Excluding .22LR and other rimfires, some centerfire ammo can be had for really good deals (e.g. bulk 9mm, .223, surplus ammo, etc...).
Have I saved any more money now that I reload? NO, because I shoot way more rounds downrange!!!!!
Have I saved any more money now that I reload? NO, because I shoot way more rounds downrange!!!!!
No I dont wanna sell, maybe i came across wrong lol. As I wanted to do thousands of rounds I wasnt gonna go with anything less than a progressive. I shoot about 1000 rounds a month so volume is key. If you are just shooting 100 a month or even 200 a progressive is probably overkill. With mine I can do about 300 an hour just to give an idea of the volume they are capable of and with the case and bullet feeders you can "theoretically" do upwards of 2000 an hour. For low volume a single stage will work just fine
I'd recommend a starter kit (I started with a Lee 50th Anniversary kit) until you get comfortable with reloading your own ammo. Starter kits typically come with almost everything you need to get into reloading.
Once you're comfortable with reloading your own ammo, depending on how much ammo you shoot, you may want to move to either a turret press or a progressive press.
The progressive presses can cost big bucks up front, and a turret press can be almost as fast as a progressive once you have your rythym down.
Once you're comfortable with reloading your own ammo, depending on how much ammo you shoot, you may want to move to either a turret press or a progressive press.
The progressive presses can cost big bucks up front, and a turret press can be almost as fast as a progressive once you have your rythym down.
if your thinking progresive take a look at the dillon 550b
just bought one from custom ammo easy to use
just bought one from custom ammo easy to use
You received some very good advice concerning Lee products and whether or not you even liked reloading, and then you go look at a $600 set-up. Dude, spend the cash. I guarantee, that RCBS system will NOT LOAD AMMO 4 times better than a Lee Classic Cast turret press. Costs less than $150 and the rest of your gear still won't come to $600. But it is your money.
my 2 beans ...
Relaoding is timely if you take your time. I'm fairly new to reloading and have a 22-250 and 9mm. Currently I only reload for the 22-250, for I shoot it the most and I can't be bothered to walk around and dig out 9mm case out of the snow (my browning throws the shells pretty far).
I went with the RCBS rock chucker kit and with dies, calipers, ultrasonic cleaner etc i spent about $1000.00. The kit comes with a cleaning station and digital scale which you enter the grains and it automatically dispences the loads ... I find this very handy
If one goes with an automatic dispencer it is recommended to check the dispenced load every 5 or 10 loads ... so one would need a scale of some sort.
I load maybe 1000 rounds a year so the single stage press works well for me. Its a hobby not a chore.
Firstly, buy ABC's of reloading or Lymans 49th edition ... or both ... it will help with understanding what you need and what is available. As far as manufacturer ... to each his own .. there are many good ones out their.
Take a guess at how much you want to reload and what you want to reload and do some homework. Lymans, RCBS, Dillion (to list a few) all have good websites describing thier reloading products.
You are also close to the US (according to your profile). You can get some things alot cheaper in the US and reloading equipment can be brought across the border with ease ... not like ammo or firearms.
I like to support canadian businesses, but if I knew there were no issues with bringing this stuff up I would've made my major purchase down south.
Relaoding is timely if you take your time. I'm fairly new to reloading and have a 22-250 and 9mm. Currently I only reload for the 22-250, for I shoot it the most and I can't be bothered to walk around and dig out 9mm case out of the snow (my browning throws the shells pretty far).
I went with the RCBS rock chucker kit and with dies, calipers, ultrasonic cleaner etc i spent about $1000.00. The kit comes with a cleaning station and digital scale which you enter the grains and it automatically dispences the loads ... I find this very handy
If one goes with an automatic dispencer it is recommended to check the dispenced load every 5 or 10 loads ... so one would need a scale of some sort.
I load maybe 1000 rounds a year so the single stage press works well for me. Its a hobby not a chore.
Firstly, buy ABC's of reloading or Lymans 49th edition ... or both ... it will help with understanding what you need and what is available. As far as manufacturer ... to each his own .. there are many good ones out their.
Take a guess at how much you want to reload and what you want to reload and do some homework. Lymans, RCBS, Dillion (to list a few) all have good websites describing thier reloading products.
You are also close to the US (according to your profile). You can get some things alot cheaper in the US and reloading equipment can be brought across the border with ease ... not like ammo or firearms.
I like to support canadian businesses, but if I knew there were no issues with bringing this stuff up I would've made my major purchase down south.
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