what is the cost to get into reloading?

heavenIsAlie

heavenIsAlie

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my pal application is being processed as we speak, and while im making a list of guns to buy im limited to certain calibers becasue of ammo cost. i was curious on what is the cost to start reloading becasue that would widen my choices considerably.

id need a set up that can be stored away while not in use, and i dont need anything super fancy. i know nothing about reloading so a quick crash course would be appreciated.
 
A quick crash course I can't help you with.....I'm afraid it would become a book and I'd leave something out....buy a couple of reloading manuals, def. the LYman one and say the Hornady one...read them front to back. I would think that you can get into reloading for about $300-400 including 1 set of dies, then all it will cost you after is about $40 for a set of dies for each other/new caliber. Lee and RCBS both offer starter kits, the RCBS one is $229 from Midsouth Shooters Supply, thats what I would recommend.
 
For the price of 10 boxes of match ammo or premium hunting ammo you can set yourself up for reloading with some sweet gear.
 
At the very minimum you need; a manual, a press with a primer seater, a die set for each cartridge you intend to load, the correct shell holder for each cartridge, a powder scale, a lube pad and lube, and some sort of bench or sturdy table or counter top to work from. A Workmate is suitable. This is what you need to load with new brass with primer, powder and allows you to seat the bullet.

Once the brass cartridge has been loaded and fired you need a means of measuring it's length and trimming it if required. After trimming the case mouth must be chamfered inside and out to remove an burrs. You might want to clean your primer pocket with a small brush or tool for that purpose.

From this point on you will want to consider more tools to make the process easier and faster. A powder measure, a priming tool other than the press, dry graphite to lube the case mouths, loading blocks to hold cartridges while you work, and power tools to help with your case prep, and a scale check is worth the piece of mind it gives you, and a chronograph is very useful for working up loads.

A starter kit from any of the reloading tool manufacturers will get you started, but get some manuals before you do anything else.
 
It really depends just how much shooting you will end up doing. If you don't shoot more than a box or two of ammo once every 2 or 3 weekends, I personally never bothered spending the money for a press. I just don't shoot hundreds of rounds a month like some here do. I started out with one of the following and added a powder scale to it.

http://www.sirmailorder.ca/show_prod.php?product_id=742258&cat_id=10&subcat_id=107&PHPSESSID=

The powder scale allows me to develop loads that the simple powder cup won't allow. I have the Speer and Hornady reloading manuals too, but you could get away with finding appropriate reloading info from the net and from folks on here. The manuals do have a nice preface to them discussing the important do's and do not's of reloading which is essential to your safety and well being. Again, there are probably good sources on the net for those as well.


The item neck sizes only, so it is best used for single shots and bolt guns.

You will eventually require a caliper to measure the length of your fired casings (casings stretch over time and become too long for the chamber) and then a case trimmer to shorten them. Or just chuck the casings after a few reloadingd and buy some cheap ammo and start again.

If ever you get more serious, your initial cash outlay of the cost of a box or two of ammo for the classic lee loader isn't stopping you to go out and buy a whole kit as mentionned above.
 
Look into an RCBS Beginner's Kit. Gives you everything you need less dies and shell holder. Runs about $500Cdn. Comes with a Speer manual, but buy another(Lyman) too. Not that there's anything wrong with the Speer book. The Lyman book is just more versatile.
"...would widen my choices considerably..." That it certainly does, but you'll also be using ammo tailored to your rifle or handgun.
 
im looking for a press since ill be shooting alot of handgun, i tend to go through a couple hundred rounds whenever i go out

i already have a caliber from my car stuff, so other than that i basically need these two items. ill go out and grab a manual to read today
http://www .midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=646599&t=11082005
http://www .midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=315831&t=11082005
 
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