Newbie thinking about getting into loading

[redapse]

Hi there,

I have a few handguns and have always thought about loading myself. I've done quite a bit of reading but would like your guys input on some questions.

1. There's a huge amount of equipment and recommendations out there for purchase, anything you would suggest for getting started? Something that will last but isn't too outrageous.

2. Some people look at loading as a hobby, but approximately what sort of money (%) can you expect to save per round?

3. Is there a number of times you can generally reuse brass casings?

4. Any general recommendations for getting started? Things that are necessary or not important in your opinion?

Thank you!

[Boris_LA]

You probably should elaborate a little on the calibers that you  are planning to load and your goals. Also approximate volume of shooting.

[2morechains]

1.  Your choices of reloading presses are basically broken down into: Single Stage, Turret, and Progressive.  Which one depends on how much time you want to spend reloading, and how many rounds you shoot per month, and how versatile you want it to be.  I started out on a single stage Hornady press over 30 yrs ago to load pistol and rifle rounds.  At the time I wasn’t shooting very much per month, so the SS press served my needs for a long time until I started shooting competitively.  My first year of competition I loaded 6-7K on my trusty SS press.  It was doable but I was averaging 2-3 hrs per week to load enough for the next weekend.  At the end of that first year I caved and upgraded to a Dillon 550 progressive press and my reloading time dropped to about 30 mins per week.  10+ years later I’ve lost count of the number of pistol rounds I’ve loaded on the D550 (150K?).  However I still use my old SS press for hunting and precision rifle rounds but at a much lower volume than pistol.

2.  As a comp shooter, for me reloading is more about saving money and time than a hobby, but that said I do enjoy the process.  It’s calming and relaxing to me.  I haven’t purchased factory ammo in years, so I’m not sure how much I’m saving.  I buy components (primers, powders, and bullets) in bulk whenever I can, and probably average $120 per 1000 in 9mm, or $6 per box of 50.  I’m sure I’ve recovered the cost of my reloading equipment several times over.  Plus during the great ammo shortages of 2009 and 2013 I was able to keep shoot because I had a stash of reloading components (with exception of .22LR). 

3.  To be honest I’m not sure.  For low pressure pistol rounds such as 9mm and .45acp I would think you could reload a piece of brass quite a few times (10X’s or more).  However I have quite a lot of brass, and it takes me a while to cycle thru it all before I reload the same piece of brass again.  I primarily subsist on brass that I pick up from the range from people who don’t want it, or from working large matches where the staff gets to keep the brass.

4.  Cheers to you for looking into reloading.  In addition to the cost savings you can fine tune your reloaded ammo to what you want to get out of it, be it accuracy, power factor, felt recoil, etc. and once you become proficient at reloading your QC may be better than factory ammo (especially the cheap bulk ammo).  Some people stress over the up front cost to get into reloading, especially if you jump right into a progressive press.  However IMO if you shoot a lot, ammo is way more expensive than the purchase price of a gun.  Using my cost of $120 per 1K rounds, say I shoot 10K rounds per year, my annual ammo cost is about $1,200.  That’s pretty close to what I paid for my Shadow 2.  If I own my S2 for the next 10 years I will essentially have shot 10x’s the value of my gun in ammo during the life of my gun.

The common advice is to purchase a couple reloading manuals and read them.  Hornady, Lyman, RCBS... take your pick.  In this day and age of YouTube there’s plenty of videos out there that can walk you through the different presses, setup, workflow, and safety tips.  Or find somebody that can show you the ropes on their machine and get you some time pulling the handle.  But you’ll still want the manuals for the data they contain.

As far as which press to get, it all depends on what you want to reload, what volume, and how versatile you want the press to be (i.e. multi calibers, just pistol, or pistol and rifle).  For me, the Dillon 550 is a very robust, consistent, and versatile press. If I was to just own one I would probably opt for the 550 since it’s easy to change calibers, including rifle.  I reload bulk .223 on my D550 but do my 6.5 CM on my single stage press. 

Fire away with questions. There’s plenty of people on this forum that roll their own and can contribute their thoughts.

[DWARREN]

I also started with a single stage press (Lee) and eventually moved up to a Lee Classic Turret press.
The LCT does what I need, I get about 250 rounds a hour when I have no interruptions.
I do 9mm and 45acp now a days, about a thousand rounds every two weeks.
I have reloaded used military brass about 15 time's or so when doing medium power rounds.
Some brass last longer than others.
I don't check on how much it costs or how much I save, I do it as a relaxing hobby.
I have been reloading about 12 years now and really enjoy it.

[double-d]

Assuming you are stateside, I would look at Craigslist for reloading equipment.
With the low cost of factory ammo these days (compared to years back), many people are shedding their used equipment.

On Craigslist, I stumbled across a gentleman selling his pristine progressive Hornady LNL Ammo Plant and extras for a ridiculous low price.  I brought home everything he had reloading wise.

Food for thought.

[Wobbly]

Welcome Aboard !

• You should review the Stickies at the top of the forum. Most of your questions are answered in this one:
https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=58939.0

• Asking which equipment to buy is a bit like asking us which car should you buy. The final choice is ultimately based on an array of variables (financial, personal goals, volumes, calibers, speed, etc) that ONLY apply to YOU and your situation. IMHO, there are a lot of parallels between a person's car and their press. We might actually get closer to the correct press if you tell me what car you drive !! The person that drives a basic model 3yo Chevy... is different from the person who drives a new Porsche... is different from the person who drives a 20yo pickup truck. Does that make any sense ?

The one thing you DO NOT want to do is ask "what's the best press ?" because the only answers you get then, is what everybody else is using at that point in their lives. And you are obviously not living their life. Capiche ?

• Most of the time the savings is at least 50%. It can be a great deal more if you are reloading an elephant gun, 50 BMG, or another "rare" cartridge which can approach $5 per round. So the exact savings are all over the map simply because the price of ammo is all over that same map.

And too, if you load 2 or more similar calibers, then the savings can sky rocket. For instance 9x19 Luger, 38 Spcl, 380Auto, 38 Super, 357 Mag don't sound related, but they share a great number of components. Once you're set for the first caliber, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th caliber can be added for a price equal to 1 box of 50 cartridges from Walmart. So you'd be stupid at that point to keep buying lousy factory ammo when for half the price you could be shooting Olympic grade target ammo.

And savings escalate rapidly with Volume. If you shoot a single caliber in competition and need 150-300 rounds per week, then that would totally pay off ALL THE EQUIPMENT in less than one year. And I'm not talking basic entry-level equipment, I'm talking about high-end, Porsche grade equipment, with ALL the bells and whistles. So even if you do drive a 20yo pickup truck, having a Porsche in the garage for FREE is a no-brainer.

• Finally, I'll end by saying this is a GREAT time to consider this because prices are the lowest in 6-10 years. If you had $1000 budget, then you could get a press and a stockpile of components enough to cover 90% of your shooting for the next 2-4 years.

It DOES have a...
- Huge learning curve, but we are here to help
- Large initial $ investment, so you need to make sure shooting is something you are committed to
- A space requirement. Do you have a spare bedroom, basement, closet that will allow you a 6x8ft dedicated area?


Hope this helps. 

[redapse]

Wow!!

First, I really did not expect such thought out and expansive replies. Thank you very much everyone for taking the time with such a warm welcome!

I have a few 9mm, 22LR, 12GA, but I'm really looking to get into 5.56x45 or 7.62x51 depending on my soon-to-be rifle. So 9mm, and one of those rifle loads for now. I don't want to load into shot shells at first.

I shoot maybe 50-100 rounds a month as things are currently busy, but I expect to ramp that up. It'd also be nice to build a supply versus always trying to find the latest deals.

Do those parameters offer any additional advice as far as equipment goes?

The cost savings aren't a huge factor for me, I was looking into it as part of the gun enthusiast hobby but wanted to hear perspectives on what sort of savings could be had. (Easier to sell the wife on it too, right?) I'm glad to hear that overall it's very positive with an investment. I'll need to look into local shops regarding supplies.

Really fantastic content here all around guys and I'm still trying to digest all of it. I didn't see that sticky, (still don't at the top of this subforum) so I'll be reading more on that.

Thanks again everyone!

[painter]

Based on the calibers, and volume, I'd suggest a single stage.

I have an RCBS Rockchucker II and like it fine. I load 4 calibers, all at low volume. I have added an aftermarket spent primer management system. That is the weakest point of the Rockchucker press.

[Wobbly]

I shoot maybe 50-100 rounds a month as things are currently busy, but I expect to ramp that up. It'd also be nice to build a supply versus always trying to find the latest deals.

• DO NOT shop by price or you'll get screwed. Volumes and Features will mean 200X more to you 15 minutes after you pull the first op lever. This because you get EXACTLY what you paid for. IOW... price would lead you to purchase the 25yo Chevette, but we all know you're expecting electric windows, heated seats, and satellite radio. You would quickly become dissatisfied with the purchase and loose money on the trade-in. So what I'm advising is that you be smart go ahead and marry your "second wife" first. 

• I do believe at those volumes, Painter is correct. A single-stage will be a great press for you. While the RCBS Rock Chucker is the standard, it was designed in ~1970 and people want better spent primer handling these days. Note that even Painter's press has been upgraded this way. So spent primer handling is important if you have small children in the home (a health and swallow hazard), or you are obsessively clean or just a "neat" person. You needn't be OCD. I'm not, but there's just something really appealing about having your waste products taken by sealed hose to a waiting, sealed bottle that you take to the dump (or recycler) once a year.

Therefore, I would also suggest the...
- MEC Marksman
- Redding Big Boss II

And if having all your dies pre-mounted and "ready to go" is a feature you like, look at the...
- Redding T7 Turret  (a mod of the Big Boss)


All these features are fully captured in the Single-Stage comparison test...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqcYI0G2hqM


 

[Here2learn]

What all has reloading let you all into?

I ask, because I met/known two types of reloaders.  One, is the one that reloads and mainly shoots around deer season, but is an occasional shooter.
The other, told me reloads doesn't really save them any money, when ammo prices are low, because it leads to more shooting, other purchases like a chronograph, supplies before elections, etc.

Watching this thread, because one reloading buddy has been making me think about getting a Dillon 550, and starting.

[tdogg]

What all has reloading let you all into?

Well I started out reloading for rifle mainly to support my hunting.  I was able to fine tune loads for my hunting rifles that were sub MOA when I couldn't get the rifle to shoot factory ammo sub MOA (tried plenty of expensive factory options too).

Shortly thereafter I purchased a wildcat 6 Dasher of which you can't purchase factory ammunition.  I was able to dial in 1/4-1/2 MOA loads for it in short order.  I don't have the time currently but I was hoping to get into long range competition with that rifle.  I still may some day but for now I just shoot it for fun.

I picked up shooting USPSA competitively and I am able to load exactly what I need for a power factor and make sure I maintain accuracy.  My quality control has not let me down at a match yet (knock on wood!).  I reloaded over 6k last year at a savings of ~$500 if you look at the current price of 40 S&W for the cheapest option.  My reloads are clean burning, accurate, and much better than the bargain ammo comparison.

OP:

It is true that you will shoot more when you start reloading, so pick a press type that will support a higher rate than you currently shoot.  To take full advantage of the cost savings, you have to be willing to purchase in bulk when deals are offered.  I try to stay a year ahead of my needs to ensure I don't purchase out of necessity at retail prices.  You have to be willing to front the cost and it can be a bit pricey if your volumes are high.  I have yet to see component prices fall over the long term, so it's like an investment and you save more the sooner you purchase the components.

Your personality type also will dictate if reloading is for you.  Are you a person that likes to make things and learn how stuff works?  Or are you the person that likes to just do the activity but don't fret over the details?  When you take up a hobby, do you dive in and learn all facets or do you just want to do the hobby?  Do you have the patience to learn something new?  There are plenty of reloaders that don't know what they are doing.  They take a recipe (hopefully from a reputable source) and just rinse and repeat.  These folks generally don't last as the reloading activity does consume time and that time could be spent on other things.  If you don't enjoy the creation process or take satisfaction in creating your own, then the process will just be a chore that you have to do in order to be able to shoot.  It will still save you money though...

Things to ponder,
Toby

[painter]

I started reloading because ammo wasn't plentiful, and it was expensive. I loaded for 9mm, and was shooting about 3-4K rounds a year.

I added some rifles, and the dies to load those calibers, and then got bit by the shotgun bug.

I load 3 different gauges, and approximately 8-10K shells a year. Most of my pistol shooting is rimfire lately.

I love my progressive shotshell loader.

[Wobbly]

I ask, because I met/known two types of reloaders.  One, is the one that reloads and mainly shoots around deer season, but is an occasional shooter.

The other, told me reloads doesn't really save them any money, when ammo prices are low, because it leads to more shooting, other purchases like a chronograph, supplies before elections, etc.

As was said in the Stickie article "Is Reloading For Me?" 1) you get the absolute best ammo, 2) at about 1/2 the price of store bought ammo, and 3) you can have it at any time, day or night, in any volume.

In my case I took up action pistol as a way to hone my skills. For that I needed 400 rounds month of good quality ammo, so I got a Dillon 550 and let her rip. I had reloaded in the 70's and knew all the mechanics. I did that for 2 years, but then IPSC started to coincide with my youth program, so the action pistol fell by the wayside. But by that time all my reloading gear was completely paid for.

Then along came a 1911 in 38Super. Well, it turns out that 38Super and 9x23Winchester use the same mags, bullets and powder, so I got a second barrel for the 1911 and can now shoot both.

Then I won the Christmas give-away pistol here one year and decided to try 40 cal. Well, once you gear up for 40S&W, you may as well get a 10mmAuto pistol because it's the same reloading dies, powders and bullets ! And then a 357 revolver happened along which can shoot 38Spcl or 357Mag, so of course (since they use the same bullets, powder, primers and dies) I had to tool up for those 2 calibers.

Bottom Line: As time has progressed, I have swapped volume in a single caliber for the same volume spread over multiple calibers. And now with retirement I'm very glad it's inexpensive. Each of the calibers brings a different type of joy. And I can invite friends over to my back yard range, afford to supply all the ammo, and show up with the same caliber gun(s) so as not to embarrass my guest(s).




To me, the claim that you'll simply shoot more is pure BS, with a touch of jealously thrown in. It's the exactly wrong way to look at it. My hobby is shooting. Shooting is a good thing; more shooting is a BETTER thing. Having a guest or a son come over to shoot with me and NOT having to say, "we have to quit because we're out of ammo" is the BEST thing ever !! 

Watching this thread, because one reloading buddy has been making me think about getting a Dillon 550, and starting.

I love the 550. That's a premo piece of equipment for multiple pistol and rifle calibers. Let us help you with your initial purchase, because like everybody else, Dillon offers a lot of items you won't really need to start. While at the same time there are a lot of 3rd party items you'll really want from the beginning. We can help you navigate that purchase.

In the most basic comparison terms imaginable: Think of the more flexible 550 for small lots of multiple calibers (rifle or pistol) in a single session (because caliber changes are faster), while the 650/750 is better at larger runs with fewer calibers. The difference is the 650/750 case feeder makes a dramatic difference with higher volumes, but the 550 case feeder is not that good.

 

[Pistolet]

I started reloading almost two years ago. I bought a Lee precision classic turret press kit which came with a reloading book instructions and data, a cheap ass scale, powder measure and everything you need to get started except dies and caliper. The price was good enough that I would not have too many regrets in case I did not continue reloading. Well I liked i so much that I bought a Dillon 550 a year later. I used to shoot 9mm and .22LR and would never have dreamed of owning a .357 magnum or a .45Acp ( both of which I own now) because the ammo was just too expensive. If money is not an issue, don't waste your time, buy a 550, otherwise get a turret or a single stage (you can always resell them).

[burley]

Lee Classic Cast Turret owner here. 

I added Inline Fabrication ergo handle and auto eject.  About 200 .45 ACP or .38 specials an hour.

I also collect lead and cast my bullets. 

9 mm doesn't cast well so at this point I just buy them by the thousand.

Also, a Lee classic cast turret  can be used as a single stage press.