Newbie thinking about getting into loading

[black43]

Continuing on this thread.. Thinking about getting into reloading 9mm. Mostly planning on doing it as a hobby, but will probably also see the cost savings. I'm pretty sold on the Lee classic turret press. I haven't done a lot of shooting lately, but I plan on going once per week shooting about 150-200 per trip. My goal is to initially just make a pretty basic range load that will function in my P-01 and 75.

I plan to do a lot of reading the reloading manuals before I start putting any loads together, but my local Cabelas has Winchester 231 and that seems to be pretty common. I think I'm going with that initially to avoid the hazmat charges - should i be able to find some good load data for that powder? Will also probably use CCI or Winchester primers.

Bullets... It seems like there are 100 companies making coated lead bullets. I've seen them as cheap as $.045 up to about $.08. My concern with these types of bullets is that they are soft and it looks like they range in size from .355 to .358 and everyone online has an opinion on what size to get. Then, it seems like there is plenty of potential for a new reloader to mess up the crimp and have lead issues in the barrel. Not interested in that.

I think for my purposes, I will start with FMJ/JHP. I know it was mentioned a few times on this forum that Precision Delta makes good 124 grain JHP. With a discount code or bulk discount I think I could probably get them for around $.08. I think these should be more straightforward with crimping and less room for error. Cost of powder would be about $.015 - $.02. Then primers about $.03 (bulk). So looking at about $.13 per reload. Online it looks like that same ammunition would cost between $.25 - $.45.

Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

[Dan_69GTX]

Sounds like you are on the right track to me.   Make sure you read through the stickies on this forum - VERY helpful..  Make sure you determine the OAL properly (push test - in sticky). 

[Duke Nukem]

I followed a similar path recently when getting into reloading 9mm, except I chose to get my materials shipped to me and pay the hazmat (I did the math and I paid roughly the same and had a bigger choice of brands).  I figured my cost is 12.5 cents per round.

 Where I made a mistake is getting too many bullets without trying out various samples first.  I got 3,000 124 gr. rn fmj made by Armscor; they have been fine in my P10-C, I read that the 124 gr. bullet was what the 9mm Luger was designed around, but how do they compare to something else?  Is 124 gr. really what my gun likes best?  A better approach would have been to get samples of a variety of bullet types and weights from different companies and see what does best.  I will still do that, but that step should have come before buying in quantity.

 There are so many variables with brands of product and how they are used, that you can stay busy for a long time trying out this and that.  I am enjoying reloading about as much as actual shooting, that is a surprise.

I've been happy with Alliant Sport Pistol, and the Federal 100 primers have been good.  Other shooters use different powders and primers and are fine with them, but finding a product you like and sticking with it has advantages.

So far I've been very happy with the Lee Classic turret press, I got it based on the recommendations of experienced people I trust.    It isn't as fast as a progressive press, but I can turn out one or two hundred rounds in a comfortable time and it's easier for me to keep track of what's going on.

[Wobbly]

Cabelas has Winchester 231 and that seems to be pretty common. I think I'm going with that initially to avoid the hazmat charges - should i be able to find some good load data for that powder?

Win 231 is a very popular powder for 9mm and several other pistols. The exact same powder is also sold as Hodgdon HP-38. Finding load data for one of those will be extremely easy.

A newer version of that same 'burn rate' is Alliant Sport Pistol. That's the only thing that may be better in that class.

Will also probably use CCI or Winchester primers.

Suggest Winchester WSP as being softer. Federal #100 are even better.

I will start with FMJ/JHP. I know it was mentioned a few times on this forum that Precision Delta makes good 124 grain JHP. With a discount code or bulk discount I think I could probably get them for around $.08.

Precision Delta 124gr JHP only gives the discount on 2000+. That might be a bit many for jumping in.

Maybe start with 250 Berry Mfg 124 conical Flat Point Hollow Base from Graf & Sons. https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/73146


Hope this helps

[gifbohane]

I started reloading due to an election. I bought a Rockchucker and am real happy with it. Few years later was thinking about a Dillon 650 to load 223 range brass. But decided on a Redding Turret.  I thought that placing a cartridge on the Dillon to size/deprime, taking it off to trim, chamfer, deburr, and remove military crimp AND then place back on Dillon to finish would not be worth it to me.

But for some reason I still lust after the Dillon... and I do not load enough nor am I picky enough to spend a thousand or 2 on a Dillon.  VERY please with the Redding... but a little costly.

[Wobbly]

I started reloading due to an election. I bought a Rockchucker and am real happy with it. Few years later was thinking about a Dillon 650 to load 223 range brass. But decided on a Redding Turret.  I thought that placing a cartridge on the Dillon to size/deprime, taking it off to trim, chamfer, deburr, and remove military crimp AND then place back on Dillon to finish would not be worth it to me.

And you are correct. Any progressive is going to make you pass through twice, so your process for 223 is the faster/ better way in moderate volumes. What usually drives the decision toward a progressive press (of any brand) is auto pistol reloading, and even then it has to be higher than plinking volumes.

[lewmed]

 If shooting is in your blood and you are a high volume pistol shooter just do it my advice is to start with a Lee Classic turret press. Don't buy a kit most kits are low quality and get the best scale you can afford it will last you a life time.  Now start saving for the next step a good quality Progressive and buy the best you can afford it's like buying a gun safe you will wish you a had bought the larger or the better one. If you get hooked on reloading like me you will want to buy your powder, primers and bullets in bulk I wait for a sale like Black Friday or the 4th of July and load up it's also nice that I'm only a 25 min. drive from Powder Valley. One last thing is your reloading space I started reloading in a 8'X10' shed in my back yard I'm now in a 18'X20' room in my basement with room for my wet cleaning and processing brass and my 4 progressive reloaders.

[bang bang]

I started reloading due to an election. I bought a Rockchucker and am real happy with it. Few years later was thinking about a Dillon 650 to load 223 range brass. But decided on a Redding Turret.  I thought that placing a cartridge on the Dillon to size/deprime, taking it off to trim, chamfer, deburr, and remove military crimp AND then place back on Dillon to finish would not be worth it to me.

But for some reason I still lust after the Dillon... and I do not load enough nor am I picky enough to spend a thousand or 2 on a Dillon.  VERY please with the Redding... but a little costly.

as you figured out HOW you do your process can make a difference on what press you buy.

I do BATCH reloading.  I do ALL of the PREP first.  Size/deprime/inspect, Trim/debur/inspect, Flare/inspect, clean/polish/inspect, inspect/prime.  I usually just get alot of cases ready to go and they are primed.  If/when i need to load, i put them in trays.  I have 6 trays that will hold 50 each, so i can do about 300 in 1 go.  If its a smaller case, i can put 100 in a tray.

Ive did some "progressive" reloads and they worked out fine, but i like to inspect the cases and also sometimes if they are real dirty i will wash first and that way will keep the dirt out of the resizer.