Starting to reload

[NathanSteg]

Ive spent hours watching YouTube videos on reloading its one of those things Id love to get into, but every time I start thinking seriously about it, I hit the same problem: cost.

people say reloading saves money in the long run, but getting started? Thats a whole different story. Between the press, dies, powder, primers, calipers, case trimmers, and who knows what else, it adds up fast. And thats before even talking about the components, which arent exactly cheap these days either.

Ive gone back and forth on it many times. I know Id probably enjoy once I really got into it but do I really want to sink that kind of money into a hobby right now still being in college Thats the question. Ive watched enough videos to get a rough idea of the process, but half the time, the experts contradict each other. Some swear by one method while others warn of the dangers. One guy insists trimming cases is a must; another says to skip it. Yet, no matter where I look, the same advice keeps coming up: get a manual.

But before I go spending money on a press or even a book, I need to figure out if I actually want to commit to this or if I just love the idea of it. Because as much as Id love to be the guy making his own ammo, Im not sure Im ready to be the guy shelling out cash to roll his own ammo.

If anyone out there has any extra or old equipment or literally anything at all lying around, please let me know.

 

[svnmag]

My .02. It's fun (I've heard) and you may be able to create a "boutique" for a gun. Factory loads have greatly improved. From my reading on "here" and otherwise; the economic advantage is now near gone. Sorry to be first to reply to your thread as hopefully you'll hear from the real deal soon.

 

[Auggie]

Looks like your going into rifle. RCBS Rock Chucker is tough to beat. If you're looking for shot shells, a Lee Load-All is great to start with. In high school, I used science fair money to buy one. Then spent the summer loading for trap league. I've loaded everything from trap to 3.5 inch steel T's.

 

[SupressYourself]

First off, you're not saving money. Ever. That's just what we tell our wives.
-- Even if you get the cheapest components for say, a 9mm, you may make cheaper ammo than you can buy, but you'll also be shooting a lot more.

Some of the real reasons to reload are:
1. Making better / more consistent ammo than you can buy. -- That's still doable, but factory ammo just keeps getting better and better.

2. Making something that no one is loading. -- For example, no one is making 22 Creedmoor with a 75 ELDM (that I know of), but I can, and it's awesome.

I mostly do it for #2, with a side of #1.

Thinking back to my college days, I had neither the money, nor the time to do it. I would recommend waiting until you you're making educated money and are settled into a place of your own.

However, if you'd like, PM me, you can come over and I'll show you everything that goes into it. Hint: the last two guys I did that for still aren't reloading...

 

[CatDaddy]

My .02.....If you start chipping away at it now as a youngster you may be all set up by the time you have "educated money". You'll get into other debt, things that pull you away from your early dreams, and then just never get into it. Scour Marketplace, talk to friends and coworkers until you find pieces that build towards your goal. Keep the dream alive. Again, my white-beard .02.....

 

[AR-15]

Nothing wrong with a Lee Challenger breech lock single stage press, keep everything simple, one important thing is your reloading table or bench, you do not want it to flex, I have reloaded since I was 14 yrs old and I'am 72 now and still not a Pro, have fun

 

[Tymurrey]

My suggestion is to find a friend with the tools and ask to borrow it and have him help you get started or try loading at his place a time or two. A pound of powder, case of beer, or some primers for him is a nice payment. I'll be honest most of my reloading stuff collects dust most of the year and i let my friends use it when i'm not. They chip in and buy some extra tools or equipment to help out for me. I've never seen a press, die, or most other equipment wore out. some of the electric stuff like scales or trimmers maybe so why not let my friends borrow it. If by chance they break something they fix it or replace it but it's never happened.

 

[PrairieGhost]

I have reloaded ammo that I do cheaply, and I have ammo that's very expensive on time and money. I cast lead for handgun ammo and old cartridges like the 45/70. For a 300 win mag, 308, or my 6.5 Creedmoor I use match dies, expensive bullets, and spend hours neck turning brass. I do it because I dump a good rifle that will not shoot under 1/2 inch 100 yard groups. The handgun ammo I know is better than I can shoot. If you don't go beyond about 1100 fps you don't need to add tin, or antimony to the wheel weights, and I got 1000 lb of them free. That's ok for target, but I add my tin and antimony for stout 10mm and 44 mag loads.

Casting 9mm

Neck turning 6.5 Creedmoor. Even Lapua brass has inconsistent neck thickness, --- or consistently not uniform. Neck thickness on my 6.5x284 on the same piece of brass was .013 to .017. A bullet slamming into the lands .004 off center isn't going to group well no matter how much you paid for bullets.

Bullet run out tool

Better case monitor and bullet run out tool

 

[bravo]

Out of curiosity. What do you see for a neck difference between factory ammo brands. Anything stand out as the worst, or do they all have their inconsistencies?

 

[7mmMag]

Setup an account on MidwayUSA if you don't have one already. Add all the components that you are looking at getting to your cart. Midway runs a lot of deals so just keep an eye on them in your cart until stuff goes on sale. You don't need to buy everything at once, just slowly buy 1 thing at a time when its on sale and in no time you will have everything you need. You won't save money reloading but I reload because its one of my hobbies and its rewarding to me.

 

[Jiffy]

You'll save money, eventually, if you used to shoot more when you bought factory ammo. (especially nowadays)

That never happens though, you will shoot more when you start reloading.

At least most do IMO.

As with any hobby, very rarely do you ever really "save money". If you do, you're doing it wrong.

 

[PrairieGhost]

You'll save money, eventually, if you used to shoot more when you bought factory ammo. (especially nowadays)

That never happens though, you will shoot more when you start reloading.

At least most do IMO.

As with any hobby, very rarely do you ever really "save money". If you do, you're doing it wrong.

I will shoot 2000 rounds of handgun ammo, and 1000+ centerfire rifle.
Midway is good as mentioned and a Lee kit from Midway on sale will not be that expensive. I started out at 12 years old in 1960 with a new Lee loader that cost me under $5 . That was the one that you used a hammer with.
Also on Midway watch for blemishes bullets. Nothing wrong except a few out of 1000 may be tarnished. I buy many Hornady 75g to feed my 223.
Aa for factory most of my rifles have never seen factory. I do buy thousands of Winchester brass for a 300 mag, Black Hills for my 308, and Hornady for my 6.5 Creedmoor.
As for factory

 

[Jiffy]

In a day!?!?!?

 

[Rowdie]

I have a rich buddy who has a fancy set up. I'm just gonna ship my brass to him and get some ammo back. I've saved brass my whole life and never once did anything with it. Lost a lot in the fire.

 

[SupressYourself]

I have a rich buddy who has a fancy set up. I'm just gonna ship my brass to him and get some ammo back. I've saved brass my whole life and never once did anything with it. Lost a lot in the fire.

I hope he's a real good buddy. I load for a couple of my buddies, and I don't give a crap about the $ for the components, it's the time spent that is the real "cost" for me.

 

[Rowdie]

I hope he's a real good buddy. I load for a couple of my buddies, and I don't give a crap about the $ for the components, it's the time spent that is the real "cost" for me.

Ya, we've been friends since HS. He just bought a 2024 621 Ranger with a 400 and all the bells and whistles and paid cash. He hasn't even sold his 2013 620 yet, and may not. I think his reloader is all automated and can pump them out fast. That cheap ass will still probably want to keep a bunch of my brass.