Buying mail order vs. make your own ammo

[froggy47]

It's cheaper to reload. Yes you will need to factor in the price of equipment. A cheapo LEE set up will work fine but it's not a lifetime investment. A used RCBS Rockchucker would be the best place to start. Since you aren't worried about labor costs single stage is just fine. I shoot less now so I've gotten rid of my progressive and other single stage press. Buy stuff by the 1000 to get best price. Just buy what you need - press, dies, Powder scale (old balance beam), powder measure (I have an RCBS one but also use the LEE powder scoops if it's just for plinking), set of Harbor Freight calipers, case trimmer (rarely used), Never needed any type of gauges. Set the dies right move the handle fully each time and they will chamber.
I have a pretty fool proof way of checking myself since at 67 I don't fully trust my robotic skills of getting it right every time. I first size and prime. I put them in a loading block primer up so I can see every one is primed and properly seated. Next they get powder and back into the block primer down. Then a peek into each one with a flashlight to see that there is powder and not a double charge. Finally the bullet/seating and into a box. I haven't found a mistake yet but using this method makes me feel safer.

Thanks for the detail.

[ar15barrels]

Just got off the phone with Midwayusa (where I was buying a lot b4 12/31. They have a dept that deals with sending your "papers" to them so they can ship. Well I asked the girl what ffl I needed and she said ffl-1. Then I said, "I heard you can ship to an ffl-3 holder" So she says I needed ffl-1 AND ffl-3. I knew then that I was dealing with someone whose job it is to take the calls but knew no FACTS about what she was saying.

So for this thread let's stick to facts, guys who actually know what the laws are & maybe have done it. I can tell there are 2-3 who know facts. I want to converse with them & everyone else crack a beer (tonight) & read and learn. No offense to ANYONE, just let's stick to real facts, no "fake news".

If you look in the ammo subforum, there are a couple pinned threads I wrote on what you need to get into reloading pistol ammo or match rifle ammo.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=229221

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=158086

Here is the list of vendors that WILL accept 03FFL and COE and ship to you:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1406001

[froggy47]

Thanks, read the whole thread & explains the confusion I got from Midway, so I'll likely get the ffl03 & coe to start. See what 1/1/19 brings.

[ARDude]

And if you start reloading you may want to get one of those "automatic" reloading machines, where you just push a button, come back in a couple hours and 10,000 rounds will be loaded.

[KahrMan]

[CSACANNONEER]

Not really. Seldom are jacketed bullets on sale for half price.

You're talking apples to oranges. You're talking about low velocity pistol ammo, OP is talking 5.56.

At any rate OP can find some cheap Lee stuff that works well. Single stage press, their trimmer, etc. The equipment to size and trim rifle brass is not very expensive as long as you don't have to deal with military crimped primers. It's just time consuming - perfect for a retiree.

Scrounge garage sales. Someone always wants to get rid of stuff that's nearly worthless used, like primer pocket cleaners or deburring tools or case gauges, that nickel and dime you if you buy new.

I find different jacketed bullets for "half price" several times a year.

Casting is an option for .223. You can either go PC or GC for high velocity cast bullets. So, I'm talking apples to apples and apples to oranges. Either way, casting is another hobby that can make your component costs go down to almost nothing.


Buying something to swage or trim primer crimps is probably the least expensive piece of equipment for brass prep that one can buy. So, I'm not sure why you made it sound expensive or exotic???

[kmas]

Shop around - there are amazing deals .

If you add up the time for all the tasks involved in making your own ammo
even at the minimum wage, it's cheaper to buy.