Reloading?

[Clickjack]

[RiskyBusiness]

Theres nothing like making your own fireball 44s with h110. But then again you said everything we needed to know. You dont have the time to study and learn a new hobby. There is extensive learning that is needed for safety reasons for both you and your guns.

As for the sizes of the presses a single stage takes up almost the same room as a turret and a progressive would just be a few more inches more on the bench. But once your set up you could crank out 1000s of pills in a weekend. I suggest you start now with a manual and watch lots of YT videos of the reloading process when you have free time. Dont invest in anything before you know pretty much all the ins n outs of what it takes to reload. When you're convinced on what you need for your personal use you'll make the best decision on the press and components than any of us can recommend for you.

[edgerly779]

^^^ FUD Not hard at all get lyman reloading book. Follow mfg 's loading recommendations. I have 4 presses. One is portable take it when hunting/fishing/camping or just recreational shooting. and process brass. Deprime and size. Sometimes Do final stage charge with powder and seat bullets. Keep an eye out for c press and powder scale and few other items. PM me. Maybe later get a progressive pres. Do not start with a progressive. I have been handloading for 55 years.

[bababoris]

[beerman]

As edgerly779 said, I can not recommend a progressive to learn on. This is especially true for the calibers you stated (44&45 LC) as you are most certainly not shooting more than a hundred per range session(most probably less) Find a used C press if you can, or buy an RCBS rockcrusher.
Reloading adds another whole dimension to shooting as you will have fun developing your load preferances. Post any questions in the reloading section here on Calguns as the folks there are always willing to answer any questions.
By the way, I have been using a single stage press for almost 30 years and it suits me fine. Good luck!

[edgerly779]

All my presses are single stage. I am not in a hurry to process rounds. 9mm and .223 for range ammo is to cheap to load for. Non lead and hunting ammo different story. Or if you shoot non standard ammo that is expensive to buy off the shelf.

[hmvan]

[Mayor McRifle]

How hard is it to get into reloading?

I don’t have a ton of room, so it’d probably have to be a single stage press to start.

What I’m worried about is I don’t have time to get into a second hobby / studdy a bunch of material. And I obviously don’t want to blow a gun up. But 44 mag and 45 Colt are pretty pricey. Be nice if I could load my own.

Buy this DVD and watch it: https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-99910-Pr...r=8-3-fkmrnull

It covers all the basics in an easy-to-understated-and-follow format. You’ll be reloading with confidence in no time.

[desertrider]

get into a second hobby / studdy a bunch of material

Loading manuals will tell you exactly which powder and components to use with minimum and maximum charge weights to help you create safe loads, BUT, don't stray from those recommendations.

When I was a kid, I remember my cousin started reloading using a Lee hand press in his bedroom, he didn't even have a scale, just used the dipping spoons that came with his die set. I can't tell you how many rounds of his ammo we shot through his 30-30 without any problems, and we were both teens.

Ultimately, as you get more into reloading as a hobby you'll find that there is a lot to learn. Make time to do it.

I was really apprehensive about starting reloading probably for the same reasons as the OP. Looking back on it now, there really wasn't any need to worry about safety as long as you follow the load recommendations in the manuals.

[lookoutlinn]

Three years ago I started with this https://www.amazon.com/LEE-PRECISION...r=8-1-fkmrnull. While having fun, I learned the very basics of reloading and saved a ton a money on 45 colt ammo. With the knowledge gained and a friend’s help I moved up to this https://www.amazon.com/Dillon-XL650-...ateway&sr=8-15. Now I can make 45 colt, 9mm and 45 acp cheap and by the thousands.

Here’s a pretty cool video to help get you started: https://youtu.be/LO5CrFI7dVU.

[protohyp]

It really lands on your technical knowledge and understanding of the process as most have said here.

I started on a 1050 but only loaded 1 stage at a time so I could understand exactly what was going on at that time. Once I felt comfortable say depriming then i'd move on to understanding the swaging stage to see how it would interact with certain cases on that stage. I learn a lot about primer pockets there and what brass my machine likes and dislikes. From there, priming, powder drop, etc etc etc.

I would not recommend this for everyone if you're not technically inclined

it really comes down to how much you shoot. As some said if you shoot once a month and only a couple of boxes then get a single stage and the bare minimum needed to load. If you shoot every week/weekend and make it rain lead then invest in a progressive that your wallet will allow.

There is so much good info out there especially in the reloading section of Calguns. The easiest thing to do is sit down with someone that reloads and have them walk you through it.

I have a bunch of friends that started off on progressives after I had them come over and load their own rounds on my press under my supervision. Again its not the easiest method and requires the utmost of your attention but it can be done and that's all up to you.

[LTC-J]

I started loading in an apartment on a Lee single stage press.

I would suggest going to youtube or similar to find 'beginner' reload videos.

It is still VERY time consuming if you are going to be safe. But you can do a bit while watching TV: de-prime, size, and prime. There is no way I'd dump powder or press a bullet without full attention.

Plus, you still have to work your loads usually starting from minimum and working your way up. That takes time also. During summer, I spent a day working up a 45acp load on a new power and bullets.

[Featureless]

Three years ago I started with this https://www.amazon.com/LEE-PRECISION...r=8-1-fkmrnullhttps://www.amazon.com/Dillon-XL650-...ateway&sr=8-15https://youtu.be/LO5CrFI7dVU.

^^^^^
THIS. I started out with a Lee Loader loading .38 special some 40+ years ago. It's perfect for straight wall cases like .44 spec .45 Colt, .38 spec etc that headspace on the rim of the brass. You don't need to spend a lot of money to get started and learn the basics. Not only do you save some $$ on ammo, you gain a unique kind of independence when you can make your own ammo.

[tanks]

There is a whole forum about it here with stickies on how to get into it.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/forumdisplay.php?f=89

[Tommy Gun]

For now reloading is the best option to pick up unless you want to deal with the BS coming up with background checks and all. To get into reloading you will need around 500 for basic tools and componants to start.

Press
Dies
Trimmer
Scale (Beam or Digital)
Calipers
Manual
Tumbler
Deburr, Chamfur, primer pocket cleaner and reamer
Bullet puller just in case

Powder
Primers
Bullets