School me on reloading

[alfred1222]

Hey all,
so i know alot of people here reload, and i want to start reloading my own ammunition. With the price of everything skyrocketing, every little bit helps. can someone explain the process to me, or direct me to a link that can do that?? and also, can someone recommend me a place to buy the reloading supplies? thanks

[damndave]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=313431

and you also might want to try the "Reloading" Section here.

[ahren111]

I just bought all the stuff I needed to start reloading, it will be here tomorrow FS Reloading had the best prices on Lee equipment that I could find.

[russ69]

Buy a reloading manual and read it, that's the best starting place. If you have a buddy that reloads, hang out with him after you read the book.

[Javi]

Here's a great overview:




& yeah, go check out the reloading forum and buy a reloading manual!

[onegtalon]

I see you're in San Jose. Reeds indoor range in Santa Clara has a new class for reloading. I may take it one of these days if my .45 ACP gets out of control and/or I do get that .357 or .223 one day....




Sent from my iPhone...

[joelogic]

Reloading does not save money! You will just shoot more for the same amount of money.

Check out the ammo & reloading forum.

[davek8s]

I just started reloading. Upfront it doesn't save you much money. Once you buy the press kit, dies and tumbler. Then all the componants start to add up quick. I think I'm a little over $600 in to it right now.

But I will say that I'm having fun doing it and that it is a rewarding hobby. Start with the ABC's of reloading, I ordered a dvd on begining handgun loading also. There is also a lot of good info in the reloading section here on CG's.

[the86d]

I got a progressive Dillon XL 650, and can crank out at least 600-800rd/hr, and I am a newB (watching carefully of course). It was pricey, but well worth it. All I have to do is really place a bullet, and crank the handle once you start a batch.

Once you screw up a test batch, you know by then how things work, and make sure to buy a Kinetic Puller when you buy a reloading press... for some in the the 1st batch, of course.

(Also I weigh each completed cartridge on a digital to see if a cartridge went awry.)

[russt]

+1 for ABC's of reloading, this book taught me the basics and had me making my first loads.

[skibuff]

Don't put to much faith in weighting a completed round. I think you'll find the you can easily get 5gr difference in brass and bullets if you are using mixed head stamps.

(Also I weigh each completed cartridge on a digital to see if a cartridge went awry.)[/QUOTE]

[bden]

I'm with OP!

[Maddog5150]

Reloading does not save money! You will just shoot more for the same amount of money.

Check out the ammo & reloading forum.

THIS!!!!

You will have to shoot in excessively more than most avid shooters to recoup the money you put into the equipment. I mostly use my reloader for 44 mag and thats where I save money one rounds. If you're just pumping out 9-45, .223-.308, you're not really going to recoup any loss or save any money. You can however stock up on some supplies and have ammo for the next Obama scare.

[Jel]

Same boat as OP.

Say you had $500-600 to spend on a reloading setup.

You are a typical casual plinker and target shooter. You have 9mm, .40, .45, .223, and .308 caliber guns.

You don't mind that you may not be saving money but find that you like fact that you will learn how to reload.

You want a good setup where you hopefully won't have to upgrade soon after buying.

You'd rather not buy entry level but maybe something in the midrange....if you could afford it.

Is this another slippery slope? Will I just end up shooting more?

What brand and what setup would you get? What are the must haves and what are the things that would just make life easier.

Definitely will be reading the ABC book as well as doing more research here.

[skibuff]

I bought all my equipment 20 years ago. You could buy brass cased american made .223 ammo for $2.99/20 and cheaper if bulk. Back then the argument against reloading was the same about not saving much money. So $400 in a complete progressive setup back then seemed expensive. 20 years later and 10's of thousand rounds it's paid for itself.
Also the ability to make lighter loads for the wife and hotter loads for myself.

With 9mm I can easily save $50 per 1k over cheap gun show reloads and make a factory load quality product.
Like everyone else said you won't save money you will just have twice as much fun.