Reloading Advice

[xstrensic]

Hello all,

I've decided that I want to get into reloading my own stockpile of ammunition. Can someone point me in a good direction of classes, help, to teach me the proper and safe methods of accomplishing this.

Around how much should I expect to incur in costs to get set up? I figured I would start reloading 9mm and move on from there.

Any insight is appreciated.

Thx

[jkcerda]

what is your location? there are a few clinics available depending on location.

set up depends on you, you can start with a Lee pro 1000 for about $200 or so or go to the big boys, Dillon/RCBS/Hornady. and spend 2-3 times as much.
you will need a tumbler as well.

Edit, you might also want to find out how much savings if any there are on 9 mm. seems your reloads on 9 are near the price of retail. you do save on .40 and .45 .

3 cents primer
3-5 cents powder
3-5 cents brass
8 cents bullet

going low you are at 17 cents per round.

[xstrensic]

what is your location? there are a few clinics available depending on location.

set up depends on you, you can start with a Lee pro 1000 for about $200 or so or go to the big boys, Dillon/RCBS/Hornady. and spend 2-3 times as much.

Edit, you might also want to find out how much savings if any there are on 9 mm. seems your reloads on 9 are near the price of retail. you do save on .40 and .45 .

3 cents primer
3-5 cents powder
3-5 cents brass
8 cents bullet

going low you are at 17 cents per round.

Thanks jkcerda
I'm located in san diego, chula vista area; know of anything?
Ultimately I would like to start reloading my own .45 and .223 (.308 when I get one) but figured I could start practicing on 9mm for now.

[jkcerda]

Thanks jkcerda
I'm located in san diego, chula vista area; know of anything?
Ultimately I would like to start reloading my own .45 and .223 (.308 when I get one) but figured I could start practicing on 9mm for now.

sadly I don't know of any clinics in the SD area.
but I will say I just started , pistol is EASY. die set ups are EASY.
add 2 scales (1 digital 1 regular) to the list, I like the Lyman book over the Hornady reloading book.

do you have a budget in mind? it did not take me that long to set up my RCBS pro 2000 with the RCBS dies.
get CARBIDE dies for pistol.

for .223 I will attend a clinic to make sure I am doing things right like the case trimming ETC

btw I started on a progressive, mine (RCBS PRO 2000) is pretty easy to use.

what is your budget? my RCBS has 5 stations, Dillon 550 has 4, tons of guys LOVE dillons.

[jkcerda]

check your PMs. there is a decent deal (IMHO) on a Dillon already set up for 9 & .45

ask the seller for a quick lesson. I would jump on that set up if I didnt already own one & was looking to start, $100 more than a Lee pro 1000 and the Dillon has a lifetime warranty. get a digital scale, an RCBS scale (5-0-5) and the book, then just your primers/powder/bullets and you are good to go.

ouch, just noticed its a 3 hr or so drive for you, have it shipped.

[sofbak]

Start at the top of this forum....there's a sticky called RELOADING 101

Search this forum for "wanting to reload" or "starting to reload" or "start to reload". There are tons of threads from others asking the same questions.

Look into La Mesa Collectibles in El Cajon. They have regular weekend reloading classes IIRC.

[ExtremeX]

I reload my 9mm for 10 cents per round… $5/50

Buying in bulk is really the only way to accomplish any worthwhile savings on the small stuff like 9mm and .223, it basically took some smart shopping and spending thousands in components and or getting in on some solid group buys.

If you want to be a volume reloader to actually generate a “stockpile”, you would probably want a decent press setup too. I started with a Pro 2000, and with basic tooling like calipers, dies, other stuff I want in it for about $1000 to start.

After adding more dies, tool, better scale, single stage press over the years I’m easily into it $2000-2500 in just equipment and that’s trying to be conservative.

That said, you can start loading on the cheap, for like $100-200, great way to start and learn, but don’t expect any exciting levels of output.

[jkcerda]

[/B].

that there might discourage many

[waveslayer]

Agreed 100%. Also, look at the Dillon 1050 if you want mass reloading.

[TomReloaded]

I reload pistol ammo on a single stage. Do bulk prep and making ammo is fast and easy. I have jars full of primed and sized brass. With a lee pro disk, 100 rounds takes 20 minutes or so. A 200 to 300 round range trip is done the night before while watching tv.

Its the slowest way possible, but its not that slow.

[ExtremeX]

that there might discourage many

[ExtremeX]

I reload pistol ammo on a single stage. Do bulk prep and making ammo is fast and easy. I have jars full of primed and sized brass. With a lee pro disk, 100 rounds takes 20 minutes or so. A 200 to 300 round range trip is done the night before while watching tv.

Its the slowest way possible, but its not that slow.

[jkcerda]

I’m not trying to discourage, only telling it how I see it.

I don’t see the point sugar coating pistol loading on a single stage or even a turret if one wants bulk or volume production.

There are times I feel like my 5 station Pro 2000 is a bit limiting, but that’s because I’m pushing out thousands of rounds. Now that I know what all my pet loads are, I load all my pistol ammo once a year, generally enough to last me the year.

Bottom line, more the OP knows, more he can make an informed decision based on his personal goals, volume, and budget.

apologies, I did not mean to imply YOU were trying to discourage any one, what I mean to say is that a slow process might discourage a new reloader if he thinks he is spending too much time per round loaded.

it is good to point out how slow the process is on a single stage.

[someoneeasy]

apologies, I did not mean to imply YOU were trying to discourage any one, what I mean to say is that a slow process might discourage a new reloader if he thinks he is spending too much time per round loaded.

it is good to point out how slow the process is on a single stage.

But it's good that they know this before going into it. Also, reloading isn't for everyone. I use to think everybody should be reloading, then.... I talked to a few people or read a few things here on calguns, reloading isn't for everyone.....

[TomReloaded]

Im not really promoting a single stage. Its slow and a pain, but it works. Im out of reloading space, a new press is on the way once i setup a workshop! Just saying its doable and not that bad.