Wanting to get into reloading without breaking the bank.

[Click Boom]

I have been wanting to get into reloading, but I keep pricing progressive presses and other stuff (I probably need way more stuff than I even know of existing, at this point) and it's too pricey for me right now.

So I thought maybe I should just get a single stage. Maybe even a used single stage. Then I just need a set of dies, powder scale, and a couple other things, right?

I kept trying to save up for a progressive, but kept having to spend the money on various emergencies. I don't have anybody in my sphere of influence that reloads, which is a real bummer.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post, and if you sage reloaders have any tips, I would really appreciate it.

[spamsucker]

Lee anniversary kit, ebay 100 bucks and you're within spitting distance of doing your first reload. Add dies, brass, powder, primers bullets and a case trimmer, case tumbler and corncob media to really get going. I'd pick up an inexpensive digital scale and or a RCBS 505 scale as well. I've had my lee for 20 years. I later picked up an RCBS rockchucker single stage as well but I use them both still. I can bang out 500 rounds of match grade rifle ammo in an afternoon on a single stage so don't get bogged down on progressives until you actually need one to keep up the volume. Don't get in a hurry making ammo as a beginner. Single stage is slow and you'll learn A LOT your first couple years. After that, dillon is the way to go if you need progressive.

If you tell us where you're at perhaps one of us can give you an in-person primer, show you a reloading setup, teach you a few things and otherwise be very helpful. Just chattering in text will never solve your problem.




NOTE: RCBS Trim Pro2 is the one trimmer I prefer and I would not recommend many others, especially for a beginner.

As soon as you have the lee anniversary kit and dies you can actually start loading but I recommend a RCBS 505 scale and the noted RCBS case trimmer and a tumbler so you start off clean and true. You'll pick up many hundreds of dollars in other bits and bobbles over the next several years but don't worry about it. Those are for efficiency, not accuracy.

[Joe Blowitup]

I just got into reloading myself and will say you can do it on the cheep but you will quickly be spending more to save time. I agree on getting a single stage press as I bought a lee classic turret and still use it in single stage. Hand prep on brass takes a long time and I have spent more on speeding that up than on press and dies.

[sofbak]

I have been wanting to get into reloading, but I keep pricing progressive presses and other stuff (I probably need way more stuff than I even know of existing, at this point) and it's too pricey for me right now.

So I thought maybe I should just get a single stage. Maybe even a used single stage. Then I just need a set of dies, powder scale, and a couple other things, right?

I kept trying to save up for a progressive, but kept having to spend the money on various emergencies. I don't have anybody in my sphere of influence that reloads, which is a real bummer.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post, and if you sage reloaders have any tips, I would really appreciate it.

Here would be an excellent place to start. I don't know this guy at all, but the press, the gear, and the price is right...Although he doesn't include the manual, which you will definitely need to acquire.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=15938416#post15938416

[Click Boom]

Thanks guys, I look at midway or Brownells and get overwhelemed. I'm up in the Tahoe/Reno area mostly, but also bay area every other week or so. I see these big towering setups and don't know what the hecks goin on. I am pretty mechanically inclined, just have no experience or guidance.

[OpenSightsOnly]

Take an NRA reloading class first.

+1

Yep, well worth the time and money . . .

[sofbak]

Thanks guys, I look at midway or Brownells and get overwhelemed. I'm up in the Tahoe/Reno area mostly, but also bay area every other week or so. I see these big towering setups and don't know what the hecks goin on. I am pretty mechanically inclined, just have no experience or guidance.

At the top of this forum is a sticky titled "Reloading 101". Start there cuz it's free and readily accessible.

Youtube is also a good source. Search there with the name(s) of presses and/or reloading companies and you will find many vids. Lee, RCBS, Dillon, and classic turret, rockchucker, and 550B are some search terms that will get you started.

The NRA class is a good thing too. But you would get more bang for your buck if you did some preliminary preparation before attending one. Knowing some of the terminology and basic procedures will enhance the class experience.

[Cowboy T]

First, forget about progressive presses until you get some experience. If you find that your reloading needs require one, they'll still be there, and it's always handy to have a single stage on your bench anyway. I run two progressive presses, and my single stage does not go to waste.

Here's how I did it without breaking the bank. It's got a shopping list as well as videos showing how to get started.

http://www.sanfranciscoliberalwithagun.com/basicreloading.html

[Whiterabbit]

Reloading on the cheap?

Put $200 in your pocket and cruise craigslist and gun FS boards. If you wait long enough, you'll buy everything you need (including round 1 of consumables) and have plenty left over to enjoy a fine beer or two after you shoot your first reloads.

Look for $30 presses from LEE and RCBS and even legacy companies (but be wary of those, you'll want something you don;t have to diddle with). Presses like the rcbs RS presses, even an older rock chucker maybe (if you get lucky), all sorts of LEE "O" presses, sometimes even a turret press, and of course legacies like hollywood etc.

You can;t go wrong with an RCBS RS press, and they go reasonably.

--------

The rest comes easy too. RCBS for inexpensive dies that just plain work, day in, day out. For now, clean your brass with vinegar and salt and dry in the oven on the lowest setting. Don;t worry about trimming, just sort by length (no need to measure with a micrometer, +/- .01" is plenty to reject long brass for now, put in a bucket for the future). You don't need a powder drop or trickler at first, you can buy one later. I like the uniflow from RCBS, but even used they seem to command a high price.

Scale, a budget one gets you started. Should be no more than $50 on craigslist. You can even get them form drug dealers (on craigslist) pretty easy, just ask if it can measure in "grains" and bring a bullet to test it.

-----------

The best thing you can do is get up and running barebones and get reloading! the equipment can come in increments, in time. If you believe you need EVERYTHING in a package before you make your first round, and you are on a budget, you'll never start.

Just start!

[stilly]

I have been wanting to get into reloading, but I keep pricing progressive presses and other stuff (I probably need way more stuff than I even know of existing, at this point) and it's too pricey for me right now.

So I thought maybe I should just get a single stage. Maybe even a used single stage. Then I just need a set of dies, powder scale, and a couple other things, right?

I kept trying to save up for a progressive, but kept having to spend the money on various emergencies. I don't have anybody in my sphere of influence that reloads, which is a real bummer.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post, and if you sage reloaders have any tips, I would really appreciate it.

You need Mantis Style...

Ever watch a Praying Mantis stalk their prey? They take a step forward, and maybe shake a bit of there is wind, take another step forward and shake again. Your Mantis Style wants to run up the branch and Jump out at the first Hummingbird it sees...

Totally wrong.

Your Mantis needs to get built up and you do not have that money yet so why not do this:

Buy a Lee Classic Turret. NOT the aluminum one, but get the 4 hole cast iron turret. It is about $115. I am sure you can afford that if you are trying to save for a big blue machine. Then, buy a set of dies, a scale, and other small things that you need. They are small purchases, not some $1000 purchase, when you are done you have about $250 invested and you can start reloading.

Buy some powder, primers and projectiles and use whatever brass you have or buy some brass. If you need 9mm brass I can pay it forward I am sure, maybe even some .40 brass, I am sure others could also.

Now you have Mantised your way into your reloading zone, then, keep shopping around and putting aside some money and maybe in a year or two, you can leap out at that big red or blue hummingbird in the sky and land yourself a progressive. But in the meantime, you will know more of what you need, you will have already been reloading, AND you will have an excellent press that you can always use for other jobs and small ladder runs. Your mantis has approached reloading and dodged the wind and large issues and has finally gotten his prey...
Oh yeah, also, depending on what progressive you migrate to, you can probably use some of these same parts on it as well.


Yeah I am in one of those moods today...

Let's see:
FSreloading.com IS YOUR FRIEND FOR THESE:

Lee Classic Turret (4 hole) about $115 or maybe less
Lee Safety Prime for the press (I think it is called Safety Prime) $25
Lee 3 piece CARBIDE PISTOL DIE SET (if you are shooting pistol ammo) $25
Modern Reloading by Richard Lee 2nd edition $17

(Lee Auto Disk Pro Powder Dropper $38
Lee Swivel and Riser for turret with Primer $20
Lee Adjustable Charge Bar for Powder Dropper $11)

OR you can get this instead, but midwayusa or amazon will have them better:

(Hornady Lock N Load powder Dropper $75
Hornady Case Activated Linkage $65
Powder Funnels.com PTX Bushing for LNL Dropper: $35)

Then:
Amazon.com will have you here:

American Weigh Gemini 20G milligram scale $25

THAT is about all you really need to start. There are other thigns that you can pick up too, but these are the essentials to go my way, there are many other ways you can go too, but this is MY way and this is what I tell people.

You will not start on a progressive, but your Turret will give you the fastest speed you can have without being a progressive and it is prolly the fastest turret out there since it has autoindexing. You can make about 300+ rds per hour once you get your rhythm and supplies topped off. I MIGHT be exaggerating here, but just a skosh for the slower folks out there.

Also, I DO guarantee that my numbers are ALL incorrect, but somewhat close to the actual number.

GL HF...

[rcslotcar]

I used a Rockchucker single stage for 30+ years. I would say start out on a used single stage and learn what reloading is all about. There are a lot of safety concerns. With a single stage there is a lot less that can go wrong while learning the basics. I finally upgraded to a Dillon 650 and can say
'life is a lot better now". I still use my rcbs for processing 223 brass and reloading magnum rifle loads. Just remember if something dosen't feel or sound right stop, and check out why. Toss out anything sub par, brass primers,bullets, safety first. Welcome to the club of custom taylored ammo!!!

[idntwn2]

Good advice all round above^^^

The Lee Classic turret is an excellent first choice. Mine has loaded literally thousands of 45ACP. I would also suggest that you take a look at the 4 hole turret and include the crimp die. But that is just one guys opinion. The Lee Value press is to be avoided. Be sure to order the classic, cast iron press.

I have done 30-.06, 460 Mag on it as well.

Add a bullet hammer to the list. You will make mistakes as you ramp up.

[kmr007]

Here's one

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1047883

[orangeusa]

Good advice all round above^^^

The Lee Classic turret is an excellent first choice. Mine has loaded literally thousands of 45ACP. I would also suggest that you take a look at the 4 hole turret and include the crimp die. But that is just one guys opinion. The Lee Value press is to be avoided. Be sure to order the classic, cast iron press.

I have done 30-.06, 460 Mag on it as well.

Add a bullet hammer to the list. You will make mistakes as you ramp up.

Op - please if you get a Lee (non-progressive ) - get the Lee Classic turret press. It collects primers in a nice tube. The previous turret threw them randomly on the floor.

It is so much a better design than the standard turret. You can buy dies, set them and easly swap out the turret to change calibers in seconds. And when you re-use that caliber - if is already setup.

Lee is not the company for progressives, but you would be astounded by the range of calibers you can do.

I am not a fanboy, but mine has done many thousands of rounds.

.

[stilly]

Op - please if you get a Lee (non-progressive ) - get the Lee Classic turret press. It collects primers in a nice tube. The previous turret threw them randomly on the floor.

It is so much a better design than the standard turret. You can buy dies, set them and easly swap out the turret to change calibers in seconds. And when you re-use that caliber - if is already setup.

Lee is not the company for progressives, but you would be astounded by the range of calibers you can do.

I am not a fanboy, but mine has done many thousands of rounds.

.

OH OH and put a hose clamp on that sucker! OR else it WILL fall off every chance it gets.