Thinking about reloading.

[Nacinator]

Started on a RCBS rock chucker in 1984. Still use the press. Wife got me a 650 XL on our first anniversary. It's empowering and with the components on hand I load what I need when I need it.

Good luck and don't look back

[nidm]

I just order the RCBS reloading kit from Cabelas, after got kind suggestions here:

http://calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1270822

[cvigue]

Pretty nice machine:

[sixoclockhold]

That is why I am considering a progressive reloader, time is important to me and I've heard that with a single you can do maybe 100/hr. I shoot that in about 15 minutes. I wouldn't say money is an issue but just getting into it I am not likely to want to spend a ton.

I think single stage to start. You probably want to touch the round as often as possible watching for defects. I notice on 9mm occasionally I'll get a cracking in the side of shell when things aren't aligned just right when seating bullet. Pull bullet, toss shell. Chances are I would never even see it on a progressive. Maybe it's from brittle brass? Go slow at first, there really isn't anything of cost you're going to buy going single stage first that you won't use latter in progressive. Scale will come in handy, as puller, tumbler and even press for Rifle Rounds.

Good luck....

[Revoman]

If you are sure that you will not want to load rifle, the a Dillon Square Deal is an ideal handgun cartridge loader. You can use it single stage until you are comfortable.
It is the least expensive Dillon loader, it does have proprietary dies, but you get a free die with the press. It has a small footprint, not taking up a lot of real estate on the bench.
If you need to switch to a large or small primer, the primer feed must be changed. (I don't even use the primer feature as I prime by hand.)
For the money and ease, these are great little loaders FOR HANDGUN ONLY.
Investing in a decent loader, while it cost money, you can get back around 50-70% of your investment back if you decide to sell. Think of the reloading equipment as a 'rental' for how ever long you have it because when you sell it there is still value there, you'll still get money back and it will have already paid for itself if you have it long enough. That's a win-win in my view.

[hardhead]

I originally purchased the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme kit; I've used every piece that it comes with. You will grow tired of loading bulk plinking 9mm on a single stage. I quickly purchased a Hornady LNL Ammo Plant from a guy here in the forum. He was upgrading to a pair of Dillon 650s. I've been happy with the Hornady, but it requires some tinkering. I can produce about 400 - 500 rounds per hour on the Hornady if I don't have to stop to clean or adjust something. The single stage still gets used on occasion to either pull bullets or make match grade rifle rounds.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

[Den60]

Lots of great suggestions here.

[cvigue]

Lots of great suggestions here.

I wouldn't waste a lot of time on a single stage if you are pretty sure you want to do this and you have adequate space and funds for a decent progressive. I started reloading with my Dad on a RCBS single stage press when I was maybe 9 or 10, and continued to use that because I couldn't afford anything better.

However, reloading (particularly for pistols) is a slow slog on a single stage. My Dad was mostly in it for reloading a 300 Win Mag for hunting, so that's a very specific low volume high return use case. If that's you then a SS is probably great.

If you're looking to load decent quantities to save some money and have more control over what you shoot for higher volume uses, a SS will likely be very discouraging. The previously mentioned Dillon 650 or the Hornady I linked are probably your best bets if you want to load a variety of calibers.

If you just want to load pistols and maybe some AR calibers like 300 BLK or 5.56 NATO you can get by with a smaller progressive but you won't be saving much (if any) and you lose a bit of flexibility.

On the other hand if you are like my Dad and want to reload for hunting or low volume uses, a SS is actually probably better as it takes less effort to set up and start reloading each session, and it's less work to switch over generally speaking.


If you do go SS and later add a progressive, you can always use the SS for swaging or other specialized uses.


Just don't let the SS discourage you if you go that way.

[Den60]

Right now the Dillion Square Deal looks like a good option for me. As someone said earlier, if I decide to upgrade later on I can always look to resell it to offset the cost. Looks to be quite affordable and complete. Will need to buy a scale, tumbler, separator etc but looks to be a pretty good place to start.

[someoneeasy]

Realistically, what is your budget and how many rounds do you see yourself shooting a month/year?

There's no point in spending $1000 plus to get started if you're only shooting 1000 rounds a year.

[cvigue]

Right now the Dillion Square Deal looks like a good option for me. As someone said earlier, if I decide to upgrade later on I can always look to resell it to offset the cost. Looks to be quite affordable and complete. Will need to buy a scale, tumbler, separator etc but looks to be a pretty good place to start.

I honestly never looked much at that. I'd generally say go with something you'll end up with, either a simple single stage you can keep around or something more capable like a 650, but you are the best judge of what will work for you.

Welcome to the hobby. Reloading is a hoot.

[Calguns77]

Realistically, what is your budget and how many rounds do you see yourself shooting a month/year?

There's no point in spending $1000 plus to get started if you're only shooting 1000 rounds a year.

I think its safe to assume he shoots a lot more than 1000 a year. Even if we assume he only shoots for 30min once a month thats 2400rds a year. And if he shoots twice a month thats 4800rds.

I've heard that with a single you can do maybe 100/hr. I shoot that in about 15 minutes.

The press will pay for itself even if you just reload 9mm right now but once you get started reloading pretty much any handgun cartrige (and rifle round) is affordable to shoot. .45, .357, 10mm etc and if you reload one of those calibers the press will pay itself off in half the time.

[kriller134]

I started on the square deal and I love it. I just bought a single stage, so I went the opposite direction of what most people recommend. I think dillon is also offering a 30 day trial if you order directly from them.

[Den60]

Realistically, what is your budget and how many rounds do you see yourself shooting a month/year?

There's no point in spending $1000 plus to get started if you're only shooting 1000 rounds a year.

The last time my son and I went shooting we went through about 400 rounds. Let's say we go to the range only 2 weeks a month, that ends up being 9,600 rounds annually. If I am only saving about $0.10/round (which I feel is conservative, based on what I pay for my range ammo) that would equal $960 per year. The savings for my SD ammo would be larger, more in the range of $0.50 a round. Figure a bit for loss and I would still think the machine would pay for itself fairly quickly.

Then there are other things to consider that are harder to put a price on. I would be able to supply my own ammunition and being in California getting ammunition is an issue. I usually order online and my SD ammunition of choice is often on backorder. When the new laws get into place I am going to add $50 for a background check and another $10 or so for ever order I place online to have it delivered to a FFL here (if I can find one that will do it). If I don't have an option to buy online then I will pay whatever price I can get locally, which is sure to go up with the new laws.

Also, I like the idea of being as self-sufficient as possible and I do like working in my shop.

[Den60]

I think its safe to assume he shoots a lot more than 1000 a year. Even if we assume he only shoots for 30min once a month thats 2400rds a year. And if he shoots twice a month thats 4800rds.



The press will pay for itself even if you just reload 9mm right now but once you get started reloading pretty much any handgun cartrige (and rifle round) is affordable to shoot. .45, .357, 10mm etc and if you reload one of those calibers the press will pay itself off in half the time.

So, you're saying that reloading will likely encourage me to buy a .45 in the future. Should I consider the cost of a 1911 as part of this?

I am planning on picking up a .357 wheel gun in early 2017.