Thinking about reloading.

[Christopher761]

Buy a single stage press, and the other stuff to go with it.

You will always need a single stage press for some operations, even after you have upgraded to a progressive press. The dies can be moved over to a new press. The scale will always be necessary to verify loads. Same with calipers.

Lee single stage c press $35
Dies for 9mm $45
Electronic Milligram Scale $25
Calipers $20
Ram Prime for priming $15

$140 total

The only thing missing is a method to clean the brass.

With a single stage you can do 100 per hour without pushing yourself.

Since you can reuse brass, your components for 9mm will be:
Boolits $.00 to make your own with free reclaimed lead. $.045 for pulls from American Reloading. $.07-$.08 for Xtreme Bullets or more for better.
Primers $.025
Powder $.02

Your profile doesn't say where you live, but there are classes or you can learn from a friend who already reloads. Plus there are great videos online.

Just make sure your system provides for 100% certainty that you are not failing to put powder in the case, and that you are not double charging the case. 99% is not good enough. (Most powders will overflow the case if double charged, but be careful. Some will allow a double charge, and will explode.)

[XDJYo]

OP-You've come across a painful and expensive bump in the California road of the shooting sports. You're right. Getting your hands on ammo in any quantity will be harder, more expensive and more invasive in the years to come. Throw another tragedy into the news cycle and the noose gets tighter for us.

If you haven't already come across this video, spend some time to watch it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irC3NuIKDm4

I just started on a Dillon XL650 that I bought used from another Calgunner. I've read the books. Watched hours of Youtube videos. I'm a buy once, cry once kind of guy and am fairly detail oriented. I don't think paying for a small single-stage press and then upgrading later on was right for me. Since both me and my wife shoot, the ammo costs are just about double.

Save your brass whenever possible. Scour the web for components.

Other than that, you'll need a wet tumbler cuz you don't want all that leaded dust floating around in the garage, the house or on you. Especially with little ones around. You'll need a good electronic scale, calipers and a bullet puller.

One of the things that sold me on the 650 was the powder checker. And the fact that this guy was selling a $1200 kit for pennies on the dollar. It came with the roller handle, strong mount and the case feeder.

Oh, one other thing: I would suggest that you get in on a reloading class or reloading club in your area so you can get some hands on training.

Anyways, that's my 2 cents worth.

Happy shooting and be safe.

[XDJYo]

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.

You know, EVERY person should have at least ONE 1911!!!

One thing I forgot to mention. Going from 9mm to 45 will require a change from small pistol primers to large pistol primers. I'm not sure how it works on other machines, but it's kind of a pain on the 650.

[tanks]

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.

With a Dillon 550B you can load 300-400 an hour. With a Dillon 650XL and a case feeder that goes to about 600 an hour. Add a bullet feeder you are pushing 800+ an hour.

Costwise just go to http://www.dillonprecision.com/reloa...hines_8_1.html and look at the various options.

[tanks]

... 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. ...

That might be true. However, you would catch it during the case gauging stage. Here is one I caught while case gauging my loads.

[Malthusian]

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.

That is the single most important question. How much do you value your time?

The second is how much you intend to shoot?

I spend a couple of hours and load 500 - 1000 rounds at a time

Not counting sorting, prep and labeling.

I have loaded around 30K in ammo and saved around 8K in ammo cost
I load 9mm, .357, 40, 44, 45, 50AE and .223

I have the Dillon trimmer, swagger and half a dozen tool heads and extra power measures included into the above cost savings

Buy your bullets in bulk and when they are on sale. Xtreme just had their 15% off store wide sale. Now I have my stash for next year.

The Lee turret press is a good cost effective way to go as well

For volume and time savings, progressive is the way to go

Reloading is another hobby and is detail oriented

[sixoclockhold]

That might be true. However, you would catch it during the case gauging stage. Here is one I caught while case gauging my loads.

Thats a big one. Mine are more like hairline cracks.

[someoneeasy]

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.

The machine definitely pays for itself, the question was just food for thought.

Self-sufficiency has been one of my biggest reasons to reload. Not being able to get ammo after Sandy Hook, it was a no brainer. I couldn't get ammo in store or from the one supplier in the commercial services that everybody loves so much on calguns, he would only sell to his "preferred" buyers and told me I had to wait a few more months before he would sell to me. So thanks, I load and cast my own now.

[Calguns77]

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.

Lol, consider it a perk of reloading .

I will say its a lot more satisfying when you reload a round like .45 or .357 thats saving you $10-12 a box, versus the $4-6 you save with 9mm.

[JMP]

Would likely be just for handgun ammunition. I don't hunt and wouldn't consider an AR type of rifle with all the stupid rules here in California regulating them. So have some questions:

1. What would be a good system to start with? Any comments about start up costs are welcome.
2. Single stage or progressive?
3. Any brands of equipment to steer clear of?

I have already looked at some videos as well as purchased a book on reloading just to get an idea of what is involved, what type of equipment I would need. I have seen some starter kits that come with pretty much everything to start with but I tend to shy away from stuff like that. Would prefer something I can build upon rather than something that I would be looking to replace.

Handgun only, with new CA laws, forget everything and go for a Dillon 650. That seems to be the most universally liked for batching handgun ammo.

[Den60]

Handgun only, with new CA laws, forget everything and go for a Dillon 650. That seems to be the most universally liked for batching handgun ammo.

A bit pricey for just handgun only. Not saying I may not one day upgrade to that but we are just talking about starting out. I am still considering a turret press right now. I am sure if whatever I buy initially that I find is not enough I can resell and upgrade.

[Calguns77]

A bit pricey for just handgun only. Not saying I may not one day upgrade to that but we are just talking about starting out. I am still considering a turret press right now. I am sure if whatever I buy initially that I find is not enough I can resell and upgrade.

Imho turrets are pretty outdated at this point. If you're not going to go progressive, a Hornady single stage press with their lock and load bushings or a Lee press with their breech lock system will give you almost all the benefits of a turret press.

For what its worth i have a rock chucker set up with hornady lock n load bushings and die changes couldnt be quicker. Its a great press but I still wish i had went for a progressive and i probably shoot half of what you do a year.

[tanks]

A bit pricey for just handgun only...

The reason to buy a Dillon 650XL is for handgun only. My 650XL is set up for .40 S&W and is used to load up 4K+ rounds a month.

[cvigue]

A bit pricey for just handgun only. Not saying I may not one day upgrade to that but we are just talking about starting out. I am still considering a turret press right now. I am sure if whatever I buy initially that I find is not enough I can resell and upgrade.

The 650 and the Hornady I linked can also reload popular rifle ammo, although most larger rifle calibers don't need a high volume solution for most people IME.

Honestly I'd skip the turret, it's like the butter tray in the fridge, sort of half way there. I'd either go SS, maybe a good RCBS or Hornady, or get a progressive, depending on how your finances are and how sure you are you're going to do this. The turret setup is not going to be as useful as a SS once you go to a progressive and it's more money.

[someoneeasy]

A bit pricey for just handgun only. Not saying I may not one day upgrade to that but we are just talking about starting out. I am still considering a turret press right now. I am sure if whatever I buy initially that I find is not enough I can resell and upgrade.

Which turret are you looking at?

Based on your 9600 rounds a year estimate, a high volume press will probably be over kill, but thats just my opinion. Find the balance between how much money and time you want to spend loading.