Debating whether to reload and which press to buy etc... Advice Plz

[californialawsucks]

I went to the cabelas site and I noticed that 1000 count of brass .223 costs about $210, bullets another $100 atleast, powder like $25 for one pound, and primers another $30-40. So that comes to about $400 per 1000 rounds of.223, am I missing something here? Why wouldn't you buy factory ammo instead of that. Also which press is better for a beginner http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...847&hasJS=true
or http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...=cat20847&rid=. And which dies would you recommend under $35. (Disclaimer, I have no idea what I am talking about, so please inform me about above conclusions)

[drunktank]

Brass isn't normally bought new for every time you load plinking rounds, so therefore it'd be "free" if you reused it. People also load for accuracy as well (not to mention the enjoyment of it all). Buying in larger bulks yield bigger discounts than that. Couldn't give you an good opinion on those loaders though as I use A Dillon that's set for pistol ammo only. Good luck with your choice.

[CSACANNONEER]

Where are you? If you post your location, someone here may offer to give you a reloading 101 class. If you are close to me, you're welcome to come by and see how to load various calibers from .25acp to 50BMG with various types of presses, trimmers, scales, etc.

[grammaton76]

For your first load, it costs the same as factory, sure.

On subsequent loads, you have the brass from the first time around so it's a lot cheaper.

[What Just Happened?]

Like drunktank said, you pick up 'free' brass at the range. Buying new is for people who seriously compete.

Depending on what you're looking to do, you can get some $80 / 1k bullets that'll be just fine for plinking.

[californialawsucks]

Like drunktank said, you pick up 'free' brass at the range. Buying new is for people who seriously compete.

Depending on what you're looking to do, you can get some $80 / 1k bullets that'll be just fine for plinking.

How do I find out which ranges allow this and is it looked down upon or anything? Again I dont know much about reloading ethics either.

[Snapping Twig]

It's the Ford/Chevy debate, so let me suggest the press I've used for the last 20+ years, the Dillon 550B.

You'll need other things too, like a scale, a powder trickler, primer flip tray, case lube (you have to use it with rifle) and a case trimmer.

Those add up.

Once you own them, they're free and you can find deals on blem bullets, quantity repackaged premium bullets at Midway, etc.

Powder and primers - Powder Valley - say no more.

Get 4 ~ 8 pound containers, it's cheaper and top off the 1 pound containers you work out of. Get primers by the 1000 box and order these things together to spread out the HazMat charge. Way cheaper than local suppliers.

I'll go a step further and advise you to cast. Again, set-up will be a beyotch, furnace and moulds, but all I shoot in pistol is home cast. Try it and you'll see why. I even have a cast round for the 30-06 and the 7.62x39.

Collecting brass is a range by range proposition. If the range allows it and your bench mates don't mind - ask them - pick it up by all means.

[ChrisXD45T]

First find a book on reloading; I'd suggest The ABC's of Reloading.
The lee kits are inexpensive but not the best. Try a kit from redding or rcbs if you wanna keep costs down but still have a press that will last.
For example: http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.co...sku=0007620000 or http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.co...?sku=000449357 Look at other places than cabelas for better prices, or at least more options. A single stage or turret is fine for starting out. Getting several loading manuals is something to seriously consider too. A case tumbler and media to clean cases too.

[shade1]

if youre gonna go with a lee press i would go with the turret i have an older 3 hole turret without the auto indexing and it has worked great. especially for a beginner. lee dies also work great for the beginner's set up i shoot over 2000 rnds per month of 45acp, 223 and 243 im in the process of upgrading the press to the hornady lnl ap and hornady dies for it as well.

for your first setup go simple and get down the basics you dont need complicated press's to confuse you.
also find people that can help you hands on with stuff like this you need to be very precise

im in so.cal in covina if you need any advice im no pro but can give pointers

[USN CHIEF]

I did not really get into personally owning guns and shooting as a civilian up until maybe about 4 years ago. I remember this old dude up in WA state telling me to save all my brass because one day I was going to think about reloading and I was going to regret not saving all of my brass, I am so thankful that I listened to that old dude.

When I go shooting, any day I come back with more brass than I left with was a good shooting day. I always ask the people if they are keeping their brass and I really don't care what people that see me picking up brass think about me. I will never buy new brass. So far I have been able to reload about 17k rounds of .223 and .308 with brass that I have saved up/picked up at the range.

[Spyduh]

I did not really get into personally owning guns and shooting as a civilian up until maybe about 4 years ago. I remember this old dude up in WA state telling me to save all my brass because one day I was going to think about reloading and I was going to regret not saving all of my brass, I am so thankful that I listened to that old dude.

When I go shooting, any day I come back with more brass than I left with was a good shooting day. I always ask the people if they are keeping their brass and I really don't care what people that see me picking up brass think about me. I will never buy new brass. So far I have been able to reload about 17k rounds of .223 and .308 with brass that I have saved up/picked up at the range.

+1 I'm not ashamed of picking up brass.

I admit i'm a brass whore! When i'm not shooting, I'm on the ground picking up as much as I can. A good day is when you come back with more brass then you brought.

Always ask your neighbors before picking up their brass. There's nothing worse than a dude jacking your brass with out asking!

[bohoki]

its not reloading if you buy brass
its handloading

[USN CHIEF]

its not reloading if you buy brass
its handloading

You lost me there brother... Can you please explain your analogy? LOL.

[What Just Happened?]

If the piece of brass has not been previously loaded, then it cannot be 're-loaded'.

[ar15barrels]

So far I have been able to reload about 17k rounds of .223 and .308 with brass that I have saved up/picked up at the range.

Have you figured out the savings compared to if you had purchased all that ammo at recent market prices?
I bet all your reloading gear has alread more than paid for itself.