Interested in reloading 9mm .40 & .45

[j2048b]

Downloaded some books, gonna read up, but in the mean time im looking for a starter or beginners set to load all three of the above cals...

Not sure what economical items id need and total cost for a beginner?

Any info or advice towards set ups would be great

I dont have a ton of room and havent reloaded handgun ammo, when i was young we use to do shot gun shells but damn that was ages ago...

Thanks for any direction. Towards a starter set

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[NoHeavyHitter]

Reading your books is going to be the most help as they generally will touch on most or all of the various ways to do things. Only you will be able to decide what works best for you. As an example, I've been reloading for 39 years and still use single-stage presses (although I do have several of them) whereas many people like progressive presses. Since I tend to buy most "regular" ammo, I load the stuff that's at the outer edge of the performance envelope as that is also where you save the most money.

For example, I buy 9mm ammo in bulk for cheaper than I care to load for, but load all of my 9mm +P / +P+ that approaches a dollar a pop - I load myself. I also load for things I can't just buy, like 9mm /85gr JHP that flies just under 1700 FPS. These are loads I'd NEVER try to duplicate on a progressive.

You will have all of your own reasons for selecting one tool or procedure that may not be as important to other reloaders. I would tell you that starting out loading the .45acp is best. It's larger and thus easier to handle for large hands and easier to see into (checking charge level) before seating bullets. It's also a lower pressure round and easier to stay within safe limits.

As a rule of thumb (for handguns), stick to taper crimp for cartridges for semi-autos and roll-crimp for rimmed revolver calibers. The last thing I will say is that I've been loading for longer than many people on this forum have been alive and can tell you that I still learn new things all the time. No one person can ever teach another "everything" about reloading and there are guys that have only a few years under their belt that I learn new ideas from. It's a wonderful and interesting hobby by itself, so take your time and enjoy and most of all - stay safe!

[j2048b]

Reading your books is going to be the most help as they generally will touch on most or all of the various ways to do things. Only you will be able to decide what works best for you. As an example, I've been reloading for 39 years and still use single-stage presses (although I do have several of them) whereas many people like progressive presses. Since I tend to buy most "regular" ammo, I load the stuff that's at the outer edge of the performance envelope as that is also where you save the most money.



For example, I buy 9mm ammo in bulk for cheaper than I care to load for, but load all of my 9mm +P / +P+ that approaches a dollar a pop - I load myself. I also load for things I can't just buy, like 9mm /85gr JHP that flies just under 1700 FPS. These are loads I'd NEVER try to duplicate on a progressive.



You will have all of your own reasons for selecting one tool or procedure that may not be as important to other reloaders. I would tell you that starting out loading the .45acp is best. It's larger and thus easier to handle for large hands and easier to see into (checking charge level) before seating bullets. It's also a lower pressure round and easier to stay within safe limits.



As a rule of thumb (for handguns), stick to taper crimp for cartridges for semi-autos and roll-crimp for rimmed revolver calibers. The last thing I will say is that I've been loading for longer than many people on this forum have been alive and can tell you that I still learn new things all the time. No one person can ever teach another "everything" about reloading and there are guys that have only a few years under their belt that I learn new ideas from. It's a wonderful and interesting hobby by itself, so take your time and enjoy and most of all - stay safe!

Awesome thank you for the response, i will read this a few times and soak it in, appreciate your time and advice!

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[NoHeavyHitter]

A few more things that come to mind are to consider joining a discussion forum that is dedicated to reloading, as you'll get a lot of depth of experience asking questions. Download as many reloading manuals as possible and make sure that you get a Lyman manual too.

When I develop loads, I always reference load data from a minimum of three sources. That goes towards starting a bit low and working up. That's really important when you are approaching the maximum load for a particular application.

As an example of preference winning out - I will tell you that I load a lot of 5.56 and 7.62 rifle loads using military crimped brass. For years I used my chamfering tool to remove the crimp. Finally I decide to get the "proper" swaging tool to remove the crimp and after using it - I went back to using my chamfer tool (chucked up in my electric drill) because for me, it just works better. The edge of the primer cup is rounded - so it's not like I would achieve any better contact using the pocket swage.

You mentioned loading shotshells in your youth. I only started loading shotshells about 5 years ago and didn't realize how different the process really was. While it's a similar process, there are so many things that are specific compared to metallic cartridge loading.

[stilly]

The only reloading press I would get for those to START with would be a Lee Classic CAST turret. (the red cast iron base that looks like a flattened arrow.)

You can change turret heads quickly, it has auto indexing and it allows you to reload faster than ANYTHING that is in the single stage or turret class. The only thing to beat this turret is a progressive. But you should NOT start with a progressive. The LCT is excellent to develop loads on. I still use mine, nearly 10 years later I just developed a 9mm load with a spm primer and 5gr of CFE-P with a plated 115gr rn. Works beautifully.

If I want to crank out thousands of those rounds, I can pull out my Pro Chucker and set it to be the same and then I can get to cranking out the 9mm.

But for starting out, There really is no better faster press for go fast ammos, and all of those that you want to start making are go fast ammos.

Go fast meaning that they will go fast once you have made them. Unless all of your guns are bolties. And I doubt it. The turret is your best bet to make a good sample amount and then to keep making ammo with a consistent length. The Lee Classic Turret can not be beat. Oh yeah, and it starts around $130 or less IIRC. Yep... https://fsreloading.com/lee-precisio...ret-press.html

Other places should have this press in stock.

[Imageview]

I'm a fairly new reloader as well (only a couple thousand rounds so far) and use the Lee Classic Turret. It's a fairly easy way to get started, and you can disable indexing to get comfortable with the process. Because I only load 100ish rounds at a time I keep it de-indexed. For 40 and 45 you'll see significant cost savings, for 9mm less so.

Rather than providing a list of gear, i'm sure there are others more qualified than me for that, i'm going to advise you to buy new reloading gear if possible. Not that there's likely anything wrong with the used gear on the marketplace, but as someone starting out it's a lot more work to figure out what everything is and how it goes together if it's been assembled, customized, disassembled, and packed up haphazardly. You're also more likely to get all the pieces, including that one bit that the previous owner had no need for.

[j2048b]

The only reloading press I would get for those to START with would be a Lee Classic CAST turret. (the red cast iron base that looks like a flattened arrow.)

You can change turret heads quickly, it has auto indexing and it allows you to reload faster than ANYTHING that is in the single stage or turret class. The only thing to beat this turret is a progressive. But you should NOT start with a progressive. The LCT is excellent to develop loads on. I still use mine, nearly 10 years later I just developed a 9mm load with a spm primer and 5gr of CFE-P with a plated 115gr rn. Works beautifully.

If I want to crank out thousands of those rounds, I can pull out my Pro Chucker and set it to be the same and then I can get to cranking out the 9mm.

But for starting out, There really is no better faster press for go fast ammos, and all of those that you want to start making are go fast ammos.

Go fast meaning that they will go fast once you have made them. Unless all of your guns are bolties. And I doubt it. The turret is your best bet to make a good sample amount and then to keep making ammo with a consistent length. The Lee Classic Turret can not be beat. Oh yeah, and it starts around $130 or less IIRC. Yep... https://fsreloading.com/lee-precisio...ret-press.html

Other places should have this press in stock.

Than you i will seriously look at that item,

U stated "just developed a 9mm load with a spm primer and 5gr of CFE-P with a plated 115gr rn. Works beautifully."

U had to develope a specific 9mm load?

Or was it just preference that u set it up that way?

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[j2048b]

I'm a fairly new reloader as well (only a couple thousand rounds so far) and use the Lee Classic Turret. It's a fairly easy way to get started, and you can disable indexing to get comfortable with the process. Because I only load 100ish rounds at a time I keep it de-indexed. For 40 and 45 you'll see significant cost savings, for 9mm less so.



Rather than providing a list of gear, i'm sure there are others more qualified than me for that, i'm going to advise you to buy new reloading gear if possible. Not that there's likely anything wrong with the used gear on the marketplace, but as someone starting out it's a lot more work to figure out what everything is and how it goes together if it's been assembled, customized, disassembled, and packed up haphazardly. You're also more likely to get all the pieces, including that one bit that the previous owner had no need for.

Ok thanks, did u watch any videos or read any manuals before u got started?

A couple questions:

Where to get bullets and primers?

Difference between small and large primers?
(All 3 handguns are springfields)

Also do u reload first for the range,

If u reload for home protection, how many do u fire at the range before ur comfortable with just loading and saving rounds?

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[kcheung2]

Ok thanks, did u watch any videos or read any manuals before u got started?

A couple questions:

Where to get bullets and primers?

Difference between small and large primers?
(All 3 handguns are springfields)

Also do u reload first for the range,

If u reload for home protection, how many do u fire at the range before ur comfortable with just loading and saving rounds?

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[Imageview]

Manuals and videos, and more manuals. Primarily reloading for the range at the moment, had 0 failures to go bang however.

I'd like to support local shops, and occasionally can find something in one. Mostly ordered from Midway so far, will probably pick up a few things from other sites when I'm ready to order more.

Large and small corresponds to different calibers needs, in general most cases of a given type will use the same primer size. I use whatever is listed in load data, although you can occasionally get away with something different (for example using a small pistol instead of a small magnum pistol for 357 loaded with titegroup powder). I'd rather someone else test loads, and I keep my hands/eyes/face.

[Markus]

I wouldnt recommend reloads for home defense personally. I have a couple boxes of manufactured rounds that I keep for home defense.

I do second the recommendation for a Lee Classic Turret press. I got mine when I first started reloading and I love it.

[five.five-six]

Not sure what economical items id need and total cost for a beginner?

[Red9]

Now is a good time to read lol. Get as manyanuals as possible.
Have you thought about used? Search here on the reloading for sale items. One can find some good deals on used presses.
Stick to FMJs in the beginning. Then one can move on after they pressed a few. HP, and lead have some learning curve, belling or crimps.

Another vote for Jack Ellis. Good price, good brass. Some ranges sell brass. Ask around.

Dies?
Any will do. Buy what one can afford.

Press?
Rcbs is hard to beat. Used is even cheaper.

Bullets?
Try
Rmr
Amer reload
Sages

Also powder is at amer reload, and sages..
Universal or w231 are good for all three. Meters well.

Good luck on primers. You need both unless the 45 is sp only.

It can be habit forming. Watch out. Buy once cry once? Try a Dillon 550. Manual/progressive press. It will go as slow as you want. Or add a case feeder and crank out serious fodder.

Have fun.


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[steelholder]

Another vote for the lee classic turret.

You may have trouble finding primers, they seem to be sold out everywhere.

[j2048b]

Thanks everyone i got some brass coming, a wife pissed a few lights for my hand guns and a new expensive hobby hahaha

Oh Lordy!!

But its worth it

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