How much $$ to start reloading?

[Air]

I started with the following equipment, and these are rough estimates...

Lee Anniversary Kit (which includes pretty much everything you need to get started, minus dies) -- 100 bucks

Harbor Freight Tumbler - 30 bucks
Harbor Freight Digital Caliper - 10 bucks
Dies - 125 bucks (for multiple calipers)

Total - 265.00

I have since added a lot of odds and ends, but that's enough to get you started. My reloads run fine, and I actually almost enjoy reloading more than I do shooting! I'm considering upgrading to a progressive, but my Lee kit is working just fine for now. Certainly an option for a beginner, nothing wrong with the Lee kits.

[Inkman]

I went with Brianenos.com and paid for the EZ-buy package 550B.

No...it wasn't cheap, but i wanted everything and i do mean everything i needed to start reloading with no afterwards calls or orders for stuff i forgot i would need. Everything arrived in less than a week and am very happy with it. Only thing i needed to buy was media for the tumbler at Petsmart.

Al

[roc]

i spent less than $200 total including 2 sets of 4-set carbide dies for 40sw and 45 acp. Even though I am using a single stage press (used from calguns) it is perfectly acceptable for me since I only shoot a couple hundred rounds a week at most. I can make a couple hundred rounds a week casually no problems. Included in that $200 budget is also a $30 hand press from Lee. It comes in handy because I dont have to go into the garage to do some of the prep work like decapping, sizing and expanding. I can do that in the living room while watching TV.

I also decided right from the start that I wanted to cast my own bullets. I already had 50 lbs of lead shot left over from another hobby so it had to be turned into something useful. This was the perfect hobby to do that. Without calculating in my $200 start up costs, I am reloading each round of 45ACP for about $0.04 each.

[Harley Quinn]

Like all things you can spend a lot or a little, depends on your needs. Some good posts here...
Answer $500 will do the job well. Cost of a nice Glock...

Regards

[hockeeplayrr]

I started with a Lyman Crusher 2 complete kit from Bass Pro for only $300.
It comes with most everything you need to get started. They also have a Lyman turet press.It comes with the reloading manual,press, case trimmer, electronis scale, powder measurer, case lube and pad and other little items.

[Harley Quinn]

Some of the stuff is hard to get. Primers are not as available as they have been in the past.
I paid double what is being mentioned, they were magnum though and off of Gunbroker...

Powder is another item getting scarce. Tried to get some "Lilgun" today, none in local location...

Jeffs Gun Room shooting range, talked to him for about 30 minutes...I like Jeff.

Regards

[ar15barrels]

randall's sticky
his economy list is ~$400 and includes some things you wouldn't need for reloading pistol such as $130 competition rifle dies and a bullet comparator.
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=158086

I finally wrote up a new list for bulk loading of pistol ammo.
Check the new thread...
Lastly will be a list for bulk loading of rifle ammo.

[Harley Quinn]

ar15barrels,

Good job.

Regards

[Mstrty]

Best bang for you money is the Lee Classic Turret kit from Kemp's gun shop. $200 shipped.

How much of an investment am I looking at for a good (do NOT read "money is no object!"...but GOOD) reloading setup?

I'm considering reloading 9mm and 45 ACP

He Said he wanted a GOOD press. I was quoting a dillon, all others are a waist of time and money. I have yet to hear someone trade in their Dillon to upgrade to a Lee.

[sammy]

I took the cry once approach. Dillon 650, as it should be package and case feeder (used on e-bay $150.00) total about $1400.00. So far I have loaded about 30,000 rounds on it. I could not be happier and I am convinced it will last a lifetime. Go to brianenos.com and look. Good stuff.

[Josh3239]

I am $500 in but I bought some things that were a bit pricier and unnecessary and I still haven't finished. I still need a bunch more things including a powder dispensor and scale and I am looking the RCBS one for about $284. Like I said, you can always go cheaper and still get good quality.

I went with the Hornady LNL press, which I like a lot. I think it is for $400 Hornady is offering a complete kit plus you get a form to redeem something like 1,000 free bullets for buying the kit.

[floogy]

He Said he wanted a GOOD press. I was quoting a dillon, all others are a waist of time and money. I have yet to hear someone trade in their Dillon to upgrade to a Lee.

$1000 is a lot of money to spend at once. You are right that no one would "upgrade" to a lee, but that doesn't mean it is a waste. If i wanted to reload 10,000 45 acp rounds at a time the dillon is great. All i need now is to be able to reload a few hundred each of several calibers and not spend a grand doing it. Sure, i would love a nice Dillon progressive but i wouldn't even have the time to shoot off the number rounds i could reload anyway. Someday though...

[Spyduh]

Not to discourage you, but you really don't save any money reloading. I actually spent more money then if I just bought factory ammo. The initial setup cost is killer and yes it's cheaper to reload per round once setup, but you end up shooting the same amount if not more. Just reloading 1k-2k of most calibers will easy pays for the cost of the setup.

In my case, I ended up shooting the same amount at first. Now I just shoot 2x more than that. And because I enjoy reloading so much, I ended up reloading a lot more calibers then I thought I would. Which adds up to a lot of $. For every caliber you reload you need to stock a supply of components (dies, case gauge, primers for that size, brass for that caliber, bullets and case trimming and swagging equip. if applicable). All these components adds up to a ton of money super fast. In the end, it's a hobby within your primary gun hobby that fuels it =). I enjoy reloading and shooting my own loads. It helps you not focus on thinking "this mag just cost me $5", it liberates you to enjoy shooting and what you are doing instead of worrying about costs associated to you dumping that mag into the target.

I would not spend to much money to begin with and just see if you like reloading first. Some people buy all this stuff then realize reloading is not for them and they don't have the time, patience, knowledge, or funds to reload. It's definitely not for every one and not every one should reload because it takes a keen eye for attention to detail to safely reload and not hurt yourself or any one else. I had a Lee Turret 4 Hole as a starter press that I got from a buddy and then had a "XL650 demo" at a buddies house. That sold me on how awesome it was and how much easier life could be to reload. XL650 is not a good starter machine for a beginner as there are a lot of things that are going on and to keep and eye on. You may want to see if a local CG'r will be willing you an intro on how to reload. If you're in my area I would be glad to give you a quick info session.

I'm now using a XL650 that I bought used. It ended up costing $650 (complete setup with everything possible needed to reload lots of calibers) after selling the unneeded dies and components. It's RARE to see XL650s go for sale as most people who want to buy Dillon's start off with a XL550 then upgrade in the future to a XL650. Used XL650s rarely go for dirt cheap and tend to hold close to 80% of their values regardless of age because of the awesome transferable lifetime no BS Dillon warranty.

Edit: one thing to mention is I had a Lee Loadmaster at one point. It's not the easiest to setup and get going and I had constant problems with setup, but it was a progressive press at a very affordable rate. I don't recommend it at all for a beginner. It will make you frustrated and give up with reloading.

[Toolbox X]

Reloading is a really expensive way to save money.

[M47_Dragon]

Reloading is a really expensive way to save money.

Nice! New sig material!