How much $$ to start reloading?

[Spyduh]

Reloading is a really expensive way to save money.

If it were not for reloading I would have never bought a 10mm. Reloading is a really good way to buy guns you normally wouldn't buy!

[Spyduh]

Good point. My accuracy should improve a lot by spending twice as much on a Dillon.

Your accuracy might improve with the more you shoot, but that's a different topic. One things for sure is your target will be more ragged with holes punched out of the center with a Dillon

[leelaw]

Everyone stand back and think some more before you post.

[xrMike]

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.

Show us some groups, 10 rounds per, please. Then you can crow about your choice in equipment.

[5hundo]

If it were not for reloading I would have never bought a 10mm. Reloading is a really good way to buy guns you normally wouldn't buy!

If not for reloading, I couldn't shoot a lot of my weapons as often as I do.

My .41 Mag carbine would be useless (because I'm not paying $75 a box for 50rnds), as would my Blackhawk in the same caliber. My Krag would sit in the safe full time because no one even makes ammo for it right now. Even when .45 was completely unavailable, I was still pluggin' away at the range...

Given the unavailability of ammo lately, reloading is one sure-fire way to keep your range time up, while keeping the costs down. Anyone who believes otherwise is clearly not thinking straight...

[Spyduh]

If not for reloading, I couldn't shoot a lot of my weapons as often as I do.

My .41 Mag carbine would be useless (because I'm not paying $75 a box for 50rnds), as would my Blackhawk in the same caliber. My Krag would sit in the safe full time because no one even makes ammo for it right now. Even when .45 was completely unavailable, I was still pluggin' away at the range...

Given the unavailability of ammo lately, reloading is one sure-fire way to keep your range time up, while keeping the costs down. Anyone who believes otherwise is clearly not thinking straight...

Well stated. I couldn't have put it better myself.

[Mstrty]

Show us some groups, 10 rounds per, please. Then you can crow about your choice in equipment.

There are 2 schools of thought going on here. Both have valid points.
One is Buy bottom dollar and have more money for ammo componets. Shoot more had have fun doing it.
Second thought is buy the best and time will not be wasted keeping the press funtioning throughout your limited loading time.
Me personally and I can only speak for myself. I dont have time to load but I need to load for financial reasons. I'm currently destroying 900-1100 rounds per month during the course of my current hobbies. I dont have time to fight with a machine. I Load up and get out.

[Rick530]

I've been eyeing a Dillon 1050 but could really use someone local to help me with a crash course in reloading once I get it.

[aaronemmerson]

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

Look at MidwayUSA.com for a complete press kit. They have good prices (about a hundred bucks off what the local reloading supplers have around SD). You can get started with an RCBS single stage kit for around $300. Then you should budget around $50 per die (9mm, 45acp).

I would recomend that you make a few friends at your local shooting range and ask (the owners are the best source) if they will sell you used range brass. The vast majority of what you will get is once fired commercial brass, which is good enough for target practice and basic plinking. If your into competition then the prices go up for new brass and match grade bullets as does your accuracy.

Then all you need are your components (Bullet, Brass, Powder, Primer).

[Inkman]

I think something people new to reloading need to remember (like i needed), is that you can get a myriad of presses for not a whole lot of difference in money. What adds up to the total cost is the extra stuff you need if you've never reloaded. Tumbler, media/brass seperater, primer flip tray, pick up tubes, books, scale, dies if your reloader doesn't come with a set in your preferred caliber, calipers to measure case sizes etc. All those little things add up quick if this is your first time reloading.

Al

[ar15barrels]

I've been eyeing a Dillon 1050 but could really use someone local to help me with a crash course in reloading once I get it.

Don't buy a 1050 unless you only are planning to load ONE cartridge with it.
The 1050 is NOT a press you want to be swapping between cartridges with.

[jacques]

I think something people new to reloading need to remember (like i needed), is that you can get a myriad of presses for not a whole lot of difference in money. What adds up to the total cost is the extra stuff you need if you've never reloaded. Tumbler, media/brass seperater, primer flip tray, pick up tubes, books, scale, dies if your reloader doesn't come with a set in your preferred caliber, calipers to measure case sizes etc. All those little things add up quick if this is your first time reloading.

Al

Yes, it was about 1k for me to get started with a used 550B I bought off here. Made the list, bought all the stuff, realized there was a bunch of stuff I forgot about, bought more.

I kept track of everything I bought. Including components. When all was said and done, the first large batch of 9mm and .223 I produced save me enough money to pay for all the equipment I had bought.

[ilbob]

If you look around, you can find used reloading equipment for sale.

I bet if you tried you could get a non-progressive setup for under $100.

[Mstrty]

Don't buy a 1050 unless you only are planning to load ONE cartridge with it.
The 1050 is NOT a press you want to be swapping between cartridges with.

Why not! 1050 swap just fine. If your logic is that the cost of an entry level progressive press is equal to conversion kits for the 1050 then for me I would still by conversion kits and enjoy my hobby of loading ammo on my 1050. I have pulled the handle on just about every kind of press out there and one pull of 1050 speaks a thousand words.

[Inkman]

Yes, it was about 1k for me to get started with a used 550B I bought off here. Made the list, bought all the stuff, realized there was a bunch of stuff I forgot about, bought more.

I kept track of everything I bought. Including components. When all was said and done, the first large batch of 9mm and .223 I produced save me enough money to pay for all the equipment I had bought.

I ordered everything from Brianenos.com on Labor Day weekend. Everything was here by the next saturday. Only extra stop i needed was for media at Petsmart and a loading bench from HomeDepot.

Isn't it a great feeling loading and shooting your own ammo? Looking at what we used to pay for factory ammo just boggles my mind. Should have done this years ago.

Al