Randall's "pistol ammo is too expensive" list

[Bulleh]

I just don't know where to start. I am not trying to be an @$$, just excited, thats all. I have been seriously looking to start reloading and been saving my pennies for a press kit. Low and behold, while putting some stuff away in storage at my work, I noticed an open box with something that looked blue sticking out of it. Further investigation revieled a Dillon RL550 press setup.

I asked the owner about it and seems it belonged to a family member who was an avid shooter and hunter that passed away. He had told another employee 3 yrs. ago to "get rid of it" and it never got done. I asked him how much he wanted for it, and he said "take it, its yours. That stuff should not be stored here".

Digging further I found the powder measure kit (missing some small pieces), the auto prime set-up (missing some small pieces), but over-all fairly complete. Its a bit dirty, a bit of surface rust on the ram which cleaned up pretty well. I also found 6 sets of RCBS dies. 7 sets of shellplates, buttons, powder funnels. A RCBS Rockchucker single stage press. 700 cci LP primers. 19lbs. of assorted pistol and rifle powders, that seem to be in excellent condition. The factory containers are sealed. The outside of the containers are very dirty, but the inside is clean and the powder looks to be in great shape. I even found the old instruction and set-up manuals. I should have bought a Lotto ticket this weekend.

Now I need to get a hold of Dillon for parts, a scale. I already have some good reloading manuals. I guess I could finance the scale by selling some of the dies and shell plates I will never use.Sorry for the long post, jsut excited to join the reloading group, and be able to shoot more.

Congrats on winning the reload lotto, haha. And here I thought I was lucky to find that a hand press exists so I can still reload without a workbench.

[5150bronco]

thanks so much man!

all i have to do is change to 9mm dies than. nice.

[tvfreakarms]

Hornady sonic cleaner

[Cowboy T]

I personally shoot about 1,000 rounds a month. But I reload .38 Special for some other folks. The Lee Pro 1000 comfortably lets me make 5-6 complete boxes of ammo per hour. That includes restocking the components *and* boxing up the ammo. Without that, i. e. just dump 'em into an ammo can, the ammo/hour count does go up.

If you're doing a semi-commercial operation, then maybe the Dillon gear is worth it. But if you're a hobbyist like me, $200 with shipping for a complete progressive press setup is awfully hard to beat.

[BlackRifleFan]

List is gone

[Koolpsych]

Anyone still have the list? Come back Randall!

[Gio]

Anyone still have the list? Come back Randall!

You mean this list?

First, the good stuff:

Lyman "49th Edition Reloading Handbook" Reloading Manual Softcover 19.99
Product #: 217655

RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Single Stage Press 122.99
Product #: 513567

Redding Competition Shellholder Set #1 (308 Winchester) 42.99
Product #: 525874

Redding Type S Match Bushing 2-Die Set 308 Winchester 129.99
Product #: 271533

RCBS Precision Mic 308 Winchester $39.99
Product #: 574297

Imperial Case Sizing Wax 2 oz 6.49
Product #: 519525

Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Case Tumbler Master Kit 73.99
Product #: 414369

Possum Hollow Kwick Case Trimmer 308 Winchester 20.49
Product #: 155172

Smith & Wesson Dial Caliper 4" Stainless Steel $19.99
Product #: 119190

Possum Hollow Chamfer and Deburring Tool Power Adapter 9.99
Product #: 295771

L.E. Wilson Chamfer and Deburring Tool 13.49
Product #: 789334

RCBS Hand Priming Tool $36.49
Product #: 329291

RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 Powder Scale and Dispenser Combo 110 Volt 319.99
Product #: 772151

Lyman Electronic Scale Powder Funnel Pan 6.09
Product #: 118739

Grand total of about $860 plus shipping.

You don't have to buy top-end equipment to make good ammo.
The equipment below will still make good ammo, it will just take more time to get it done.

Now, the economy stuff:

Lyman "49th Edition Reloading Handbook" Reloading Manual Softcover 19.99
Product #: 217655

Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Kit $104.99
Product #: 121744

Kit Includes:
Lee Challenger Reloading Press
Lee Auto Prime.
Lee Auto Prime Shellholder Set of 11.
Lee Cutter and Lock Stud.
Lee Perfect Powder Measure.
Lee Chamfer Tool.
Lee Primer Pocket Cleaner
Lee Safety Powder Scale.
Lee Powder funnel.
2 oz Tube Lee Resizing Case Lube.

Redding Type S Match Bushing 2-Die Set 308 Winchester $129.99
Product #: 271533

RCBS Shellholder #3 (308 Winchester) $6.89
Product #: 326468

Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Case Tumbler Master Kit 73.99
Product #: 414369

RCBS Powder Trickler $13.49
Product #: 317787

Lee Case Length Gage and Shellholder 308 Winchester $4.49
Product #: 271467

Smith & Wesson Dial Caliper 4" Stainless Steel $19.99
Product #: 119190

Hornady Lock-N-Load Headspace Gage / Comparator $29.99
Product #: 479704

Grand total of about $400 plus shipping.

I have a very strong opinion that the very best quality dies are a strict requirement to make the very best quality ammo.
That's why you see those expensive dies in both lists.

In addition to each of these lists, you will need a neck sizing bushing.
The size can't be determined until you figure out what brass you will be using.
These bushings run around $10-$15.
Then you need powder, primers, brass and bullets.
Start saving ALL your brass NOW, even if you don't think reloading is for you.
As you progress in your shooting addiction, reloading is just part of the game.

-Gio

[Esteve]

Reloading class?

Any reloading classses or meetings in north San Diego (Escondido, valley center)? Thanks

QUOTE=ar15barrels;3173143]Almost every week there is a thread from someone interested in reloading.

With ammo prices the way they are, many want to start reloading to keep costs down.
Others want to reload in order to customize ammo to their guns.
Either reason is good enough in my book.

The investment into reloading is considerable, especially if you buy the good equipment.
It's a wise investment though which will lead you to shooting a lot more than you do now.
It is true that reloading does not save you any money because you will be shooting 2-3 times as much as you used to.
The good news is that you will be spending the same money that you used to.

It's quite common to see 45acp ammo selling for $0.50 a round.
It's also quite common to be able to reload your own for less than $0.20 a round.
That's $0.30 a round savings.
It's quite easy to justify the reloading equipment if you shoot in volume.

I have worked up four lists, two higher-end and two lower-end.
This is the complete setup of tools you would need to reload 45acp ammo at a significant savings over purchasing new ammo.
I used 45acp in my example, but almost any other cartridge would have similar startup costs.
Once you have the startup tools, it's MUCH cheaper to load other cartridges as well.
All you need is the die set and shellholder/shelplate for each additional cartridge you intend to reload.

All of this is from Midway and Dillon, but better pricing is probably available on some items if you shop around.
Even better deals can be had by purchasing good used equipment or watching ebay.

First, the really good setup:
This will get you started for about $1000
This would be a good choice for someone who shoots at least 1500 rounds per month.
You can expect to load about 750 rounds per hour if you work at a liesurely pace.

Lyman "49th Edition Reloading Handbook" Reloading Manual Softcover 19.99
Midway Product #: 217655

Dillon XL 650 progressive reloading press 529.95
Dillon Stock #: Dillon XL 650

XL 650 Casefeeder - 110 Volt 209.95
Dillon Stock #: Dillon XL 650 CF

Dillon Carbide 45acp Dies 60.95
Dillon Stock #: dpd3ds

Dillon's 'Eliminator' Scale 54.95
Dillon Stock #: 13480

Dillon Primer Flip Tray 16.95
Dillon Stock #: 13606

Dillon 4 Large pick up tubes 19.95
Dillon Stock #: 20050

Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Case Tumbler Master Kit 73.99
Midway Product #: 414369

Smith & Wesson Dial Caliper 4" Stainless Steel $19.99
Midway Product #: 119190


Taking a step down:
This will get you started for about $675
This would be a good choice for someone who shoots at least 500 rounds per month.
You can expect to load about 400 rounds per hour if you work at a liesurely pace.

Lyman "49th Edition Reloading Handbook" Reloading Manual Softcover 19.99
Midway Product #: 217655

Dillon RL 550B progressive reloading press 406.95
Dillon Stock #: 14261

Dillon Carbide 45acp Dies
Dillon Stock #: dpd3ds

Dillon's 'Eliminator' Scale
Dillon Stock #: 13480

Dillon Primer Flip Tray
Dillon Stock #: 13606

Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Case Tumbler Master Kit 73.99
Midway Product #: 414369

Smith & Wesson Dial Caliper 4" Stainless Steel $19.99
Midway Product #: 119190


Here is an economy progressive setup:
This will get you started for about $300
This would be a good choice for someone who shoots up to 500 rounds per month.
You can expect to load about 350 rounds per hour if you work at a liesurely pace.

Lyman "49th Edition Reloading Handbook" Reloading Manual Softcover 19.99
Midway Product #: 217655

Lee Pro 1000 Progressive Press Kit 45 ACP 159.99
Midway Product #: 351321

Kit Includes:
Pro 1000 Progressive Press
45acp Carbide 3-Die set
Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure with 4 disks
Pro 1000 Primer attachment
Case Feeder attachment with tubes
Shell plate

Lee Safety Magnetic Powder Scale 100 Grain Capacity 21.99
Midway Product #: 712103

Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Case Tumbler Master Kit 73.99
Midway Product #: 414369

Smith & Wesson Dial Caliper 4" Stainless Steel $19.99
Midway Product #: 119190


You don't have to buy a progressive press to make good ammo.
The equipment below will still make good ammo, it will just take more time to get it done.
Here is a single stage setup as the least expensive way to start:
This will get you started for about $250
This would be a good choice for someone who shoots up to 250 rounds per month.
You can expect to load about 40 rounds per hour if you work at a liesurely pace.

Lyman "49th Edition Reloading Handbook" Reloading Manual Softcover 19.99
Midway Product #: 217655

Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Kit $104.99
Midway Product #: 121744

Kit Includes:
Lee Challenger Reloading Press
Lee Auto Prime.
Lee Auto Prime Shellholder Set of 11.
Lee Cutter and Lock Stud.
Lee Perfect Powder Measure.
Lee Chamfer Tool.
Lee Primer Pocket Cleaner
Lee Safety Powder Scale.
Lee Powder funnel.
2 oz Tube Lee Resizing Case Lube.

Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 45 ACP 26.99
Midway Product #: 661032

Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Case Tumbler Master Kit 73.99
Midway Product #: 414369

Smith & Wesson Dial Caliper 4" Stainless Steel $19.99
Midway Product #: 119190


Then you need powder, primers, brass and bullets.
Start saving ALL your brass NOW, even if you don't think reloading is for you.
As you progress in your shooting addiction, reloading is just part of the game.
Don't fight the addiction, just go with it...[/QUOTE]

[anyracoon]

You left out the Dillon Square Deal 'B' press. $355 with dies included.

[gemini1]

Sorry for the dumb question.

Will the cheapest reloader like the $104.99 Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Kit let you reload pistol as well as rifle bullets? say a 9mm or 40 cal for the pistol and 5.56 for the rifle?

[ar15barrels]

Will the cheapest reloader like the $104.99 Lee Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Kit let you reload pistol as well as rifle bullets? say a 9mm or 40 cal for the pistol and 5.56 for the rifle?

yes.

[Malthusian]

Great list
Thanks for the info

[gemini1]

yes.

Thanks Randall. Just curious though, any particular reason why you pick the S&W 4" caliper? If its due to lower cost and not the size, I saw a 6" digital from Harbor Freight, not sure about the quality/accuracy but its only $12.+

[dannyw68]

I agree wholeheartedly that reloading is the way to go if you shoot more than a box or two per month. I use a Hornady Lock-N-Load 5 stage automatic indexing progressive press and I reload 9mm, 45 ACP, 40 S&W, 38 special, 357 mag, 44 mag, 223, 243, & 270.

The biggest savings I find are when loading 44 magnum. Good factory ammunition will cost you around $30-$35 for 50 rounds. And although it is 'Full Power', it doesn't hold a candle to what you can safely handload. I can load very hot gas checked 300gr hunting loads similar to those offered by double tap or buffalo bore for about $10 pr $50. And when I am feeling cheap, I can load medium power loads with hard cast lead bullets and shoot for $6-7 for 50 rounds.

But for me, the biggest benefit to hand-loading other than savings is accuracy. You have no restrictions other than load data when trying to find a load that works well in you gun. For example, I bought a Winchester Model 70 bolt action chambered in 270 Winchester for about $250. Nice rifle, but has some rust and needed some TLC. Test firing some factory federal loads to check function, I was shooting around 2" groups at 100 yds off a bench rest. I set out to work up a load for this and settled on Reloader 19 powder, Winchester Primers and Brass, and 130 gr sierra bullets. Experimenting with powder charge and seating depth yielded a load that would consistently give 0.5"-0.75" 5-shot groups out of this old rifle! With that load, it shoots better than all of my buddies $700+ fancy bolt actions with factory ammo. And to top it off, that load costs me about $12-13 for a box of 50! So savings is one thing, but the ability to take an old, seemingly inaccurate rifle and make it shoot like a champ is another.

And for the record, I also load 45 ACP with Dardas hardcast lead bullets for about $7 for 50. In my gun, they shoot better than FMJ.

[DrTop]

All the name brand reloading gear works equally well if you know how to use it and take care of it. Just like your firearms, presses, powder throwers and other gears needs the occasional cleaning and lubrication (dry lube on part that may come in contact with your powder).

Again, like firearms many people become "loyal" to their RCBS, Dillon or Hornaday press...again they are work very well and none is substantially better than another. The most important thing is to reload!