Want to start reloading

[xbimmers]

When I started reloading in 1992.....the first thing I did was buy the ABC's of Reloading and read the book very carefully. I think purchased the RCBS partner press set, it came with a single stag press, lub pad, scale, powder flow, powder trickler, deburrler, case cleaning tools. I purchased a die set of 9mm, HP-38 powder, 9mm bullets, loading block, Speers manual and small hand gun primers. I was ready to go.
I later bought a dial, and tumbler.

The set up was fast...but I would referrence the ABC book several times. I had a ton of the worst looking brass that I had previously picked up at an outdoor range. I hand cleaned the first bach of brass. (never again) and ran all cases through the resizing die. I measured each case and deburred them. Then I primed each case. Then I set the powder flow to the correct measure drop and started to load each casing with powder and seat the bullets one by one. I followed the process carefully and ended up with beautifull 9mm bullets. I fired all 100 in my New(at the time) Glock 17 and they performed to perfection.

Reloading can me time consuming but it is more fun that just being cost effective.....

Anyways....that my story......Enjoy reloading.....try the Lee reloading set first to make sure you like reloading....Lee is the cheapest.

[powaybob]

I just upgraded to a progressive from a single stage. Single stage is the way to start with a lesser investment and you learn each stage of reloading and tune your knowledge of each step. Progressives take a lot of tweaking to get running smoothly so if you are trying to learn to reload at the same time it can be frustrating and dangerous.

I also second getting the ABCs of Reloading book. It does a good job of explaining the steps in reloading for both pistol and rifle without being a sales brochure for a particular line of equipment.

As for brands I have a Lyman single stage press with Lee and RCBS dies, a Lee primer and powder measure, Frankfort Arsenal electronic caliper, no-name digital scale. My progressive is Hornady with Hornady dies. Bottom line on brands is they all have strengths and weaknesses, and there are many folks that swear at and swear by brand. The ideal way is to buy a used press and maybe used dies at a good price and add needed parts from there.

The ideal way to learn is from an experienced reloader who will show you how to do each step. I got started that way. I would also say to start loading a pistol round first. I think it is a little less complicated.

[natomasboy]

Reloading is definitely fun but be aware of the costs. There is A LOT of hidden costs when you start reloading:

What I knew about when I first started
- press kit (scale, powder measure, ...)
- dies
- components (bullets/powder/primer all of which are overpriced)
- manuals


What I did not expect
- caliper
- tumbler to polish brass
- media to shine brass
- accessories, accessories, and more accessories!
- recurring range fees because you will shoot A LOT more

I didn't realize how quickly 500 bullets can be spent, so now order I order 1,000.. and I'm starting to realize those aren't enough. I "thought" I would shoot 300 per month but that became 500 a month and I'm suspecting next month I will be shooting close to 700 a month. It's seems to be a never-ending addiction.

I've only been reloading for 2 months so my addiction is still very fresh.. will it ever taper off?

No one tells you how odd your family will think of you as package after package comes in the mail and you say, "oh it's just for my 'hobby'" when it's $$$ spent and kids ask, "why does daddy always get packages in the mail?"

anyway have fun.

[mif_slim]

Reloading is definitely fun but be aware of the costs. There is A LOT of hidden costs when you start reloading:

What I knew about when I first started
- press kit (scale, powder measure, ...)
- dies
- components (bullets/powder/primer all of which are overpriced)
- manuals


What I did not expect
- caliper
- tumbler to polish brass
- media to shine brass
- accessories, accessories, and more accessories!
- recurring range fees because you will shoot A LOT more

I didn't realize how quickly 500 bullets can be spent, so now order I order 1,000.. and I'm starting to realize those aren't enough. I "thought" I would shoot 300 per month but that became 500 a month and I'm suspecting next month I will be shooting close to 700 a month. It's seems to be a never-ending addiction.

I've only been reloading for 2 months so my addiction is still very fresh.. will it ever taper off?

No one tells you how odd your family will think of you as package after package comes in the mail and you say, "oh it's just for my 'hobby'" when it's $$$ spent and kids ask, "why does daddy always get packages in the mail?"

anyway have fun.

haha, your right, but those can be easily solved and it can be put under accessories:

- buy a HF caliper (12 bucks)
- buy a Zip Trim (10 bucks)
- Go to the pet store/Walmart to get crushed cobs (6-8 bucks) for a FAT pack. But you wouldnt need this if you got a Zip Trim or similar.

[natomasboy]

oh.. and don't forget this.. other reloaders will give you brass for free that are in a caliber that you don't own and guess what?! you'll start thinking.. I can't let that brass just sit there.. hmm, I'll clean it.. and "just store it."

Sooner or later you'll end up buying a gun for that caliber just so you can reload that collected brass! Can I get an Amen?!

[jimmyleost]

Order from Dillon. As far as supplies check out the various on line stores, Cabellas,Natchez and Mid south.

I ordered from Brian Enos (www.brianenos.com). His prices were slightly lower than Dillon but not noticeable, but he does offer free shipping over $400. He's a great guy!!!

I emailed him what I intended to do and the list of items I thought I would have needed and he replied with recommendations. Very helpful and very quick in his response.

[mather911]

I just got started recently and got a great deal on a package deal through cheaper than dirt

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/52509-1.html

The big thing I have really noticed I want but didnt get yet is a digital scale. The magnetically stabilized arm is great and all I still hate having to wait 1 minute and a half to get an accurate reading and for loading precision rounds you may want to measure every charge which would be excruciating without a digital scale.

And as everyone has said get a reloading manual. I got the lee reloading manual along with all the lee stuff I purchased its not to bad as long as you dont mind him talking about how awesome all his products are but other then that there is a lot of good info.

That is the exact kit that I have, Lee Breach Lock Challenger kit. Comes with almost everything you need except powder, primers and bullets. Of course you have to buy the dies. I have loaded over 3,000 rounds with it and love it to death. You can load everything except 50 BMG I think. I use it for my .06, 44mag, 38spl, 30-30, 7.62X39. You can find it as low as $89 if you google around. I bought mine for $104 from Cabelas.

[xbimmers]

Amen!

oh.. and don't forget this.. other reloaders will give you brass for free that are in a caliber that you don't own and guess what?! you'll start thinking.. I can't let that brass just sit there.. hmm, I'll clean it.. and "just store it."

Sooner or later you'll end up buying a gun for that caliber just so you can reload that collected brass! Can I get an Amen?!

[mather911]

Of course your friends will want you to get dies for their calibers so you can load stuff for them as well. And you know where that leads, "well I have 308 dies so I might as well get a 308", it is a never ending battle to control the urge. But what the hell you can't get fat for a gun craving.

[Savage99]

I started reloading in 1986 after a doctor told me to get a hobby that was not related to work. I have been hooked ever since. I started with a Dillon 550 for 9mm and it has gone to over 25 different rounds and a room dedicated to reloading and casting my own bullets. The first were scary, since my gun worked and my shooting buddy's didn't, found the problem and corrected it and it has been great ever since. I have 2 single stage presses (Rock Chucker and Herters), the Dillon 550 and a Herters 2 stage press. I find it extremely enjoyable, and since I am unemployed right now, it is a way to make some money.

[natomasboy]

I find it extremely enjoyable, and since I am unemployed right now, it is a way to make some money.

How are you making money reloading? Are you selling your reloads?

[Flea]

I am a student who is considering investing in a reloading system. I went to Ironsight in Oceanside tonight and burned 200 .223 rounds and 100 .45. As much as I loved it, it hurt knowing that I was blasting off $0.63 with every squeeze of my finger. With that in mind, I will say it again... I am a student. That means if I continue at the rate I would like to, I will inevitably be paying a few hundred dollars or more a month to get my much desired practice in (...I can't afford that in the long run), which brings me to my ultimate question...

Is it worth the extra patience, care, and cost to wait and buy a more heavy duty reloading system? I ask this with consideration to many of the comments on this post suggesting to start with the simple stuff, but I don't intend to stop shooting anytime soon, so I'd be willing to save more and spend more to ultimately have a higher quality setup.

[Fyathyrio]

When I initially did the math for reloading only .45 it would take about 5000 rounds to break even. That was including the Hornady LNL progressive, all the brass/powder/bullets/primers, brass prep, and everything else needed. That pretty much went out the window as I added more guns to the collection and started shooting more. You can go cheaper with a single stage press, and many here will recommend that route, but you will quickly become frustrated at the pace of reloading if you want to shoot that much.

I looked at it like this; I can run a progressive press as a single stage until I am used to the process, but I can't run a single stage like a progressive once I'm used to it. The press cost $400ish, and Hornady gave me about $300ish in bullets for buying it. They used to give you 1000 bullets of your choice free, now it's dropped to 500, which is still a pretty good deal. You also get 100 free for each set of dies...just gotta pay 'em for shipping. The brown truck just dropped off a 28 lb box yesterday!