Reloads

[tmart0311]

hmm, alright. What are "dyes" used for? I see that they're used alot in the descriptions

[zfields]

i think 500 an hour ona lee progressive is stretching it a bit, 200-300 more like it.

Dies do multiple things.

Decap and resize: removes spent primer, and reshapes the case to spec
Flare and powder through : Flares the case mouth and adds the powder (lee progressive)
Bullet seat and crimp: Presses in bullet and can add a crimp to hold in place

[stphnman20]

hmm, alright. What are "dyes" used for? I see that they're used alot in the descriptions

Read here

[Full Clip]

ah, ok.. how hard is it to find things lie powder, primer and that sort?

Grafs

[tujungatoes]

Read everything you can. no such thing as too much information. hornady, lyman, and lee all have good write-ups in their manuals.

here's a good basic intro to single stage reloading. link I'm sure there are others, but this is what got me started.

[Nodda Duma]

FYI reloading is a hobby in and of itself

[Air]

Sometimes, I actually enjoy reloading more than I do shooting. I couldn't shoot as near as much as I do if I didn't reload.

I don't even think about ammo anymore. If I want to go shoot, I go. It's almost like having an unlimited supply, with certain limitations...

[Divernhunter]

First......You will NOT save a penny!! You will shoot much more. IF you do not it is not worth buying the stuff to reload.

That said and from the questions asked you NEED to buy Lymans #49 reloading manual and READ it. That will answer many questions and educate you. Then ask away here for anything you need to know. Plus the book is one of the best for when yopu start to actually reload.

I have reloaded ammo since the early 1960's and enjoy it. You can load many hundreds of rounds per hour with a single stage press if you batch process and load. IF you are serious about reloading "MY" suggestion is to spend the cash and get an RCBS kit to start with. Also spray case lube,extra reloading block,a hand primer tool with a tray for faster priming and safety glasses to start with.

It is best but not required to find a good reloader and have him/her walk you thru the process. You might be able to learn a few tricks from them such as the funnel one. If you are by me or come by I would be happy to help you as I have quite a number of others.

Yes it is a hobby itself and enjoyable.

[XDRoX]

i think 500 an hour ona lee progressive is stretching it a bit, 200-300 more like it.

I'm not familiar with Lee progressives, so you may be right.
According to Dillon's website:

A 550b is capable of loading 600 rounds an hour.
A 650 is capable of loading 800 rounds an hour.
A 1050 is capable of loading 1200 rounds an hour.

Whenever I mention progressive I'm referring to Dillon, I should have been clear.
Last night I loaded 100 38spl for this weekend. It took me 15 minutes, which is normal for me. I usually load around 400 an hour, not rushing, taking my time. I load on a 550b.

[Air]

I can load about 200 per hour on my Lee Turret without much of a problem.

[zfields]

See, If i loaded that quick, id be shooting 1k a month : )

The issues that slow me down on the lee is hand setting each bullet, and the primer feed double feeding once in a while.

I'm not familiar with Lee progressives, so you may be right.
According to Dillon's website:

A 550b is capable of loading 600 rounds an hour.
A 650 is capable of loading 800 rounds an hour.
A 1050 is capable of loading 1200 rounds an hour.

Whenever I mention progressive I'm referring to Dillon, I should have been clear.
Last night I loaded 100 38spl for this weekend. It took me 15 minutes, which is normal for me. I usually load around 400 an hour, not rushing, taking my time. I load on a 550b.

[Cowboy T]

Pros:

• You can save a lot of money per round. That means you can afford to practice shooting more and get better, faster.
• If you buy right, you can recoup your investment within a few months, as I did.
• You never have to worry whether ammo is "in stock" at the store.
• No AB 962 nonsense!
• You can tailor your loads to specific needs, e. g. download .357 Mag to .38 Spl levels.
• The ammo you make will generally be more accurate once you develop a good load.
• It's just plain fun!

Cons:

• There's a start-up cost. It can range from $250 for a basic setup to a few thousand for the elaborate setups.
• Reloading takes time. If you like it, no prob, but if not, then it's work.
• It can be dangerous if you're not paying attention. Yes, you MUST pay 100% attention to what you're doing.
• Lead ingestion can happen if you're not careful about your hygiene. Again, you must pay attention.

For me, it's *definitely* worth it.

[mif_slim]

yup, many said... better accuracy, custom loads, save on ammo. con is time spent on it will have your significant other pretty mad. lol

[stewiegriffin]

save money. greater accuracy. the satisfaction of a job well done.

(i love midway)

aaronraby1, you missed "They don't make it anymore..." I love midway too.

As someone already mentioned, reloading is a hobby in itself. I love it. I hope you decide to get into it. It's really fun.

Just read, read, and read. There's a sticky in this forum with a thread that discusses starting. I suggest you read that too.

[kenz]

cast your own

If you really want to save money, cast your own bullets.
Check out Youtube and you can learn a lot about re-loading, bullet casting, etc.