Reloading

[Crowesnest]

So I am seriously thinking about reloading...it's just getting too darned expensive to keep buying ammo at exorbitant retail prices. I mainly want to reload 5.56 or .223 rounds. What equipment do I need to get started and how much should I plan on spending at a minimum?

[XDRoX]

With a $100 single stage press you could load 50 rounds an hour.
With a $200 turret press you could load 200-250 rounds an hour.
With a $500 progressive press you could load 500 rounds an hour.

Besides the press you'll need about $150 in extras, so you can add that onto the price of the press.

Hope this helps.

[rockdogz]

Reloading is a great idea. I reload .223, and just keep in mind for the rifle calibers there is some extra work involved - trimming and removing primer crimp, for instance. Raymond has some great videos on this if you haven't seen them yet. I just didn't want you to get discouraged if you start out with .223 and think it's too much work - especially if you try to compare savings reloading .223 to buying Wolf, for example - it may not seem worth it with all the labor.

However, I love being able to just buy the components and knowing that I can make up some rounds any time I want. It would be great if you want to make up some pistol rounds too - for example .45. That really makes it worthwhile, as the pistol calibers are a snap compared to rifle and go very quickly.

Please read all the stickies in this section, as the questions you pose have been answered before. Post again if you still have questions and I'm sure you'll get some help for particulars that may not be clear.

[joelogic]

Reloading doesn't save money.

It will be very hard to beat Tula at $199 a case. You will have to spend at least $1000 to get the prices down to $140 a case but you really aren't save that much anyway.

[Cowboy T]

At current TulAmmo/Ulyanovsk prices, joelogic does have a point. That assumes it remains readily availabe in California, though. That's why I would still get set up for it so that you guarantee yourself an ammo supply if there's another shortage, for whatever reason.

I would recommend you start in single-stage mode on a little cheapie press to see if you like it. If you do find you like it, then you can always go for the fancy progressive press later on.

Start collecting your .223/5.56 brass now, since that's what you want to reload.

If you shoot handgun ammo of any sort, that might be even better to get started with.

[Bill Steele]

I just restarted loading after a long time off. I am using an old single stage press with pretty minimal extras.

The comment above about 50 rounds a hour is about right for a single stage press once you get everything dialed. Count on about 3 hours for your first 50 though.

The first thing to do is get a reloading book, or better yet 2. Read them through completely and then come back to this forum and use the search function for any other questions you have. I think every question imaginable has been answered by the veterans on this forum.

I am telling you, you will not regret it if you start.

[Dhena81]

The reason you don't save money is because you end up shooting more and shooting better quality ammo.

[RaymondMillbrae]

Check out the tutorial below my signature. (RELOADING 223 VIDEO).

In Christ: Raymond