Newbie help

[rue]

Hi,
I'm interested in starting to reload but after looking over threads here and other places in the last 3-4 days I still have no clue what to buy or even how it works. I guess I have more info and it's more confusing now. I was looking at a "master kit" from RCBS at my local gun shop but I don't want to buy something that doesn't work good or isn't going to last. I kinda liked the Lee's turret press on their site but some don't like them I guess so I'm wondering what I should do. I want to load .25, 9mm, .38 spl. , .223 right now and others in the future as I'm looking to get a 1911.
Sorry if my question is probably not unique but I need a little help steering me in the right direction. Thanks, Kyle

[jonrx7]

Where are you located. I will loading some ammo up soon. You are welcome to check my tools and view the proceess. I'm in the south bay Torrance area.

[Fjold]

Hi,
I'm interested in starting to reload but after looking over threads here and other places in the last 3-4 days I still have no clue what to buy or even how it works. I guess I have more info and it's more confusing now. I was looking at a "master kit" from RCBS at my local gun shop but I don't want to buy something that doesn't work good or isn't going to last. I kinda liked the Lee's turret press on their site but some don't like them I guess so I'm wondering what I should do. I want to load .25, 9mm, .38 spl. , .223 right now and others in the future as I'm looking to get a 1911.
Sorry if my question is probably not unique but I need a little help steering me in the right direction. Thanks, Kyle

Buy an good reloading manual and it will give you a good overview. Also you can read about it and watch the videos here:

http://www.reload-nrma.com/intro-reload.html

Click on "Metallic reloading" at the bottom of the page and the "Virtual Reloading" links.

[ar15barrels]

I'm in Culver City and I have also given many demonstrations on the basics.
I have everything from simple single-stage presses to the fanciest Dillon progressive presses.

[rue]

Thanks for the offers but I live in Sacramento. If anyones willing to show me up here I'm game. I'd also like to reload shotgun shells too as I want to shoot trap a little this coming year too.
Is there a reloading for dummies book or something?
I want to get the most value for my money but I don't think I'll be reloading 1000 an hour or anything. Maybe 200-300 a month at the most and that's a wishful thinking. I know I'll get busy and not load anything sometimes.
Thanks again for the replies, Kyle

[kurac]

.25auto?

the others are pretty common and available if you search around for only slightly more than component cost, unless you need something special.

Basically it would take you a long time to pay for the reloading equipment in savings you would accomplish by loading 200-300 rounds per month.

I was just at a Walmart today and there 100 round value packs were maybe $3-4 more for 40 S&W compared to me buying bullets, powder and primers and then loading them myself. I already stopped loading 9mm and may due the same for .40 S&W.

For heavy stuff like the .44magum it does pay to load and sometime you can get buy for better than half as much as factory ammo.

[sargenv]

Well, I can say that I taught myself to reload shotshells merely by reading a few books on the subject, mainly the Lyman manual and one other manual. If you can follow instructions, it's pretty straightforward how to do it. As for metallic, I bought an RCBS Rockchucker about 20 years ago and to this day still use it for small batch loads. You can't really go wrong with any single stage from RCBS. I know some people who start on something like a Lee pro-1000, Dillon Square deal B, Dillon 550 or 650 and never look back. I like having the option to crank out only 20 rounds or 800 per hour for handguns.

With my Rockchucker I could make about 100 rounds per hour for straight wall pistol cartridges. You have to do them by the batch process. Deprime however many you have, then prime them all, sometimes you can combine flaring and priming, then drop powder and then seat bullet and crimp.

I'd say buy a few manuals and see if this is something you want to try.