New reloading kit!

[tvfreakarms]

My buddy just bought a new reloading kit. RCBS rock chucker ROCK chucker supreme master reloader

We r newbs to reloading so i was wondering where can i find the best deals for bullets, primer, dies and powder.

I bought shell holders for .223; 9mm luger and .45 acp. RCBS brand and for now these are the ammo i would like to reload.

For rifle powder i was looking into buying the hodgdon CFE 223.

As for pistol powder (9mm 45acp) maybe buying the same brand.

We would like your thoughts and opionions on the reloading kit and the powder as well? Good, ok, etc.

Also, the kit did come with a guide book. Not sure if this is good enough or if there are better ones out there.

Thanks.

[fizux]

Start with 2-3 good reloading manuals. I assume since you got a RCBS kit, that it came with the Speer manual #14; I'd also get one or more of The ABC's of Reloading, Lee's Modern Reloading, Hornady's, et cetera.

I would also check out my local chapter forum to see if they have a "reloaders roll call" type thread, which will tell you the people in your area that might be able to help get you started IRL.

MidwayUSA is a good site to order non-hazmat stuff, but is by no means the only good place out there.

[XDRoX]

Powder valley
Grafs
Wideners

[Dark Mod]

Never tried CFE but have been curious about it, i really dont have much of a problem with copper fowling though.

For powder or primers ill use Grafs, powdervalley, or wideners.

For projectiles ill use cabelas, xtreme, berrys, wideners, and sometimes grafs.

Good luck man

[Divernhunter]

You will need a different powder for the pistols than what you are using for the rifle. I would suggest Win 231 for the pistols. Get the Lyman $49 Reloading manual and read it. It will answer most all your questions. If you want to drive down to my place I will help you out. Bring your stuff and we can set up your dies etc and load some on your press. You can alse see the tables I made for mine(I have 5 set up now). I have reloaded for many years. Buy carbide type dies for your pistol rounds. If it is not in the kit get a bottle of RCBS Case Slick SPRAY Lube and forget about the messy pad for lubing your rifle/bottleneck brass.

[tvfreakarms]

@divernhunterthat would be super great. R u local (Sacramento)? Hope so.
I sent u a pm

[insik]

I used W231 for 9mm and 45ACP. I'm starting for 223 and will be using H335.

[tvfreakarms]

Newbie here. When u say w231 what brand is that? Same goes for .223

[tvfreakarms]

Do u guys think its cheaper to buy local for powder, bullets and other stuff?
I guess if u factor in hazmat and shipping fee it might come out to b more if u order online.
Or maybe better to buy them at a gun show.
Not sure when there will b one in the Sacramento area

[the86d]

Bulk de-mil'd on via web "in bulk" for rifle is cheapest for powder (4 8lb jugs, and they wave the HazMat fees), local next cheapest, and then gun show...

This is comparing from last weekend's gun show, but the primers were where the gun show savings were at... 5k primers for like $119, I believe it was... rifle and pistol.

You can get 3k 5.56 "pulled/de-mil'd" bullets for about 149+shipping via Hi-Tech Ammo.

The real cost savings can only be had IF you buy components in QTY, which is a hefty chunk'o'change.

[ExtremeX]

The real cost savings can only be had IF you buy components in QTY, which is a hefty chunk'o'change.

[skibuff]

Sportsman or Roseville Discount Shooter's Supply is the cheapest way to get powder local in Sac area. Cabelas or Scheels in Reno are worth the trip.

If you buy Powder or primers online you need to buy big quantity's to cover the Hazmat and shipping fees but is the cheapest way to go.
like others said online Graf's, Widners or goldenwestbrass

Winchester 231 powder for the 9mm and .45. It is one of the safest powders to start with for hand guns. Larger margin for errors than the faster burning powders. Always start at the starting loads and work up.
You cannot interchange most pistol and rifle powders so you will need a different powder for .223. I like Alliant RE7 but there are plenty of other good powders.

The surplus powder are cheap and work good but you need to carefully work up your loads do to the inconsistency's in the surplus powders.

What part of Sac you in?

[tvfreakarms]

@skibuff

im in the rancho area. But soon ill be living in orangevale area.

As for powder i was looking into buying cfe 223 for my ar.
Not sure if i can buy cfe at a decent price.
How much in powder and primer would i need buy in powder"bulk" to where i would save?

[tvfreakarms]

Anyone else in the sac area i could stop by and check ur reading set up?

Divernhunter offered but he is a little to far from us.

[the86d]

...
How much in powder and primer would i need buy in powder"bulk" to where i would save?

Primers at some local shops charge about 39.95-49.95+tax locally for 1000. I got 5000 for 119+tax at a gun show.

Primers local are about $0.042-0.052/each, but at the gun show it is about $0.025/each in bulk. (This is NOT factoring in the price to get in to the show, nor the gas it took to get there, but that was made up for in the cost savings of the 1st 2k primers, while I got 10k, and I won't have to stop by anywhere for primers for quite a while... and no trips to anywhere for primers every 1k like before.)

I couldn't tell you about the powder, as I have only bought 2 kegs so far(1-8lb Varget for rifle, and 1-4lb Unique for pistol), and never looked at the 1lb can prices. I am in the market for powder soon...

Here is a quick powder calc (pulled cheap de-mil'd powder):

NAME POWDER COST TAX SHIPPING TOTAL PER LB
VARGET (8LB) 159 12.3225 0 171.3225 21.4153125

UNIQUE (4LB) 99 7.6725 0 106.6725 26.668125

WC846(32LB) 406.87 0 30.87 437.74 13.679375

WC844(32LB) 340 0 30.87 370.87 11.5896875

If you were to buy say 1 jug (8lb) of the stuff there would be about $15 (50%) in shipping, BUT you would get dinged for a $27.50 hazmat fee on top, because Hi-Tech covers the HazMat fee if you buy 4 1lb jugs.

A spreadsheet really helps with all the reloading cost calcs, just make sure to label everything as to WHERE, and THAT BRAND so you can compare and contrast...