Reloading?

[LAKings22]

I've been reading a lot about people saying how great it is to reload. How much should I expect to spend to start up with an average or above average reloading equipment. I would be reloading 5.56 .223 9mm .40 cal and 7.62x39.

How much money does it cost per 500 rounds, if you reload it yourself?

Currently I don't do much shooting, maybe once a month because its to expensive. I would like to go out to the range maybe 2 or 3x a month and shoot for hours. Taking the time to reload is not a problem.

[zomie]

Basic 223 (assuming you have brass):
-$12 Winchester Small Rifle Primers (gun show)
-$50 Remmy 55 fmj bullets (cabelas)
-$20 Pound of powder imr 4895 (gun show)
=$82, misc so probably $85

Roughly 17 cents a round compared to 34 for store purchased pmc or american eagle.

BTW I would suggest a Turret press starting. You can get a Lee kit for around $200ish (not the most favored brand) but it will do the job. You can do almost any caliber with one up to a 50bmg.

[LAKings22]

I guess I'll start collecting brass. Do you recommend any books I can pick up to get more information on how to reload?

[lethalb18c1]

here you go. start here Randall's "pistol ammo is too expensive" list
Just remember to get the set of dies of the caliber you're planning to reload and a shell plate for that specific caliber if you plan on getting a progessive/turret press.
Also you'll need a trimmer for your rifle brass, along with a case gauge.
If you have military brass you'll need a way to swage or remove those crimps on the primer pockets

Another thing that you might want to factor in is a reloading bench. Might want to ask yourself if you have anything you can turn into a bench or you might want to make it yourself. Also consider getting nuts and bolts from the local hardware store since most presses doesnt come with hardware to mount it. Then think about getting a drill to make things faster (depending on which route you go with).

[BLR81]

I've been reading a lot about people saying how great it is to reload. How much should I expect to spend to start up with an average or above average reloading equipment. I would be reloading 5.56 .223 9mm .40 cal and 7.62x39.

How much money does it cost per 500 rounds, if you reload it yourself?

Currently I don't do much shooting, maybe once a month because its to expensive. I would like to go out to the range maybe 2 or 3x a month and shoot for hours. Taking the time to reload is not a problem.

More than likely you won't save anything, you'll just shot more for the same price that your shooting now.

I got a Hornady classic single stage press with kit for around $250. But, I spent more than that on dies, reloading supplies, trimmer, assorted hand tools and brushes, micrometer, headspace gauges and lube pads.

Hornady has a rebate program so I get 600 bullets. With the 250 rifle cases and 350 40 s&w cases I have saved up, I believe by the time I reload for the 2nd time I'll come close to breaking even which for me is a little less than 9 months. If you don't include the hours I've spent learning and preparing the brass.

You can start saving your brass, but don't expect you save any money anytime soon if your only going to shot once a month. And, don't kid yourself, the start up costs are probably going to be more than you spend in ammo now.

I did it because I shoot once a week, and I'm adding some more rifles that shot every expensive ammo. And, I like to work on accuracy. And, it's my only hobby since my knees went out. So, that's all I got.

[drifter2be]

Price is al going to be relative. Depending on the quantities you buy components in (brass, projectiles, primers and powder) you can greatly vary the final cost of a loaded round.

Though I haven't started loading .223 yet I have gotten an estimate of $0.15 per round using military pull down powder and pulled bullets.

Using plated bullets I can load 50rd box of 9mm for $6 about $1 more expensive to use fmj.

The true cost is going to be relative. Especially if you count your time as money. I've been work with a single stage press and so alright, but am getting ready to drop a few bills on a progressive to save time loading 9mm. I can load start to finish 100 rounds of 9mm in about an hour. With a good progressive I have heard people doing 4-5 times as much in the same amount of time. I'm finding myself with less free time nowadays so spending a few hundred to cut my time spent loading 9mm down to one-fifth what I spend on it now seems completely worth it to me and the cost is offset by the time I save.

Reloading is definitely an investment of both time and money, whether you get into it for more accurate and consistent ammunition, saving money or shooting more for your money it is definitely worth it. Just remember that reloading is a hobby in and of itself and like any hobby can get very expensive if you really get into it.

[JNunez23]

Hey! You're in NoHo. PM me if you have any questions when you get started.

[Cowboy T]

Well, reloading 9mm and .38 Special is close enough that perhaps you can use my figures for .38 Spl to give you an idea.

The powder: Bullseye
The bullet: 105gr LSWC home-cast, assuming lead id $1.10/lb
The primer: Any brand, assume $35/1000
The case: call it $40 per 1,000 if you buy cases. Assume 8 uses, which is less than what I actually get on average.
The reloading manuals: Lyman's Reloading Manual, 49th Edition and Richard Lee's Modern Reloading

According to my calculations, each box of 50 rounds costs me $3.25 to make.

Also, understand that you don't need to drop a bunch of cash on some elaborate setup. For the new reloader, "progressive" = "elaborate" as far as I'm concerned. An inexpensive $100 single-stage kit has done a whole lot of people very well, indeed. Should you decide that you want to upgrade down the road, then you'll know what you want/need, based on experience.

Now, that said, I have to say that the $200-or-so Lee Classic Turret Press Kit is lookin' pretty good. If they'd had that kit when I first started reloading, that's probably what I would've bought, in addition to their handy little $30 single-stage.

[zomie]

Now, that said, I have to say that the $200-or-so Lee Classic Turret Press Kit is lookin' pretty good. If they'd had that kit when I first started reloading, that's probably what I would've bought, in addition to their handy little $30 single-stage.

I agree with you. I wish I would have got this first:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lee-Precision-Classic-Turret-Press-Kit/1374275.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dlee%2Bturret%26x%3D0%26y%3D0%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=lee+turret&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

It is a pretty decent for just about any round you need. My progressive goes through pistol rounds much faster though.

[drkphibr]

Basic 223 (assuming you have brass):
-$12 Winchester Small Rifle Primers (gun show)
-$50 Remmy 55 fmj bullets (cabelas)
-$20 Pound of powder imr 4895 (gun show)
=$82, misc so probably $85

Roughly 17 cents a round compared to 34 for store purchased pmc or american eagle.

BTW I would suggest a Turret press starting. You can get a Lee kit for around $200ish (not the most favored brand) but it will do the job. You can do almost any caliber with one up to a 50bmg.

+1^ on the LCT. Lee makes, in my opinion, excellent product for the price and they have outstanding customer service (as do most of the reloading manufacturers) as well.

[LAKings22]

Thanks for all the info. I think starting up with a basic low cost set up will be a good idea to start with. Im going to give it a few months before I make my decision. I wouldn't want to spend all that money then lose interest after loading 1,000 rounds. I might even try to find someone local and see the whole loading process in person an get a feel for it.

[Colt562]

Honestly when I started reloading I thought I would spend around 300 bucks. Well Im close to quadrupling that. Reloading isnt cheap but it is a hobby within itself. Yeah you can get your round to 8-15 cents a piece but you will be able to shoot twice as much. If you want a single stage, cabelas has the lee single stage kit on sale for $99.

But remember one thing...Buy once, cry once.

[drkphibr]

Thanks for all the info. I think starting up with a basic low cost set up will be a good idea to start with. Im going to give it a few months before I make my decision. I wouldn't want to spend all that money then lose interest after loading 1,000 rounds. I might even try to find someone local and see the whole loading process in person an get a feel for it.

I think you'll be amazed when you get into reloading all the stuff you find you "have" to have...but I mean that in a positive way. I really don't want to know what I've spent...too depressing to think of the number(s).

[Horton Fenty]

More than likely you won't save anything, you'll just shot more for the same price that your shooting now.

This ^^. You'll just shoot more.

My 2 cents is you'll want at least 750-1000 dollars to start out. Don't go buy a "reloading kit" either. With the kits there will be some stuff you don't need, some stuff you don't like, and some stuff not there than you find you want. With research and careful selection you can get better quality gear for less than what you'll get with a kit.

Make yourself a list. Start out with things you must have. Like a press, dies, scale, calipers, tumbler, and a reloading manual. Do your research on those items, make your purchase and have fun be safe. It won't be long before you have a better idea of all the other things you think you want. Like a case trimmer, case gauges, primer flip tray, powder funnel, bullet puller, etc, etc.

I believe the choice to go progressive right out of the gate is something only the individual can decide. A few minutes of self reflection and any guy, or gal, will know which way they should go.

[zfields]

Just a heads up, on 762x39 its usually cheaper to buy then to reload. Just depends on what type of Rifle if its worth bothering with. For my aks, I don't mess with it. For 9mm and 45, completely worth being able to tailor the loads to the gun. For 45/70....cost me about 1/3 of factory ammo.

Sent from my fingers, to your face.