Starting to reload 9mm

[MKE]

Reloading with Lee Pro 1000 progressive reloader is fine. It's pretty easy to setup and it works...all at a very reasonable $130. You just need a workbench to mount the reloader.

But there are other items associated with making your reloading more efficient, such as:
-- Calipers and bullet gauge...to ensure the bullet is precisely the correct length or hasn't been overcrimped
-- Bullet puller...to take apart a round that wasn't reloaded properly
-- Tumbler and case cleaning supplies
-- Reloading trays and cases

Start picking up the 9mm cases at the range until you have enough to work with. Get one pound of gunpowder, 1,000 primers, and 1,000 115 or 124gr boolets. Once you get going, your cost per 100 rounds will run about $10-12, compared to Walmart's $20.

[dwtt]

I started while in college as a poor grad student with a Lyman single stage press and still use it for all my reloading. I don't have a problem with reloading 500 rd batches and it will be a good way to start without spending a lot of money up front. Like MKE said, you'll need a good set of calipers to check the dimensions of the ammo.
I started with:
Orange Crusher single stage press
Lyman carbide die set
tumbler for cleaning brass
powder measure
powder scale
calipers
Lee hand priming tool, the priming arm on the press doesn't work well
ammo storage boxes

[Ceemack]

I've never seen a kit with which I was really happy. One or another of the parts is going to be something you don't really want. The Lee kit kind of exemplifies that.

Wherever possible, avoid buying the cheapest of anything. If you buy decent gear now, you'll be using it for years to come. My Rockchucker press was a big bite when I bought it, but it's older than you are now and can easily last for another twenty or thirty years.

One of the things you really don't want to skimp on is your scale, and the one in the Lee kit is absolutely bottom-of-the-line. The powder measure in that kit also falls into the "something you can live with" category. Same with the press.

For 9mm, I'd start with this:

1. A solid single-stage press, like an RCBS Rockchucker. If money's tight, see if you can find one in good condition on eBay.
2. A $40-$50 beam scale, like an RCBS 505.
3. An RCBS Little Dandy powder measure--cheap, accurate, and really fast for handgun calibers.
4. A Lee Auto Prime.
5. A powder trickler.
6. A Frankford Arsenal reloading tray for 9mm.
7. A 4-die set of Lee carbide dies.
8. A Frankford Arsenal case gauge in 9mm.
9. A set of digital calipers from Harbor Freight Tool.
10. Safety glasses and a few plastic parts bins from your local Lowe's.

[Jicko]

Zero <- u can try to get from powdervalleyinc

[Timberland]

Ive been using the other lee kit(prime on press no auto prime.) The prime on press thing sucks, it works best to feed the primers by hand onto unit, and avoid plastic crap. The scale is utter junk!! I went and bought a hornady scale, because I liked it better than the other RCBS one. If you go to local stores they will sell you RCBS as its north of us in Oreavill, so they have a support local thing going on. I might see if I cant get stuff cheap from the factory one day. Go to sportsmans warehouse in rocklin one day as there prices are within a few $$ of midway, sometimes cheaper. Also note the secound kit lacks a powder despenser so add another 60-100$ But the LEE sucks to untill you make it like you. And from my very limited opinion, single stage 9mm would be a nightmeare, I can see a magnum hand gun, but I burn 9mm. Im saving 9mm brass till i get a progressive.

[CSACANNONEER]

You guys can keep pushing the Lee on him but, I gave him a great deal on the blue cool-aid (550), a scale, 3K of brass, a flip tray, 500 cast bullets and anything else I can find to help him out. All for $400. If Fort Courage has a 9mm conversion kit and maybe dies, I'll pick them up for him as well. He should be ready to load by this weekend.

[rksimple]

You guys can keep pushing the Lee on him but, I gave him a great deal on the blue cool-aid (550), a scale, 3K of brass, a flip tray, 500 cast bullets and anything else I can find to help him out. All for $400. If Fort Courage has a 9mm conversion kit and maybe dies, I'll pick them up for him as well. He should be ready to load by this weekend.

Well thats the best deal right there. If the budget allows, Dillon is the answer.

[Gryff]

Start picking up the 9mm cases at the range until you have enough to work with.

Be careful with that, especially if the range hosts competitions.

I don't reload yet, but I have heard a lot of people talk about the dangers of harvesting 9mm brass at a range. First, 9mm is a high-pressure round relative to .45acp. That means more stress on the case, and therefore a higher likelihood of failure after it has been reloaded a few times.

Second, there is a move in IPSC competitions towards the 9mm Major caliber. This is effectively a regular 9mm (9x19) round loaded up to make Major power factor. That really stresses the cases, and it is impossible to discern between those shells and ones loaded to regular 9mm.

[thebloodsonthewall]

You guys can keep pushing the Lee on him but, I gave him a great deal on the blue cool-aid (550), a scale, 3K of brass, a flip tray, 500 cast bullets and anything else I can find to help him out. All for $400. If Fort Courage has a 9mm conversion kit and maybe dies, I'll pick them up for him as well. He should be ready to load by this weekend.

I am taking his deal. I decided that I can spend the extra money and it do it right. I called Sportsman's Warehouse today and they have good prices on bullets and powder. The powder is $10 more for 8lb but you don't have to pay shipping or the hazmat fee. Their lead bullets are $35 for 500. I get to pick up my handgun on Thursday right after work and I am hoping to be all set-up and reloading this weekend. Thanks for everyone's help, I really appreciate it.

[ar15barrels]

If the budget allows, Dillon is the answer.

And if the budget does not allow it immediatly, just keep saving and wait until it does.
Better to buy good tools once than to buy cheap tools that you throw away later when you finally understand why you need good tools.

[StraightShooter]

Get a case gauge for whatever caliber you are reloading. They are inexpensive but will help insure reliable feeding and can save you a lot of time of you screw something up and dont notice it. I drop evey case I reload through a case gauge and if it doesnt drop in easily then it get extra attention or gets thrown out.

[MKE]

You guys can keep pushing the Lee on him but, I gave him a great deal on the blue cool-aid (550), a scale, 3K of brass, a flip tray, 500 cast bullets and anything else I can find to help him out. All for $400. If Fort Courage has a 9mm conversion kit and maybe dies, I'll pick them up for him as well. He should be ready to load by this weekend.

Now that's a deal too good for him to pass up. If he's going to get serious into reloading, this would be the deal to get!

[MKE]

Get a case gauge for whatever caliber you are reloading. They are inexpensive but will help insure reliable feeding and can save you a lot of time of you screw something up and dont notice it. I drop evey case I reload through a case gauge and if it doesnt drop in easily then it get extra attention or gets thrown out.

+1...these case gages are absolutely a necessity for reloaders. I can recall before I used them, I only used calipers for measuring the length, then realizing improper case crimping caused a few feed problems.

[sunborder]

I find the lee perfect powder measure to work fine, but I only use promo & red dot. Mine barely needed any breaking in, but works like a charm once you develop your technique.