Thinking of starting

[B!ngo]

So I am considering starting to reload.
I've been watching videos and reading for two years now and it seems like a straightforward but detail-oriented hobby.
I think I know how to start and to progress, based on all I've studied and here in CA, it seems like without reloading, by next year I'll have no more than 500 rounds in my home. It would be nice to save some money on ammo as well.
But I am wondering if it's still too early to get in to reloading. Are there any supplies out there yet? I'd want brass and other components or 9mm, .223 and .308 (ultimately). Where can I find the 'raw materials' to get started?
And any hints and tips would be welcomed as well. I'm hoping to find some used machinery rather than buy new. I get the sense that there is always turnover of reload equipment in the market.
Thanks in advance,
B

[Enfield47]

Supplies are available, but you need to be quick to get them. If you are patient and can wait for the deals to come along you can get components without being gouged. There is a thread the stickies called "Internet Reloading Sites" that lists places to buy from. I have had good luck recently with Grafs and Nachez for bullets and dies. Powder can be found but be quick, it tends to go fast. I got some powder recently from Third Generation. I have been working on getting my supplies together since January, but things are a little better now than at the beginning of the year. Good luck to you.

[Exodus343]

be careful
it's an addiction
very rewarding but still an addiction...

[uhlan1]

It's a great hobby. You may find your round cost lower, but the caveat is you'll probably shoot more. I'm right back to my manic pre-panic level.
I also enjoy the additional freedom from the insane antics in Sacramento, at least for now.
There's plenty of stuff out there, just have to take the time to look. Watch this forum and others for tips on availability. Bullets are easy, i've been able to find every powder i want but takes more work. Primers. primers are the grail item unless you are willing to be gouged. They take work, but they can be found in quantity.
Decide which press you want and get it on backorder. The only presses i have seen in the private marketplace have been way over priced. They'll come down eventually after all these newbies spent a grand or more and decided it was too much work, but with everything in Sacramento, I think it'll be awhile.
While you're waiting, start scrounging dies and components.
i didn't get started until early December, not the best timing. But with a lot of hard work and help from other members here i was able to get going without being raped and having a great time doing it.
Definitely worth it for me. Like it almost as much as shooting, almost.

[Ghost_Maker]

reloading dont save you money...it just lets you shoot more....hahaha

[MIAMIbaseballer]

I've found everything (powder, primers, and bullets) for the calibers you requested in the last 2 months. You just have to check all the websites and do it frequently....

[koehn,jim]

The supplies are available, but do not think you will save money, you wont. It will cost a bunch to get started and you will shoot more to eat up any savings. However it is a great satisfaction to shoot a good group at the range with ammo that you made. You also can tailor the ammo to the weapon and shoot better than factory ammo. There is a lot of info available on this site and many that will answer any questions, enjoy it.

[OldShooter32]

Go for it. Relaxing, challenging and really let's you get the most out of your accurate rifles.

[firebert]

Definitely don't do it to save money, do it if you want to expand on your hobby. It'll take a while to recover what you spent on equipment especially if you're like me and you keep buying more equipment.

[Whiterabbit]

Definitely don't do it to save money,

And why not? What's the going price for HP 9mm these days? How about match grade 308?

Not all of us shoot steels using scoped bolt rifles with 20x scopes at 50 yards. Premium bullets and premium loads are expensive, and EASILY duplicated at home.

Even 9mm can be loaded to save money.

[CAL.BAR]

Ok - I had the same idea about 3 months ago. First, I am STILL waiting for my Dillion 650. That doesn't bother me since it took me 2 months to get all the components I need anyway. STILL waiting for powder and primers to be shipped. So.... as long as you have a LONG TERM plan and PATIENCE, it's fine.

And yes you WILL save money (after the first 10,000 rounds to pay back the investment in the press etc.) Patience remember.

[firebert]

Because now a days going price for 1000 primers is $50 and a pound of powder is $40 at local shops. There are sites that still sell components at pre-panic prices but since components only come back instock one piece at a time you can't combine your order with several different items to save money on hazmat and shipping like you used to.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

[rm1911]

Of course those of us that started 20 years ago remember the golden years when any powder and primer was a available and plentiful and savings were huge. Huge!!! Those days are long gone. Now reloading is for me as much insurance as hobby. Truth is you just don't know what's coming and I guess I'm in a good spot as I've already had all the hardware and even plenty of components stocked up.

I have over the course of the last few months been able to find things I've needed or just wanted to load up on more than I normally would have. It's been tons of persistence and diligence and just sticking with it. I haven't had to pay inflated prices that much but it requires a lot of time. And sometimes buying as much as you can.

Think of the hardware as an investment that will last decades. Over time accumulate components and look at it long term.