Reloading

[HarvDog]

I'm posting this here since it covered multiple areas.

I am a bit interested in reloading. It seems like it would be fairly easy and actually save me some money. What type of equipment would I need to get started? I would probably focus on shotgun shells and rounds for my handguns.

[Tominator]

Re: Reloading

I think there's a few guys that could fill a book with their knowledge namely AJ and hangunner.

I've considered reloading 20 gauge shells for a long time, but after reading AJ's posts on the subject, I don't know if I could ever recoup the initial start up cost of a press, and continual cost of hulls, wads, primers, powder, and shot.

[ZooBear]

Re: Reloading

You are looking at 2 loaders. I would start out with single stage presses like the Mec or RCBS. You will need a good powder scale, a dial caliper, a priming tool and a place to work. These things will get you started. Later you might want to add a case trimmer and a few odds and ends.

I noticed you own a 357. I load 125 grn jhp hot loads for about ten cents a round. (not counting brass)

My loaders paid for themselves in the first few months I owned them.

[Reloader]

Re: Reloading

If you shoot a LOT then relaoding will save you money. If you shoot occasionaly it whon't save you money but it will give you another way to mess arround and do gun stuff when it is too cold to actualy go out and shoot.

The main reason I reload is just because I can...and I like to play arround with different loadings, light loads for big guns like heavy shotguns or magnum rifles so you can spend longer at the range ina day, Varmint loads for my 30-06, etc.

Check Ebay for the equipment, and then only buy RCBS. In my experience they have the best waranty and will fix any problems the seller didn't warn you about.

I would say for the handgun you will need/want:

1 Press: rockchucker is a great single stage entry lvl press.

2 Dies for any calibers you intend to reload.

3 Automatic priming arm and feed tubes...or a hand priming tool but the automatic arm is, IMO, much more efficient and easier on you.

4 Deburing tool and primer pocket cleaner brush

5 Powder measure and scale

That will do it...but for the eventual tools you may want a case trimmer, neck turner and media tumbler. The dial calper Zoobear mentioned is a good idea but I use the poor mans method and check OAL against factory ammo.

For the shotgun you will need:

1 shotgun press for your gague

2 brushings for the diferent powder charge weights you want

For both you need manuals and load data sheets...

Once you have the tools the only expense is the components. you should already have brass and hulls from ammo you already bought and fired. You can look over load table s and find loads that use less expensive powders or that use less powder and that will cut the cost and you can fiddle with the load to get acceptable accuracy. Buy basic bullets and decent primers and you are set.

I can reload my Economy version ammo for about half the cost of factory ammo and premium ammo for about 3/4 the cost.

Kids are fussing so I gotta cut this short...Reloading is fun not just utility so if it interestest you don't wory about if you will save money and just do it...its not likely to cost you more at least....

[LifeNRA]

Re: Reloading

I did a lot of reloading for my 9mm, 380, .38, and .357. I was shooting pistol competition. I bought a Dillon Square Deal B. Best thing I ever did with doing a lot of shooting. But to do it right you might have to spend some money! In time you will save the money normally that you would be buying factory ammo. But that could be thousands of rounds later! Ill bet I made at least 15,000-20,000 bullets. So the money I saved more than paid for all my equipment. The Square Deal is a nice progressive loader, every pump of the arm produces one round of ammo. Once you get the rhythm going you can get about 400-500 rounds per hour, as long as you have plenty of primer rods! I had eight of them, each holds 100 primers. Go here and look around click on the Square Deal B link to see the press I have.

http://dillonprecision.com/default.cfm?

This press will be ready to start loading with all the dies already installed. What you will need to do is set your powder throw, set the bullet seating and crimping.

BUT THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO IS GET A UP TO DATE "RELOADERS MANUAL"!!! YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE TO START AND WHAT YOUR MAXIMUM POWDER CAN BE!

What I have,

reloading manual

Press

scale (used to check powder throw and bullet weights)

outside caliper (measures over all bullet lenght)

primer rods (holds the primers until there ready for the press)

primer plate (used to pick up the primers)

case tumbler (cleans the brass, I never used the primer brushes with pistol ammo)

Bunch of other little stuff I picked up along the way.

[too_pointer]

Re: Reloading

I had 2 MEC 700's for alot of years. 1 20.ga, 1 12 ga.

There are the best single stage reloaders out there.

They resize your shell and have automatic primer feeds. With the price of shells these days, there isn't much savings. They were great for reloading shells for waterfowl till you had to use steel shot

too_