johnf Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 I've been thinking about doing some reloading for my 25-06 or 243, maybe both. What would someone need for starting out, and how inexpensive could I get in to it. I'm not talking about the big stuff, just some hand loading of maybe 40-100 shells. I would probibly do 5-10 for awhile until I figured out what I was doing. Are there any little kits for that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 Re: Reloading Yes, there are inexpensive kits that will allow you to make ammo that will shoot in your gun. The drawback to them is the quality of ammo that is produced. If you just want to buy a cheap set to "see if you will like it" and it does not allow you to make decent quality ammo, will your judgement be clouded by the crappy equipment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted April 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 Re: Reloading What I'm looking for is something that I can count on being consistant and producing something that could compete with factory remington ammo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 Re: Reloading I use Rem. ammo also, and have thought about reloading, but since I can still buy the core-lokts for around $15, I don't think I would save that much money, and I'm happy with Rem's accuracy. too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 Re: Reloading I whent to E-bay and bought my starter gear for arround $200. Note that all the equipment I bought off E-Bay is Unconditional Lifetime Gaurantee RCBS gear so I couldn't get gyped! My press did arrive from the E-Bay seller mising a small part but one email to RCBS had it on my doorstep for free in about a week! The gear included: RCBS Press with auto primer; RCBS powder measure and scale; RCBS .30-06 Dies and shell holder; RCBS deburing tool; Speer reloading manual. That covers the basics, you may eventualy want a primer pocket brush, case length trimmer, media tumbler and neck uniformer but only if you get realy serious about it. A can of powder that meters out 150ish rounds of .30-06- $20 (13.3 cents per round) A box of 1000 CCI 200 primers - $14 (1.4 cents per round) A box of .308 core-lokt bullets 100ct - $16 (16 cents per round) A box of 20 empty cases - FREE...use your empties from the last box of factory! Total price per box of 20 rounds- $6.14 total price for factory ammo 20 rnds - $12-$15 That means anywhere from $6 to $9 bucks a box of ammo. So you pay off your equipment in about 445 to 652 rounds. this is even faster with smaller case ammo since the powder is sold per pound and you use less per round in smaller cases. .223 Winchester, for instance, gets about 250 rounds from a 1 pound can of powder droping your ammo price to $5 a box. I must caution that most people who start reloading then end up shooting more since it is "cheaper" so they end up spending the same but getting to shoot more for their money... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Colorado Bob Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Re: Reloading I don't think you'll save any money by reloading over the long haul when you start adding in your time. Now, if you think of it as a hobby & you like to roll your ammo. You take pride in the fact your ammo can make clover leafs @ 100 yards, you can use fine tune your rifle with premium bullets, you have that proud look on your face when your handload makes a 250 yard shot on a big buck at the last 10 minutes of the daylite. Then handloading pays off-----to save money I don't buy. I've handloaded for years----I don't think I saved a nickel----I bet it's cost men money in the long haul. CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinguide Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Re: Reloading i see it as a self satisfaction, and a past time. You will prob. not save money unless you were mass reloading for a handgun or one cal. i can say that i have more money in it than what its worth. when you get the things that help in speed you mainly loose precision. But if you go for speed and precision you start forking some bucks out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Re: Reloading [ QUOTE ] Then handloading pays off-----to save money I don't buy. I've handloaded for years----I don't think I saved a nickel----I bet it's cost men money in the long haul. CB [/ QUOTE ] Rifle maybe, handguns, I saved a TON!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Re: Reloading [ QUOTE ] I don't think you'll save any money by reloading over the long haul when you start adding in your time. Now, if you think of it as a hobby & you like to roll your ammo. You take pride in the fact your ammo can make clover leafs @ 100 yards, you can use fine tune your rifle with premium bullets, you have that proud look on your face when your handload makes a 250 yard shot on a big buck at the last 10 minutes of the daylite. Then handloading pays off-----to save money I don't buy. I've handloaded for years----I don't think I saved a nickel----I bet it's cost men money in the long haul. CB [/ QUOTE ] I think I have to disagree with this on money saved over time. I shoot 3 different rifle calibers now and the cheapest is around $25 per box of 20. Add in gas to go get it and its much more now-a-days. This is making me seriously look at reloading... Already just in the last month I have spent well over $80+ in just ammo and all those bullets are gone now needing replacement if I want to shoot them again. Now I have a lot of empty brass that can be re-used if I get into it. That $80 could of went into equipement and the next few rounds of $80 could as well and I would still be shooting but a lot more... I would think that up front costs of equipement would set you back, especially if you buy mid to high grade stuff, but even a small time shooter would make out in a few years worth of factory ammo at $25+ per box (plus gas). As for time to do it, thats relative to what you would be doing otherwise if your not reloading... Or Reload while your at work. LOL (jk) But I do agree you have to view it as a hobby then cost will not be a factor. LOL Just like hunting.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted April 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Re: Reloading I was talking to a buddy of mine and he said I could use his reloader (with his guidance). I'd have to provide powder, primers and bullets. He already has a 243 die, but I would have to buy a 25-06 die to reload them. I have 5 boxes of empties for each. I've got a buch of 30-30 casings and he can reload for them. Can you get the leverlution bullets for reloading anywhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iron buck Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Re: Reloading I was lucky enough to get a starter RCBS kit as a Christmas present 2 years ago. BUt even at that. By the time I buy dies, powder & accesories..........it would be 20 years before I come out ahead of just buying factory ammo LOL. I do not feel that reloading saves money. At least not for rifles. BUT it does offer the advantage of tuning loads, accuracy, bullet selections that otherwise are not available . And the ability to load uncommom rounds such as 300 savage, 358 win or expensive rounds like the 300 wby or for that mater any of the WSMs. It WILL make you very aware of ballistics. It made me realize that magnums are not that neccessary. A 30-06 wil do anything a 30 mag will to 300 yards......with a lot less drama on the shooters end It is a great hobby. It does make me shoot more. I really enjoy the whole process. But it has not saved me any money if I honestly look at the total costs involved. At least not the first several years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Re: Reloading Honestly... How much would a decent set up cost? Include everything from press to digital powder scale, etc. Yes you would have ot by dies for each cal but even then your not looking much over $600 to $800 max. I am sure you could spend a lot more but certain a lot less too. I am buying ammo at $25 per box times 3 diffferent calibers... Thats $75 to $80 every time I shoot a box of ammo threw them. I can easily shoot that per range outing.. The cost I could potentailly shoot $800 worth of ammo is probably 2 to 3 years worth... That is if I shoot as I would want to.. Over time you save up on brass too... I am not calling anyone a liar but it seems to me that buying a 100 count of projectiles and some powder and primers is cheaper then $25 per 20 rounds factory... BUT>> Like stated... If it a hobby then who counts how much you spend on it anyways..???? It not like gorcery shopping or, god forbid, clothes shopping.. LOL Disclaimer: Camo not included in clothes shopping! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Colorado Bob Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 Re: Reloading GreenMtn-----I guess it depends on what you shoot. I shoot an 06----I can get them for @$10 a box--------Just worked the numbers up on a calculator---costs me $6.80 a box to handload. Not much savings there. I'm sure a 270, 308, 243 would be about the same. Now, if you shoot something out of the norm----ie 375H&H, 444Marlin, 45/70, 300Win mag, 300WSM then I'm sure the savings start to add up. Still if it's a hobby-----then go for & don't look back. But I don't buy into the money savings. Shotshells are in the same boat. You can buy promo shells for the same cost as my reloads. I use to shoot alot of trap------now that's an expensive hobby. Not much in handguns-----only 22's----no opinion on that one. CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted April 30, 2006 Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 Re: Reloading I have been reloading since the early 50's when my uncle got me started. I think I have bought one box of ammo in the last 25 years. It makes a big difference if you are looking to tune the load to one particular rifle. I will continue to reload all my ammo and that includes my hunting rounds. You will save money in the long run. Not including your labor. I just consider it a hobby! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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