Reloading Initial Investment?

dlee12

dlee12

Hey big man, lemme hold a dollar.
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Hoping the reloading gurus here can help a newbie out.

I'm saving my extra pennies (That I'm not already spending on guns and ammo) to get myself started reloading. What would you guys say the initial investment would be? Say for starters, reloading 9mm and 38 special? Should I buy a kit or piece myself something together? Anyone near Lewisville, NC wanna let me look at their setup and maybe give me a lesson or two?

Help a brother out!
 
Somewhere between 1000.00 and 5000.00 should cover it....

Not knowing where Louisburg is you're welcome at my shop for a look see and an inventory listing.... in Kannapolis...
 
My 2¢ ... watch the classified ads, interweb boards, etc for used equipment. There are deals that pop up every so often where somebody thinks they are going to start reloading but just never follow through on it after they buy equipment. Some years back I got a hell of a deal on a Dillon 550 and stuff NIB because the guy had to get rid of it or his wife was going to. I got the press, accessories, components, dies and other stuff for about 25¢ on the dollar.

Now as to start ... everyone has their own opinion but I started on a Rock Chucker single stage and got the basics down (I still have and run that press for my bolt guns) while the 550 is more bulk stuff ... and I dream of a 650 or 1050.
 
Agree with used equipment. Hornady and RCBS have life time warranties. It just depends on what you want to start off with. You can get a cheap digital scale or a beam scale. How do you want to measure your powder? My advice is to buy good stuff so you will not want to replace it. Look for a powder that will work with the 38 and 9 loads.

Watch a bunch of YouTube videos but first buy a good reloading manual and read it.
 
I started out loading 9mm on a Lee turret for about $300 all in. I did shop around quite a bit for deals.
 
We have a running thread in site sponsor @Lucky13bullets 's forum: Start up cost for a new reloader

Come join the discussion. I don't want to admit what my initial investment is...but it's been building for a week or so. I don't have much of it in my hands, yet, and definitely haven't loaded my first round.

Part of the "how much" question will depend on how many rounds you want to have after your first loading session. For example (using 9mm), a pound of powder may run you $20-$25, and get you 2000 rounds. Primers come 1000 to a pack, and bullets are often sold by the 500. So, do you want:
1. Leftover powder and primers and have 500 rounds
2. Leftover powder, buy two bags of bullets and have 1000 rounds
3. No powder left, buy two packs of primers and four bags of bullets and have 2000 rounds

And if you already have the brass will make a big difference. If you have to buy it, will it be cheaper range pickup, which may require a tumbler, or cleaned brass ready to load. The cost of the equipment itself will remain fairly constant regardless of which route you take.

You can see how the "how much" isn't as easy.

As an example, I had to buy brass. I bought 4# of powder,6000 primers, and 1500 9mm bullets.

At the same time, I added a second caliber, with brass, and 1000 bullets, plus the die and other pieces of press equipment. (That was Friday)

And then today I decided to add two more calibers, so there went another set of dies and 500 bullets (it's 38 Special and 357 Magnum, so they share bullets, dies and press parts).
 
It starts with a plan that goes to hell really quick.

But the single stage kit and learn first. Then add equipment as you gain experience.

If you're starting with pistol loads the things such as case trimmers and tumblers can wait until you start loading for rifle.

Remember some of us have been at this 30 plus years so we've had a headstart.

Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk
 
Hard to beat a solid single stage like a Rock Chucker to start with. I still have mine and use it for precision rifle ammo now. You don't have to spend a ton to get in, but you will quickly learn that reloading to save money so that you can shoot more is "the fourth greatest lie know to man". While you can save money reloading, it is difficult to shoot more and do it, as just about anyone can shoot'em faster than you can load'em. That is where costs begin to spiral, and heaven help you if you begin to pursue accuracy in your reloading.

Reloading to "save money" is just the gateway drug. Next thing you know you will either be at Step 1 or spending all the time you are not reloading or shooting on forums about it. Everyone needs a vice and this is a good one.

I guess I am saying jump in, any way you like, it's only the beginning.
 
I started with an RCBS Single Stage press and dies in .223 & .308 (competition series) and 9mm & .45ACP, an RCBS Chargemaster powder dispenser, RCBS Case prep station with various bits, hand priming tool, tumbler and media separator etc and a few miscellaneous items that didn't cost a lot (case lube, loading trays etc). I tried to buy bullets in bulk to save on shipping costs and to buy powder/primers in person to avoid HAZMAT freight. I'd been saving my brass for a few years knowing the day was coming so I couldn't factor it in.

I bought the bulk of those items from MidwayUSA during a large discount/promo so I got pretty good deals

If it's not urgent, keep your eyes out for sales and have fun!!
 
Answered a local add on Armslist and came home with everything to start loading for $100 except a scale and components. That was 7 or 8 years ago. It escalates from there!
 
dlee12 said:
I've been in his shop before, totally slipped my mind, and hes just a short drive from me. I think I need to pay him a visit!
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As soon as he has my bullets ready, I'm heading that way to pick everything up. He's going to walk me through setting up the press he sold me as well.
 
mckenziedrums said:
Heck yea if you're that close that's the ticket. I hate that I'm so far away and I have more powder than all but maybe 2 other members on this forum. :)
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I'll be up there in a week or two...let me know if I can bring anything back. I'm picking up something Don is holding for Jim, so I can bring yours back as well.
 
I started on a single stage.

For pistol, planning anything more than 100rnds a session or week I'd get a progressive. There is more going on, but it's no big deal.

I still have a single stage, inherited it so it stays. I do rifle on it but want to upgrade.

I do all my pistol except .38Spl on a Hornady LnL, I never load .38 or I'd slap them in bushings too.
 
Rock chucker. Carbide dies. Lee factory crimp die (to save some head ache). Case gauge. Tumbler w/media (lizard bedding is what I like). Some priming methid (rcbs bench primer deal is nice). Powder thrower of some sort. Scale (im lazy and use electronic hornady). Loading block. Some bins for holding crap.

Pretty much it. Then as you expand, just add dies and a case gauge.

Try to use components that are cross caliber if you can..then you just buy a bunch of one powder or primer for instance..e.g. unique or power pistol works in 9mm and 38spl. Both small primer, so done-ski.
 
When someone lists a Dillon 550 for sale snag it. Even if you hate reloading you can get your money back pretty quick.
Its a great machine and you won't be sorry or looking for something different anytime soon.
 
For loading 9mm and 38spl, I highly recommend starting out with a Lee Classic Turret. You can learn in single-stage mode, and once you understand the steps you can enable the auto-indexing and crank out 200-250 rounds per hour. You can get the kit that includes the Auto-Drum powder measure and most other things that you need to get started. Then some way to clean your brass, Frankford has a kit that includes vibratory tumbler, media, and media separator.

The nice thing about 9mm, you may never need to buy brass. I always come back from the range with more brass than I shot, since everyone shoots it, especially non-reloaders. 38spl you may have to buy enough to get started, but you won't lose that brass at the range (nice thing about revolvers!).

If you were more interested in loading rifle (not high volume) then I would suggest a Lee Classic Cast non-breechlock press, or the RCBS Rock Chucker.
 
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Getting started with reloading can be pricey. I recommend, like the others, looking for used equipment when possible. A good press will last several lifetimes with care, so you shouldn't have to worry about it wearing out on you, provided its been taken care of.

Hornady, RCBS, and Lee all offer starter kits that have everything you need to get started. A press, powder measure, scale, and usually a priming tool and reloading tray. Keep an eye out at your local gun shops. I frequently find the Lee starter kit for under $200, and the other two for just a little more.

The starter kits contain basic tools. No frills, but they're generally solid. Later as you upgrade, you can keep the starter tools as backup, or sell them to another reloader who's just starting out. You'll just need primers, powder, bullets, and dies. And a set of calipers if your kit doesn't come with any. Depending on what you're reloading, you'll eventually need to trim cases. You can get a handheld trimmer fairly cheaply, or a bigger crank or motor driven trimmer for a bit more.

Depending on the ammo you're loading, you'll save either a little or a lot. I see my biggest savings with 44 mag. Gun stores want $35.00 a box for factory ammo, and I can load it myself for between $8.00 and $12.00 per box of 50. I can usually save at least $5.00 per box on reloads vs. factory ammo.

I use a mix of equipment. My press is a Hornady lock-n-load single stage. I use an RCBS powder measure, an RCBS 10-10 scale, and RCBS trimmer. I use an RCBS universal hand primer, but I keep my old Lee hand primer as a backup. My dies are a mix of RCBS, Lyman, and Lee. I recommend carbide dies whenever possible. Everything is mounted to a craftsman workshop bench, and I have a big sturdy wooden table with a vice mounted on it next to it for storage, gun cleaning, and sorting stuff.
 
Make a friend and use his equipment. That's the easiest, cheapest, and fastest way to start reloading. Bring beer and components, boom you're loading for $30. That eases you into the process so you can find out how everything works and what you like or don't like. Reloaders are by definition hoarders, so if you bring good beer, you may even leave with something to help start you off.
@mckenziedrums buys all the really expensive stuff and I just go over there and break it.
 
If you plan to shoot a lot of pistol, and are reloading straight wall pistol cases only, a Dillon SDP is worth every penny of $400.00.

I can get everything out, pick up primers, load the powder, and crank out 200 rounds in about 1/2 hour. It's such a gem. If you shoot a lot it pays for itself in a few thousand rounds. Dillon warranty is hard to beat, too. And the resale value is so high you can cash it out for very minimal losses.
 
Your thinking is just all wrong.

You're thinking about recouping your "investment" somewhere down the road.

Wrong, wrong and wrong.

It is about shooting a whole lot more on your current weekly ammo budget, which you will usually hit by Tuesday.
 
Howland is correct. Reloading is like my wife going to shop all the sales around town. "Look how much money I saved!"

Turnabout is fair play. I reload so that I can spend quality time with my two best friends, just me, myself, and I, during the week and "save" enough money to shoot until Sunday or buy another gun, which in turn necessitates another set of loading dies, and perhaps other equipment as well. I tell you, I sooooo out "save" her, it makes her look like a rookie and she is good.
 
Ok, so based on some of you're guys suggestions and my own preferences, I'm looking at the RCBS Explorer Plus kit. A single stage press. I figure this will be the easiest for me to learn on until I'm totally comfortable. I'd like to eventually move to a progressive for higher volume, but still have the simplicity of a single stage press for precision rounds in the future. After reading a bit more, this one can be converted to a progressive in the future. Not anymore apparently, looks like the parts have been discontinued.
 
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It's another hobby. If you don't have time, money or space for another hobby then just look for bulk sales and ammo cans.
 
That would be a solid choice to start. I just looked it up and the only thing that it really lacks, that you will have to have, is a kinetic bullet puller (looks like a plastic hammer with screw on cap and a metal handle). If you are like me, you will need that sometime within the first 24 hours. They are cheap, effective, and don't damage the bullet if it is not over crimped.

It will be the first, added expense in the interest of "saving" money.

Welcome to the club.
 
That explorer kit is expensive considering the cheap small ram press. It does come with a kinetic puller............
Along with a powder measure with stand and trickler, a hand prime tool but the electonic scale is a cheap one.
Nosler data is 100% free on their website so thats the least valuable book.

$500 could get you alot more equipment from other brands along with a better press. If spent $500 with team green it would be for their Chargemaster combo, a Rockerchucker and the rest on a 505 scale.....everything else be had cheap
 
dlee12 said:
Ok, so based on some of you're guys suggestions and my own preferences, I'm looking at the RCBS Explorer Plus kit. A single stage press. I figure this will be the easiest for me to learn on until I'm totally comfortable. I'd like to eventually move to a progressive for higher volume, but still have the simplicity of a single stage press for precision rounds in the future. After reading a bit more, this one can be converted to a progressive in the future. Not anymore apparently, looks like the parts have been discontinued.
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I started out with a handheld single-stage Lyman and loaded thousands of rounds before going to a bench mounted Rockchucker. Going single stage until you are familiar enough with each part of the process is a great idea.

Yes, you will eventually need a kinetic puller. Ask me how I know.
 
I would not buy a "kit" as they are optimized for the vendor not the customer.

You can get more for less buying used, but I've never had used equipment just work out of the box and you might prefer new simply because you're trying to learn about reloading and not the quirks of specific reloading equipment. In that case you should at least talk to Don at Lucky13. He's a low-overhead shop, so don't expect tea and cookies, but his prices are very good and he even knows what he's talking about. If you're close to him it's a no-brainer since it where you'll be going for components anyway.
 
JimB said:
I would not buy a "kit" as they are optimized for the vendor not the customer.

You can get more for less buying used, but I've never had used equipment just work out of the box and you might prefer new simply because you're trying to learn about reloading and not the quirks of specific reloading equipment. In that case you should at least talk to Don at Lucky13. He's a low-overhead shop, so don't expect tea and cookies, but his prices are very good and he even knows what he's talking about. If you're close to him it's a no-brainer since it where you'll be going for components anyway.
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Yep, thats the plan, stop in before I buy anything.
 
Meh. I still like the Lee cast turret since it comes with the autodrum now and is half the price and twice the press.
Hate that triangle priming tray though.
 
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