[Highlander]

I have been considering getting into reloading my own bullets. Would anyone who has done it discuss pros and cons, suppliers and equipment needed. What would the out of pocket costs be to get started?

 

[doktorziplok]

count me interested as well. what i'd really like is for someone to tell me what i need rather than simply posting a link to dillon precision or midway. i understand that there are multiple tiers of presses and accessories. all i want is an inexpensive a to z solution for .45 acp and maybe 7.62x51 and/or 5.56x45. i say inexpensive meaning i don't need top of the line robot-hamster powered gyroscopic pressing equipment, i mean "basic, but complete." what do i need from the point i pick up a piece of brass at the range to the point where i fire it?

 

[YOTE KILLA]

if you wanted it simple i woud get a lee anaversery kit it comes with everything you need excpet dies for about 80 to 100 bucks i use lee carbide dies the 3 die set it dose a great job for minimal cost and get a couple of reloading data books , and always ckeck your self and check any thing someone says and what some data books say ,never trust anyone accecp your self any questons just ask or pm me ill be glad to help , yote killa

 

[Highlander]

What is the different terminology? I am a firearms enthusiast, but ignorant when it comes to reloading.

 

[YOTE KILLA]

dies, loading press ,case lube ,scale, dial calipers hand priming tool ,vibration case polisher ,hand reamer ,sizeing die, crimp die .neck expanding die. mmmmmlet me think!!!

 

[Madcapper]

Ive had this same question in the past. Im getting a reloading press for christmas and reached out to my friends on the ruger forum to get some advice. Here is a link to that thread

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=37470&sid=729523d86e3895351f9dd676c22d6224

Another thread was posted and made as a sticky over there for the beginner to get some info that is needed. Heres that link...

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=13543

Now from the first link there, a few things were listed spread over a few posts so I condensed them down and made links to midway with prices and item name along with it. I did all this as a christmas list Anyway here is most of the things I think that are needed to get a beginner reload setup.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=646599&t=11082005 RCBS Rock Chucker Master Kit (Really its a beginners kit, includes most things you need to start reloading) $269
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=373992 RCBS Die Set $40
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=144563 RCBS Shell Holder $7
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=630146 RCBS Bullet Puller $18
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=119623 Calipers $25
Things not listed include bullets/powder/primers/brass

Now I dont claim this to be an all inclusive list of the things that will be needed to start a reloading setup but I think it covers the basics and some minor cheap convenience items. Obviously other things are available to make it easier or do it faster but this setup is what I am gonna end up with here in a couple weeks at christmas time. Hopefully nothing huge is missing from the list here and I will be cranking out bullets in no time flat!

PS: There are obviously other options for each of the things I listed. RCBS is my brand of choice because I have heard good things about them. You can upgrade or downgrade most of the options I have listed here also. The press listed is single stage but is upgradeable to a progressive press with a package later if you want to make more rounds faster

 

[blue123]

get a reloading manuel first.the first chapter should explain and illustrait how to reload and explain the componants needed,their use and saftey precuations then after you have familairized your self with the how to's you can shop for a starting kit and componants for the caliber or calibers you want to reload........

i have purchased from this company with complete satisfaction you find everything you need to get started here........http://www.midwayusa.com/........probably the single most important peice of advice i can give is that you will be working with explosives ''act acordingly''.............

 

[Highlander]

So blue, no smoking while reloading eh?

 

[Highpower]

As a reloader for nearly 30 years I may be able to answer some of your questions. I just bought my son in law a Lee hand press for Christmas from Midway. $21.99
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=410804
They are not fast but will get the job done, especially if you do not have the room to mount a press to a bench.
Lee dies come with a shell holder for the press, some reloading info and a powder measure for the particular caliber you are loading. Son in law shoots a 25-06 so:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=307108
Rifle cases need to be lubed before they can be resized:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=204960
This step can be skipped if loading pistol calibers with straight walled case when using carbide loading dies.
A powder funnel::
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=974498
You will need a way to re-prime your brass:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=807875
Before you seat a new bullet the case mouth needs to be chamfered:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=389104
Other than these tools a good reloading manual is a must. Two of my favorites are:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=217655
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=484416

These are very basic tools to get you started. It will be slow going at first but that's the way it needs to be until you get comfortable reloading. Later you will need a way to trim rifle cases because they tend to grow when fired. You will also need bullets, powder and primers. The powder and primers are usually cheaper at gun shows or local gun shops because of the hazmat fees UPS charges to ship them.
If you have any questions feel free to ask. Hope this helps.

 

[trekker111]

I've been reloading about 6 years now, I took me awhile to actually take the leap but I've never looked back.

If you are looking to make ammo that is comperable to wolf and or some of the foreign surplus stuff, and plan on loading alot, You will eventually want to get a progressive press. For reloading a box here and there than the single stage press is fine, and you need to start reloading on a single stage press. Theres just to much to try to keep track of to start out on a progressive. For precision ammo don't bother with a progressive.

The Lee equipment works just fine for basic reloading needs, but I did eventually break the Lee press I started out with.

Pick up a few current reloading manuals, they will explain everything and you should have several at your disposal anyway, then go from there. I have 7 or 8 that I use regularly.

If you end up like me you will have multiple presses, and redundant equipment. With some equipment dedicated to one specific load, and rifle.

 

[Highpower]

For precision ammo don't bother with a progressive.

I agree with everything you said except the above quote. I load precision ammo on a Dillon 550B all the time. Every highpower match and IDPA match I have shot in for the last 10 years has been on a Dillon. About the only thing I load on a single stage is hunting rounds for a .270 or .308. the only reason I don't load those on a progressive is it would take longer to change the 550 over than to load the 10 or 20 rounds on a single stage.

 

[Highlander]

Wow. Thank you everyone. The start-up cost for this is much less than I was anticipating. Where is go good place to get the emtpy brass? The indoor ranges I go to let you keep what you expend, but I think they collect, sort and sell the rest or reload themselves.

Also, what is the deal about CCI-Blazer rounds that you cannot reload? Can Wolf or Monarch be reloaded?

 

[Highpower]

Blazer is aluminum cased and Berdan primed which makes it not loadable. Wolf makes some brass cased ammo but most people buy the lacquer coated steel cased stuff that is not reloadable also. What calibers are you going to reload?