[stevekl]

I'm trying to gauge how much money I will save by reloading, but i'd like to know how much it would cost to actually accumulate all the equipment, and what equipment i'd need.

So, how much would it cost to get me a simple single stage press, and which brand should I look at?

What about dies? They seem to have a wide price range. Who makes the best?

What accessories (other than dies) do I absolutely need? Do I really need a tumbler and electronic scale, for instance?

That's all I can think of for now. I am a cheapskate, yes, but I also don't want to buy more than I would need.

EDIT: Oh yeah, this is a specific question: I have a few .357 guns but I usually shoot .38's through them. So, instead of buying both a .38 and .357 die (is that the singular form?), could I just load .357 rounds up to .38 levels?

[Lennyjoe]

If you go with the Lee aniversary kit it will run you right around $70. Dies are around $23. Powder and bullets and primers are around $30ish depending on the bullet and lbs of powder.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=149097

http://www.midwayusa.com/mediasvr.dll/image?saleitemid=149097

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=309802

I'm sure you already have the brass correct? Why not just work up loads for each? I'm pretty sure the dies are the same.

[Snagglepuss]

As to your question the .357/.38 is the same die. You only need one set to do both calibers.

I am in somewhat the same postion as you and here is what I got and where.

All are RCBS brand

Rockchucker supreme new local shop $110
Hand primer $29 local shop new
shell holders $6.50 each local shop
4 sets carbide dies, all under 30 bucks a set on Ebay
PowderPro scale, uniflow powder measure and powder trickler, THR member $65
Tumbler Midway.com $40
RCBS reloading DVD $15 Ebay
Speer Reloading manual #13 $18 Midway.com

I think that is it. You would be amazed at the amount of stuff on ebay. Do a search of RCBS, Dillion, Lee or whatever brand. There is 15 pages of RCBS stuff.

Good Luck

[lee n. field]

Get a book first, that will answer a lot of your questions. Speer's manual if a very good deal for the money.

(edited to add: This question gets asked a lot. Page through the reloading forum.)

EDIT: Oh yeah, this is a specific question: I have a few .357 guns but I usually shoot .38's through them. So, instead of buying both a .38 and .357 die (is that the singular form?), could I just load .357 rounds up to .38 levels?

A .38 special dieset will load both .38 and .357 Magnum.

What accessories (other than dies) do I absolutely need? Do I really need a tumbler and electronic scale, for instance?

You need some way to measure powder. Could be one of Lee's dippers. Could be a scale. Could be a powder measure. IMHO, get a scale and powder measure. If you got a little bit more to spend, get some check weights for the scale, for peace of mind. Measuring powder with just the scale will take way too long.

You need some way to measure length.

You'll need shell holders appropriate for whatever cartridge you're loading, if you don't get one with the die set. I bought a set of 12 common ones made by Lyman, and haven't needed anything else.

You need some way to seat primers, if your press doesn't include it. These range from hand held tools, to priming dies, to bench mounted tools. I use priming dies. Lee's are the cheapest. If you use priming dies, my recommendation is to step up to Lyman for only a few bucks more, and buy two (one to be adjusted for large primers, one for small).

So, how much would it cost to get me a simple single stage press, and which brand should I look at?

I've got an RCBS Rock Chuck II that I got used for cheap. This is a good single station press, and I don't imagine I'll ever need another.

My suggestion: haunt ebay, and don't get a progressive or turret press until you understand the process.

What about dies? They seem to have a wide price range. Who makes the best?


Best? I honestly couldn't say. I have a mixture of Lee and RCBS and some stray oddballs. Lee's cost the least of anything out there, and (so far) work fine for me.

[stevekl]

Thanks for the info guys. I thought a .357 case was slightly longer or otherwise of different shape, so I thought the dies would be of different shape too. I guess not.

Oh yeah, do all dies fit all presses? Is there a standard thread size/length or will one press only take dies of the same brand?

Do dies come with shell holders? Edit: Ok, apparently, Lee dies come with shell holders. Cool.

[lee n. field]

hanks for the info guys. I thought a .357 case was slightly longer or otherwise of different shape, so I thought the dies would be of different shape too. I guess not.

Nope. Just longer. A seating die adjusted for .38 special will need to be screwed out a fraction of an inch for .357 (otherwise the crimper will mash the case). My RCBS .38 dieset came with a spacer ring for that purpose.

Oh yeah, do all dies fit all presses? Is there a standard thread size/length or will one press only take dies of the same brand?

These days, the exceptions are few and far bettween. The only ones I know of that use proprietary dies are the Dillon Square Deal and Lyman's hand held tong tool.

Do dies come with shell holders? Edit: Ok, apparently, Lee dies come with shell holders. Cool.

Lee yes. RCBS no. Others I don't know, but I doubt it.

[Smokey Joe]

Stevekl--First of all, welcome to The Magnificent Obsession--Reloading!!

As with all new enterprises, there is a bunch of "standard wisdom" you need to know to be successful. You can ask this a question at a time on the I'net, and with each question get a variety of (sometimes contradictory) responses.

Or, you can get it all at once, and study it at your leisure, from an authoritative source. This source is The ABC's of Reloading put out by Krause Publishing www.krause.com (with which I have no affiliation, BTW, other than as an appreciative customer.)

Krause must be doing something right; the book is in its 7th edition. If you run across an old 6th edition, that's good too. (No experience with 5 and down.) Get it from the publisher, over the I'net, or at yr local sptg gds sto or gun sho.

The ABC's is a GREAT primer on all aspects of reloading; covers the gamut; is a good introduction to the subject--what you need, what you don't need, safety considerations, technique, etc, etc--but goes far beyond the basics. Should be on all reloaders' bookshelf, well thumbed, IMHO.

Anyhow, get it, read it, and you'll be in a much better position to buy what you actually need to start reloading. Should you decide after reading The ABC's that reloading is not yr cup of tea, you will come away with an enhanced appreciation and understanding of what goes into the ammunition we shoot, so it's a win-win situation.

[The Bushmaster]

First...Even though both .38 Special and .357 magnum can be loaded by the same die set the cases are just enough different that a .357 magnum case will not fit all the way into a .38 special chamber. An excellent safety factor.

Second...The above people have stated the same thing that I would say. Get a manual. I recomend Lyman's 48th Edition and read read read, Ask questions, read read read...

Third...I, too, would like to welcome you the the world of this fine hobby/obsession. It is habit forming and causes another habits and obsessions. Called more loading equipment and more guns to load for...Enjoy:D

[darwin-t]

Save money :what: No, THAT ain't gonna happen.

Just kidding, sort of. While each box may cost you less, you'll end up shooting more so it kind of evens out for most people.

If I buy components locally, bullets are $9 and primers are $2 for 100. This won't save much with 9mm (what I load) or 38, I don't know how much 357s are.

It's an apple/oranges argument though. You will be able to load ammo the way YOU like, with the type/weight of bullets of YOUR choice with the powders/loads that YOU choose. You can't put a price on that. Plus it's fun and rewarding.

[Schleprok62]

Darwin: It does save money... AFTER the initial investment into the tools of the trade... you get to shoot more, for the same money...


my 0.02 :rolleyes:

[Jmurman]

My desire for reloading isn't so much saving money, but to make better quality loads for a similar cost to commercially available mil-surp.

Also if I have components for 1-5,000 rounds then I know I'll be able to shoot if the supply dries up.