My conundrum about getting into reloading

Post a list of what your buddy has for sale if you want opinions on what it is worth.

This is a story told many times. Soon, there will be many qualified opinions added to the thread about what to buy, what is needed, and the advantages of one brand over another.

Reloading is highly specialized, but what's more it's not a static endeavor. It's nature seems to change as your experience and knowledge grows. This will likely result in "gear acquisition disorder" an ailment that we all suffer from to one degree or another.

"I wan't to get into reloading to save money", is often heard. I've been reloading since the 80's. Even with the high cost of components today (compared with then) there are still some savings to be had. This is more true for some calibers and others not so much.

.40

FWIW This is a reloading forum so most answers are going to be pro reloading...

Plenty of people have started with Lee Loaders and have had great success. However, I know I would have given up quickly if that had been my first time experience with hand loading.

If your friends setup includes the stuff for 38 Special it’s definitely worth looking into. Maybe you could borrow it and see how it goes and make an offer once you’ve had some experience under your belt.

Definitely need to know what he has before we can steer your into spending all your money.... er, what I meant was before we can help you.

If all you are shooting is .38's, you won't need anything fancy, but once you go beyond that, reloading your own would help keep costs down, particularly if you find something esoteric like the .41MAG, .45Colt, or similar.

A lot of us got into reloading to save money. But in reality, one does NOT save money since you will end up shooting and reloading more than before you started reloading. It kinda goes hand in hand with Black Rifle Disease (if you are into AR rifles).

My biggest savings in reloading is reloading my 410 shells. I'm not really saving any by reloading 9mm, 40, 45, or 223 since it allows me to shoot more.

I'm going to say skip the reloading and stick with buying ammo. If it's not something that you really want to do, most likely you will not enjoy it. I shoot so I can reload, it's a relaxing hobby for me. I like to tinker with stuff and reloading feeds that.
Like has been said, you will not save money. It will take a long while just to recoup any money you invest up front. You will always make ammo cheaper than you can buy it, but in the end it's not a big money saver.
But, who knows, try it, you may love it.

I started and still only have an 80 yr old Pacific single stage press.

What do you want to do; competition, hunting, social / fun shooting? 100's of rounds a week, load for hunting season, or weekend fun. What you plan to do, any or all the above will determine ultimately what you need. For sure start with the latest Lyman Reloading manual.

I began with single stage and for more than 30 yrs it has met my needs. If I were to start over, I would get a turret press and use it as a single stage until I understood each stage of the reloading process, then use the turret as designed. Later if you become a hi volume reloader, move to a $$ progressive.

I won't recommend hardware; you will receive more advice there than you can skske a stick at.

For 38 special, yeah you could easily get started. But as a wheelgun guy, it is only a matter of time before a 44 or 41 or 45 ends up in your stable, and then reloading is almost necessary. So get a Lee turret press, a powder measure or dipper set, a Lyman reloading manual, and some components now. Then when you add a caliber it'll only take dies and components... Thank me later

shoebox1.1 said:

So I sell all my bottom-feeders and put all my handgun eggs into a wheelgun basket. I’m revolver crazy and they are my EDC and everything else. I bought a new king cobra and an undercover charter arms. I’ve shot about 400 rounds so far from these two and kept all my brass. With the cost of ammo and the amount that I’d like to shoot ( never as much as I want -$$$.$$) I’m thinking about reloading just 38 special. I have tons of hobbies and really don’t want another one! I’m sure I’d like it and get in deeper than I want lol. Should I bite the bullet and start with a lee loader or shell out a couple houndred possibly for a complete reloading setup my buddy that inherited a complete setup? Bench,dies,measures, books etc. I just want to load simple wadcutters for the range and carry good factory ammo. I can not decide what to do. And could I carry my reloaded wadcutters? 158 hollow base?

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Like you, I really like revolvers, but I found the cost of 38 special and 357 magnum a little prohibitive to shoot regularly. One day I decided to take the plunge and buy a Lee single stage press, .38/.357 dies, a manual, and some Titegroup powder. It wasn’t long until I started buying a few other powders; then various types of bullets, trim dies, new brass, and different crimp dies. It wasn’t long before I bought .32 H&R magnum/SWL dies for my .32 mag revolver. Then .30 carbine, 8mm Mauser, 45 ACP, etc... Each time a new investment in dies, powders, brass, and bullets.

Over time, I slowed down on most of the semi-auto stuff (except .30 carbine) and concentrated on just loading my revolver ammo; because factory ammo for those is expensive enough that I save quite a bit by reloading. Factory .357 magnum was running me about $20/50 rounds or more, but I can reload for about $6-7/50 rounds. It doesn’t take long to recoup that initial investment like that.

I can’t tell you what to do, but I have thoroughly enjoyed my reloading; nearly as much as shooting. You can get set up for about $250 if you shop around.

IMHO, the Lee Loaders aren’t great for loading anything beyond a few rounds at a time. Have you considered something like the Lee Hand Press? I’ve got three bench-mounted presses and still use my hand press to do basic pistol-caliber stuff when I’m sitting on the back porch on a sunny day.

I find it relaxing to sit in front of my MEC 600Jr to reload 410 shells or in front of the Lee Turret press for my pistol ammo. I started off with a single stage and now just use it with a universal decapping/depriming die. Majority of my reloads are fairly mild practice ammo. The nice thing about reloading is that you can customize ammo that your gun shoots the best.

You will save money if you keep records of what everything cost and determine your per cartridge cost. If you don't save money reloading, that is your choice. You CAN shoot more but sure as heck don't have to. After the savings pay for the equipment its all up to you.

shoebox1.1 said:

Y’all are selling me on this stuff believe me! I’ve got a really accurate m24/47 Mauser that’s screaming for super handloads someday. I’ll check out the lee hand press!

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Mine’s an M48. When you look at the price of good ammo for that (about $0.75-$1.00/round), reloading looks really good. It’s also the only way to get a variety of different 8mm ammo types.

have tons of hobbies and really don’t want another one! I’m sure I’d like it and get in deeper than I want lol.

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From that I would say no, just buy factory ammo.

Should I bite the bullet and start with a lee loader…

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Absolutely not, you would be asking for not just another hobby but a lot of work for a little ammunition.

…or shell out a couple houndred possibly for a complete reloading setup my buddy that inherited a complete setup? Bench,dies,measures, books etc.

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Maybe, what specifically are we talking about?

Reloading to have control over your supply, and having the load you want are my reasons. If you reload you can shoot cartridges that are hard/impossible to find. Not a lot of 7.7 jap sitting on the shelf. I enjoy the process, so my recommendation is to find a mentor who can teach you, and keep you safe and find out if you like or hate it.

shoebox1.1 said:

It does include all the 38 special stuff. Brass bullets dies powder the whole shaBANG lol. I guess I need to check it out and go from there. Thanks guys

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I suggest you ask him to show you how his setup works and maybe allow you to try it.
At the least, read thru the press manual and read the basics of reloading in one of the books he has and setup the press.
That way you'd get a feel for what's involved, before spending anything.
it's what I would do,

shoebox1.1 said:

Y’all are selling me on this stuff believe me! I’ve got a really accurate m24/47 Mauser that’s screaming for super handloads someday. I’ll check out the lee hand press!

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The hand press is just a step up from the Lee loaders. I started on Lee loaders and still use them for small batches occasionally, but do yourself a huge favor and get a bench mount press. My local gun store usually has a used single stage sitting around for 40-100 bucks. Find a used press if you want to save a few bucks.

The Lee classic turret press is a lot of press for the $$, and all of the single stage presses are great no matter what brand. If you need specific help, we are here to direct and encourage you along the way... See, wasn't that easy to decide to start loading?

Just to stir the pot a bit, we are in the midst of a demand surge for ammo. No telling whether it will be brief or extended, but it illustrates that choosing to just buy your ammo has risks.

"Should I buy the Eight Ball cheap, or only buy a gram. I really just want to try it."

Get a kilo.

Buy your friend's full enchilada. It doesn't go off. You'll have some time over the next month to get into it as Coronisolation expands, and while it may start with 38 Special, you've got a lot of years ahead of you. Enjoy!

I would say get into reloading 357 brass. You can reload it to .38 specs, and your King Cobra will thank you for not fouling up the chambers.

If I were you, I'd get a turret press for a variety of reasons, most of which are alluded above.