Advice for someone interested in reloading

How many rounds do you expect to produce in what amount of time?

edit: meaning, what tine interval, how often do you need x amount of rounds?

I started with one. It’s great for decapping and resizing, but slow for reloading.

I’d say you’d be better off getting a good single stage or even the LEE Classic Turret.

you should be able to get everything for a few hundred dollars. Less if you are lucky.

the scales and calipers at Harbor Freight are the same as the reloading companies. China Inc. so don’t pay extra for a name on them.

You do need a manual or two. I like LEE and Lyman. Look for used ones. And get the manuals from the reloading companies. They have them on PDF for download. And will send a book if you request one.

I think you would get tired of the original mallet powered Lee Loader in short order.
I started out with a hand tool similar to the Lee Hand Press and I got tired of IT pretty soon.

If you have a bench to screw it to, or even a table to clamp it to, the Lee Reloader Press would be the minimum, $38. You would have to buy the priming device, $12. Dies are $30 a caliber. The Lee manual is $19.

Yes, you can spend hundreds of bucks, but you don't HAVE to.

Lee breech lock for 80 bucks lee dies for 40 or so. I wouldnt be afraid to use the provided dipper for 38 sp buy a cheap 20 scale would confirm that. A primer tool. I bet for 200 you could load.

I am not a big reloader, but for me, just the simple hand Press was a good start. Took my time and loaded in 50 rd batches. Never any rush. Would do some steps while watching TV. Took my time with loading powder and used a hand primer. Experimented with different scales etc. Slowly worked my way up to a turret press and content with that.

Get the Lyman manual, STUDY the front part on reloading. Get a single stage "O" press or a basic turret like a LNL that can be used like a single stage. Any brand name set of dies. Stay away from the razzle dazzle dies until you have loaded an understand the process of handloading. Follow the instructions that come with the dies and you will make SAFE, reliable, ammo. Keep reading, and before you start buying all the "tools" that will be recommended, make sure you understand the process and the front part of the Lyman manual. It's not rocket science, If I can teach myself 40 yrs ago, and modify my process as I learned, you can too.

Advice to a new guy; do NOT do it. If you're a casual shooter its not worth it. Spend $1k on ammo rather than gear and you'll be better off if you're a 9mm/5.56 guy.

Reloading is a great hobby and I like it a lot, but its not for everyone and I hate to see a new guy get into it 1/2 way and wonder off mad/with less money. Its not simple and takes some investment mentally, if you're not into that then please just buy ammo (and lead the brass for me )

I kinda have to agree with Ohen Cepel. If you don't like to tinker then reloading is probably not for you. If you like stuff like that then by all means jump right in, it's a fun hobby. If you do jump in, PWC gives you all the advice you need, follow it and you will be golden.
I shoot so I can reload, I like messing with stuff and reloading fits that to a tee.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

I only got into hand loading because I bought a rifle that commercial ammo was not available for. And even then I bought a complete setup from a guy I knew who had gotten out of shooting and loading. I bought everything I needed used for $200. Other than dies, which are cartridge specific.

It isn't worth my time to load 223 or most handgun ammo. I can buy it cheap enough that my time is more valuable to me. I do load for my centerfire big game and target rifles. Not necessarily to save money, but for better performance at about the same cost as cheap factory loads.

I'd prefer something a tad more substantial even if it is as simple as a RCBS Jr press. You will need a scale, dies, components, manual and a loading block. That's what I used for over 35 years and loaded thousands of 38s, 9mm, 32SWL, 357, and 45ACP

It really depends on how much you will be reloading and how quickly you want to do it. You mentioned two straight walled cartridges which makes things easier. Your 'ultra minimalist' set up:

Lee hand press kit which includes a priming tool ($52.00),
a set of dies for each caliber (I use Lee dies, approx. $30.00),
at least two reloading manuals one of which should be the Lyman manual,
a scale (used beam scale is okay),
a wooden or plastic case holder which can be homemade,
plastic funnel,
micrometer to measure overall length of the reloads, (optional)
components.

This sounds like a lot but it can all fit in an ammo can. The process isn't fast but can be done in batches. Deprime, size, and prime while watching TV or listening to a ball game (if the season ever starts). When charging the powder, no distractions and pay attention. As soon as the cases are charged, seat the bullets. Label the container with the reloads with bullet weight and style, the powder used and the weight, and the date. If the reloads go in a zip top bag, put the info on a card with the rounds.

The same approach can be used with any inexpensive single stage press but they require attachment to a bench or table. The hand press can be used anywhere.

One of the advantages of reloading is using comparatively inexpensive cast bullets. That's pretty much all I use in 38 specials and 32 mags/32 longs. Also, 357 magnum dies can load 38 specials and 32 magnum dies can load 32 longs.

Hope this helps and isn't too simplistic.

Jeff

The only piece of advice that I can give you is if you're looking to get into reloading because you can't find any ammunition you're headed the wrong direction.

SteadyD said:

I’m sure this same question has been asked a thousand times so forgive my ignorance. I have never done any reloading before but am interested in perhaps an ultra minimalist setup to load 38 special and/or 32 magnum. Would the lee hand loading device be viable? What all would I need and what would it cost? Answers at a 5th grade level preferable....

Click to expand...

I started loading 7X57 Mauser with one in 1967 as an unsupervised teenager loading on the kitchen table. I had the time and it did save me some money.

If you don't do a lot of shooting and you don't mind spending the time it would be fine. It's not something you're going to make fine tuned loads with but 38 Special and 32 Magnum revolvers aren't generally long range precision instruments so I'd say the loads would be adequate. The Lee Loader comes with a powder scoop and recommended powders, etc. so if you read and follow those simple directions I'd say it's pretty dummy proof.

People can reload as many different ways as people can shoot. If you really just want to reload 38 and 32 handgun cartridges with a minimum of both cost and complexity, I recommend a Lee Classic single stage press and a Lee die set. This keeps it both inexpensive and simple, but limits your productivity. If you want to get into higher production, you can get an Auto Breech Lock Pro for about the same expense as a single-stage, but you'll want an auto powder measure rather than a hand-turned one which will add some additional expense if you don't start that way. Most importantly, if you start doing a fair volume of cartridges, you will want brass cleaning equipment and the ability to process a larger quantity of brass. This adds considerably to the overall cost. On the other hand, buying components in bulk is the way to get discounts per unit. Powder, primers, bullets, and brass are all cheaper if you buy 8-pound jugs and by the thousands. It stops being "minimalist" but it does make more sense on a cost-per-cartridge basis.

Before looking at a press or other equipment,
get a manual & read it.

Lymans 50th manual is their most recent.
Or "The ABCs of Reloading" is another decent one.

All the major bullet manufacturers publish manuals.
All the major powder makers freely give data,
but they don't have a "How To" section.

Remember, when reloading you're dealing with gun powder.
So follow the directions from RELIABLE sources.
(not from Joe Blow on the internet.)

We love answering questions so don't be afraid to ask.
(makes some of us look smart )

and lastly, welcome to the addict ... oh!
I mean hobby - ya, that's it ... hobby... Sheesh ..

Jim Watson nailed it in post 4. Get a Reloader press, set of dies, hand primer,
Lee manual, a Lee scale, a pack of bushings, and buy or make a loading block. You can either bolt the press to a table or bolt it to a piece of 2x6 and clamp it to a table.

I have loaded for years on a Reloader press loading 9mm, 38, 357, 45, & 223 with no problems. I have a progressive I rerelease use because I enjoy the single stage and I have plenty of time. I usually load 12-16k rounds a year on it.

Don't start reloading, it is like falling into a rat hole!!!!
First you will start shooting more, then picking up all kinds of brass.
Then going from one book to a wall full of shelves filled with reference material.
After that it is equipment, there are less expensive presses, but after a time
you will look at different manufacture's and sometimes older classic equipment.
Then there is components, powder, primers, and bullets. When they go on
sale you will be buying larger quanity's. It is never ending.

If in no hurry and can proceed at your leisure a bare minimal would be a single stage press, C press or O press (what ever you can find cheap), Dies, a scale, loading block, powder dippers, calipers, and at least one good manual. Loaded 357mag for 2 years that way when I started.

I started reloading (.38 Special to be exact) with a Lee Loader. It is slow. But it fits (with powder and primers and a loading manual) in a gym locker. AND, you will learn all about reloading and why you do every step. But, it does not put out boxes of ammo every hour.

Reloading is habit forming.

In my opinion the most important reason(s) to get into reloading are because you think it will be interesting and/or fun. (I'm putting "More accurate ammo." into both the "interesting" and "fun" categories.) If you're doing it *primarily* to save money I think it will likely get tedious relatively quickly. And tedium increases the chance of making a mistake.

If it's interesting and/or fun, IMHO you increase the chances of really getting into it and understanding it.....and thus reducing the chances of making a mistake. If you're doing it for these kinds of reasons, then I'd start with some form of "regular" press right from the start.

It's a fantastic hobby. Extremely rewarding - on multiple levels.

OR

SteadyD, if you belong to a range, you may know someone or know of someone that reloads. Ask them if they mind if you watch them reload. Perhaps they'll let you try your hand at it under their supervision. That's a good way to determine if it's something that you might want to do. Most reloaders will be glad to show you how everything works.

Stick back $100 or so and watch for somebody selling out. I have bought several entire reloading benches or reloading rooms for very little. Keep press, dies you might use, books, and components. Sell the rest and buy what you don’t get.

basics for 38 and 32
press
32 dies, nearly any variety of 32 dies except 32 rifle rounds, 32-20, and 327 fed
38spl dies
a common pistol powder with posted load for both
38 bullets
32 bullets
Empty brass
Priming mechanism (just go hand prime)
Scale
Calipers
FLASHLIGHT to check charges and not have a double or squib
Charge trays aren’t a necessity, but they are a cheap and really really nice accessory.

Now, on each one of those items you can go as cheap or as expensive as you’d like to go. Press... $20 to whatever.
Dies... $35 sets on amazon to whatever.
Scale... lee is stupid cheap and easy to use, but then there is the whatever option. Cheap digital a are nice too.
Calipers... digital is as cheap now as dial. I just made a poor-boy DRO on a mill table for $8 bucks each, but then there are the big names.
Load blocks... for 38 and 32 you can scrounge a plastic ammo tray from .45 and it works well enough, or you can make or buy a nice wooden one or a plastic multi-cal one.

If a 21 yr old casual shooter asked me the same question I would probably suggest buying bulk ammo on line . I would probably also suggest they stay with .22 , 223 and 9 mm. But, I'm a hypocrite, mostly because I did not know any better.