Best prices for reloading components?

[Keeperfaith]

Hello all,


Im about to get into reloading. I have my manual and ive been reading it, Im expecting my Lee Progressive 1000 in the mail any day now. I have a few hundred cartridges already polished in my tumbler.
Where is the best place (price wise) on-line to get components?

Im looking for:
- bullets (I dont plan to make lead castings just yet)
- powder (for 223 and handguns 40, 9mm, 45 acp, etc)
- primers
- dies (for the other calibers other than the one my reloader will come with)

and anything else I may need to get started.

Thanks in advance

 

[Walkalong]

It is fairly competitive, ou really just have to shop around. Wideners, Grafs, Midway, Midsouth Shooters Supply, Kempfs, Natchez,

Then there are places just for bullets like, Precision Delta, RMR, Roze Distribution, Montana Gold, Ghost Holster, Berrys, TJConevera, Missouri Bullet, Precision, Penn, Dardas, or powder and bullets and primers like Powder Valley, etc, etc....

Plenty more little places as well.

 

[res7s]

I'll start with the "and anything else I may need to get started". You'll need a couple of manuals. I'd get Lyman's 49th edition for sure. They have the load data, safety rules and loading instructions as well as a list of needed equipment. I'd probably get another press as a backup. The Lee Pro1000 has a pretty bad reputation, and I'd hate to see you give up on reloading or Lee Precision. If money is an issue the Lee Breechlock press would probably do everything you want, except load fast. Just make sure they don't send you one of the older Challengers with the alloy toggles. The newer Breechlock press has steel toggles and linkages. If you want to spend a little more any cast iron O-frame will last a lifetime. If you want more speed than the single stage offers the turret presses will speed things up. If for some reason you decide you don't want it, you can return it to Lee for a refund within 30 days of purchase. I'm sorry if I have discouraged you in any way. You may not have any trouble at all.

Powder valley has pretty good prices on powder and primers. They have a special on CCI primers right now. I don't order bullets anymore. I cast my own, so I can't help on that.
http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/

Go to youtube and look for Pro1000 videos. There is a series on there that shows how to make them work.

I use a Lee Classic Turret, Lee Classic Cast, RCBS RS, and Dillon RL300. I don't hate Lee or any other company. They all make good products, and have all made lemons too.

 

[J_McLeod]

+1 on the Lyman manual. I just got rid of a Pro 1000, because I couldn't get it to work. Still have some parts if you want some. I hope yours is one of the ones that works well out of the box. I found the you tube videos by SFLiberal with a gun to be very helpful while I was trying to make it work. You'll also want to read this thread. Whether it works out for you or not, I'd recommend getting a Lee single stage or turret. They are good to have for working up loads, sizing rifle cases or priming/crimping if you like to do that off the Pro1000. I have both, but the turret is better if you only get one. You can sometimes find good deals on Lee's closeouts page.

For bullets, there are many good sources out there. I like Rocky Mountain Reloading, Montant Gold and Misouri Bullet. I just bought 55gr FMJ from RMR for 71/1k shipped. Hard to beat that.

If you don't have them already, you'll need a caliper, and powder scale. Plastic ammo boxes and a bullet puller are nice to have.

For powder and primers, the best place is your local store. There is a $25 HAZMAT fee so they are too expensive to buy online except in large quantities which I would not recommend for a beginner. Lee says to only use Winchester and CCI primers in the Pro1000. I don't have much experience with the .223, but H335 is recommended often. You'll probably need the double disk kit for your Auto disk to load .223 in the pro 1000, unless that was the one you ordered. The largest standard disk may throw a usable charge for it, depending on the powder you use. For pistols I like Win231/HP-38 (Two different names, but the powder is identical) and HS-6. Those two will work in all the calibers you mentioned I would start with Win231/HP-38 as it is easy to shoot, meters well and has a wide range of load data.

Browse around and you'll find a lot of threads here with good information.

 

[rockn30809]

I had a pro1000 several years ago that ran without a hitch. It's not for someone with no mechanical ingenuity but it served me well. If it wasn't for a very demanding now exwife I would still have it(and alot of other things). But with her gone I have a Dillon to add to the stable. Get the best you can afford. If money was a huge issue I would go back to a pro1000.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Get the Lyman manual and any manual that is for the bullets you will be using. Read the Reloading Basics chapters. And if you can find someone to teach you, take advantage of the offer.

As for components, check around where you live. You might be in a state that has a component seller within driving distance. Buying in large quantities saves money.

Look for sales and prepare to take advantage of them by buying in bulk. One place that can be a discount gold mine is a shooting tournament where there are sellers. I went to a benchrest tournament this year and got there just as it was ending. The sellers gave real good prices and no sales tax so they didn't have to re-pack their wares.