IF YOU HAD 50k to spend on reloading How would you do it?

horsemen61

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Oct 20, 2011
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Ok guys just for fun here

If you had to spend 50K on reloading how would you do it!

Rules
1. You cant say well I’d spend $1,000 and save the rest you have to spend it all
2. It can’t be to buy land to shoot on or building a range or joining some Uber expensive range
3. Lets assume you already own a building/shop to do this say 40x40 and it has heat and air

So let’s have fun!!!!!🤩

Ok for me I’d want butcher block counter tops for my reloading bench that would run the entire length of the back wall. Then I would want to install lots of power along the back of the bench I’m thinking at least 10 or 12 outlets or the long power strips for plugging in all my goodies. Lighting is a Must Great lighting for sure. I want super sturdy cabinets above the bench with brass plates to label what’s up there you know dies primers reloading manuals etc etc. along one wall I want to have custom shelving built that would hold a tank. I’d need room to store all of my bullets I’d like to be able to see them so that would be open ope let’s not forget brass. A killer Sound system for sure I like to listen to music when I load, at least 1 easy chair for when I’m on THR or whatever 😃.
One of those big Craftsmen rolling tool chests to hold all my calipers and tools for said reloading.

Now onto the tooling

I’d want a zero press from 419
The AutoV3 powder measure+ A&D scale combo
CPS priming system from primal rights
A Henderson trimmer with all the attachments
A Dillion 650/750 for pistol stuff
Redding FL bushing Sizing dies
Forster ultra micrometer seating die
Mighty armory universal decapping die
Full line of Redding shell holders
Inline fabrication mounts

uhhh let’s see a Redding big boss II FOR RESIZING
A decent tumblr I like dry tumbling with crushed walnut


So yeah I think that about covers it so what say you?

Remember have Fun with it!!!!!
 
I'd buy 2 8#ers of IMR4064... that would about wipe that out... ;)
That's about the truth of it too.
I've got all the equipment and facilities so I reckon a couple pallets of primers, propellants and projectiles would be where that money would go.

Makes my arm sore just thinking about it.....
 
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Because this is fantasy for some and reality for others, I'd get things that I can't. The Amp seating machine for chamber seating dies would be absolutely top of my list. Second would be an auto trickler.... my chargemaster is long in the toots and parts of the dispenser are breaking.... 20ish years old I think....

I'd build a dedicated casting area, with an industrial fume removal hood.... I don't want to breathe any of those fumes, besides it would double as a good welding area for me and junior.
I'd swap out my junky shelves for industrial vidmars, with ball bearing drawers.....
I could keep going, but I only have 50k....
 
Honestly, I've got just about every reloading tool that I want or need - and the total value wouldn't come anywhere close to $50,000!

If I magically came up with that kind of cash - and the requirement that it be used for handloading - I'd invest almost all of it in components, starting with a pallet of #8 lead shot. After that would be primers of all sizes, then multiple kegs of handgun and shotgun powder.
 
A super trickler with a&d scale
An amp annealer.
A Henderson trimmer with all attachments etc.
Several custom dies.
A Redding BB2.
Mititoyo blade mic.
A better set of caliper…
Couple #8s of N150,H4350,Varget, and H4831/sc

ETA: I realize that’s not close to 50 K. I would probably add more components. But, the rest of it would honestly probably go into helping a couple of friends get set up a little better… I’m too cheap :) and maybe too nice :)
 
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Spending $50k on equipment alone, not components, the building, or other civil aspects, is pretty difficult! Some of the lists mentioned above are very close to what I have in my reloading room already for my PRS competition ammo already, and I only tagged up $5,500, AMP annealer + AmpMate feeder robot, Giraud trimmer, AutoCharge+AutoTrickler V2.5 on an A&D FX-120i, Mitutoyo calipers... Doing a dirty update of my equipment inventory spreadsheet today, I have just over $10k currently invested in all of my gear, which includes multiple power trimming set ups, automated annealing, 9 presses...

I'd like to add an Amp Press this year, and I keep kicking around the idea of adding a 1050/1100 with a Mark7 autodrive to automate my case prep, but that only adds another $5k. Still only 1/3 the way to $50k... And that's accounting for several duplicate bits of equipment which I keep only to avoid resetting some of my gear when loading one type of cartridge vs. another.

So for me, $50k reloading equipment budget would really be a foundation for an ammo manufacturing and brass processing business. I've been right on the edge of annealing and processing services already, doing some annealing service for other shooters at fare, decapping, washing, and annealing, and I'd like to set up 2 more automated AMP annealing machines for that purpose, and could be easily convinced to kick on a few 1050/1100's and do complete brass processing and custom ammo loading. At market rates, $50k start up investment can start feeding itself pretty quickly. Stage up to automated case sorting, proper commercial loading machines, yeah, $50k seed would get there relatively quickly with the right choices up front.

But for a personal reloading set up, non-commercial, it would be REALLY difficult to spend $50k. A guy could do a LOT of damage, both in automation as well as precision, with $15k.
 
I've probably already spent a tenth of that... 🤔
I'd probably do a total makeover on the reloading room down to the studs and then buy a couple full progressive presses for all my pistol calibers...then go binge shopping at Midway and buy anything and everything that catches my eye.
 
Because this is fantasy for some and reality for others, I'd get things that I can't. The Amp seating machine for chamber seating dies would be absolutely top of my list. Second would be an auto trickler.... my chargemaster is long in the toots and parts of the dispenser are breaking.... 20ish years old I think....

I'd build a dedicated casting area, with an industrial fume removal hood.... I don't want to breathe any of those fumes, besides it would double as a good welding area for me and junior.
I'd swap out my junky shelves for industrial vidmars, with ball bearing drawers.....
I could keep going, but I only have 50k....
ball bearings draws are SO NICE
 
Yep, and besides, the frugal in me wouldn't let me spend 50K on a reloading setup even if you had a gun to my head.

100% agree. I COULD be convinced to start a business and invest $50k, but no way I'd put $50k into a non-commercial set up. I'm just under $8k in gear and just under $2k in dies, and already don't like that - this thread MIGHT even be a motivator for me to ditch some unused gear from that inventory list.
 
100% agree. I COULD be convinced to start a business and invest $50k, but no way I'd put $50k into a non-commercial set up. I'm just under $8k in gear and just under $2k in dies, and already don't like that - this thread MIGHT even be a motivator for me to ditch some unused gear from that inventory list.
If it was not my money and I had to spend $50,000! EASY! no problem! got this covered boss
 
That is more than generous for even the most deluxe setups. And you say the hypothetical involves we already have a mancave.
Really, the only thing I'd say that'd eat up that money the most would be several progressives set up on a butchers block bar, each set to a specific caliber. But really what I'd do is use the money to buy custom dies for calibers like 8mm Nambu. And buy lots of Alpha Munitions brass and Sierra bullets.
That's about all I could see myself spending it on, unless you consider designated test guns for set calibers which is something I'd like to imagine some of us do (buying a new gun just to reload for that caliber) then sure, I'd buy a really decked up 7mm and 6.5 creedmoor pair of rifles.
 
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