Looking to Start Reloading

[Hooda Thunkit]

I’m a bit unsure on bullets and powder. What am I looking for?

Bullets; go to Missouri Bullets website, find some coated 158 grain lead @12BnH, and use those. Hard to go wrong with the bullet the cartridge was designed to use.

Powder: I recommend some Hodgden HP-38 or Winchester W231 - it's the same powder, different name - and get to it.

That powder can also be used in 9mm, when you get to that.

But mostly I recommend a manual. Buy it and read the first half, to understand what you are doing. The second half is full of data, to help with recipes.

 

[SuperNaut]

Since you are a Utahn (like me) you might want to stay local.

Berry's Bullets
Barnes Bullets

Unfortunately my favorite independent reloading supply store and Dillon Dealer just closed (after 35 years ) but there are still some other indie's in town like Doug's, Gallenson's, Gunnie's (Orem).

There are of course the Big Box stores like Scheels, Cabelas, and Sportsman's. Scheels is nice because they are at Dillon Dealer and open 'til 9PM, Sportsman's is also open 'til 9PM. May not seem like a big deal; but if you are like me, I usually reload in the evening and don't realize I'm almost out of something 'til 6 PM.

 

[Cokeman]

Barnes is very local to me. They are about 10 miles from me. Too bad I can’t run down there and buy directly from them.

 

[SQLGeek]

CCI 500s will work perfectly for .38 Special. They will also work for .357 Magnum loads that don't require magnum primers.

To that point, there are also small and large magnum pistol primers. Certain loads will call for those others will need just regular small/large pistol primers.

Likewise, rifles have small / large primers and small/large magnum primers.

 

[splattergun]

I'd hit Sportsman's Warehouse. IME they usually have at least some components in stock while everyone else is out of everything. Better prices than Scheels and Cabela's too. In fact, shopping for firearm related items at Scheel's was such a terrible experience for me I swore I would never step foot in there again.
It's a pity Barnes doesn't have a storefront or a will call at their factory.

 

[bullseye308]

Sportsman’s Warehouse has some win231 on sale right now. Click in clearance on the top right area and it is in there. Good price and a good powder.

 

[Suedenflames68]

I started single stage with a hornady autocharge dispenser. That thing has worked great for me and gives me outstanding confidence that all my charges are weighed. Bought and read the lee and Lyman books and did tons of research on line.

Went to the lee classic turret, after considering a progressive, about a year later to increase production a little. Actually a really good set up with the autocharge dispenser. Depends on the powder, but usually the charge is waiting on me when I'm ready for it. In retrospect, I would have skipped the turret and went progressive. As has been said u can use the progressive as a turret basically by just loading one case to get the hang of it.

Recently i finally got my progressive and after a frustrating start that was my dumb fault it's really fun and makes a lot of ammo really fast while going slow. You COULD start with one but my personal opinion is a quality single stage. Always uses for it later on anyway. I like what I have and only thing I would change would be skipping the turret, but of course my thoughts and options are molded from the path I chose to take and how I've grow to like to do things.

Also i think it's great to start loading 38 for use in a 357 pistol. Gives a bit of a safety factor in my mind.
I started with 10mm ,and because real ammo is so expensive , I felt like my lee ss press and autocharge dispenser were paid for after I made my first 1000 rounds.

James

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm a it late to this party but here is my suggestion.

I'd start with a single stage press. Besides a good way to learn while working with one process at a time, a single stage press is useful to have on hand for doing special tasks down the road. De-priming cases or pulling bullets are good examples.

Besides, if you decide reloading is not for you, you do not have as much invested in the equipment and it will be easier to sell.

If money is really an object, the Lee single stage presses are a good value for a starter press and will be useful for special tasks down the road. But the RCBS Rock Chuckers and Redding Big Boss presses will last for ever if cared for.

Virtually all the equipment you buy to load with a single stage press can be transferred to a turret or progressive press in the future so will not have to "re-buy" tools to operate a progressive press. (Note, a Dillon SDB progressive press is an exception.)

Lots of good information already posted to sift through.

I enjoy reloading a nd treat is as a hobby unto itself. I hope you enjoy it as well.

 

[Cokeman]

Sportsman’s Warehouse has some win231 on sale right now. Click in clearance on the top right area and it is in there. Good price and a good powder.

Apparently many others noticed too. It’s sold out everywhere except Farmington NM. I noticed that most things on their site that are sold out are available at the Farmington NM store. No one must shop there.

 

[Cokeman]

I’m looking at manual/books. Is there a best one to start with? I saw a few suggestions. What’s best and who has a good price?

 

[lordpaxman]

I started out life with a Speer manual and it had a pretty good introduction to reloading. I think it had a cowboy on the cover. There are lots of books and manuals, you’ll get just as many suggestions as you did with presses and kits. I started with individual parts and an RCBS Jr press.
If you know someone that reloads already, and would mentor you, that’s a really good way to get your feet wet and try some equipment before you buy. The NRA has a metallic reloading course you can check on classes being given and again that’d be source of information for you. Good luck!

 

[rfwobbly]

The most important criteria for choosing a reloading press is shooting volume of your most used caliber. You've named a number of calibers, but almost all modern presses have that flexibility. It does no good to buy a bargain-priced press if the machine is so slow that it takes 5 hours to reload your ammo. Along with sorting and cleaning brass, and ordering components that's an entire day given over to "reloading". That's a recipe for boredom and regret.

You need to think very clearly for a long time about your ammo volumes over the next 4-5 years. Will your shooting decrease when the baby arrives ? Will your shooting increase when the kids leave "the nest" or in retirement ?

You've been given some very good suggestions, but buying reloading equipment is a lot like buying a car.... it's a very personal choice. Once you realistically define your volumes, your choices will be reduced to 2 or 3 press models and become much more clear.

 

[rfwobbly]

I’m looking at manual/books. Is there a best one to start with? I saw a few suggestions.

There's really only one universal starter book... the Lyman #50 in hardbound.

 

[packetloss]

Best starting book is this one: https://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/WPHandloading-Guide-7.0-Web-REV.pdf

It explains pretty much everything all the other books explain in the first 1/3 but this one is free to download. It also has a very comprehensive set of load data for their entire slew of powders. Also worth noting is many of the "accurate" brand powders are exactly the same as lovex/shooters world as in they are rebranded and are produced in the same factory. Highly recommend reading through this one before spending any money on anything.

 

[Wildbillz]

I use the Speer manual for most of my loading, mine came with the kit that I posted earlier

Powder is going to depend on the bullet you use and the caliber your loading. If I am loading cast I like to us Unique, Bullseye or Win231. Most of my FMJ or coated bullets I load with Win231.

For the 5.56mm I like AA#2230 or Win748.

But your sort of putting the cart before the horse if you haven't gotten your equipment yet.

WB

 

[kmw1954]

Books, Again look to ebay, buy used save money maybe/mostly.

I still have my Speer #10 also bought a Lyman Pistol and Revolver Handbook and Handloading for Handgunners and have downloaded and printed the Western Powders pdf.! I also thought about the Lyman and RCBS Cast Bullet books but I became a member at Cast Boolits.com instead. I too would recommend the Lyman 49/50 and the Free pdf. download.

As a side note I have switched to mostly all Western powders because I load a lot of plated bullets and Western has the most comprehensive listing for plate bullets that I have been able to find anywhere.

Also when looking to start and determining tat first loading it is best to look through the manuals and find a loading that looks like one that fits where you would like to start. From there now check to see if all the components are available to you. If so buy them and start there. All the information then is right there and there is no guessing, no confusion. Don't pick a powder or bullet that there is no printed data on.

Lastly as rfwobbly brought up and I tried to express in my first post is with what you are hoping to do please give Volume an equal consideration in your choice. The two Lee Turret presses and the Lee Pro4000 will reliably load and have the simplicity of any single stage press made but also provide the advantage that when you are ready they will produce loads 2 to 4 times faster than any single stage press made. Honestly, if your post would have been that you are loading mostly bottle neck rifle cases with the occasional pistol rounds my recommendation would have been completely opposite this advice.
I do not shoot high volumes of anything yet I have a small progressive press because I sit down and load 500+ rounds of the same thing at a time which then may last me 3 or 4 months. Which means I am only reloading about 4 times a year and I am set. I don't have to spend a couple hours every week sitting at the bench trying to keep up with my shooting needs. So that is why I suggest keeping loading/shooting volume in mind when considering a press.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Ridiculous.

You can run a progressive one round at a time if you choose.

1. How much do you shoot of each cartridge? This is the deciding factor in what equipment you should purchase.

2. What's your budget? You're going to save a lot more money loading 357 and 30-30 than anything else. In good times it's hard to save money on 9mm, this leads into #3.

3. This is actually a bad time to get into reloading. Components are in short supply.

I've owned three Hornady LnL Progressive presses and currently own two Dillon 650 presses. If you gave me a brand new Hornady right now I'd just sell it. I like to load ammo, not fiddle with the equipment. I have a feeling that those who think a progressive press is too complicated for a beginner have never used a Dillon. Lee products are known to be a bit fiddly and Hornady definitely is in my experience.

You can find used Lee and Hornady progressive presses (in normal times) for sale for around 50% or less of new. Finding a used Dillon for 80% of new is like finding a Unicorn.

Yep, I'm a Dillon fanboi. They just work.

I started out on a cheap lee press, loaded about 30-40 rounds of 40 S&W and said fu*k this, bought a Dillon 650 and haven't looked back. Its not that hard nor that difficult, you run the press with a few cycles of dummy rounds to dial everything in. Over the July 4th weekend I loaded around 4K worth of ammo without breaking a sweat and tearing my shoulder apart, can any SS or turret press user say that?

 

[kmw1954]

I started out on a cheap lee press, loaded about 30-40 rounds of 40 S&W and said fu*k this, bought a Dillon 650 and haven't looked back. Its not that hard nor that difficult, you run the press with a few cycles of dummy rounds to dial everything in. Over the July 4th weekend I loaded around 4K worth of ammo without breaking a sweat and tearing my shoulder apart, can any SS or turret press user say that?

So what exactly is your point in relation to this topic? I believe the OP has made it pretty clear what is volume is going to be. 4k rounds at his volume would be a lifetime supply.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

So what exactly is your point in relation to this topic? I believe the OP has made it pretty clear what is volume is going to be. 4k rounds at his volume would be a lifetime supply.

And what is your point?
Multiple posters claim a progressive is far too complicated of a device for first time users, to which I say BS. Driving a car on a busy interstate requires far more attention and focus then a progressive press requires.

 

[kmw1954]

And what is your point?
Multiple posters claim a progressive is far too complicated of a device for first time users, to which I say BS. Driving a car on a busy interstate requires far more attention and focus then a progressive press requires.

So why not just state that ? The OP in post 35 clearly state 100/200 rounds per month which is a far cry from 4k in a few hours. I see no relation to the two. Are you really suggesting he spend the money on a Dillon 650 to load just a few hundred rounds per month?

 

[Cokeman]

I noticed today that RCBS has rebates going right now.

I have started reading The ABCs of Reloading.

 

[Visionairy]

Does anyone else think the $200-$400 budget is unrealistically low? Think of all the $5, $10 and $25 items you’re going to buy. I’m thinking $750 total is realistic, even if only $100-$150 of that is on the press. Add another $100-$200 for a digital scale that doesn’t need to be zeroed every round and $400 is looking like a pretty light budget.

 

[kmw1954]

Does anyone else think the $200-$400 budget is unrealistically low? .

Not at all as I kept a log when I started again for the second time. Goes like this;
$96.81 Lee Pro1000 set up for 38/357 and only missing the case tubes and primer dispenser cover.
$30.51 Lyman D5 beam scale
$26.50 Lee 9mm dies and turret head.
$37.83 Lee Pro1000 #19 shell plate and carrier
$28.00 Lee 380 dies
$28.00 Lee 45acp dies
$6.00 Lee #2 shell plate
$6.00 Lee #4 shell plate

That is everything needed to load 38/357, 9mm, 380 and 45acp. All of this was purchased used and have loaded using just this all of these calibers. for a total expenditure of $259.61 and that is including shipping costs. I have since added a Lee Auto Disk measure and have been gifted a trickler, Kinetic bullet Puller and a Cabela's vibrator tumbler. Already had a Dial caliper. Now I could have saved a little money on the #19 shellplate and carrier but I wanted an extra carrier to use for the large primer 45acp.

Since then I have added a Lee 3 hole turret press with another set of 9mm dies and Auto Disk measure that cost me $55.00 and then found an RCBS JR3 press $38.12

So yes it can be done, it's just a matter of how fancy do you need to be. So even adding in the other 2 presses @ $93.12 the total is still below $400.00 and I am able to load 5 calibers.

 

[Cokeman]

So I have to buy a $200 scale?

 

[ballman6711]

My first loaded cartridge (45acp) cost me about $400. That price was new equipment (press, scale, trickler, book, dies and shell holder, scale, loading block) AND primers, powder, bullets, and brass. The only thing I didn't get in that cost was a tumbler, media, and calipers, but I already had calipers. So it certainly can be done on a budget.

chris