My ammo costs are going down!

[H1500308]

I've never reloaded before, but I just took possession of all the equipment that I need to get started with. Dad had a Lee Anniversary Kit with single stage press and a Lee turret press. Also have dies for 9mm, 45, .38 spl, 300 primers, some powder and all the accessories. Also have TONS of brass. All about 15 years old but has never been used. He never used it so I figured I'd try my hand at reloading.

Can't wait to get started!

 

[wworker]

Wow, I wish I had some hand-me-down stuff.

Since I started reloading, I'm not buying ammo anymore, just shooting reloads.


Read books unless you already know how to reload, then read books too.

 

[manyskunks]

LEE and Reloading

H1500308:
I have been reloading for about 40 years, starting out with a Lee (not the same company as now) hand loader where you used a hammer. I thought that was pretty cool, being in college and all and short of money. Then I went to RCBS's Rock Chucker kit. That was awesome, at the time. Years later I got a Ponsness Warren metallic II semi progressive and THAT was a real eyeopener as far as turning out quality loads quickly. I now use a LEE classic turret press with 4-hole turrets on which I'm sold. I now have been using Lee (the new company, which is fairly old) products and I am completely sold on them. Their stuff turns out quality for much less than RCBS, Redding, Hornady, etc.
It's nice to use the turrets as you never have to re-adjust the dies once they're set up. No screwing in and out every time you have to change dies. When you get a rythem going you can kick out 600 or more rounds in an hour and unless you are going to shoot tons of matches, etc., you can't possibly need to to load any faster than that!
Welcome aboard and good luck. If you have any questions about reloading or maybe some load info for different calibers (that work for me) get hold of me and I'll give you honest answers as to what my experiences have been!
ManySkunks

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

This is a good site to post on since many of us have a Lee progressive, and a rockchucker, and many also have Dillon presses. We all started somewhere and most are willing to tutor newbies. Welcome to the addiction!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Only one warning, your costs really won't go down because since the ammo is cheaper to make than buy you will end up shooting more. In the end you won't really save any money but you will get to shoot more than you could if you had to buy all the ammo outright.

Buy up a lot of components right now because prices are going up quickly. Buy as much as you can afford or you will pay more in the long run.

 

[Walkalong]

Great, and lucky you. This way you can shoot more for the same money. That's how it usually works out.

 

[The Bushmaster]

We complain about the rising cost of components and rightfully so. Keep in mind that it will still be cheaper to hand load as factory ammunition will be rising just as fast...

H1500308...As already been said. The people on here will help you in any way possible. But it still rests on you to make sure we are correct in the information that is freely given. Purchase a couple of new load data manuals like Lee, Lyman's 48th Edition, Sierra V th edition Second printing or any other quality manual and read them...

 

[Texastbird]

The Powder companies, like Alliant and Hogdon have websites with a lot of good information for the new reloader, plus their current loading data.