My conundrum about getting into reloading

[Thomas Traddles]

I am a revolver guy as well. I reload 38 special, 357 magnum, and 44 special. I tried to limit myself to 38s, but... I do look at buying a new handgun, but do not want to take on another caliber. I have too many guns to shoot as it is. I bought a single stage press. I spend about an hour a week, mostly in winter, loading. I also acquired various bullet moulds, a casting pot, and lubes supplies. The initial outlaywas not all that cost prohibitive, and over 7 years I can say that I have saved some cash, especially given the cost of 357 and 44 special ammo. I think it is worth it and I don't consider myself a high volume handloader.

 

[badkarmamib]

I started reloading about 2 years ago, to kill some free time, and to try to save money. I don't shoot a whole lot, so there is not a "volume" of savings. I can load plinking 40S&W with lead, for half the price of jacketed when WalMart carried it. I am loading premium hunting bullets in a .30/06, for 1/3 of what those same premium loads cost, and about 1/2 the price of generic hunting rounds. But, again, I don't shoot enough to be lighting my cigars with the savings. I started with the Lee Breech Lock single stage press. After I got comfortable with that, I tried a progressive. I have since sold the progressive, and am back to loading 4 calibers on the single stage. A couple of people have mentioned the Lee Classic Turret. My father has this press, and I can whole-heartedly concur that it is well worth the extra cost, even for a casual reloader. So, you can get as big or stay as small as your budget allows. You can rinse cases in soapy water, or you can buy a tumbler. You can save time with a progressive, or save money with a single-stage or turret. You can buy pulled, blem, or lead bullets, or you can splurge for premium. You have options for (almost) every budget.

 

[jmr40]

I load for my centerfire big game cartridges. Not primarily to save money, but to be able to load premium bullets, get better accuracy, and in many cases more velocity than factory loads. I can load them cheaper than I can buy premium loads, but when the cost of equipment is factored in it isn't much if any.

The rounds I shoot in higher volume, 223, 9mm, 45 acp I can buy cheap enough that it isn't worth my time to load for them. I'd think 38 Special would be the same.

But if you enjoy reloading just for the reloading it may be worth it to you. Reloading is a means to an end for me, not something I enjoy just to enjoy. I'm retired and work part time. In one days work I can go out and buy more ammo with the money I earn than I could load in the same amount of time.

 

[shoebox1.1]

It’s sounding like I need to get my buddies stuff ethier way. Maybe even part it out partially. He’s got a bunch of dies for some odd ball stuff id never use. If that happens I’ll let you know. Seems like main thing I need to find out is what press he has. I think there are several

 

[jmorris]

It’s sounding like I need to get my buddies stuff ethier way. Maybe even part it out partially.

Would be a good deal, for which person depends on what he actually has and how much he will take for it.

You said “a couple hundred” in your first post, if this is what he has, that’s not a good deal for you.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1013011111

If it’s this, that’s moving in the right direction, still not what I would call a smoking deal on used equipment.

https://www.natchezss.com/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-master-reloading-kit-with-m500-scale.html

If it’s this you should take cash with you to look at it and with you when you leave.

https://www.dillonprecision.com/essentials-rl-550c-9mm-package_8_136_26712.html

If you unknowingly buy a lot of old unusable stuff just to buy it, you should be paying estate sale prices. FWIW they darn near give the stuff away so they don’t have to pay someone to throw it away.

 

[ATLDave]

Get a Lee Classic Turret.* That thing is just the perfect device for cranking out revolver ammo - it even revolves itself! Do not fool with whack-a-mole nonsense.

*Unless, as others have noted, your buddy's used stuff is a screaming good deal.

 

[Typetwelve]

I started reloading for the first time Jan of 2019. I had never done it before, nor did I have any prior experience doing it.

With that said, revolver calibers and reloading are like peanut butter and jelly...they are made for each other. Not only is it considerably cheaper reloading most revolver calibers, you can customize loads in many ways to suit your needs/wants and reloading straight wall cartridges is not overly difficult if you follow the rules.

I reload 44 magnum, 44 special, and 38 special and over the last year, it saved me a ton of $$.

 

[Charlie98]

It’s sounding like I need to get my buddies stuff ethier way. Maybe even part it out partially. He’s got a bunch of dies for some odd ball stuff id never use. If that happens I’ll let you know. Seems like main thing I need to find out is what press he has. I think there are several

Well, and if he has a reasonable setup already, it sounds like your friend was reasonably serious at one point, hopefully he can help steer you in the right direction. I'm not too far away, if you need advise or a second set of eyes, PM me and we can chat.

Under normal circumstances, I don't recommend either the Lee Loader, or the Lee hand press... unless that's all you got. The hand press is handy for mundane things like punching out primers, but my buddy mounted a RCBS RS3 press to a little homemade stool so he can sit and watch football and size and prime brass (nothing that requires full attention,) and then assemble the cartridges when he can devote his attention to it later.

 

[Texas10mm]

How much ammo do you shoot per month? That's the first question to ask. 38 special ammo, last week was running about $0.02-0.05 per round more than 9mm. In the $0.16 per round range.

If you're burning 100 rounds per month then just buy ammo. If you're burning 100 rounds per week, then looking into reloading starts to make sense.

If you're burning 500 rounds per week then you should have been reloading a long time ago.

I bleed blue, the Dillon SDB is an awesome tool if you shoot a lot of one cartridge. They crank out really good ammo at a fairly low entry cost.

If you're going to load for several cartridges then look at a 550. You can start with the BL 550 and upgrade to a full 550 later on.

The reason I recommend Dillon is they just flat work. There's no fiddling around, no modding, no holding your tongue just right to get it to work.

 

[Typetwelve]

How much ammo do you shoot per month? That's the first question to ask. 38 special ammo, last week was running about $0.02-0.05 per round more than 9mm. In the $0.16 per round range.

If you're burning 100 rounds per month then just buy ammo. If you're burning 100 rounds per week, then looking into reloading starts to make sense.

If you're burning 500 rounds per week then you should have been reloading a long time ago.

I bleed blue, the Dillon SDB is an awesome tool if you shoot a lot of one cartridge. They crank out really good ammo at a fairly low entry cost.

If you're going to load for several cartridges then look at a 550. You can start with the BL 550 and upgrade to a full 550 later on.

The reason I recommend Dillon is they just flat work. There's no fiddling around, no modding, no holding your tongue just right to get it to work.

38 spcl was my initial motivation point...especially with wadcutter rounds. On the cheapest end, I can't find 38 spcl wadcutter for less than $15/box. Even ball, that I've seen is over $10/box.

I'm currently reloading 148g Hi-Tek Wadcutters for $125/case...and that's real numbers, all shipping and tax included.

I'm reloading 145g LRN loads for $97/case. Again, that's full price, everything to my door.

...save brass, I have my own brass. Those prices are primer/powder/projectile, all tax and shipping.


...oh, and like you, I bought and use a Dillon 550. The machine is superb.

 

[kmw1954]

I am a big proponent of buying used. It is usually the best value as long as it has been taken care of and not abused or neglected. The idea being that you want to get into this with as small an investment as possible. Especially since you are unsure if you will even like the endeavor and stick with it. Once you make that determination you can realistically upgrade to what you think you want or need at least then based on your own experience and not some web forum telling you what they think you need.

Used reloading equipment does not depreciate a bunch and there is always someone looking for a deal but enough to make it worth while to look for. There have been many before you that have gone out and spent a ton on new equipment, used it for a year or so and then just left the activity. Common enough that in just the few years that I have been in this forum I have seen a number of people shoe up, be active for a few months and then just dropped out.

Lastly, if you are on the fence with this I believe that if you have the room to set this up and to be able to leave it then buy the used and give it a whirl. If you can get it for a fair used price then even if you only use it 4-5 times a year you won't be wasting money. No where is it written tat you need to use your reloading stull every week or every month. It won't go bad. Right now I reload about 3 times a year and I'm done. That is if unlike now were I an working up new loads because I started casting bullets.

 

[STI]

One thing seen NOT mentioned is what we used to tell our customers, always buy what others will also like if and when you need to upgrade of get out of it totally it will be an easy experience. Bare essentials for me would be a Dillion no other way these days, works great, customer service the best, excellent resale, high demand and will load all the ammo you will need, you will thank us later if you do buy it. Start right and don't look back.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

Couple-a-things...

1. 38 Special and mild to mid level 357 Magnum brass lasts forever!. Not really, but unless you mistreat it you can reload it for years. Hot rod loads might reduce the life expectancy of the magnums a little.
2. Most 38 Special loads take a minimal amount of powder. Usually about 4-5 grains per load. That's enough for about 1400 rounds per 1 lb can. 357 magnums take about 7 grains per load, so about 1000 rounds.

After you have your press, powder, dies, and cases, the only real consumable cost will be bullets and primers. Shop around for bullets, and you can get them pretty cheap. I buy primers locally because I don't use a lot, but if you are going to order online, combine a case or two with your powder order so you only have to pay one hazmat fee.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Thank you all for all the help! Charlie thx for your pm offer ( I will take you up on it). I’m going to get pics in person tonight hopefully so I know what we’re dealing with. My buddy never reloaded. All this stuff was previous homeowners collection. Seems like he was really into it. Pics ASAP! Stand by

 

[Bartojc]

You will almost always save money on a per round basis. Some calibers you will save a significant amount over store bought ammo (.45 Colt). I have found I do not save any money in the end. I end up spending it on components to make more ammo which enables me to shoot more. This was the whole idea for me and my reason to get into reloading. It enables me to shoot more which is something I like to do.

If you have the equipment you can choose to use it or buy factory. If you do not have the tools there is no option.

-Jeff

 

[AJC1]

One thing seen NOT mentioned is what we used to tell our customers, always buy what others will also like if and when you need to upgrade of get out of it totally it will be an easy experience. Bare essentials for me would be a Dillion no other way these days, works great, customer service the best, excellent resale, high demand and will load all the ammo you will need, you will thank us later if you do buy it. Start right and don't look back.

You should sell cars. Well you like driving, i have this Farrai over here that will be easy to sell after you loose your license.

 

[Typetwelve]

You will almost always save money on a per round basis. Some calibers you will save a significant amount over store bought ammo (.45 Colt). I have found I do not save any money in the end. I end up spending it on components to make more ammo which enables me to shoot more. This was the whole idea for me and my reason to get into reloading. It enables me to shoot more which is something I like to do.

If you have the equipment you can choose to use it or buy factory. If you do not have the tools there is no option.

-Jeff

Exactly, there isn't a single caliber that I load that doesn't come out to being cheaper than factory. Like you said though, some of it, say 9mm, isn't that much cheaper and factory always give you brass to reload later. What it does do is take time, something that someone needs to think hard about before starting reloading.

I guess you could get into it for sheer savings...but I honestly feel that many would grow tired of it if they didn't have a passion for reloading. Personally, I enjoy it...and that's a good thing with the time it takes me to do it. It really is a labor of love...labor being the key word there.

 

[Jim Watson]

Please provide inventory or pictures of your buddy's stuff so we can advise on whether to grab it or buy new.

I started with a W.H. English Pak Tool, similar capability to Lee Hand Press. It was a real drag, I replaced it with a Rockchucker on a pedestal next to a card table until I moved where I could have a bench.

 

[illinoisburt]

I like reloading, though maybe not a much as some folks in this forum. I have the dies but don't bother with many plinkers anymore just due to the availability of cheap bulk ammo like 9mm. Other stuff like 44 mag and rifle hunting ammo is only reloads. 38 is only that's kind of in the middle right now.

In the end it's going to be a cost and hobby vs labor decision for yourself. Based purely on cost we can start with box of 50 rounds costs $18, or 36 cents per round. A real world cost of 14 cents for a reload (4 cent primer, 2 cents powder, and 8 cents bullet) will save 22 cents per round. Obviously the cost of factory may be higher or lower. Same goes for the component bullets, but plan on break even for the press/dies/scale/books/etc somewhere after a one or two thousand rounds (maybe more). How much do you realistically expect to shoot and is it a hobby you want to invest your time?

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

Yep. It took me 20 boxes of .38 special, .357 mag, .30 carbine, and 8mm (combined) to break even. Saved about $11/box on 357, $9/box on 38, $12/box on 30 carb, and $18/box(20) on 8mm.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

When I first started loading, it was an experiment. A man, who soon became a good friend and a favorite teacher showed me the ropes. That was almost 60 years ago. My scientific mind still loves to experiment, which is the main reason I load. Just finished with a movie project, where I supplied 3 Winchesters and 4 SAAs along with blank ammo that I devised. Reloading also lets you fine tune loads for your guns. I don't save money, but I do shoot more. And with revolvers you don't have to pick up your brass. I'm currently looking for a Charter Arms 45 Colt and a New Python. With those I will be at 30 handguns, about 3/4s revolvers. My younger son will be surprised when he opens the safe after I pass.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Do yourself a favor and wait until you put pictures on here of what your buddy has. We can tell you what fair value is based on what you show us.
Just remember, it's only a good deal if you have use for it.
If your buddy has a lot of things that you will never use than don't buy it. You can put that $200.00 towards reloading equipment or factory ammo, that you can use.
We'll see when you post your pictures.

Just don't let your "buddy" talk you into anything until we see what he has, since you don't know what your looking at.
Why did you say you would have to buy some of it anyways?

 

[shoebox1.1]

My thought is buy all his stuff and sell off what I don’t need. There’s a bunch of dies. I wouldn’t load let’s say 7.5 jap or such. 38 special 357 magnum 8mm Mauser etc. basics and I think all that is there. I’m following him home here in bit to take the pics. I know the bench is a huge heavy nicely finished bolted together booger that weighs a TON. Looks like nice stuff from the few pics I saw. I’ve spent my corona-down time at work browsing lee,rcbs, and hornadys websites. Pretty cool hobby. I’m getting kinda excited.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

We are all anxious to see what is there.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Ok it’s good but maybe not super great. Single stage hornady press I think. Hornady powder measure. Probably 2000 rds of 38 special brass. 1000+ of 9mm brass 1000+ 45acp brass. Tumbler, dies for all tons of no2 no9 powder some bullseye too. Wadcutters I want and tons of fmj for 9,45 and 38.