My conundrum about getting into reloading

[shoebox1.1]

More

 

[shoebox1.1]

Again

 

[shoebox1.1]

More

 

[forty_caliber]

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.

There isn't anything there but a saddle. As in saddled with some old junk. Honestly, I'd walk away. You can do better than that.

.40

 

[shoebox1.1]

Most boxes are sealed brand new

 

[shoebox1.1]

The are thinking like 200 for everything and I can take my time paying out or whatever.

 

[shoebox1.1]

I don’t know how much primers cost or how big those boxes are but it’s a sealed big box of small and large. Tons and tons of fmj bullets

 

[film495]

with that much brass, if it is decent condition, is worth what they are asking alone. I'd just get it all and put it in a storage tub. then sometime when you need something to do - you can dig it out. we all might have a lot of spare time and very little $$ in the very near future with current events.

 

[Skeptic13]

I would not suggest starting with the Lee Reloader only because I think you will want to move on to a little better press in a short time. If your buddy has everything you need to start with a single stage press I would go that way. I think you will be happier in the long run.

 

[Charlie98]

That is a Lee press, not a Hornady, I dont consider it a good press, but thats just my .02. However, for $200, and a bunch of stuff there that you do need, I'd grab it for sure.

 

[shoebox1.1]

I don’t think I would need to buy anything after this acquisition for a long while

 

[Charlie98]

(Now that ive looked at all the photos...)

There is a bunch of stuff there, what is odd is much of it is the same stuff I have, I bought in the late '80's and early '90's... so thats probably about how old some of it is. You can get up and running with whats there, and improve it as you go. You DO need a better scale, but thars easy enough to fix.

 

[sparkyv]

I started with a Lee Loader in .223 REM because I wasn't sure I would like reloading and didn't want to spend too much money until I knew for sure. Well, even after loading and shooting my very first 20 rounds of 4 different loads and much to my amazement, my handloads performed so much better than factory ammo. I was hooked. To recap, Lee Loaders are a great way to get started reloading without much investment. YMMV

 

[dcloco]

Number one reason to reload, has always been:

1. Cost
2. Accuracy
3.
4.
5.

 

[illinoisburt]

For $200 you are doing okay. Not a steal, but reasonable for the components, dies, and chronograph. I would buy at that price with expectation to still purchase a decent press.

The two presses (Lee hand press and bench mounted single stage) are not worth much and frankly are better suited to set up for a dedicated operation like decapping or primer swaging. The scale will drive you crazy - accurate enough but finicky. For general handgun loading you will be better off throwing charges rather than weighing each one.

 

[Zendude]

You can get a turret press kit new for around $200, but the supplies of powder and primers makes this interesting. Cost for primers is $25 to$32 per box of 1000. Powder is about $25 per pound.

 

[shoebox1.1]

I also saw a lee 50th anniversary kit with everything but dies for 190.00 msrp and you’d have all new stuff. This deal is appealing just due to the everything is there aspect. 4-5 bags of media walnut shells etc for the tumbler. Bullet remover, trays. I’d like to just use the lee scoops instead of the big measure.. I want to take my time and do it slowly

 

[tightgroup tiger]

The primers are from the80-90s for sure, I wouldn't be afraid of them but if the powder is the same age, I would be leary of it.
What do the powder containers look like, did you take a picture of them? Curious as to what decade they came from. I would have to smell it and dump it out to look for rust looking particles in it before I would use it. If it's from the same time period of the primers, be careful. If it was properly stored it could be just fine.

The single stage press isn't worth much, maybe $30.00. Not a good press.
The primers by today's standards are $30.00 per thousand, those were $15.95 back in the $1990s. I still have some. They are in a blue box today.
The lead bullets are usually packed in 500 count boxes and cost about $35.00 per full box today.
The Lee Die sets are about $28.00 per set new today.
The Lee Safety beam scale sells for about $30.00 new today.
The Hornady powder measure is a pretty good, accurate measure. It's about $60.00 new today.
Used brass runs anywhere from .03-.06 a piece for the common pistol calibers.
Make sure that Midway tumbler isn't the one that has no feet or air tunnels running under it. Some of those old Midway tumblers were flat on bottom and over heated and caught fire due to no air being able to get up through to cool the motor. Or buy some rubber bumpers and put on the bottom of it to raise it up. The screw on kind.
I'm not going to suggest what you should do here.
I would have to have a better single stage than that one, that one would be useless to me except for punching out primers.
For me it would depend on how many pounds of powder are there, how old it is, and especially what condition it's in. Did you get pics of the powder containers?

You will definitely need a better single stage press. I would look at this deal as I will have to spend another $100.00 on a better single stage press to make it all work for me, then re-evaluate the total cost.
How bad do you want to start reloading.

 

[Zendude]

If it still works, the tumbler also makes this a good deal.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

I’m going to disagree with some of my esteemed colleagues here. All of that equipment looks to be in good condition, and there’s nothing wrong with a single stage press; especially for starting out. There looks to be well over $200 worth of stuff there; and more importantly, everything you need to get started with .38/.357. Those dies probably aren’t carbide dies if they are the same age as the press, but there’s probably lots of life left in them. You’ll need case lube if they aren’t. You’ll also want to inspect the brass before you use it since it’s of unknown origin and number of uses. If you are going to be a casual reloader (150-200 rounds per week) you might find it’s all you need; then again once you learn and become familiar with the process, you may decide you need to upgrade. That scale, even though a little on the flimsy side, is actually very accurate. You can start with it (if the pan is there with it), but you’ll probably want to upgrade it at some point if you decide to buy.

None of us can make the decision for you as to whether this setup is for you or not. You are the one who has looked at and gone through it, and you are the one who knows what you want to do with it. Everyone has given you good advice and opinions. Good luck, and use your own judgement.

 

[Hondo 60]

Should I bite the bullet and start with a lee loader or shell out a couple hundred possibly for a complete reloading setup my buddy that inherited a complete setup?

Short & Simple YES! You should start reloading.
It'll cost a bit to start but you'll save about 50% vs factory ammo.

If it were me, I'd go for a complete setup.
You'll find that after a short time, a lee loader just doesn't do it.

I'd HATE to add up what I've spent over the years.
I started cheap & only the original press remains.
All the additional odds & ends got boxed up.
Some got sold, some got donated & some are on the shelf in the workshop.

It doesn't take long to recoup the up front costs.

By the way, I really don't save any $$.
BUT - I shoot a LOT more than I could by paying $20+ per box of ammo.

 

[shoebox1.1]

I don’t think I got pics of the powder. I’m sure it’s from the 90’s. The bullseye can looked OLD. I for sure want carbide dies. These were lil rusty too. That 200 might be better spend on the new lee kit
https://leeprecision.com/50th-anniversary-breech-lock-challenger-kit.html

 

[shoebox1.1]

Or the turret

https://leeprecision.com/value-4-hole-turret-press-kit.html

 

[PWC]

Do it, I didn't see powder, but otherwise, everything you need to learn reloading is there. Learn the process SAFELY first, then continue with what you have until you find there is a need to upgrade because you need to load more, faster. Don't get rid of your bench mounted press....everyone who does eventually comes back to a single stage for brass prep, deprime, or bullet sizing.

 

[lordpaxman]

From what I saw in the pics the components alone are worth more than the 200$. I don’t reload with Lee but from what I’ve heard they’ll work just fine if you do your part. This setup would allow you to start the addiction... good luck!