New to the boards and reloading

[Ubes]

Hey everyone!

For years now I have struggled back and forth with whether I should reload or not. As it is a large investment and I already have SEVERAL investments on the table (i.e. college, wedding), I have been unable to save up sufficient funds to aid me in my love for shooting, hunting, and the outdoors. As I graduate in May, I have come to the decision that I will invest graduation money to start a future in reloading. From now till then, I will ingest all the information I can. From what I have already seen, there is a wealth of knowledge here that far exceeds anything I can ask for.

In advance, thanks for all the help and hopefully in the future, I can return the favor.

~Ubes

 

[rg1]

What part of the country are you going to "skool". If you were near KY. you'd be welcome to use my equipment. Now after graduation you'll be starting careers, then families, and other necessities will possibly delay your entry into reloading again.There's no better time to start than now, except for the recent skyrocketing costs of components. You can do some loading on the cheap with less expensive equipment and it doesn't take a garage or entire room for your set-up. I do understand your plight as I remember funds were meager during my college years.

 

[Walkalong]

Get a modest Lee set up to start. You don't have to spend a fortune to get started. A single stage or Classic turret kit, depending on how much ammo yiou expect to reload.

Welcome to THR

 

[glockgod]

Welcome!!

Reloading is an addiction-you don't really save money you just get to shoot a LOT more!!

 

[SSN Vet]

Welcome aboard the board....

You will likely enjoy reloading as much if not more than shooting and hunting. You'll also learn a ton of new info. that will greatly inform you shooting. And on top of all that, reloading enables you to enjoy your hobby on bad weather days or when you just don't have enough time to get out to the range.

I HIGHLY recomment a Lee Classic (cast) Turret press set up. It will only cost you ~$200 +/- to get set up and you can grow a loooong time before you will really need anything else.

Good luck to ya.

 

[TimRB]

Another approach is to make your situation known at the local gun club. No doubt there are many handloaders there, and it's likely that someone will be able to fix you up with all the used gear you need for next to nothing. He also will be able (and willing, I'm sure) to show you how to use it.

Tim

 

[Smokey Joe]

Starting reloading...

Ubes--

From now till then, I will ingest all the information I can.

EXCELLENT PLAN!!!May I suggest the "standard text" on the subject, titled The ABC'S of Reloading published by Krause Publishing.

This book contains the basics on all aspects of reloading, and goes far beyond the basics as well. Something for everyone. Icludes safety procedures. Belongs on every reloader's bookshelf, well thumbed, IMHO. The published must be doing something right; the book is now in its eighth edition.

Get it @ yr local sptg gds sto, gun sho, used book sto, local Barnes & Noble or equivalent, or over the I'net from Amazon or the like, or order direct, www.krause.com

Having digested The ABC's, you will be knowledgeable as to what equipment you (1) must have to get started, (2) want beyond #1, and (3) can wait to get or simply don't need. You will also be well informed as to techniques for using the reloading equipment.

Beyond that, hands-on learning is great, as I'm sure you know, so try to acquire a reloader friend who will allow you to learn on their equipment. You still need to study published procedures, however.

After the ABC's, which is a how-to and why-and-why-not-to book, you will need a loading manual, which states recipes for loading various cartridges. There are several published manuals, all good. My go-to manual is Lyman's 48th edition, but I also have manuals by Nosler (5th and 6th ed.) and Sierra, and Ken Waters' Pet Loads, among several others. It is well to have more than one manual when developing a load for your Old Betsy.

(BTW, you do NOT want to use loads off the I'net from anonymous sources. Any careless yahoo can recommend any load at all, safety be damned, and the risk is all yours. The powder and bullet makers all have websites, and they are not anonymous, of course, so they can be trusted. I'd still cross-check a proposed recipe however.)

Enough said! Good on you for planning to acquire knowledge BEFORE equipment!

Oh, and welcome to The Magnificent Obsession--Reloading!

 

[tunnug]

welcome to the addiction, I would suggest you also keep an eye on any sporting goods classifieds in your area for anyone selling reloading equipment, I started by buying someones kit that was getting out for $75, got a bunch of stuff and slowly added more as I could afford it, most of the used stuff out there is in really good condition and if it isn't it can be repaired/upgraded cheaper than bought new, good luck.

 

[jcwit]

RCModel where are you? Help this guy out.

 

[rfwobbly]

....and I already have SEVERAL investments on the table (i.e. college, wedding)....

You don't need no stinkin' wife. You've got all of us!


Welcome aboard!

 

[greatplainsrentall]

I am newly interested in reloading and curious what the general consensus is about saving money vs buying bulk factory ammo (cabela's). The little research I've been doing, it looks like it could become more of a hobby and not really a money saver? I could use some advise on this before I go buy some high dollar equipment. Any advise would be very helpful. Thanks

 

[Ubes]

1) Where do I go to school? (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater).
2) Don't need a stinkin' wife ( We've dated since Junior year of High School, and yes, she basically owns me now).
3) Actually aside from reloading I want to get something that will be economical to shoot (S&W Wheel gun or an XD-M in 40cal.). Right now I have a deer rifle, a WASR-10, a bunch of milsurps, a few shotguns, and a CZ-82 in 9x18 Mak. The Later is rather cheap to get ammo for (about 15-18 cents a round).
4) As a collector of firearms, I already have stockpiles of Milsurp berdan-primed ammunition (many 50 cal. cans full of 7.62x54R, 7.62x39, 8mm, ect).
5) The Lee seems to be the way to go it sounds!
6) Thanks for the warm welcome!

~Ubes

 

[Doug b]

Welcome new members

Greatplainsrentall a much better cost comparison would be reloaded ammo vs best premium ammo.I've never seen bulk ammo shoot the tacks off the target,or even hold a decent group.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Support, companionship, good management...

( We've dated since Junior year of High School, and yes, she basically owns me now).

This can work out to a Good Thing. Mrs. Smokey Joe has owned me for 40 years now, and keeps me on an even keel during the rough spots, the dear.

You've known your SWMBO long enough now to know she and you are compatible--I'd say (without knowing you or she any further) that the 2 of you are onto a good situation here.

Mrs. Smokey Joe doesn't even make fun of me when I miss a deer. Or come home all upset from pistol league because it was "one of those nights." Every man should be so lucky.

 

[Walkalong]

Actually aside from reloading I want to get something that will be economical to shoot (S&W Wheel gun or an XD-M in 40cal.).

S&W K Frame .38 - Fun, cheap to shoot, even cheaper when you reload.
(Get a .357 and you can shoot .38 or you can download .357 cases, and you have a gun that can shoot .357-very versatile-think GP-100 or S&W 686 or S&W 28...)

.40? Nah. 9MM - Fun, cheap to shoot, even cheaper if you reload. Way cheaper than .40 Cal.

XD or XD M - Nice choice.

 

[SASS#23149]

get the revolver,then you won;t have to chase stinking brass all over stinking creation. LOL

and .38 special brass is CHEAP.
heck,BEYOND CHEAP.

 

[Ubes]

Mrs. Smokey Joe doesn't even make fun of me when I miss a deer. Or come home all upset from pistol league because it was "one of those nights." Every man should be so lucky.

Hehe, I know what you mean. I've been doing a trap league over the summer now for the last 4 years. She doesn't like guns but supports the habit by rooting me on (and heck, she loaned me the 2 dollars to buy into last years banquet Annie Oakley tourney and I swept the pot.)

The 686 is VERY nice, and I love the look of the 4" model, however with an MSRP of well over $800, I'll need to wait till I got more money or find one used, or something else all together (In any case, it will always be on the wish list )

~Ubes

 

[Walkalong]

MSRP of well over $800

Heck, who needs a new one?

I just bought a very nice Colt Trooper Mk III for way less than $800. Good deals on the 586 and 686 are out there too.

 

[pmeisel]

Since you have a little while to investigate -- keep your eyes and ears open for used reloading presses. A lot of guys have a single stage or turret and upgrade to a progressive, and many would be willing to let the old one go at a bargain. A lot of those aren't necessarily advertised, because they don't really need to sell it.... but might if they found a willing buyer they didn't have to hunt for.

 

[qajaq59]

Put an ad in your local classified section saying you want to buy reloading equipment. You may get pleasantly surprised at what might turn up.

 

[rfwobbly]

get the revolver,then you won;t have to chase stinking brass all over stinking creation. LOL

Yea, when you go to the range you can always tell when a revolver shooter was there before you. They always leave their brass in nice neat little piles right there on the shooting bench. That is such a considerate and thoughtful touch. You can simply sweep those cases off into your range bag and in no time at all you'll be sitting on 5000 cases begging to be reloaded.


For a revolver built for day after day of target practice may I humbly suggest checking into the Ruger GP100 series. 357 Mag available in 2, 4, and 6 inch barrels, stainless or blued, target sights. Insist on the barrel with the full-length under-rib. About $100 less than the equivalent S&W model.


Hope this helps!