Reloading 101?

[CZ52GUY]

Hi,

I've been shooting regularly for about 3 years now (weekly...150-300 rounds a week).

I started competing in IDPA and the more serious gamers are trying to get me into reloading.

My concerns:
Space - I have no idea where I would fit a press...and I've looked
Time - I'd really rather be dry-firing or doing live-fire than reloading
Safety - I have a very little one in the house...storage I think I can cover, but going back to space...a location that lets me work that is not accessible to the toddler isn't obvious to me
Start-up Cost - My "investment capital" is limited

My goals:
- Find a way to get started anyway...is there some lower cost "dating cycle" as opposed to "popping the question" and committing for life?
- Near term would be a couple pistol calibers to load up with frangible for indoor season so I can maintain live-fire practice regimen (my club's 50+ year old range requires frangible).
- An evolutionary path that would allow me to build on the smaller investments without having to replace invested $$$...also, a way to acquire that doesn't require a "reloading wing" be added to my home.
- Long term, 4 or 5 pistol calibers, 3 or 4 rifle calibers plus SG (mostly slugs and buckshot for self-defense shotty practice)

The long term cost benefits and flexibility...as well as having my hobby be a little bit more self-contained is very attractive...I just can't seem to make the pieces add up for me right now.

Am I out of luck or is there a way to do this?

Thanks in advance,

CZ52'

 

[Highland Ranger]

I am not a reloader, but from what I have read, getting into it is not really a cost saving measure.

Believe there are numerous cost of reloading threads here and on TFL - have a look.

What it will do for you is optimize your gun/cartridge combinations for accuracy.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Get a Lee handpress set, and a large tool box. You can lock up everything in the tool box, and the outlay will be small.

You can reload with the handpress while watching TV -- sizing 200 or so cases is a snap. Use the Lee Autoprime, and priming is just as easy. The dies will come with a dipper that will provide you with a safe load.

Later on, you may want a bigger, more capable setup -- so use your handpress for working up loads at the range.

 

[capbuster]

Be forewarned. reloading is contagious. I highly recommend it but it may not be to your liking. It is time consuming.It is also a thrill when you win a match or harvest a game animal with your reloads. You might want to join one of your shooting friends during a reloading session and get your feet wet.Reading is good.Do some research and see if your interest is highened.It is nice to have a reloading room but sometimes its not practical. One thought is to build a bench inside your closet.Make it deep enough to mount a press but not too deep to interfer with the clothing.Years ago I used a small bench that I keep in the closet and pulled it out to use.All you really need is something study to mount a press to. One of my buddies C clamps his press to his kitchen table.Once you actually assist someone reload, you will see the possiblities for a micro reloading area. Keep your stuff under lock and key to keep the youngins out.You can get started with a solid single stage press,carbide dies,shell holder,bullets,cases, powder,primers,reloading manual and some way to measure powder.You can buy a powder measure and a powder scale but for the time being you can get by with a set of powder scoops from Lee.I use a powder measure and scale but its your money and the scoops or spoons by Lee are cheap.If you decide that reloading is not for you, you should have no trouble selling most of your stuff.

 

[taliv]

you're definitely looking at some compromises there.

reloading for IDPA is nothing more than spending your time to save money.

if you want to save time, you can get a progressive press, but you're not going to find one that's easily portable or that takes up very little space. I am quite fond of my arbor press and wilson hand dies, which are easy to transport and easy to store, but they're more appropriate for small volume of high quality loads, rather than a bungload of blasters. Making thousands of rounds for IPDA practice would get old FAST on that press.

i wouldn't worry about a toddler's safety around my reloading stuff, except for two things: all the chemicals and powder i spray and spill in the area, and obviously choking hazards

the real bummer is that you're going to have to buy a LOT of components to make it cost effective, which doesn't fit your "starter/evolutionary" goal. you could, however, go in with a group on a bulk purchase to get costs down.

good luck though and definitely post something if you find a good solution.

 

[Dave R]

I had a lot of the same concerns. Then I inherited a rifle I love, in a caliber that requires reloading. I was forced into it on a very tight budget. And I have kids in the house.

I bought all my equipment used. If I had it to do over, I would buy a Lee Anniversary kit ($89.) You may need another $20-$50 in equipment before you're done.

I keep all my stuff in a rubbermaid tub when I'm not using it. I clamp my press to the kitchen table or the picnic table outside when I'm using it.

Time? I make this claim that I can load a box of 50 9mm faster than I could drive to Wal-Mart to buy the box. I'm not positive, but I think that's accurate. Doesn't take that long when your dies are all adjusted and you know what you're doing.

 

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Hit up your IDPA friends to let you borrow their reloading bench once in a while. That'll eliminate all of your cost, space and toddler concerns. If those friends are serious about getting you into reloading, I bet they'll be happy to oblige. I know my reloader friends certainly were.

If you want your own set up, buy a cheap Lee press. The Lee presses get the job done, just barely. At $25 or so you won't be pained should you decide that reloading isn't for you.

Buy a top quality scale. They're expensive ($75 or so is a minumim), and they have no salvage value if you decide you don't like to reload. But there ins't really any substitute for a proper scale. Lee would have you believe that you can measure powder by volume, and that you don't need the scale, but I don't buy it. Buy a proper scale.

Dies ($20), calipers ($25), a reloading manual ($20) are the only other must-haves. A powder funnel (< $5), case loading blocks (< $5) are really handy, and so cheap that there's no reason not to buy 'em. A good lockable toolbox for all the little bits will go a long way towards solving your space and toddler worries.

So that works out to, say, something like $175 for a fully functional, brand new reloading set up. Photocopy the relevant pages of a friend's manual, and orrow some of the tools if you can, to save a few dollars. Mebbe you could buy some of their old equipment from them, too.

If you decide you like reloading, all of the tools I've listed above will still be handy and useful, no wasted money at all. Buy a good press, probably progressive, but keep that old Lee handy for the little odd-jobs that always seem to crop up. Add a good powder measure, a case trimmer, and mebbe a tumbler and you'll have a full-fledged set up.

One odd phenomenon about reloading is that it doesn't really save you any money, even though that's why most people get into it. You'll spend the same amount as before, but you'll shoot so much more. So I guess it works out well.

 

[CZ52GUY]

Hi,

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies.

Yeah, I understand that there are some unavoidable trade-offs. Right now I'm leaning toward a bare bones set-up that would let me load one or two calibers of frangible for the winter months. Given that is a requirement at my club (and the alternative is paying for "lane time" at a public access range), I think I could justify starting off with a "tool box" arrangement that would become my "portable loader" should I someday move on to a progressive press.

Given my research, current circumstances, and the responses you all have given, it would seem best to focus on reloading as a way to obtain ammo' that is sometimes difficult to get and expensive to acquire (e.g. the frangible stuff). A "tool box" set-up would let me "stick my toe in the water" to see if reloading is something I really am interested in...and I'd always have the "portable reloader" option no matter what.

Now I need to sift through your replies again to make a good "shopping list".

Thanks again!

CZ52'

 

[Timothy]

Caution!

Reloading while watching TV can be hazardous to your health

 

[CZ52GUY]

Fortunately I seldom watch the boob tube .

Stay safe,

CZ52'

 

[Dave R]

A "tool box" set-up would let me "stick my toe in the water" to see if reloading is something I really am interested in

I gotta warn you...once you stick your toe in...you're gonna be hooked.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Quote:
--------------------------
Caution!

Reloading while watching TV can be hazardous to your health
------------------------------

It depends on what you're doing. When I had an apartment (ptui!), I would sit there with a bowl full of cases in my lap, another bowl between my feet, and deprime and resize on autopilot.

Now, when it comes to weighing charges, you want 100% of your attention on what you're doing.

 

[Timothy]

Vern is correct!

Somethings can be done on autopilot while watching TV and it sure makes a boring job go faster. I agree with 100% concentration when it comes to powder. I have a small TV close to my bench and used to keep up to speed on one or more football games when reloading. Note I said "used to". I forget anymore the exact powder and charge but I was setting up my dispenser and checking against my scale. I checked the fifth or so charged case and it was right on the money so I kept going but something just didn't seem right. I checked my load data and as a result of thinking about football scores, I guess, had set up for 6.5 gr. instead of 5.6. IIRC 5.6 was already pretty hot. That put an end to that nonsense!

 

[Steve Smith]

Considering the amount of ammo you go through, I think you'll be rather annoyed by the slow progress of something that would fit in a toolbox. A progressive will make your loading easier and much less time consuming, but does take up a little more space. A Dillon 550 will give you at least 400 rounds of pistol ammo an hour at a reasonably fast speed. At full speed it will do 500. That means that in one night (you will have to spend some time "prepping" before you actually start making ammo) you will have enough to shoot the whole month. Shoot lead unjacketed in anything under 1000 fps (good rule of thumb) and you will save a lot.

 

[only1asterisk]

Steve has a point. Loading lots of practice ammo for IDPA will require a progressive press.

But don't let that keep you from buying a cheap single stage press. Other than the press itself, I can't think of a single thing you don't still need when you upgrade.

Be careful with young children. Depriming releases dust that contains lead. You will have to clean up behind yourself with extreme care. Spent primers can also get away from you on some (many) presses. The cheap Lee c frame press is the worst. You don't want a kid to eat a spent primer.

There has a really good tread about 4 or 5 month ago (IIRC) i'll see if I cant find it.


David

 

[CZ52GUY]

Be careful with young children. Depriming releases dust that contains lead. You will have to clean up behind yourself with extreme care. Spent primers can also get away from you on some (many) presses. The cheap Lee c frame press is the worst. You don't want a kid to eat a spent primer.

Frankly, these are the kinds of things that are most important to me as I consider the pro's/con's of reloading. Not having done it, I'm ignorant as to some of these risks.

Right now space for a Progressive Press is non-existent. I'd really have to do some serious house cleaning to make room for one. My #1 interest in reloading short term is to be able to load one or two pistol calibers with frangible ammo' for the indoor season at my club. I don't expect to load 100's of rounds short term, and if I have to substitute some dry-fire for live-fire this one winter, I'll do it. Frangible ammo' is fairly cost prohibitive (or just plain unavailable) in terms of options I've been able to find in my area, and I've looked hard.

Some day I'd love to have a progressive press, a well ventilated place to use it, and to enjoy all the benefits you folks have described. My #1 priority is to first DO NO HARM to my little one and my bride. If I come in 10th in the IDPA match instead of 5th because I'm not loading up hyper-accurate rounds...I can live with that. I can't imagine how terrible I would feel after an accidental injury or worse caused by my ignorance or unintended negligence. I need to better understand the context of the risks and how best to avoid them.

Thanks for the good advice, and I'll keep doing more research. A shooting buddy offered to give me a short tutorial and let me load up some rounds on his 550B. I think I'll take him up on that and get an up close view on all that's involved.

Safe shooting (and reloading ),

CZ52'

 

[capbuster]

If you have enough brass you can break up your reloadig chores into segments and therefore always have cases on hand that only require powder charging,bullet seating,and crimping. As you use your reloads start the cylce again. Inspect cases,size and bell cases go into one lot. The next lot has primed cases which are now ready when you are. I still use this method for most of my reloading with the exception of my 45acp reloads which belong to my Dillon 550.

 

[CZ52GUY]

Update

Well, I had a chance to have a 550B demonstrated (I even loaded a few myself).

Given what I observed, and the inventory of "stuff" I've been able to identify, I'm convinced I can make this work. The "hazmat stuff" will need to be locked up, and I think that's practical. The reloader itself will need to be secured...and I believe a locking cover is available.

After further research, I'm amazed at the % of cost associated with brass. I am officially scrounging brass while I save for the Press,etc. .

I've created plans for a bench and priced the materials (it will be fun to dig out my power tools and get some use from them).

I am also amazed at the total initial investment cost. I expect to allocate significant $$ to the start-up costs, but I think I can get my money back in a reasonable amount of time. I also look forward to getting into the "other part of shooting" that I've been missing.

I'll be back with more questions I'm sure.

Thanks to all,

CZ52'

 

[goon]

I have found that I tend to reload in cycles. I will go for months without doing it and then just go load some ammo.
It doesn't really save me any money but it allows me quality control over my ammo and it allows me to shoot more for the same amount of price. In the case of my .303, it allows me to shoot a gun that I couldn't afford to shoot before and it is allowing me to find a load that will shoot to point of aim at 100 yards (need this for deer hunting). I am almost there. I am thinking that 42 grains will do it and I am going to try it this weekend. Deer season is real close and I have 50 brand new casings waiting to get used.