Reloading setup for 3 broke students?

[Cato the Younger]

Dear All,
I, along with 2 of my friends, regularly go shooting with our pistols. I have a S&W Model 28 357 Mag and a Springfield XD 9mm, my one friend has a Taurus 24/7 40 S&W, and my 3rd friend is going to get a GP100 in 357 mag. We are looking to get into reloading, at least for the revolvers (38 spc/357 mag ammo), because of the high cost of ammo down here. We would be able to devote a few hours every other weekend to reloading, and we generally shoot 100 rounds out of each gun a range session, for 200 total, and go out 2 times a month. We are in Central Texas- if any of you experienced loaders have suggestions, we would be grateful- we would also like advice on settling up a bench, etc...I have a large free space in my bedroom, that I will be able to set up a press it- 4 feet deep by 7 wide. Also, we would like to keep the cost with everything (dies, manuals, etc) no higher than $200 total- of course powder, bullets, etc, would be extra.

thank you for your advice in advance

 

[PotatoJudge]

Lee loaders, lead bullets, Unique/Win231 or any powder that'll cover all your calibers, and a box of primers (Winchester Small Pistol should work). Looks like about $140 for your first 1000 rounds, assuming free brass. About $70/1000 after that.
I think this is about as cheap as it gets, and for a bit more you can have a press, scale, powder thrower, hand primer, and all that. Some of the Lee kits should work for you and aren't expensive.

Edit: I don't see Lee Loaders in 40 S&W, but Lee kits are still in your price range.

 

[bfox]

Hi
Look at Cabelas they have a Lee Classic turret kit
for a good price .

Bill

 

[trickyasafox]

break down to load 357/38 and 40sw:

lee classic 4 hole turret w/ auto index: 83.99
spare 4 hole turret for press : 9.19
calipers : 25.99
Lee Modern Reloading book : 12.99
38/357 dies (4 die carbide set) : 26.99
40sw dies (4 die carbide set) : 26.99
lee auto disk powder measure : 18.99

totals out to 205.13 from midwayusa. a bit over what you wanted, but if you want to save a quick 10 bucks get the 3 die sets instead of the 4 die sets. that or you could get the non-classic turret press. that'll save you 20.

 

[lee n. field]

Lee Hand Press kit, Lee carbide die set, and a couple loading blocks. Lyman and/or Speer's manual. Get a powder and bullet combo to match what the instruction sheet says will work with the included powder dipper.

If you want to get fancier than that you will need to get a scale and powder measure.

 

[Matt Dillon]

Look on eBay for good deals on used reloading equipment, such as loading trays, scales (I prefer the Ohaus 1010), scale calibrating weights, etc. But most important, get and read 3-4 reloading manuals from cover to cover before even attempting to reload anything.

 

[bigsarg99]

I was in your positions 20 years ago, student needing a press setup. first and formost get you some sort of load manual or two. I couldnt afford to buy them at frst so I checked them out from a local library and photo copied any pages I needed or wrote down the data I needed but it is better to have the book there once you start. There wasn't a huge internet back then with all types of load data but there is now so seach the net too.

Now the press, a friend suggested the lee Challenger anniversary kit for $79.00 and came with one set of lee carbide dies. If I remember correctly it came with a powder measure hopper, lube the press, a set of premeasured lee powder dippers and a few other little goodies. It is a single stage press and it taught me the basics of handloading before graduating to a multistage press. It was good because lee die sets were good for my needs but inexpensive. I dont think that the Kit has gone up much in price over the years. I still use that press today with my hunting rifle calibers.

I agree with what was said before about the powder, WIN 231 or some other universal powder will cover you all. For brass I was fortunate to go to ranges that didnt mind me being a good little helper and picking up all the brass for them. You can also look in the trashcans there and find the boxes that people throw away and reuse them as bullet trays.

You are gonna need to get you at least a small tumbler to clean you brass and if you cant afford a seperator i used a cheap plastic $1.00 kitchen strainer and a big plastic bowl that I got in a set of 5 for about 2 bucks. The bullets you may want look around the net and places like Midway or check local gunshows and gunshops.

One last thing I found helpful in the beginning was a Kinetic Bullet puller ( about 13-17 dollars) as the ones your unsure about or mess on you can pull and salvage the componets.

Good luck on your quest.

 

[Walkalong]

We have a publication here which is called "The Bulletin Board" where people place adds for free. There are sometimes great deals on reloading stuff people no longer want or they don't need because they "upgraded". If you have something like that there it is a good place to look.

 

[shu]

Here's my setup. originally just the upper part, built from 1/2 inch plywood and 1x2's. Made a nice semi-portable loading bench - bring to the range in back of a pickup truck. Later I came by a water damaged folding table. replaced the top with plywood and screwed the previously constructed box to the new table top. Still semi-portable.

As a single stage, this still works at a satisfactory speed. I have a pile of primed cases to the left of the powder drop, a pile of bullets between powder drop and press. Pick up a case, drop powder, visual check of powder, place bullet, seat and crimp.

Most of the hardware came with the RCBS master reloading kit. You will not need the case trimmer if you stay with straight wall (handgun) cases. The RCBS Rockchucker press may be over-sturdy for handgun only needs. Other needed hardware which did not come with the kit: dies, shell holder(s), calipers, and case tumbler.

Whatever press you go with, *do* get: one or more good books, calipers, and a good powder scale.

-shu

 

[Art Eatman]

I started out with an old Lyman 310 tong tool and a "good used" scale. I had no problem getting one MOA groups from my '06 with my loads...

Art

 

[MCgunner]

I loaded a lot of ammo in my dorm room with a simple Lee hand tool when I got bored of studying. Don't know if you could get away with powder in your dorm room now days. Maybe put it in an unmarked container, a dry coke can, or something. At A&M, they didn't end keeping your rifle in your room until the 40s. That was to stop the marksmanship competitions at 12 midnight shooting the red light off the top of the academic building. I gave a "demonstration speech" in speech class with my Lee tool, step by step, but used corn cob media for powder, inert round for class.

 

[benedict1]

You can get a better deal than Cabela's or Midway on a Lee Classic Turret Press Kit at

http://www.kempfgunshop.com/products/reloading/leeprecision/kits/KempfKit.html

It includes the dies. Spend the extra 10 bucks for the Pro Auto Disk upgrade.

You need a scale--Lee Safety Scale at Kempf's is only about 20 bucks. It is super sensitive and can try your patience but it is right-on in accuracy.

By the time you buy some bullets, Win 231, primers, etc. you could each be in business for about $75 each.

You would need a table or bench to mount the press.

 

[strat81]

Don't forget safety glasses, a good manual, and a bullet puller for fixing the mistakes. I got my Lee Classic Cast Turret from www.fmreloading.com who has better prices than Midway.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Absolutely spend the little extra to get a turret press rather than a single stage given your round count vs. loading time ratio.

I personally use dillon and RCBS preoducts. However lee can't be beat when the pennies are tight. My bro-in-law has loaded thousands on his lee tuuet press.

You're getting good advice here on THR. As usual.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

You young gentlemen are taking the wrong approach. You need to do what my son did at UNC Chapel Hill. He started a gun club on campus, enlisted the aid of the NRA and local gun clubs, got the student body to pass "fairness" legislation requiring the school to equally fund all clubs. At that point, he and his were set. They haven't paid for shooting supplies since.

If you'd like information on how he did it, pm me with an email address and I'll forward you to him so you can talk direct. He worked for a conservative think tank this summer and has this information in document form.

Regards,

Dave

 

[benedict1]

NRA help to set up a student shooting club--

Now this is a good idea!

 

[Cato the Younger]

we are going to live in a house off-campus

So, we do not have to worry about dorm-room restrictions. I should thus have plenty of space to set up a bench. On a side note- I have heard that you need to have adequate ventilation around lead dust- would setting up an industrial blower behind the press, that I run while reloading, be sufficient?

thanks for all the great info

 

[joevilla71]

How about this: Used Dillon Square Deal

Used Dillon Square Deal
.45 Dies (Sell them and buy the .357
10MM Dies (Think you can use them to load .40 NOT Sure; if not sell them)
9MM Dies

To your door for $245.00 including shipping.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[Shoney]

Dave in FB Ga has your answer.

Have you considered the arguments/disagreements that will follow when one or all go their seperate way??????? Who owns which equipment if you buy it together. Really bad idea.

If you are to get it, one person should get the press and scales (thats all you need to load sucessfully with those cartidges). Then each person can get their own dies/shell holders.

Good luck.

 

[Cato the Younger]

I have thought of that

I had a similar situation a few years ago when I bought a rifled-slug shotgun (Savage 210?) along with my little brother- we put in 50-50% on it. I left, and he bought me out for my half of the press- After graduation, I will probably buy the other guys out. We have 2 years left. I could then storage the unit with my family, as I plan to go into the military or some sort of foreign service after I am done with law school. Alternatly, I could just buy the press now, with my own $$, and let my friends buy componenets/etc! I am good friends with these guys, otherwise, I would not even consider going in on something with them. Yes, I will probably buy the entire press, maybe I can work out some sort of "rental" agreement with my friends.

 

[Phillip Allen]

A warning to young people...

It is VERY tempting to get into the bigger is better/speed trap of youth...resist it lest Cato fall on his sword

 

[shu]

Dave in FB GA:

That's a hard act to follow! Good on 'em.!

 

[tomhorn]

press ,scale ,38 / 357 dies with shell holder,9mm carbide die set a bunch of shells (butt load) powder drop , de burrer tool, 38 shells a butt load of those, hand primer ,185.00 plus shipping I live in houston or you can pick it up .

 

[Sistema1927]

Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus

Great sig line. He can be glorified in shooting and reloading as well as in all of our other activities.

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God" (I Cor 10:31, ESV)