Thinking about getting in to reloading.

[Carter]

I'm looking at getting in to reloading. Right now I'm thinking about reloading for .45acp, but plan to add other calibers later (9mm, 5.56/.223, maybe .308). So far I've compiled this list of supplies:

Press-Lee Classic 4 Hole Turrent Press $94.99
Dies-Lee Deluxe Carbide 4 set for .45 acp $36.99
Shell Holders-Lee Universal $3.49
Powder measure/dispenser-Lee Perfect Powder Measure $18.79
Powder scale-RCBS 505 $74.99
Calipers-Hornady Electric 6" SS $24.99
Mauel-Lee Edition $13.99
Bullet Pullers-RCBS Collet $19.99
Brass Trimmer-RCBS Trim Pro $83.49
Cartridge Guage-Lyman Max $12.79
Case Lube-Hornady One Shot $6.59
Case Cleaner-Hornady 1 quart $18.49

Roughly rounded up to around $412
EDIT: I don't know what I need and don't need. I simply went off the list in one of the sticky threads. So, let me know if I'm getting something I don't really need.

Please feel free to rip that list apart for better equipment around the same price, or for a way to get a good setup cheaper.

Also, how much powder would I need for 500 rounds of .45 acp? I'm trying to get an estimate on how much money it would save me to load my own ammo then reload it.

Finally-What is a good powder, brass case, primer, and bullet for target rounds that would come out cheaper than buying ammo from the store?

Thanks guys.

 

[ScratchnDent]

If you go with the Lee deluxe die set, you won't need the shellholders, nor the case lube for pistol cases. You could also skip the case trimmer until you decide to load rifle cartridges.

The collet style bullet pullers don't work well at all on pistol bullets. A kinetic hammer type is the way to go there.

The cartridge gauge is nice, but not entirely necessary. You can just use your pistol barrel as a gauge.

I'd also skip the Hornady case cleaner. I make my own with water, dish soap, and lemon juice.


With most powders, you can easily get 1000 rounds of .45 per pound. Even with the least economical powder I've used in .45, I can get near 600 rounds per pound.

Bullseye, Unique, W-231, among several others, are all good, economical powders for .45acp. Any large pistol primer will do. They are all very close in cost. I like Winchesters and CCI, because that's what my local shop always has in stock.

Lead bullets from someone like Penn Bullets or Missouri Bullet company are great shooters and as economical as it gets. If you'd prefer to not use lead, then plated bullets from Ranier or Berry's are the next cheapest option, and also shoot pretty darn good.

For pistol brass, I like Winchester, Starline, and CCI the best. Federal cases seem to be softer and the primer pockets loosen up sooner. Remington cases are the thinnest, and sometimes don't hold jacketed bullets very well. They are great for over-sized lead bullets, though.

 

[Carter]

Good to know, things just got a lot cheaper.

I'd also skip the Hornady case cleaner. I make my own with water, dish soap, and lemon juice.

Care to give the ration of water, soap, and lemon juice on that?

 

[RustyFN]

Press-Lee Classic 4 Hole Turrent Press $94.99
Great press.
Dies-Lee Deluxe Carbide 4 set for .45 acp $36.99
It comes with the shell holder.
Shell Holders-Lee Universal $3.49
Don't need.
Powder measure/dispenser-Lee Perfect Powder Measure $18.79
For loading pistol you would be better off with the pro auto disk measure.
Powder scale-RCBS 505 $74.99
Good scale.
Calipers-Hornady Electric 6" SS $24.99
Mauel-Lee Edition $13.99
Bullet Pullers-RCBS Collet $19.99
Works good.
Brass Trimmer-RCBS Trim Pro $83.49
You won't need to trim 45 acp brass.
Cartridge Guage-Lyman Max $12.79
Works OK but you can use the barrel from your gun for free.
Case Lube-Hornady One Shot $6.59
Also won't need case lube for pistol with carbide dies.
Case Cleaner-Hornady 1 quart $18.49
Not sure what that is. I would suggest a tumbler.

Check out the classic turret kit at www.kempfgunshop.com.

 

[Randy1911]

Welcome to the world of reloading. You will find it is a great hobby, besides, you can shoot the same amount of ammo for about 1/3 the cost of factory ammo. But the truth is, you will just shoot 3 times as much.

As far as case cleaning goes, you will be a lot better off buying a vibritory tumbler with corn cob media. It is faster and a lot cleaner to mess with.

Plenty of help here, so just ask.

 

[Carter]

Plenty of help here, so just ask.

I will be. I feel a little overwhelmed right now with all of the options.

Also, how much powder would I need for 500 rounds of .45 acp? I'm trying to get an estimate on how much money it would save me to load my own ammo then reload it.

Finally-What is a good powder, brass case, primer, and bullet for target rounds that would come out cheaper than buying ammo from the store?

Those two questions would really help as well.

 

[ScratchnDent]

Care to give the ration of water, soap, and lemon juice on that?

It's a secret and highly precise formula...

I use about a gallon of water, a good squirt of soap, and about a tablespoon or two of concentrated lemon juice.

I soak the brass overnight in a bucket, shake it around a couple times, then rinse it off in a kitchen strainer real well, then dump it out on a rag or newspaper to dry overnight.

The same batch lasts for hundreds and hundreds of cases. I dump it when it starts to get so cloudy that the brass is hard to see at the bottom of the bucket.

The brass doesn't come out quite as shiny as it would from a tumbler, but it loads and shoots fine, and doesn't cost me any electricity.

Also, I added more to my earlier reply above about powder, primers, bullets, and brass

 

[Carter]

ScratchnDent,

Thank you very sir.

 

[Hondo 60]

Looked over your list & RustyFN made great comments.

Welcome to the addiction!

 

[Randy1911]

Read here for answers on how much will it cost.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=18835

 

[RustyFN]

Quote:
Also, how much powder would I need for 500 rounds of .45 acp? I'm trying to get an estimate on how much money it would save me to load my own ammo then reload it.

Finally-What is a good powder, brass case, primer, and bullet for target rounds that would come out cheaper than buying ammo from the store?

Those two questions would really help as well.

My go to powder for 45 auto is WST. I load 5 grains under a home cast 200 grain SWC. Very clean and very accurate. I can load 1,400 rounds with one pound of powder. There are 7,000 grains in one pound. Divide that by your charge weight and that will tell you how many rounds in that pound. I use mixed brass that I pick up off the ground at the range. I use whatever primers are available. I have used Win, CCI, Magtech and Wolf and had zero problems with all of them. If you buy in bulk say 8 pounds of powder and 10,000 primers at a time you should be able to load for half of what cheap WWB ammo cost and have a lot better ammo. Powder Valley and Graf's will ship powder and primers together for one hazmat fee. Good luck and welcome.

 

[Carter]

Thank you RustyFN.

I'm trying to get away from crappy steel cased ammo. Thought handloading/reloading pistol rounds would be a good place to start and learn the basics. Not to mention I'm starting to enjoy pistols more anyways.

Maybe I was looking in the wrong places, but why is loading .40 the same cost of loading .45 (bullet and case wise)? Figured it'd be a little cheaper, but it seemed to be the same prices.

 

[KBintheSLC]

You have a good list going... Lee's "Perfect Powder Measure" is not a bad little tool for the price. However, I tend to use the Lee "Improved Powder Measure Kit" scoops far more often to measure by volume... they do it quickly and accurately with little chance of overcharging if you load responsibly. You can even sand them down to make very specific loads. Since you have a scale on there too, you could use that to crosscheck the scoops.
Also, you might think about adding a little hand press. Lee has one that works great for cheap. You can do a lot of case prep work from the comfort of the couch.
Best of luck.