want to get into reloading pistols/rifles?

[grumpyvette]

what you need depends mostly on what you plan to reload
I don,t think you can go wrong with the basic RCBS SINGLE STAGE

http://www.handloads.org/loaddata/defau ... er&Source=

http://www.bhshooters.com/pistol_brass.htm

id suggest you buy a couple lbs of blue dot powder

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... =000449356

if your just doing a few rifle and pistol calibers
or the DILLON 650 if you plan on filling a few foot lockers with ammo

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/8/pkg_id/9

then you'll need Manuals (AT LEAST 3) so you can cross check

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... 0000399237

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... u=00144549

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... =000219515




and a decent scale and powder measure, and priming tool

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... =000449002

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... =000449073

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... 0004490200

you can reload hard cast bullets you mold yourself from scrap wheel weights, Linotype etc, and reload cases/ammo that works great for hunting and practice for your 44 mag for well under 10 cents a shot, IVE hunted with my 44 carbine and pistol for 40 plus years using those reloads and Ive killed my share of deer/hogs

a couple good basic bullet molds for the 44 mag for practice/low pressure reloads

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... 0152670667

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... 0000690299
YOU CAN REALISTICALLY GET INTO RELOADING FOR ABOUT $300-OR SLIGHTLY MORE AND THE EQUIPMENT COST WILL BE MORE THAN OVERCOME IN COST REDUCTION OF SAVINGS IN AMMO IN ONLY WEEKS IF YOU SHOOT A GOOD DEAL

 

[rbl2]

I have a very nice set up for reloading and cannot even tell you what I have. I loaned it to a good friend 10-12 years ago and have yet to retrieve it. I visit him all the time and we joke about it.

The only weighing I'm concerned about is for my black powder weapons.

 

[grumpyvette]

I find it amazing that many guys don,t reload.
Ive consistently found it to be well worth the expense of buying the correct tools and components, as the tools soon pay for themselves.
now I can easily understand how a beginning re loader may not think spending $350-$800 on a decent reloading bench full of tools before he makes his first cartridge, is wasting that money vs buying the $350-$800 on loaded ammo, but once you get into loading, you'll quickly find (if you keep records)that the price of ammo per box can drop noticeably.
now If you shoot less than a couple hundred cartridges a year you might not want to bother, but if your running thru several boxes every other weekend it quickly pays for itself.
youll obviously need the dies shell holders,and a decent reloading press, powder scale, manuals etc.
I've also got a mix of RCBS, Lee, Hornady and Redding dies.
the dies with carbide sizing ring inserts and small holes drilled to allow trapped case lube to exit the die without deforming the case shoulders are preferred.
having a micrometer handy to measure case head and neck diam. certainly helps and a caliper to measure case length wont hurt either
use of case lube is mandatory, but you can get by with excellent results using vasoline on an un-inked stamp pad works
smear then use a hair drier to soak in, you want minimal but full consistent case coverage
https://www.amazon.com/Shiny-AS-SHI...ocphy=9012039&hvtargid=pla-491910837320&psc=1
example
lets say you have a common, 30/30 lever action to feed and want to have a couple hundred cartridges on hand for emergency's.

local prices where IM at are about $20 a box and a quick look on line , shows that with shipping charges added thats a good price, your not likely to beat by a large margin

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/15747-5.html
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/65175-5.html
thats a dollar per cartridge currently, so a thousand loaded cartridges costs about $1000
you'll need too occasionally buy a new reloading manual simply because the available powder and projectile selection changes over time, and there are occasional mis-prints , cross checking between several manuals will make that rather obvious, you'll always want to cross check any loads listed from at least THREE different sources and start with the starting level loads and work up to what pressure levels your particular gun works best with, and THIS DOES VARY!
if your only loading for a hunting rifle a good single stage press produces very accurate ammo reasonably cheaply

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/513567/rcbs-rock-chucker-supreme-single-stage-press
Its a good Idea to buy projectiles and powder and primers in larger lots or in bulk, so you have enough on hand for several years, of shooting, once you find what a particular gun likes, because the manufacturers have the nasty habit of either discontinuing or changing specs,on projectiles and powders.
once you find a particular combo that shoots consistent one hole hundred yard groups , its really frustrating to find that particular bullet or powders discontinued!
this may sound like it will cost a great deal, but think about it, most guys will seldom shoot a large game hunting rifle more than 100 or so times a year if that, maybe 40-80 over a years time at the range then 4-6 cartridges actually hunting.
if your loading for something like an AR15 buying in bulk lots of 1000 or more lowers the cost of components slightly, and having a decent progressive reloading press makes sense

https://www.dillonprecision.com/customize-reloader.html
https://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/8/pkg_id/9

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/57...tridge-reloading-9th-edition-reloading-manual

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1064217655/lyman-reloading-handbook-49th-edition-reloading-manual

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/537267/speer-reloading-manual-14

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/158738/nosler-reloading-guide-8-reloading-manual

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...-Reloading-Manual-2nd-Edition-by-Richard-Lee-

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...cluding-Supplements-Number-1-24-By-Ken-Waters

https://www.google.com/webhp?source...nual+reviews&tbm=shop&spd=6195891438066969302

as in most things having accurate reference materials helps a great deal

heres a basic powder burn rate chart, refer to the manuals and always verify in at least three and compare the charge and bullet weights listed

reloading
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0005023021
1000 NEW cases $300, these can be reused 5-7 times easily
1000 bullets at about $21 per hundred cost $210
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000033060
8 lbs of powder currently about $150
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00034IMR30318
primers about $26 per thousand
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000200011
or about $670 for components, on the first batch, and $370 on the next 5-7 thousand reloads, for components
I already posted the presses etc, but basically you can reload the first thousand for about what the loaded ammo costs or less including the tool costs, and save about 1/2 the cost on the next 5000-7000 cartridges, and if you can pick up brass at the range or buy good used reloading tools , expenses drop off fast
get into bullet casting and practice ammo could cost you only pennies a shot

IF you reload a caliber like 357 mag,41 mag,44 mag, 375 win, or 45/70 where hard cast bullets are an excellent choice for most uses than casting is a really good option and cuts cost significantly, one of my friends has used a 444 marlin or 45/70 for over 38 years now for all his hunting and never used anything but hard cast bullets in either rifle, BTW hard cast bullets tend to put LESS wear on rifling that jacketed bullets also
one of the first handguns I ever owned was a ruger single action similar to this picture I had to have reloaded and shot 20 k reloads in the 2-3 years before I was 21

Double Cavity Pistol Bullet Mould #358665 38/357 Caliber 158 Grain​

Double Cavity Pistol Bullet Mould #358665 38/357 Caliber 158 Grain by LYMAN Product Overview Midsouth offers the Lyman Double Cavity Pistol Bullet Mould #358665 38/357 Caliber 158 Grain. This mould is designed to cast 38/357 bullets for Cowboy Action. These bullets will function and give...
www.midsouthshooterssupply.com

I bought when I was about 17 (with my dads help) I learned to handload, cast bullets with that gun, and yeah I could not hit shit when I started out
I still remember loading 8 grains of UNIQUE powder under a lyman 158 grain cast bullet
, I cast, and learned to size and lube on a friends fathers, tools (my mentor)
using his reloader, lyman lube sizer and bullets I cast from scrounged wheel weights over a coleman stove in a steel pot with a lead dipper and wooden hammer handle.
I without any doubt , reloaded and shot 20K reloads in that pistol before I was 19 years old, I mowed dozens lawns most months just to buy powder, primers and cases and reloading tools
I completely wore out a pacific reload press by the time I was 23 years old, but by the time I was 23 years old I could damn sure put holes in a tin can with a revolver at 50-75 yards on the first shot more times than not!

I almost wore it out, had to send it to ruger to be rebuilt twice by the time I was 20 years old
I bought a ruger 44 mag for $138 when I was 20, and sure got my moneys worth as I had used that gun for 8-9 years before I could afford a S&W 28 and a S&W 29.
I remember how frustrated I was when I first got that ruger,
I could rarely hit a tin can at 30 feet the first week or so, but with experience , a mentor, and practice you get better

you might enjoy these links

when your good, (or lucky)​

I think most of us have seen videos that were taken, that show some guy making a spectacular long range shot. guys tend to post those videos far more often than one showing the results of a very poorly placed shot/ but keep in mind that the guy posting that video might have video taped a dozen...
garage.grumpysperformance.com

a reloading mistake that taught me alot​

most of us learn by making mistakes few of us will admit making them, back,when I first got into reloading like all new guys to any hobby I made a few mistakes, I was about 17 at this time, heres one you might get a grin from, I got a good scare because I realized that the results might have...
garage.grumpysperformance.com
other sources for some components

http://www.gibrass.com/brass.html

http://www.patsreloading.com/patsrel/prices.htm

http://www.dillonprecision.com/Reloadin ... s-8-5.html

http://www.bhshooters.com/

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/d ... =Reloading

http://www.midwayusa.com/Promotion/?pro ... 1103200916

 

[rbl2]

I can't argue your point about it being cost effective to reload your own bullets. There are, as with everything else, some exceptions. 7.62x39 rounds are still relatively cheap and not worth the hassle of reloading. This is a round I use more than any other. I also have a 30 30 but I rarely use it. I bought it for my son. Now my 9 mm might be worth reloading as I want to shoot it far more often than I do.

 

[IBob]

I've been reloading since the 60's, still use an RCBS.
I couldn't agree more re the savings and the ability to customize loads. I don't do much hunting any more, even though I lieve in Idaho, due to age (68) and getting lazy. I have killed deer, elk, coyote, rabbit and a few birds. My main hunting rifle is a 721, 300 H&H and ammo for that has gotten ridiculous. My kick aournd is a shorty 94 in .32 WIn Spec. 7.62x39 is still cheap but cost may not be the biggest concern getting it in the future so I have brass and slugs for a reasonable supply in addition to already stored.
In handguns, I have from .25 to .45, mostly shoot 9mm and .357 (what I carry) usually shoot around 6k/yr. I shoot .357 for practice as well as carry so the cost would be prohibitive not rloading. Being a retired cop handgun shooting is just natural.