Getting into Reloading?

I always tell anyone that wants to get into reloading that that it's a way to further enjoy the shooting sports.

Most people I've met that want to reload simply to save money end up getting out of it.

I can load 100-150 rounds an hour on a single stage press if I want to, but it becomes a job at that point. You can buy a Dillon and crank out 1000 rounds an hour if you like, but what's to enjoy about that?

To me, reloading/handloading is a relaxing way to spend an evening, not a race to see how much ammo I can put out.
 
I'm one of those guys that likes everything in the sport from shooting , cleaning and reloading . My one and only single stage RockChucker press has served me well for 30 years . I like checking every round I reload . If reason for reloading is cost savings , after 30 years I'm still buying different tools to try . Figuring in the cost of all the equipment you will need to start by the time it catches up to cost savings , you won't care about cost . Accuracy will be the goal , at that point , game on , you'll never stop spending .
 
With out knowing what you shoot or how much you shoot it's impossible to give any guidance. A simple google search will get you the prices. It looks like the Dillon 1050 along with an ammobot will run $3,000+ and I'd guess probably closer to $4,000 once all the necessary accessories are accounted for. A quick look at the markvii website shows there machines run about $1,000 more than the ammobot setup. However starting reloading with one of these machines would be foolish. That'd be like someone who has never drove before buying an F1 car because only being able to do 75 MPH is just too slow...

I can knock out 300 rounds per hour on a Hornady Lock N Load. If your end goal is automated reloading I'd start with either the Dillon 650 or 1050 and upgrading the press as your skills progress. Reloading is fairly simple once you understand every step of the process and know the purpose of each step, but it's also very easy to make mistake and completely screw up a round or a whole batch of ammo if one mundane detail is off.
 
Thank you for your reply. I believe my bottleneck is automation. I understand reloading is an intricate process and mistakes can be dangerous. I don't imagine just buying a setup, tweaking some knobs, and going to town but hand-cranking each round is not ultimately worth it for me. That's why I'm curious about systems such as Ammobot and Mark VII. Since these seem novel in the reloading world, I'm wondering if anyone with experience has feedback on them or the concept in general.
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OP, I hope you come back. I have no idea if you are a production engineer for this kind of process or the “expert reloader” at the local gun shop who drops hints in his communication tha5 show he has little to no reloading experience.

What is automation to you? Is is pulling the press handle or having a synchronous process. Models like the 1050 and Hornady Ammo Plant are automated. They are designed with a pull handle to manage cost and keep you there and attentive.

For me, a walk away machine would require a primer seating confirmation, some kind of weighing system between steps to confirm primer added, confirm charge weight added, confirm bullet added. It would also need to measure ogive to base, shoulder to base and neck to base. Then it would have to be proven reliable by ammo sampling....maybe 1:100 fired through test barrels to determine velocity and accuracy variation of the process.

This type of machine exists, but I’m thinking ost is much higher than you want to spend. Maybe Federal or somebody gives tours??
 
I was going to buy an Ammobot. But like others said, it’s a huge investment before you see returns. Factoring in shipping, hazmat fees, etc, I decided to just stick with my progressive presses and my single stage.
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I can crank out as much as I need to shoot. Single stage is time consuming but I’m down to 1 minute per round on average for the 454 Casull, 460 S&W and 500 S&W Magnum. I have dedicated progressive presses for 45 ACP, 357 Mag/38+P, 44 Magnum and 9 mm subsonic.

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I can do about 50 rounds per 10 minutes. I never made much more than 50 at a time but I know it’s capable of much faster rates and higher volumes.

I probably have a few thousand in presses, components, workspace necessities, equipment, etc, but I can work on any of the calibers in a short period of time.

The most time consuming evolution is tumbling and sorting brass since I just dump it into a wet tumbler but the dry walnut tumbler is good enough, too.

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Whatever high output system you are thinking about, a reloader would not usually start there. It seems best to keep it simple, and a good single stage, used to learn the basics, will always be an asset. It will help you develop your own ideas about where you want to go with reloading. I would note though that if price is no object, there remains little reason to reload at all, if just wanting to shoot buckets of ammo.
 
Real Gun said:
I would note though that if price is no object, there remains little reason to reload at all, if just wanting to shoot buckets of ammo.
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This is a good reality check. I just looked on Ammoseek.com. You can find 115-grain 9mm for as low as 13.3 cents per round (steel-case), and 14 cents per round for Federal. For the $4,000 or so that it would cost for a Dillon 1050 with automation, that'll buy 28,571 rounds of Federal, factory ammunition. How long will it take you to shoot up that much ammo? I know that would take me a very long time.
 
If you are not willing to invest your time, and attention. As well as at least starting the first couple of months using a single stage, or turret to get down the basics, and have a real worlds understanding what is going on, and what each step does, and trouble shooting early mistakes. I advise just save your time, and money. Buy large bulk amounts of cheap ammo. You do not have to mess with all that slow going stuff. You get to do the fun part of shooting.

I do not want to come across as mean or judgemental. It is just there are some facts one has to face in life. I want 6 pack abs. I just do not want to have to spend all that time working out, and having to wait months to see results. So I am going to ask where are the short cuts at. If I ask that at the gym the trainers would laugh me out of the place.

Yes some people have started out with premium progressive presses, and did not blow up their gun, or injure themselves. It is also needing to be told there is another part that is imperative. That is being able to follow directions, and not having the mentality of if maximum charges still feel soft shooting it means you can keep adding powder until you get pressure signs. The not wanting to start out slower tends to be sign that one lacks the caution, and temperment needed for safe reloading.
 
Since the OP isn't responding, this thread is probably spinning its wheels, but I have to agree about learning to walk before you can run.
 
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