Gravedigger56
New member
15,000 per yr? If I have to shoot that much to reload then I won't be alive long enough to see the day. I haven't shot that much in 50+ years! For me it was 99.9% for the hobby.
I want to reload, where to start?
- Thread starter SARuger
- Start date
Machineguntony
New member
SAR, just go start dude.
People say all sorts of absurd things. I've heard that reloading is illegal, reloading is dangerous, reloading will give you ___ sickness, reloading is for crazy people (may be true), reloading will blow up your gun, you must get approval from the police to reload, reloaded rounds cost way more than factory, etc.
Did you know that buying gun powder will get you put on the terror watch list? Its true. I heard it from this guy at a gun store.
With all respect to the kind folks who work at big box stores, most are just simple clerks who must appear, for sales purposes, to be knowledgable experts. They aren't experts.
Please post some pictures of your set up.
People say all sorts of absurd things. I've heard that reloading is illegal, reloading is dangerous, reloading will give you ___ sickness, reloading is for crazy people (may be true), reloading will blow up your gun, you must get approval from the police to reload, reloaded rounds cost way more than factory, etc.
Did you know that buying gun powder will get you put on the terror watch list? Its true. I heard it from this guy at a gun store.
With all respect to the kind folks who work at big box stores, most are just simple clerks who must appear, for sales purposes, to be knowledgable experts. They aren't experts.
Please post some pictures of your set up.
I haven't been reloading long, so take it with a grain of salt.
Do I see reloading as a way to save significant amounts of money? Not really. More accurate ammo? Yeah, to an extent. Being able to reload when prices of ammo are high or ammo is scarce ? Most definitely.
Right now, for example, because of the fear mongering about m855 green tips, just in the past two weeks, locally, we went from being able to buy whatever we wanted in 5.56/.223 to m855's being rationed, and even to the point that all 5.56 is now being rationed to 3 x 20 round boxes. I've been saving my brass, and accumulating supplies, minus the bullets, to reload when necessary.. The panicky way people are nowadays, it makes sense to be prepared; two years ago, 5.56 was spiking at $1 a round, which makes reloading attractive. Most more expensive .223 - is available; but from the looks of it, it won't be for long.
Now, I'd rather start reloading slowly, and have the necessary knowledge ahead of the game rather than to wait till I need it; even 2 years ago, reloading equipment and components were nearly impossible to find; it makes less sense to wait till you absolutely need it; get it, figure out what you need, and get it beforehand.
I don't look at reloading everything; I picked calibers I wanted; .308, .223, and .357 magnum. I don't shoot the other calibers enough to warrant reloading them; yet...
Do I see reloading as a way to save significant amounts of money? Not really. More accurate ammo? Yeah, to an extent. Being able to reload when prices of ammo are high or ammo is scarce ? Most definitely.
Right now, for example, because of the fear mongering about m855 green tips, just in the past two weeks, locally, we went from being able to buy whatever we wanted in 5.56/.223 to m855's being rationed, and even to the point that all 5.56 is now being rationed to 3 x 20 round boxes. I've been saving my brass, and accumulating supplies, minus the bullets, to reload when necessary.. The panicky way people are nowadays, it makes sense to be prepared; two years ago, 5.56 was spiking at $1 a round, which makes reloading attractive. Most more expensive .223 - is available; but from the looks of it, it won't be for long.
Now, I'd rather start reloading slowly, and have the necessary knowledge ahead of the game rather than to wait till I need it; even 2 years ago, reloading equipment and components were nearly impossible to find; it makes less sense to wait till you absolutely need it; get it, figure out what you need, and get it beforehand.
I don't look at reloading everything; I picked calibers I wanted; .308, .223, and .357 magnum. I don't shoot the other calibers enough to warrant reloading them; yet...
Bucksnort1
New member
SA Ruger, if you read the instructions in a reloading manual or ones that come with dies, you'll see they make it sound really simple by reducing everything to eight or ten steps. Believe me, it's not that simple but it sure as hell is fun learning everything (and that never ends). The first time, and every time for me, you hold reloads in your hand, you'll be impressed with what you've done because they will look like they came from the factory and if they shoot well, you will know you've done a great job. Being on this BLOG is a good start.
weedsnager
Moderator
Cost effective or not, I just enjoy reloading. You don't need to reload 15000 rounds to justify it
FlySubCompact
New member
I would totally agree with these considerations. Especially, the time thing. If you love to tinker and have the time, go for it.
One thing I heard before I started reloading was "Reloading probably won't save you money...you just get to shoot more." I find this to be true.
Also, I'd highly recommend Lee products for starting out and budget is limited. An example...the little, cheap Lee scale I have. Was concerned about how accurate it was, so I asked a reloading buddy if he could make me a test weight (5gr) from a piece of metal. He whittled one down carefully using his two high-end scales. Tipped my little Lee, dead on, at 5grns. I really have no complaints with any of my Lee dies, powder dispenser, press, scale, etc.
One last thing. We are in between presidential election cycles. IMO, you will never be able to buy anything gun related items again cheaper than you can right now. If we get another "panic inducing" official in the White House...well, you do the math. Reloading components are showing up again, just now. Even primers and some powder. It will be nice to at least be able to have practice ammo during the next drought. That is the new normal, unfortunately.
Im a tinkerer by nature, I'm a diesel mechanic by day and I build Jeeps for the off road as a hobby. I can weld, machine, fabricate with the best of them. I have always enjoyed precise work. I think I'm going to give it a shot. My .44mag cost me the most to shoot so I might start there, .38 and .357mag are close behind and then its the rifle calibers like my .243
Nice sales skills. Sportsmen's Warehouse should be better than that.
You were right to disagree. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: The decision to handload should not be about ammunition cost savings.
One handloads so they can build ammo specific to their use; and most of all, because they enjoy the craft. I think most initially look into loading to save money - granted - I am no exception. But if you don't enjoy the craft of loading; if you don't approach it as a hobby in and of itself; it's unlikely you will stick with it. There are a lot of garage corners with loading equipment stuffed away, collecting dust, because someone thought they'd save money by reloading. But because they didn't enjoy doing it, they found it not worth their time. And that's the difference: If you enjoy it as a craft, you don't have to count your time - it's something you enjoy. If you don't enjoy doing it, then you do have to count your time - at which point, it's not cost-effective. See how that works?
The Sportsmen's Warehouse sales associate misses the point.
FlySubCompact
New member
SARuger,
I like the tinkeritis part of reloading. Sounds like you will too and are good to go.
Once you do get into it just do everything you can to not become complacent. Make sure to get at least two good manuals, thoroughly, before you start. Personally, when I set up, I like to reload with no distractions. No TV, no radio. I remind myself that one screw up might yield a kaboom after I hand ammo to my daughters to shoot in their pistols. They both have beautiful hands/eyes. I want to keep their body parts OEM.
the led farmer
New member
... If you enjoy it as a craft, you don't have to count your time - it's something you enjoy. If you don't enjoy doing it, then you do have to count your time - at which point, it's not cost-effective. See how that works?
...
This is as true as it gets.
sawdustdad
New member
LOL. Don't we all? As we get older, it gets much less likely, doesn't it?
Smoke & Recoil
New member
Hey SARuger, have you started the purchase process yet ?
The "salesperson" is not only ill informed, he's incompetent, since his job is to help you buy stuff from Sportsman's Warehouse.
If you are shooting 44Mag, you should be able to get a Lee Turret kit and dies paid for in savings over factory ammo in pretty short order......
The Lee Turret kits are only like $125 at Midway, and a set of carbide dies are under 30 bucks.....
With Sportsman's Warehouse charging between 75 cents to a buck a pop for 44mag, and ...
4 cents for a primer, 10 cents worth of H110, 28 cents for a 240gr Hornady JHP, 34 cents ea. for new, unprimed brass you can use over and over and may not even need if you saved the brass from the factory ammo you shot, so we'll call it 4 cents ..... 4+4+10+28= 46 cents a shot for all premium components without buying in bulk ...... save 40 cents a shot- you'd have to shoot just over 300 rounds of .44Mag to pay for your press with the savings ....... less if you buy any of the stuff in bulk, or don't buy top name brand stuff at pricey places like Cabela's which was where I got the above prices......
44Mag is a large, straightwalled pistol case, and would be just about ideal for a new reloader to start on. Go for it!
Fatal Wound
New member
Asking questions, research on web, reading is the best places to start. Have fun.
Starting
Get you a
(1. RCBS Single Stage press/powder measure
(2. RCBS hand priming tool/w small primer rod
(3. RCBS 3 die carbide/taper crimp 9mm set
(4. Scale
(5. Digital Micrometer
(6. 9mm shell holder
9mm brass, bullets and small pistol primers. At least a lb of HS-6.
Oh yea...and some reloading manuals.
Once you get that come back here and we'll get you started.
Get you a
(1. RCBS Single Stage press/powder measure
(2. RCBS hand priming tool/w small primer rod
(3. RCBS 3 die carbide/taper crimp 9mm set
(4. Scale
(5. Digital Micrometer
(6. 9mm shell holder
9mm brass, bullets and small pistol primers. At least a lb of HS-6.
Oh yea...and some reloading manuals.
Once you get that come back here and we'll get you started.
TRDFurgesson
New member
my 2 pesos, for all you dreamers out there...
I would start off with a reloading manual or two. The Hornady Reloading Handbook is very good and so is the Lyman Handbook. They will cover everything you need for equipment and knowledge.
I would start off with a reloading manual or two. The Hornady Reloading Handbook is very good and so is the Lyman Handbook. They will cover everything you need for equipment and knowledge.