Newbie Question

If you are mechanically inclined and enjoy building/tinkering, you will love reloading!

To echo what others have already said, i find myself shooting a lot more now and i enjoy reloading as much, if not more than shooting itself!
 
My problem is the only place in my area that I can shoot, won't let you pick up your brass once it hits the floor.
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I suppose they would want to keep your wallet if you dropped it and it hit the floor, too?
 
Go to Realguns.com. They have a factory verses reloading calculater to plug all your numbers in and hit calculate. I’ve not seen any rounds that I couldn’t reload cheaper after dies. It will tell how many rounds before you break even. I’ve never left my brass anywhere though.
 
Look up AmmoSeek. There's deals for 1000 rounds for $140 out there.
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I'm an avid reloader, but I don't bother to reload ANY pistol cartridges. It's just not worth the time (to me) to reload them due to the really low prices of remanufactured pistol ammo these days. Cheaper and easier and faster to just buy them.
 
My solution to a "questionable" range policy on brass was I swept behind, and around the stall before I started shooting. After shooting I swept up the brass in the area which was only my brass. I definitely was not "mining" brass from other shooters, just mine. RO never said a word...
 
I have 3 1911's and have been going through 200 rounds a week. I want to reload but (in my case) I don't know if there will be enough cost saving to make it worthwhile.
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If you buy in bulk and scrounge your brass and don't mind shooting coated lead bullets you can reload for roughly .10 per round of 9 mm and .12 per round of 45 acp. Once you figure your cost of the press and re-loading supplies you can figure how many rounds you will need to load to get to the break even point of purchasing the press and necessary equipment verses the cost of buying factory ammo. Personally I don't count my time sitting at the press in my equation of the cost of reloading
 
I definitely was not "mining" brass
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I remember back in the day when ranges appreciated it when you "mined" the brass - less for them to clean up.

Those were the days (mid-'80's). When I needed brass, simply take a trip to the range with a coffee can. Sweep up what you wanted. Back then, it was almost entirely 38 Special; 9mm; 45 ACP; & 357 Magnum - in that order. 44's (spl & mag), and 45's (LC) would show up; but not often.

It's a different culture out at the ranges these days. Not saying better or worse (ranges are a lot cleaner now); just different.
 
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Ok just got off the phone with the range. was told as long as brass doesn't go in front of the lane and I only collect my own brass they don't have a problem with me collecting my own brass. I can request the last lane where the wall is to my ejection side and sweep before and after and get most of it. Again, providing it doesn't go forward into the fire area.

As for getting in the way of family I am a single father and my only daughter is now 21 and is busy with her own life. Myself, I don't like going out and thoroughly enjoy time alone. so all the reasons not to reload are really perfect reasons for me to do it.

I have looked at several case nets online and feel quite certain I can fashion one that could sit on the bench.

I am an aircraft engine mechanic (turbine) for the past 35 years. So I like tinkering.

I'm not really interested in reloading anything other than 45 acp and 45 LC. I have 3 1911's and would like to get a Henry in the future. Not into the assualt guns or other rifles. Perhaps a 10mm down the road...
 
I used to shoot about 100 rounds per week and had a single stage. I finally got tired of pulling that handle 400 times for 100 rounds and got a progressive press. I now shoot 400 rounds per week and still pull a handle about 400 times every week.

I found that the more I reload the more I shoot.
 
Come on Northof50...really.... you know very well he said he was NOT into any AR "black gun" ( assault in some circles) and by inference we know his reloading thoughts do not include 223 to 5.56

yes sir I get it...a lot of us have a knee jerk reaction to any Ar 15/16 type rifle referred to in a disparaging descriptor....but it is that way

SkunkApe60....cool..... I was Army aircraft Helicopter mech..QA inspector and well trained in all areas over 24 years including Turbine engines....the attention to detail skills you SHOULD have will serve you well in hand-loading/Reloading

BUT beware...like me... the absolute precision we learned for Turbine engines will drive you to seek the most precision tools...can get expensive

One example.... I assume you are adept with Starret** and Mikyomo** Calipers at $125 to $590 ...might even have some of your own.... for ammo production that level of precision is not necessary and the risk of dropping and need to re-calibrate is real. A Harbor Freight (basically disposable if dropped) $15~$25 6 to 8 inch caliper is adequate


** probably not spelt right
 
Yes sir Northof60.... "panties Tinkerbell" could have wrankled me at a younger age but today I got a big smile...and came very close to snorting out my coffee

grin
 
Skunkape60 wrote:
I want to reload but (in my case) I don't know if there will be enough cost saving to make it worthwhile.
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People reload for many reasons beyond cost savings.

I got started in reloading in the 1970's because at the time I needed to save every penny possible. In time it became a matter of pride that I didn't shoot anything other than my reloads (with the exception of shooting a box of factory ammunition through a new gun the first time in case there was a problem it couldn't be blamed on my reloads) so that as a result, I have only ever bought about 230 rounds of factory ammunition (not counting 22 LR, of course).

My problem is the only place in my area that I can shoot, won't let you pick up your brass once it hits the floor.
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I have that same problem. The local gun club lets you keep your brass if it doesn't roll forward of the firing line, but when they built the place, they built the floor so that it slopes forward so most brass rolls forward of the firing line. That means they get it and can sell it back to you later.

If I have to buy new brass all the time,...
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Who says you have to buy new brass?

Buy previously fired brass and learn to process it yourself and you'll save plenty.

Check out these sellers:
https://rangebrass.us/
https://www.leobrass.com/brass/
http://www.diamondkbrass.com/
http://www.oncefiredbrass.com/
https://www.kensbrass.com/
http://brassbombers.com/

There are many others, these are just ones I could call up quickly.

I currently pay $71 per 200 rds. It comes out to around .35 per round.
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The last time I priced out my reloaded 45 ACP, it came out to about 25 cents per round using lead semi-wadcutters and 28 cents per round using jacketed bullets.
 
Don P wrote:
Personally I don't count my time sitting at the press in my equation of the cost of reloading
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Agreed.

I don't count the value of my time either.

At my current billing rate, if I were to include the value of my time, a 50 round box of cartridges would run about $125.

But, I reload to help keep me sane enough to do the work that I bill for.
 
In defense of the policy, I have seen it become an issue.

It got pretty testy with a range scrounge working around other peoples firing position.

It should be handled differently but the guy was very aggressive and stupid.

Nice thing about 9mm is a lot of people could care less.

As the caliber goes up the collection goes up.
 
I load mostly for rifles but over the wet winter I did load over 2000 rounds of 9mm on a single stage and although a good stress reliever it was tedious and I have no idea if I saved any money or not for sure. Real Guns loading calculator says 2cents a round. I enjoy reloading so time wasn't a factor and now I have plenty of plinking ammo along with the 1000 loaded rounds I bought. Made me wish for a progressive press.
 
Not including the cost of brass, I'm loading 9mm for .15/round and .45 for .19/round. Using plated bullets from RMR, W231 powder, and CCI primers. I enjoy reloading 500 rounds/month as much as I do shooting them.
 
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