Reloading, the life-long investment

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flashhole

New member
Periodically I update my on-going reloading equipment list. I'm into my third decade of handloading so I've had ample opportunity to collect stuff. I keep the list as proof of ownership in the event of a catastrophic loss like fire or flood. I even embed pictures.

Today I updated the list and added a column for replacement costs if I had to buy it all new today. I broke it out into categories with the ground rule that it had to be portable to go on the list and it had to be unique and specific to reloading, no general purpose stuff. Built-in benches, cabinets, general prupose hand tools and such don't get added to the list.

The spreadsheet categories were Benches and Storage, Presses, Dies, Powder Measures, Casting and Annealing, Priming Tools, Hand Tools and Manuals. I used Midway as the primary pricing guide because they have a great search tool.

I don't consider my setup elaborate or excessive compared to some of the things I've seen posted on this and other forums. But dang ... it totaled just over $7,000. Now I didn't pay that much for what I have, this is replacement costs. This cost does not include any components like primers, powder, brass and bullets nor does it include any shooting bench stuff, hunting stuff or guns ... just handloading stuff. Glad I don't have to get started into this hobby today.
 
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Thanks for sharing

Would you consider sharing the list?

My list compiled in 2012 totals $700 but does not include any bullet-making tools as I don't cast my own. This list is not edited to be comparable to yours, but simply cut and pasted from my saved notes.

Press, scale, dies, a way to measure powder and a work surface are all you need, really. Everything else just makes it easier or faster.

$17 ABC's of Reloading. Ok, it's not really equipment, but tools without knowledge is just dead weight, right?
$10 Loading Data. The "One book/One Caliber" pamphlets are $10 each and are LOADED (get it?) with loading data.
$0 Loading manuals. They cost, but I didn't want to skew the budget; you do need at least a couple. Check the local library if money is tight.
$0 Eye protection. No cost, because you DO already have a pair of shootingglasses, DON'T YOU!?
$85 Press, Lee Classic Turret (Chosen because Lee makes the only turret presses that auto-advances at the discretion of the operator and the Classic is superior to the Deluxe for several features.)
$33 Dies, carbide. Lee because it includes a shell holder, a plastic dipper for powder and the "powder through" design.
$5 Work surface. Mount your press on a plank of scrap 2x8 and secure it to a (padded) coffee table.
$0 Dropcloth to catch any spilled powder or lost primers (dead or live). Use an old sheet. Quieter than plastic, less static and drapes better.
$150 plus shipping At this point, you can reload, but are limited in flexibility and speed.
$8 Lee Scoops/Dippers. Cheaper than any powder dispenser/measure and repeatability/cosistency is excellent.
$3 Powder funnel. Lee's funnel fits right in the their "powder through" die.
$161 plus shipping At this point, you are minimally equipped to load well. Not too convenient, but not handicapped to the point of terminal frustration, either.
$22 Lee Safety Prime. You can use your fingers, but this is so much better. Fits on the Lee Press.
$21 Scale, any brand. Lee's, at $21 is cheapest. You can do without, with the full set of Lee Dippers, but better to weigh. For peace of mind if nothing else.
$204 plus shipping At this level of investment, you are decently equipped
$33 Lee Auto-Disk powder dispenser/measure. It mounts atop Lee's "Powder through" die. With this, you may not need the funnel or dippers.
$50 Loading Bench. A folding workbench works fine for me. You can get a kit or build your own, too.
$287 plus shipping Now you are well-equipped as most reloaders, except for convenience accessories or tools you will use only occasionally.

Other stuff:
$20 Bullet puller I never used one for my first 20 years of loading.
$30 Calipers I had none for 30 years. Now that I do, I find uses.
$50 Tumbler Never had one. Got one now. My brass is prettier. Shoots the same.
$10 Loading blocks ($5, if you use, use two). For batch loading. Buy, or make with a plank and a drill.
$25 Powder Trickler - handy if you weigh each powder charge.

$34 misc accessories & tools, (e.g. chamfer tool)
$60 Difference to get a more user-friendly scale than the Lee
$0 Turret and Dies for 38/357 (included with basic setup)
$46 Turret and Dies for 45/454
$46 Turret and Dies for 44
$46 Turret and Dies for 45 ACP
$46 Turret and Dies for 9mm
$700 plus shipping To duplicate my entire current loading bench with all new stuff, misc accessories and tools and I would not be in the least inconvenienced in my loading endeavors.

Good idea about keeping an inventory or original cost and replacement cost.

Thanks for sharing.

Lost Sheep
 
How many calibers do you reload and cast for? I just got into reloading 3 years ago and casting 1.5 years ago. I gawked when I saw your $7,000 figure but if I include the cost of the bullet molds I've bought over the last 18 months I'm probably already half way to your figure.
 
Some things... I just don't want to think about.

But when I look at what I save over buying factory ammo or even range reloads? I just get a big ole' smile on my face

This is what I reload for
.380 Auto
.38 Special
.357 Mag
9mm
.40 S&W
.44 Special
.44 Mag
.45 ACP
.45 Colt
.223 Rem
.308
.30-06
.300 Weatherby Mag
.45-70

I started reloading back in 1988 on a Rock Chucker my brother says he lent me... I ended up with a RCBS Jr(dated mid 70's) for a few years then an XL650 for reloading .38sp and .357 back in 1991. Over the years I've collected to reload everything for all those calibers. Even after at least a 10yr break... The presses I've added are RCBS Summit, Lee Classic Turret and Lee Classic Cast.

The RCBS and Dillon XL650 I look as having lifetime warranties. The Lee products while not having as good a warranty, are relatively inexpensive and I've yet to have a real issue having them replace something that went bad on me.

The manuals I have span about 30+yrs.

But everything was bought rather slowly over the years... So I may have spent that much, though things were a lot cheaper back then too.

As far as consumables? I'm still working on some powder and primers from 1992. (primers even older as I collected them when I worked at a Sporting Goods store) This year all the Pistol Primers should be up to 2015's vintage.

Like I said before, when I look at what it costs for a brand new box of 300 Weatherby Mag or .45-70 Cartridges??? A new set of dies is a equivalent to a box of 20 rifle rounds. YMMV
 
Here's the big secret to reloading, it doesn't save you any money at all! It just allows you to bust 3-4 times as many caps for the same dollar... But you could easily spend $7,000 on just a few presses, go out and get 3 Dillon 1050's with bullet feeders. Course if I could afford to buy a $32,000 (used) Camdex auto progressive, I would just buy new ammo.
 
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Hee, Hee. My in initial list, at '69 prices was about $12.00; One Lee Loader, and one plastic mallet (I already had a lead hammer, but a yellar plastic mallet looked better). Components were about $20.00 more (a guess); 100 CCI primers, 250 generic lead .38 cal bullets and one pound of Bullseye..

I should inventory my stuff but once I get started looking at my tools/equipment my mind wanders and I wind up working on another, spur of the moment project...:rolleyes:
 
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