$1200 for a Single Round of 45acp!

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bersaguy

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Finally loaded my first rounds in the new reloading room. So I'm depreciating the cost of construction all in the first round produced:D 20200329_154605.jpg
Not everything is set up just yet but I had the itch to start getting some rounds done. Just getting the dies set back up, so only loaded 15 so far. So let's say $80/rd.
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My quality control manager was less than impressed with the fact I won't let him bring his bone in the room:(
 
I think another pot of coffee is called for.
Also, your fire extinguisher mount is not up to NFPA specs.
 
in all seriousness, i have no plan on doing any reloading, at my age.

so if no one minds, what would be an "average" start up cost for any such re-loading room/set up?

and i'd suspect of course, some are more involved than others, and also, someone mentioned about the fire extinguisher mounting, is there indeed some sort of building code one MUST adhere to, in order to even have a reloading room..??

thanks in advance
 
buddyd157; No there isn't a building code when it comes to this stuff. If you have like, 100 pounds of powder than yeah that can technically get you in trouble but there isn't a 'code' you have to adhere to. Some people may personally freak out though (Home owners and landlords, etc.)

You mentioned the cost, so I'll just put some numbers together for you:
Assume you're gonna get into reloading for .44 Mag, it's a great caliber to reload for. So here's the starting equipment cost:
Lee Hand press, $45
Lee .44 Magnum/special die set, $35
Lee .44 Magnum crimp die, +18$
Lee 2-cavity bullet mold 429-200 RF special $22
Lee ram prime priming unit $12

Yes it's all Lee, because they're the cheapest but easiest quality for the buck. They'll last you a life time, don't worry. So with all this minimal cost, that's $132 dollars already spent. But you have everything you need. Next cost to worry yourself about is of course finding brass, buying powders, lead, and primers. Casting bullets, oh my that's a whole other category. But if you have a propane stove, you can easily put together a stainless steel pot, with ladle, and also a thick wooden stick to get the screw plate open, make sure you have thick temperature proof gloves, and a good towel or cloth to dump the freshly cast bullets unto. (again, this is a minimal setup)

You mentioned your age. Indeed, that can be a hinderance. I was fortunate to get into this stuff at a young age, young enough to have too much time on my hands. So I developed a really good feel for how much time and resources you need to have in your life to devote to this. Would I discourage someone from getting into reloading just based on their age? No. It's more the reason you're getting into reloading that is the bigger factor on whether or not you should do it. I'd say retirement would be a great age to get into reloading, assuming that now you have your schedules all cleared up and everything. I mean, overall it's not like reloading takes up too much, but nor should you expect it'll be no time consumer either. It really is a 'feel' for time that us reloaders have developed. Enough time is spent that it takes up a significant amount of our lives, but it doesn't take up too much that we don't have jobs or other hobbies anymore.

This is a long post but I hope it is helpful.
 
buddyd157; No there isn't a building code when it comes to this stuff. If you have like, 100 pounds of powder than yeah that can technically get you in trouble but there isn't a 'code' you have to adhere to. Some people may personally freak out though (Home owners and landlords, etc.)

You mentioned the cost, so I'll just put some numbers together for you:
Assume you're gonna get into reloading for .44 Mag, it's a great caliber to reload for. So here's the starting equipment cost:
Lee Hand press, $45
Lee .44 Magnum/special die set, $35
Lee .44 Magnum crimp die, +18$
Lee 2-cavity bullet mold 429-200 RF special $22
Lee ram prime priming unit $12

Yes it's all Lee, because they're the cheapest but easiest quality for the buck. They'll last you a life time, don't worry. So with all this minimal cost, that's $132 dollars already spent. But you have everything you need. Next cost to worry yourself about is of course finding brass, buying powders, lead, and primers. Casting bullets, oh my that's a whole other category. But if you have a propane stove, you can easily put together a stainless steel pot, with ladle, and also a thick wooden stick to get the screw plate open, make sure you have thick temperature proof gloves, and a good towel or cloth to dump the freshly cast bullets unto. (again, this is a minimal setup)

You mentioned your age. Indeed, that can be a hinderance. I was fortunate to get into this stuff at a young age, young enough to have too much time on my hands. So I developed a really good feel for how much time and resources you need to have in your life to devote to this. Would I discourage someone from getting into reloading just based on their age? No. It's more the reason you're getting into reloading that is the bigger factor on whether or not you should do it. I'd say retirement would be a great age to get into reloading, assuming that now you have your schedules all cleared up and everything. I mean, overall it's not like reloading takes up too much, but nor should you expect it'll be no time consumer either. It really is a 'feel' for time that us reloaders have developed. Enough time is spent that it takes up a significant amount of our lives, but it doesn't take up too much that we don't have jobs or other hobbies anymore.

This is a long post but I hope it is helpful.
yes, yes it was, (very informative and helpful), and i thank you.

i just see so many re-loading posts, (with pictures) and got me wondering, then this thread from the o/p.

i thought that it would be at the very least over a grand to have a set up for the reloading.

at my age, i think that i'll just buy my ammo, as i need it. it's not like i do not have the room to spare, i have lots of that. and i own my home, so i need not worry about the landlord.

i can see where the investment in equipment pays off in the long run, for those of you that are into the re-loading end of this sport/hobby.

thanks again, that was a terrific detailed posting!
 
I think another pot of coffee is called for.
Also, your fire extinguisher mount is not up to NFPA specs.

The extinguisher is in the wrong place, it should be somewhere on your way out of the area. If you get a fire you should be moving away from the area, not sitting right there. Besides a smokeless powder fire will be faster than you can grab it. Plus a dry extinguisher is not gonna do much for a smokeless powder, Get the coffee maker off the bench!
Makes me think of the requirement to have a tiny little extinguisher on a open fisherman boat. Hell if the re is an engine fire (gas) the first thing I am doing is diving overboard!

Nice set up and you are on the way to loading some good ammo!:)
 
whew, I thought this was going to be about a race gun blown up by a round with a double dose of fast powder!

Nice room, I dig it.
 
My last Dillon 650 was at $1400 give or take a few. That doesn't include powder, primers, bullets or brass.

But I knew exactly how I wanted it configured and just got it all at once instead of a piece at a time.
i just looked up that machine, and now another question or 2 (for anyone to answer)..

Is there a limit to how many times, you can reload the same casings?

and are there certain casings, that are better to reload time after time, over another material?


again, thanks in advance.
 
Is there a limit to how many times, you can reload the same casings?

The answer is "It depends."

38 Special cases loaded to target level 38 Special wadcutter levels last darn near forever, actually probably reloaded in excess of 20 to 30 times.

Centerfire ammunition that gets used in semi-auto guns frequently gets lost before the cases fail.

Magnum ammunition such as 357 Magnum, 44 Magnum and other loaded to full powder levels have a short life, 4-8 reloads or so.

Bottleneck rifle cartridges are similar, high pressure rounds have a shorter life than lower pressure rounds. But, in general, the life of rifle case is a bit shorter than handgun cases.

These are not hard and fast numbers. As I said. it depends.
 
i just looked up that machine, and now another question or 2 (for anyone to answer)..

Is there a limit to how many times, you can reload the same casings?

and are there certain casings, that are better to reload time after time, over another material?


again, thanks in advance.

9mm, 45 ACP, 40 Short and Weak cases normally get lost before they wear out. There have been people that have reloaded a 45 ACP case more than 40 times.

Bottle neck cases can last a long time too. If you neck size them.

I belong to a private club. Normally there is brass laying around for the pick up. I've picked up almost all pistol cartridges, a good number of rifle cartridges. If you stick with the popular stuff brass is pretty easy to come by most of the time.

If you shoot where you can recover your brass easily then pistol brass is almost a buy once, cry once thing. The only new pistol brass I've ever bought was for my 327 Federal Mag. The rest I've either just picked up or purchased once fired.
 
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