I would like to start reloading for .357

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mptrimshop

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what is going to be my best option ..is there a kit i should buy...what do you think the initial cost is going to be. I don't need to reload 199 rounds an hour. I'm just sick of paying $25+ a box for .357 mags.




thank you in advance for any help you have to offer
 
If your budget is very limited, take a hard look at the RCBS Partner kit.

If you're willing to invest a little more, get a Redding "Boss," or "Big Boss," press, a Redding powder measure, and a good scale with check weights.

(Actually, no matter what you get, you'll need a quality scale and check weights)

And remember, you may start out loading only one caliber (like most of us did :evil: ) but in a year or two, you'll be loading many calibers, so consider the future as well as the present. :)

And above all, get a good reloading manual. The Lyman manual is one of the best for beginners.
 
Don't even bother with those. Get a Lee Hand Press kit, spend another $100 on stuff like calipers, beam scale, reloading manual etc and enjoy. Mine has loaded thousands of 45acp, 9mm and (gasp!) 30-06 without issue.

You don't even have to get a powder throw. Make dippers using fired 45acp cases and some wire.
 
I don't need to reload 199 rounds an hour. I'm just sick of paying $25+ a box for .357 mags.
Click to expand...

You might once you start to reload. Once you realize that you can load a box of 357 rounds for less than $7.00, you'll probably be shooting so many more that you'll want the speed.

The Lee Classic turret in the link above is a very nice press and is capable of upwards of 200RPH if you really have a good rhythm going.
 
The kit at Kempfs is hard to beat to get started, and can suit your needs for many years.

Get a dial caliper. The HF calipers are on sale for $10 right now and work great.

Get a god scale such as the RCBS 505 or Redding R2. You will soon want a trimmer. The RCBS & Forster trimmers are quite nice. I like the Forster best.

A nice tumbler is great to have. I like the Lyman ones due to my success with them, but the Berrys is pretty nice as well. I have both.
 
IMO the Lee Classic Turret Press on Kempf with both upgrades is a great buy. When you get good at reloading you will be able to SAFELY load between 180 to 200 rounds per hour.

As to your question on $300-$350 getting you everything you need to reload, yes and probably a little more than you "need". You will be saving ~$18/box of .357 Magnum ammo if you're paying $25/box. At that rate you will bet your investment back in 17 boxes of ammo give or take... You also get the added benefit of very accurate ammo and ammo you can tailor to your needs.
 
the lee kit is an awsesome deal.

If i was going to be loading a lot of w296 or h110 (full power loads)
I would get a drum type powder measure. i hear reports of the lee leaking fine powder and my dillon binds slightly (still works just fine)

Just a thought
 
25 bucks a box is a great deal on .357 magnum

However you can do it for much less if your going to shoot often.


I say the lee classic turret if you going to load mostly light/ medium loads

single stage with a drum type measure like the rcbs uniflow if your going to load lots of w296 and h110.

just my experiance

.357 MAGNUM is on of my favorite calibers to reload. It just begs to be reloaded.
 
I would get a drum type powder measure. i hear reports of the lee leaking fine powder and my dillon binds slightly (still works just fine)
Click to expand...
The Lee Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure works very well even with fine ball powders. I have never had a problem and I use A LOT of W231 and W296.
 
All kinds of answers, but none likely to be right

All the answers you have received so far (yes, I read them) had to have been formed in the dark.

The answers are correct for somebody, but if they are good for YOU, is the question.

How much do you shoot now? Triple it.
What kind of budget do you have for gear?
How much time do you have to devote to loading?
How much room do you have to work in?
Will you leave your press set up or will you put it away after each session?
How mechanically inclined are you?
How comfortable are you with "expedient methods"?

First advice, get a copy of "The AB's of Reloading"

Lost Sheep

P.S. Welcome to reloading and thanks for asking our advice.
 
Mr TrimShop -
The problem is, the more you reload, the more you shoot. The higher your volumes go, the more press you wish you had bought. IF you work up to the half the maximum volume any reloading press can supply, then that press will completely pay for itself in less than 1 year. That is true of the $15 press. That is true of the $150 press. That is true of the $1500 press.

When you consider that the calipers, the books, the powder, the primers, etc, etc... are all the same cost no matter what press you buy, then the only thing holding you back is the price of the press. It's sort of like saying that the price of insuring and repairing your car is going to be the same no matter if you buy the Hyundai or the Corvette!

So the question really is how much money do you want to spend on a press?
 
Rfwobbly is right

The problem is that to load, you need a press (unless you go with the Lee Load-all, which uses a mallet to drive the process). And the press is usually the centerpiece of your loading bench and the most expensive part, to boot.

So, here's the trick: Buy the press you will eventually grow into, but not outgrow.

Here's my aproach. It is not the only approach. It may not be the right approach for you. But it would have been the right approach for me 35 years ago. It just took me this long to figure it out.

Take what you shoot now and triple it. That is just to estimate what quantity you will be loading. Most shooters do increase their volume after they start reloading. There are exceptions. If you will be one, adjust the tripling to double or 1.5x, whatever your self-knowledge tells you. Find a press that will handle that quantity and buy it and a set of dies. Whatever money you have left, use to get the couple of other pieces to get you loading, but never buy anything you will have to replace.

It is the approach that informed my post here,l entitled "The Budget Beginner's Loading Bench you will never outgrow"
http://rugerforum.net/reloading/293...you-will-never-outgrow-novice-handloader.html
or, if the link does not work paste this into your browser.
rugerforum.net/reloading/29385-budget-beginning-bench-you-will-never-outgrow-novice-handloader.html

There is a sticky thread at the sop of this forum with some GREAT posts.

In the front of every loading manual (except the "One Book-One Caliber" series are chapters describing the loading process. Each manual, being authored and edited by different people is written in a different style with different emphasis, so buy or borrow (public library, perhaps?) several, and read.

A couple years ago, I wrote my "10 Advices" treatise (and have been tweaking it ever since)
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=430391
or if the link does not work, paste this into your browser
thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=430391

my "10 Advices for the novice reloader" post is #13.

Good luck. Good shopping, Always wear eye protection, especially when working with primers and don't pinch your fingers in your press. Be safe, always, all ways.

Lost Sheep
 
Be prepared to spend more money than you think.

I am still loading on a Lee Hand Press Kit. Initial outlay was $70 including a set of 45 ACP dies. I keep a spreadsheet with all firearm expenses. My current total in reloading tools is $360. I collected items for a few months before I loaded my first round. My reasoning was to start with an inexpensive hand press and buy all other items at the higher end. In addition, my current total for reloading supplies is at $265 and I am still working on putting together my first 1K rounds.

Lee Deluxe Carbide 4-die set 45 ACP
Lee Hand Press Kit
Mitutoyo 6" Absolute Digimatic Caliper (used)
RCBS 505 Scale (used)
Hornady M-2 Case Tumbler
RCBS Pow'r Pull Impact Bullet Puller
RCBS Primer Turning Tray
Redding Powder Trickler
Lyman Turbo Brass Cleaning Media Treated Corn Cob
Hornady Universal Reloading Tray 50 Round
Hornady Sure-Loc Die Locking Ring
Lee Primer Pocket Cleaner
L.E. Wilson Max Cartridge Gage 45 ACP
Lee Deluxe Carbide 4-die set 38 Special
 
Most people won't come right out and say it but I will. Handloading will end up costing you a LOT of money.

But, you will get to shoot a lot more and your ammo will most likely be more accurate. You will be much more familiar with your firearm. This will make you a better shot resulting in more humane kills or better scores.

Then you may want to venture into making your own bullets. Even mo' money!

No regrets here though. I enjoy every last minute of it (except case prep) and there is no pain from the money that was spent to pursue this hobby.

If you are just going to shoot a few hundred rounds a year, buy your ammo. Otherwise, dive in and don't dwell on the costs.
 
If you are just going to shoot a few hundred rounds a year, buy your ammo. Otherwise, dive in and don't dwell on the costs.
Click to expand...

Right. Don't "dwell on the costs", but on the other hand, everyone has a budget to work within. Well, everyone but the last Congress. So the process calls for a lot of soul searching and budget searching, which we really can't help with.

In my situation this choice broke down 3 ways....

• You just started shooting a year ago. You're not sure if shooting is for you, much less reloading for shooting. But you need to save money. Then, buy factory reloaded ammo from places like Georgia Arms.

• You're a long-time shooter that needs to save money on ammo, or simply wants to shoot more on a limited budget to improve or compete. Look for used equipment on CraigsList or at local gun clubs. For the same price you'll get a better press with more accessories (reloading manuals, calipers, trimmers, dies, powder, primers, etc which can total hundreds of dollars) thrown-in to sweeten the deal. If used is not an option, there are numerous budget-conscious kits available.

• You're a long-time shooter that wants to save money on ammo, wants to improve their accuracy, or simply wants to shoot more within a budget to improve or compete. The budget is an 'concern', but not a 'problem'. After studying the presses applicable to your present and future reloading needs, buy the most press (new or used) you can afford.

In all 3 scenarios, the underlying theme is go for the most quality.

Hope this helps!
 
mptrimshop said:
those both look nice...if i were to spend say 300-350 could i get a kit with everything i need?
Click to expand...


.....for $350 you can get a RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme kit and a set of CARBIDE dies and you'll have everything you need(other than powder, primer, cases and bullets) to reload for your .357. The Rock Chucker press will last you a lifetime and RCBS has an excellent CS. Even at some point if you feel the need to move on to a turret or progressive, it still will come in handy or will have good resale value. The kit also comes with a great powder measure and an excellent beam scale. The included Speer manual, altho directed towards use of Speer bullets gives an excellent introduction and directions for new reloaders. For reloading revolver bullets, a caliper is handy, but not necessary, as you will seat your bullets to and crimp in the cannelure anyway. As you progress you will discover other items that will make reloading easier and faster(i.e, tumblers, tricklers, trimmers), but for one revolver cartridge in modest amounts the RC kit is hard to beat. I load for several revolvers and several revolver caliber carbines. I shoot approximately 500 rounds a month and do them all on a Rock Chucker. I still run out of empty brass before I run out of loaded rounds.
 
Go to the Lee site and check out the surplus & reconditioned items available.

.....for $350 you can get a RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme kit and a set of CARBIDE dies
Click to expand...

Being as the OP was asking about a handgun caliber .357 mag to be exact, aren't everyones pistol dies CARBIDE?
 
I got the rock chucker supreme kit and looking back I'd have bought the Lee Anniversary Kit to start. After you buy any kit you'll start adding pieces. I bought the lee press so now I have 2 set up and that's how I know how the lee compares to the rock chucker. 1st thing you'll add is additional load trays but they are cheap.

I stared with .38's to shoot in my Ruger .357 and then went to the .357's. I can load a box for about 10.00, very powerful and very accurate. If I want to save money I can load them lighter and use cast bullets but whats the point if I already have some 38's.

Saving 15.00 per box the kit will pay for itself very quickly. If you spend 350.00 the kit will pay for itself in 24 boxes. If you start reloading rifle ammo you will save even more.

Also, buy at least 1 reloading book and read it cover to cover. Be safe.
 
Steel dies still available

jcwit said:
...aren't everyones pistol dies CARBIDE?
Click to expand...
Steel dies are still available for handgun cartridges. Tungsten-Carbide is more brittle than steel and can chip and break if you drop a die. That's the only reason I have heard that would lead anyone towards steel. Even with that, it is beyond me why anyone would buy steel over the T-C or the newer Titanium Nitride.

Tool steel requires lubrication. T-C and T-N don't. End of story for me.

Lost Sheep
 
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