looking to start hand loading

Status
Not open for further replies.
dubya450

dubya450

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2012
Messages
731
Location
Minnesota
Hey guys I'm looking to start loading my own ammo and would like to know a ballpark estimate on how much ill be spending and what exactly ill need to get started. ( the guys at cabelas/gander are no help AT ALL and i dont know anyone that could give me any pointers so im relying on y'all) Should I get separate components or is there a one stop kit with everything ill need? I want to load for my following guns: 338 win mag, 25-06, 45 acp, 10mm. I could live without loading for the pistols since practice walmart ammo is pretty cheap already. I'm mainly looking to produce good hunting rounds for my rifles. I have ALOT of extra time on my hands in the winter months so ill probably load for friends and family as well which most use either a 30-06 or 308. Thanks guys!

Cory
 
Last edited:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=238214

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=18835

Check those out and those should help you with what your asking. Personally, I would use a single stage for reloading rifles. You could use a turret but you mentioned 338 Win Mag and I am not sure if a turret would work out in your favor.

I think about 200-350 would get you set up after you calculate the cost of everything you will need. Some things are a must have, Others are a "want" bases. The important thing your gonna need is,

Manuals. About 2-3. ABC Of Reloading. Lyman 49th edition is my recommendation. You can rent the ABC Of Reloading at your library as it does not have load data just information that you do need to know. Read it twice at least. Lotta questions can be answered there.
A die set for each caliber you reloading.
A scale.
A press.
A caliper.
Shell Holders
Lube for sizing
Primers
Bullets
Powders
Brass
Loading Trays

Anyone else wanna chime in?
 
I'd recommend a priming mechanism of some sort aside from the primer arm most presses come with. They suck. Lee makes a hand priming tool that's pretty cheap and works fine for most. RCBS makes a nicer one that uses primer strips (my favorite). Cost doesn't ALWAYS equal quality, but you can generally have better gear for a higher price. What's your budget?
 
Thanks for helping guys. I don't really have a set budget but i don't need the best of everything to start out nor do I want bottom end components. Just something that will get me going and last a couple years, I can always upgrade in the future and get a buddy into loading with my first set.
 
Lee is a good brand to go with
RCBS by most is a better company.
Hornady is another and I would guesstimate there right with RCBS
Dillion I think is kinda like the top of the line stuff.

Lee equipment can get you started for a decent cost. When you feel you have outgrown it, You can then sell them here and upgrade to another press if you want.

Check out a couple of sites to get an idea on kits. Such as

Grafs
Midway
Natchez
FS Reloading ( Lee Products )
Titan Reloading ( Lee Products )
Kempf's

Stay away from eBay like the plague. Unless you can find a good deal which is very hard, They usually want more money for their used equipment than you can buy them brand new! If you also have big box stores like Cabels/ Gander Mountain/ Bass Pro Shops you can take a quick look and see what they have available and get a better feel for them.

Maybe one of the LGS you visit has reloading equipment. Ask them if they reload and get an idea from them. Of course, Triple check your homework in this case. Being catious when loading is a good thing. I know yous said Cabelas/ Gander were no help but with this info, You should be able to see what fits you best.
 
All this info is VERY helpful and I'm thankful to have forum members like you guys to help. I checked the links posted and they have great information, i think ill jot some notes down and head to cabelas to visually check things and price's out and start from there. I probably won't have much time until November to start learning and loading but I'd like to get everything ready for then. I just bought my first house and have already dedicated a reloading/gun room that I'm building shelves and a bench in. I cant express how much I appreciate the help that I've been having a hard time finding elsewhere.
 
Don't worry about it and were glad to help.
Just make sure to get yourself some manuals.

Lyman 49th uses several different brands of bullets in their test loads.
Lee Second Edition ( There is a revised version which is the new one ) is a good one to. Has plenty of jacketed and cast data as well.
Hornady 8th edition has good info as well but stick to their bullets mainly ( of course ) Has some cast data about their bullets again.

Sierra has a 5th edition which is in a binder type book. Dedicated to their boolits and Speer # 14 dedicated to theirs. Oh and Nosler # 6

What I like about all of them except Nosler is that they give you an OAL to work with for your handloads. Nosler does not unless I missed it somewhere. Oh and look up Hodgdon website and Alliants as well and they have free reloading data on their as Accurate Arms does to IIRC.

The Lee manual, You should be able to get it for about 13-16 bucks.
Lyman 49th about 20-25 bucks.
Hornady cost me $31
You can also opt to buy the "One Caliber Reloading Books" which is basically a copied and binded little book specific to one caliber.
 
When loading for rifles, I would highly recommend using a case length gauge for each caliber. Here's one in 338 Win Mag - http://www.midwayusa.com/product/336210/le-wilson-adjustable-case-length-headspace-gage-338-winchester-magnum.

I also second the recommendation on the hand priming tool. You would also need:
- brass tumbler and walnut/corn cob media for cleaning fired brass.
- chamfer / deburring tool for smoothing out brass mouth after trimming
- kinetic bullet puller (handy when you have to disassemble a round)
- primer pocket cleaner
- powder trickler
- powder measure

RCBS sells a Rock Chucker Supreme Single Stage Kit for around $320.00 which contains most of the items you'll need. I'm sure you can get a less expensive kit in Lee brand.
 
As usual I'll disagree with most. When I started I bought the Speer manual because I was told I needed it. It was useful but still looks new. I have read a few but only because I was at Walmart waiting on my wife. Load data is free from the manufactures. Books can be found at the library. I wouldn't buy one. I never clean pockets. I have presses that the priming system hurts my hands but I have other presses that it is very easy. My Lee Classic Cast is cake to seat a primer on. I like the Lee tools overall more then the higher dollar RCBS & Hornady tools of there like that I have.

Lee is the best bang for the buck.
 
Never let anyone else shoot your handloads!

dubya450 said:
(edited for brevity) I have ALOT of extra time on my hands in the winter months so ill probably load for friends and family as well which most use either a 30-06 or 308. Thanks guys!

Cory
Click to expand...
Never let anyone else shoot your handloads.

Well, there are exceptions, but as a general rule letting others shoot your handloads (especially if you don't have a few thousand rounds and a couple years of experience) is inadvisable for a number of reasons, liability for injury or damage the least of them. If you sell or trade your handloads, you can wind up in legal trouble with the Federal government, too. BATFE has absolutely NO sense of humor and darned little mercy.

Lost Sheep
 
Here are some web sites with good reading

dubya450 said:
Hey guys I'm looking to start loading my own ammo and would like to know a ballpark estimate on how much ill be spending and what exactly ill need to get started. ( the guys at cabelas/gander are no help AT ALL and i dont know anyone that could give me any pointers so im relying on y'all) Should I get separate components or is there a one stop kit with everything ill need? I want to load for my following guns: 338 win mag, 25-06, 45 acp, 10mm. I could live without loading for the pistols since practice walmart ammo is pretty cheap already. I'm mainly looking to produce good hunting rounds for my rifles. I have ALOT of extra time on my hands in the winter months so ill probably load for friends and family as well which most use either a 30-06 or 308. Thanks guys!

Cory
Click to expand...
Cory, thanks for asking our advice.

My first advice: Read "The ABC's of Reloading", an excellent tome on the general processes of reloading. Some people have found it a little intimidating, but just remember, handloading is not rocket science. It does involve loud noises and things that go very fast, but it is safer than driving and a lot simpler than baking a souffle or changing a tire. Just follow the directions assiduously.

Let me share with you some posts and threads I think you will enjoy. So get a large mug of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, whatever you keep on hand when you read and think and read through these.

The "sticky" thread at the top of TheFiringLine's reloading forum is good, entitled, "For the New Reloader: Equipment Basics -- READ THIS FIRST "
thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230171
www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230171

The "sticky" thread at the top of TheHighRoad.com's reloading forum is good, entitled, "For the New Reloader: Thinking about Reloading; Equipment Basics -- READ THIS FIRST"
thehighroad.org//showthread.php?t=238214
www.thehighroad.org//showthread.php?t=238214

"Budget Beginning bench you will never outgrow for the novice handloader" was informed by my recent (July 2010) repopulation of my loading bench. It is what I would have done 35 years ago if I had known then what I know now.
rugerforum.net/reloading/29385-budget-beginning-bench-you-will-never-outgrow-novice-handloader.html
www.rugerforum.net/reloading/29385-...you-will-never-outgrow-novice-handloader.html

and this one, titled "Interested in reloading"
rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=13543
www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=13543


My post, Minimalist minimal (the seventh post down)
rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=107332
www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=107332

Thread entitled "Newby needs help."
thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=430391
www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=430391
My post 11 is entitled "Here's my reloading setup, which I think you might want to model" November 21, 2010)
My post 13 is "10 Advices for the novice handloader" November 21, 2010)

If you think you might go for used equipment, here is some encouragement, titled "How much to start reloading....dirt cheap! "
Thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=439810
www.Thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=439810

Good luck

Lost Sheep
 
figure $200 bucks plus another $75 in reloading components. additional calibers are about $30 in parts. I'm a huge fan of lee stuff. except for the loadmaster progressive press. it's a little problematic. everything else is pretty great.
 
i started with a lee classic anniversary kit witch i think worked really well for getting the basics down i have just recently upgraded to the lee pro 1000 and haven't had much luck but i am also still working the bugs out on it. but i think the single stage press kits from lee, rcbs, hornady are the best way to start because the are relatively inexpensive and you get all the basics you need t start out, from there you can add to your set up or upgrade
 
I started out spending about $450.00. That got me the Lee anniversary kit, a tumbler, some media, 3 sets of dies, and enough components to break even on the venture in ammo savings, IIRC. So that made it like stocking up on $450.00 worth of factory ammo, only it didn't come preassembled, and the reloading gear was FREE! :)

Lee kit has served me well. I use everything that came with it except the Auto Prime and the primer pocket cleaner.
 
Last edited:
XD9
If you want some help with your Pro1000 just PM me. There is a great thread on here that covers peoples problems & the fix for them or how some people made changes so it worked the way they wanted it. If bds comes along I sure he has the link at a click. He is another person that would be good to contact for help. I'm sure he would be glad to share his wisdom.
 
I started with a Rock Chucker kit for $310, Carbide dies for $45, a bottle of Unique for $17, CCI 500 primers for $35 (1000), bullets for $40 (500). I despised Unique and still have the dregs from that bottle.
 
I forgot to mention this site

SouthWestReloading.com
They have all lee products and if you buy anything over $15.00, then shipping is free. If it is under, then shipping is only $2.00. Pretty hard to beat IMO as long as they have what you need/want
 
Thanks again, I'll be running to cabelas to check prices and if the books/manuals are spendy, the library as well. I may even get what I need and at least get it set up but that all depends on how much $ i have left after I buy a cheap gas sippin car today. Thats another thing that'll pay for itself quickly, my truck gets 12mpg its sickening! Bavk to the OP, the lee equipment sounds like its decent priced and work's well. I think ill focus mostly on that unless there is anything on sale.
 
Bet you can get it at half of Cabelas price at fsreloadind.com & they will have more to look at.
 
Do your internet shopping at home first.
Check each site if you want and make sure to include S&h in the pricing.
Then check Cabelas/Gander Mountain/ Bass Pro on their site as well to see the difference in price and shipping. I would go in person as well to get a better feel for things none the less if you want.

Also, Look up deals and see if they have any coupons or something. Sometimes they might have great sales that would be worth getting. Let your fingers do the walking for now until your ready to head out the door ( That is if you need to )

Oh, I would also suggest that you buy your powder and primers in person if you can. Buying them online requires a S&H fee PLUS A HAZMAT FEE OF $27.50
Unless you buying in bulk quantities, Your better off staying local.
 
You'll save a chunk if you buy in bulk & on line even paying hazmat & shipping. I do anyway. I don't like CCI & that is all you can get at Walmart for $33 plus tax & LGS $50 for the cheapest. It is just as bad actually worse with powder.
 
"Hey guys I'm looking to start loading my own ammo... so ill probably load for friends and family as well"

This is not a good combination. In the first place, if you charge them for it, that is Doing Business and requires a FFL. In the second place a novice mistake that damaged a gun - or shooter - would turn a friend into a Courtroom Plaintiff.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
  • Locked
6mm-284 95gr nosler load help
Replies
1
Views
551
JimKirk
JimKirk
P
  • Locked
will increased velocity improve accuracy?
Replies
11
Views
665
Rokman
R
J
  • Locked
velocity at which leading starts
Replies
9
Views
610
Walkalong
Walkalong
A
  • Locked
338 Spectre loads
Replies
0
Views
559
AK Gun Man 88
A
J
  • Locked
Info on starting/max load please
Replies
2
Views
305
jgh4445
J
Back
Top