What would you do? Reloading equipment dilema..

[d31tc]

Long time reader, first time poster...so where to begin. I'm getting into reloading but currently am poor by choice (wife in school so 1 income family and 2 daughters enrolled in everything that costs money) so I am trying to be frugal. I started off by buying a used rock chucker supreme off craigslist for a good price relative to new but quickly realized that all the other items buying used would pretty much be the price of a RCBS Supreme Kit. So the wife agreed to let me buy the kit. So now I was looking for the other items I think I need - case trimmer, micrometer, caliper. A deal on Craigslist had those items (case trimmer, micrometer, caliper) a bunch of nice items I'll use at some point (.45 carbide dies, .308 dies, 9mm carbide dies, check weights), some misc. duplicate items that I already have (M500 scale, powder trickler, deburring tool, loading blocks) and a big ticket item I might like to keep but probably should sell (RCBS Pro Chucker 5). The lot, all unused, LNIB, was/is temporarily financed through a benefactor. The wife does not know - yet. The big question is do I keep the Pro Chucker because it's a really good deal (maybe it isn't in your opinion), or sell it to pay off my benefactor sooner and buy bullets, brass and powder if I have left over proceeds? If I keep the Pro Chucker, I'll sell one Rock Chucker. If I sell the Pro Chucker, I'll keep both Rock Chuckers. What would you have done or what would you do?

 

[Allen One1]

I'd chuck the Pro Chucker and cut the debt load.

 

[badkarmamib]

What cartridges are you loading for, and for what purpose? Low volume, rifle, and/or precision will be better handled with the single stage press(es). The Pro Chucker would only be more valuable to keep, if you are loading high volume pistol rounds. That is just my $0.02.

 

[Stew0576]

Personally I'd sell the pro chucker and one rock chucker and buy a Lee turret press, the best of both worlds

 

[splattergun]

Money stress is the number 1 cause of divorce. Get out of debt. Only keep what you can after coming up with the money to pay off your benefactor. press, dies, scale, calipers, loading block (can be homemade). If loading rifle, case trimmer and deburring tool, lube. And components, of course.
Nice, but not absolutely necessary, so buy them later (cash!); powder dispenser (dippers can be made) and all the optional accessories like bullet feeder, micrometer (very low on my list of tool importance) , etc.

 

[2ndtimer]

I agree with the others, sell the Pro Chucker (and maybe one of the Rock Chuckers, too). Keep one of the Rock Chuckers, and use it to learn the basics. I still have my original, from around 1982, and use it constantly for all my bottle neck rounds, as well as .45 ACP. (Haven't gotten round to getting a .45 ACP caliber conversion kit for my Dillon RL-550B yet.) I do use the Dillon to load volume 9mm and .357 Magnum cartridges, but never embraced using it for .223/5.56 loads. Down the road, you may want to consider a progressive machine, and may find you would prefer something other than the RCBS unit. Also, eliminating debt is always a good idea.

 

[BigBore45]

I'd sell all the presses and get a lee classic turret press and pay off the debt and buy bullets, powder, primers and brass. Then start loading.

 

[BCR#1]

(Haven't gotten round to getting a .45 ACP caliber conversion kit for my Dillon RL-550B yet.)

That is why I bought a second 550B. One for small primer 9 and 40 and the new one for large primer 45 ACP and 45 COLT. So much easier not having to change out the primer system by having both machines.

Bill

 

[forty_caliber]

Everyone's situation is unique. This bunch of folks on the internet can't really give good advice about your situation. I know in my personal situation when Mrs. Boss and I were just starting out and kids were little, ammo was a luxury item. Way too expensive to go shooting even once a month.

I first got into reloading (late '70s early 80s) so I could make hunting rounds (teen years). Once the wife and kids came along most of that came to a screeching halt. We slowly got better jobs and got on our feet and built up our nest egg. Fast forward 30 years....kids have graduated university but still migrate back home now and again, house is paid for, cars are paid for, no other debt to speak of and financially ready to retire in 4 years. I'm kicking butt and taking names in the reloading department.

The opportunity cost of equipment and consumables is very high these days compared to when I started out. The margin between the cost of hand loading and the cost of buying some calibers from the factory is pretty slim. .9mm is a good example. I can buy a case of .9mm for about what it would cost to reload it and save myself the time and labor. On the other hand things like .45 Colt, .308, and .45acp still have a wide margin and reloading is very practical. I load in the neighborhood of 4000 rounds per year.

My advice is this, start slow. Keep one RC and bare minimum tooling and learn the craft thoroughly. A sturdy bench as simple as that sounds is as important as the press. In years to come you can always add the fancy bits and bobs...it will be much more satisfying. I don't recall reading about a manual in your list of acquisitions...first priority.



By the way, welcome to THR.

.40

 

[Dudedog]

Welcome to THR,
lots of great people here.


While it would be nice to have the Pro Chucker 5 it is not nice to have debt.
I would sell it to help pay the debt and then pick another one (or a different progressive) later on when you can afford it.

The wife does not know - yet.

I am not married but I don't know if not telling her is a good idea. (People who are married probably know far better about this than I do)
Honesty is the best policy IMO.

The Lee turret press is an excellent compromise for speed vs cost IMO.
I loaded on an old 3 hole Lee turret for years before getting my LNL progressive. (happy I got it)
You should be able to do everything you most likely would want to do on the Rock Chucker, just maybe not as fast as you would like.

 

[gspn]

1 - so I am trying to be frugal.

2 - a bunch of nice items I'll use at some point (.45 carbide dies, .308 dies, 9mm carbide dies, check weights)

3 - some misc. duplicate items that I already have (M500 scale, powder trickler, deburring tool, loading blocks)

4 - and a big ticket item I might like to keep but probably should sell (RCBS Pro Chucker 5).

Bullet point #1 sets the stage for what you're trying to do. Bullet points 2, 3, and 4 are unnecessary and can't co-exist with bullet point #1. "items you'll use at some point" are basically wasting money currently. If/when you need them later, you can spend the money then...not now. Duplicate items can be sold to lower the overall cost of acquisition. The big ticket item needs to go because it is in no way "frugal".

I started off with a low cost Lee turret press. I upgraded later to a Hornady Lock 'n Load, but the Lee is still used for all of my lower volume production of hunting ammo.

Frugal means frugal. You have many options to accomplish your reloading goals with lower cost equipment. You will be amazed with what you can accomplish with even the most basic gear.

 

[rfwobbly]

Money stress is the number 1 cause of divorce. Get out of debt.

This is a true statement. Implicit in your marriage vows was a promise to keep your wife safe and secure. And the number one threat to your marriage is Finances. The second is loss of Trust. With 2 kids, that vow has been underlined twice.

Now, by omission, you have lied to your wife in order to borrow money you do not have in order to buy "boy toys". And the only object of these toys is to throw more money away by spitting it down range.

Your post reads like you have placed yourself, your marriage and your family upon a VERY slippery slope. My friend, in the name of "fun" it sound as if you are poised to loose everything near and dear.

My advice..... sell everything. And then go apologize to the wife, because she already knows everything anyway.
.

 

[earlthegoat2]

If money is as tight as it sounds, I wouldn’t get into reloading at all. It takes a bit to start getting any return on investment and in the meantime you can defer the cost of all the reloading gear to happier financial times ahead.

 

[Stew0576]

I disagree, I really couldn't afford to start reloading when I did, my wife told me set a budget and do it, you work hard and deserve a little happiness, just set a budget and keep to it, I did and don't regret it, welcome

 

[Tilos]

You don't mention what calibers you intend to load for but the components for any will be expensive.
You are already borrowing money for the equipment and have not bought any components.

My advise is to sell ALL the reloading stuff and pay off that debt 1st.
Buy a 22LR pistol/revolver/rifle what ever your preference, sell another gun for more money if needed, buy ammo when you can afford it, as you go, and shoot it often.
That way you will have zero $ tied up in loading equipment/components and can spend your "loading time" with your kids/wife.
Not what you wanted to hear I know.
Getting a muzzle loader if it's all about loading and not just shooting for you, is another option.
jmo,

Edit: if you find yourself still "jonesing" about reloading, buy a Lee turret, used if you can find one.

 

[horsemen61]

I’d keep one rock Chucker not both and the pro Chucker would move on down the road remember “Rome wasn’t built in a day”

 

[d31tc]

Thanks. I was looking for someone to help settle my cognitive dissonance . But everyone is reinforcing my original intent. Financially, I exaggerate a little bit. My wife graduates in 4 months and will have a job and cash flow will not be an issue - but that’s not now. No car loans, etc. just a mortgage. But in any case, I can’t really justify hanging on to it based on my original plan, but, I don’t NEED to sell it, but now that it’s sitting here, hmm. I have 7mm Rem Mag, .270 Win, .270 WSM, .308 Win, 30-30, 6.5 Grendel, 5.56 NATO, 9mm. In the near future (4 months coincidentally) I’ll have 300 Blackout and maybe.45 ACP. My initial thinking on reloading was to improve precision and dial in accuracy for my bean field rifles and buy bulk ammo for my pistol and 5.56, but then this Pro Chucker 5 showed up. I paid $420, press unused, LNIB. $155 for the rest of the accessories which my wife knows about. Does that change anyone’s opinion? Will I be kicking myself in 7 months if I sell it and decide to reload 9mm and .223? It seems like the cost savings on 9mm and .223/5.56 aren’t there to justify keeping it. My time is valuable like everyone else’s. Reloading for precision is something I want to do. Reloading for volume- maybe?

 

[edwardware]

One Rock Chucker is enough, for decades. If the money will consume another moment of your thinking, sell the others.

 

[BigBore45]

Thanks. I was looking for someone to help settle my cognitive dissonance . But everyone is reinforcing my original intent. Financially, I exaggerate a little bit. My wife graduates in 4 months and will have a job and cash flow will not be an issue - but that’s not now. No car loans, etc. just a mortgage. But in any case, I can’t really justify hanging on to it based on my original plan, but, I don’t NEED to sell it, but now that it’s sitting here, hmm. I have 7mm Rem Mag, .270 Win, .270 WSM, .308 Win, 30-30, 6.5 Grendel, 5.56 NATO, 9mm. In the near future (4 months coincidentally) I’ll have 300 Blackout and maybe.45 ACP. My initial thinking on reloading was to improve precision and dial in accuracy for my bean field rifles and buy bulk ammo for my pistol and 5.56, but then this Pro Chucker 5 showed up. I paid $420, press unused, LNIB. $155 for the rest of the accessories which my wife knows about. Does that change anyone’s opinion? Will I be kicking myself in 7 months if I sell it and decide to reload 9mm and .223? It seems like the cost savings on 9mm and .223/5.56 aren’t there to justify keeping it. My time is valuable like everyone else’s. Reloading for precision is something I want to do. Reloading for volume- maybe?

Dude. If you sold that press and went with a lee classic turret you would pocket like 300 bucks.

That's a lot towards dies and components. The lee turret press is a 150 round an hr loading capability.

I had a rock chucker.
I sold it and replaced it with Lee's version. The lee is just as good. I personally like Lee's on press priming system better than the RCBS single stages.

I'd dump all that rcbs stuff and get a lee classic turret and lee breqch lock challenger. The turret can be used as single stage- Manuel turret-auto indexing turret. The challenger press is just as precise on ammo as rcbs. Look it up, I doubt you'll find a bad comment about the classic turret press or challenger.

 

[d31tc]

Tilos-Generally agree. I didn’t mention that I have the .22 rifle and pistol as well, just not something I’d reload, obviously. The girls are getting old enough to start shooting and I want to start that with them. Maybe they’ll like it enough to let me spend money on their guns instead of dance costumes.

Edwardware/RFwobbly- Winners. You guys tie with the most convincing arguments - mic drop

Stew0576 - This is where I was before the Pro Chucker arrived. I need to get back to my agreed on budget.

Thanks all for the advice. Time to ditch some stuff. As a noob, I’ll be asking a lot more stupid questions sooner rather than later. D31tc out.

 

[Outlaw75]

Safe handloading requires discipline and an attention to detail that takes a little time to build. Jumping in with both feet and buying a progressive press is not the best way to achieve this. Get rid of the Pro Chucker, keep the single stage Rock Chucker. Buy yourself one set of pistol dies, a good basic powder measure or a set of Lee dippers, a hand priming tool, and a set of digital calipers. Concentrate on learning to load that one caliber using starting loads.

 

[JFrank]

As stated by the fine Gentleman before me a single stage press is best.
Other than that you will be surprised at just how little you Really need to make excellent ammunition. Pictured here is my tiny tiny operation

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Personally I'd sell the pro chucker and one rock chucker and buy a Lee turret press, the best of both worlds

I agree. I own and use a Lee Classic Turret Press and a Rockchucker and they cover everything I want to load. But the Classic Turret press, not Deluxe.

As for the other tools, check Harbor Freight. They will have what you need in the cheap. Digital Calipers for $15-$20 and deals like that. They will work just fine.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[243winxb]

Need 2. 1.Progressive press for pistols. Also good for high volume loading of rifle cartridges , like 223/5.56
2. Single stage for bottle neck cartridges.

Seems to be a few marrage counselors replying to this thread.

 

[dh1633pm]

You need to get yourself clean with the wife first. I agree with others. By doing that the unwritten rules in life will come to your aid things will work better. Don't mean this in a bad way. Do agree with the others on this line of thought. Can't speak for others, but mentioned it only because I have been there done that and regretted it. You'll figure it out.

When I didn't make as much and had children at home, I financed my reloading by buying and selling used reloading stuff. Find stuff under priced and sell it for more. Then buy more and do the same. Keep items that you need to make your collection better.