r/reloading • u/Emergency_Speed3660 • 14h ago
Newbie New reloader
Hello everyone hope you’re all doing well!
I’m looking to get into reloading and I have no idea where to start. I’ve had several people tell me one thing then other people tell me the opposite and I figured if anybody knew the best advice it would be here so with that being said any info is greatly appreciated!!
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u/Missinglink2531 14h ago
Lots of different ways to do things, lots of price point options, lots of "end use" requirements. There isnt "one way" - thats why your getting bounced around. Start with defining exactly what your trying to do. Example:
I want to reload .308 for target shooting at 100 yards and hunting. I shoot 100 rounds a year. I am looking for good quality, but price is a major concern"- thats completely different than "I shoot 9mm, about 10,000 rounds a month in 3 gun competition. I run a trick gun with a very light spring so need to tune down the load a good bit"
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u/Curiously_Sagacious 13h ago
What cartridge are you looking to reload? You hoping to pump out volume or just looking to have fun making custom loads or plinking rounds?
Just about everyone here will tell you to start by picking up a reloading manual, read about the steps, the loads for specific powders, bullet weights, and calibers. There is good reason for this as if you start loading without know what you are doing you could get hurt, damage equipment, or hurt someone else. It's important to get a grasp of the basics as a too spicy (overcharge) or too weak (squib) round can blow you up.
I'd say start slow and simple with a single stage press, dies, a powder scale (or beam balance), digital calipers, and a case trimmer (if you're reloading bottle neck cartridges). Lee Reloading typically has good entry level budget gear, but you can often find second hand RCBS, Lyman, or Hornady gear for cheap.
Avoid progressives until you know more as they can be more complex and difficult to set up.
There is a lot that goes into reloading. And as they say, you likely won't save money, you'll just shoot more often 😉.
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u/Emergency_Speed3660 13h ago
Mainly looking do do rifle rounds and handgun occasionally but where would be the best place to find them? I’m shopping marketplace and a lot of these prices near me are so high I’d be better off buying new
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u/Curiously_Sagacious 13h ago
It's hit or miss on FB marketplace. I found a beam scale once for $15, absolute snag of a deal.
But I bought my press new from Lee. It was $90 I think for a challenger III press and a set of dies (4- 6.5 CM). It was a good deal and it works well. I lived it using CLP on the joint of the lever arm and it runs nicely. I would recommend the lee case trimmer that mounts to the press and not the hand held one, you buy a trimmer die for each bottle neck rifle cartridge you want to be able to trim and it's pretty fool proof.
I prime on press and for a while I scooped and weighed each load. But I just bought a Lee perfect powder measure from Midway or Brownells (I can't remember which) for $25 and it has been a great upgrade. Much faster.
I found .45 ACP and 9mm RCBS dies online for $20 each on FB Marketplace. Harbor Freight also sells a small vibrating tumbler and walnut/corn cob media for pretty cheap that work great for cleaning spent cases. I also purchased a Lee universal de-priming die to decap all the cases before cleaning to avoid getting my resizing die dirty.
This has been my journey, yours may differ.
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u/MGC00992 13h ago
After reading your well thought out response and Missinglink's as well. I have questions.
I am considering reloading as a hobby and support system for my shooting habit. I regularly use .45 ACP and will shoot several hundred rounds at a time. I am a range member and could easily go 2-3 days a week if it wasn't $100 in bullets every trip.
If I am reloading 45ACP exclusively, what would the approximate cost per round be if I were buying my reloading supplies in bulk (not commercial level bulk, but say 1000 carts at a time).
Are we talking .25 cents a round at 1000? Or would the cost be .35 cents a round? I can buy new off the shelf at around .41 cents a round right now, so I am on the fence and researching options.
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u/Curiously_Sagacious 13h ago edited 13h ago
I keep a spreadsheet of my current per round price and I reload .45 ACP at .28¢ a round right now. Granted I purchased only a pound of powder and not a jug, and I definitely could have shopped around more for bullets or waited for a deal. I went for 230g Barry's plated RN at the time and I could have shaved some cost by getting a lower weight or scoring some Midway USA factory seconds.
It works out to $5.19 in savings per 100 rounds (at .33¢ a round retail). Pistol reloading doesn't provide the best savings unless you are making a lot. 6.5 Creedmoor on the other hand I reload for .63¢/round or $23.45 per 100 rounds in savings (at .86¢/round retail).
P.S. never tell my wife these numbers 😬
Edit: I should also add that I was using CFE Pistol, if I used Titegroup and purchased my bullets and powder in larger bulk quantities, I'd probably do even better per round.
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u/Ornery_Secretary_850 10h ago
Based on today's prices, you can reload 45 ACP for right at $21/100.
That's a 200 gr coated lead SWC bullet, primer, and powder.
The key is to buy in bulk. A case of primers at a time, a keg of powder at a time, and as many bullets as you can afford at a time.
If you want jacketed bullets, then your price is going to go up just a hair to $22/1000.
That's using RMR 225 RN Silver bullets.
To add for all the disbelievers, bullets are 13.4¢ each, factory second primers are 4¢ each, and that leaves 4¢ for powder. Buy 5 lbs of pistol powder the next time American Reloading has it, and you're golden.
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u/Missinglink2531 13h ago
I reload .45. It can very a good bit. First, consider that you dont have to buy brass (you have your spents in giant coffee cans from 1985 for example - that hits close to home - Every shot needs a primer. Quality primers go from about $.06 each right now. There are 7000 grans to a lb, and a .45 shot will take roughly (dont load off this!) 5.5grns each, so less than $.04 for powder. Projectiles very a great deal - lead plinking rounds you cast yourself, about .03-.08, depending on where you get the lead. For jacketed, I shoot a SWC match, at .14/round. So, my load (precise, I do shoot 100yards), I can make for $.24 each.
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u/MGC00992 13h ago
Thank you both Curious Sage and Missing Link. I am convinced that further research is necessary and I am moving in the right direction. Time to read about reloading before I go nuts with spending.
I plan to get good equipment that is easy to use.
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u/Ornery_Secretary_850 10h ago
You want a Dillon. If the ONLY thing you ever plan to reload is .45 ACP, the Square Deal B is great. If you think you might reload other cartridges, the 550 or 750 is the way to go.
Note that the 550 is a MANUAL progressive press. The other two are automatic progressive presses.
A 750 with a case feeder, no bullet feeder, will allow you to load 500 rounds of ammo in an hour.
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u/DaiPow888 13h ago
A common price for .45ACP bullets would be 10 cents.
1k primers have fallen below $50.
I've never bought brass, as I've saved the factory cases I've shot.
Powder cost will depend on which powder you choose, but i would expect over 1900 charges from a pound of powder.
So your looking at under 20 cents a round
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u/Ornery_Secretary_850 10h ago
Where are you finding 10¢ .45 ACP bullets? That's a price I haven't seen in a few years.
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u/DaiPow888 9h ago
Mea Culpa. I guess it's been longer than I thought since I've bought .452" bullets.
I just went to check and neither of the companies I used to buy from are even still around...and I'm down below 5k bullets.
The best I've found for 230gr FMJ was 15 cents a round...so I guess I'd be up to 25 cents
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u/Tmoncmm 11h ago
The first thing I would suggest is a reloading manual. Most recommend the Lyman. In addition to load data, it also has a very good section about how to reload. I suggest reading that before getting anything. This should give you a much better idea of what is involved and what tools and components would be appropriate for your goals.
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u/Grumpee68 12h ago
All, here is a reloading cost calculator, from Dillon reloading. Input your costs, and it calculates everything.
https://www.dillonprecision.com/pages/reloading-cost-calculator
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u/Fav-Repubroke 12h ago
Whew when I started reloading I was in the same boat , I didn’t know you can make your own rounds hahahah. Are you planning on doing large volumes if so probably a progressive press . If your doing obscure rounds I’ll go with a a turret . Throw all your questions and we all will be happy to help
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u/Damaged_My_Calm 10h ago
Lots of good suggestions here. My take as a 2 yr old in this: I started w reading forums, but today, I would suggest an AI. I've run through what Gemini feeds me as a noob and it was great. Accurate and very quick to learn. Regardless, read up first.
I started with a single stage press, Frankford Arsenal, but there are many single stages to choose from. Abd then a myriad of prep, powder, and measuring tools. You will find out quickly this is a rabbit hole to neverland of options. I started with basics and replaced what tools/items I found lacking for me. I now have a turret press and like where I am. I load 300blk, 30-30, 223 and 9mm for target, nothing fancy. Your desires/needs will drive your bench setup. All that said, read, read, read or talk a ton to AI and learn.
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u/HomersDonut1440 14h ago
Buy a reloading manual and read it. That’s always place #1. I’m partial to the Speer manuals personally