Anyone do hand reloading?

[muzzlebrake]

Wow. Didn't know I was walking into a $1k start up.

A good reloading setup, bench, storage etc will eat up $1K in no time.
Just the dies and components like primers, powder and bullets to reload the calibers you have mentioned will eat up a $500 bill before you know it.
Bullets are getting expensive and will continue to go up I am afraid.
Look around for some good used stuff. Presses hardly ever wear out.
My Hornady AP has over 50,000 rounds thru it and shows no sign of wearing out.

[dustoffer]

RCBS is always my first choice, for dies it is Redding. Both companies have good warranties and stand behind them. And, don't recall if I saw someone post up to be sure and get a stuck case remover, but get one--either now, or later-you eventually will forget to lube a case and it will get stuck in the resizer die.

If you are only loading a few calibers, there is a series of loading manuals that are caliber-specific--meaning it has all the major manuals extracted and bound in one book. Buy one for each caliber and you are good-to-go, whether using Hornady bullets, Sierras, etc. Here's a link to an example:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/558392/loadbooks-usa-308-winchester-reloading-manual

[Coon]

If you don't get obsessed with reloading, you won't have to spend $1000. The problem is, most folks who start reloading to save money and improve their ammo, become obsessed. You can start with the RCBS partner press kit for under $300 or one of the Lee kits. You don't have to have a powder measure, just use a scale, spoon and trickler. You don't have to have a hand priming tool, the press has a primer tool on it. You also don't need a case tumbler, just clean by hand. Until you start loading for big quantities, you won't need those things. All those extra things are great, and if you decide you love reloading, go nuts and upgrade. But, if you decide this reloading crap is for the birds, sell your kit for a bit of a loss, or even give it to someone who wants to try it, and you won't be out as much coin. This is just my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions...
D

[BowCrazy]

Midway USA has the RCBS kit for $287.99, says it's everything you will need. Item # 937-051.

I'm looking real serious at this one.

What think ye GS, will this work for the OP and us other reloading novices?

[dclifton]

Midway USA has the RCBS kit for $287.99, says it's everything you will need. Item # 937-051.

I'm looking real serious at this one.

What think ye GS, will this work for the OP and us other reloading novices?

There's nothing wrong with those kits. The presses are very good. I think rcbs had a mail in rebate offer also. U might check on that.

[duckmanep]

If you are brand new to loading, I'd recommend getting the Lee kit, possibly upgrade the scale, load up some 243 and 308, and see how you like the sport before going "all out". You aren't going to want to load 223 and 9mm very long on a single stage.

[duckmanep]

there is also a lot of good info in other past threads, so make sure to use the search function and do some digging

[Mudshack]

If you are brand new to loading, I'd recommend getting the Lee kit, possibly upgrade the scale, load up some 243 and 308, and see how you like the sport before going "all out". You aren't going to want to load 223 and 9mm very long on a single stage.

What is the difference between a single stage and something more? Why wouldn't I want to do 9mm very long?

[dclifton]

What is the difference between a single stage and something more? Why wouldn't I want to do 9mm very long?

My advice start youtubing. If your gunna spend the money on this get a little bit of knowledge of what you want and don't want. Single stage is the way to go for beginners IMO. Just YouTube. Single stage Presses vs progressive presses like the dillon 550,650 or hornady AP. also YouTube loading 9mm on single stage press it will show up you the steps involved. And then YouTube 308 and etc.

[duckmanep]

short version

single stage only has one die in it, and only does one thing at a time. so to load 100 9mm bullets, using a 4 die set, you would have to pull the handle 400 times.

progressive has slots for all 4 dies, and just rotates your brass to the next station each time you pull the handle. so to load 100 9mm bullets, you pull the handle 100 times.

As dclifton said, hop on youtube and watch someone load with both.

[coldgas]

Wow. Didn't know I was walking into a $1k start up.

Your not. Buy the lee kit. Deal with the scales. Use steel wool to clean your cases and upgrade the things you don't like as you go. Lee makes chesp hand case trimmers but if I had to do it again I'd just buy a good case trimmer for around $70.
You don't have to get everything at once. The lee kit will have most everything minus a case trimmer. You don't need a case tumbler. Steel wool and neck brush will work just fine.
If you shoot a lot it will pay for itself. I can reload 100 rounds for the price I buy a box if 20 factory rounds . If you only shoot during hunting season your better off buying factory loads.

[Randy]

Check out the Smart Reloader products from Natchez. Some of them are crap but some things are really good and really cheap. I use their nano tumber and auto dispensing scale.

[Coyote EMT]

Your not. Buy the lee kit. Deal with the scales. Use steel wool to clean your cases and upgrade the things you don't like as you go. Lee makes chesp hand case trimmers but if I had to do it again I'd just buy a good case trimmer for around $70.
You don't have to get everything at once. The lee kit will have most everything minus a case trimmer. You don't need a case tumbler. Steel wool and neck brush will work just fine.
If you shoot a lot it will pay for itself. I can reload 100 rounds for the price I buy a box if 20 factory rounds . If you only shoot during hunting season your better off buying factory loads.

X2.
I have the Lee anniversary kit and 223 dies. They are more than I need. It makes great ammo. I bought the rcbs dies for my 300 wm. They are a little sturdier. But the press is all I need. I did get a digital scale for like twenty bucks. All in all worth the savings.