$$$ saving with reloading

[DaFadda]

Heck this is an easy one. OK... I reload. Do NOT purchase reloading equipment thinking you will save money. You will just shoot more. "No brag, just fact"... (Think "Guns of Will Sonnet" circa 1974. Here are the facts. A Box of 45 acp fmj hardball is running around 22 dollars. I can produce 50 round of 45 for about 11 dollars. I now shoot twice as much. go figger.

All this said, IF you want to reload, then by all means do so... Just understand that its not a cost savings hobby. You'll become a much better shooter, shoot more, and never worry about "can I get my ammo"...

Just sayin'

Da

[ColMike]

Originally Posted by DaFadda

Heck this is an easy one. OK... I reload. Do NOT purchase reloading equipment thinking you will save money. You will just shoot more. "No brag, just fact"... (Think "Guns of Will Sonnet" circa 1974. Here are the facts. A Box of 45 acp fmj hardball is running around 22 dollars. I can produce 50 round of 45 for about 11 dollars. I now shoot twice as much. go figger.

All this said, IF you want to reload, then by all means do so... Just understand that its not a cost savings hobby. You'll become a much better shooter, shoot more, and never worry about "can I get my ammo"...

Just sayin'

Da

It's a valid point of view but I don't think it's linear as you propose. It is possible to reduce the cost of an established training regimen by loading over the long haul. I do agree that if you are a casual shooter and can reduce the cost per round,you will increase volume to match budget.

I think a more important aspect is ammuniton to match you and your weapon. Secondly and for me should probably be number 1, is the ability to tailor ammunition by mission and produce enough ammunition to really practice with the 'for record' rounds.

[skosh69]

All I'm going to say is "Go blue or go home". The owners of said colored machines know what I'm talking about.

Don't any of you take this the wrong way, meaning the single stage users, but using a single stage to load for plinking or competition SUCKS. Doing every move 5 times is a royal pain in the ass and consumes sooooo much time.

If I had it to do all over again, I'd spend more and buy a progressive press. 1 PULL, 1 BULLET!!!!.

And before anyone jumps in with "but loading on a single stage is safer 'cause you won't miss a charge or even double charge a load", that's wrong also. Anyone here remember my first reloading fiasco? I ain't ashamed to admit it, I got side tracked and missed 3 loads in 50.

I hate working hard, when I can work smart. Doing each step (depriming/sizing, hand priming, powder dumping, setting the bullet in the case and finally crimping) a couple hundred times for a match or enough loads for a good day at the range in my book sucks. Guess that's why I haven't gone out much lately.

Call me lazy, but I've just come to realize that I do not enjoy reloading on a single stage anymore. My next major purchase will be a Dillon 550 RL or if the God's bless me, the 650 XL

The only thing that has made life easier for my single stage setup is the powder thrower/dumper that sold me. That is it.

So, in closing, If you're retired or maybe have too much time on your hands or simply love to sit and spend hours doing just a few hundred bullets, great....buy a single stage. If not, I'd say look for a LEE Progressive 1000 press at a minimum or like I said in the beginning, "Go blue or go home".

Just a pino's 0.02

Crap, in all my ranting....I totally lost sight of the OP, yes...you save by reloading. For me I save about 2/3 the cost of buying manufactured ammo.

[DaFadda]

Skosh makes a good point... and no.... I don't think anyone will ever forget his squib loads. (ROFL , loveyaman). IF I were to buy a new machine I would go with a Dillon for speed. But I would still recommend for any beginner that they start with a single stage. Set up and fine tuning can be frustrating for a beginner, especially if they don't have someone with experience to work with.

hit it on the head when he suggested the Lee Classic 4 hole turret. Probably the best marriage between a progressive and a single stage. Its what I currently use. The turrets are removable, so you can "set and forget" your favorite calibers. I have turrets for 45, 38, 357,9mm, and just purchased spare turrets for 38 Super and 7.62x39. The turret can be used in single stage "batch mode" which is how I use it, OR in a semi progressive mode. Lee Classic turret kit is $209 at Cabelas last week.

The Col. also makes a good point in that you can tailor your rounds for what you want to do, and whoever said the real cost savings comes when you pour your own lead was also spot on. I don't cast my own bullets, and I buy JHP from Montana Gold at 172 or so per k for 230 grain. Bullet price will drop like a stone if you cast your own, but its just too much work for me.

Most important.... and you are already doing it... please ask anyone here your questions... we're here to help and support ya. Good luck with the hobby... OH... check out the threads in the reloading section for pics of workstations, favorite loads, etc.

Da

[sdmc530]

is right, if I could do it all over again I would not have started on a single....no way would have jumped to blue. Glad I went blue and won't look back.

However Dafadda is right, you do learn basics on a single, it helps but knowing what I know now I would go blue right off the bat!

[Caleb]

Do you guys that make your own lead bullets use a respirator?

[DrHenley]

Originally Posted by IamCaleb

Do you guys that make your own lead bullets use a respirator?

Not sure what kind of respirator would protect from lead fumes. Most respirators are for particulates. I just do it outside with a crossbreeze.

[sdmc530]

I don't do my own bullet making because of the lead dangers. I don't have an outside place to do it and inside would be a no no so I am not lucky enough to make cast. Would love too though!

[skosh69]

Originally Posted by IamCaleb

Do you guys that make your own lead bullets use a respirator?

If you or anyone else is interested, member "dsparkie" csats bullets. He's made some for me in the past and they were good to go.

Regarding respirators, we use 3M vapor cartridges at work that would probalby stop the vapors, I will look into it. I wore my mask at an indoor range once because of the smoke and vapors from shooting lead cast bullets. Led tastes nasty.

[NAMVET72]

and but some people don't have a lot of money for a big fancy reloading press and he is just beginning, and I am betting you two would have made a lot of mistakes if you used one the first time out...................


Just my .02 cents worth,