Looking to get into reloading

[Rattles336]

I'm looking to start reloading. I shoot 9mm, 5.56, .357 and 30.06 What's the best setup for a begeiner like me?

[Rattles336]

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[knockonit]

opinions will vary on maker of reloader, i've had all, and moved eventually to dillon, for me it was a winner, if you are in no. central phx, get in touch will show you how the dillon functions, as my stable is a half dozen of mutiple units, i just finished 15k of 9mm, sure is a whole lot simpler than when i had on ly a single stage.
good luck a new adventure, now is not the best time to get started, but hell when is the best time, big issue will be some components
Rj

[Boriqua]

I had this guy and loaded many thousands of rounds through it. It is a beast and very simple mechanically so will be around long after you die.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1013008991?pid=317831

I found it to be a great starter press and used it for some 5 years before moving on to something else.

Now is a tough time though .. powder seems to be available and you can find some types of bullets and second hand brass but primers are non existent. Looking at the bright side .. maybe that gives you more time to search for a good deal on a press. Singles stages were on sale on the secondary market for <$100

You will need the die set of your choosing so figure around $50 per set, a powder measure and a scale. With that you can get started and add what you want as you want it.

Maybe its me but .. I have been bitten by spending money on things I thought I would love to do and then ... Hated it. So if you can get in cheap and learn as you go then if ammo comes back and you decide reloading is a drag you didnt invest to much.

A single stage will really help you understand the process.

I used a lee perfect powder measure for a long while and its consistent and accurate and easy enough to set and use but .. it did leak. But .. it was about $25 and I still use a Frankford Arsenal electronic scale and I think it was <$50

So figure about $250-$300 in mechanical before you buy components.

Pretty cheap considering .. I went out shooting yesterday and went through about 100 rounds of 38, 20 rounds of 357 and almost 200 rounds of 40 .... all made in my little crafting room

9mm and 357 are very easy to load but depending on the powder there is a larger potential for messing up with .357 than with 9mm. I dont feel qualified to offer advice but were I to suggest .. I would probably start with the 9mm.

There is less to be concerned with as far as feeding with a 357 but there is also the potential to work with a lot of empty case which could get danergous if your not being real careful.

[Rattles336]

Not to worried about bullets my father has just started to cast his own and that part sevens pretty straight forward. I didn't know primers are hard to get right now, makes sense with the ammo shortages.

Thanks for the info guys it was super helpful, I got some internet searching to do now lol.

[338lapua]

Don't listen to the clowns that tell you single stage, go right to progressive like a Dillon. Once you are ready get together with a long time reloader who can show you how to use a progressive press safely and you are off. It's all about paying attention to what you are doing and learning a workflow and sticking with it. If you are a active poster on this forum I have been known to teach a few people on a Dillon 1050.

My first press was a 550 then a 650 within 6 months and then a 1050 for home use. One of the first things you should do and this is where I like to start is squib training. I load rounds with no powder and have you shoot them and teach you what to do when you eject a empty case so you don't chamber another round. This is a important first lesson. Then it is on to primers, powders, bullets, loading primer tubes, adjusting dies. adjusting seating depth, adjusting powder charge then you load. I talk about safety and even why you clear the press every time you stop for the day. I talk about how I reload where I load a years worth of one caliber at a time and why I do it. I also teach you not to be anal retentive so you are not in fear of the machine and not being afraid of the powder measure and checking every round. I can take you from novice to 1,000 rounds a hour in a couple sessions. I also run commercial loading machines and have taken rookies and turned them into operators quickly. Paying attention to what you are doing and eliminating distractions are the two most important things.


Reloading is easier and safer than most will lead you to believe. They want everyone to suffer through single station presses because that is all they have learned and in in some cases all they can run.

[QuietM4]

I'm looking to start reloading. I shoot 9mm, 5.56, .357 and 30.06 What's the best setup for a begeiner like me?

How much ammo do you intend to load? Unless it is several thousand rounds per year, you are wasting money IMO.

I spent a little less than $800 on my single stage reloading setup; including all the tools, measuring devices, and misc little things you need to reload. I am currently loading only 6.5 Creedmoor. Doing the accounting math, my break even point (saving enough money reloading vs factory ammo to pay for the equipment) is 6,230 rounds. I did not get into reloading to save any money...I knew it was going to be more expensive than simply buying factory ammo...I did it to be able to squeeze ever ounce of accuracy out of my rifle.

Good luck finding primers, brass, bullets, powder right now. Hell, it might even be difficult to find the actual reloading equipment.

As far as single stage vs progressive....it depends on 1) how much you want to spend to start and 2) are you meticulous enough to not mess anything up. A single stage press is far simpler process, but it takes more time per round.

[Jack Dupp]

You picked the wrong time to get into it...

[TheAccountant]

Yeah, you should have been doing this last year. Even equipment is either out of stock or way overpriced. Optics planet, which generally has decent prices, wants $80 for bottom of the barrel Lee dies.