View Single Post
Old July 16, 2000, 08:03 AM   #2
JackFlash
Junior member
 
Join Date: July 8, 2000
Posts: 107
Approximate prices . . . from what I see in shops.

Press: $25 up. You can get a Lee "hand press" that is not mounted but sits in your lap for cheap. Single stage press runs maybe $75. You can shop for used presses in pawn shops and the newspapers, gun shows. But you should read up or find someone who can show you what's what. You probably want to start with a single stage. The RCBS RS5 is a single stage that can be coverted to a multi stage. The press is $80. The Conversion is $250.

Dies for each caliber: $35 You want carbide. Saves money and time in not lubricating brass. Tougher, but more expensive.

Powder scale: $50 Lots of variation in this. Digital or mechanical balance beam. You can use "powder scoops" but they're inconsistent and practically worthless.

Powder measure: $60 RCBS Uniflow is a good one. It's possible to measure each load on a scale, but your load rate will slow to 15 per hour. With a measure you can turn out 60 per hour, more accurate, less hassle.

Verneer caliper: $50 Stainless steel. There are plastic calipers, but this is a precision tool. Precision tools are made of hardened stainless. For revolver ammo, it's possible to load without a caliper. Semi-auto calibers require a caliper for specs.

Primer tool: $30 Lots of variation here too. Some presses have a tool built in. Lee makes a plastic tool. RCBS makes a press that is machine steel and solid at about $40.

Brass tumbler: $80 Possible to use chemical cleaners or even just wash the brass in ammonia and detergent. But to clean and polish you need a tumbler.

Odds and ends: $50 - $100 Primer cup brushes, funnels, shell holders for the press/dies, racks for brass (you can use the plastic rack from boxes of commercial ammo), data books, ammo boxes, note books . . .

That's the hardware more or less, now supplies--

Brass: Expensive component. You can use "range pickups." Probably the best source of brass is commercially loaded ammo. Bulk brass is for precision loads and target shooting. 500 cases runs maybe $25 - $50 depending on caliber.

Powder: $12 - $20 per pound. Thousands of pistol loads in a pound of powder. You can probably load several calibers with one kind of powder, but you'll eventually want several kinds so you can experiment.

Primers: $3 a box of 100. Cheaper by the case in most instances.

Bullets: Expensive too. Bulk lead runs $25 per box of 500, more or less. Jacketed runs $20 per hundred depending on caliber/weight. Pays to buy in large lots, like 500 or 1000.

I loaded for a while on a desk top and kept all my gear in a large suitcase. But a shop bench with some shelves makes the whole process a LOT more organized. I have presses mounted on a 2 X 12 which clamps to the shop bench and stows away when not in use. Most of the time it's set up . . .

Setting up can be time consuming.

Initial investment can be expensive, but getting started in one or two calibers will help economize on dies, components. Lead bullet revolver ammo is easiest to begin loading.

Head to the library and check out a few books. Try to find someone in the flesh who can show you the ropes. A dealer can be a good source of help. Most dealers want to get you well set up because they'll reap the profits of selling you supplies later. It's the ol' "sell 'em a gun cheap and make money supplying them with ammo" strategy.

Reloading equipment is precision tools and expensive. But like a gun, it lasts forever if cared for. It's wise to INVEST for the long term rather than buy cheap gear.

Look for components that you can upgrade. A single stage press that converts to a multi-stage is one expample. You can start measuring charges with a scale and a spoon, then buy a powder measure later.

One last word:

Lead bullets are toxic. Powder is explosive. Reloading is safe IF you follow procedures (like not eating and working, washing your hands after handling ammo so you don't poison yourself). You can't smoke and reload. (Duh!) It's not something you do while watching television or babysitting, or partying with a group.

If you like working with tools and producing a precision product, reloading can be interesting and rewarding. If you're reloading to save money, it's a whole lot cheaper and easier to buy surplus and generic ammo.

It's possible to start reloading one caliber at a very slow pace . . . 20 rds an hour. But reloading at that pace can be really tedious. Once you have your equipment invested, it's possible to load several hundred rounds in a session, breaking the process into steps like cleaning and sizing cases. Then priming later. Then charging and seating bullets in a final session.

Now that I have space, the bench is full of "buckets" of components in different calibers and different stages of reloading.
JackFlash is offline  
 
Page generated in 0.02712 seconds with 8 queries