How much mula to start rolling my own?

[John S.]

Oooops I meant "Reloading" my own. I'd like to get started in reloading my own 9mm and .223 for starters, I have no idea what is needed to "introduce" myself to reloading. Can anyone give me a ball park ID?

[DeanC]

$33.98

[John S.]

$33.98

That can't be Zig-Zag papers!

Holy Shiet, I just ordered all of em! Now I can load EVERY kind of bullet there is!

Well, I think Ima try that sucker, I got nothing but time anyway!

[EJSG19]

Threads like this are a good place to start your research. On the last page you can see how much I put into getting started.
http://www.mnguntalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5736&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=30

I went with a progressive press, which isn't absolutely necessary, but if you are loading any substantial quantity it sure makes it a lot faster.

Best way to learn is to pick up a book. That answer is tired I know, but it really is. ABC's of Reloading puts things into view very quick, and is probably the quickest way to clear up most of your questions. Was for me anyway. Then you can fine tune with more specific questions on the boards if you like. May find that more effective. My opinion only...

ETA: Now I'm shooting 200gr lead SWC bullets, so my cost per bullet is way less, and my break even point would be much sooner. Lot depends on what components you choose to reload when it comes to that "when does the press pay for itself" question. You shooting 9mm and .223 means your numbers will vary just a little, but the basic concept is the same.

[Pat Cannon]

$33.98

I only learned about the Lee Loader this year myself. I had been thinking (being the cheapest guy in the world), "Why do I need a fancy press? Couldn't you just knock a bullet in with a mallet or something?" And sure enough, Lee thought of it already!

I even ordered one. Since I am the cheapest guy in the world, I ordered it from Factory Sales in Wisconsin, who claimed to have it in stock. But when you order, they say 'please allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery'. A week or two later, I read somebody on another forum saying their order from FS took 7 weeks. After six weeks I emailed FS: "Please tell me my order is coming soon, or refund my money." They refunded my money.

By then I actually had a little money saved up, and I was thinking that "minutes per round" instead of "rounds per minute" might get intolerably tedious, even for me, the cheapest guy in the world, once steel-shoot & IDPA season started, so I ordered an actual reloading press kit from Midway:

Lee 4 Hole Turret Press with Auto Index Deluxe Kit $99.99 (I see it's ten bucks more now.)
Lee Deluxe Handgun 4-Die Set 38 Special, 357 Magnum $34.49

(You will note the word 'Deluxe' appears in both items, so clearly I am making no compromises in quality while keeping economy in mind.)

In the meanwhile I got 1000 CCI small pistol primers at Gunstop for $29.88.

I ordered 1000 158gr .357 RN lead hard cast bullets from Dardas Cast Bullets for $64.75.

Back at Gunstop I bought $8.00 worth of corn cob tumbling media for Strad, who kindly polished up about 2000 rounds of my brass I've saved up over the last year or two. (Thanks, Strad!)

On that same trip I bought the Lyman 49th Edition Reloading Handbook, which had been recommended to me by a few people, for about $25.

So we're at about $263. I don't remember the shipping charge on the Midway order, let's say it was $10, and I still need a pound or so of powder for maybe $25, then I think I'm ready to get started for, let's call it: $300 for my first thousand rounds. That's $15 a box -- including buying the whole kit! Wow, can that be right? Why didn't I do this years ago? I feel I should check my math again, but for now, that's what I think I'm spending.

Now if this darn stuff will just show up!!

[infidel]

Cabela's has the Lee Classic loader for $21.99 for the 9mm, but it is on Backorder. Bought one from Midway last month for $25.99.

[John S.]

$33.98

I only learned about the Lee Loader this year myself. I had been thinking (being the cheapest guy in the world), "Why do I need a fancy press? Couldn't you just knock a bullet in with a mallet or something?" And sure enough, Lee thought of it already!

I even ordered one. Since I am the cheapest guy in the world, I ordered it from Factory Sales in Wisconsin, who claimed to have it in stock. But when you order, they say 'please allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery'. A week or two later, I read somebody on another forum saying their order from FS took 7 weeks. After six weeks I emailed FS: "Please tell me my order is coming soon, or refund my money." They refunded my money.

By then I actually had a little money saved up, and I was thinking that "minutes per round" instead of "rounds per minute" might get intolerably tedious, even for me, the cheapest guy in the world, once steel-shoot & IDPA season started, so I ordered an actual reloading press kit from Midway:

Lee 4 Hole Turret Press with Auto Index Deluxe Kit $99.99 (I see it's ten bucks more now.)
Lee Deluxe Handgun 4-Die Set 38 Special, 357 Magnum $34.49

(You will note the word 'Deluxe' appears in both items, so clearly I am making no compromises in quality while keeping economy in mind.)

In the meanwhile I got 1000 CCI small pistol primers at Gunstop for $29.88.

I ordered 1000 158gr .357 RN lead hard cast bullets from Dardas Cast Bullets for $64.75.

Back at Gunstop I bought $8.00 worth of corn cob tumbling media for Strad, who kindly polished up about 2000 rounds of my brass I've saved up over the last year or two. (Thanks, Strad!)

On that same trip I bought the Lyman 49th Edition Reloading Handbook, which had been recommended to me by a few people, for about $25.

So we're at about $263. I don't remember the shipping charge on the Midway order, let's say it was $10, and I still need a pound or so of powder for maybe $25, then I think I'm ready to get started for, let's call it: $300 for my first thousand rounds. That's $15 a box -- including buying the whole kit! Wow, can that be right? Why didn't I do this years ago? I feel I should check my math again, but for now, that's what I think I'm spending.

Now if this darn stuff will just show up!!

Thanks, going to check the 4 holer out! Me and some shipmates had one in Tijuana once! J/K

[Pat Cannon]

Thanks, going to check the 4 holer out! Me and some shipmates had one in Tijuana once! J/K

Now that's a thread drift!

[mnglocker]

Thanks, going to check the 4 holer out! Me and some shipmates had one in Tijuana once! J/K

Now that's a thread drift!

Bowling ball?

[Stradawhovious]

$33.98

Oh Yeah?!?

$21.99

Put that in yer pipe and smoke it.

[Seismic Sam]

Ah yes.... The Lee reloader kit - back when I only owned two guns and 9mm ammo prices were THEN what they are now (and NOBODY offered cheap bulk ammo at all!!!) was the only way I could afford to shoot on a regular once-a-week basis. Back then it cost $7.56 , and I sat like one of Santa's gnomes for hours rapping shells into and out of the die, and at the time it was a good solution, and I used it for years. Never got to the point of drinking th blue kool-aid, but the whole point of Dillon Precision is the calendars anyway. Right HammAR?? (Just like a trip to Alary's right in your own basement!!)

Besides, 200 rounds of hot 500 S&W loads is plenty!! In addition, I reload some pretty weird calibers that Dillon doesn't offer dies for, and most of my rifle stuff is the pricey Redding precison benchrest dies.

I always recommend to newbies that they get a single station press (Lee has them for maybe $25??) or a turret press, and get used to performing every step manually and repeatedly. You will learn a lot more about doing each step that with a progressive press, and that's very important. I have never had a squib and never had an unintentional overload in 37 years. I always cringe when a newb gets a Dillon to begin with, because you have 3 or 4 stations all moving at once, and there is no way a rookie can keep track of all those stations at the same time, and they don't know what is important and what isn't. All those moving parts in addition to learning about handloading and doing it right with NO mistakes EVER is pretty much an engraved invitation to an OOOPS!! somewhere in the first thousand rounds.

[Rem700]

Why cant a progressive press be used like a single stage press useing one station at a time?

[Pinnacle]

Why cant a progressive press be used like a single stage press useing one station at a time?

That is a lot like kissing your sister isnt it?

[princewally]

Why cant a progressive press be used like a single stage press useing one station at a time?

That is a lot like kissing your sister isnt it?

Only less fun.

[EJSG19]

never thought a thread would make me dry heave.

I stand corrected.