getting into reloading

[mathews4ever]

Due to the skyrocketing cost of ammo a buddy and myself are planning on going in on a reloader and we have no idea where to start. We would really like to be able to reload shotshell and metallic rounds. Any advice would be great.

[GRIZ]

Reloading shotshell and rifle casings are 2 different things entirely. They require different presses with the shotshell being the most efficient. By that I mean that a shotshell press will do all of the stages or steps in the reloading of a shell. Rifle shells require a few more tools and gadgets such as case trimmer, deburring tool, powder funnel, micrometer, powder scale. Some others that come in handy are case tumbler, case luber.

A powder scale is a neccessity for rifle shells and if useing an adjustable powder charge bar for shot shells. I would recommend one even if using a bar with powder bushings but can get by without it.

You mentioned doing it for cost reasons. So I will give you my $.02 on that. It depends on how many shells you are shooting up. Yrs ago componants were cheap and you saved quite a bit on reloading.

Shot shells- if reloading mostly trap loads IMO you don't save much if anything, unless you bargain shop for componants and then buy in volume. You will save some on the heavy duty hunting loads and buckshot loads. Where I like it is I can load shells that simply are not made. Shot shells are more simple to load than rifle.

Rifle shells- if your reloading a .223 , you can buy them cheaper. If reloading for a 220 swift or a 22 hornet you will save some money. The best part of reloading for rifle is you can costom tune loads for your individual rifle for better accuracy.

I am not trying to talk you out of reloading as it's a very enjoyable hobby. I am informing you that you prolly won't save as much as you think. It depends allot on what you shoot and how much. It might take a yr or better to pay for your original investment in the equipment.

To start with get a book on reloading and read it b4 buying any equipment.

It might help other replyers if you mentioned what and how much you shoot.

[beeker]

you can reload shotshells for targets pretty resonable if you want to. the start up will cost you some. there was a guy offering  a used mec on here.. he was high on price but had enough components to get you started if you could get him down a bit. I would suggest this. if your reloading shot shells for shooting leagues you'll save money with the way everything has gone up in the last few years. and to repeat what griz said you can custom load your rounds to the expensive factory loads standards that are 8$ a box.  watch for sales... buy in bulk... pick up your hulls and the hulls of others... I reload for around 3.50$ a box right now. that is because my hulls were picked up from the range, primers bought on sale, wads bought by the thousand... I also shoot leagues and tournaments around the state I shot almost 3k reloads this year and plan to shoot more next year.

[cobb]

When I got started reloading metallic cartridges, I read evereything I could find to get some basic information.  Buy a reloading manual, true recipes are on several web sites, including the powder and bullet manufactures, but a book in your hand is really a good thing to have.

I ran ads in the local weekly ad publication saying that I was looking for rifle and handgun loading equipment.  That is where I got a lot of the equipment that I still have and use today, RCBS press, scale, powder flow, dies and some components.  People had the stuff in their closets and no longer want it, they inherited it, they sold their guns and never got around to selling the reloading equipment, etc.  One suggestion, if you go this route, do not buy any used powder, you do not know what it really is, even if it looks right.  I don't trust what some people do, like their own personal powder mixture for their magic load, or not paying attention to what they are doing and putting the powder back into the wrong container.  My rule, as others, there is only one powder on my bench, the one I am using and that one only.  If they do throw the powder in on the deal because they want to get rid of it like some did with me, I just made a thin open pile on my gravel drive and burned it.  However you dispose of it, do dispose of it and don't use it, maybe spread it on the garden.

Some of the duplicate equipment I acquired when buying, I either traded for things I did need, or sold it to others for a small profit and used that cash to buy powder and bullets.

Now I do most of my volume loading on a Dillon 550, but I still use the first used RCBS press I got from my advertising to make up my hunting ammunition.

This was several years ago, but I know that in many cases I bought this stuff for half of what it would have cost me new.
 

My 0.02

[beeker]

the other reason I reload.. is because I enjoy it, I sit down at the press (I have a mec 650n) and I knock out a few hundred shells every once in a while. 

[mathews4ever]

The reason that I looking to get into reloading is because I really like shooting all my guns and I just don't want to take on a second job to do that. The main reason for reloading shotshell is I really like to waterfowl and upland gamebird hunt and the price of rounds has gotten ridiculous. I also really enjoy shooting my rifles. I currently have a 30-30 and a .243. I know you can buy cheap rounds for both those guns but I am really fond of the better quality ammo for my .243 which is running me over $35 a box now. I do plan to acquire plenty more rifles so I figure I might as well just get into reloading now. Plus I think it would be really cool messing around, trying to find that perfect round for my guns.

The guy that I am talking about getting into reloading with also has a .243 and is tired of shelling out piles of money for rounds too.

[GRIZ]

you can reload shotshells for targets pretty resonable if you want to. the start up will cost you some. there was a guy offering  a used mec on here.. he was high on price but had enough components to get you started if you could get him down a bit. I would suggest this. if your reloading shot shells for shooting leagues you'll save money with the way everything has gone up in the last few years. and to repeat what griz said you can custom load your rounds to the expensive factory loads standards that are 8$ a box.  watch for sales... buy in bulk... pick up your hulls and the hulls of others... I reload for around 3.50$ a box right now. that is because my hulls were picked up from the range, primers bought on sale, wads bought by the thousand... I also shoot leagues and tournaments around the state I shot almost 3k reloads this year and plan to shoot more next year.

I'd like to go to your range as the one I occasionally go to has a policy that anything that hits the ground is theirs. I don't have a shell catcher but I save my own shell as I have a pump. Everyone else has an auto but no shell catchers. For the most part now they reload AA's but prefer actives, if I see a flat of actives I buy them right there and don't care how many times they have been reloaded. They will never return to the range again.

Three and a half bucks is a heck of a good deal. I havn't had the need to buy much for a few yrs but am prolly lookin at needin to buy some lead next yr. Where ya gettin your lead that you can still do it for $3.50? The prices I've seen on shot I couldn't do it for $3.50 even with the bargains I got 5-10 yrs. ago on the other componants.

[deadeye]

mathews4ever,
Cobb is right about stuff in the closets.  I used to do a bit of rifle shell reloading years ago.  That was when I had more time than money.  Then for a long time I had more money than time so I bought factory loads.  Now I may be back to having more time.  This got me thinking so I checked the "closet" to see what I have. 
.243  3 die set. Bullet seater, (2) deprimer and neck sizer.     
.270  2 die set  Bullet seater and deprimer and neck sizer.
6mm  2 die set.
308    3 die set. Bullet seater,  (2) deprimer and neck sizer.
I also have a 22-250 but couldn't find the dies. 
Like I said, I may have more time now so I may start loading again.  Oh, yes, he's also right about the "special" powder mixes.      

[beeker]

I got a guy that makes his own. so i've been getting pretty good stuff from him for 20$ a jug, he puts the lead in a half gallon jug about 25#.  I always ask the trapper if they care if I pick up hulls if I'm at a sporting range, (it helps their tip) this year at state 5 stand I asked the guys running the range if they cared if I picked while we waited for the next group and I picked a few hundred out of the garbage can.  watch for primers to go on sale in the spring you can usually get a thousand for around 23$, and i always check prices at the various clubs I visit throughout the year. I always buy my powder in bulk.

[mapatrick99]

I have alot of shotgun stuff 4-sale see my add in hunting