Reloading, Who does, single press, multi?

[FargoZ71]

Hello, Currently looking at a Ruger SR-556 or a similar setup in 6.8SPC or 5.56mm. The cheapest ammo I can find is Wolf .223 1000rds for 300$, which equates out to .30 a rd. I'm in experienced with reloading, but what have you guys been doing, and what is the cost effectiveness per round. I would also like to be able to convert the set-up over to reload a .270 WSM as I own a T3 stainless.laminet for my deer gun, and the ammo runs 30-45$ a box of 20.

 

Suggestions? Past Experiences, maybe even where do you buy your current ammo and how much does it average per round.

 

Thanks Jerry

[Spurshot]

You can save pennies per round if you buy hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of reloading equipment, then spend more on a shop setup, and hours per 100 rounds to reload. I did. For volume shooting, take a look at the Dillon stuff. Add all the equipment prices and then add some more for shop benches and cabinets, etc. Calculate how many rounds it will take to recoup your money.

 

I've reloaded off and on for 40 years. I have a significant amount of equipment for pistol, rifle and shotgun ammo. It's a double edged sword. Better for certain things like accurate rifle loads and special pistol loads, not such a great thing for saving money, in my opinion.

[hzhardy]

My lee press has defiantly paid itself off. alot of people are agaInst lee but all sIngle stage press are the same. If you go progressive invest In something like a Dillon. The problem is all 556 brass have crimped primers which are a pain to handle. As cheep as 556 it is not worth loading. I have saved a lot loading my 308 and 45 rounds.

[waumo1]

I agree, you may not save money by reloading because you will shoot a lot more and therefore end up spending more by shooting more. However if you enjoy the whole process of developing loads, working for accuracy, etc it is a great hobby in addition to shooting.

 

As for progressive loaders, I have a Dillon RL-550B and have cranked out many thousands of rounds of 45 ACP and 38 Special on it and highly recommend it.

 

I also use a Lee Turret press and their cast O frame press and recommend them. However a buddy gave me a Lee Pro-1000 progressive press. I thought I would use it for 38 Super since I don't load as many of those. I don't recommend this product at all, it is more grief than good. So if you are buying a progressive press, just skip the toys and buy a good one to start with.

[FargoZ71]

cost to get into a single stage press set-up? And I ended up buying a Rock River Arms 18" elite operator 2, with a Nikon 223 mount and a 3-9 Leupold AR scope. If I can get it to a break even point after a few years even it would be worth it, As I see it as a hobby and something to get my brother and nephew into as well.

[waumo1]

You can get a lot of answers to this but probably for about $200 you can get a kit, a set of dies and what you need to turn out good reloads for one cartridge. Your consumables will be on top of that. I suggest going to a site like Midwayusa.com and doing some research. A reloading kit is a good way to start. Then you can add/replace items if you become interested long term or sell/gift the whole kit to somebody if you decide it is not for you.

 

The Lyman Reloading Handbook is an excellent manual tor beginners. It has everything you need to know in one book including recipes.

[hzhardy]

If you are going to load .556 (don't sell yourself short and load 223 load for your ar 556 is a hotter round) you will need the press, dies, case prep tools ie case trimers, primer pocket uniformedr, case neck decrying tool. You will need a good powder thrower, and scale to dial in you thrower. I would highly recommend a hand primer. You will absolutely need a Dillon super swaget 600 to correctly remove the primer crimp or you will constantly crush primers with a risk of an explosion in your hand with how ever mantra primers in the tray. You will also need a current load guide and calipers to measure your over all length. Oal is very important to shorthopedic it build higher pressures from the bullet being set to deep kaboom. Case length important as well to long and you risk the case pinching the bullet on the rifle lands and kaboom. Since you will be loading for a auto loader thebonly dies tough need is a seater, full length sizer and I would highly recommend a universal recapping die. Trust me when full length sizing it is harder to tell if you found a berdan primed case. I apologize fir throwing so much out there and I hope it makes since. Take you time it is a gre at and fun hobby just don't rush mistakes here are deadly.

[hzhardy]

This is my loading set up. It isn't extravagant as I just us a lee single stage breech lock press.

I also forgot to mention that you need a tumbler, load block, case lube and a powder trickled if you want to weigh every charge fir natch rounds.

[FargoZ71]

Lots involved, thank you!

[hzhardy]

Lots involved, thank you!

 

you can't do it because your trying to save money. You do it to make better ammo that is taylored to your gun and needs that the run of the mill ammo cannot provide. For example i have a 185 gr hallow point load for my .45 that shoots about 1100 fps, that is smoking for a .45 since a factory load is between 650 and 800 fps. 1100fps in a 45 will put someone on there a@@. This is a hobby for a hobby lol.

[FargoZ71]

Thank you, and yea i realized that, it would probably take along time to come to a break even point basically only reloading 5.56mm, but I do like it as a hobby, I gotta re-finish nursing school (Currently LPN, finishing up my RN) and then make some room out in the garage to start with a setup.. but i'll probably start piecing together the equipment I need now that i can get my hands on.. And for that 45.. ACP or Colt?

[hzhardy]

ACP

[hzhardy]

below is the link to the load data i used with Aliant Power Pistol. It is the load on top with 185 gr hallow point

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/powderlist.aspx?page=/reloaders/powderlist.aspx&type=1&powderid=8&cartridge=35

[Nitro375]

I have had and still do have both. I started with a R.C.B.S. Rock Chucker my folks gave me for my 14th X-mas along with a scale and powder measure of same make. I still use them and assemble all of my rifle rounds for competition and hunting on them as well as Magnum handgun ammunition.

 

I used to have a R.C.B.S. ammo master progressive that worked pretty well, I now have a Hornady AP progressive but don't have the bench built yet to mount it, working on that.

 

Rifle rounds and magnum hangun rounds I load on the single stage so I can check, check, and double check every detail. It is just what I prefer but I know other shooters that happily load away plenty of 223 or 308 on progressives.

[StinkyCheese]

LIke others have said you don't necessarily reload to save money since everything you "save" goes right back into more supplies. You do however shoot more for less. I don't remember what my buddy said he reloads .223 for but it was somewhere between $15-$20 per 100 rounds. For me since I cast my own bullets with wheel weights I get for free from a tire shop I think I'm doing all my pistol rounds (.357/.38spl, 9mm, .380, .44mag/spl, .40, and .45acp) for between $5-$10 per 100. So if you look at just the consumables vs buying retail you can save quite a bit. The kicker is always how much is your time worth to you?

 

As far as advice goes if you going to be wanting low volume high accuracy loads single press is generally the way to go. If you plan on shooting a lot of rounds then a multi-stage press is a better choice. You can however reload a lot of rounds with a single stage, my buddy and I started out on a single stage but were beyond thankful when his parents got him a Dillon 550b. Made making 400 rounds a week a heck of a lot faster and easier. Personally I use a Dillon 650 right now and probably wouldn't go back to a 550b again. One day I'll pick up a second 650 if I can find a used one cheap enough. Downside to the 650 vs the 550 is the tool heads/conversion kits are around 1.5-2x the ones for the 550b.

 

If you want to buy your supplies online remember that with powder and primers you will almost always pay a shipping charge + a $20 hazmat fee. I can't remember offhand but I want to say 70lbs is the max weight per hazmat shipment. One way to maximize your money is to buy in bulk once you figure out what you want so that it offsets the shipping charges. Another way is to do a group order so that shipping is split X amount of ways. Wait for sales when maybe you'll get the normal shipping charge free and only have to pay the hazmat. Or the other way around, I know midsouth sent me an email a couple months back saying they'd pay the hazmat fee. Midwayusa gives you a discount on a lot of stuff site wide every year on your birthday so you could wait for that too. Depending on how close and how much for entrance, a gun show can be a good place to get supplies, especially bullets which weigh quite a bit and cost to ship. Find a local shop near you as well.

 

Midwayusa.com and midsouthshooterssupply.com are two I get emails from. Haven't bought anything from midsouth yet though. If you look on amazon you can get a frankford arsenal tumbler pretty cheap and mine has been going strong for 2 years now and well over 20k pieces of brass cleaned.

 

Somewhat long post and by no means anywhere near complete but good luck!