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Reloading

Bowtie747

Bowtie747

Well-Known Member
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Joined
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Location
Ohio
Hey guys, I know this is a saddle site and I’ve started like 100 off topic threads. What can I say? I like the guys on here. They seem way nicer on here than other forum I’ve seen.

So anyways I’ve been doing some research on reloading. I’m just curious if anyone on here reloads? If so what press, tips, do’s and dont’s you may have. Or anything cool with reloading you have to say. Also do you notice cost savings? I’ve been doing some math and other than the typical “you’ll not save money because you’ll shoot more” stereotype what you guys have noticed on cost savings per round.
 
It depends on what you reload. If you are making precision rifle ammo then you probably won't save much but can really make some custom loads. The problem right now is getting supplies to reload and they are expensive if you can find them. If you are already set up you are good. A simple press like a Lee will get you started, and Lee dies are pretty good. Like most other things the sky is the limit as far as what you can spend.

As far as handgun ammo, bullet casting is the real game changer. If you cast your own projectiles you are only paying for the primer and powder and you can save a lot. You can usually get brass for free at the range.
 
I’ve just started down this road primarily to do custom hunting loads for a new .357 mag barrel I’ve ordered. Luckily my dad has just about everything I need. I’ve bought a Lee hand press and a Lyman no. 55 powder thrower neither has arrived. Now my father reloads for the coming apocalypse. He reloads faster than I can shoot them. I still have 12 gauge shells that I loaded on his bench 40 years ago. I call him the quartermaster when I need ammo or gun supplies.


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It is a great hobby that will lead to serious addiction if not careful. I started 30 years ago with a Lee Handloader and now have enough equipment and supplies that I could retire in the Maldives from the proceeds. Make friends with the guys at your local range that have the blue plastic boxes of rounds and look each over after every shot. Have at least 2 up to date reloading manuals and never trust someone else's data without double checking your manuals or reputable online resources. You don't usually get a do-over when loading rounds. Some of my best loads are nowhere near the max load. Good luck and happy shooting.
 
I’m looking into a Dillon RL 550c anyone have an experience with them? I’ve heard nothing but good things and the lifetime warranty as long as they don’t go out of business is hard to pass up.
Anyone reload and crazy calibers or old school calibers?

thanks for reply’s so far!
 
I started reloading years ago when ammunition first started to get hard to find and I've never looked back. The initial cost, acquiring the equipment and components you'll need, of course adds up but after that you're all set and you will soon find yourself making ammunition for your rifles that will out shoot factory ammo because it will be fine tuned for your rifle/pistol. The others have given you solid advice. Start out buying the basic equipment you will need.... you can always add more equipment and gadgets once you get comfortable with the process. I would suggest getting a single stage press and start with that. You can always buy a fancier one later on. Do your research before you dive in, YouTube is a wealth of information, get yourself a couple of good reloading manufacturers and follow their load instructions to the letter. As was said, brass is easily obtainable at the range which leaves you with powder, primers and bullets to procure, which unfortunately are scarce and expensive nowadays, but the rewards of loading your own are great and once set up and stocked up you won't ever have to worry about finding ammo again.
 
Fun hobby I've been reloading for 20+ years 223 308 44 mag 357 mag 9mm 12 gauge and cast bullets for the 44 mag 357 mag buckshot and powder coat bullets.
I am running Lee 4 turret press. You won't regret running a Dillon. As stated before powder and primers are impossible to find until republicans take the wheel.

powder coat 357.jpg
 
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The Dillons are really nice. I have a friend who has one. That said, with powder and primers the way they are now you would be hard pressed to feed a Dillon for any length of time if you don't already have a good stock of supplies. If you are just getting started, I would suggest learning the ropes on a single stage. A Lee press will serve you well and is not that expensive. Also, a very good, solid single stage press is a Rock Chucker. It will handle the largest of rifle rounds, maybe short of a 50 BMG. A rock Chucker will also last a lifetime and would be something you would want to have in addition to something like a Dillion. Get a couple of good reloading manuals and follow the load data. Start low and work up toward top end loads. As stated earlier, top loads are not always the best shooting, and they will wear your firearm out faster. You might also want to start researching casting. It is a great hobby and is complementary to handloading and shooting.
 
Here is a bit of advice to anybody reading this thread… I don’t when this **** will end, but it will, someday, sometime it will get back to normal, ammo will be at Walmart, Natchez will have sales, powder will $30 a pound not $100, I think we all know when that will probably happen.. but for the sake of an open forum and the rules… chances are it will be in the middle of summer and most people will be on their boats or at the beach, not thinking about ammo or reloading supplies, that is when you pounce, stock up, trust me it won’t spoil. Having lived through the NY Safe Act I made it a mission to never be caught with my pants down again ever and I won’t. I love to reload, it’s relaxing and 20 years later my opinion hasn’t changed. These ammo runs are a vicious cycle and one thing is for sure as soon as one ends another is brewing…
 
Have a Dillon 550 and load 9mm/45acp/223/300BO/308 Win on it. Feels like printing money. Your problem is, the press (or anything new from Dillon) is going to cost an arm and 3 legs, as well as any new components. For example, the primers I'm using were purchased for about $.02/piece. That price is probably up 4X or more these days.

There is a learning curve that should not be ignored, as mistakes can literally blow up on you. If you are loading to go full accuracy nerd on a bolt rifle, buy a quality single stage press and learn on that. RCBS is top tier, also Redding. I also load .260 Rem for a bolt gun on a Hornady single stage; since that's a "precision" rifle round it only gets loaded on the single-stage. Dillon is top tier for progressive reloading. Any of these on the used market is probably a good investment. I don't care for anything Lee progressive, but their dies aren't bad (the last one I bought uses a non-standard nut I still haven't figured out why they went to that).

Reloading is a pursuit that's really engrossing, like hunting, but can be a money pit. Before you know it you need a chronograph to measure projectile speed, and you need a tumbler to process spent brass, etc. You really need to be fully committed to accuracy nerdery and/or "I shoot 20,000 rounds a year and can't afford factory rounds." Crunch the numbers and figure that out. When crunching numbers, do so in price per unit (primer, projectile, brass, powder, PER ROUND). I'm loading 223/5.56 for about $.18/round, but again my components were purchased before prices got crazy. And I lucked into some deals.

There are reloading forums on sites like ar15.com and snipershide.com and many others, they are a goldmine of knowledge. Also buy a good hard-copy book like this one to learn the process and keep it next to the press. The actual recipes for caliber/projectile/charge are usually available from the powder manufacturer's website.
 
Bowtie747,
I see you are also in Ohio. I'm in N.W. Ohio. Where are you located in the Buckeye State?
I've been reloading rifle and handgun cartridges, since 1977. You'll save money, if you shoot a lot.
The reasons I reload:
* I always have ammo.
* I shoot the bullet that I want to shoot, for my application.
* I don't have to adjust my sights, due to different Lot Numbers on factory ammo.
* The number one reason.... Accuracy! In recent years, factory ammo has improved for accuracy. Even so, it's not as good as reloads.

I built a reloading bench from a Black & Decker work mate. This allows me to reload inside my house, when it's too cold to be in the garage....or any other time I need to load up some ammo. :) Plus, I can take it to someone's house to show them how to reload. Lee reloading components and their "O" frame press is much less expensive than other brands and it gets the job done. I used oak wood from Menards to build this topper/bench.
Reloading Bench.jpg
 
BowhunterXC said:
Bowtie747,
I see you are also in Ohio. I'm in N.W. Ohio. Where are you located in the Buckeye State?
I've been reloading rifle and handgun cartridges, since 1977. You'll save money, if you shoot a lot.
The reasons I reload:
* I always have ammo.
* I shoot the bullet that I want to shoot, for my application.
* I don't have to adjust my sights, due to different Lot Numbers on factory ammo.
* The number one reason.... Accuracy! In recent years, factory ammo has improved for accuracy. Even so, it's not as good as reloads.

I built a reloading bench from a Black & Decker work mate. This allows me to reload inside my house, when it's too cold to be in the garage....or any other time I need to load up some ammo. :) Plus, I can take it to someone's house to show them how to reload. Lee reloading components and their "O" frame press is much less expensive than other brands and it gets the job done. I used oak wood from Menards to build this topper/bench.
View attachment 63934
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Awesome setup! I’m in southern Ohio! Quite a ways away I’d bet.
 
I reload for my rifle. I only reload one caliber. Not because I was ever trying to save money on that round or because I don’t have other guns but because being it’s a 6.5x55 Swedish I couldn’t get the full potential from a rifle I knew that could have much more to give . Its a very old caliber and “factory” ammo is so dialed back for milsurp rifles that a modern chamber doesn’t have a chance of seeing the actual performance available. It really is an eye opener when you work up a load for a particular caliber chamber (notice I didn’t say just caliber). Every reemer is just a little different and true precision ammo is individually tailored to the chamber of whichever caliber you happen to be loading for. Primer manufacturer, magnum vs non-magnum primer, powder charge, powder manufacturer, powder burn rate,velocity node, barrel length to burn rate, twist rate, bearing surface length of bullet, head spacing, throat depth, bullet seating depth, neck tension are all things to consider If you’re looking to build the best possible ammo you can. All that said when you can take your hunting gun and print very very small groups consistently with a load you created from time spent learning the why and how things effect the outcome is so extremely satisfying that I will never buy factory ammo for my hunting gun EVER again.

You are a little late trying to get in the game as much of the components are very hard to get. Primers are almost non existent for large rifle and powder shhhh. Forget about it. But if you can find the golden eggs to start building your own there’s is a high sense of accomplishment knowing you made that .237” 3 shot group at 200 yards possible and the one after that and so on and so forth.
 
I reload for 9mm and 300 BO. I only do those as they are the only ones I shoot. 300 BO was and still is easy to see a cost savings on. 9mm was a little harder to see a cost savings if I took into account my time. Granted I’m the current market both will provide a savings if you can get the components at a decent price. I haven’t shot near like I used to pre pandemic and had gathered a small collection of components prior so I haven’t needed to shop since.

As far as the press I love my Dillon 550b. I am able to pump out around 4-500 rounds of 9mm an hour if I have primers loaded up ready to roll. The 550 allows for easier load development then say the 650 or the Hornsby Lock N Load due to it not being a true progressive. If I where shooting more frequently though I wish I had the 650 with auto case loader and bullet feeder.
 

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10essee said:
I reload for my rifle. I only reload one caliber. Not because I was ever trying to save money on that round or because I don’t have other guns but because being it’s a 6.5x55 Swedish I couldn’t get the full potential from a rifle I knew that could have much more to give . Its a very old caliber and “factory” ammo is so dialed back for milsurp rifles that a modern chamber doesn’t have a chance of seeing the actual performance available. It really is an eye opener when you work up a load for a particular caliber chamber (notice I didn’t say just caliber). Every reemer is just a little different and true precision ammo is individually tailored to the chamber of whichever caliber you happen to be loading for. Primer manufacturer, magnum vs non-magnum primer, powder charge, powder manufacturer, powder burn rate,velocity node, barrel length to burn rate, twist rate, bearing surface length of bullet, head spacing, throat depth, bullet seating depth, neck tension are all things to consider If you’re looking to build the best possible ammo you can. All that said when you can take your hunting gun and print very very small groups consistently with a load you created from time spent learning the why and how things effect the outcome is so extremely satisfying that I will never buy factory ammo for my hunting gun EVER again.

You are a little late trying to get in the game as much of the components are very hard to get. Primers are almost non existent for large rifle and powder shhhh. Forget about it. But if you can find the golden eggs to start building your own there’s is a high sense of accomplishment knowing you made that .237” 3 shot group at 200 yards possible and the one after that and so on and so forth.
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6.5 Swede is a great cartridge and a classic. I also am fond of the 7x57 and the 257 Roberts.
 
Any have a round count an hour on a single stage press? I’m still debating pretty hard
 
Bowtie747 said:
Any have a round count an hour on a single stage press? I’m still debating pretty hard
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That is highly variable and tough to calculate. It will depend upon how quickly you can drop powder. On YouTube look up the RCBS Chargemaster for an example of one way to do it.
 
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