Hi, all. I am thinking about starting to reload for my rifles (.300 win mag, .06, 6mm remington, 6.5 swede, .308, and 45-70). I want to find a good load for my big gane rifles. I am hoping to save some money in the long run.
How would I get started? Keep in mind I am a complete neophyte.
Will I actuall save money in the long run?
How much will I spend on getting started with a single stage setup?
Thanks
okcmco
You can save if you have expectations to a lower level. You can start out with a anniversary kit from lee for less than 130 dollars. And I bet I could match most factory loads with this. Its when you become hooked that the money starts pilin on. You start not being satisfied only having one bullet for one rifle, and sooner or later, you have the biggest selection of .308" bullets or .284" you could imagine.
I suggest a RCBS Rock Chucker kit and buy a separate trimmer. Nothing wrong with the 505 scale or trimmer. You will need a decent set of calibers. And I suggest a trickler. And your dies, and your set. For under 300 you could get started. 300 could buy you 10-15 boxs of ammo. It would take you at least 5 years of shooting to break even, but for most of us, its worth it.
To be very honest. I doubt I will ever live long enough to "save money" reloading. Reloading has been an expensive hobby for me. I would have been money ahead if I never took it up. I could have bought Federal Premium ammo for all of my rifles & still been money ahead.
Thank godmy wifereally does not care what it costs.
The RCBS Rockchucker kit is a good way to get started. Then you'll need to buy dies (forming and seating) for each cartridge you want to reload for and, of course,the components (powder, brass, bullets and primers).I'm not sure what all is in the kit, there may be some other things you'll need to buy in addition. Calipers (not calibers) may be one of those things you'll need to buy separately, I don't know.
I highly recommend buying and reading one or two reloading manualsbefore youbuy any equipment. You'll find a step by step guide to the process of reloading and it will be immensely helpful to understand these steps prior to getting started. The equipment involved will also be discussed. It would be helpful also if you couldreceive personal instruction from someone who has experience reloading. Hornady, Nosler, Speer, Sierra, Barnes, and Lymanare some of the companies that put out reloading manuals. Also there's quite a bit of information on the internet. I've listed some sites below to look at.
Good luck and feel free to ask any question that comes to mind. The only dumb question is the one you don't ask. And like others have said, you're not going to save any money.
I am the odd man out here. I HAVE saved money by taking up reloading. I only load for one cartridge and I do a good, all-purpose load for my rifle. This load is for both target shooting and hunting. Counting the cost of the brass, the first loading runs about $ .51 per round, or so. After that, (no longer counting the brass - as it is being reused)...my rounds run about $ .26 each. This totals $ 5.20 per 20 (per box). I know of NO commercial ammo, suitable for hunting as well as target shooting, that is available for any price close to this. I spent about $110.00 on equipment....so considering the savings per box (vs. commercial hunting ammo) ....the equipment has paid for itself after less than 15 boxes loaded. Yes, the costs will mount if you increase the frequency and volume of rounds fired...but, I haven't done this. I have simply stopped ordering ammo via mail-order (thus no longer paying any shipping charges)...and certainly I don't buy ammo locally, either. That saves me, in addition to the purchase price...the sales tax. For a rifle like mine....a converted "milsurp" in 8mm Mauser, milsurp ammo is available very cheaply. However, one cannot hunt with it....it always comes with corrosive primers...and my loads are tailored for MY rifle - so they are unfailingly accurate.
So, in conclusion, you CAN save money by handloading. I definitely do. One simply has to consider all of the "angles"...and the savings are best if you are a low-volume shooter, like myself.
As to learning about the particulars of handloading, I recommend that you purchase at least one good loading manual (Hornady or Sierra are the best, IMO)...and read it thoroughly. Then you will understand what equipment you need....and can begin planning whether reloading will "pay off" for you. Good luck.
Maybe saving money is not the point. I could be as finicky as I wanted and no one but myself would be to blame if the loads don't perform.
I guess I never thought about how fFUN!! it might be. I was was just thinking in practicalities.
Thanks for all the currnet and futrure advice
okcmco
Reloading can be as expensive or as cheap as you want to make it. You can buy bulk brass, bullets, primers and powder, to reduce cost. When you start buying Barnes X bullets and other premium bullets that cost $25 for 50 bullets it can get very expensive. I have the Rockchucker kit and it is a great kit. I didn't start reloading to save money I did it for higher velocity, premium bullets and increased accuracy with custom loads. There is not many factory ammo options for the 7x57 Mauser, but with hand loading I can use any 7mm bullet and load it hot in my #1.
I would recomend digital calipers and a digital scale, they will make your life easier and you will have fewer errors.
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Want to satrt Reloading. HELP
