Reloading : Thinking about starting up, need help

[jathtech]

Ok, my dad gave me a gift certificate to sportsmans warehouse for 100 bucks, but told me he wanted to get me a reloading setup, until he saw their price. That got me thinking about it more seriously.

I want to reload for experimentation and cheaper plinking.

That being said, are there any experienced people who can recommend something inexpensive that will allow me to easily, and not necesarily quickly, load any round I have with just chaging out the dyes? (I don't know if I used the right word for dyes)
Currently, I have a .380, 9mm, .40S&w, and a 12 gauge. In the future I'd also like to load .223, .45, and possibly 5.7 ammo. is there a set that can do all of these, but maybe comes with one dye, so I can upgrade later?

What would you say are absolutely necesary when reloading, and what can I do without?

I can build my own tumbler, but is there a good reason I shouldn't?

Do I really need to trim the cases, and if so, is there a cheaper alternative to doing it than buying a dedicated trimmer?

Where is the cheapest place to buy bullets?

What is the best powder for the price that isn't too dirty?

Thanks!

[jathtech]

I'd also appreciate any other tips you can give me....

[blkbd]

RCBS RockChucker is a single stage press and you will be able to pass onto your Great Grand Children, Its slow compared to progressive but a cheap and good start for beginners. Also straight walled pistol ammo (.380, 9mm, .40S&w) are the most forgiving rounds for a newbie. The other thing you need to do is read, read and read some more. Get at least six different reloading manuals and always double check your work.

Some people will automatically suggest a progressive, My take on that is you would not give a 16 year old a Ferrari on the day they pass there driving test.

Give it a year or two and let the RockChucker pay for itself and use the single stage to work out the recipe for your reloads as its a bitch trying to make small changes on a progressive to work up a final load. Once you have your finished load recipe then it will be time for a progressive.

This kit contains all the basics for equipment to get started.
RCBS® Rock Chucker Supreme Select Reloading Kit, New Shooting Gear for 2012, Misc. Shooting, Home : Cabela's

[HK SD9 Tactical]

Ok, my dad gave me a gift certificate to sportsmans warehouse for 100 bucks, but told me he wanted to get me a reloading setup, until he saw their price. That got me thinking about it more seriously.

I want to reload for experimentation and cheaper plinking.

That being said, are there any experienced people who can recommend something inexpensive that will allow me to easily, and not necesarily quickly, load any round I have with just chaging out the dyes? (I don't know if I used the right word for dyes)
Currently, I have a .380, 9mm, .40S&w, and a 12 gauge. In the future I'd also like to load .223, .45, and possibly 5.7 ammo. is there a set that can do all of these, but maybe comes with one dye, so I can upgrade later?

What would you say are absolutely necesary when reloading, and what can I do without?

I can build my own tumbler, but is there a good reason I shouldn't?

Do I really need to trim the cases, and if so, is there a cheaper alternative to doing it than buying a dedicated trimmer?

Where is the cheapest place to buy bullets?

What is the best powder for the price that isn't too dirty?

Thanks!

Here is a good place to start: Those that rely on the Five-seveN for self-defense...

After you read this, ask away.

[hyperdog]

I disagree with starting out on the RCBS RockChucker. For that cost you can get a Lee Classic Turret and have money left over. If you have any common sense with mechanical operation you can figure out a turret just as easily as a single stage. I do agree not to start on a progressive. You can simply take out the indexing rod of the turret and make it single stage to start. Another reason I suggest is because if you plan to do many different calibers its a quick change of the turret head with all your die's already set to the way you left them.

Building a tumbler, go for it. Tumbling media will not harm the cases to where they will not preform the way they should. You are going to get cracked cases from just plain overuse before you wear away at the case.

Case trimmer only needed with rifle rounds, or with new brass. My old man trims every single case he loads for consistency but I do not find it necessary for pistol rounds.

Cheapest for bullets is casting them yourself....but that's a WHOLE different topic. You will need to decide on what you want to shoot. Lead rounds are the cheapest, and just fine for plinking.

As for powder...I can tell you for pistol I use Win231 for 380 and Clays for 9mm and 45acp. The powder used is all of the fun in reloading. Working with different loads and different powders to find that sweet spot that shoots well in your gun and more importantly good to YOU. I can tell you my 45 load and what gun I use it in but it may not feel as right to you as it does to me. Follow?

Other tips; just want to make sure you realize it is not a money maker right away. It will take quite a few rounds made to pay off your equipment costs. As for load books its good to have 1 maybe 2. For every caliber I load I like to buy the;

"1 Book 1 Caliber" 45 ACP Reloading Manual

They give you data out of every book for that specific caliber.
Midway is where I buy most of my equipment, good prices and great shipping. Most importantly take your time and have fun with it!

[jathtech]

Great info guys. This will really help! I'll let you know my progress when I start out.

[Kouki]

Glad you made this thread jat. Ive also been chomping at the bit to start a re-loading setup.

[1KPerDay]

I started last year with the Lee Classic Turret kit from Kempf and couldn't be happier. So far a couple thousand 45 auto, couple thousand 40, 1k 9 and about 400 .380, and a few hundred .30-06. Wish I'd started years ago.

[frizzlefry]

+1 for the Lee single stage setup, you can get everything you need (minus dies, powder, primers, bullets, cases) for right around $100
Challenger Breech Lock Single Stage Press Anniversary Kit

I reload .308 on a regular basis, 9mm and .223 once in awhile.

[1KPerDay]

FYI to the OP in case you weren't aware, you can remove the auto indexing rod from the Lee Classic Turret and use it as a single stage if you feel better about starting out.

No association with the company, just a big fan.

I have a single stage press and it just sits there since getting the LCT.