Reloading

[Wolf Track]

I'm getting tired of paying almost $60 a box for my 300 wthby shells so am going to get into reloading

I've heard of a kit one can buy and there is a book in it that explains every thing in laymen’s terms

I haven't been around any thing reloading for almost 40 years so am very unfamiliar with any it and don't want to buy a ton of junk that I won't use before I get to a simple set up that is very user friendly

I also don't have a bunch of $$$ to invest into the best of the best

So, some thing simple and easy to use is what I'm after...

[300rum]

I have all the stuff to reload everything and anything but let me throw you a curve ball.  I used to reload for my high-powered big game rifles and then on a hunch I went out and bought one box of the premier ammo from each major manufacture, Federal, Remington and Winchester.  It was terribly expensive but worth it.  I shot prone at 100 yards with each including my reloads and the Winchester's shot the best out of all in my Remington 700's, three shots clover leafing with my 7mm Rem Mag.  I can't reload better than that! (three shots clover leafing prone @ 100yds)  Anyways, I am a firm believer that if you are recreational shooter/hunter, not shooting competition, I think it best to find the best production ammo and stick with it, you are going to have to reload a long time, maybe years and years to save any money and I don't know that you are going to get anything more accurate with reloads unless you really get into it. 

[KillBilly]

You could buy or start at the library reading several re-loading manuals. Try a Lee, a Barnes, Nosler manual for example. each has a section of basic knowledge that will help you understand what the rest of the is about and what re-loading is about. There is almost too much reading but it will help you for sure. I recently started re-loading again and all the reading brought recall of things had forgotten. it is pretty easy to start inexpensively as long as you don't mind it taking longer. Taking longer is not a bad thing because it gives you more time to avoid mistakes. I use www.midwayusa.com when shopping for reloading supplies. They have a large assortment of inexpensive kits to start you out. Many a beginner started with Lee products but they are by no means the only one. You might even be able to purchase through E-Bay and get some great deals. Good luck and don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. In fact most of the folks that reply to your post will most likely help you out.

[KillBilly]

I have all the stuff to reload everything and anything but let me throw you a curve ball.  I would reload for my high-powered big game rifles and then on a hunch I went out and bought one box of the premier ammo from each major manufacture, Federal, Remington and Winchester.  It was terribly expensive but worth it.  I shot prone at 100 yards with each including my reloads and the Winchester's shot the best out of all in my Remington 700's, three shots clover leafing with my 7mm Rem Mag.  I can't reload better than that! (three shots clover leafing prone @ 100yds)  Anyways, I am a firm believer that if you are recreational shooter/hunter, not shooting competition, I think it best to find the best production ammo and stick with it, you are going to have to reload a long time, maybe years and years to save any money and I don't know that you are going to get anything more accurate with reloads unless you really get into it. 

+1   In fact factory is way better than it was in the past even though it is expensive. I might also add that unless you have a particular powder and bullet combo that you can't purchase factory then it will be more expensive to reload. give that some thought before you dive in.

[Wolf Track]

Thanks guys...

I'm going in halves with my neighbor, so that will bring some of the costs down...

I understand what you guys are saying and have taken it to heart; I'm still going to jump into this to a point

As the seasons go, this year I've picked up 2 elk tags, 2 deer tags, and an antelope

My wifes’ is 1 elk, 2 deer

The potential for more tags is very easy to pick up another couple dozen deer between the two of us (and this is all local hunting)

And all told, six months of hunting if I want to go that far

We both use the same rifle and I do like to do some target shooting out to about 500 yards (I never take that long of a shot, usually 35-75 yards, I just like to make certain I can consistantly)

If nothing else, since the libs are running the show now, I believe the taxes on ammo will make it even more expensive to do this

Just like when most of us were younger and cigarettes were cheap, now because of to many taxes tagged on, they aren't (I've never smoked by the way) but the hand writing's on the wall on this one...

[Intruder]

I agree w/ 300 RUM.

Let me through you another curve.  Buy a 30-06.  At the ranges you're shooting it'll kill em just as dead as a 300 Roy.  You can shoot it to 300 yards and only spend 20 bucks a box.  Good way to justify another gun 

[thinkingman]

buy a Lee Anniversary kit, set of dies, pick a powder (Hogdon H series is very versatile) and read, read, read, before you do anything.
Then read some more.
Lot's of good reloading websites.
Find a local that has some experience to come over and supervise your first try.
It's fun, but not in a beer-drinking way.
It's pretty serious stuff if you goof.

[Wolf Track]

I've got an '06 and 308

I just really... really... like this gun

It was custom worked in the mid 60's from a Winchester, with the best quality of the time

Shoots far smoother, hits far harder, and from the first time I ever shot it, it was a perfect fit...

So, I'm stuck with this one until I'm dead or some thing happens to it...

I have a local Sport shop that is more than willing to help in all aspects of this, and I am kinda anal about learning what I can on a topic before I take it on full bore...

[300rum]

Let me tell you what happens.  You will buy everything, the dies, press, powder, primers, casings, bullets, case lube, tumbler, bullet puller, scale, then you will want a digital scale, powder trickler and a few other expensive things.  You will work up a load with one powder and then will wonder what will happen if you use another powder so you will buy that powder too.  You will try a ballistic tip but then for elk you will want a partition so you will get a box of each and then you will need some new brass and will have to fire form it and then you will want a neck sizer instead of a full-length die but the Weatherby headpaces on the belt so your bolt is hard to turn so you go back and full-length size after awhile you will look at all the powder and bullet combinations that you have for your rifle and you will think, boy, if I just found what kind of factory ammo shot best in my rifle it would be much, much cheaper to pay $60 box.  So you will go buy a box of factory ammo from the major ammo companies and you will find that they shoot better then what you could put together. 

Now pistols are something entirely different.  You can reload for a pistol silly cheap, that is where you can have a return on investment if you shoot a lot. 

Not trying to rain on your parade.  I love reloading for pistols but I wish someone would have told me what I told you 15 years ago. 

[Wolf Track]

Thanks...

I do like to shoot my 357 a lot...

[Huntbear]

Look into the RCBS Rockchucker kit.  Has everything you need to get started(at least it used to).  Mine is over 20 yrs. old.  I love to reload, it is a passion and I love that I can make up a load for one of my firearms, that will equal factory loads, in velocity and accuracy.

Handguns are definitely easier to handload for, but I love working up rifle loads also.  That is why my favorite rifle is my .257 A.I.  I get to work up new loads, whenever I decide to try a different bullet.

I may not save any money initially, but over the long haul, I save a lot.  My .338 mag handloads will run 20.00 per 50 instead of 60.00 per 20.

I get a huge feeling of accomplishment, for getting an animal with a handload.  Everything about the hunt, I had a part in, from loading the shells, some work on the firearm, to the hunt, and the shot.

But that is just me.  Like I said, what started as a way to shoot large quantities of ammo for practice and competition turned into a passion that has not wavered at all.

[bighorns2bushytails]

i found my stuff used out of the local paper.  id search used for a few weeks and see what you can piece together.  the stuff i bought i got at a quarter of retail price and to be honest i dont know if it was ever even really used.  it looked brand new still. 

i think price wise it nickle and dimes you to death... specially with experimentation.  however i do enjoy doing it and the fam knows not to bother me when i am so it has become a sort of relaxing endeavor for myself.  i also get more satisfaction out of hunting with something i put together then bought.  as far as cost efficienct and accuracy goes it doesnt matter much to me i just like knowing i can make bullets anytime i want  

best of luck to you and keep an eye on those want/for sale ad's in the paper.

[demontang]

+1 on RCBS Its not the fastest way but for starting its great because you are only doing one thing at a time. As for cost my .338 win is around $1.?? a shot for reloads and  factory ammo is around $3.00 a shot, I get greater accuracy out of hand loads and from what I have seen from the factory ammo low pressure loads. After a few shots of factory ammo they start to flatten the primers and with my reloads I get higher velocity and no signs of pressure after 50 rds with out cleaning .

If you do your resource you wont have to go though many powders before you find one you like and bullet will be the same. I would go get a reloading manual and start reading, my father made me read 2 different manual before letting me even think of reloading.