Hand loading questions

[ffbowhunter]

i am interested in starting to load my own rounds. Realistically what would you say it costs to get started. I will be loading .22, 7mm-08, and 30-06. Thanks!

[Bob33]

i am interested in starting to load my own rounds. Realistically what would you say it costs to get started. I will be loading .22, 7mm-08, and 30-06. Thanks!

.22 as in rimfire? They can't be reloaded.

[Jonathan_S]

.22 rimfire?

For the 7mm-08 and .30-06 (I'll round up so there are no nasty surprises)

$100 press (new) or probably  $75 used
Brass for each $100
3-4 lbs of powder $90-130
Primers $20
Bullets $50-100
Die Sets $40ish each
Trimmers, case length measurers, micrometer(s) $75 maybe
Scale (digital or weight balance) $100-400

I'd say $5-600 is sufficient.  $1,000 would really set you up with quality equipment.

[Wazukie]

i am interested in starting to load my own rounds. Realistically what would you say it costs to get started. I will be loading .22, 7mm-08, and 30-06. Thanks!

.22 as in rimfire? They can't be reloaded.

Ah rimfire, generally speaking, you're right . . .  but . . .  .   

To the question, I got into reloading for less than $200.  I bought used equipment.  Heck, my 5-0-5 scale only cost me $10.  Powder, cases, and bullets are probably most of the cost.  This was my experience anyway.

[dontgetcrabs]

i am interested in starting to load my own rounds. Realistically what would you say it costs to get started. I will be loading .22, 7mm-08, and 30-06. Thanks!

.22 as in rimfire? They can't be reloaded.

Sure they can.

http://22lrreloader.com/design-details/

[Bob33]

i am interested in starting to load my own rounds. Realistically what would you say it costs to get started. I will be loading .22, 7mm-08, and 30-06. Thanks!

.22 as in rimfire? They can't be reloaded.

Sure they can.

http://22lrreloader.com/design-details/

Ok, but why? Can you possibly save enough to justify the trouble?

[dontgetcrabs]

i am interested in starting to load my own rounds. Realistically what would you say it costs to get started. I will be loading .22, 7mm-08, and 30-06. Thanks!

.22 as in rimfire? They can't be reloaded.

Sure they can.

http://22lrreloader.com/design-details/

Ok, but why? Can you possibly save enough to justify the trouble?

Not at current prices, but if prices keep going up possibly someday?

[Bob33]

Thanks for the info.

[bearpaw]

i am interested in starting to load my own rounds. Realistically what would you say it costs to get started. I will be loading .22, 7mm-08, and 30-06. Thanks!

.22 as in rimfire? They can't be reloaded.

Sure they can.

http://22lrreloader.com/design-details/

That's pretty interesting, would be handy if you needed 22lr and couldn't find any to buy!

[ffbowhunter]

Thanks for the info. I have been looking at some kits. Are those worth the money or is it better to piece together your own kit?

[j_h_nimrod]

It depends on your desires. Most of the kits cover all the essentials at a decent price. You can save a little if you go after individual components searching sales and different shops. What you get may be better but it takes time to get everything you need that way. The kits are wham bam.

[follow maggie]

I just bought the Hornady lock & load classic kit for $280. Got their de S for .30-06 & .300 win mag for about $30 a pice, i think. In my opinion, get a kit. It comes with pretty everything you need, including a loading manual- at least Hornady does. As you do more loading, youll get better at it and can replace the pieces you dont like one at a time, but youre making ammo in the meantime. The small amount of money yud save running around and piecing it all together is worth way less then the time involved.

[theleo]

Thanks for the info. I have been looking at some kits. Are those worth the money or is it better to piece together your own kit?

The simple answer is yes, they're worth the money. You'll get all the essentials, it'll all be new equipment, and you normally get a manual with them to. You can put everything together cheaper if you go the used route but it's normally going to be a lot of going here for the powder measurer, there for the press, there for the trickler... starting out the kits are great. You'll need a case trimmer at some point and you'll need a set of calipers. my prefer way to look at my reloading is that first shot for the given cartridge is really expensive (the cost of the dies) and the rest are just the cost of components.

I'll use you a 7mm-08 round for a break down of price per shot
Powder: .19 ($30/lb using 45 grains)
Bullet  : .30 (the cost per midway on my preferred 140gr Interlocks)
Primer : .05 (most primers I'm seeing in the store are a little cheaper but I'm rounding up)
Brass   : .10 (Middway is showing brass at about .60 a piece and I'm figuring you'll get 6 loadings but mileage may vary)

Add that all up and you'll be spending $12.80 for a box of custom rifle ammo tailored specifically for your 7mm-08, the 30-06 will be very similar price wise depending on your choice of components.

I see the RCBS Rock Chucker kit on line for $280, add to that a powder trickler ($20), a set of calipers ($30), dies for 06 and 7mm-08 ($40 a piece), primers ($20 should get you about 500), powder ($90 if you get 3 powders that work for both 7mm-08 & the 06), bullets ($60 if you start with trying interlocks for both), and you'd be set to start playing the reloading game. So for around $600 you could start reloading pretty dang quick. 

[HighlandLofts]

I have two Pacific single stage presses, a cheap lee single stage press, 500 pcs' of 45 acp brass, lyman calipers, rcbs powder measure, rcbs scale, two sets of electronic scales, aluminum case gauge, 44 magnum dies, 7mmTCU dies, 327 Federal Magnum dies, 38/357 dies, 45acp dies, 30/06 dies and another set (can't remember the caliber) and a bunch of other stuff by shopping for used equipment on here and other forums. I have around $400 invested so far.

I also look on E-Bay for reloading stuff. I've been buying reloading books on there as well. I just keep looking at what I want until I see it at a decent price.

Lyman 49th is a must have manual, as cheap as some of them are buy a few of them to read & keep.

[Fl0und3rz]

My best used reloading gear deal was an MEC Sizemaster with adjustable charge bar, some consumables, and some manuals for $80.  I could have an RCBS 10-10 scale for another $20 or so, but I had a scale.

Someone sold a Redding 2400 trimmer here for like $10, IIRC. It didn't last long.

[thinkingman]

Lee anniversary kit was $100
Dies $40
Powder $25
Cheap bullets to find your footing .20 ea
Primers .05 ea
A GOOD manual PRICELESS
don't let anyone tell you that you can't turn out quality ammo using Lee equipment.

[wadu1]

Lee anniversary kit was $100
Dies $40
Powder $25
Cheap bullets to find your footing .20 ea
Primers .05 ea
A GOOD manual PRICELESS
don't let anyone tell you that you can't turn out quality ammo using Lee equipment.

I agree with thinkingman, start with something simple like this and move up later if you need to. 

[j_h_nimrod]

 
The Lee Classic Cast is one of the most solid and reliable presses out there. You can pay a lot more for a press but there are only minute differences in tolerances that few can take advantage of. You can put together some pretty fine loads with relatively inexpensive equipment.

[jasnt]

I went with the rcbs kit and upgraded as I needed/chose to.  Still running the rockchucker.  hard to go wrong with rcbs