reloading

**furlong222** · 10-13-2012, 10:16 PM

cant reload steel cases...only brass or nickle...just buy some once fired cases you can reload them a bunch of times...for 9mm its 3c for the primer 7c for the bullet(lead) and 2c for powder(7000gr in a pound and 6grs of unique in the case=close to 1200 rounds per pound)...then depreciate the brass at 1c per loading (that allows for not finding all you've fired) and your cost is 13 c per round...100 rounds is 13.00...great hobby ....its the up front cost for tools that costs....rifle rounds really save bucks....as to the 223 I generally just buy the cheapo stuff (5.00 a box)for fooling around and you dont have to worry about the cases - I do re load my hunting rounds....enjoy....

**dlbleak** · 10-14-2012, 05:45 AM

Originally Posted by furlong222

cant reload steel cases...only brass or nickle...just buy some once fired cases you can reload them a bunch of times...for 9mm its 3c for the primer 7c for the bullet(lead) and 2c for powder(7000gr in a pound and 6grs of unique in the case=close to 1200 rounds per pound)...then depreciate the brass at 1c per loading (that allows for not finding all you've fired) and your cost is 13 c per round...100 rounds is 13.00...great hobby ....its the up front cost for tools that costs....rifle rounds really save bucks....as to the 223 I generally just buy the cheapo stuff (5.00 a box)for fooling around and you dont have to worry about the cases - I do re load my hunting rounds....enjoy....

nice, simple post there furlong. jmil, this is the info you should start with and make your decision. the only thing i would add is this. once you get set up you might want to look into casting your own bullets. about $100 will get you a lee melting pot and a set of molds. it will knock your cost down to a nickel a round. at $2.50 a box you can do a lot of plinkin!

**jmill7** · 10-14-2012, 03:59 PM

so its not stupid to reload .223 cause my father in law and i are going to be throwing 1000's down the range well atleast till the world ends

**FireCop203** · 10-14-2012, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by jmill7

so its not stupid to reload .223 cause my father in law and i are going to be throwing 1000's down the range well at least till the world ends

Not to me it's not. Shooting any firearm with any caliber makes for better familiarization and training with that firearm. Go forth, load and enjoy.

**okiefarmer** · 12-24-2012, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by FireCop203

Reloading is becoming a lost art. I used to reload just to see how much accuracy I could get out of a load. I started with an RCBS single stage press and through the years I've drank the kool-aid and now I mainly use Dillon's XL-650. Nowadays, I just do a lot plinking and informal shooting.

I load 9mm, .38/.357, 40S&W, 45GAP, 45ACP, .223 and .308. Whenever I load I try to get the best prices for components that I can and buy in bulk. When I say bulk, I find the best prices that I can for boxes of 5000 primers, 8 pound jugs of powder and the best rate for bullets seems to be 1000 at a time.

That may seem like a lot to a beginner, but reloading is an evil monster. The more you load, the more you shoot and the cycle never stops.

When I go to the range I always try to come back with more brass than I shot. Sometimes I pick up some of the lead. I also have a friend who owns a tire shop and gives me old wheel weights and I cast my own bullets, buckshot and slugs. Saves more money.

FireCop203 (or anyone else), do you have a "honey" load for 9mm? I'm looking for an accurate plinker load...not something too hot. I bought some blue dot powder and 115JHP to give it a try. I've loaded 270 back in the day, so have a basic understanding of the process...just getting back into it since the 9mm is scarce as hen's teeth lately. Thanks for your help and info!

**tran** · 12-24-2012, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by Dr_Mitch

Where reloading comes be be hugely beneficial is when you shoot many thousands of one or two calibers every year. Reloading .223 for blasting is retarded, reloading 9mm offers relatively little savings. But what you can produce at or less than the cost of buying bulk quantity 9mm is match quality ammunition with better recoil characteristics. Bullets that shoot like laser beams, powder that burns quickly without overpressurizing. Good stuff. The accuracy part applies to .223 also. You can make superior quality .223 at the same price you'd pay for cases of plinking ammo.

Really? I have the brass so all I am out is Powder, Primer and projectile. I can reload 1000 round of 55 gr FMJ for about 240.00 and I can have it when I need it. That's anything but Retarded. What is a 1000 rounds of 55 gr FMJ going for right now?

**technetium-99m** · 12-25-2012, 01:22 AM

What Mitch is talking about is the effort that goes into loading 223. Trimming swaging etc. This was also before prices went full stupid. You could up until a few weeks ago get PMC bronze for around 300 per K to your door. Then you could sell the cases for 50-60 bucks and be at 250 per K. That wasn't enough savings for a lot of people to invest in a trimmer/die set/tool head for your press. Not to mention the time that goes into brass prep.

Handgun calibers including 9mm will save you 25-50% over factory if you buy your components correctly. Primers by the 5-10K, powder by the 8lb jug, and bullets starting at 2K.

**tran** · 12-25-2012, 05:03 AM

Originally Posted by technetium-99m

What Mitch is talking about is the effort that goes into loading 223. Trimming swaging etc. This was also before prices went full stupid. You could up until a few weeks ago get PMC bronze for around 300 per K to your door. Then you could sell the cases for 50-60 bucks and be at 250 per K. That wasn't enough savings for a lot of people to invest in a trimmer/die set/tool head for your press. Not to mention the time that goes into brass prep.

Handgun calibers including 9mm will save you 25-50% over factory if you buy your components correctly. Primers by the 5-10K, powder by the 8lb jug, and bullets starting at 2K.

When the current price is over 450.00 Per 1000 a 225.00 saving is pretty good and you have the ability to make ammo when you need it and not pay these stupid prices. I have been reloading for 15+ years I understand what goes into it but I also understand the rewards too.

**PBramble** · 12-25-2012, 10:48 AM

Do a lot of you guys pick up range brass? I can't bring myself to do it. I don't know the history of the brass. Without any way to check the thickness of the base of the casing, I guess I'm just scared it may already be too thin to reuse and err on the side of caution. I can see buying from a source that knows the history, such as someone on this board that says it's once fired. Should I just assume (I know) that range brass is once fired?

**dennishoddy** · 12-25-2012, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by PBramble

Do a lot of you guys pick up range brass? I can't bring myself to do it. I don't know the history of the brass. Without any way to check the thickness of the base of the casing, I guess I'm just scared it may already be too thin to reuse and err on the side of caution. I can see buying from a source that knows the history, such as someone on this board that says it's once fired. Should I just assume (I know) that range brass is once fired?

With pistol rounds, range brass is all you need. I've got some .40 brass that's been loaded dozens of times. Rifle brass can stretch and get thin, but when that happens a crack will usually occur in the bottleneck area.

**VIKING** · 12-25-2012, 03:43 PM

I've been reloading for around 45 years. There is a lot of satisfaction in knowing that you are producing the load that you used to take a nice buck. But the best advantage I've seen to it in the last few days is the fact that I have enough components where as I would never have to buy anything again and I would always have ammo. Might not be exactly what I wanted but I would always have something to shoot. I hope the ban everyone is talking about never happens of course..But if it does then Ole VIKING will still be shooting and hunting for a long, long time.

**vooduchikn** · 12-25-2012, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by tran

When the current price is over 450.00 Per 1000 a 225.00 saving is pretty good and you have the ability to make ammo when you need it and not pay these stupid prices. I have been reloading for 15+ years I understand what goes into it but I also understand the rewards too.

This,

And loading it on a progressive is cake.

**Zombie11** · 12-27-2012, 11:37 AM

i've got a full set up i'm looking to git rid of, if you are interested you can drop by and i can walk you through what everything is and what you'll need, and if you're interested i'd sell it to you at a fair price. i've been reloading 44 mag, 45 acp, 45-70, .243, 38 spc and some others for years. got a lot of brass and lead for these. let me know if you're interested in checking it out!