Just wondering who reloads their own ammo.

I probably don't have enough room at my place to get started reloading, but what equipment would you recommend, at the minimum, to get started reloading? Are there any resouces you would suggest before one gets started?

My family reloaded when I was a child.  All that gear is back on the mainland, waiting in Mom's garage for the next eenration of shooters to come along!  As I recall, we had a single-stage Lee press, plus a single-stage 20 gauge machine.

With ammo prices doing what they are, and availability being what it is, reloading is beginning to look like a necessity.  Fortunately, Ihave a couple of good friends who already reload, and who already have the dies for my two most likely candidates (.30-06 and .357 magnum).  All I need to supply are the components. 

Which works well for me because, like 2aHawaii, my limiting factor truly is space.  I can't store or set up reloading equipment without first purging something else.

I am currently reloading 300 Win Mag, 9mm, and 45acp, and have components ready for 40 and 223.  Running a single stage Lee for the large rifle, a Dillon Square Deal for the 40 and 45, and a Dillon 1050 for 9mm and 223.  As mentioned it does take up a lot of space, not only for the loaders but for all the components. 

If you are looking for a cheap pistol progressive loader the Square Deal is a great little press.  Not to mention caliber conversions are fairly cheap.  The Dillon Square Deal goes for about $350 and comes with dies.  Dillon is also great when it comes to warranties.  I've had a few faulty parts and they have always replaced them no questions asked and quickly.

If you are looking into reloading for rifle, a single stage is a great way to start.  Reloading 223 is kind of a bitch tho.  You will need a swager to prep brass with military crimps.   If I am not mistaken, Lee has a complete kit, less dies for about $150.  Comes with a powder drop and scale, as well as the press itself.

Other than that, all you will need is a tumbler to clean your brass, a case gauge for the caliber you are reloading, some components and you are good to go!  I would suggest buying your components in bulk.  More and more people are reloading and components especially powder and primer are sometimes hard to find and are often times out of stock locally.

Forgot to mention, the only drawbacks to the Dillon Square Deal is that it only does pistol calibers, and you manually have to feed brass.  Some of the more expensive presses have case feeders and will convert to do rifle calibers.  But for the price, you cant go wrong.

I don't have interest in reloading (yet) and planned on just dumping my 9mm casings.  Are there people who would be interested in them, or a location at the range that collects them?  Save the environment and a little money for someone else.

I don't have interest in reloading (yet) and planned on just dumping my 9mm casings.  Are there people who would be interested in them, or a location at the range that collects them?  Save the environment and a little money for someone else.

If I am not too late I could use 9mm brass.  Let me know!

anyone wanna give a student (me) some lessons? on a progressive system...im assuming you do all your case trimmings before it goes into the feeder...and as far as cleaning the primer pockets...thats out of the question on a progressive...

when its all done and final....case gauge each bullet?

I would like to get into reloading as well...308w are expensive!

Houdni, I only use a progressive for handgun calibers and .223.  For 308 and 300WM I still use a single stage.  In terms of case trimming, yes it all must be done prior to the feeder or touching any dies. 

Dont worry bro, I myself am still learning.  Through it all you acquire what works and what makes sense to you.  After all why do you think a notebook of your loads is so important.

Lee starter kit with the single stage press is a good value to get started, the scale is not too great tho. Do a lot of
research on teniques and loads. Get a good reloading manual. Start low
and work up. (it can be dangerous). Be forewarned, reloading can get addicting! Haha
There is nothing like tuning a load to your gun.

I think i am going to pick up one of those reloading books and go through it.  I have very strong been considering this for the past few weeks. (Strong enough I almost just bought one to force myself to do it).

I know Alex reloads here, and almost all the guys at the IPSC.  As far as space goes, it's a small unit... doesn't take that much.  I know there are some stands for the Lee system, looks about the size /base of a tripod.

Just started reloading a couple months ago.  Didn't have the fortunate circumstances of any family members with the know-how so i bought the ABC's of reloding by Bill Chevalier.  It's an OK manual.  Bought a Lee Loadmaster due to budget reasons.  I know a lot of people hate youtube, but im a visual guy and I have learned a whole bunch of reloading on there.  It's one thing to read how to do it, but I love seeing tutorials on how things actually work.  If anyone else uses a loadmaster, let m eknow... i'm having the infamous primer issues.... smooshing primers in the pockets.  But overall, i've been happy.... been going slow and loaded up some 9mm that has been accurate and reliable.

I want to watch someone reload lol, so I can really get an idea of what is going on and what all it takes.

mostly to see how long the process takes, because that will determine whether or not I get a better or worse machine.  I gotta know what I can live with, if it takes me a hour to 100 rounds, I probably won't like it.

IF and When we get out new place squared away, I hope to have my reloading bench set up.  Two Dillons and an RCBS.  Not to mention bullet sizer and casting equipment.

Trimming 308 is Necessary Only if you shoot it out af an auto loader.  Most time with a bolt gun, just check case length is OK.  Cases "grow" in a a semi auto

When running any progressive, caution is advised not to run out of primers and powder.  Especially powder.  You may not know when/where you ran out and how
many rounds were made without powder.

When reloading, Do Not have any thing that may distract your attention from the reloader.  Ooops will be made.  Ask me how I know.......

the time consumption is in the setup (assuming you now know what you're doing) ..... quadruple checking powder charges... getting all the dies set up right etc.  I loaded 100 9mm rounds in about 20 minutes after taking around 2 hours to set my Loadmaster up.  I think the key is to load up a whole bunch of rounds once you get everything where you want it.  I'm only loading 9mm now, but i'm going to start .40 and .45 soon. 

A few of my buddies reload 5.56. I didn't research it but I was told that reloading 7.62x39 almost isn't worth it. It's best to just buy it instead of making it. I better research. If it saves money, it's worth it...

yeah, reloading some ammo like 9mm or .223 or AK rounds you probably won't save any money if you consider the less expensive ammo from OGC.  But I can tell you that my first reloads are more accurate with my guns. 

once I get what components work for me, i'll buy in bulk and maybe save a few pennies...

When you calculate it out, you can make 10,000 rounds of .40 for the price you can buy 5,000.  That is two uses of the .40 case (buying it brand new, at a high cost).  I have not seen anywhere that said it's cheaper to buy box brand, I watched like a hour + of this guys video loading .223, he did about 2k rounds from start to finish.

If you are gonna load high volume, (pistol, .223, 7.62X39) a progressive press is the way to go.  I only have a single stage at the moment, and when I load for my .45, it takes forever.

What I do, though, is break it down into sections,  I'll clean the brass one day; then on the next free day I'll resize, inspect cases, and seat primers. (I'll do a whole bunch and put em in a plastic baggie and store them in a ammo can, so that they'll be ready to go any time) Then I'll powder up about 50 or so, seat bullets, and taper crimp.  I haven't been shooting too much pistol as of late, so it works out ok.

I'm thinking of getting me that lee progressive 808shooter's got.  I'd like to get a whole bunch loaded up, in case TSHTF!   

So heavies, start to finish... how long you think for 100 rounds?

If my powder throw is setup and running smooth (checking powder weights of every 5th round) maybe an hour for 100.

But, like I said this is with a single stage, and a not so great powder throw.  A progressive press, after the initial setup, would be much faster. 

I mostly load for my F-Class rifle so speed is not a concern; Accuracy and repeatability is everything.