quote:
Originally posted by Amistad
Thank you for the replies. I'm sure that it's bound to be a lot of fun loading your own. That brings up a couple of other questions --
1. About how much would it cost for me to set up to load .38 Special and .45ACP? (A ballpark figure is fine, as no doubt there are many variables.)
2. By what amount would you say you end up saving by doing your own? Half? More?
Amistad
'might be going "whole hog" soon!
'
Depends how fancy or basic, fast or slow
My suggestion is to go to
www.leeprecision.com
from there you can look at the various types of presses that they offer from single stage to turret to progressive.
You can read up on all of the equipment offered and how it works. They even have some demonstration videos about the various processes there. From that point you can get a basic understanding of the various presses and operations---be it Lee, rcbs, redding, hornady, or what ever brand equipment that you go with.
Lee does offer some "kits" in which you get a majority of equipment. My favorite is the delux turret kit which is a semi-progressive. With this kit you can load pistol or rifle rounds easily. You can also choose to set it up to operate as a single stage type press for pistol/rifle ammo or set it up with the auto index feature with pistol ammo for faster production. Die changes with this press take just a few seconds in changing out the drop in turret.
All the prices at the lee site are suggested retail. You can go to other vendors such a
www.midwayusa.com and get it much cheaper. The lee delux turret kit from midway is around $100.00.
I'll take a whack at guessing of the top of my head for equipment:
Lee delux turret kit-----100.00
x-tra turret--------------10.00
lee carbide dies 38-------25.00
lee carbide 45acp---------25.00
want to make it cheaper,
Lee challenger basic kit---35.00
lee carbide dies 38spl-----25.00
lee carbide dies 45--------25.00
this will get you going but will be slow as it is a single stage press with all the die changing and the usage of the powder dippers supplied with the dies will really slow you down.
That should give you a general idea about start up costs with Lee and you can add or change the variables as you wish. Other similar comparisons can be made with rcbs, hornady, etc, and their equipment is all good but the costs will be higher.
Costs savings will be significant and you will recover your equipment costs quickly if you shoot alot. Here is a thread about the cost savings:
http://www.rugerforum.net/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2365
good places to purchase reloading equipment are:
http://www.midwayusa.com/
http://www.lockstock.com/products.asp?dept=418
http://www.natchezss.com/
hope this helps.
