To buy or not to buy

[NikatKimber]

Sorry....I was not specific in my ammo rounds. The 400-500 is I am talking about .38,.380, and .45 ammo only. Thanks guys! Very good advice.

Is the 4-500 a total number, or per caliber? I'll assume total now, and that amounts are evenly split. Based on this, and this comment in your first post:

I don't want to spend a small fortune on a reloader.

I recommend the Lee Turret. If you stay in reloading at your stated rate, you will eventually want a progressive, but as Rod stated above me, the Lee Turret still is useful. Or if you decide to sell it, you don't lose much.

For cost effective dies, I would recommend the Lee Carbide dies (carbide reduces/eliminates case lubing, which is awesome for high quantity loading). The die sets include the shell plate.

Lee .45 acp 4 die carbide set $37
Lee .380 acp 3 die carbide set $26
Lee .38/.357 4 die carbide set $37

Reference post 13 in the FAQs. Your cost initially for the calibers you mentioned would be Dies + Shell plates + Press + 2x Turret + 2x AutoDisk = $110 + 2x $13 + 2x $25 + 2x $37 + $26 = $286

What this does not include is a bench, chair, primer flip tray (if not included in press kit), calipers, ammo boxes (gotta put the loaded ammo in something!), shell block (highly recommended) and other items I'm sure I'm forgetting.

How quickly will that pay off? You'd be surprised.
Components:
.45 $133.50/1000
Bullets $75/1000
Brass $18.50/250 (should be able to get 1000 loads total out of 250 once fired brass pretty easily)
Primers $30/1000
Powder ~$10/1000

.380 $115/1000
Bullets $56/1000
Brass $21/300
Primers $30/1000
Powder ~$8/1000

.38 $117.50/1000
Bullets $62/1000
Brass $17.50/250
Primers $30/1000
Powder ~$8/1000

At a rate of about 150 rds / mo of each caliber, that's $20 (.45) + $17.25 (.380) + $17.65 (.38) = $54.90 / mo cost to shoot.

Cost to buy that ammo would be: $134
3* Ultramax Reman 230gr LRN .45 acp @ $16.99/50 = $51
3* Ultramax Reman 95gr FMJ .380 acp @ $13.99/50 = $42
3* Prvi 158gr LRN .38 spl @ $13.55/50 = $41

So you'd be saving approximately $75 / mo reloading, and you have $286 in equipment, so in about 4 months you've paid off all of the equipment.

 

[n423]

Thanks again to all of you, especially Nikatkimber. That really breaks down the cost of reloading. 500-600 a month, for total of the three calibers. I can afford around $300 on equipt.

 

[44minimum]

I would also have to recommend a lee classic cast turret press. It will pay for itself pretty quickly, you can use it as a single stage while you're learning and then use the auto index feature, you can swap calibers easy and not have to mess with adjusting dies each time. I started off with a single stage rcbs and then bought a lee turret, wish I had bought it first

 

[Surveyor1653]

Started a few months ago with a Lee 4 hole turret. Easy to learn on and I have put out over 2000 .223 rounds and zero bad experiences. I have to agree with NikatKimber's reasons.

This right here. I started on a Lee 4-hole and am very happy with it. I've loaded 600 rounds so far and I'm pretty happy with mine. Even though you're reloading three calibers you can't go wrong: pay $12 twice and get two extra turrets. Set up each caliber on its own turret and when you want to switch you just pull the turret, drop on the new turret, swap the powder hopper over(you'll have to buy the powder measure adapter for a whole $6) and you're off and loading again. You're loading a new caliber in less than 5 minutes with a brass, bullet, and (maybe) primer & powder switch. Not bad for my money.

A caveat: it is still possible to double-charge a round since you must complete the up-stroke of the handle to engage the auto-indexing feature. It's possible to charge the case, bring the ram down to just above the spiral turn in the indexing rod and go right back up into the powder-through die getting a double dose of the sparky stuff. Reloading time is quiet time: No radio, no TV, no going over the grocery list with the wife IMHO. Reloading is almost therapeutic for me so I look forward to my 'me' time at the bench.

 

[NikatKimber]

A caveat: it is still possible to double-charge a round since you must complete the up-stroke of the handle to engage the auto-indexing feature. It's possible to charge the case, bring the ram down to just above the spiral turn in the indexing rod and go right back up into the powder-through die getting a double dose of the sparky stuff.

What he said, and especially this:

Reloading time is quiet time: No radio, no TV, no going over the grocery list with the wife IMHO. Reloading is almost therapeutic for me so I look forward to my 'me' time at the bench.

 

[flatwins]

Whether you buy a single stage or turret press, just buy one. It is my opinion that anyone who has a moderate interest in firearms and shoots on a fairly regular basis should own a basic reloading setup.

 

[okjoek]

I agree, just make sure you get something. I always enjoyed shooting but when I started reloading it made it twice as interesting and you do save money. I have a Lee Classic, the cast iron one single stage, love it. It was recommended to me by a man who is very knowledgeable and has used just about everything after years in the business. Now its his main press. Its my only press so I don't know much, but it works very well and will for many years. I too just enjoy being at the bench work on loads.

 

[Keyser328]

I'll throw my bid in on the Hornady Load-n-Load AP. It's a five station, auto indexing press. I've run about 1000 through mine now, and it has impressed the hell out of me.

I was looking at the Lee originally, but some not-so-nice reports on the primer feed made me shy away. My LnL AP is heavy, solid, and consistent. I am using Lee dies and they're working wonderfully.

I'm currently loading two calibers and can swap back and forth in about 10 minutes (once Midway gets my new powder measure off back order..)

I've used a Dillion 500b prior and liked it, but the LnL is a home run in my book. Great features, equally solid construction, and far cheaper.


While I agree that loading is one of those "zen" times, I have to have the TV or radio on in the background for white noise. I'm the same way when I'm wrenching on the Jeep or something.. it's just me. (-;

 

[Nightops]

Having started reloading myself on a single stage RCBS, I wish someone had steered me towards a turret system.

The single stage gets the job done, just time spent changing the dies out could be better spent on producing more rounds, or getting your rounds done sooner

 

[RustyZX9]

Hey Cznik, I live in your neck of the woods and have a single stage and a Dillon setup. If it would help you with your decision you are welcome to come get a look. You can see how they work and figure out what would server your needs. shoot me a PM if I can help...