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Posted: 8/25/2006 6:43:53 PM EDT
[#1]
Yes, you should do it.
No, you won't save any money. You will shoot more, and get more satisfaction out of it. |
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Posted: 8/25/2006 6:44:17 PM EDT
[#2]
I do 55gr FMJBT .223 for under $120 a case
buy a dillon 550b and you do realize that there is a reloading forum? |
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Posted: 8/25/2006 6:46:23 PM EDT
[#3]
Buy some reloading books (I recommend ABCs of Reloading and Lymans 48th edition) and check into what it takes to reload your own ammo. A Dillon is a great press, like anyone will tell you, but it's the learning curve that can be a pain in the ass with something like that.
I'm fairly new to reloading as well and plan on getting a RCBS Rock Chucker just so I can familiarize myself with everything that goes into reloading. Then I plan on getting a Dillon. |
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Posted: 8/25/2006 6:46:40 PM EDT
[#4]
I looked for it - but couldn't find it. I'll look again. |
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Posted: 8/25/2006 6:47:26 PM EDT
[#5]
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Posted: 8/25/2006 6:49:15 PM EDT
[#6]
I reload and I save a little money doing it. However, I shoot 223 but would not ever consider reloading it due to the availability of cheap factory ammo.
Basically I relaod for 10mm, 44 mag, 454 Casull, and 300 RUM because you can spend a little less to get a lot more performance. I would not recommend reloading the cartidges you named unless you intend on shooting 2000+ rounds a year of each cartridge for the rest of your life (which actually I might do.) |
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Posted: 8/25/2006 6:50:17 PM EDT
[#7]
$100 a case is not saving enough? (excluding wolf) |
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Posted: 8/25/2006 6:51:00 PM EDT
[#8]
Start with getting a good loading manual (or two, or three)---Hornady, Speer, RCBS, etc. If you get into reloading / handloading you will need these books anyway. Read the instructions on the reloading process. You may want to start with a simpler set up (single stage press). The single stage press is good for working up small batches of experimental loads, and if you decide that you want a progressive, you may find the single stage still gets quite a bit of use, too. Especially if you are an experimenter at heart.
After reading the manuals, you will have a better idea of the process, and whether you have the space, patience, and time to devote to this addictive hobby. Personally, I've never had need for a progressive press, but I don't shoot lots of *plinking* ammo either. If you want to load lots of ammo of the same loading, Dillon is the press of choice. Exactly which model to choose, I am not qualified to answer. Others with experience on these machines would be better qualified to make recommendations. Welcome to the world of handloading. Dave. |
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Posted: 8/25/2006 6:51:45 PM EDT
[#9]
YES. try it especialy if you can use a friend equiptment and guidance
I shoot a heck of a lot more for the same money. Yes i do have/ use other brands brands but my dillon gets used the most |
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Posted: 8/25/2006 6:53:23 PM EDT
[#10]
Umm, it takes me quite a while to rack out 1K rounds (cost of your time.) If you are slamming them out high volume style, you are probably not getting much more quality ammo than Wolf. edited to add: 223 is a necked cartridge which takes longer to reload than a straight walled cartridge. I shoot 300 - 500 round a weekend when I've got time. |
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Posted: 8/25/2006 6:54:36 PM EDT
[#11]
It's a matter of quality, matching the quality of reloads, in my case, would require $13 a box. I can load mine for $4.
More expensive than say wolf, of course, but then again wolf can't shoot sub moa. Also, if you want anything other than SP, FMJ, or JHP, you will save money reloading regardless... ETA: for me reloading is just like shooting, a hobby done in my spare time with friends, so I can't really figure my time into cost, others may though... |
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Posted: 8/25/2006 6:54:42 PM EDT
[#12]
funny considering my varmint AR was shooting .5 MOA on my "slammed out with reckless abandon" .223 ammo |
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Posted: 8/25/2006 6:58:52 PM EDT
[#13]
I suprised you can crank out that kind of quality ammo with speed. You must be using a nice Dillon rig. I don't get to shoot varmints here in 'Bama, but we do get to shoot the hell out of dirt clogs at 30 yards!  (I'm shooting a homemade 16" AR w/ Eotech)
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Posted: 8/25/2006 7:06:11 PM EDT
[#14]
You'll only save money on the 40 SW. the others are military calibers and readily available. Course it's a good excuse to stock up on stuff.
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Posted: 8/25/2006 7:13:27 PM EDT
[#15]
 
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Posted: 8/25/2006 7:30:54 PM EDT
[#16]
standard 550b |
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Posted: 8/25/2006 7:39:27 PM EDT
[#17]
You will save money in the long run...though the savings may be less in the calibers that you mentioned. It depends on what type of ammo you want to shoot... Some bullet types are much more expensive to buy preloaded, but dirt cheap to load yourself. Start with a progressive and get a Dillon... The 550B is an awesome machine... I am VERY happy with mine  The reloading forum is most helpfull as to what to buy... |
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Posted: 8/25/2006 7:44:13 PM EDT
[#18]
9mm is hard to justify when you can get Winchester white box at $115 a case. 40SW does make a lot of sense as does 5.56. However it will take a while to recoup the expense of the press and accessories. I suggest you go to www.brianenos.com and using his online tools put together everything you'll need. Figure out the cost and then figure out how many rounds of ammo you could buy with that money. If you shoot enough you'll make out, if not maybe you have better things to do with your time.
I have a 550b and use it only to load 45acp. Over the past year I've shot an average of 1,000 a month, the most has been 1,500 a month. I put about $950 into buying all the gear you need, but I've dropped my cost per round from .23 cents to between 9 and 11 cents per round. While it's true you'll shoot more I've also saved money. Brian Enos is a great guy and you'll save a little ordering a Dillon through him rather than directly from Dillon. They'll drop ship the press directly to you. You'll do fine with a beam scale rather than digital. A Lyman tumbler will cost about $20 less than Dillon, buy your calipers at Harbor Freight and you get the picture. |
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Posted: 8/25/2006 8:02:16 PM EDT
[#19]
You need to figure out how much the loaded ammo will cost per 100.
Then you can decide if you want to reload it. See the midway company for bulk components like brass and heads. Figure you can use the brass 5 times and then retire it to the trash. Don't use pick ups from the range. Reloading big catridges like 30-06 or 44 magnum will save you a lot of money but I doubt that 223 is worth it. Reloading 9mm might cost you more than buying white box winchester. Reloading for autoloaders is tricky and I would avoid it. They are very sensitive to ammo dimensions, high primers, etc. Read some books and start SLOW. Reloading is a nice hobby but it's not for everyone and you should not go about like it's perfectly safe. |
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Posted: 8/26/2006 12:37:20 AM EDT
[#20]
Reloading for autoloading rifles and pistols is not hard at all. I have fired thousands upon thousands of rounds of reloads in my autoloading rifles and pistols without a hitch. Reloading is a perfectly safe hobby, so long as instructions and precautions are followed. It is a good idea to read up on it first. The most valuable aspect of reloading to me is that I can make exactly what I want to shoot out of a particular gun. If I want to shoot low recoil .44 magnum loads, I do not have to buy pricey "cowboy" ammo...I just do a little research, cook up some test loads, test and then mass produce 500 rounds or so on my Dilon. The load I develop is particularly suited to MY gun. I don't flinch at buying guns in odd calibers. So long as I can find a source of brass or a way to form readily available brass into what I need and a source or a way to make the bullets, I am golden. Why scrounge around for rare preloaded ammo when you can just make it. Want to shoot an old gun in say .577/450 Martini? You certainly can if the gun is good condition and you have experience in reloading. Besides these advantages, reloading is just plain fun. It adds a totally new dimension to the shooting hobby. |
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Posted: 8/26/2006 1:25:58 AM EDT
[#21]
I can load .223 for less than any bulk ammo price on a Dillon 650, and I do not have to worry about quality with my loads.
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Posted: 8/26/2006 1:46:57 AM EDT
[#22]
no buy wolf ammo.
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Posted: 8/26/2006 3:18:12 AM EDT
[#23]
Yes, You should reload. This doesn't mean you must stop buying factory ammo (Though you will buy less). It's a good idea, IMO, to be able to reload for accuracy and in case there are bans, shortages, etc. you are prepared. I would start with a single stage first to see if you have the patience to do it (even if you get a Dillon later you can still use a single stage for specialty tasks, cartridges). The RCBS Rockchucker kit is a great value and comes with a Speer reloading manual to get started with. |
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Posted: 8/26/2006 4:22:23 AM EDT
[#24]
If you reload, you can dramatically reduce the cost of your 9mm pistol ammo by using plain ead bullets.
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Posted: 8/26/2006 4:11:14 PM EDT
[#25]
You need to excersize caution when reloading for autoloaders, they are NOT the same as manually operated guns. A bolt action rifle has enough camming force to pretty much crush fit an out of spec case into the chamber. A garand or AR will hang up on a bad load and occasionally fire out of battery. IT CAN AND DOES HAPPEN. The cure for this problem is to use a gauge that checks the case dimensions and stand your cartridges on a sheet of glass to check for high primer. I have reloaded 1000's of rounds but I am careful. Some guys pick up range brass or shoot cases until they start to crack. I never do this kind of thing. Reloading is like anything else. It is dangerous when not taken seriously. |
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Posted: 8/26/2006 4:14:13 PM EDT
[#26]
No, absolutely not. You fuckers that don't reload are already causing PEAK AMMO. If ya'll start reloading, it'll be PEAK POWDER and I'll be pissed!
 
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Posted: 8/26/2006 5:08:34 PM EDT
[#27]
No truer words spoken. But I have reloaded once fired rifle range brass no problem. Many people who don't reload just leave their once fired brass. Of course, I don't pick up someone's mulitple reloaded rifle brass. You have to thoourghly inspect and cull out and non-once-fired cases and defective cases, and be sure that they have nothing inside the case, such as sand, dead insects etc. Of course this does not apply for most pistol brass because the pressures in handgun cartridges is much less than rifle. I would load 38spls, 357mags, 44Mags, 45ACP, 9mmNATO etc until the case mouth splits, and the I would discard them. BTW: I don't even load my ammo even close to max. |
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