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how much does it cost to hand load properly?
- Thread starter RogueHk
- Start date
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
I suppose that depends on your purpose and your cartridge. You can handload properly for less than $300, yes. Your minimum equipment will be a press of some kind that can handle loading your cartridge, a set of dies for your caliber (covers de-caping, re-sizing, bullet seating), some case lube, powder measure, and a primer tool. Maybe some primer pocket cleaner/uniformer. Obviously consumables as well - brass, primers, powder, bullets. More expensive equipment makes your reloading faster and more accurate, but we're talking about gnat's ass more accurate not giant leaps more accurate.
There are great stickied links at the top of the page if you want to be beyond the basics. Here's another useful link for the basics: http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/#/tools-of-the-trade/4529825076
I suppose that depends on your purpose and your cartridge. You can handload properly for less than $300, yes. Your minimum equipment will be a press of some kind that can handle loading your cartridge, a set of dies for your caliber (covers de-caping, re-sizing, bullet seating), some case lube, powder measure, and a primer tool. Maybe some primer pocket cleaner/uniformer. Obviously consumables as well - brass, primers, powder, bullets. More expensive equipment makes your reloading faster and more accurate, but we're talking about gnat's ass more accurate not giant leaps more accurate.
There are great stickied links at the top of the page if you want to be beyond the basics. Here's another useful link for the basics: http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/#/tools-of-the-trade/4529825076
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
"Could I get all the tools for $300... "
Certainly. And good, functional stuff too.
Not only are a lot of the neat tools we old hands love not neccessary to make excellant ammo it's actually better to start basic and stay there until you grow into it. Then you will have the necessary experience to know what you want to try for your own needs and methods, not our's. A LOT of well meaning people try to guide new folk into becoming duplicates of themselves and that's not normally what the new folk want to be!
"Could I get all the tools for $300... "
Certainly. And good, functional stuff too.
Not only are a lot of the neat tools we old hands love not neccessary to make excellant ammo it's actually better to start basic and stay there until you grow into it. Then you will have the necessary experience to know what you want to try for your own needs and methods, not our's. A LOT of well meaning people try to guide new folk into becoming duplicates of themselves and that's not normally what the new folk want to be!
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RogueHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Could I get all the tools for $300 or do I need to spend more?
</div></div>
I picked up everything that I needed to reload .308 for about $215, new.
I'm already upgrading stuff (first item is a digital scale), but I've already loaded rounds with what I have, and could continue to do so.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RogueHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Could I get all the tools for $300 or do I need to spend more?
</div></div>
I picked up everything that I needed to reload .308 for about $215, new.
I'm already upgrading stuff (first item is a digital scale), but I've already loaded rounds with what I have, and could continue to do so.
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
I'm wanting to reload 338 Norma 300SMK. I've NEVER reloaded anything in my life.
All the tools out there and I'm not sure what to buy.
My rifle just got to the smith so I figure if I can spend months reloading ammo
I'm wanting to reload 338 Norma 300SMK. I've NEVER reloaded anything in my life.
All the tools out there and I'm not sure what to buy.
My rifle just got to the smith so I figure if I can spend months reloading ammo
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
RCBS press, RCBS uniflow, RCBS 505 or 1010 scale, I use the RCBS trim mate and auto-primer but you can get by with hand tools when you're starting out someone else will have a suggestion for hand priming tool. Any hand trimmer will work. Good pair of calipers to check size (no digital cheapies or harbor freight junk).
Ebay everything you can. RCBS is 100% about their warranty.
RCBS press, RCBS uniflow, RCBS 505 or 1010 scale, I use the RCBS trim mate and auto-primer but you can get by with hand tools when you're starting out someone else will have a suggestion for hand priming tool. Any hand trimmer will work. Good pair of calipers to check size (no digital cheapies or harbor freight junk).
Ebay everything you can. RCBS is 100% about their warranty.
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
Min Equip to get by..additional stuff is elective:
Prep Brass
Clean it (if not new from box) vibratory with soft media or tumble with hard media (which cleans the inside and primer pockets the best)
vibratory method is cheaper but does not clean pockets and inside of the case.
Flash hole uniformer
Primer pocket Uniformer
Case mouth chamfer trimmer
Trimmer to Length (don't need right away if new brass is used)
Size Cases a Decapping Die FL Resizer Die
Prime Cases
Primer device like the Sinclair Primer tool or one by RCBS etc.
Powder and Primers
Powder Measure Volumetric like a a Harrels, Redding, or Neil Jones and a scale to check your powder weights to the .1 grain
Bullet of your choice
Seat Bullet
To determine length U will need a caliber to .001 to measure the OAL or length to the Ogive (depends on whether U use a bolt or magazine.
A Micrometer top Seating Die like Redding, RCBS, Wilson
Seat Bullet With a Press- Redding, Arbor type etc...
All that in quality equip can be had for <$1000..Your choice of Caliber is expensive to reload and your break even point can be determined from the formula found at:
http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp
good luck
Min Equip to get by..additional stuff is elective:
Prep Brass
Clean it (if not new from box) vibratory with soft media or tumble with hard media (which cleans the inside and primer pockets the best)
vibratory method is cheaper but does not clean pockets and inside of the case.
Flash hole uniformer
Primer pocket Uniformer
Case mouth chamfer trimmer
Trimmer to Length (don't need right away if new brass is used)
Size Cases a Decapping Die FL Resizer Die
Prime Cases
Primer device like the Sinclair Primer tool or one by RCBS etc.
Powder and Primers
Powder Measure Volumetric like a a Harrels, Redding, or Neil Jones and a scale to check your powder weights to the .1 grain
Bullet of your choice
Seat Bullet
To determine length U will need a caliber to .001 to measure the OAL or length to the Ogive (depends on whether U use a bolt or magazine.
A Micrometer top Seating Die like Redding, RCBS, Wilson
Seat Bullet With a Press- Redding, Arbor type etc...
All that in quality equip can be had for <$1000..Your choice of Caliber is expensive to reload and your break even point can be determined from the formula found at:
http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp
good luck
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
I started off with the notion of trying to keep it cheap, but the more I read and the more I learned the more I spend. Yes, you can do it cheaper but the more you learn about reloading the more you will spend so that you don't have to buy twice. I'm just getting into reloading and I have already spent over $500 and counting. Do all the research you can before buying anything as I'm sure you have heard before but be careful, its addicting. Keep your eye on craigslist for used gear you can usually get some pretty good deals if you don't mind used equipment.
I started off with the notion of trying to keep it cheap, but the more I read and the more I learned the more I spend. Yes, you can do it cheaper but the more you learn about reloading the more you will spend so that you don't have to buy twice. I'm just getting into reloading and I have already spent over $500 and counting. Do all the research you can before buying anything as I'm sure you have heard before but be careful, its addicting. Keep your eye on craigslist for used gear you can usually get some pretty good deals if you don't mind used equipment.
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
You can get the RCBS Rock Chucker kit for around $300.00, and they still have their rebate deal going on, $50.00 rebate on anything over $300.00. The Rock Chucker Kit has everything to get you started except for calipers and your dies. Like others have said, Get a good pair of calipers, I like the old school Starrett Dial ones myself, had it for over 25 years and still going strong. The Rock Chucker Kit is the <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">BARE</span></span></span> minimum to get you started.
After that comes case prep tools and there is where you can start really dropping some coin. You are going to need a tumbler at some point, get the stainless steel Thumlers tumbler combo, it wont disappoint. I finally got one after burning up 5 vibratory tumbelrs in 3 years. One plus with the Thumler tumbler is that you can buy spare part for it, and the stainless media just works great. Eventually you are going to need a case trimmer, I like the Sinclair Stainless Micrometer trimmer for a manual one, it is just easy to use, but you decide. I also recommend the RCBS Case Prep Center, but any of the power case prep centers will be fine, the Hornady one looks really nice. I won't even go into casting your own bullets, that is becoming somewhat of a lost art. I do it for some of my black powder guns like my Shiloh Sharps, but anything modern it is just not worth it.
If you are looking to reload to save money, then forget about it in my opinion. You never seem to break even on the stuff. I have thousands in my reloading gear over the years. I just ignore the equipment costs to justify it. If you really get into it, then you will spend years buying and upgrading tools to speed up and ease the process, like a dog chasing his tail, you never seem to catch up. I like to load so that I can craft my own ammo and if there is disurbance in the market (Like in 2008) and ammo is hard to find, and usually rising in price, then I am not out of luck. Just Sayin'...
You can get the RCBS Rock Chucker kit for around $300.00, and they still have their rebate deal going on, $50.00 rebate on anything over $300.00. The Rock Chucker Kit has everything to get you started except for calipers and your dies. Like others have said, Get a good pair of calipers, I like the old school Starrett Dial ones myself, had it for over 25 years and still going strong. The Rock Chucker Kit is the <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">BARE</span></span></span> minimum to get you started.
After that comes case prep tools and there is where you can start really dropping some coin. You are going to need a tumbler at some point, get the stainless steel Thumlers tumbler combo, it wont disappoint. I finally got one after burning up 5 vibratory tumbelrs in 3 years. One plus with the Thumler tumbler is that you can buy spare part for it, and the stainless media just works great. Eventually you are going to need a case trimmer, I like the Sinclair Stainless Micrometer trimmer for a manual one, it is just easy to use, but you decide. I also recommend the RCBS Case Prep Center, but any of the power case prep centers will be fine, the Hornady one looks really nice. I won't even go into casting your own bullets, that is becoming somewhat of a lost art. I do it for some of my black powder guns like my Shiloh Sharps, but anything modern it is just not worth it.
If you are looking to reload to save money, then forget about it in my opinion. You never seem to break even on the stuff. I have thousands in my reloading gear over the years. I just ignore the equipment costs to justify it. If you really get into it, then you will spend years buying and upgrading tools to speed up and ease the process, like a dog chasing his tail, you never seem to catch up. I like to load so that I can craft my own ammo and if there is disurbance in the market (Like in 2008) and ammo is hard to find, and usually rising in price, then I am not out of luck. Just Sayin'...
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Helter</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RogueHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Could I get all the tools for $300 or do I need to spend more?
</div></div>
I picked up everything that I needed to reload .308 for about $215, new.
I'm already upgrading stuff (first item is a digital scale), but I've already loaded rounds with what I have, and could continue to do so.
</div></div>
Here's my list.
Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit $117.99
Lee Breech Lock Quick Change Bushings $8.99
Lee Case Trimmers $5.99
Lee Deluxe Rifle Three-Die Set $32.99
Electronic Caliper $21.99
Plastic 20-Round Ammo Boxes $4.48
Shipped and taxed, that came to about $215.
Add to that
1 pound of Varget 26.99
1k CCI 200 primers 33.99
100 .308 Match bullets 25.99
I got this all from Cabela's, because my credit card reward points work for gift cards there. The only thing I don't like about the Lee kit is the scale. It works, but it's a pain to use, and is slow. Though as I learn more, that may change.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Helter</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RogueHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Could I get all the tools for $300 or do I need to spend more?
</div></div>
I picked up everything that I needed to reload .308 for about $215, new.
I'm already upgrading stuff (first item is a digital scale), but I've already loaded rounds with what I have, and could continue to do so.
</div></div>
Here's my list.
Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit $117.99
Lee Breech Lock Quick Change Bushings $8.99
Lee Case Trimmers $5.99
Lee Deluxe Rifle Three-Die Set $32.99
Electronic Caliper $21.99
Plastic 20-Round Ammo Boxes $4.48
Shipped and taxed, that came to about $215.
Add to that
1 pound of Varget 26.99
1k CCI 200 primers 33.99
100 .308 Match bullets 25.99
I got this all from Cabela's, because my credit card reward points work for gift cards there. The only thing I don't like about the Lee kit is the scale. It works, but it's a pain to use, and is slow. Though as I learn more, that may change.
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
In your particular case, I don't think you'll have trouble finding reloading equipment inexpensively so much as you will finding caliber specific things like the dies. 338 Norma is anything but common, so everything you get, notably dies and brass, will probably have to come straight from original manufacturers. Generally speaking, the more obscure and rare the chambering, the more expensive dies and brass are. I have a friend with a 308 Norma Mag, and he has to grab brass where he can, and his dies cost a lot more than my 308 Win ones did. In his case, he can actually resize 300 Win Mag brass, making his life a little easier. Don't know if you can pull a similar trick. I'm not very familiar with 338 Norma, past what a brief internet search yielded.
In your particular case, I don't think you'll have trouble finding reloading equipment inexpensively so much as you will finding caliber specific things like the dies. 338 Norma is anything but common, so everything you get, notably dies and brass, will probably have to come straight from original manufacturers. Generally speaking, the more obscure and rare the chambering, the more expensive dies and brass are. I have a friend with a 308 Norma Mag, and he has to grab brass where he can, and his dies cost a lot more than my 308 Win ones did. In his case, he can actually resize 300 Win Mag brass, making his life a little easier. Don't know if you can pull a similar trick. I'm not very familiar with 338 Norma, past what a brief internet search yielded.
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
It depends upon what you mean by "properly." A long time ago, I bought a Lee kit similar to the one available here. Nowadays, it costs less than $120. A set of dies for .338 Norma Magnum are going to run you from about $60 to $90 more, as seen here. With this general setup and nothing more, I hand-loaded many cartridges for a 7mm Magnum sporter I owned. I cleaned the cases one by one with fine steel wool while spinning them with my drill using the shell trimming unit that comes with the Lee kit. The cartridges were safe, and in my rifle, consistently shot well under 1 MOA. The downside was that the process was slow, and a more refined technique and better equipment might have produced ammunition that was even more accurate. I did not shoot a high volume of cartridges with that rifle, however, and the accuracy level I achieved was entirely adequate for the hunting applications to which that rifle was dedicated.
After buying the Lee kit, I got the bug for service rifle competition. I quickly found that I personally did not have the time to load enough cartridges for practice and competition using the old system. So I bought a Dillon 550. With the basic Lee dies in .223 Rem., a case tumbler, and a basic set of calipers, that setup cost a little over $500 back in the day. After a bit of practice, I started churning out hundreds of cartridges at a time, after having first bulk-cleaned them in the tumbler. All of them shot well under 1 MOA in my service rifle, including those loaded for practice with 55 grain bulk bullets. I figured that I reached a financial break-even point (cost of hand-loads vs. factory ammo) within about 9 months at the level I was shooting then. Of course, that calculation did not count the value of the time I spent reloading.
What I really liked about the progressive press system, though, was that it allowed me to spend much more time behind the trigger.
You can read the excellent posts and stickies on this site about how to do much more in hand-loading than what I do. Some of takes much more equipment than what I use, and involves more time-consuming methods and techniques. Undoubtedly those methods and techniques can squeeze the utmost accuracy out of any given cartridge - rifle combination.
So we're back to how you define "properly" hand-loading rifle cartridges. If "properly" means safe cartridges that achieve decent accuracy, you do not need more than $300 of equipment, and may need less. If "properly" means having the absolutely most accurate cartridge possible, or if you want to speed up the process to achieve a much higher volume of hand-loaded cartridges, you will have to spend much more than $300. That's a decision only you can make.
It depends upon what you mean by "properly." A long time ago, I bought a Lee kit similar to the one available here. Nowadays, it costs less than $120. A set of dies for .338 Norma Magnum are going to run you from about $60 to $90 more, as seen here. With this general setup and nothing more, I hand-loaded many cartridges for a 7mm Magnum sporter I owned. I cleaned the cases one by one with fine steel wool while spinning them with my drill using the shell trimming unit that comes with the Lee kit. The cartridges were safe, and in my rifle, consistently shot well under 1 MOA. The downside was that the process was slow, and a more refined technique and better equipment might have produced ammunition that was even more accurate. I did not shoot a high volume of cartridges with that rifle, however, and the accuracy level I achieved was entirely adequate for the hunting applications to which that rifle was dedicated.
After buying the Lee kit, I got the bug for service rifle competition. I quickly found that I personally did not have the time to load enough cartridges for practice and competition using the old system. So I bought a Dillon 550. With the basic Lee dies in .223 Rem., a case tumbler, and a basic set of calipers, that setup cost a little over $500 back in the day. After a bit of practice, I started churning out hundreds of cartridges at a time, after having first bulk-cleaned them in the tumbler. All of them shot well under 1 MOA in my service rifle, including those loaded for practice with 55 grain bulk bullets. I figured that I reached a financial break-even point (cost of hand-loads vs. factory ammo) within about 9 months at the level I was shooting then. Of course, that calculation did not count the value of the time I spent reloading.
What I really liked about the progressive press system, though, was that it allowed me to spend much more time behind the trigger.
You can read the excellent posts and stickies on this site about how to do much more in hand-loading than what I do. Some of takes much more equipment than what I use, and involves more time-consuming methods and techniques. Undoubtedly those methods and techniques can squeeze the utmost accuracy out of any given cartridge - rifle combination.
So we're back to how you define "properly" hand-loading rifle cartridges. If "properly" means safe cartridges that achieve decent accuracy, you do not need more than $300 of equipment, and may need less. If "properly" means having the absolutely most accurate cartridge possible, or if you want to speed up the process to achieve a much higher volume of hand-loaded cartridges, you will have to spend much more than $300. That's a decision only you can make.
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
buy the best you can afford, years ago ibought a cheap starter kit and inside 2 months had replaced everything with comp spec gear, the only advantage or cheap gear is that if you dont keep reloading at least your not out a fortune. ive lost count of the no of guys who packed it in within 6 months.
buy the best you can afford, years ago ibought a cheap starter kit and inside 2 months had replaced everything with comp spec gear, the only advantage or cheap gear is that if you dont keep reloading at least your not out a fortune. ive lost count of the no of guys who packed it in within 6 months.
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
most has been said. in the long run if you are going for every 16th inch then you will have thousands in equipment and tools. honestly, i load on a lee challenger with lee or rcbs equipment. i do better than factory ammo. buy a kit with a set of dies and start rolling. a year from now you will upgrade some stuff and wonder why you didnt do it in the first place.
if i were to buy all the stuff ive procured now all at once i would be close to $700. still want some of the flash hole, primer pocket tools and i need a lathe style trimmer.
most has been said. in the long run if you are going for every 16th inch then you will have thousands in equipment and tools. honestly, i load on a lee challenger with lee or rcbs equipment. i do better than factory ammo. buy a kit with a set of dies and start rolling. a year from now you will upgrade some stuff and wonder why you didnt do it in the first place.
if i were to buy all the stuff ive procured now all at once i would be close to $700. still want some of the flash hole, primer pocket tools and i need a lathe style trimmer.
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SDP</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I'm just getting into reloading and I have already spent over $500 and counting. </div></div>
And you will definitely keep "counting".
Once the "bug" takes hold you'll find that all that "beginner stuff" won't be enough. I started out "on the cheap" almost 40 years ago. I've got more invested in my reloading equipment than some have in a GOOD used car.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SDP</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I'm just getting into reloading and I have already spent over $500 and counting. </div></div>
And you will definitely keep "counting".
Once the "bug" takes hold you'll find that all that "beginner stuff" won't be enough. I started out "on the cheap" almost 40 years ago. I've got more invested in my reloading equipment than some have in a GOOD used car.
Re: how much does it cost to hand load properly?
I found a couple "extra" presses, used, at my local Gun store, with all kinds of goodies, that came with it, CHEAP!. Check your local swapper magazine. This stuff comes up for sale, all the time. Also, your local Range. Some "older guys", will sell off their stuff, or some lose interest. In the end, you'll "save" money. HAHA. Once you get bitten by the bug, there's no goin back. Hand loads are SOOOOOO much better than factory anything. It's a FUN hobby, besides.
I found a couple "extra" presses, used, at my local Gun store, with all kinds of goodies, that came with it, CHEAP!. Check your local swapper magazine. This stuff comes up for sale, all the time. Also, your local Range. Some "older guys", will sell off their stuff, or some lose interest. In the end, you'll "save" money. HAHA. Once you get bitten by the bug, there's no goin back. Hand loads are SOOOOOO much better than factory anything. It's a FUN hobby, besides.
