looking at starting reloading

[Bloke]

I reload atleast 2,000 357 rounds a year and i can do them cheaper than what you're paying,but it depends how much of it you want to do and if you want light or hot loads.

 

1000x small pistol primers= £30 (works out at 3p each)

1lb Alliant 2400 reloading powder= £40

 

There are 7,000 grains to the lb and because i prefer hot loads with magnum powder (12grains) it means i get 583 reloads from a tub which works out at total 17p per round-so 100x rounds £17.

 

Bear in mind i cast my own bullets so they cost me nothing and i reuse cases.

 

You could save a heck load more cash if you switched to fast burning Bullseye which works out at:

 

1,750 reloads from a tub of powder (4 grains) = 3p per load + 3p for the primer= 6p per round and £6 per 100x.

 

Even if you bought ready made RNFP (round nose flat point) hard cast lead bullets they work out at 6p each.

 

So as you you say, after the initial outlay, at a saving of around £13/100, maybe a bit more, as I only need light loads most of the time. That is only 1200 rounds to nearly pay for a fairly decent secondhand reloading kit, or a new Lee kit. After that, around £10/100 saving, depending on the cost of the brass and bearing in mind it is around £15 in petrol alone to pick up my ready made ammo - well worth looking at.

Edited September 21, 2012 by Bloke

[Imperfection]

 

 

So as you you say, after the initial outlay, at a saving of around £13/100, maybe a bit more, as I only need light loads most of the time. That is only 1200 rounds to nearly pay for a fairly decent secondhand reloading kit, or a new Lee kit. After that, around £10/100 saving, depending on the cost of the brass and bearing in mind it is around £15 in petrol alone to pick up my ready made ammo - well worth looking at.

 

38/357 really is one of them calibres its definetly cheaper to reload.If you could get hold of a certain Peter Lawman in Northampton and buy his Vectan A1 powder-your reload costs would be reduced even further.Vectan A1 is cheap as chips at £18 per tub and if you reload at 5grains per round it works out at 1p for the powder + 3p for the primer. However,Peter is very elusive and you just cannot get hold of him anymore.

 

Equipment wise,i use a Lee single stage press and can make ammunition as accurate as factory so dont be put off by people saying its **** quality.When you get dies though-make sure you buy the Lee 38 special ones and not 357.

38 special dies will reload 38 and 357 cases,but 357 dies will not reload 38's.The die is slightly too long for 38 cases and wont flare the neck.Ignore this though if you're sticking to 357 cases.

[phaedra1106]

I use 5.2gr of TiteGroup in my 44mag loads or you could use Nobel GM3 which is even cheaper!, very cheap compared to factory!.

 

5.2 Grains TiteGroup 3p

CCI Primer 3p

Value 200g Lead SWC Bullet 7p

 

So only £13x100 if you use your existing brass.

Edited September 21, 2012 by phaedra1106

[Bloke]

I must admit, because of the powder ring build up (I have watched my mate scrubbing at the chambers in his Taurus LBR to try and get the ring out, when it was starting to make the .357 shells stiffer to eject) when using .38 in a .357 chamber, as well as the reported occasional chambering problems with .38 shells in the Marlin, I was thinking of using .357 cases, but with .38 loads, is that possible?

Edited September 22, 2012 by Bloke

[Imperfection]

I must admit, because of the powder ring build up (I have watched my mate scrubbing at the chambers in his Taurus LBR to try and get the ring out, when it was starting to make the .357 shells stiffer to eject) when using .38 in a .357 chamber, as well as the reported occasional chambering problems with .38 shells in the Marlin, I was thinking of using .357 cases, but with .38 loads, is that possible?

 

Absolutely-its what many people do.When you start reloading,make various rounds of varying loads and see which groups best at the distance you're often shooting at.Then when you've found the best-stick with it and dont change.Some rifles like light loads while others prefer it hot.

 

Other calibres are definetly worth reloading too like 303 for example which keeps creeping up in price.My costs for this are £38 per 100x compared to around £63 for factory PPU.

[Bloke]

 

 

Absolutely-its what many people do.When you start reloading,make various rounds of varying loads and see which groups best at the distance you're often shooting at.Then when you've found the best-stick with it and dont change.Some rifles like light loads while others prefer it hot.

 

Other calibres are definetly worth reloading too like 303 for example which keeps creeping up in price.My costs for this are £38 per 100x compared to around £63 for factory PPU.

Right then (rubs hands) time to put a shopping list together, all and any suggestions considered- even if they do make me grin!

[Imperfection]

Right then (rubs hands) time to put a shopping list together, all and any suggestions considered- even if they do make me grin!

 

To get you going:

 

Lee 50th anniversary kit- £110

Lee 38 special dies- £29

500x RNFP hard cast lead bullets- £26

1000x CCI 500 small pistol primers- £30

1lb Bullseye- £36

Lee modern reloading book- £20

[Bloke]

To get you going:

 

Lee 50th anniversary kit- £110

Lee 38 special dies- £29

500x RNFP hard cast lead bullets- £26

1000x CCI 500 small pistol primers- £30

1lb Bullseye- £36

Lee modern reloading book- £20

 

Thanks for that.

My daughter says she has looked at buying me a present, and says it may as well be for shooting (Good girl!) and I was looking at the Lee kit with the basic 4-hole Turret press kit with auto index, like this one in Kranks:

http://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_181_472&products_id=2259

From what I can tell, it would benefit from the four die set:

http://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_181_182_489&products_id=2299

as well as a Powder lifter and a Safety Prime to complete the set.

 

Three Questions:

1 - Will this set also load .357, as it doesn't state it, unlike on the 3-die set?

2 - Again, unclear on the info sheet, does this die and press combo insert the new primer as part of the cycle

3- I know there is an Lee book with this kit, but what others do you recommend as a good book for a reloading newbie.

 

If anyone has one of these kits, I would love any comments before she spends her cash, I know they are said to be entry-level, but I am only looking to make bulk .38/.357 ammo for practice in a Taurus LBR and a Marlin Rifle.

Cheers for any advice, I will be ringing Kranks, but they are salesmen and not always reloaders....

[phaedra1106]

I'd go for the classic 4 hole turret instead, http://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_181_472&products_id=1553

 

Apart from being better quality it's also a bit taller so you can also load rifle up to 308 etc. without a problem, the bullets catch the bottom of the dies as they rotate on the smaller press. You'd also be better getting an RCBS powder scales as the Lee is pretty poor!.

[Vince Green]

I am not a great fan of the turret press. Not if you intend to full length resize rifle cases. its really a pistol press.

 

Best idea is to book yourself onto one of this man's FREE reloading courses.

 

 

http://www.tfsa.co.uk/index.html

 

 

Its a bit of a drive for you but it would be worth it.

Edited September 24, 2012 by Vince Green

[Vince Green]

I must admit, because of the powder ring build up (I have watched my mate scrubbing at the chambers in his Taurus LBR to try and get the ring out, when it was starting to make the .357 shells stiffer to eject) when using .38 in a .357 chamber, as well as the reported occasional chambering problems with .38 shells in the Marlin, I was thinking of using .357 cases, but with .38 loads, is that possible?

 

The powder ring build up is no problem. Just use a bit of wire wool on a cleaning jag. The stuff you buy from DIY shops Trust me its safe I do know what I am talking about. You will get the same thing with .357 mags if you let it build up enough. But its not actually powder, its a lead ring and using the copper coated bullets virtually eliminates the problem at source. At £60 a thousand they are reasonably priced as well. I buy mine from Alwoods. The real problem is if you are getting a lead ring in the chamber you are also probably getting leading in the barrel as well and thats not good for accuracy

 

http://www.tfsa.co.uk/index.html

Edited September 24, 2012 by Vince Green

[Imperfection]

Three Questions:

1 - Will this set also load .357, as it doesn't state it, unlike on the 3-die set?

2 - Again, unclear on the info sheet, does this die and press combo insert the new primer as part of the cycle

3- I know there is an Lee book with this kit, but what others do you recommend as a good book for a reloading newbie.

 

 

The fourth die in a 4 die set is put a factory crimp on the round which isnt absolutely necesary so save your money and just get the standard 38sp 3 die set.The factory crimp is supposed to prevent the bullet from being pushed into the case when being loaded into a lever-action rifle because the rounds sit on end tensioned against the magazine spring,but the standard 3 die set also crimps which is perfecly adequate.I've never had a bullet pushed inside the case even when i load 10 rounds in my Winchester which makes the magazine spring compress totally.Yes,the 38sp 4 die set will still load 357 though.

 

Turret presses are very good for making large amounts of pistol calibres in a hurry,but not great for large rifle calibres.

 

Book wise,the Lee one is informative and shows you how to reload step by step,but i do agree with Vince about getting some tuition first if at all possible.

[Bloke]

Cheers all, I obviously have a lot to learn. I will have a look at the course and where it is (I can't drive any more due to health issues) - get a couple of books and as I say, I am off to Henry Krank's as a co-pilot/navigator for a friend in the next couple of weeks, so that will give me a chance to have a proper look-see. All comment are welcome, I have made a list of all your advice, if there is any more, keep it coming. Thanks again, IanG...