Inherited a New Hobby

[gsganzer]

I find reloading to be relaxing because you have to pay attention. Meaning you quit worrying about everything else. When I used to shoot pistols a bunch, a buddy and I bought a Dillon 650 progressive press. We'd load in batches of about 500- 1000 rounds at a time for the various calibers. I have a single stage for rifles and only load a few boxes worth at a time.

Now it seems like time is becoming even more scarce and I'm lucky if I can find time to reload at all.

 

[ch1ch2]

That web site spells it boolits on purpose.

Sent from my iPhone 2.0 using TractorByNet

I stand corrected!

 

[jlgurr]

I find reloading to be relaxing because you have to pay attention. Meaning you quit worrying about everything else.

Never heard it put that way but you are 100% correct. Focus on something can really provide relaxation and stress relief. Thank you.

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[4570Man]

It would be hard to justify buying a shotgun press unless you shoot a lot. The savings just isn't enough. Now if you are doing it as a hobby that is a whole different thing. I'm sure your Grandpa's press has sentimental value, but it is probably better spent hanging on a wall. If you shoot very much rifle or pistol shells it is definitely worth buying a press. I have the equipment to cast bullets, but IMO it isn't worthwhile. I can buy bullets for less than $50 for 500 count. It takes a lot of work to cast 500 bullets. I prefer to shoot the copper plated bullets. Not copper jacked but just plated. They perform way better than lead and only cost marginally more.

 

[jlgurr]

It would be hard to justify buying a shotgun press unless you shoot a lot. The savings just isn't enough. Now if you are doing it as a hobby that is a whole different thing. I'm sure your Grandpa's press has sentimental value, but it is probably better spent hanging on a wall. If you shoot very much rifle or pistol shells it is definitely worth buying a press. I have the equipment to cast bullets, but IMO it isn't worthwhile. I can buy bullets for less than $50 for 500 count. It takes a lot of work to cast 500 bullets. I prefer to shoot the copper plated bullets. Not copper jacked but just plated. They perform way better than lead and only cost marginally more.

I hear you loud and clear, if I had to buy tools to get started the return on my investment would never happen unless I took up shooting on a more regular basis. From what I have read so far, someone going in all gungho could spend several hundred dollars before loading the first shell or cartridge. That I cannot afford to do.

Grandpa purchased his shot shell reloader because he shot competitive Trap. Dad said he went shooting, for practice, at least one day a week and I'm lucky to get a day every other month. Not sure how often he was in competition but I sure remember as a kid hearing and seeing the double barrel guns he used regularly. Might be why trying a few of my own loads is so intriguing. Worst case my loading equipment is slow and antiquated but the cost to get in sure makes at least a short run at it look interesting and I don't have a lot of investment to lose other than the time. Yes you're right, infrequent shooters are better off leaving the loading to the experts and focus on emptying them instead. The stress relief and relaxation mentioned earlier is priceless to me as our daily lives become seemingly more and more hectic. Having a good reason to focus "off-line" sounds like a no-brainer to me.

 

[4570Man]

Don't give us guys going all gungho a hard time. I bought two Hornady Pro-jector presses so I wouldn't have to change one over from large pistol primers to small pistol primers. I have two RCBS powder droppers so I don't have to change one over from pistol or rifle charge. If you haven't experienced that the rifle dropper won't drop less than a certain amount of powder ( about 10 grains) which is way too much for some calibers. I bought a shotgun press for 12 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge, and .410 so I wouldn't have to change one over. Then I bought a Spolar shotgun press at a gun show for $500. I couldn't resist a deal like that. Then there are guys that have multiple tractors so they don't have to change implements as often.

 

[k0ua]

I have a Dillon RL550, and while I don't have two of them, I know several people that do, because they don't want to change the priming system from small to large. It can take 10 minutes or so to do that. Also I have complete toolheads for each caliber I reload so i don't have to mess with changing any die changes, and there is a separate powder measure for each caliber also. With separate toolheads if the caliber change requires the same primer size and same shellplate, then caliber changes take about 5 seconds. If needing a separate shellplate, then add about 5 minutes. Then if needing all 3 then add 10 more minutes... It is all a matter of time and money. Dillon says you can reload 550 rounds per hour on the RL550. Maybe. But I can do 300 an hour easy enough.

 

[k0ua]

I ain't as "purdy" as the Dillon lady, but here is a thread of me loading some 9mm

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/296858-lets-reload-some-ammo.html?highlight=ammo

 

[4570Man]

I have used both and a Hornady Pro-jector is a better press. I have never loaded for a solid hour, you have to refill the primer tube, box up the loaded rounds, and get more bullets and and cases, but I don't think 550 would be unreal if you had a second person doing all of that.

 

[4570Man]

Here is a setup I would recommend to anyone. A RCBS rock chucker press. This is the Cadillac of single stage reloading presses. I bought this bad boy at a gun show for $45. A Redding powder dropper. A powder scale, this is a cheap little scale from Frankford arsenal. I have checked it multiple times against my other scales that cost 5 times as much. To my disbelief it is accurate. You are going to need dies for every caliber for you plan on loading. You are going to need a manual. I have dozens and these were the first two I grabbed. Obviously you are going to need primers, powder cases, and powder.