tglazie

Try a Lee Cast turret out sometime. It will make you look at Lee in a whole different light.

Lost Sheep

Lee Classic Cast is a very good single stage press.

Lee Classic Turret is the best autoindexing turret press currently produced in the world.

Both are primarily cast iron with steel bottom ends.

Lee could use better naming conventions.

Lost Sheep

BlackhawkShooter

Anyone who has to ask if reloading is worth the time and money, just does not get it. There is no greater sense of accomplishment than when you are out scoring a factory ammo shooter at the range with ammo you made yourself. Even if the ammo cost more it would be worth it, but it cost less thus allowing you to shoot more and become an even better marksmen.
Some guys even factor in the time it takes to reload, to them I say, if you want to save even more time stay home from the range, their are too many experts that can’t shoot already clogging up the booths.
Sorry about the rant guys, but if someone wants to become a truly proficient shooter with a total knowledge of what goes on when you pull the trigger the best way, and perhaps only way, is to start hand loading.

laidlerj

Since you can get 9mm ammo for as low as $10 per 50 (20 cents per round), it will take a really long time to pay off the reloading equipment (I don't know much about reloading shotshells, but you'll been a different set of equipment). If you're happy shooting 9mm 115 grain FMJ's, there's probably no economic reason to get into reloading.

I got into reloading because I was shooting .45 ACP in competition and I was expending a LOT of ammunition. Since .45 ACP was (and is) more expensive and I was going through a lot of it, reloading made economic sense.

Additionally, reloading lets me come up with ammunition that you can't buy in the stores - sometimes not even on-line. For example, I have a .44 Magnum revolver (Ruger Redhawk) and I don't always like shooting full-power loads, but I wanted something with a little more "oomph" than .44 Special. No problem - I reload them somewhere between factory .44 Spc and .44 Mag.

Jim

tglazie

Personally, I wouldnt shoot the $10/box 9mm ammo. Unless I find white box for cheaper, I generally find that $12-$14 is about as low as I will go for my 9mm ammo. YMMV. Either way, using VV320 powder, range brass and Berry's 124gr HBFP bullets I am at just under $6.50/box for my 9mm ammo, and thats at about a 15min/box pace using a LCT.

I will gladly give the 15 minutes of my time for a 50% cost savings and end up with a cartridge that is superior in accuracy, recoil and cleanliness any day of the week (and 10-12 times on Sundays!)

laidlerj

I can occasionally find "white box" ammo or Blazer brass case ammo for around $10 a box in bulk. Most of the time, it runs around $12. In any case, $10 a box is pretty much rock-bottom price for 9mm ammo, unless you're willing to shoot mil-surp ammo made in countries with questionable quality control.

I'm not saying that reloading isn't a cost savings, not to mention a chance to make ammunition that you can't buy. What I AM saying is that people who just want to go shooting occasionally and are happy with "white box" ammo may not find reloading economical.

Economy isn't the only reason to reload, which is why I've got reloading equipment for every caliber I shoot (except, of course, .22 rimfire).

Jim

tglazie

agreed on all counts Jim

stargeezer

The fewer people who reload, the more free brass I get to pick up at the range.

There is quite a difference in ammo prices around the country. Nobody has 9mm ammo for $10 around here, not even cheap, import stuff. Partially due to dumb IL gun control laws, partialy due to being a smaller town.

As you said Jim, there are reasons to not reload and ammo availibility is just one of them. Some folks are just not organized enough to do it safely, some are afraid of messing up the process and hurting themselves, some live in a area where it's not safe (small apartment buildings), and some just don't have time to do it. All good reasons for them to leave it alone.

However we all know that it can be done safely, in almost any circumstances, by almost anybody who can afford the price of a gun.

Locally, I offer my assistance to members of our gun club who want to try reloading. I invite them to my home where I show them how the process works, what equipment they to start with and what supplies they need for the caliber they want to reload. Then after they buy their equipment, I or my son help them set it up properly and get them started. It's called mentoring, getting them started right.

I particularly enjoy helping younger shooters get started in this part of the hobby, they will get the most out of it for years longer than us geezers.

Sal1950

Depends mainly on caliber and somewhat on the kind of bullet you choose.
9mm is about the least profitable.

WallyWorld Federal runs approx $11.00 a box, I can load for about half that at 6.00 using Precision Machine FMJ, a little less if you cheap out on lead which I never do in 9mm.

At the opposite end 460 S&W Magnums will run you about $30 a box of 20 with shipping from a discounter. That's $150 a hundred and the BEST you can hope to do commercially.
I just got lucky at MidwayUSA on some blemished Hornady bullets and will be loading some killer rounds at a cost of about $37.00 a hundred.
Never would have bought the 460 if I didn't reload, never could afford the ammo.

But it never really is the amount of money you save, it's about acquiring another shooting oriented hobby that you'll either enjoy, or you won't.
You don't "save money" buying guns, ammo, or paying range dues" either. You do it cause it's fun.
Sal

Nick0410

Just to give credit to Berrys, we did actually receive the bullets on time, I was going to the beach so I got them delivered to my parents and they failed to tell me so I thought they were taking longer than usual. For .40 or smaller, Berrys is still the best price and quality wise. Someone else found Powerbond bullets which offer cheaper plated .44 and .45s but I have never dealt with them

tglazie

And because we should, if for no other reason than to honor what we have as a nation. If ever one was this is a country built by a free person and his/her gun. Not that I need to convince anyone reading this of that fact.

Nick0410

I'm sure the British found that out the hard way. America, fudge yea!

kz1000

The people at Lee told me the cost is about 60% of what you pay for store bought ammo. And it is fun to reload.

GunBlue

A veteran of 45 years at the loading bench offers this bit of truth. As you spend more on handloads than you would have ever in your life spent on factory ammo, you will have the consolation that it theoretically cost you less. You will go on spending sprees buying components, trying different alternatives, endlessly, purchase more guns to load, and spend more time on targets and shooting range dues. As you load more, you will shoot more, and the cycle escalates. The loading, and the satisfaction of shooting your own ammo is interesting in and of itself and beckons deeper engagement in shooting.

This reminds me of the friend who once asked me, "How much money do you save fishing over buying fish at the store?" I have never known a fisherman that "saved" money on fish, nor have I ever known a reloader who "saved" money by handloading.

If you are looking to save money, you are asking the wrong question. If you are looking to shoot a lot more and are content that you will ultimately spend more far more on shooting than you would have otherwise, but be a happy person and better shooter in the process, that is the correct attitude.

NAASilent

Well put GunBlue