Is this a good time to learn reloading ?

[Road_Clam]

So iv'e been contemplating getting into handloading now that i've taken an interest in precision shooting. My goal is to load precision match ammo, and still just purchase plinking/training range ammo in bulk. I just don't see myself having the time to load bulk ammo. That being said i'm thinking of buying a used turn key single stage setup. I'm also hearing that powder is spotty scarce at this time. What's your thoughts on my situation ? Should I go ahead and move foreward with buying equipment. I purchased Lyman's handloading guide and have been reading up and it's really interesting ! Thanks !

 

[Raythemanroe]

I wouldn't hesitate You can bounce questions of a bunch of folks here. I see a lot more stuff on the shelves except for .22lr and some match bullets.

Investment, I would pick up some good various measuring tools to limit a lot of the guess work at first.


Ray

 

[stool]

buy a couple of books read them..and then again. still interested ?
do you have the space? do you have the time ? can you concentrate on a task for an hour at a time ? or more ?
some of us get very anal about our process....lots of little steps..but the results on the paper are rewarding.

yes powder and primers are iffy right now, but it is the back end of a long shortage.

buying used is ok......you did not say what you are going to load nor what volume.

quality can be done on a progressive( all commercial match ammo is built high volume/high speed)..so do not over look quality progressives. do not listen to those that say YOU MUST START on a single stage...you can do the same on a dillon 550b and then add functions as you learn. i never owned a single stage press in the first THIRTY YEARS of ammo crafting. got my first one free with a lee loading book and bought my first one around 2004 for benchrest work.

 

[jo191145]

Better late than never. Supplies are beginning to trickle out and you never know when another election will dry things up.
Maybe just me but once I started reloading plinking and shooting bulk, cheap ammo went by the wayside.
Accuracy became the game. YMMV

 

[Road_Clam]

Thanks for the feedback guys, to further explain, i'd like to load ,223 and .308 in match grade. A buddy who has lost interest in shooting has a used Dillon 650 setup with everything except the powder feed (he can't locate it). digital scale, tumbler, about 10 lbs of misc powder, few hundred Sierra match bullits, primers. Seems tempting. I looked at the press and it's looks decent, but it has surface rust from sitting in a barn for the past 12 years. He want's $500 for everything ?

 

[MK 19]

There is no better time to take up handloading. My brother was in the same boat as you are just 2 years ago, his basic Savage 12FV was shooting .90's with expensive factory match ammo at the time. After loading his own with Nosler brass, VV Powder and Berger Bullets he was able to drop his groups down to .35's, and it cost less to boot.
I commend you for your choice of a single stage press, most new comers make the mistake of buying a progressive to start out with. I have been using the same RCBS Rockchucker for 30 years and it has never let me down, but it is going to be placed on secondary status as soon as I pick up a Forester Co-Ax.
Don't worry about the fact that some stuff is hard to find, right now your just learning, why learn on expensive stuff? Learn to load what is available, then you can get the good stuff when it comes in

 

[jonbearman]

That sounds like a really great deal,buy it now.

 

[MK 19]

Thanks for the feedback guys, to further explain, i'd like to load ,223 and .308 in match grade. A buddy who has lost interest in shooting has a used Dillon 650 setup with everything except the powder feed (he can't locate it). digital scale, tumbler, about 10 lbs of misc powder, few hundred Sierra match bullits, primers. Seems tempting. I looked at the press and it's looks decent, but it has surface rust from sitting in a barn for the past 12 years. He want's $500 for everything ?

Let me first say that I prefer to load on a single stage, I just enjoy the process and I really do not care about the speed of a progressive, I had a Dillon 550 but I sold it because I never used it. I got $550 for it, $500 for a 650? That is one heck of a deal. Plus you could send it back to Dillon and they will completely rebuild it for no charge, they are a great company to do business with and they will stand behind their product better then most companies.

 

[spclark]

Buying used is a good way to get tools reasonably cheaply but you may want to have someone who does reloading already look over your prospective purchase(s) first, just in case.

Single-stage gives you immediate feedback on what each step does. I started reloading pistol ammo with one a dozen years back, graduated to bottleneck rifle as my interests grew. Jumping in head-first with a progressive would have overwhelmed my intentions about 'load then shoot - repeat' from the Rube Goldberg nature of operating one... if you expect to use a progressive in the manner they were meant to be used. Still, even bought used (when you can find them!) if you decide down the road it's not working for you they maintain their value pretty well if you take care of them.
F
I just bought a used Hornady Lock-n-Load w/case feeder about a year ago, starting with pistol ammo again (40S&W, 45ACP) with every expectation of moving into match ammo (at least short line stuff) once I get used to everything.

Still, I rely on two RockChuckers & a Harrell's 4-holer for my mid- and long-range loading.

Having a friend who already reloads introduce you the mechanica will flatten your learning curve. Otherwise, questions are always welcome here! You've got friends here you'll maybe never meet face-to-face but the experience pool is second to none!

 

[1holeaddict]

Just a heads up Loading match grade ammo will take as much or more time than loading bulk plinking ammo.JMHO

 

[K22]

The key phase you used is "precision shooting" so by all means I'd consider reloading which can be a hobby all by itself. Even though I've never since component shortages and prices as bad as they are currently, I still wouldn't hesitate provided you have the time, space, patience, are willing to incur the initial start up costs for good equipment.

To save yourself a lot of missteps try to talk to a fellow precision shooter / reloader who can advise you on the proper equipment and procedures. The Lyman Manual is an excellent resource for the beginner but nothing quite beats having an experienced reloader guide you in selecting your equipment and walking you through the process of precision reloading.

 

[stool]

buy it....and resell it....ouch
ok
buy it and ship it back to dillon for factory refurb.
i would not start on a 650 but it can be done.
i would resell it and buy a 550....but then i an one sided....i have two of them.

both 223 and 308 are easy to load..but will require constant changing of priming system....no idea how big of a deal on a 650.
'

That sounds like a really great deal,buy it now.

 

[gaboon]

No time is better right now to start reloading. Take in all the info you can. Just remember to start small and simple. or you could be overwhelmed. Once started you will hardly buy any commercial ammo.

 

[John Beauchamp]

The 650 is a great press and that is a good price especially with the extras. What everyone seems to forget is that it can be used as a single stage press by just putting in one die at a time. You don't have to use the priming system either. Just don't put any primers in the tube. Prime with a hand tool or bench mounted tool. If you ever want you can then add more dies and the priming system when you are familiar with the whole process.

 

[Road_Clam]

Thanks again for the diverse feedback. I'm a bit concerned about buying my buddy's progressive setup and being too overwhelmed by complexity (myself having never handloaded). I'm really leaning towards and inexpensive used single setup for now. Seems to be the best learning tool for the short term especially given the fact I only want to patiently load low quantities of match ammo.

 

[22BRGUY]

Thanks again for the diverse feedback. I'm a bit concerned about buying my buddy's progressive setup and being too overwhelmed by complexity (myself having never handloaded). I'm really leaning towards and inexpensive used single setup for now. Seems to be the best learning tool for the short term especially given the fact I only want to patiently load low quantities of match ammo.

I think you're on the exact right path...learn the basics and the process of making quality ammo first.....higher volume can always come down the road but many enjoy the making of high quality so much we just keep trying to improve on that.
Welcome to a great site with great people who all are eager to help.

 

[Jet]

You are answering your own questions. Buy the progressive press, send it back to Dillon, when you get it back put it under a tarp in your barn and leave it there until you are ready to use it. I'll bet your buddy also has a single stage press somewhere near the Dillon that he would likely throw in with the sale. If not, get one.

Components are scarce but available if you cruise the online dealers. I try to check Powder Valley's site at least twice a day. Doing so has kept my stock of bullets and powders where I want them.

The one single compenent that is hardest for me to get is Time. Precision loading requires a good bit of it and that is what I'm always in short supply of. I very much enjoy precision reloading and find it rewarding and relaxing.

Try to find a mentor to walk you through the process, read as much as you can, and post questions here on this site.

Good luck and good shooting.

Jet

 

[Shynloco]

Try to find a mentor to walk you through the process, read as much as you can, and post questions .........
Good luck and good shooting.

Jet

Welcome aboard. IMHO, the above part of Jet's comments is probably the most important issue to be considered if you want to get serious about "precision reloading." This discipline takes a considerable amount of time to learn and doesn't happen overnight. So be patient, read and learn. When in doubt seek answers to your questions and don't be surprised if you see and get a variety of answers. Some work, some don't, depending on what you are trying to accomplish. Trial and error is a reality as every weapon is different and what works in one, may not be the solution in another. Just have to persevere and keep at it until you get the results you seek. And as for volume, loose that word in "precision reloading" as part of your goal is to make each single finished load, identical to every other one in that group. Reducing variables is a key to success and volume creates variables that will show on your targets downrange. But do have fun and seek out that all important mentor to help you get to where you want to be. Even accomplished and senior gents/gals who reload for precision shooting bounce ideas off each other all the time, simply because of the immense amount of information that folks need to have to be successful. Happy shootin!

Alex

 

[Dave T]

Try to find a mentor to walk you through the process, read as much as you can, and post questions here on this site.

+1 and what Shynloco said.
Do read through a good reloading manual and make absolutely sure you have someone help you understand head space and how to set up a full length sizing die for proper head space. Above all start out with a single stage press.
Dave T

 

[Road_Clam]

Well, an update. After days of straight out reading of opinions and experiences from countless websites I pulled the trigger (no pun intended) on a single stage kit. I was really torn between a turret and a single. I opted for a single because I am wanting safe, fun, and SIMPLE hand loading without problems. With my previous used/abused Dillon 650 unit it would have cost me $500 for the initial used kit, another $140 for the powder measure (which the seller lost), and another $130 for Dillon to refurbish my used unit. All this and honestly i'm scared at the complexity of a progressive setup. So again after about a 12 pak of Shock Tops and another 20 hours of research I settled on a new RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme kit :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RCBS-9361-Rock-Chucker-Supreme-Single-Stage-Master-Reloading-Kit-w-50-Rebate-/141226227788?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20e1bd384c

Awesome deal, and there's a $50 rebate on the kit for a net cost of $250. Also bought some die kits to get me going :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RCBS-223-Rem-F-L-Reloading-2-Die-Set-11101-Group-A-223-Rem-5-56-Nato-/231177515704?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35d340f2b8


http://www.ebay.com/itm/RCBS-308-WIN-F-L-Reloading-2-Die-Set-15501-Shell-Holder-03-Group-A-/231190776631?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35d40b4b37

I am confident this is the best kit for me right now. Just looking to load a few hundred rounds of good quality precision target rounds. Watched many Youtube vids thus far, and been hard at work reading my Lyman reloading book so i'm good to go ! Really excited about the challenge and the gratification of the end result ! BTW, if there is anything else I need to purchase that i'm missing please let me know ! Thanks !