Reloading Accessories/Equipment

[shoedo]

I started reloading in 1991 on a Dillon Square Deal Press, quit for almost 20 years and recently started acquiring items to get back into reloading about five years ago but have yet to actually load one round for various reasons. I recently itemized all of my equipment/accessories etc and have a total of 9,100 dollars. I am convinced that unless I get started actually reloading I will never reach the break even point. What about you? Have you noticed how one purchase leads to yet another?

 

[Larryh128]

Trick is not to add it up. Could be worse, could have spent it in a bar & just made expense urine. Best part is that a Dillon has value along with your other equipment.

 

[ryanjay11]

I don't care to know.

I got into reloading to load the most accurate ammo possible. It isn't cheap, and I am ok with that.

 

[Yetiman]

My initial reaction is "How the heck did you get to a number like that ?", but then I started doing even some rough math in my head and started to pucker up

I started loading in '94, and kept my life simple for two decades. I was a pistol guy and limited myself to two calibers, 9mm and 45acp.

Then in 2013 I started loading 308 win which has turned into a whole hobby of it's own.
In the last year I have also started loading 357 mag, 10mm, and 44 mag.

I just built a whole new loading table over the winter and dedicated half my basement to it where I used to do all my loading in about a 4' square area.

I now have two Dillon 550's (one for large primer, one for small), a Forster co ax and a Rockchucker Supreme. Ad in three powder throws for the Dillon's and two powder throws on the bench besides, a couple scales, a runout and a headspace gauge, case tumbler and trimmer and a plethora of dies and priming devices and it all gets pretty out of hand.

I kind of long for the simple days when I had one press and two calibers, but I am having a whole lot of fun shooting all of them, new and old.

 

[Yetiman]

I will never reach the break even point. What about you? Have you noticed how one purchase leads to yet another?

While I justify a lot of purchases by buying used gear (the only press I bought new was the Rockchucker when Bullets.com had em for $99) and looking at how well Dillon stuff holds it's value.

But the fact is most of my gear will probably end up on a rummage sale table after I die for .10 on a dollar like the brand new never assembled Dillon 550 and the new in the box Forster presses I bought at an estate sale last year for 1/4 their cost new. At least I am putting some miles on them unlike their original owner who got sick before he could get any use from them.

It kind of lights a fire under me to make hay while the sun shines. Every day top side is a gift, so go do something interesting with it. (I loaded some 357 yesterday and some 10mm today, going blasting tomorrow).

 

[hogpatrol]

Buy a boat or better yet, an airplane if you want to see a money drain.

 

[dburkart]

Amen, to the airplane....

Dave

 

[chkunz]

Cheap therapy.

 

[tenring]

In 1962 I bought a used Pacific "C" press, SAECO powder measure,early Redding balance beam scale and set of Pacific .270 dies, a few primers and some cardboard cans filled with IMR ($7 lb), from a widow lady for $50. Today I load 33 rifle and 3 pistol cartridges, 12 and 20 guage shotshells, and have the finest rifle match reloading equipment money can buy. I can't begin to guess what I have spent in all those years. But my better half has never denied me. PS - she likes diamonds.

 

[jwink]

Thank god my wife doesn't come on this site, I certainly don't need anyone "adding up" anything on my reloading bench.

 

[jonbearman]

It isn't really the money , it is what you get out of it. I have spent many many thousands of dollars on reloading stuff and it gives me the satisfaction knowing I can make way better ammo than you can buy. The accuracy is well worth every dime.

 

[spencerhenry]

at last count i had dies for 41 calibers!

i know there is a lot of stuff there, but i do not care. its a hobby, it isnt necessarily supposed to break even.

 

[brxbrad]

I'm curious about the break even part ..

 

[timeout]

I'm curious about the break even part ..

Reloading equipment, $9100.00 - Perfect ammo, PRICELESS

I don't give a hoot about break even! ;D

 

[brxbrad]

I'm impressed.

 

[armistemjim]

A friend said it best, I could not afford a shrink so I started reloading. Now when stressed out I reload and relax. Have not had a problem that I cannot get past and a hobby that has brought my kids and I together closer.
The money to the shrink would have been gone and my problem still there my reloading equipment will go to my kids along with great memories of fun time with dad.

 

[CatShooter]

I'm curious about the break even part ..

There's a break even part??

Not in my lifetime

 

[brxbrad]

I'm still doing the math.

 

[ShootDots]

I started reloading in 1973. I graduated in '72 and got a "decent" job soon after. I bought a Weatherby in .300WM and started reloading with that. From there where it went "bang" and shot what I thought was good back then, to the onset of nicely crafted varmint rounds it went. It has been an upward spiral from then on. Rifles, actions, barrels, scopes and more$$$'s.. Then to reload all that with G-R-E-A-T-E-R and greater precision, equals yet MORE $$$'s. Then on to competition and MORE $$$'s again! Where does it all end? Never! Once you are or become a student of ever increasing accuracy, the cost simply increases exponentially! Is it worth it? What is the cost of the time you spend for your passion and relaxation? Only you can decide that..

Going from "Bang to WOW!" has created a ever increasing supply of "accuracy gadgets" to extract the most accuracy my ability can muster.. To me, it is all worth it! How many $$$'s from back in '73? I can not begin to even guess. Suffice to say I could probably pay in cash a brand new BMW 750Li....

 

[shoedo]

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/07/jim-barrett/reloading-a-costbenefit-analysis-part-two-2/

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/07/jim-barrett/reloading-a-costbenefit-analysis-part-one/

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/70923-A-reloading-Break-Even-Calculator

http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp