Reloaders?

[forHIM]

The person who has been doing my family's reloading is calling it quits (or at least for us).  Both my brother and I are interested in it, but neither of us have done it.  I've looked into it a couple of times, but haven't figured out:

1. where to store the materials and tools in a family setting.
2. what all I'd need.

I have to answer the first before I can proceed to the second.  Since we have 9 children aging from teenagers to baby, I need a safe location to store the primer and powders.  I think I'd only be able to do this if/once I enclose an area in my garage (3rd car stall looks to be the most likely candidate since I have 1 small car and 1 van that can't fit into the garage). 

So do any of you reload?  If so primarily pistol, shotgun, or rifle cartridges?  If you do, what safety procedures with the powders and primers do you use?

[TCE2506]

I reload everything I shoot, Rifles, Pistols and Shotguns. I would suggest that you don't store your powders in the garage unless it is climate controlled. If you get large temperature swings, your powder could get damp and affect it's performance. I would look for a closet that you can put a locking door handle or a padlock on if concerned about the children.
While reloading saves money if you do it in bulk, with the rising metal prices, it is almost cheaper to buy factory loads nowadays. For instance, lead shot is now going for 45 to 50 bucks per 25lb bag. When I started reloading about 9 years ago, we were buying it for 18 to 20 dollars per bag. We were reloading boxes of shotgun shells for about $2.50 per box, now it costs us $4.15 per box and I can buy new at Walmart for $3.88. Untill that stock runs out anyway. Thanks to all the third world countries joining the 21st century and driving more cars, lead (for batteries) has gone to trading for nearly $2.00 per lb. making reloading less attractive. Unless you shoot 1000's of rounds per year, or calibers that aren't readily available, it's going to take you a long time to recoup the money you invest in a reloader.

Anyway, on to finish your question. All of my reloading stuff is at my buddy's house. We have a dedicated reloading room that contains all of our stuff. 3 reloaders and waaayyyy too much powder, primers, bullets and tools. The closet in the reloading room has a lockable door and all of our components are stored in there. I has worked well so far in that the reloading room stays locked and the closet also stays locked.

As for supplies, you can get away with a simple single stage reloader if you aren't doing lots of reloading. For each caliber you will be reloading, you will need a set of dies. They go from 30 to 60 dollars for your basic calibers. You will also need Shell plates for each caliber(attach to the reloader to hold the case in place). You will also need little things like a scale to measure powder,  a tumbler to clean the old cases, a kinetic bullet puller(for your mistakes and there will be plenty) and with a single stage press you will need a hand primer. If you go with a progressive press, your case will be primed by the press. If you are reloading rifle ammo, you will also need prmer pocket and case head deburring tools and a case trimmer as rifle cases tend to stretch as they are fired. you will need dial calipers to make sure your OAL (over all length) is within specs and your ammo will feed and chamber correctly.
Reading this over, it sounds alot worse than it really is. I would be more than happy to help you get started if you decide to go that way, and it's actually pretty easy to get going.   Con't below.....

[TCE2506]

Let me know how many calibers you are looking at reloading, how many different types of weapons and how much ammo you will be reloading and I'll have a better idea which way would be best for your needs. Reloading today won't save you much money, but it will improve your shot groups and it also is kind of nice to make your own loads and then use them to fill the freezer!
TCE

[forHIM]

The last order the guy did for me consisted of around 700 rounds.  About equally divided between 243, 280, and 308.  The other calibers I'd be looking at are 7mmum, 270 and potentially 30-06. 

For the 243, I can find cheap nosler's for it in factory loads at 95 grains, but the others I have a harder time find the appropriate loads.  And the factory loads vary so much, the noslers for the 280 from winchester seem to explode on contact where as the federals provide a nice mushroom.  Also, I have not been able to find fail-safes in most of the calibers I have for large game (elk). 

As for price, I know that when I pay someone else for the reload work, I save about 40% off what I could be a standard factory load for.  On top of that, the loads are usually top notch powders with consistent range and field performance.

The 700 rounds is about 3 years of shooting.  My dad yells at me for shooting so much, but I like practicing and getting better.  He's of the frame of mind I'll wear out the guns.  My moto is use'em. 

My younger brother does about 200 ever year or two, but he tends to have a larger variety of calibers.

I also look at reloading as a change of pace from the hectic computer work / games / electronics in my life.  As I said, I've looked at doing this a number of times, but haven't done it for lack of space.  9 kids tends to leave no space available. 

From what I know, since the 280 and 7mm are built on the 284 bullet, I'd only need the one die set to do that.  The 308 and 243 would be another pair of die sets and then the 270 would be the 4th I added to the set.  The 280/ 7mm Ultra  are my primary guns and would cover my dad and my younger brother.  Older brother chose 30-06 and my mom uses a 308.

I am looking at single stage and not progressive since I'd be looking at doing smaller runs then when I have them brought to a reloader.  Fortunately the current reloader has provided the primer and powder information on the current runs, so I'd have a starting point to do the initial loads.

When I look at this more, I'll be in touch.

[TCE2506]

CC, sounds good.

We currently reload between 10,000 and 15,000 rounds per year. Most of that being .44 and .45 ammo for our pistols, so a progressive was the only way to go for us. When we're on our game we can reload 800-900 rounds per hour, but it tends to wear out the arms pretty quickly!

Be waiting to hear from ya!

[HeavyH]

When I was a kid living in a rural town, we reloaded because we had to.  There was no store to go to and buy ammo, especially since our famous "meat in the pot" rifle was a Savage 99 in 284 Winchester.  But enough of my old timer stories...

In my opinion, unless you really enjoy reloading and tinkering with loads to get 1/2 inch moa groups, then financially you will be way better off shooting factory loads.  The exception is when you shoot a lot of handgun stuff, or competition clays.  When I shot trap I reloaded, but you would have to consider the cost of lead now as TCE mentioned.  I know one big game hunter who is also a cardiologist (that's our joke... hunter first, DR second).  He and his wife had an agreement that he can spend $60000.00 per year on his hunting.  He hunts all over the world and uses Remington Core-Loct ammo on everything except dangerous game.  60k on hunting each year?  I wonder if it's too late to change careers....?

If I were to gear up again to reload, I would probably get the RCBS master reloading kit and build on that.  I cringe at that thought though...

As for why I personally own guns... I enjoy collecting.  Especially the WW2 stuff.  I don't even care to shoot the war relics, (except my Garand and 1903-A3).  I recently got my C&R FFL license so I can keep collecting and now at wholesale prices!   I haven't hunted big game for years now since getting custody of my son.  I do duck hunt a lot, and if I had to choose one form of hunting it would easily be waterfowling.  I am in the process of selling most of my hunting rifles.  Any lefties out there? 

[ASAdog]

I store my powders and primers, in their original containers, in a locked metal locker in the garage. Explosion isn't the concern, fire and unwanted access is. The rest of my gear is also in the garage, stored on a shelf.

I made myself a portable reloading stand. I just grab it and clamp it to whatever table/bench I intend to use. If I gert a chance I'll try to get a pic of it in here.

Based on the amount of ammo you say you shoot, a progressive loader sounds like the best plan. I'm sure the other folks can give you an idea of the other equipment you'll need.

Be sure to FULLY read and understand the instructions for reloading - better yet, get instructions from a really compatent reloader. Pay attention to what your doing (don't have distratcions) while reloading. This is a safe activity as long as all the procedures are completed correctly; but if you make mistakes in the process, there is potential for some very unpleasant and even deadly results.

Peace,