I'm sure there's lots of people like me, who want to start reloading but don't know where to start. It's intimidating at first, especially when you hear horror stories of people blowing themselves up. Maybe you think you need the perfect reloading bench/set up, maybe space is an issue for you.
I'm here to tell you/show you, you don't need much to start your reloading journey ($1000 and a dream) I'm currently living in the MIL's home so I couldn't make a permanent work bench or anything that I couldn't take down with ease. So I built a bench off a folding plastic table. It's a bit janky, and on my first version the press was ripping off the table every pull of the arm, made some improvements and she's holding up pretty good.
I'm a self proclaimed RETARD and I've managed to figure out how to reload 44 mag and it's been a blast, so far I've made 172 rounds, 100 FTX 225gr and 72 CPTC 240gr using H110 powder, my groups are on par if not better than factory ammo after my first attempt, I'm confident I can dial these in further with more tinkering, groups aren't amazing but I'm proud of what I have accomplished so far.
Top left of picture 2 is my handloaded FTX 225gr vs Factory Hornaday leverevolution at 50 yards
Bottom right is my 240gr vs PMC bronze 240s on top
3rd pic is my FTX 225s at 100 yards with Bushnell 1-4 lpvo
Reloading has taken my love of shooting to a whole new level, I'm excited to get off work these days so I can get my next batch ready for the weekend. Where before I started reloading I'd struggle to find something to do with my free time that felt worth it, long time gamer that just doesn't enjoy gaming anymore.
So if you've been on the fence a while or just started thinking about it this is the universe telling you to do it! Money is temporary, glory lasts forever.
Also a lifelong gamer who also has fallen out of love with it. Will be starting reloading ASAP. Just upgraded living situation so I can finally start the journey!
I still game a bit but now it's when I'm in-between stages of reloading, if you try to do the whole process in one day it definitely gets tedious and tiring, atleast if you're using a single stage press, manual trimmer/deburring tools. But iv found if you break it down into 1-3 steps per day it goes a lot smoother and faster.
I hate deburring/cleaning primer pockets manually it just sucks, but I'm also cheap and couldn't justify a tumbler right away. But once that's done I find I can make about 50 rounds in an hour with primed and prepped brass.
I shoot so I can reload. I find it incredibly interesting from an academic perspective, and the process of reloading is very therapeutic - put on an audiobook and get lost in the process.
I do not want to get lost in the process lmao I think that's how guys end up double charging cases hahaha. Maybe one day but for now I limit myself to music.
An option that I do for my 3 presses I’ve turned into mobile presses (same situation, nothing permanent) is clamp it to the table. I use a couple of very shitty ROK clamps for like 7$ a piece. Works perfect. When I’m done, undo the clamps, press on its little work station I screwed it to comes away, into the box, ready for another day (or a different press)
That’s awesome man, so how much per round is your cost for the 225 FTX’s re-loaded?
Factory 44 mag is stupid expensive and it goes by so fast when target shooting.
I would like to get into re-loading my own ammo as well, especially the big bores rounds.
For 100 rounds it cost me $73 for the bullets, $10 for 100 primers, and I'd say about $25-$35 for powder.
The pic with the press shows my powder measurer with what's left after 100 rounds of FTX and 72 rounds of the CPTCs the 100 rounds definitely came out to less than half and at $85ish for the 1lb of H110 so I figure $25-35 worth of powder, let's say $35
That comes out to basically $120 for 100 rounds. Buddy of mine bought a 20rd box of leverevolution FTX for $40 on sale, (I've only seen it as low as $45 )
So even at its cheapest I'm about $80 cheaper, if you go not on sale then its $325 for factory ammo. So that's a cool $200 cheaper
Yeah I'm saving about $200/100rds for my Hornady loads at the most, and it starts making even more sense when you look at rifle rounds, I can't wait to start 308 but I'm also not in a rush I been having a blast shooting lots more 44 than usual. Once I get closer to hunting season I'll have to get my 308 loads goin
If you just want to get started I'd suggest
1. A press single stage is way cheaper than a turret press and much less complicated.
2. Shell holders for the rounds you wish to reload.
3. Case trimmer
4. Shell dies
5. Deburring tools
6. Priming tool (Rockford Arsenal one is really good quality and comes with like 10 shell holders.
7. Digital calipers
Those 7 things will let you go from spent brass to brass that just needs powder and projectiles.
If you're not in a addicted rush like I was you could prep all your cases first, then look into what powder and projectiles you want to shoot ( however some bullets call for different case lengths so it is good to know what projectile you'd like to use before you do a mass trim (ask me how I know lol )
I'm really curious on what caliber calls for different case lengths according to projectile selection. I've never encountered that and I'd like to read up on this
Well maybe it's not as common for most bullet types but normal max trim length for .44 mag is 1.2850 but for the ftx rounds you have to trim the case to 1.2550 perhaps it's just an FTX thing.
I've only reloaded 44 so far and only the two different rounds so in my experience I had to deal with it right away, good to know it's not that common though.
Ah, after a quick read, the tips protrude and longer OGIVE.
Nevermind Hornady loads (assuming) as they are too conservative with their charge. Download GRT, take the time to set it up. It's super useful to figure your shit out
Depends, how deep down the rabbit hole do you want to go? Pick up a seating die with micrometer w/VLD stems, full length sizing die, wet tumbler with pins
I don't think you need a tumbler to start, I clean my brass in a bucket of hot water/ dawns dish soap and lemi shine, you do have to clean primer pockets, but I think it's worth it when you're just starting out to do the extra step and save some cash. I think a digital powder scale is worth the money over a tumbler if I had to choose one or the other in a budget
I had a hell of a time getting my first few batches of 38 special to work reliably. They kept getting stuck right at the end of the barrel. Just prairie dogging copper.
Turned out to be 2 things
First issue was, Id planned everything out printed out the spec sheets and everything. But somehow I ended up with a different bag of bullets than I'd printed the spec sheet for. Unsure which part I got wrong. But they were close, but not quite the same seating depth. With an already pretty minimal charge, seating it all the way might make a difference.
The other issue turned out to just be I was never properly cleaning the rifle. Went at it with a brass brush for a bit and really cleaned up that first bit of the barrel and suddenly things were traveling out the other end like normal.
Now 357, and 45 colt, not a single problem so far. Other than 45 colt having a small, shitty rim that the universal holders don't seem to like.
You must have been loading well below the minimum charge levels for that to happen, maybe combined with a 24 or 26" barrel? . I once loaded a .38 without powder and the primer alone sent the 158gr copper plated bullet 16" down the 20" barrel. I run 4grs of Titegroup behind that same bullet and it has 920fps out of that 20" barrel. I suspect a shorter barrel would yield even faster velocities since there's much less friction.
Getting in the habit of double/triple checking things over definitely saves you in the long run. I trimmed my first 75 cases wayyyy too short cuz I was misreading my digital calipers, almost charged the cases but thankfully had a moment of clarity n compared my brass to a factory round and realized I almost made a horrible mistake
You start out pretty paranoid and for very good reasons.... but eventually as you become more experienced and knowledgeable on the process you start to really rationalize what's worth being paranoid over and what isn't.
I used to reload a significant amount when I shot three gun. But now I almost only shoot for hunting purposes and so outside of shotgun ammunition which I'm not going to bother loading myself. I might go through 20 to 30 rounds a year. No sense reloading. From my perspective if I've got Factory ammo that works with my rifles. That said, it is a basic skill that all shooters should learn.
She honestly is the opposite of nice but that's kinda the point of my post, I thought I needed something way better and more sturdy, but the guy I watched on YouTube had a press that was slopping around every press pull, it inspired me to just say fuck it n give it a try.
The only reason I never got into reloading is because I (correctly) chose cheap to shoot options. 7.62x39, .22lr, 12 gauge, etc... if I had some wildly expensive options in my collection still like 7mm Remington Magnum or 338 Lapua, I'd have probably gotten into reloading out of necessity.
Yeah I mean if you're just shooting surplus x39 22 and 12g it's definitely not needed. I started out shooting those aswell, and I definitely could have just gotten a 22 lever to scratch my lever gun itch but I was replacing a Ruger GSS that I regret selling and wanted something with a lil more ass behind it to help justify the sale. Now hindsight being 20-20 I should have got a 357 mag but I liked the idea of 44 more.
Once I started shooting it though I realized paying over $1 per round on a gun I could easily shoot 75 rounds in a day just wasn't feasible long term. I also like the idea of being able to make my own hunting rounds, can't imagine a much better feeling than harvesting an animal with your own loads.
For sure. A functional antique revolver costs upwards of $2K (although the odd belgian copy or bulldog gets sold for less) and reloading is a must for all of these, the casings dont even exist for most antique cartridges so you might have to finick with some parent cases. And it's black powder across the board, apart from some select webleys and french revolvers but black powder performs safer and better in these old revolvers.
But before you do anything take it to a gunsmith to look for pressure fractures and check the timing, ask me how I know
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u/Weak-Swordfish7370 19d ago
Also a lifelong gamer who also has fallen out of love with it. Will be starting reloading ASAP. Just upgraded living situation so I can finally start the journey!