Gun Ammo Reloading - RCBS Rock Chucker SUPREME MASTER KIT - $255.99 w/FREE SHIPPING @PSA w/*BONUS* $10 MIR (or $50 MIR if you buy $300 in RCBS gear)

I've read through the thread and it seems it may not be worth it for 9mm. But at .45 cal, could someone potentially turn this into and become a "local reloader"?

Quote from Disturbed_Azn : I've read through the thread and it seems it may not be worth it for 9mm. But at .45 cal, could someone potentially turn this into and become a "local reloader"?

Keep reading, reloading is usually started for the appeal of "cost saving", but rarely is that the end result. Most find that instead of "saving" they simply shoot more.

If by "becoming a local reloader" you're referring to selling your reloads, don't try it without looking into the legality. It may vary state to state, but I know where i live you have to be licensed (as a manufacturer?) to sell ammunition you make.

Quote from BEANO52 : What you consider an advantage is a huge disadvantage to me. Progressive is the ONLY way to go imho. There is NO WAY I'd go back to having to change the dies to open the case, set bullet, seat bullet. I guess I'm spoiled though with Dillon 550. As for this deal, it looks like a great starter kit (remember though, it includes no dies). Try this out and than bump up to something like a Dillon Square Deal.

True, but consider how you felt when you first started. I remember being terrified just opening the container of powder and pouring it into the hopper. I was convinced I'd somehow touch off a spark and blow myself up. For a beginner, slow, deliberate steps and fully understanding every stage of the reloading process trumps speed and efficiency.

Once you get experienced, I agree, multistage progressive is the only way to go.

Quote from sv650touring : The cheapest 9mm factory ammo is priced competitively with reloading your own JACKETED, but it is most extreme example. If you don't mind lead bullets, things change real quick - right now (for a quick example, not even shopping) ebay has 500 125gr 9mm lead for $32/shipped, which is 6.4 cents/round. Even if you loaded those to +P, and overpaid for primers and powder, you would still save several cents per round compared to militaryshooters.com's Aguila (20c per round PLUS shipping).

Given the vast majority of my shooting is done indoors, I'd be looking specifically for jacketed. There's no sense in increasing my lead exposure and potentially compromising my health to save a few bucks.

Quote from sv650touring : If you are the kind of person who likes to work with fine tools and machinery (guns, cars, computers, whatever)

Fair enough. But I'd also like to have the time to pursue those other interests, too.

If I'd only be breaking roughly even by giving up that time, it's not worth it for me. If I could substantially increase my volume for the same outlay, I'd have to seriously consider it, but that doesn't look to be the case for my needs.

Quote from valleypoboy : Keep reading, reloading is usually started for the appeal of "cost saving", but rarely is that the end result. Most find that instead of "saving" they simply shoot more.

That's why I was interested. Trying to squeeze more trigger time out of my budget.

For those looking at getting into reloading here are my costs per round:

(Prices include my costs for primer, powder, bullet, and brass)
9mm: $0.13/round
.40: $0.17/round
.45 ACP: $0.18/round
.223: $0.23/round
.357 / 38 spl: $0.15/round

I use plated lead bullets for everything except .223, I use hodgdon titegroup for pistol rounds and hodgdon benchmark for .223. I get most of my brass online in bulk (1000 rounds once-fired), powder and primers from my local sportsmans warehouse.

TU for my local business making FP more than once! I don't personally reload, but I bought a Lee for my bro, it was less expensive, but this is a nicer setup based on reviews.

This would come in handy for the .458 bullets I've had lying around in the closet for a couple of years. Too bad I'm broke ATM...

If you can get into reloading I highly suggest you do so. Saves me a ton of money! Then again I collect range brass and cast my own lead bullets. Even if you shoot 9mm you'll still "save" money. Like a lot of previous posters said a lot of people don't consider reloading a chore, more of a hobby, for me it falls somewhere in between but that's because I'm lazy. I try to load up 500-1000 rounds per caliber each time I do it depending on how many bullets I actually have casted.

Fast burning powders will use less powder thus making each round cheaper. I use bulleye and the last 8# jug cost me $130ish. 8lbs of bullseye is quite a bit. I can do the math for it if you really want. Downside to faster powders is they leave less room for error and if you aren't paying attention and depending on caliber, make it easier to double charge. Fast powders generally won't fill the case up.

Look in the phone book for local reloading shops or ask around at your range to see if there is anyone that casts and sells bullets. A lot of time shipping will kill deals on bullets.

If you get the kit in the op to easily hit the $300 mark add a set of dies. I like the digital rcbs scale and have been using one for or another for 6+ years now.

Don't overpay for tumbler media. Harbor freight or even pets mart's prices can be cheaper than the same stuff labeled as tumbler media. In all honesty you can use rice as media in the tumblers as well.

Good luck and enjoy!

Just to add to the discussion, I've had my Hornady Projector setup for almost 15 years. I load 9, 38, 40, and .270. I've already paid for the system a long time ago. It is a nice calming hobby to get into. It's not cheap to start with but you can save money or you can build loads that aren't commercially available, wildcat or obsolete, or just pump out a lot of rounds. With my progressive I can pump out up to 400 rounds an hour when it's set up with all 5 dies, or I can do it single stage for accuracy. If you want to try it out. Lee has the Lee Loader kit. They have them for limited calibers in rifle or pistol. http://leeprecision.com/reloading...der-rifle/ or http://leeprecision.com/reloading...der-rifle/ they are less than $40 each and all you need to add is the projectile, primer, case, and powder. If they had one for 44S&W it'd get one for my dad who likes the cowboy shooting. I also forgot to add another place to watch for cheap gun related items www.gun-deals.com

Quote from netstroller : I've been thinking about getting into reloading and this looks like a good way to start. One thing that's kept me from jumping in is I don't know where to get cheap bullets. I'll be starting with .45 ACP but I seem to only see jacketed bullets. Where do you guys get your .45s either jacketed or LSW of decent quality and good price?

There's a guy on eBay selling 500 240gr truncated cone for $36 shipped.

Missouri bullet company has some several semiwadcutters starting at $38.50 per 500. They charge $13 per 65lbs shipping. 500 185gr bullets weighs 13.2lbs, 200gr would be 14.3lbs, 240gr is 17.1lbs so it looks like you could get up to 2000 bullets as long as you didn't get all heavy ones. snscasting.com prices are almost the same as Missouri's

Just a heads up on PSA.....

With all of the interest in these reloading kits, I would call and make sure they have it IN STOCK first. I recently placed an order for an Acog with PSA. The website said it was in stock. It had been 4 days since my order and I didn't receive anything in my email about it being processed, so I called them. The guy I talked to on the phone assured me it would be shipped out in 1-2.

Not even an hour later I get an email clearly stating that my item has been backordered, and they do not have an ETA for the item. This is strange considering right on their website it says;

Quote from PSA : Is my item on backorder? A: No, Palmetto State Armory does not allow any type of backorder. In the rare case, that an item is not in stock you will be contacted

.

So, I figured that kind of sucks. I'm waiting on a $1,000 scope that could be shipped in 3 days, or 3 months. Who knows.

I would like to just cancel the order and buy it locally or from another site. I don't mind paying a little bit more to get the scope in my hands. Well, I see this on their website also;

Quote from psa : ]Order Cancellation- All requests for order cancellation must be submitted via e-mail. A 10% processing fee will be charged to all orders cancelled after payment has been processed. Payment is processed immediately upon receipt of your order payment.

So, to cancel my order for a scope they had in stock, that is not in stock, and they do not know when it will be in stock is going to cost me $100. At this point, I'm just going to sit here and wait for it I guess.



*CLIFFS*
Got in on a PSA deal. Said it was in stock. Not in stock. No idea when it will be shipped. $100 to cancel the order. I'm not trying to bad mouth PSA. I know they are a smaller company and it's hard for them to handle this kind of business. If you are going to order this reloading kit, call and make sure they have it in stock, even though their website says it's in stock.

Quote from NeverSummer : Just a heads up on PSA..... With all of the interest in these reloading kits, I would call and make sure they have it IN STOCK first. I recently placed an order for an Acog with PSA. The website said it was in stock. It had been 4 days since my order and I didn't receive anything in my email about it being processed, so I called them. The guy I talked to on the phone assured me it would be shipped out in 1-2. Not even an hour later I get an email clearly stating that my item has been backordered, and they do not have an ETA for the item. This is strange considering right on their website it says; . So, I figured that kind of sucks. I'm waiting on a $1,000 scope that could be shipped in 3 days, or 3 months. Who knows. I would like to just cancel the order and buy it locally or from another site. I don't mind paying a little bit more to get the scope in my hands. Well, I see this on their website also; So, to cancel my order for a scope they had in stock, that is not in stock, and they do not know when it will be in stock is going to cost me $100. At this point, I'm just going to sit here and wait for it I guess. *CLIFFS* Got in on a PSA deal. Said it was in stock. Not in stock. No idea when it will be shipped. $100 to cancel the order. I'm not trying to bad mouth PSA. I know they are a smaller company and it's hard for them to handle this kind of business. If you are going to order this reloading kit, call and make sure they have it in stock, even though their website says it's in stock.

During this free shipping sale they are going to be running behind, but I don't think they are going to screw you over or take forever on the shipment. Make sure you post a follow-up on how they handle this though.

I almost pulled the trigger (BAH! PUN!) but I asked "What's my time worth?" Can anyone say how long it takes to reload, say 500 rounds of .223 or .45, from start to finish? at a wage of say $30/hr, am I actually saving anything by doing this?

I have no doubt I will do this in the future, but we are probably talking like 10 years down the road...

Anyway, I Repped and TU this deal on principle.

I don't undertand why people bring time into the cost savings argument. You don't calculate your time spent driving to the store, standing in line, gas to get there, insurance for your vehicle or anything like that when just buying ammo.

Unless you are calling in sick to work so you can stay home and reload ammo, time should not be in the equation.