Should I Reload my own Ammo?

Long story short, I’m looking into Reloading and to be honest, know nothing about it. For the most part, I’d want to Reload for my 300 Blackouts and 5.56 Builds as well as a few others (6.5, .308 and so on) I’ve collected over the last few years. Most all of these are topped w/a .30cal Can and will be Fired Suppressed. Obviously, there’s not too many Manufacturers out there (at least not to my knowledge) that make a consistent Round that I’d want and like to Fire at ALL times. That being said, should I start on this and if so, what would I need to get going and about how far would it set my wallet back? Pros & Cons of Reloading? From what I understand, you can save money in the long run but I’d mainly want it for Round consistency and knowing my Ammo is available and well Manufactured at all times. Hope I didn’t bore anyone and any of your thoughts and opinions would be GREATLY APPRECIATED! If what y’all have to say makes sense, I’d definitely be looking for a Startup Kit, so if you know of anyone that might want to get rid of theirs, I’d surely be interested. Thanks in advance!

Blake

The rock chucker supreme kit has been on sale the past few Black Fridays. It has
most of what you need besides brass, powder, primer, and bullets. Kit retails for about $300, $100 in powder, bullets, and primers would get you started.
It can be intimidating and confusing at first, but it’s not difficult. Find a mentor or friend to help if you can. Reloading goes with suppressors like peanut butter and jelly.

Sounds like good reasons to start. I didn't start to save money. That's the wrong reason. I started to shoot better ammo tailored to my guns, with the bullets I wanted to shoot.

just a reminder reloading is rewarding , 1 thing once you have the equipment in place,close the door, turn off all noise, read and do one step at a time. its like cutting wood measure twice and check it cut once, it will work.

Reloading can be very rewarding. And you can, as mentioned above get ammo that works best in your guns as opposed to factory cartridges. I think that before you decide on what brand and features of your equipment you might first ask yourself just how many rounds you go through at a shooting session. If you are going through hundreds, 3-4 hundred at a time, than you are not going to want to start with a single stage setup. A progressive would be better suited for the quantity you will be needing. If so, than most likely a Dillon is going to fit the bill the best, not all of your calibers will need to be run on a Dillon, but any that you will be shooting that are in the hundreds you will want to assemble on a progressive. Food for thought, always nice to have both a good progressive and a quality single stage too and a RCBS Rockchucker is quality. There are a number of shooting forums that have a selling and swapping section, so before you go and purchase a brand new unit either single or progressive be sure to check out some of the forums where you might get a barely used press for a great price. Hope this helps.

this link is to an archived thread on using a Dillon for loading a 5.56 Also a quality forum for lots of reloading information for shooting cast bullets too. Just highlight the link, right click and click open link.

https://www.google.com/url?q=http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-285054.html&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwifzPqC5rzXAhUE7oMKHdk0ChA4HhAWCAcwAQ&client=internal-uds-cse&cx=partner-pub-6216953551359885:1942134700&usg=AOvVaw2ggm71wT9DFIsBxktCB6ny

I do it to have access to ammo anytime I want. You'll never hear me say I can't find ammunition.

Reloading is fun and rewarding. It is a great way to de-stress. Only drawback is it takes time, which many of us are short of.

Start out simple with a good press (or kit) like a rock chucker or a lee classic cast while you get the hang of it. Get all the associated pieces and parts, then upgrade your press later. I started on a Lee Classic Cast. I just got a Forster Co-Ax as an upgrade. Also bought a Dillon 550C, but I haven't set it up yet. I use the Hornady Handbook. Some websites like Nosler's have load data, but only get that from reliable sources. Don't just copy a load from an online forum somewhere unless you verify it in a book or a mfg website. Work up from minimum loads first.

Ask Santa for an RCBS Chargemaster powder dispenser. It is a huge timesaver from having to measure out individual charges.

Wilson case gages are great for checking that your brass is in spec. They are one of my favorite reloading tools.

Pocosin
What do you think of the CO-AX. I bought one for my first press and have never used anything else. IS it really a lot better?

RH,
I got the Co-Ax because I have lower back trouble and the Lee Classic Cast tweaked my back a bit every time I used it. The Co-ax just needs less input/has more leverage. So, I love that part. I can run it all night just using finger tips. Having to buy the Forster lock rings for all my dies has been extra expense, but being able to push them in and pull them out is awesome.

I guess the only gripe I have about the Co-Ax is the automatic shell holder setup. Almost every time I have changed from small to large jaws or vice-versa, one of the little springs flies across the garage. I got sick of it, and couldn't find the last one that went flying, so I installed the base plate that you put shell holders into. You have to tighten them down with an allen wrench. This is where I liked the snap in, snap out shell holder setup in the Classic Cast better, but the CC would randomly drop spent primers on the floor, which drove me nuts. Never had one do that on the Co-Ax.

I've heard people say that the Co-Ax is the Cadillac of single stage presses, and I would agree with that statement. It is a smooth operating machine. I got mine on sale, so it wasn't so bad, but it is a little more investment. Worth it, though.

I don't load but for 4 calibers and only use the large side of the jaws.Since I bought it as my first press I just bought Forster Benchrest dies so no ring problem. I love it ,just don't know if it's great or not,having only used that one press.

So far my ammo seems to be more accurate than the factory loads I was shooting. I weigh each charge though. I basically try to make accurate ammo rather than a lot of it.

Yes you should load your own ammo.Nothing quite like seeing all those holes touch.

I used an RCBS Rockchucker for around 25 years before I bought my Co-Ax a few years ago. I really like Forster products and use their dies if available for the caliber. Their FL dies and seating dies ARE better than standard RCBS dies.

As far as the Co-Ax press producing more accurate ammo, I cannot say it has made a difference. I think the difference is in the dies. A bad sizing die is going to produce bad case neck runout, no matter what press you use. I have a few calibers for which Forster does not manufacture dies and I have concentricity issues with some of the loaded rounds.

Absolutely you should load your own ammo. you can achieve tighter groups, higher or lower velocitys. I just finished loading about 45 rounds for my 3006. For me it's very satisfying to kill an animal with ammo you loaded.

Thanks a ton for all the Feedback guys. Guess I’ll start looking for a Setup. To make sure I’m going for the right things, what all do I need other than a Reloading Press, Case Cleaner & Trimmer, Reload Dies, Powder Dispenser & Scale, Calipers & Brass. Or does all of this come in one of the Reload Starter Kits y’all have mentioned? Either way, I really appreciate your help & input! Thanks

Blake

Most kits set you up with the basics.Primers you'll need primers.

This for sure. My wife knows when I'm in my cave reloading to leave me alone. No distractions. Buy more than one manual too. Read, Read & oh yeah read. If you have questions ask. I've learned a lot from the men of Aldeer. Most give good advice. Be safe.

If you and your rifles like factory ammo offerings, it's not worth reloading for hunting rifles. If you decide to reload, don't waste your money on a kit. I was given that advice when I first started and it was the best advice that I've gotten.

Just to start,you don't need a case cleaner,trimmer,or powder dispenser.

Cases won't need trimming until 3rd or 4th loading,maybe more.You just check them and see.You can weigh every charge,I do anyway. You also don't have to tumble brass unless you are picking up really bad stuff off the ground which I wouldn't anyway,not knowing if it had been shot several times by another reloader and discarded.

All you will need is your components,bullets,powder,primers,case lube,press,dies,powder funnel,brush to clean primer pocket.

You will need a digital caliper from Harbor freight, a loading trey to hold and separate cases which you can make with a board and drill. You will also need a priming tool if your press doesn't have one.

You will need something to dip powder. I bought a lee dipper kit for my first witness in measuring. A powder trickler is helpful but you can get by without it.

If your brass is old and corroded green,you can clean it with 0000 steel wool.Just tarnish doesn't hurt anything.

Read a loading guide by hornady, Nosler, Sierra and then read it again. You will find some good advice online, but there is more bad information than good IMO.

THIS is why I load.

If you're gonna load subsonic rounds be sure to do plenty of research because less powder in a case CAN be worse that an overcharged case.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/937051...oduct-four-link


Pretty solid deal here. Best part is free shipping as Midway will gouge you on. Only thing I would add is a case trimmer, which I think is an absolute necessity when loading rifle cases. Even though the brass may be shorter than max length, I always trim to keep them consistent.

I have an entire setup with dies, primers, and powder for $300.00. Lyman Orange crush Turret Press. 205-919-1678.

Every deer that I've killed I shot with a round that I loaded myself. For me, the issue is not money, it's accuracy. Every time I pull that trigger I preface it with a prayer "God make me accurate and make this quick". My biggest fear is that I will maim a deer and it will suffer. I will do everything I can to lower the probability of that happening. Learning to produce a powerful, accurate load does just that ...

For each of my guns I have spent a good bit of time working up a load. I focus on pushing them as fast as I can safely at first until I get a range of charges to work with. Then I focus on drilling down to the most accurate of those loads. The end result is a round that packs as much punch as I can get while giving me the accuracy I need to be confident in whatever shot I chose to take.

This forum is a great place to get started and to learn some of the more advanced techniques. Another great place to frequent is The Highroad' hand loading and reloading forum : https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?forums/handloading-and-reloading.15/

Several aldeer.com members are on there also and most everyone is really helpful

Another benefit of loading your own is that you will always have the ammo you need (as long as you keep the raw materials stocked ... primers, brass, powder, bullets).

We had a year or two during the Obama administration where ammo supplies were short. I was stocked up with plenty of raw materials so I never had an issue coming up with a round to shoot. I sold off my entire stock of factory ammo and used the funds to buy the powder, brass, primers, and bullets I needed