jim6918 Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 I'm pretty proud of myself. After 30 days of research, set-up and testing, I loaded my first 50 rounds of .380 ACP last night. I figure at this rate, if I never load any more than this first 50, this batch cost me $40.00/round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathanb Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 You don’t teally save money. You just shoot more for less Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcfoto Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 Ha, I'm in the same boat. Just started hand loading a couple months ago, and I'm still hemorrhaging money. Now I'm into crazy little stuff like an LED light to put over the seating station to verify there's powder in the case... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 You spent …. $ 2,000 …. for your reloading equipment/supplies ???? Betja didn't buy a SDB, didja ? Well, look at it this way, next time you reload a box of .380 ammo, it won't cost you a penny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim6918 Posted September 11, 2018 Author Share Posted September 11, 2018 22 minutes ago, Hi-Power Jack said: You spent …. $ 2,000 …. for your reloading equipment/supplies ???? Betja didn't buy a SDB, didja ? Well, look at it this way, next time you reload a box of .380 ammo, it won't cost you a penny I went with a 550C and Quick Change and Caliber Conversion Kits for 4 calibers. I built a nice sturdy bench in the basement. By the time I bought tools, add-ons, lighting, case cleaning, powder, brass, bullets, primers, manuals, and God know what else, I am pushing $2K. I suppose I could have scrimped and done things on the cheap, but I saw no point in trying to figure work-arounds, especially screwing with changing dies in one tool head for multiple calibers. I'm not complaining mind you, I got a nice operation and the alternative for my retirement was sitting on the couch and eating $2k worth of potato chips during the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeedOff Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 Keep at it. I’m 4 years and 60,000+ rounds into it. Every pull of the handle is like printing money now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesertTortoise Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 Nice job getting started. It's intimidating to jump in without someone experienced helping! lets see a picture of the bench and everything I got into reloading after I got upset when an online order of ammo was weeks late coming in (and it went on sale while I was waiting for my shipment) so I started reloading and haven't bought factory pistol ammo since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 BTW, my personal preference is to place the cartridges case up, rather than bullet up. That facilitates checking the primers and little easier to remove the cartridges Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim6918 Posted September 11, 2018 Author Share Posted September 11, 2018 18 minutes ago, DesertTortoise said: Nice job getting started. It's intimidating to jump in without someone experienced helping! lets see a picture of the bench and everything I got into reloading after I got upset when an online order of ammo was weeks late coming in (and it went on sale while I was waiting for my shipment) so I started reloading and haven't bought factory pistol ammo since. Thanks. I used to reload on a progressive about 40 years ago as a range officer for a small police department, so I wasn't totally blind to the process. The loader was all dialed in for .38 SWC and all I needed to do was keep powder and primers in it. I made the bench out of kit sold by "2X4 Basics" which sells the legs and you can make the bench any size you want. $50 here and $50 there it all adds up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim6918 Posted September 11, 2018 Author Share Posted September 11, 2018 6 minutes ago, Hi-Power Jack said: BTW, my personal preference is to place the cartridges case up, rather than bullet up. That facilitates checking the primers and little easier to remove the cartridges You're absolutely right. That picture was just for the photo-op. Those rounds already resting in Case-gard boxes. BTW, I am gauging each and every round as a last step. I am pretty anal about safety. That's why it took me 30 days before I dropped my first grain of powder. Thank God for a good bullet puller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiller Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 Nice set up on your bench. I started loading about 5 years ago and the press paid for itself in no time. Like you I was a while pulling bullets before I was happy, but once dialed in I never looked back. Loaded .380, 9 and .40, mostly only 9 at this point. Keep cranking and checking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 8 hours ago, jim6918 said: I am pretty anal about safety. No such thing … There is only "safe" and NOT safe. BTW, can you see into each case to check there is powder in before you seat the bullet ? (Absolutely essential for safety). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustygun Posted September 12, 2018 Share Posted September 12, 2018 Nice setup congrats on your return to the addicting hobby of reloading. Pretty soon you will have 15-20 different powders and 5 gallon pails of range pickup brass. I have a 550 that I bought used and I enjoy reloading as much or more than shooting. I will suggest you watch for someone moving or cleaning out an office and get your hands on a few filing cabinets. They are designed to hold lots of weight and work perfectly to store Bullets, powder, primers and finished rounds. Pass on the cheap ones and get the heavy duty version and they will last for years and serve you well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted September 12, 2018 Share Posted September 12, 2018 you'll learn, there is no money saving in reloading. about the time you break even you find another trinket you just have to own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim6918 Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 1 hour ago, Hi-Power Jack said: No such thing … There is only "safe" and NOT safe. BTW, can you see into each case to check there is powder in before you seat the bullet ? (Absolutely essential for safety). Yep, one of the first lighting additions was the Inline Fabrication LED light that fits in the toolhead. My stool is just high enough for me to lean in slightly after I index to look for powder., Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George16 Posted September 12, 2018 Share Posted September 12, 2018 1 hour ago, lefty o said: you'll learn, there is no money saving in reloading. about the time you break even you find another trinket you just have to own. Ain’t that the truth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stick Posted September 12, 2018 Share Posted September 12, 2018 Now that you have the reloading equipment, you can start catering loads to suit your needs. It's far superior to buying boxed ammo. Now all you need is a chrono to test your ammo. It never ends! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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