Is Reloading Worth Getting Into These Days?

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  • FrommerStop

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    I’ve often thought of getting into reloading just for fun. I thought about getting a Lee Loader just to get my feet wet but saw that RCBS has rebates going on.
    I’m thinking of getting a Rock Chucker and maybe a tumbler and/or die set or two just to take full advantage of the rebate now but I’m guessing with the ammo shortage, that’s the case with components as well?
    If it makes any difference, I would mostly be reloading 5.56, .44 and 9mm.
    One advantage to reloading, even when ammo is plentiful is saving money by reloading. In some cases it is cheaper overall if you consider your labor to buy some ammo loadings than it is to reload it. for training ammo in 7.62x39 it is cheaper to buy, unless maybe you are able to used cast. When 9mm was 17 cents around, considering my time plus components it was better to buy.
    You will save lot if you reload 44 magnum and other cartridges that do not have cheap loads available for them.
     

    FrommerStop

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    ^^^ .45 Colt comes to mind too, big savings there.
    I could never figure out what so special about .45 to make it so expensive. Once you have the brass you can with modern guns use the same bullets as you do for .45 ACP.
    It seems today that very few commercial rifles cost less than a dollar a round and many quite a bit more.
    Example of midways prices for .270 winchester
    1597697316548.png
     

    Welldoya

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    Ok, since several people said that RCBS always has a rebate going on, I got in no hurry to get a Rock Chucker. I figured I would wait until components are more available.
    Now it looks like RCBS has discontinued the Rock Chucker.
    Why would they stop production of such an iconic press?
     

    War-Buff

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    I see Rock Chucker Supreme (latest version) still listed on the RCBS website, but if I were starting out today I'd probably buy their new "Rebel" press...it looks very beefy. JMO
     

    Fanner50

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    I see Rock Chucker Supreme (latest version) still listed on the RCBS website, but if I were starting out today I'd probably buy their new "Rebel" press...it looks very beefy. JMO

    Agreed....that new Rebel press looks much more beefier than the Rock Chucker. I like the name too. :cool:
     

    SODAPOPMG

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    reloading is for 2 types of people

    those that want the best ammo for their guns
    and those that want to save money hahaha you do not get to keep the money but you get to shoot a lot more

    if you have the money to buy all the ammo you want and factory ammo is accurate enough for you then you
    really do not need to start reloading unless you need something to do with your time
     

    Ricochet

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    I am thinking of getting this set up for 380 only:
    Could the Partner press then later be used just as a depriming/priming press if I get the Rebel or the Summit?

    Total cost would be $143.51 shipped. ( I have a $15 off ).
    Screenshot_20201011-175319.png
    Screenshot_20201011-175310.png
     

    War-Buff

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    It depends on your future reloading plans and current budget. If you're never going to load anything but .380, the Partner press should be fine. If you plan to expand to bigger cartridges, especially rifle, I'd skip the Partner completely and get the Rebel and a hand priming tool. Then, if you want greater speed, there are progressive presses... It really just depends on what you plan to do and how much you want to spend. And, to me, the Summit press is too bizarre, but YMMV. Just my opinion.
     

    Jevaughn

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    Honestly, I'd wait a few months. So many people bought reloading gear recently and many never set it up. Those kits and such will hit Craigslist and Armslist soon for cheap. Also, getting primers isn't impossible, but it's damned hard, and without primers, you can't reload anything. That's just my two cents. Now isn't the time to start reloading, demand has process high and components difficult to find and expensive when you do.

    Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
     

    Ricochet

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    Honestly, I'd wait a few months. So many people bought reloading gear recently and many never set it up. Those kits and such will hit Craigslist and Armslist soon for cheap. Also, getting primers isn't impossible, but it's damned hard, and without primers, you can't reload anything. That's just my two cents. Now isn't the time to start reloading, demand has process high and components difficult to find and expensive when you do.

    Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
    I do have all the components froma while ago.
    It was more as I wait for production to normalize but waiting for presses to show up second hand is a good idea.
    Thanks!
     

    Ricochet

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    It depends on your future reloading plans and current budget. If you're never going to load anything but .380, the Partner press should be fine. If you plan to expand to bigger cartridges, especially rifle, I'd skip the Partner completely and get the Rebel and a hand priming tool. Then, if you want greater speed, there are progressive presses... It really just depends on what you plan to do and how much you want to spend. And, to me, the Summit press is too bizarre, but YMMV. Just my opinion.
    I wasn't very keen on the hand priming tool.
    I like the fact the die moves down to the shell holder on the summit.
    That price above just seemed attractive to get into just doing the 380 myself but I can wait to see an even bigger price drop.
     

    Ricochet

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    It depends on your future reloading plans and current budget. If you're never going to load anything but .380, the Partner press should be fine. If you plan to expand to bigger cartridges, especially rifle, I'd skip the Partner completely and get the Rebel and a hand priming tool. Then, if you want greater speed, there are progressive presses... It really just depends on what you plan to do and how much you want to spend. And, to me, the Summit press is too bizarre, but YMMV. Just my opinion.
    Basically and my main issue is that I am in a small space and planning to move to to the panhandle won't be for another year.
    So I dont want to have a bigger set up but also I do enjoy reloading as a hobby and the Partner was a minimalistic compromise.
     

    fla kid

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    I have a turret press for sale I think it is a lyman 6 station i will take 100.$ ftf in milton
     

    FrommerStop

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    Just buy what you need now. If you live in a small space and do not have a solid work bench try mounting a press in a tub filled with concrete. Fill plastic tube with concrete and place pipe threaded into a floor flange into the wet concrete. The opposite end of the pipe must threaded to take another flange to secure the press.
    The wt of the concrete is more than enough to stabilize a press for reloading pistol rounds.

    1602459657568.png

    But if it is only pistol I would get this tiny press. Might not work for a super frail ultra thin woman, but a woman of average strength should be able to use it. Will work for .380 and can be stored in a drawer when not in use.

    1602459834968.png
     

    Ricochet

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    Just buy what you need now. If you live in a small space and do not have a solid work bench try mounting a press in a tub filled with concrete. Fill plastic tube with concrete and place pipe threaded into a floor flange into the wet concrete. The opposite end of the pipe must threaded to take another flange to secure the press.
    The wt of the concrete is more than enough to stabilize a press for reloading pistol rounds.

    View attachment 94519
    But if it is only pistol I would get this tiny press. Might not work for a super frail ultra thin woman, but a woman of average strength should be able to use it. Will work for .380 and can be stored in a drawer when not in use.

    View attachment 94521
    Thank you, will look into this!
    I have good strength.
     
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